This. was. wild. One of the most beautifully horrifying things I've ever read. The writing is just. so. good. There are scenes in this book that induced a physical reaction, it was so vivid. Simply incredible. Not to mention the setting of 1950s Mexico, all of the call backs to classic gothic literature. I hereby pledge to read everything Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes from here on out and I suggest you do too.

One of my most highly anticipated June releases and I was able to get an early copy! Color me stoked. If you read Gods of Jade and Shadow last year, you'll know that Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a master at weaving fantasy. That plus her use of Mexico as a setting makes her stories completely compelling to me.
However, this one fell a little flat for me. May I had way to high expectations, maybe I just wasn't in the right mind set, regardless this one just didn't cut it for me.
Things I did love though include the amount of history used to convey the area where the story takes place, High Place. The unlikely romance between the younger Doyle cousin and Noemi. Noemi being far too outspoken for her time and wanting to continue her education. Noemi never leaving her cousin behind and ultimately being the heroine even though she is a socialite. Basically I loved the character of Noemi.
Francis Doyle was another character I really grew fond of. He's quiet but intelligent and knows that his family is corrupt. The friendship that blossoms between Francis and Noemi is also a high point for me.
I also really enjoyed the theory of immortality that is present within the book but ultimately I think the fantasy genre took over the book and made it less horror and less mystery than I would have liked.
The imaginary is outstanding and while I loved the vivid descriptions and the unique take, I found myself losing track of the story because of my focus on the descriptions instead. I found myself comparing this book to The Tenth Girl and The Women in the Mirror and both of those were ★★★ reads for me, hence why I've decided to round down from 3.5 this time around.
I still think a lot of folks will enjoy this book. Especially if you like gothic stories and settings. The Gothic genre is really just not for me, I'm finding out.

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Mexican Gothic. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books. Huge thank you to netgalley and Del Rey Books for my advanced copy.

This was a great read. Dark, moody, creepy. Just grotesque enough. Once again Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing entrances the reader. The author truly knows how to build a world with words.

Noemi was a fun guide in this read. Great choice for a main character. The supporting folks were like something out of an old Twilight Zone episode.

5/5 for a distracting pandemic read

This book gave me chills. It’s so exciting and interesting, and I was wholly sucked in, I needed to know what was going to happen next!

Mexican Gothic. As the title indicates, Silvia Moreno-Garcia takes the classic gothic literature tropes and transplants them to a 1950s Mexico setting, all the while retaining many of this genres very English trappings.
After receiving a distressing letter from her recently married cousin, Noemí leaves the parties and nightlife of Mexico City for a remote villa and High Place, a sprawling estate tucked away in the mountains and hidden in fog. Her cousin, Catalina, was recently wed to a British man and mining magnate, Virgil Doyle, whose family owns High Place and once operated the now-defunct silver mine the home overlooks. She suspects Virgil of poisoning Catalina, but the secrets she uncovers about High Place and the Doyle family are far worse than she could have possibly imagined.

Moreno-Garcia checks off all the usual staples of gothic horror in eloquent fashion, all the while subverting them in marvelous ways. Yes, we get the gloomy, secluded British castle with secrets of its own, but in a wonderful reversal of roles the virginal maiden, brown-skinned Noemí, is also the hero, a welcome feminist spin fully appropriate for the times. She’s a woman with agency and ambitions, and is not a wilting flower constantly in need of a man’s saving. This is particularly important given there’s not many noble men in High Place at all, let alone ones that actually want to save her. Trapped in High Place and unwilling to abandon Catalina to this family’s depravities, Noemí is certainly outnumbered by the awful, predatory males of the Doyle family, and the few redeemable and decent men she encounters are themselves victims, either directly or by circumstance.

The author does a fantastic job keeping us guessing about the motivations of the Doyle clan, slowly filling in their history. We learn of the roles they've played in shaping this villa alongside Noemí, who quickly learns of the family’s fascination with eugenics, and slowly unravels the violent past surrounding the Doyle’s mine and the family’s own internal conflicts. Moreno-Garcia subtly explores aspects of British imperialism and white supremacy via the Doyle’s mine and the treatment of their Mexican laborers, as well as toxic masculinity and misogyny. Even the dirt the manor is built upon is imported from England, and the fact that High Place is rotting from the inside -- and its interior filled with rotten, evil people -- makes for a wonderful metaphor regarding racism and classism. Mexican Gothic is a slow-burn potboiler, but the plot provides plenty of grisly fodder and emerging threats to keep readers fully engaged.

It’s the book climax that really helps put this book over the top, though, and Moreno-Garcia lets her talents as a horror writer shine as she fully turns her attention to the supernatural elements underpinning this work. To say that it’s absolutely glorious and wholly satisfying undersells it, but it is a magnificent, violent, and moving set piece, and I loved the ways she tied everything together in the end.

