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Step into a smoky, sepia-toned 1970s Mexico City as bored secretary Maite gets wrapped up in a brutal game of cat and mouse. After her neighbor Leonora goes missing, record-loving, romance-reading, self-conscious Maite becomes a critical link to the case. Thugs are watching her every move, there's violence and gunfire all around, and the dangerous life of Russian spies, government agents, hitmen and student protesters all culminate into one explosive ending.

This was a slow burn of a novel, at times I was completely invested and other times I was wishing it would be over soon. Silvia Moreno-Garcia does a fantastic job at transporting you to the time period, with a vivid sense of place. The characters were fairly one-dimensional and didn't really develop much, even after all that they went through but all in all I highly recommend this book! Also, I am completely obsessed with the Spotify playlist that she created to really set the mood. I could see Quinten Tarantino opting this one for film!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

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Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!

4.5 stars. This book was so fun! It’s always interesting to see authors write in various genres. I used to watch a lot of old cartoons and always love the noir episodes (and the noire aesthetic in general) but I haven’t read a proper noir book before. I enjoyed the writing on a prose level and plot wise. There were a lot of characters, but I think it was paired down enough so it wasn’t hard to keep track of who was who when reading. I liked both of the POVs in here: third person from Maite and third person from Elvis. They’re both interesting characters, and their flaws and their good characteristics are on display in the story. I liked that; the characters are flawed in realistic and interesting ways.

There’s also an air of romance through everything, especially because Maite loves reading romance, and I like the way she romanticizes parts of her life and the story. Elvis sometimes does the same, and keeps a more romantic view of certain things even though he lives a more violent life. I didn’t want the book to end, I loved reading through their POVs.

This is based around real historical events that took place in Mexico, though I do not know enough about them to comment on accuracy or how they were worked in the narrative.

My main complaint (though it’s not quite a complaint) is that I do wish the story had lingered some more near the end of the book. I would have liked to see some more of the wind down. Also, I don’t really get why this book was titled “Velvet was the Night” as a lot of plot points actually seem to happen during the daytime.

All in all, I really enjoyed this. It was a fun read, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author, as I’ve liked her books from multiple genres.

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I'm a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and was very excited to receive an ARC of her latest novel. It did not disappoint! Action with a little bit of mystery kept me flipping page after page.

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This book has all the moody vibes, and I loved it! I simply loved it.

What I Loved🌿

✨Can we start by talking about this cover? The minute I saw it, I knew I had to read this book.

✨This is historical noir which is not a genre I’ve read before, but I loved the moody slow burn of it all. The author states in her afterword: "My novel is noir, pulp fiction, but it's based on a real horror story." Which brings me to my next point.

✨The setting. It’s 1971 in Mexico City, and the Dirty War is just beginning. There is political unrest, confusion, misinformation, conspiracy theories and plenty of blame to go around. Sound familiar? It was impossible not to compare the political climate of our book with that of the US today.

✨The music. The author has stated that music is important to this novel because at the time our story takes place, “the Mexican government was engaged in the suppression of rock music in Mexico at the same time it was attacking students and activists.” (Author’s Goodreads review). It only takes one listen of “Blue Velvet” to understand the book title. Most unique to this book is the inclusion of a Spotify playlist at the end. You can access it by copying and pasting Randomhousebooks.com/VelvetWasTheNightPlaylist into your browser.

I’ll end by telling you that after having read the galley, I will definitely be buying my own copy. I think you’ll want to as well. Four stars.

My thanks to @NetGalley and @RandomHouse for the opportunity to read this book before its August 17 publication date.

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Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of the most versatile authors writing today. She’s written historical, horror, paranormal and now a mystery/thriller that takes place in the early 70s. It’s very different from her previous works and Mexican Gothic was one of my favorite books of 2020 and I really enjoyed this book as well.

I don’t want to give to much away because I think people should absolutely read this and get sucked in like I did. Just know that the writing is exquisite and the suspense she created really kept me on the edge of my seat. You absolutely will not get bored and if this is your first book by this author you should absolutely check out her backlist. You won’t be disappointed.

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Velvet is the Night is clearly intended to be a flash back to noir fiction. Garcia definitely captures the atmosphere and tone of a noir novel. There is so many great things here such as a complex heroine, the right balance of suspense and political intrigue, and humorous moments that don't shift the tone. If only the ending lived up to its tremendous build up. I felt not only disappointed, but cheated.

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Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an atmospheric writer who pulls you into the underbelly of political unrest of Mexico City in the 70's. Maite is a lonely young woman who lives out an exciting imaginary life through the romance serials she loves but that is far away from the life she lives in her real life. She agrees to help a neighbor but when Leonora disappears, Maite as well as some dangerous people begin to search for her and Maite discovers there is much more to Leonora than meets the eye. Another lonely soul, Elvis is also searching for Leonora. He and Maite bond over their love of music and the search for what happened to Leonora. Set firmly in crime noir, this story explores loneliness and longing mixed with protest, politics and violence. The author included a playlist at the end which adds much to setting the tone of the book. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

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Maite is a lonely secretary in Mexico City who leads a boring life and lives for the latest Secret Romance comic books and her record albums. Her beautiful neighbor Leonora asks Maite to feed her cat while she is out of town for a couple of days. Then Leonora disappears and Maite looks for her so she can get paid for taking care of the cat. Along the way, Maite discovers Leonora's connection to the student protesters that the Mexican government is trying to stifle. Several others are also seeking Leonora and the photos she says she has that will bring down some powerful people. Elvis works for one of those powerful people. As he attempts, sometimes violently, to locate Leonora and the photos, he is intrigued by the lonely secretary who shares his love of music and has become entangled in the disappearance of Leonora.

