Velvet Was the Night pulled off the rare feat of featuring fairly unredeemable characters but a tone you still wanted to luxuriate in. I really disliked Maite, whose weaknesses and attitude were largely all of her own making. Elvis was for some reason a little more sympathetic, but the fascist side to the Hawks made him hard to like, of course. And the rest of the characters, other than perhaps Maite's friend at the office, were all equally easy to disdain. But perhaps that's the point of the book, to a certain degree. And I think it's a real testament to Moreno-Garcia that one wanted to keep reading, to enjoy the setting and the time period and the context despite not having affection for characters themselves. I have enjoyed everything she's written thus far, and would like to read more that's set in Mexico City itself.

I read Mexican Gothic, another story written by the author and enjoyed it. So when I saw this book was available on NetGalley, I was excited to read it. It was much different from Mexican Gothic, which I didn’t expect, more of a drama and light mystery read than horror. But it’s a historical fiction (like Mexican Gothic) based on actual events that took place in the late 60s and 70s.

The story revolves around the disappearance of a young woman named Lenora who was involved with an activist group fighting the government. I have to be honest, I didn’t quite understand what the issue was between the citizens and the government. The author explained the history behind this story at the end of the book, mentioning the 70s Dirty War that took place in Mexico, but I didn’t catch that in the story. So I will continue this review as I saw it as a reader.

The main premise was finding out what happened to Lenora. The main character, Maite, was Lenora’s neighbor, who soon got involved with the drama of finding Lenora when she asked Maite to look over her apartment and cat while she was away. But when Lenora never returned, Maite obligated herself to looking over Lenora’s cat and soon became a person of interest, as a gang of criminals were hired to find Lenora.

Elvis is another main character associated with that gang. As he was charged in keeping an eye on Maite’s activities, he found that he had much in common with her and formed a sort of admiration for her.

Thoughts:

I liked how the story always had enough going on to make it a page turner. The author was effective in building vivid, believable characters. Even if I didn’t like Maite’s or Elvis’ actions, I understood them based on who they were and their history.

The plot was always strong. There was a lot of suspense built around the disappearance of Lenora. I consistently feared what would become of Maite’s unintended involvement in finding Lenora.

The ending was realistic and though not the happiest of endings, it was hopeful. It left the door open for something good to come out of Maite’s life.

Negatives:

Language. I know this is a preference, but there was a lot of curse words. I get that was the way the gang spoke, but I just prefer curse words to be doused or hidden (i.e. he swore under his breath). I found it distracting at times, taking me out of the story.

Characters. Specifically for Maite. I assume she was the protagonist in the story, but she was a negative one with low self-esteem, which I didn’t see her improve on. I would have liked to see an internal change in Maite, maybe feeling more empowered or proud of herself after what she went through. But it seemed like the Maite at the beginning of the book was the Maite at the end.

Violence. Again, another preference, since I understand it fit the story and the author is a vivid storyteller, which is a plus for her. But I say this to warn readers who don’t enjoy blood and gore in their stories.

Overall, the writing was sharp and the plot was straightforward, other than the political background and history that fueled the plot. If I had a better understanding of the that, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more.

***This book was given to me by NetGalley for an honest review.***

Loved the authors previous books and enjoyed this one! While obviously fiction I like feeling like I’m learning about another country and time period other than the one I grew up in. Love the perspective! Felt a little over complicated at times but still enjoyed

Adored! I have notice the author likes to change tones and writing style as it goes with the aesthetic of the book (which I totally love by the way). Gods of Jade and Shadow writing was dream-like fantasy, Mexican Gothic was smooth horror, while Velvet Was the Night is conjures up static-filled TV sets, smoky rooms, and dark alleyways. Not every author can do this. Many have a style that they stick to, despite the genre or theme they write. Totally fine, but I love how immersive this way of writing can be.

This definitely lived up to what I have come to expect (or constantly surprised by?) from Silvia Moreno-Garcia and an author I will absolutely read from, without question.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this amazing ebook.

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia #fortyfifthbookof2021 #arc

CW: murder, assault and severe violence

This story follows Maite and Elvis, whose intersecting stories take place during a turbulent time of Mexico’s political history. Both searching for the same woman, their paths lead them to violent encounters and contacts who may not be as trustworthy as they seem. The author’s note at the end indicates this is a noir novel based on a real event, and knowing nothing about the country’s history, I can’t speak to how well it captures the time and place, but it drew me in regardless. The pace is pretty slow until it ramps up at the end. The book cover is great and I appreciated that there is a playlist included in the back that lists the music discussed in the novel.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DelRey for the advance copy. (Pub date 8/17/21) #velvetwasthenight

I received an advance copy of this book and started reading it several times before I stuck with it and read it all the way through. The first chapter was full of such violence and profanity I was sure I had been given the wrong book. It didn’t sound at all like the description had promised. Turns out the story is told from the perspective of two very different people: one mousy, love-starved secretary, and one thug who is involved in some very unsavory criminal activities. I did not like the violence or the profanity and none of the characters had me rooting for them. I did enjoy the setting of Mexico City and felt the author did a great job painting a clear picture of the characters, locations, and action. My low rating does not mean this was a bad book; it just wasn’t right for me.

