Not Forgotten

FORGOTTEN SISTERS is another solid read from Cynthia Pelayo. Eerie and atmospheric, it is part haunted house/ghost story, and part noir detective/history lesson. At times, early on, I felt caught in a loop with the storyline, which, to me, felt repetitive. That may have been on me as I only spent short clips with the story. The author created a great sense of place and space in the telling of FORGOTTEN SISTERS. The sisters, Anna and Jennie, have their mysteries and their quirks. Their dynamic is a sad one of family responsibility and multi-layered heartache. The two detectives were a special treat—infrequent as their POV was, but the story was not really theirs. That said, I wanted more of them. I’m probably a weirdo, but I think my favorite part was the history of Chicago and its river. There are loads of breadcrumbs hidden in this book that could be easily overlooked, and yet, that ending!  

Forgotten Sisters

by Cynthia “Cina” Pelayo

Published by Thomas & Mercer

March 19, 2024 | 303 Pages | ISBN 978-1662513916

Almost a perfect ending

For me, this one started off a bit rocky. There was so much going on—so much death and destruction. And it all seemed like it was just another day. I suppose, in light of all that has happened in Proofrock, that could be forgiven. All for all that, SJG’s writing is as sharp as a strait razor. And his knowledge of slashers, and other horror, is downright sick. 

“Nightfall’s always closer than you think.”

Poor Jade. This tale is packed with so much trauma—both real and supernatural—that things almost started to feel like one of THOSE old horror flicks where ALL the various monsters are jammed into one movie. Unlike those particular movies, Jade’s story is not played for laughs. Jones uses just enough humor in Jade’s story to give you a respite from everything he throws at you. The story is raw and relentless and it will ravage you. 

I wish this old brain that lives in my head were so old and addled. I had a hard time remembering all of the everything Jones packed into these three books. No one will ever or could ever write such a bloody lover’s story to the ‘Last Girl.’  I grew up in the 1970s and 80s. At that time I was like a lot of boys my age—obsessed with the slasher. I religiously sequestered myself in those dark places and watched all the senseless slaughter with terror and delight. I was an eager participant, but somewhere along the way I lost my taste for that kind of blood. So I never got to finish any of Jason’s tales. Or Michael Myers’s or Freddy’s. Or of the gruesome Texas family that spawned Leatherface. So, I missed much of the love Jones showered on the genre. It seems he referenced EVERY slasher know, and then some. But I’m sure he missed a few. He had to. People can’t be that perfect. 

That said, this being the final installment of The Indian Lake Trilogy, we get the LAST? of Jade Daniels. We also get Letha’s story, although not in the same way we did in DON’T FEAR THE REAPER, the second book of the trilogy. Jones ties up enough of the story threads so masterfully that I ended up hating to turn the last few pages. I did not want the story to end. And when you get to the last page, don’t skip the acknowledgments. They reveal much of what the author went through as he took us all on this bloody trip to Proofrock. 

The good news is that I am certain that Stephen Graham Jones will deliver something else as only he can tell it. 

 

The Angel of Indian Lake 

by Stephen Graham Jones

Published by S&S/Saga Press

March 26, 2024

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668011669

Rotten Fruit makes for a Wickedly Delicious Story

What happens when you take a writer who is obsessed by apples? You get a story that twists and turns like the roots of an old, wild apple tree. Engaging, horrific, and dare I say original? This one is packed with all the things that make a horror story great. Creepy, atmospheric setting? Check. Eye-popping gruesome visuals? Check. Suspense? Fear? The unknown? Oh, yes! Death? Multiples. The characters are rich and engaging. And if you like a folk and historic element, it has that, too. It almost sounds like too much, but Wendig masterfully weaves it all together. 

If I had to come up with a criticism, I’d say the horrific part of the tale started a little late for me, but it takes time for the seeds to germinate and grow. One other note. I listened to the audiobook and was happy that I listened all the way through all the end stuff. There I learned more about the author’s obsession with the fruit. I’ll certainly be keeping a watchful eye out for heirloom apples.  

 

Black River Orchard: A Novel

by Chuck Wendig

Published by Random House Audio

September 26, 2023 | 22 hours and 18 minutes | ASIN: B0BRBVY51P

Love is all there is

A little of my art to honor this great man and his work today.

He's No Angel