3.5/5 stars.


. If you have read any of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's novels and are expecting a supernatural or fantasy novel, this is not it. There is also a lot of language in this book compared to her previous novels. Velvet Was The Night is a tense novel that intertwines the very different lives of Maite and "El Elvis" during the 1970s in Mexico City. Maite is a secretary with confidence issues who gets sucked into the mystery of her missing neighbor and missing photos. Elvis is tasked to find the missing neighbor and to follow Maite.

Velvet Was The Night is definitely a book that immerses you in the world it is presenting. Communist threats, student protesters, distrustful acquaintances, and KGB agents are all players in the game. The music of the 60s and 70s and the city lifestyle of Mexico City are all brought to life in this novel. It is marketed as a 'noir' novel and it definitely has a lot of violence and grit as well as twists you may not see coming.

Historical noir fiction is not a typical genre for me to read, but I am glad I read this one! Although this is fiction, it is set within a historic event. This one started out slow for me, there were a lot of details to absorb, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever become vested in the story. Yet, I found myself being drawn in. The action picked up and I found myself caught up with this story and it’s pulp fiction flavor. I think the author created what she set out to write, and this was unique and a nice change of pace. This is reminiscent of a historical crime noir movie.

I loved Mexican Gothic so I was really looking forward to this one, but it was slower than I expected. The time period is the 1970's and we first meet Elvis, a member of the Hawks in this politically charged novel about the conflicts in Mexico. Then we meet Maite and Lenora, two young women who live across the hall from each other. None of these people seem remotely connected until Lenore disappears after asking Maite to look after her cat, and then the action begins. But it's a cat-and-mouse game and we don't know who is responsible or what the end game is. Because it's based on history, I was interested in the events but I just didn't connect with any of the characters. It's gotten some rave reviews so I'm in the minority, and I will read more by Moreno-Garcia as she's clearly a talented writer!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
Velvet Was the Night is described as Noir Fiction. It takes place in Mexico City in the 1970's. The novel follows dual perspectives, Maite and Elvis. Maite is a 30 something woman who is simply bored with her life. She looks for excitement in the romance comic books she reads and imagines herself in them. Elvis is an enforcer in the Hawks, he hates the violence he is surrounded by in the gang and longs for a different life. The disappearance of Maite's neighbor, an art student who is mysteriously involved in the political unrest and radical college students in their city.
It is worth noting that the events in this book are based on real historical events. Mexico City in the 1970's was a hotbed for government clashes with radical college students and underground crime.
I loved the author's previous book, Mexican Gothic. I flew through that book in no time. Velvet Was the Night however was a story that I struggled through. The biggest reason being that Maite was just unlikable for me. She's bitter and unhappy with her life and enjoys stealing from her neighbors. She lies to her coworkers in an attempt to make her life seem more exciting than it is, which in itself isn't something absolutely horrendous but it just gave me too much secondhand embarrassment.
Elvis was much more interesting to me. He's quiet and introspective and completely out of place in a criminal gang. His internal monologue was more interesting to me than Maite honestly.
I think I'm also unfortunately not a big fan of crime noir fiction. I was hoping that my previous success with this author would improve my chances with this book, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I would however recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of noir fiction or historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Velvet Was the Night.

This was not my favorite SMG book. I understand that it's noir, but it was just way TOO slow and boring for me. Sadly, I also couldn't get myself to care about any of the characters. The history and time period was very interesting though!

