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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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 (194)
Incredible (11) | |
Loved It (54) | |
Liked It (61) | |
It Was OK (37) | |
Did Not Like (27) | |
Hated It (4) |
Reader Stats (467):
Read It (193) | |
Currently Reading (5) | |
Want To Read (190) | |
Did Not Finish (18) | |
Not Interested (61) |
5 comment(s)
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.
I got a skip the line copy from libby so I had to binge read this in 7 days ahaha. It's a nice book that pays homage to a lot of gothic tropes.
Will stew on this a bit longer
A different twist on the classic haunted house.
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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