Maite is tired of her plain life in Mexico City as a secretary. She escapes into her record collection and issues of Secret Romance, telling her coworkers about dates and boyfriends she only daydreams about.
Maite is practically oblivious to the political unrest in the city and the dangerous student protests. What she does notice is her neighbor, Leonora, who she envies for her beauty and the interesting life she seems to lead. When Leonora asks her to watch her apartment and feed her cat for a couple of days, Maite agrees. However, Leonora fails to return and Maite begins a search for the missing woman, leading her on an adventure full of the passion and danger she’s only daydreamed about.

Velvet Was the Night is an atmospheric historical fiction / noir. It’s a slow burn … a bit too slow for me, causing the suspense to fizzle out unfortunately. The characters are intriguing enough for me to recommend this book but there was a level of disappointment in the restrained storytelling.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Velvet Was the Night is scheduled for release on August 17, 2021.

Maite lives in Mexico City and she's a secretary. It's the 1970's and there's a lot of political turmoil. When her next door neighbor Leonora goes missing under suspicious circumstances Maite decides to try to find her. As she searches she uncovers Leonora's secret life of student rallies and political activism. It seems that many people are looking for Leonora. Elvis is one of them. Technically he's a criminal with a tender heart. As they both begin to unlock the secrets about Leonora's disappearance things start to get dangerous. According to the synopsis, "Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes."

What a wild ride! I couldn't read this book fast enough! This story is ACTION PACKED and I felt like I was watching a crime movie play out in my mind. The story alternated between Maite and Elvis' perspectives. I loved both of these characters so much and it was neat to see the story develop through their eyes. As we learned more about Leonora, what she was involved in and who was looking for her, it left me unsure of who I was supposed to be cheering for and I loved that. It was one of my favorite parts. I haven't heard much about the Mexican Dirty War either, which is the historical setting of the novel. It made me want to learn more about this war. I highly recommend this one!

**Thank you Randon House-Ballantine/Del Rey for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Velvet was the Night is out August 17th!

This is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes. Maite is living for Secret Romance, a comic book. Elvis is working for the mob. Leonora is their connection.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an incredible writer and always shows such versatility in her books -- Velvet Was the Night is no exception! So different from her other novels, Velvet Was the Night is a noir mystery set in 1970s Mexico City. It follows Maite, a secretary who is clearly unhappy with her life, losing herself into comic book stories of romance and passion. She dreams (and sometimes fibs) of men sweeping her off her feet and into a different life.

When asked to watch her neighbor Leonora's, cat, she agrees. Yet, in a time filled with student protests and political unrest, Leonora disappears and with her, a canister of film that everyone seems to be looking for. Maite is pulled into her Leonora's life of student radicals and dissidents as she searches for her, racing the clock against hitmen, government agents, and a Russian spy who are also searching for her.

Fast-paced and exciting, Velvet Was the Night quickly pulled me in with a character that felt so realistic. Not only was the story great, but it was a book I could hear; often records were mentioned and Silvia Moreno-Garcia provided an excellent playlist that fit beautifully with the story. I highly recommend this one, especially for those who enjoy noirs!

Velvet Was the Night is an historical fiction noir. At a much slower pace than its cousin the thriller, the atmosphere and mood of this book is deliciously, velvety, dark. Silvia Moreno-Garcia can genre hop better than most authors I've read. She writes consistently good prose. This tale uses the early 70s of Mexico City and its civil unrest as the backdrop of a political suspense story, propelling various interesting characters toward each other that culminates in a very satisfying conclusion. Velvet begins with the university students protesting oppression and the dictatorship that was masquerading as a democracy, when they are attacked by Los Halcones. Our two main protagonists, Elvis and Maite, are both searching for one such protestor, for very different reasons. The narrative switches seamlessly between the two. I found myself leaning forward in my chair to hasten the chase to the conclusion, and I was satisfied when I reached it. Moreno-Garcia has done it again, and I applaud her.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books have been a bit hit and miss for me in the past but I can safely say that this one was totally awesome. I've never read a noir before so I was going in cold, but found the story so gripping! It's set in 1970s Mexico, naturally a period of history I know nothing about (like most periods of history to be honest), so I learned a lot. Loved the blunt writing style, loved the characters and loved the mystery.

Velvet was the Night follows two characters who appear to be a little bit lost in life. Elvis is a goon in a squad called the Hawks. He’s not really happy being a criminal – he hates violence and loves music, but there doesn’t seem to be another place for him in the world. Maite is a legal secretary who lives for romance comics. She lives alone, feels plain and uninteresting and is constantly reminded that she is 30 and unmarried. But her somewhat uneventful life takes a turn for the chaotic when she agrees to feed her neighbour Leonora’s cat. When Leonora disappears, Maite and Elvis’ stories become intertwined as they both look for the lost art student.