Silvia Moreno Garcia is branching out. Like many talented authors do. I’ve just read her high fantasy novella and now this, in her own words, a noir novel. Which made me reconsider my definition of noir. According to Wikipedia…in its modern form, noir has come to denote a marked darkness in theme and subject matter, generally featuring a disturbing mixture of sex and violence. But the thing is that pretty much describes a lot of novels and most crime fiction. And the author’s no stranger to straight up crime fiction, check out her excellent Untamed Shore. And, of course, dark fiction is her specialty, though traditionally in my much preferred blend of horrific/gothic themes her earlier books featured. Those were terrific, so good in fact that it takes a while to quit missing them and get into whatever the author dreams up next. Which in this case is a crime drama inspired by the real life political unrest in Mexico in the early 1970s.
I like historical fiction, especially given a chance to learn something new, so this book definitely worked for me on that front. Like most Latin American countries, Mexico went through some brutal regime changes which brought severe social limitations and a pervasive culture of paranoia. That provides that noir required darkness…a time of tragedy, time of spies, time of government agencies competing for control of an increasingly restless society. And on this stage the author plays out a sad and strange version of a boy meets girl story.
The girl is Maite, a lonely secretary about to turn 30, whose only excitement in life comes from the romantic comics she buys and collects and obsesses over. Now an especially likeable or nice character, especially not for a lead, but it works out.
The boy is Elvis, or so he calls himself. A gangster in the making working for a small organization with direct involvement in controlling the protests in universities, among other things. Elvis is a much more charismatic lead, something of a self made man in progress, a criminal by profession more so than by nature. Like Maite he is a music lover and finds himself inexplicably drawn to her, though his job leads him to investigate and follow her.
All of this is over Maite’s gorgeous wealthy neighbor who disappears one day and turns out have a secret worth killing for. So this provides plenty of suspense and some mystery for the thriller fans. Though really it’s just as much if not more of a crime drama.
The thing is, no matter the genre, I love More Garcia’s writing too much not to check it out. Even if the genre really doesn’t work for me, like with her high fantasy venture. She’s just so talented and her books come to life when you read them and play out just like the best of movies, vividly, excitingly. Admittedly, this one wasn’t a personal favorite, admittedly I still miss her supernatural scarier stories. But this was still a very good read. It’s worth reading just for how spectacular of a job she did representing the time and place, the creeping claustrophobia of it all, the desperation of people trying to make a difference and devastation of the naïve (like Maite who spends her time avoiding news) when the real world hits them.
In the end though Maite gets more of an adventure than she might have ever expected or hoped for outside of her comic book pages, awakening to the real world. Which somewhat redeems an initially unlikeable character. And Elvis…well, he’s got his own road to redemption to travel. And irrespective of however much you don’t or do like them, both of their journeys are still compelling enough to draw you in. So yeah, all in all, definitely good. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

“Velvet Was the Night” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is described as a historical “noir”. The story takes place in Mexico City during the 1970s. The storyline is based on real events involving student protests, and political unrest. The story follows the two main characters, Maite and Elvis. She is a legal secretary who is unhappy with her job, her appearance, and life in general. Elvis does not know where his life is headed as his occupation is to kill protesters for the Hawks organization which is loosely run by the Mexican government.
Maite’s passion is Romantic Comic Books and music. Elvis is Elvis Presley’s greatest admirer and because his education is limited, he forces himself to learn a new word every single day. Maite’s life as she knows it drastically changes and gets dangerous when her attractive neighbor asks her to watch her cat, then goes missing. Maite initially tries to locate her to get the money she is owed, but that changes because Elvis’ Hawks group is looking for the missing neighbor as well, for different reasons. The story goes back and forth between these two characters while they cross each other’s paths, although they never actually meet.
If you enjoy a dark read with interesting characters and a lot of violence, this book is for you. I learned some history and enjoyed this novel for what it was. Thank you to Random House Publishing/Ballantine/Del Ray and Netgalley for the ARC.

I could not get into this author's previous book, Mexican Gothic. I tried several times, but it was just too out there for me. I heard amazing things as her as a writer, so I wanted to give her another chance. I am so glad that I did! This story line was more for me and I loved the characters in it. I got invested quickly and read it in two days. I hope her future books are similar to this one!

