Higgins Clark Award and received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Her second novel, Only the Guilty Survive, has just hit the booskstores.
[My Book, The Movie: The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard; The Page 69 Test: The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard; Q&A with Kate Robards]
Robards studied journalism and advertising at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Currently, she works in communications at a nonprofit organization.
When she isn’t writing her next book, Robards is spending time with her children, gardening, reading, or tackling a new sewing project. She lives outside Chicago with her family.
At CrimeReads the author tagged five books
shedding light on the spectrum of cult dynamics—from the seductive allure of communal living to the chilling influence of charismatic leaders. They explore the psychological mechanisms behind indoctrination, the haunting aftermath of cult experiences, and the enduring questions of guilt and blame that permeate such narratives.One title on the list:
The Girls – Emma ClineRead about the other books on the list.
In The Girls, Evie Boyd, a bored 14-year-old in California, leaves home to join a cult reminiscent of Charles Manson’s “family.” Even if you’re largely unaware of the actions of Manson and his followers in the late sixties, you’d likely pick up on how closely the fictional storyline is modeled after theinfamous group and its crimes. Emma Cline’s main character is a groundless teen plagued by adolescent problems, who is sucked into the orbit of Suzanne, an alluring member of a group of girls who worship an egomaniac leader named Russell and live at a ramshackle ranch. While Cline doesn’t recreate the actions of the Manson cult, the trajectory the story follows is reminiscent of reality, especially when the girls break into a home—the calling card of Manson’s followers. There’s even a famous rock musician offering Russell a record deal—a detail similar to the real-life connection between Manson and Beach Boy Dennis Wilson. The story is narrated by middle-aged Evie in the present time, allowing the reader to grasp both the emotions of a vulnerable teen as she recalls the events and the perspective of someone who’s spent her life analyzing her role in the events that took place. While the story is very much linked to Manson and his family, it’s Cline’s vivid writing style that sets The Girls apart.
--Marshal Zeringue
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