So, let’s start with Maite’s character. I LOVED her a lot. She’s a seemingly average person working at a job she doesn’t really like, with dreams of breaking the monotony that she never has the energy to achieve. When Leonora disappears, Maite doesn’t really have to get herself involved but ends up drawn into this world of goons, government agencies and Russian spies, filled with danger and suspense. For someone introverted and quiet, she handles it all surprisingly well, and I view her as a character with quiet steel in her. I also found myself relating to Elvis, doing this job that doesn’t fit him because he lacks choices. Both characters are romantic and have a soft-spot for music, which draws Elvis to Maite even before she knows who he is. I found having these two perspectives so interesting – the characters felt very real to me which is no mean feat in a 300 page novel with as much plot as this one has.

OK, so not going to lie, the big mystery is set around these photos that Leonora supposedly has, and I did guess what it was about. But this didn’t take away my enjoyment from the story, there were plenty of other strange twists to keep me intrigued. There is a whole cast of side characters and it is difficult to work out who Maite can trust. I was shocked on reading some of the history after I finished the book – some of the conspiracy style events actually happened. Such a dark period of time for Mexico.

Overall, this was a thrilling read where relatable characters are thrown into extraordinary circumstances. I loved the blunt writing style, the pace, the tension – all of it was excellently crafted. Never expected I’d like a book about spies and goons but here we are. Silvia does such a great job with the imagery of the whole thing, I think it would make for such an exciting TV show.

When Maite's next door neighbor Lenora disappears, Maite starts trying to figure out what happened to Lenora. Mexico City in 1970 was filled with political unrest and student protests. As Maite digs deeper into Lenora's life, Maite finds herself in danger and crosses paths with a criminal named Elvis. This was a good historical thriller that kept me reading until the very last page. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

A historical mystery story taking place in Mexico City during the 1970s…yes, please! This one had a lot of aspects I enjoyed. The author can definitely write well, and had some very eloquent and memorable descriptions. Unfortunately, the storyline itself felt slow. It falls in the middle for me! Not a favorite story, but one I did like at times…would be curious to read more by the author.

After loving her first novel, I was a little surprised about how much I did not enjoy this one. I think the noir genre might just not be for me? I also wasn't loving how much history and politics was in this book, although her character development continues to be on point!

In terms of recommending this book to others, I would only do it if I thought this genre was up their alley and not if they were looking for another Mexican Gothic.

I loved the historical fiction aspect and learning more about Mexico City, the Dirty War, the Hawks, and the suppression of rock n roll during this time period. I really enjoyed what Silvia Moreno-Garcia did by bringing to light what happened in Mexico and integrating music and the hope it brings to people by writing this book. The synposis really intrigued me and I was excited to get a chance to read another book by this particular author.

However, this was a miss for me. Although, I feel all the elements for a great book were there.The last approximately 20% of the book was my favorite part. It was action packed and I flew through the pages. I just wish I had more of that throughout the book.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if I enjoyed the characters more. I was not a fan of Maite. I thought she was too naive for her age and her decisions/ thoughts, such as her opinions of others and her lying, frustrated me throughout the story.

I did enjoy Elvis and I liked how their stories alternated with the chapters and began to intertwine the closer they were to figuring out what happened to Leonora.

Overall, I think that Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an amazing writer to be able to write such a broad array of genres and I am always so excited to read what she has created. This one, unfortunately, was my least favorite of hers I have read so far. I did not think it had her beautiful prose I have come to love so much, and it was hard for me to complete this book.

***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!

I really tried with this one, but I think I have to accept that noir is not for me. Although, other times I have loved it. I don't know. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. I am really disappointed because I loved Mexican Gothic SO MUCH and was really looking forward to this one. The cover is gorgeous and I enjoy the author. I am glad to see so many others really loving it, because it will definitely have an audience.

I really liked this! There were some funny moments, which I wasn't expecting. Every time Maite talked about the cat, I giggled a little. I feel like I've never read a book with this kind of atmosphere, which - according to other reviewers - is due to the 'noir' genre? I guess it gave me that feeling of like an old timey mystery movie. Really good, highly recommend!

Maite, a secretary leading a quiet life, becomes involved in a complicated policitical situation. Her neighbor, Leonora, asked Maite to feed her cat for a few days while she was away. But Leonora did not come back. Maite finally got a call from her and was going to meet her and take the cat and a box Leonora wanted. But then Leonora didn't show up at the meeting place. Maite then begins meeting others concerned about Leonora. Her quiet life quickly become chaotic.

The book was atmospheric and the characters were vivid. The story provided a perspective on the political unrest at the time and even the suppression of rock music that had been imposed by the govenment..

ilvia Moreno-Garcia is very talented in creating certain atmospheres and moods that are cohesive with the characters, in this case, the extreme loneliness felt by the character. The dual perspectives are key to understanding the story and character development and are well done. Also, the stakes may not feel as high as a typical thriller but that is because it is a historical noir. If you are a fan of historical novels engrossed in a world of crime and unrest, I would definitely recommend.

Thanks to Del Ray and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

I received a digital advance copy of Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia through NetGalley. Velvet was the Night is scheduled for release on August 17, 2021.