This is the second book I've read by Moreno-Garcia. The other book, Mexican Gothic, was a fantasy. This book does not contain any elements of fantasy, but it is still written in the same gorgeous slow-burn style. Velvet Was the Night would fall more into the categories of edgy noir and historical fiction. It takes place in the early 1970s of a Mexico that was rife with student protests. I learned some history of Mexico that I was not aware of, while enjoying the stories of Maite and Elvis.

If you are looking for action adventure or a fast-paced thriller, this is not the book for you. It took a bit for the characters and the story to grip me. But it did and I would recommend this book to any readers looking for a well-told story of two lonely people from different worlds, who connect over their mutual love of music. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC of this novel.

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This is historical (political) noir fiction. I picked this one up knowing while the story was fiction the event it is centered around was indeed real. (and most interesting!)

We follow the sad story of several individuals, who aren't connected but will cross paths in an unfortunate way. The way the story unfolds has enough mystery and intrigue to keep you reading. This isn't a fast action, it is fast paced but the action is small and centered.

This isn't a genre for everyone and if you don't like noir, and are expecting something like Moreno-Garcia's other novels, you'll be sorely disappointed. If you do enjoy noir, this one will be right up your alley.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I did find it lacking at times but it's only my wanting things to fall in place quicker, I'm impatient.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Del Rey for the advanced review copy.

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1970's Mexico City is not for everyone. Students protest amid political unrest, while others just try to live their lives and keep going in an environment that is hardly stable. Maite is a secretary obsessed with romance comic books and records. She also tends to try to spice up her own life by stealing small items from apartments she house sits for. Her next door neighbor, Leonora, is everything Maite wants to be. She's beautiful and seems to live a life of intrigue. Then Leonora goes missing, leaving Maite to watch after her cat.   Soon, Maite finds herself delving into the mystery of her missing neighbor herself, and finds her way into Leonora's life.  Elvis' boss is also looking for Leonora. The hired goon hates violence, loves old rock n' roll and just wants to watch old movies and find someone else who understands him.  And y'all, that's before things get crazy. We've got Russian spies, shady government representatives, students with hidden agendas, hit men, and antique dealers who are not what they seem. 

If you want vivid characters, fun story telling, and a fascinating look at the political unrest in Mexico in the 1970s, Velvet Was the Night is the book for you. I'm a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and I feel like her books just keep getting better and better. This novel is noir (no supernatural this round) and captivating.  I didn't want to put it down.



Velvet Was the Night is available August 17, 2021.

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Political intrigue and captivating noir, Silvia Moreno-Garcia can tackle any genre. Masterful storytelling, atmospheric with rich, multidimensional characters. A page turner with an ending you won't see coming. Overall a solid read.

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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

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Velvet Was the Night is set in the 1970s in Mexico City during the Dirty War. The Mexican government, aided by the CIA, was attacking student protesters in effort to combat communism and suppress dissent, resulting in political persecution, tragic loss of life, and a ripple of other consequences. In the afterword, Moreno-Garcia writes that her novel is "noir, pulp fiction, but it's based on a real horror story."

Moreno-Garcia is such a masterful writer that she can bounce around genres and continually surprise readers with fresh, beautiful stories. I don't think your feeling about her previous novels will necessarily inform how you feel about this one, since it's a totally different genre and style. I loved it, as I have loved her previous works, and I think what draws me to Moreno-Garcia consistently is her smart and transportive writing that meaningfully integrates race, class, and gender into historical fiction with utterly unique, complex characters.

Here's what I loved about this one:
-A slow burn 🔥 that is a quick read
-Period details that bring to life the corruption, violence, and macro level politics during a complicated time in Mexico's history (I learned a lot 🤔)
-Flawed, alienated main characters who you don't think you'll like but you end up rooting for (especially Elvis! 📣)
-The noir tone was spot on 👌a grim, downward spiral that ratchets up the tension (but then SMG leaves us on a hopeful note, which I needed and appreciated ❤)

Velvet Was the Night will be published on August 17th this summer. I highly recommend it if any of this piques your interest!

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Velvet Was the Night works from a thrilling and poignant premise of political noir. The diabolical machinations of infiltrating young idealists' communities and collectives give the novel textures of tension and critique that transcend the more conventional criminals and motives driving noir narratives. The novel also makes for a fascinating follow up to Mexican Gothic, as it shows Moreno-Garcia's capacity to swivel through diverse genre stylings and innovations.