"Velvet Was the Night" takes place in Mexico City in the 1970's at the beginning of the Dirty War. Told in dual perspectives, this historical noir begins with the introduction of our two main characters, Elvis and Maite.
Elvis is a member of the Hawks, who were used by the Mexican government to attack and kill protesters. Elvis does not care for the violence but his occupation is woven by violence and intimidation. He wants a new life but feels his options are limited.

Maite is a secretary whose loneliness begins to consume her. She finds solace in a romantic graphic novel that keeps her thoughts of loneliness and need for change at bay. This changes when her friendly neighbor Leonora asks for a simple favor: watch her cat for a couple of days. This favor will change the direction of Maite's life when Leonora goes missing. Maite begins her search to find Leonora while Elvis has been tasked with finding Leonora as well.

Both characters are lost in their lives and have a longing for more. Their world's collide in a way that is both surprising and dangerous. The dual perspectives allow the reader to tap into the individuals mind set, see the relationship progression, and the progressions of the truths they once held to the reality they have by the end of the novel.

The story progression is a slightly slower pace but I believe it added to the author's ability to create characters I can visualize and understand. Silvia 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 Random House Publishing/Ballantine/Del Ray and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

In Mexico, in the 1970’s, during the Dirty War, two lonely people looking for meaning in their lives and a connection to others embark on separate journeys. Maite, a friendless, poorly paid, thirty year-old spinster/ secretary in a law office spends her free time obsessing over characters in comic book romance stories. She loves music and spends what money she can on American albums. Elvis, a person who does not like violence, is a member of a goon squad that does the government’s dirty work in beating up left-wing activists and anarchists.

Maite is hired by a neighbor, Leonora, in her building to watch her cat for a few days. Needing money to pay a mechanic for fixing her car, Maite agrees. After the neighbor fails to return, desperate for her money, Maite sets out to find her. Maite gets involved with Leonora’s friends and Communist sympathizers who are trying to find pictures Leonora has taken. Simultaneously, Elvis’s team leader has tasked him with finding Leonora and the film. Part of his assignment will be to spy on Maite. In alternating chapters we see the two protagonists trying to solve the mystery.

The tone is very noir. The loneliness and violence serve as their own characters. The tone is lifted as Maite tries to cast her life in romance terms. She suffers from low self-esteem. She invents a relationship with Leonora and with non-existent boyfriends to not let the outside world see her loneliness. Elvis, also not fitting in, sees himself stuck. Music and learning new words each day is his escape.

While Elvis is attuned to the political unrest in the country, Maite is oblivious. We watch her character grow into a more informed being. The character development is exceptional. The descriptions of each setting placed you right in the room with all the action. You are sucked into both lives as they head for the culmination of their efforts. A book you won’t want to miss,

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for this advance copy in return for my honest and independent opinion.

This is a very dark novel set in Mexico. It’s the take of bad choices and survival, and ultimately discovering who you really are meant to be. It is relatively slow moving and I really struggled to continue it until I was about 2/3 of the way through. This was an early ARC from NetGalley to which I promised an honest review.

Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Gatcia. This was the first book I have read from this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't know what went on in Mexico in June 1970. So I learned something new. I liked Elvis, what a hard life he had, so I was hoping some good would come his way. I liked Maite, seems she had it rough also. Image getting involved in all of that for taking care of your neighbors cat. But I was hoping they would find each other because they had a lot in common. I love the playlist at the end!! I wish this would happen more often. There were a few typos and words that used in the wrong sense..if instead of. Thanks for letting me review!

<i> Velvet Was the Night</i> is another hit by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it just because you’ve liked her other stuff. Where much of her other work has a fantasy element to it, this one is historical fiction, suspense, and noir.

As always, SMG has done some great world building. The setting, 1970s Mexico City, felt very real and unforgettable. Through this story I learned about a time in history that I had never heard about and I really appreciate that from a historical novel. Facts about the time period were included at the end so that the reader could better understand what was real and what was fiction.

The alternating view points kept the novel interesting even though it wasn’t a very high stakes or plot-driven story. Both characters were easy to like and relate to. They came across as deep, flawed, actual humans.