Mexican Gothic is a vital and necessary #OwnVoices update for gothic horror literature, and it sets a high bar for Moreno-Garcia’s contemporaries and their works to follow. If you loved Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson’s Monster, She Wrote and are in need of a prime example of present-day gothic horror done right, then you owe it to yourself to read Mexican Gothic immediately.

I fell in love with Silvia Moreno-Garcia earlier this year when I finally read Gods of Jade and Shadow. I am a regular reader of fantasy and magical realism, so that book was a 100% win for me. But, equal to the plot and characters was the beautiful prose. When I saw Mexican Gothic was set to come out this summer I jumped on it even though it is very much outside my genre comfort zone. I am not a horror reader and even joked that to get through this one I would have to read it during the day only. I don't know if I am a horror convert after this, but much to my delight I loved this book! I couldn't stop reading this one late into the night and again was pulled in by vivid characters, setting, and stunning writing.

Noemi is asked to travel from Mexico City to visit her cousin Catalina after the family receives a cryptic and concerning letter from her. Catalina is recently married and has moved into her English husband's ancestral home. When Noemi arrives she discovers a creepy, ramshackle house high in the hills away from the town. She is immediately concerned after meeting the strange and strict members of the family and seeing that Catalina is nearly catatonic. She befriends Francis, the youngest member of the household and the most normal and begins to investigate the strange goings-on in the house. What she uncovers is disturbing and she begins to wonder if she will ever be able to leave the house.

This book is deliciously creepy with a plot that keeps you turning the page for more. I highly recommend this book if you love horror, dark fantasy, historical fiction with a twist, or all of the above. And the cherry on top is the absolutely gorgeous cover art! Do yourself a favor and read this book... but, maybe leave the lights on ;)

Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine (Del Rey) gifted me this egalley in exchange for.a fair and honest review.

I loved the author's previous work so I was excited to dig into this project. Moreno-Garcia's writing style always amazes me with the patience she allots as she builds her story. I felt like this genre suited her style well–she masters fleshing out her characters and the was imagery like splashes of paint that juxtaposed the chilling horror that unfolds.

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley.

Story (4/5): This was a really good gothic horror story set in Mexico in the 1950's. It was a fun and easy read and very creepy at points. I whipped through it pretty quickly and enjoyed it. The premise is that Noemi finds out that her cousin is ailing after her recent marriage. Noemi’s father asks Noemi to journey to the remote house her cousin is now living in and see how Noemi can assist her. When Noemi gets there she finds herself in an incredibly strange situation where the house itself seems set against her.

Characters (4/5): I enjoyed Noemi a lot, as a character she comes across as very carefree and a bit snobbish at first but as the story continues you find out she is also very tough and stubborn as well. She’s capable and does an excellent job maneuvering her way through a very strange situation. Her only ally in the house is a strange pale young man and I enjoyed him as well. The creepy characters are also very well done.

Setting (5/5): I thoroughly enjoyed the setting in this creepy old house; this was incredibly well done. I also loved that this was set in Mexico in the 1950’s, it was an interesting look into the history of that region.

Writing Style (4/5): The book was well written and easy to read. It got a bit too creepy for my tastes at times. However, the story was very entertaining and engaging and I ended up really enjoying it. The pacing was quick and the mystery very well put together.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to those who enjoy creepy haunted house type of mysteries with some supernatural elements to them. This story was especially unique because of the time period and setting it takes place in. I plan on checking out other books by Moreno-Garcia.

I was drawn in from the start with this book. The cover of the actual book is gorgeous.. The book starts out with a sense of foreboding. The main character going to check on her cousin after receiving a disturbing letter from her cousin. She has to stay in this creepy house and figure out what is wrong with her cousin. It reminded me little bit of Stranger Things the show. The unimaginable takes place and she has to fight her way of that house. Thank you for the chance to read this book.

After the magical realism of “Gods of Jade and Shadow,” Moreno-Garcia has returned to her horror roots with this is a slow building story of a spooky house with creepy inhabitants. Her main character starts off as a woman who seems to care about great clothes and parties with equal fervor, but her spine of steel and other underlying characteristics shine through the novel. Vividly chilling.

After receiving a distressing letter from her newlywed cousin Catalina in which Catalina rambles about creepy visions and alleges that her husband is poisoning her, socialite Noemí Taboada visits her cousin in order to evaluate her cousin's mental and physical health and persuade Catalina's husband to permit her to be moved to Mexico City for treatment if necessary. Upon arriving at High Place, a crumbling Victorian-style manor set high in the mountains in the old mining town of El Triunfo, Noemí quickly realizes that Catalina's strange new in-laws are hiding dark secrets.