Maite is a legal Secretary in 1970s Mexico. Her life is dreary and repetetive, the only respite being the next issue of the romantic comics she lives for.
Codename: El Elvis, a young hired goon, is a member of the hush government organization The Hawks, trained to rough up Communist activists and agitators.
Their stories unfold side by side, until Maite's side hustle as a pet sitter thrusts her involuntarily into the disappearance of a young activist artist.

This one had a nice slow pace. It finally picked up at the end for some real action. I enjoyed how the story was split following two characters and how at the end their stories finally aligned, I liked the overall mood of Mexico portrayed in the story and how the author also included music into the story line. Overall a book I enjoyed, but the only downside for me was it was a little slower than I normally like. 3.75 stars.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's takes a trip into historical noir with Velvet was the Night.

A departure from the gothic horror we know Moreno-Garcia for, Velvet was the Night sets a gritty, noir tone but is slow with one main character lacking intriguing development. Elvis, the paramilitary "gangster," wasn't as gripping as Maite's adventure into the turmoil of the unrest in Mexico at the time.

Maite's search for her beautiful neighbor, Leonora, is the noir, thriller aspect of this book. While Elvis is also looking for Lenora, he pulls away to observe Maite, who shares his love of rock-n-roll. Both Elvis and Leonora have a sense of the romantic. Their sensibilities act as a magnet drawing them closer as the novel unravels.

The pace is slower than most thrillers, and it didn't hold my attention. The historical setting was intriguing and also enlightening. The romance comics mentioned in the book were very much a part of the culture at the time. The government was restricting rock and roll, most likely due to its supposed influence on the youth. Elvis's thug-like paramilitary outfits worked hand in hand with the government to infiltrate protests and disperse the protesters with violence.

A fascinating historical setting, Velvet was the Night showcases a revolutionary period and the pop culture of a time and people many don't know. It is slower than most noir thrillers, but for the cultural insights, it's worth picking up.

Like film noir? You'll like this. Set during the student activism of the early 1970s Mexico, it's an unsettling mystery/thriller novel that actually made my heart beat faster while I read it! Maite, a secretary and occasional thief addicted to romance comics and music, is drawn into a plot with her mysterious, glamorous neighbor, government agents, & hoodlums for hire. Unexpected circumstances bring her life into orbit with Elvis, a pop music enthusiast rejected by his family. He educates and renames himself, and has hired himself out for sex work and beating up leftist dissidents. It's more than a mystery novel; it's also historical fiction that will prompt readers less familiar with Mexican dissident politics of 50 years ago to learn more. Smart, vivid, fast-moving, and engrossing, with unexpected stabs of sharp humor and characterization. VELVET WAS THE NIGHT is very different from GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW, MEXICAN GOTHIC, and PRIME MERIDIAN, the first novella that I read by Moreno-Garcia (and I've been a fan ever since). Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a versatile writer with a gift for memorable phrasing, world-building, and immersive storytelling.

Coming out in August. Pre-order it now. New York Times bestselling Latina author Silvia Moreno-Garcia has delivered a sensational noir set in Mexico City in age of hippies and commies, and gangsters getting mixed up in dirty and deadly politics. Throw in a thug named Elvis and a secretary who loves Mexican romance comic books, and look out!

Not like anything I’ve read before. It was very slow and descriptive and didn’t pick up until about.. 47% in. None of the characters were really likeable except maybe Elvis. He was an interesting and complex character. I was mainly rooting for him. Maite was annoying. Her inner dialogue about her insecurities and the way she looks made me wanna scratch my eyes out. There were some parts that I did enjoy being in her mind.

I did enjoy the atmosphere and the mystery. The end was interesting; I pretty much saw it coming. There were lots of clues throughout. I liked that Silvia included a playlist.

This book is not for everyone. While I did enjoy parts of it, it just wasn’t for me. I will recommend to those looking for a noir atmosphere though.

Wow! This book is a definite page turner, and yet at the same time readers will not want to rush over a single sentence. The details are interesting and often important clues as the book progresses. For anyone who has read previous books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, this book is very different from her previous novel, Mexican Gothic, which had a lot of magical realism. VELVET WAS THE NIGHT is simply real: a fast-paced mix of journalists, informants, single career girls, secret police, politicians and para-military trained thugs in a richly described Mexican setting. This is as much historical fiction as it is literary fiction because the June 1971 opening scene involves real events, the Corpus Christi student massacre.

Single girl Maite has a secretarial job in a law firm and longs for a life as exciting as the romance magazine stories she reads. She is approaching thirty and living slightly beyond her means just to have her own apartment and not still living at home with her critical mother. When Leonora, another single woman in the apartment across the hall, asks Maite to feed her cat while she is gone for a couple of days, Maite's life changes. However, Maite is too naive and is immediately in over her head with the artistic/political activist group which Leonora is a part of. Then again, there seems to be some question about loyalties, and that can be dangerous.