While this wasn’t my favorite of Moreno-Garcia’s works it proves that she can write beautifully across many genres. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

The first two chapters of this book had me wondering if the story would be for me. In those chapters we meet our main characters, El Elvis, a thug, and Maite, an ordinary, and depressed, secretary. I pressed on and discovered a suspenseful and well written story. I appreciate that there was a solid foundation based on historic events. I also checked the dictionary and web regularly to be sure that my interpretation of the context was correct. For me, there was a learning curve, and it made the experience more interesting.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia draws us into a world, unfamiliar to my experience, and while there were sections that were more violent than I am typically comfortable reading, there was redeeming value to the scenes, and they were integral to the story. The interweaving of the two character's experiences built suspense, and the narrative was stronger for the style of the writing.

While there is limited, to no, interaction between Maite and El Elvis, their similarities are raised throughout the book, giving an interesting thread to follow. As they each pursue investigations into the missing Leonora we learn more about their motivations.

Overall, the story had fascinating elements, and as mentioned earlier, the historic elements gave a foundation for this author-described pulp fiction novel. The mood was set, and the story was developed.

This book will be very popular with my patron base, and I look forward to the opportunity to recommend it when published in August of this year.

Okay first things first.. that cover!!🤤

I absolutely loved this book. A fictional novel based on an actual historical event- told through multiple POV's. Elvis, a member of the hawks, that is debating his entire life and Maite, a bored and lonely secretary that daydreams about living the lives of her favorite romance graphic novels. And everyone is searching for Leonora, Maite's beautiful and mysterious neighbor. The story is so well written, the characters weaving in and out of their own stories but blended into the entire story.

I am new to the noir genre but if this what it's all about, give me more! The simmering plot combined with well developed characters, set against the backdrop of the El Halconazo, or dirty war. A historical event I knew literally nothing about but found fascinating.

Thank you to random house publishers and netgalley for the ARC.

One thing I really admire about Moreno-Garcia is her ability to write any genre. This book, however, wasn't my favorite of hers. Mainly because of the character Maite. She rubbed me the wrong way, and by the time she started to become interesting there were only a few more pages left of the story. I didn't mind this was noir, though, like some of the reviewers mentioned. I look forward to whatever bit of Mexican history SMG writes next.

I like chick-flickish style of Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I'm sure there is a better literary term for that but oh well.. this is me! She can give you all the historical and geographical information you need to understand the environment and what characters might possibly be going through while putting you into shoes of this romantic, constantly day-dreaming lady's shoes.

We are in 1970s Mexico City. Oppressing government is trying to smash students and others who don't like them under their thumb (or talon? - you'll get what I mean when you read the book). Our hopeless romantic Maite's neighbor is one of those who wants to do some good for her country but she is not sure how to do it. The problem is her family is part of the government and military. It's bit tough for her to act out, yet she still does it. Only to pull adventure seeking but clueless Maite with her...

Rest... rest is a big ol' mess where police, government, government backed gangs, Russian spies, students, civilians all died, disbanded and crashed. Characters will entertain you as much as they shock you. if you are into noirs, here is your book.

A really cool, anxiety-inducing historical suspense set around real events in 1970s Mexico. At the beginning of the novel, neither of our shifting-point-of-view characters has much to recommend them—Elvis is a government goon-for-hire with shallow aspirations, and Maite is a depressed secretary with low self esteem and kleptomania. Neither seems to have a lot of empathy or concern for other people, but they are also so intriguingly relatable, with their quirks, passions, and identical longing for the real attachments and support both their lives are lacking. Elvis and Maite don't know each other, but both are drawn into a dangerous conflict between the corrupt government and the idealistic counterculture, formed around a missing woman in possession of some damning photographs. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, hoping our two protagonists can make it through the ambushes and shootouts unscathed—and maybe to one another.