I adore Moreno-Garcia's atmospheric style, with her vivid imagery and characters and the way the novel slowly builds suspense as the odd and unsettling gives way to horror. High Place is a truly spooky house, and from the beginning, its inhabitants throw Noemí off balance, from hot and manipulative Virgil to the imperious and provocative elderly patriarch Howard.

I also enjoyed the way Moreno-Garcia tackled themes of colonialism and eugenics with this novel. The patriarch of the family, Howard Doyle, is an English immigrant who brought his family to Mexico to make their fortune in the silver mining business. He is smitten with eugenics and believes strongly in the superiority of his family's breeding, and he frequently uses these beliefs to provoke Noemí, belittling or exoticizing her. It's a fascinating tack to take, given Mexico's history with colonization and race.

Early marketing framed this novel as gothic suspense, which makes sense: there's a handsome, brooding husband, a decaying mansion, and dark family secrets. It's definitely on the horror side of suspense, though.

I'm not usually a fan of horror, but I truly enjoyed this book. The pacing and atmosphere is fabulous, and it reminds me a bit of the movie Crimson Peak. (I now desperately want to see this book made into a movie by Guillermo del Toro.) I liked seeing how Noemí used people's perceptions of her and expectations of 1950s-era women to manipulate others around her so that she could figure out what was going on and how to escape with her cousin. She's a strong female protagonist whose strength and ability to survive often lies in character traits typically associated with weakness, and I loved that the book didn't condemn her for deliberately wielding her femininity in that way.

I strongly recommend this book to fans of horror and dark fantasy. It's beautifully creepy and terrifying, and strongly feminist in its approach to gothic horror.

Set in 1950's Mexico Noemi is enjoying a life of comfort, attending parties and working on her degree. After her cousin marries a virtual stranger and moves to his home next to an abandoned mine, Noemi receives a disturbing telegram that makes her worry about her sanity. Noemi's father sends her to the home to check on her cousin and investigae what is going on. When she arrives she finds a home in disrepair, a cold family, silent staff, and that her cousin's health is more worrisome than she thought. Despite wanting to leave, she feels she must stay and get help. But when she does try to leave, she finds she can't.

From the cover of the book, I thought I might be getting a historical fiction and that is how the book begins. However, this is a horror book and is really quite creepy. I don't want to give any spoilers away as that is the fun of the book but it has a ghost story/haunted house vibe. There are some serious topics in this book so it wouldn't be for sensitive readers. If you enjoy both historical fiction and horror then pick this up! "Mexican Gothic" is available June 30, 2020.

"Don't build a wall around your own sufferings or it may devour you from the inside." (Frida Kahlo)

Noemi Taboada doesn't know much about suffering. She's a young 22 year old socialite whose only exercise is pushing fancy evening dresses back and forth in her closet. Decisions fall into categories of which parties to attend or not. It's 1951 in Mexico City and as the daughter of a very successful chemical dye businessman all her needs are met. Her father indulges her in piano lessons and patiently awaits her decisions on constantly changing career choices and perspective suitors.

But now Senor Taboada will be asking much of this young woman. He has received a frantic letter from his niece Catalina who hints greatly of a life of disarray and chaos. Catalina married an Englishman in secrecy and haste. The newlyweds live in a Victorian style house in the far off countryside of Hidalgo. Virgil Doyle traces his family back to generations living on the edge of a once prosperous silver mine. Senor Taboada fears for his niece's health and sends Noemi to observe the situation. Noemi will clutch that train ticket that will shuttle her to a life-changing venture she could never dream possible.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has chosen an absolutely stunning cover for this book. Gaze upon this breath-taking young woman surrounded by the velvet of the swirling design on the wallpaper behind her. In her hands are grasped the sweetness and the delicacy of those flowers. The slope of her fine shoulders may indicate aloof indifference or may reveal the arching stiffness of intensity. You'll come to find out by lifting the cover and stepping within.

Mexican Gothic introduces us to a highly creative and unexpected storyline. Moreno-Garcia has us placing our feet on unstable ground as it turns into a slowly sinking marsh under foot. The pacing is not rushed as we soon take note of what is really happening here. The characters tilt their heads with prim and properness while causing us to take note that there is far more here than the mind can balance. Bravo, Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Just Bravo for such a job well done.

I received a copy of Mexican Gothic through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Random House Publishers and to the talented Silvia Moreno-Garcia for the opportunity.

"You must come for me, Noemi. You have to save me. I cannot save myself as much as I wish to."

This is what is in the frantic, rambling letter from Noemi's recently married cousin, Catalina, and it is what gets the young Mexico City socialite to agree to her father's request to investigate the matter. Noemi heads for the High Place, the crumbling, damp, and drafty English manor-house in the Mexican countryside, owned by the Doyle family, which Catalina recently married into after a short courtship. Noemi is greeted by strict rules from quiet and sullen inhabitants of the house, a library full of material on eugenics, and terrifying dreams of a golden woman. Will Noemi be able to help her cousin, learn the secrets of the High Place.... and save herself?