Mark your calendar wih the August 17, 2021, publication date. You will want this book.

This dark gritty novel plays out against the backdrop of Mexico's "Dirty Wars" when student demonstrators and social activists were protesting government abuses and corruption at all levels. The demonstrations were violent and bloody and of some duration. Maite, a naive secretary and dreamer, is inadvertently caught up in the turmoil when she agrees to pet sit for her neighbor Leonora to help make ends meet. When Leonora calls and asks for her cat and a camera be brought to her Maite is relieved. However Leonora fails to appear and she discovers several factions are searching for the camera and its contents. Out of her depth and unsure who to trust Maite begins her own search for the missing student journalist. I found this book informative covering a topic I knew little about. Although the characters were well developed I found them unrelatable.. I felt the ending to be unsatisfactory and Leonora should have been more than a shadow figure throughout the story. Overall a solid read.

This wasn't my typical read, I wanted to switch things up a bit with my ARCs, so I started this one and it was interesting to say the very least. I didn't like it, didn't hate it. I'm happy to have been given the opportunity to read this book.

It just moved a bit too slowly for me, I prefer my thrillers to be faster paced. I didn't mind the characters or dialogue, I was just kind of bored.

Velvet Was the Night is suspenseful from the first page. The story centers around Maite, a day-dreamer living a bland life swept into the thrilling, dark world of political intrigue after agreeing to watch a neighbor’s cat for a couple of days. One thing leads to another, and Maite ends up being followed by Elvis, a “Hawk” who takes an interest in her while trying to find her neighbor, Leonora, and the political photographs she took. Maite realizes real life is far from that of the lives of her favorite characters in her romance comics that fills her days with meaning and hope.

Sylvia Moreno-García has blown me away with a story that is rich with Mexican culture, but doesn’t shy away from the grittiness of the conspiracies and corruption in politics. She takes her time building her worlds so be patient, it’s worth it! It took a little past halfway for me to see where the characters' storylines were going to cross, but when things took off they really took off. Sylvia Moreno-García also includes a playlist at the end of the book, as well as a note about the real historical events that inspired her story. (The Corpus Christy Massacre and the Dirty War.)

Velvet Was the Night is a riveting noir about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman that brings them together. If you loved Mexican Gothic, you will love Silvia's new book. Don't expect many similarities though because she'll keep you guessing all the way through.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is becoming one of my favorite authors: she don't miss! Though not magical realism or horror, this book swept me away. A spiritual successor to Untamed Shore, I hope she continues to write books like these.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia can spin the most dramatic stories! In "Velvet Was the Night" the suspense builds from the first page. .Set in 1970's corrupt Mexico City, we meet Maite who lives for pulp publication Secret Romance, which fills her days with meaning and hope. She is totally immersed in the stories she reads there. Maite's across-the-hall neighbor Leonora, actually has a fascinating life and when Leonora asks Maite to feed her cat, but then disappears. things heat up.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does not any kind of formula; if you loved Mexican Gothic, you'll also love this book, but don't expect many similarities. She'll keep you guessing all the way through.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I received this as an e-book ARC and after reading it I’ve rushed to pre-order my hardcover.
Sylvia Moreno-García has blown me away again with this this story that’s rich with Mexican culture but doesn’t shy away from the grittiness of the conspiracies and corruption in politics.
This story is about Maite, a day-dreamer living a bland life who is swept into the thrilling, dark world of political intrigue after agreeing to watch over a neighbor’s cat for a couple of days. When one thing leads to another, Maite ends up being followed by Elvis, a “Hawk” who takes an interest in her while trying to find her neighbor, Leonora, and the political photographs she took that everyone seems to want to get their hands on. This is when Maite realizes real life is far from that of the lives of her favorite characters in her romance comics.

I loved every last bit of this story. Sylvia Moreno-Garcia takes her time building her worlds so to the impatient, I say: “wait for it!! It’s worth it!”
It took a little past halfway for me to see where the characters storylines were going to cross and boy was it worth it. When things took off they really took off. I tend to be able to pick up on clues, but a few of the spins at the end of this book were wild! This author still surprises me and I love every second of it.
SMG also includes a playlist at the end of the book, as well as a note about the real historical events that inspired her story. (The Corpus Christy Massacre and the Dirty War.)
I highly, highly recommend this book, and do think it is worth a read no matter what walk of life you hail from.

In a corrupt and volatile Mexico of the 1950s Elvis works for as an "enforcer" taking some pleasure in his record collection. Maite has a dead end job as a secretary, her pleasures are romance novela comics and records. Their worlds are far apart but that changes. Maite's neighbor, Leonora, goes missing and they each begin a search for her. Will their world's collide? The author is very good at evoking a time and place. The charater develope is excellent. Once I began reading about these two people I was driven to read to the end.
I think this book is a gem for book group discussions.