Children of Chicago

Starred review from December 21, 2020
When Chicago PD homicide cop Lauren Medina, the protagonist of this impressive crime novel from Pelayo (Santa Muerte), was 14, her nine-year-old sister, Marie, was found drowned in a lagoon in Humboldt Park, a victim of suspected foul play. Marie’s ghost has since haunted Medina, who blames herself, as she was responsible for picking up Marie after school the day of the tragedy, but didn’t wait for her. The mystery of Marie’s death is revived after Medina’s called to the scene of the fatal shooting of Hadiya, a high school senior, above whose body someone wrote “Pied Piper” on a wall. Medina was mesmerized by the fairy tale when she was younger, and is horrified to learn that some who knew Hadiya believe that she was killed by the Pied Piper after his murderous spirit was summoned to claim her life. More people die before the dark truth about Marie’s death emerges. Pelayo masterfully ratchets up the tension and the scares. Robert McCammon fans will be pleased. Agent: Amy Brewer, Metamorphosis Literary.

Starred review from January 1, 2021

Lauren Medina is new to the rank of detective in the Chicago Police Department, but her roots run deep as the daughter of a CPD legend. Dealing with her dad's recent death, the dissolution of her marriage, and a history of trauma involving the death of her mother and sister, Medina immerses herself in her work, trying to stop the epidemic of violence against Chicago's children. But there is a dark force stronger than any gang stalking its young victims, and Medina unfortunately knows the Pied Piper, his strength, and the great cost of wielding his power. Pelayo (Into The Forrest And All The Way Through), a lifelong Chicagoan, presents a well-researched modern fairy tale, peppered with nuggets of fascinating information that inform the story without sacrificing the pace or atmosphere. Even more remarkable is how expertly she works the unreliable narrator trope, from the first page to the final, shocking twist. VERDICT With superior worldbuilding, a relentless pace, a complex heroine, and a harrowing story that preys off of current events as much as its well-developed monster, this is a stellar horror novel that fires on all cylinders, from the first page through to its horrible conclusion. For fans of dark fantasy based on fairy tales such as Seanan McGuire's "Wayward Children" series or novels by Helen Oyeyemi, with just the right touch of Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski.

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2021
Murders in Chicago are all too commonplace, but for Detective Lauren Medina, there's something forebodingly familiar about this latest string of killings. Her life has always been rough, and the trauma of her childhood has left a black spot in her memory. But as she continues to investigate these latest, gruesome crimes, she realizes that she may not be able to keep forgetting forever. Crime scene clues point to a larger force at play--a folktale come to life in the most vicious and cruel ways--and Lauren must delve into her past in order to stop the killings. Though this is definitely a horror novel, Pelayo has also crafted a love story to Chicago, particularly the Latinx community, weaving history, culture, and landmarks into the fabric of the story until the city practically breathes. It is also a love story to fairy tales, and Pelayo intersperses retellings throughout the book, examining the structure, meaning, and value of the original tales. Perfect for fans of Christopher Golden and Victor LaValle, Pelayo's dark, reimagined fairy tale will have readers leaving their lights on long after they've turned the last page.

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