Forgotten Sisters: A Novel

A city's haunted history and fairy-tale horrors converge for two women in an addictive novel of psychological suspense by a multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated author.

Sisters Anna and Jennie live in a historic bungalow on the Chicago River. They're tethered to a disquieting past, and with nowhere else to go, nothing can part them from their family home. Not the maddening creaks and disembodied voices that rattle the old walls. Not the inexplicable drownings in the area, or the increasing number of bodies that float by Anna's window.

To stave off loneliness, Anna has a podcast, spinning ghostly tales of Chicago's tragic history. But when Anna captures the attention of an ardent male listener, she awakens to the possibilities of a world outside.

As their relationship grows, so do Jennie's fears. More and more people are going missing in the river. And then two detectives come calling.

They're looking for a link between the mysteries of the river and what's housed on the bank. Even Anna and Jennie don't understand how dreadful it is--and still can be--when the truth about their unsettled lives begins to surface.

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Published Mar 19, 2024

298 pages

Average rating: 6.67

3 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Cantina Book Club
Nov 03, 2025
6/10 stars
Pelayo’s lyrical writing will remind readers of the bodies of water on which Forgotten Sisters focuses. Rivers are not necessarily kind – they can be deceptive and unforgiving. And somehow Pelayo has captured nature and imposed it into her writing style. I also really enjoyed learning about the unknown history of my home region. And once readers begin to connect the dots, the story becomes that much more heartbreaking and unsettling.

In-depth book review: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/forgotten-sisters-by-cynthia-pelayo

Podcast interview with Cynthia Pelayo:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-21-cynthia-pelayo-forgotten-sisters/id1716042267?i=1000649704269
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0c1UxbeYcJ62GQaVlFvQTU?si=2f29ef54961c4233
YouTube: https://youtu.be/nm44oL0G-xI?si=EMu7-THqLUlTfcpd

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