Early Review – Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (4/5 Stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: June 30, 2020
ISBN-13: 978-0525620785
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: eGalley from NetGalley
Rating: 4/5 stars
“After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.”
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.