Another wonderful heart-pounding, page-turner of a novel from Moreno-Garcia, "Mexican Gothic" blends the glamor of 1950s Mexico with the horror and aesthetic of classic gothic literature. It is delightfully eerie and creepy, full of hauntings, cryptic characters, and deep, dark family secrets. A brilliant take on classic elements of the gothic novel, "Mexican Gothic" is a horror novel like no other that will have you holding your breath, wondering if Noemi will be able to free herself of High Place... or if she will be trapped forever.

I'm sorry, I did not like this novel. I thought it was very slow and I had no interest in the characters or plot. It started off very promising with Noemi's first nightmare but didn't go anywhere after that. Based on the reviews, I expected something completely different. This is on me and not the author, who writes very well.

Oh how I love a good old-fashioned Gothic novel and "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia definitely did not disappoint! This book is everything a reader could want from a Gothic novel-it has mysterious characters, it is set in a spooky and isolated Victorian mansion, there is an eerie graveyard, the protagonist is a beautiful and clever woman-but with a Mexican twist! "Mexican Gothic" is a highly satisfying read and will keep the reader turning pages as fast as he or she can. It is one of those books that you want to devour in one sitting.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this truly fabulous book. I will be recommending it to all of my reading groups. Five out of five stars!

I have chills. Horror is not a genre I tend to gravitate towards but this was mesmerizing. The book grabbed me and wouldn't let go. It's a story that made me feel in need of a shower with its descriptions of rot and ruin. It didn't feel grotesque, because the author gave it life. The writing of Silvia Moreno-Garcia is magnetic. This book is a mystery dripping with poison waiting to devour you in the deepest, darkest shadows.

This is a mysterious story, revolving around family secrets and a sinister home reminiscent of Manderly from the classic, Rebecca.

Mexican Gothic takes place in 1950’s in Mexico. The main character, Noemi, is a young debutante firecracker of a girl. But the real character MVP of the story is the sprawling house, known as High Place. It had a life of its own and that element was fun.

Although this story was intriguing, I felt like I had an overall disconnect with the characters and couldn’t quite get there when it came to forming a bond with them. I also felt like it went on redundant circles at times. There were some aspects I really loved, like the inclusion of Mexican culture and the haunting atmospheric qualities associated with the home. I also found the topic of eugenics to be a creepy and an startling component.

Overall, it was a unique read that thriller lovers should check out!

[Review will be posted 6/23/20]

I devoured this book in one sitting; I simply couldn't pry my eyes away until the end... CREEPY house, CREEPY people, & excellently plotted Gothic thriller set in 1950s Mexico that you won't be able to put down!

"He is trying to poison me. You must come for me, Noemí. You have to save me."

The tightly woven narrative of Mexican Gothic fills you with a sense of foreboding early on, that tension slowly builds as the story progresses. The atmosphere is immersive and eerie, but so are the characters. Everyone and everything filled me with unease and I love how ominous and horrifying the book is.

"They're cursed, I tell you, and that house is haunted. You're very silly or very brave living in a haunted house."

This is definitely a plot & mystery-driven novel, but I love that all of the characters feel as real as the main character and narrator Noemí. She's a vain socialite in her 20s, a bit unlikeable for me but also caring for her cousin and deeply inquisitive. I like her strength to buck convention and challenge societal expectations, and I appreciated how nuanced she felt - unlikable, yet I found myself rooting for her.

"In a sense all dreams foretell events, but some more clearly than others."

I love how time and reality slowly begin to blur. Like the fog that blankets the mansion's grounds, there's an eerie dreamlike quality where you're not sure what you're seeing. (Honestly, this is what I wished The Haunting of Hill House was.) I loved how everything pieced together into a truly horrific last quarter of the book that left my horror-loving heart so satisfied!

Overall, this book was incredible and I can't stop thinking about it a week later. Mexican Gothic has a slow start that is true to the Gothic Horror genre and builds tension slowly. If you liked Crimson Peak, this book matches that aesthetic and vibes well in my opinion.

Content warnings: body horror, cannibalism, child death, gore, incest, racism, sexual assault

eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and subject to change upon final publication.

This was terrific read!

I loved the setting of 1950 Mexico City and the main girl Noemi was pretty fascinating from the beginning. Normally gothic horror books are pretty slow-paced but this kept me glued to the pages even though half the times I wanted to throw the book and scream, it was pretty terrifying!

Did you want Mexican folklore, horror, paranoia, humiliation, and Darwin’s theory of natural selection rolled into one story? Well, this is it for you!