5/5

It’s 1971, and in Mexico City a quiet secretary becomes embroiled in a complicated plot linked to the political unrest currently transforming the town. All Maite wants is to escape into the latest issue of Secret Romance; with every passing page she can feel the world's problems fade away as she is swept up in tales of passion and danger. When her beautiful next-door neighbor asks her for a favor, and then mysteriously disappears, Maite attempts to put together the pieces, and finds herself drawn deeper into Leonora’s secret life and something far more insidious. Across town, someone else is tasked with tracking down Leonora, a commander of a squad created to quell political activists. Elvis wants nothing more than to leave his life behind; he cares little for the violence that comes with the job, but when he encounters Maite on his search for Leonora, he begins to envision just what that life could be. As tensions escalate on both sides, two individuals united by loneliness will have to fight with everything they have, for the chance at a future they've been waiting for.

Velvet Was the Night is a riveting historical crime noir that swept me up in its lush descriptions and complex characters consistent with everything else its author has written thus far. While this book is much different than Moreno-Garcia’s previous six novels, it stays true to much of what made her other works so impressionable: profound characters and her general talent for storytelling. This is a novel that draws upon the intrigue to an almost impossible point, fraying the minute hold I had on everything that was happening, and leaving me unaware of what to expect next. Among the complicated alliances and brimming hostility, Moreno-Garcia captures a profound loneliness in each of her characters, a loneliness that propels them forward even when facing dangerous circumstances. Elvis and Maite specifically, have an underlying bond that is only strengthened by the things they are experiencing. Something that added a much needed lightheartedness to an already intense story. Utilizing dual perspectives creates a kind of split viewpoint in the novel, juxtaposed against the exterior of the Dirty War only beginning to escalate in the small period of time in which this takes place. I’m not sure what this would have looked like if it only centered around one character's perspective, the outsider or the inside man. Both are necessary to craft the picture that Moreno-Garcia so brilliantly captures in the story. Even the connection between the two main characters is only strengthened by the existence of an alternating point of view, aiding in their respective development from start to finish. Having never read noir before, I can safely say I am planning on continuing given how much I enjoyed this. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has once again demonstrated her ability to write incredible stories in almost any genre, and I have no doubt her next project is going to be just as remarkable. Her seventh novel gives a glimpse into two lonely people living vastly different lives, and the potential they have to become something more together.

Trigger warnings: guns, violence, blood, death, murder

Velvet Was the Night is a historical noir set in the tumultuous 1970s in Mexico City. Maite and Elvis, who share their POVs in alternating chapters, are wildly different people. Maite is a secretary in her early 30s, dismayed with the boredom and poverty of her life. Elvis is a member of the Hawks, a government-run paramilitary group used to harass and kill protestors. But they have two things in common: music and Leonora, Maite's beautiful neighbor. Leonora asks Maite to watch her cat and disappears mysteriously. Elvis has been tasked to search for her. As they both seek out the other woman, their paths converge.

Our two main characters are multidimensional and imperfect. Maite's fondness for romantic comic books and petty thievery fleshes out her ennui. Elvis's distaste for violence and his fear/adoration of his boss prevent him from becoming cliché.

This is definitely best described as a noir novel rather than a thriller. There are some intense scenes, but they're tampered by a slow, meandering pace. The book is far more about atmosphere and grey areas and desire and dissatisfaction (in particular, Maite's distaste with her life is palpable). Those who have read Moreno-Garcia's Signal to Noise will recognize the power of music here.

Moreno-Garcia's versatility is astounding. Each of her books I've read has been in a different subgenre and an absolute treasure in its own right. If you're looking for a means of calibrating expectations, I'd categorize this as closer to Untamed Shore based on time period and lack of the supernatural, but note this is not a thriller. I'd also argue Maite is a much more complex and interesting character than Viridiana.

Highly recommended, like all of Moreno-Garcia's books, though I hope we see more fantasy and sci-fi in the future too.