Velvet was the Night is a noir novel, set in 1970s Mexico City. It focuses on Maite, a secretary who dreams of romance and adventure. When her next door neighbor asks her to watch her cat, then fails to return, Maite is pulled into the political situation unfolding in the city. Maite finds her story entwined with Elvis, a criminal who is currently working for a goon squad on a mission to quash the radicals and dissidents in the city.

I have read other novels by Moreno-Garcia. This one is very different. There are no speculative elements here (which took me a minute to adjust to), this is a pure novel noir. Moreno-Garcia gives us antiheroes, amoral criminals, and a story filled with mystery.

Moreno-Garcia gives us a cast of characters that are what we expect in noir, but manages to make them more than caricatures. While they slot into the expected character types, they also have unique motivations and backstory that keep them from feeling flat.

The plot of the novel centers on the search for the missing neighbor, with the individual story lines of several of the characters eventually coming together in the resolution of the story. While I did not predict the final twists of the story, Moreno-Garcia had left enough clues throughout that the outcome made sense.

The only element that was lacking for me was the setting. In this novel, Moreno-Garcia is writing in a very different style than her other novels. This style makes sense for noir, but also takes away some of the rich prose that appears in her other works. I noticed this most in relation to the setting. While the reader gets descriptions of interior settings, I was missing the overall feel of the city. I think a bit of Moreno-Garcia’s more typical writing style would have added this depth and feeling to the setting and immersed us in the world.

Overall, Velvet was the Night is a historical noir that will likely appeal to readers who are fans of the genre.

Velvet was the Night is an enthralling historical noir with complex, well rounded characters and settings so descriptive and vibrant that it was easy to get lost in. Despite being drawn to the action and the overall mystery behind the disappearance of Leonara, I stuck around for Maite and Elvis. Maite's character arc, discovery of who she is and what she stands for and believes, and was easily my favorite of the two.

The pacing was on the slower side and I found Elvis' chapters to not hold my attention as well, but I believe all that led to the darker, somber mood of the noir.

This noir thriller set against the backdrop of a suppressive 1970s Mexican Government is a tense and enthralling read. Moreno-Garcia deftly creates a mystery with interesting characters, a unique (to me, anyway) premise, and a building tension that can wring out every last bit of suspense. We follow Maite and Elvis, two very different people with a common goal: they need to find Leonora. To Maite she is the neighbor that left her cat in Maite's care. To Elvis she is a student radical that the black ops group in which he works as an enforcer wants to get their hands on. As Maite and Leonora's former boyfriend Rubén look, Elvis starts to notice Maite, and becomes fascinated with her in his own right. Moreno-Garcia brings out the best of her characters, as per usual, and makes the backdrop of a right-wing Government targeting left wing activists function in a noir setting. I loved Maite for her beginning naivete which slowly turns to realization. I loved Elvis for his silent rebellion and his own journey to understanding the world around him. And I enjoyed the themes of clandestine activism and a suppressive Government.

All in all, VELVET WAS THE NIGHT was entertaining and gripping, and Moreno-Garcia has once again proven that she can write in just about any genre she wants.

Rich in descriptive detail, this was a book that was hard to put down. I felt transported to 70’s Mexico and sat back to watch this intense, suspenseful story. The characters are complex but the author brings out their loneliness. Well done.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book has many threads to pull at to unravel this Mexican noir mystery novel, and is fast-paced to the end.

4 stars

"Love, frail as gossamer, stitched together from a thousand songs and a thousand comic books, made of the dialogue spoken in films and the posters designed by ad agencies: love was what she lived for."

tw // blood, gore, murder, guns, drugs

rep // mexican MC

I'm not huge on books that are set in different era's but this one caught my attention so fast and held me strong. I loved the setting in the 70's in Mexico. The gritty film noir vibe of this book was just so good. I loved the feeling of walking the streets and the little shops and dangers that were faced by El Elvis, Ruben and Matie.

The plot follows Maite, a relatively "bland and boring" 30 something unmarried woman working as a secretary and overall bored with life. The only thing she looks forward to are her romance novels and the thrill that comes with watching other people's stories. However, she finds excitement when her beautiful neighbor, Leonora asks her to watch her cat while she's out of town and then disappears, everything changes.

Unknownst to her at the time, Leonora is holding film footage of proof that the Hawks - a street team unofficially sanctioned by the Mexican government to deal with students who protest against the government - are behind the riots and shot on students. This leads to her involvement, rather unhappily in the beginning to working with the students to try to find Leonora. This in turn gets her under surveillance in a spiderweb of people, from El Elvis of the Hawks, to Anya from the government. Watching all these plot lines come together all centering on the photos, Maite and Leonora was so fun to watch.

This noir set in Mexico City is the perfect blend of crime thriller, mystery, and nostalgic drama. The plot progression feels well-paced throughout, and the crescendo into the climax was exciting and engaging. There may have been a few predictable moments, but for me that felt right given the mystery-noir-thriller story.

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The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had really high hopes for this one. And it truly is very well written! But it was just a little too slow of a build up for me.