Who Would Like This Book:
Looking for a lushly atmospheric, genuinely creepy Gothic tale with a unique twist? "Mexican Gothic" delivers classic haunted house chills, but transplants them to 1950s rural Mexico. The star of the show is Noemí - imagine a dazzling, headstrong socialite thrown into a crumbling, mist-enshrouded mansion full of sinister secrets and a fantastically bizarre family. If you love strong, sassy heroines, oozing atmosphere, slow-burning mysteries, and horror with a hefty side of social commentary and postcolonial critique, this is a fantastic pick. Fans of Shirley Jackson, Daphne du Maurier, "The Yellow Wallpaper," and strange, lingering dread will be right at home. If you want a modern take on traditional Gothic tropes with extra bite, you won’t put this down.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers didn’t vibe with the pacing - this one is a slow burn before it puts the pedal to the metal. The plot gets seriously weird and veers into surreal, even psychedelic horror territory, which might not be to everyone's taste. If you’re not keen on dream sequences, body horror, or disturbing themes (including implied sexual violence), you might want to skip. Those hoping for a more romantic or fast-paced Gothic, or a purely Mexican folkloric tale, might be thrown by the overtly English atmosphere of the haunted house. And if you dislike heavy-handed metaphors or prefer neatly plausible plots, the supernatural elements here may feel a bit over the top.
About:
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a gothic mystery set in Mexico in the 1950s, following the story of a young socialite named Noemi Taboada. Noemi receives a troubling letter from her cousin who recently married into the Doyle family and is unwell. She travels to the family's eerie mansion, High Place, where she encounters strange inhabitants and begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding her cousin's illness. The book combines elements of classic gothic romance, a haunted house mystery, and explores themes of colonialism and horror in a unique setting.
The writing style of Mexican Gothic is described as atmospheric and immersive, drawing readers into the cold and haunted environment of the mansion. The plot unfolds with suspenseful pacing, blending Victorian sensibilities with creepy and grotesque elements like mushrooms, mysterious dreams, and family secrets. The protagonist, Noemi, is highlighted as a strong and brave heroine who must navigate the dark secrets of High Place to save her cousin and herself, making for a gripping and eerie tale.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains elements of psychological horror, threats of sexual violence, and body horror.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"It's Lovecraft meets the Brontës in Latin America, and after a slow-burn start Mexican Gothic gets seriously weird."-The Guardian
IN DEVELOPMENT AS A HULU ORIGINAL LIMITED SERIES PRODUCED BY KELLY RIPA AND MARK CONSUELOS
WINNER OF THE LOCUS AWARD
NOMINATED FOR THE BRAM STOKER AWARD
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New Yorker
Vanity Fair
NPR
The Washington Post
Tordotcom
Marie Claire
Vox
Mashable
Men's Health
Library Journal
Book Riot
LibraryReads
An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes "a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror" (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico.
After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She's not sure what she will find-her cousin's husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She's a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she's also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin's new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi's dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family's youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family's past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family's once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.
"It's as if a supernatural power compels us to turn the pages of the gripping Mexican Gothic."-The Washington Post
"Mexican Gothic is the perfect summer horror read, and marks Moreno-Garcia with her hypnotic and engaging prose as one of the genre's most exciting talents."-Nerdist
"A period thriller as rich in suspense as it is in lush '50s atmosphere."-Entertainment Weekly
Ratings (319)
Incredible (27) | |
Loved It (85) | |
Liked It (96) | |
It Was OK (59) | |
Did Not Like (43) | |
Hated It (9) |
Reader Stats (783):
Read It (319) | |
Currently Reading (6) | |
Want To Read (322) | |
Did Not Finish (25) | |
Not Interested (111) |
12 comment(s)
This book was very disappointing. I kept seeing it hyped on book blogs, Bookstagram, and BookTok. I was super excited to read this and then even more excited once I got a notification from the library telling me that I got to jump the line for my chance to read this book. I can't entirely if this was a case of overhyped and then not so good, or if I just didn't enjoy this book.
The book does start out slow. But it adds to story as the pass mimics the tedium and frustration the main character is dealing with.
When the story does pick up you end up devouring it.
Beautifully written with creative imagery and vivid scenes. Wish I had known there was a playlist to go with it prior to reading.
Book starts slow. No mystery until 2/3 the way through the book. So, it feels like a short story where you could skip most of the book. Not scary at all.
Part of 100 books to read before you are murdered.
A pretty decent story but not GREAT for me. Took much too long to take off, the cousin was only actually seen a couple times even though she was the main reason for being there. The last few pages were packed full of a confusing conclusion. I actually almost quit this one a few times....
Silvia spins once again a beautiful tale, only this time filled with horror, gothic manors, pale boys, psychic mushrooms and a dash of longing and desire and a strong heroine that stops at nothing.
Very interesting and kept me intrigued. It ended well. But there were parts in the book that were so rapey which is not my cup of tea.
A real treat for fans of the gothic tradition and weird fiction. Truly a slow burn with excellent reward in the third act.
4.5 stars
It read like a breeze. Just read it in a day!
RTC
Happy Reading!
I'm about to word vomit because I love
Mexican Gothic so much, but I'll refrain for the moment. I'll probably have to come back and write this review later because I need to collect my thoughts.
What can you read after
Mexican Gothic?
About the Author:
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed speculative novels Gods of Jade and Shadow, Signal to Noise, Certain Dark Things, and The Beautiful Ones; and the crime novel Untamed Shore. She has edited several anthologies, includ-ing the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (aka Cthulhu's Daughters). She lives…
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