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Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the digital ARC

I requested “Velvet Was the Night” for many reasons—I love noir, the cover is to die for and I’m a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing. I can say, without a doubt, this is one of my most treasured reads so far this year. It had everything I expected from noir fiction—corruption, quick dialogue, an unforgettable anti-hero, fatalistic views, violence, mystery and more. Maite is one of the main characters who lives a quiet life lost within the pages of her comic romances, music records and dreams of a life other than her own. After agreeing to watch her neighbor Leonora’s cat, she quickly gets caught up with student activists involved in Mexico’s Dirty War when Leonora goes missing. Meanwhile Elvis is a part of the Hawks, a paramilitary group meant to attack protesters, led by El Mago. Like Maite, Elvis is hunting for Leonora but he too wants to escape his life and finds comfort in movies and music. Filled with violence and corruption, this is ultimately a mystery with an epic twist that will leave your jaw on the floor. I usually dislike cliffhanger endings and it almost took this to a four star, however when looking at noir, I remembered we shouldn’t expect the happy ending. What we did get was a hopeful end and that was enough for me.

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Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of Velvet Was the Night, due out in August. Set against the events of the early days of Mexico’s “Dirty War” in the 1970’s, Maite is just getting by, unable to afford to retrieve her car from a mechanic, and lives in a self-proclaimed boring existence consisting of her day job as a secretary in a law office and her spare time spent with her bird, her music and her books. She lives vicariously through her fantasy/romance comics. When she’s asked to pet sit the cat of her glamorous neighbor, Leonora, who subsequently disappears, she finds herself unwittingly thrust into in the dangerous world of political activists, government agencies, connected gangs. Leonora has been working to expose the government’s activities to stop demonstrators from their protests with photographic evidence. It’s the cat and mouse search for those photos than ensnarls Maite and, eventually, turns deadly.

The main characters are well-drawn and the story well-crafted. I would have been helped in keeping some of the factions straight by reading the Afterword before the book as a Preface. The pacing could have been a little faster--a 3.5 for me.

A bonus is an extensive playlist provided of the music that provides the “soundtrack” of the book.

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A fast paced page turning noir novel that bounces between the stories of two main characters. A young man pulled into gang life in 1970’s Mexico who adopts the name Elvis from his singing idol Elvis Presley, and Maite who has just turned 30 and lives vicariously through the characters in the pages of her favorite romance comics. They are both thrown into a dangerous situation involving the governments of Mexico and Russia. Maite finds herself thrown into an espionage plot simply by accident. While cat sitting for a neighbor, she finds herself in possession of something very valuable to the parties involved. Elvis is assigned by his gang boss to watch Maite and to get the valuable item. What follows is a story that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

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The perfect historical fiction by Moreno Garcia, and it kept me on my toes the whole time. I love that Moreno-Grace did not have to resort to “cheap” tactics such as gore or extremes violence in order to create suspense, instead creating a situation of high stakes which makes you want to read more.

The characters of Elvis and Maite were such a joy to read and watch. I felt for Maite and Elvis, and their loneliness even when surrounded by people, and how they both sought out something other than their lives. Maite sometimes came off as annoying/ cruel, but I don’t consider this criticism of the book, as it helped to create a three dimensional character rather than a loving protagonist.

Additionally, the historical context of the book is so unique and fun, while also being so enlightening! I did not know a wink about The Dirty War in Mexico, but this book made me seek out articles and explanations of the event, and I was just shocked. The book is fiction, but the events and the subsequent grimness, are very real.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, old school rock and roll, an old school mystery, and an inkling of romance all wrapped into one.

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Velvet Was the Night is a tale told by its two main characters, Elvis and Maite, in alternating narratives. They come from opposite ends of the spectrum, character-wise, but both get embroiled in the same mystery. As the mystery unfolds, their narratives start overlapping and the book gets much harder to put down. Yes, it's another book by Moreno-Garcia set in a historical era of Mexico, but structure-wise, plot-wise, and character-wise, it couldn't be more different than her previous work, Mexican Gothic (which I did enjoy reading). This time, Moreno-Garcia adds some historical context at the end of the book regarding this time period in Mexico, which added very nicely to the reading experience. I would like to go on about how wonderful this book is, but I am so worried about giving way plot developments. (I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)

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Sorry, but i am extremely frustrated. Velvet was the night was a BIG LET DOWN. If you are like me who became a fan of silvia's work after mexican gothic you will be even more disappointed.
This is a book, a BOOK, there are so many cuss words in just the first few pages of the book. i understand cuss words are used to portray frustration but roughly about more than 12 cuss words in just the beginning pages of the book is TOO MUCH. In real life and movies we have enough of this bad language, we certainly DO NOT need that in books, we do not need AN OVERUSAGE/EXAGGERATION. it was stupid and senseless, there i said it. the plot and the story was overshadowed by violence and unstructured characters, it was fast paced i guess. i tried giving the story many chances, but the dialogue delivery was honestly very NOT GOOD. I skimmed through the book, it was a waste of time. i did not enjoy anything in the book.

i wish she had used less cuss words and focused more on the plot, story and proper dialogue delivery. violence and disruptions that made me skip and skim most of the book,

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