Rating: ★★★★★

In Summary

Genre: Adult Fiction

Publication Date: 1st February 2022

No. of Pages: 400

Keywords: Gothic, historical, feminism

Content Warnings: References to suicide, rape

Format:  Kindle

Review

The Cherry Robbers opens in New Mexico. The year is 2017 and Sylvia Wren is a renowned artist, known for her ‘explicitly female’ paintings. Despite the fame and fortune, Sylvia rarely leaves the house, preferring to stay hidden behind her new identity and in the shadow of her partner. But then a journalist reaches out; she has unearthed Sylvia’s previous identity. Newspaper clippings and interviews of Sylvia’s family are sent, forcing her to relive her devastating past as Iris Chapel.

In the 1950s, Iris Chapel is brought up in a lavish Victorian house with the riches of Chapel firearms surrounding her and her five sisters. With an aloof father and a haunted mother, the girls’ dream of escaping their ‘wedding cake’ mansion to start afresh. 

Setting the example, the eldest sister marries first but soon after, tragically dies of unknown causes. The aftermath is colossal but does not dissuade the second eldest from marrying, who follows suit in death. Grief swallows the Chapels as death becomes commonplace, and one by one the sisters fall.

Iris escapes her family and becomes Sylvia Wren, but can she avoid the same destiny as her sisters? 

The Round Up 

Standout Quote or Moment: ‘This story is jagged, could cut a deep wound. It isn’t a story I can tell with a thread and a need, stitching in clean lines. It’s shards or nothing.’

Read If: You enjoy captivating gothic mysteries that keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Last Impressions: Sarai Walker has written a brilliantly unique historical read which explores feminism, sexuality and cultural standards in the 1950s. She weaves these important issues into a page-turning horror story that leaves you thinking about the Chapel sisters long after you have put the book down.

Available from: The Bookshop, Waterstones, Amazon, Audible (sign up to a 30 day free trial or get 50% off for 3 months)

Written by Mia Pang

Instagram: @miasreadinghabit

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