Review: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Title: Mexican Gothic
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Gothic Horror
Pages: 301
ISBN-13: 978-0525620785
Links: IndieBound, Goodreads, Amazon,
Content Warnings: body horror, mental instability, racism, cannibalism, sexual assault, eugenics, incest, compulsion, fire, gun violence, child abuse, discussion of miscarriages and stillbirths, discussion of suicide
Other Books by this Author: Gods of Jade and Shadow, Certain Dark Things, The Beautiful Ones, and more here

Blurb

After receiving a frantic letter from her newlywed 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.

Review

After hearing all the hype about Mexican Gothic, I just had to pick it up. I mean, who could resist a haunted house full of painfully well-mannered residents? Certainly not me.

Horror is not my usual genre, but I have read a couple of gothic horrors that piqued my interest. Mexican Gothic delivered everything I love about this genre: a hauntingly beautiful setting, psychological horror, and creepy undertones infecting every chapter. I absolutely loved the way the author built tension with each layer of this mystery.

A couple of things you should know before reading this story: it is character-driven and the horror is deeply slow-burn. If you’re looking for jump scares and gore, this isn’t the book for you. For me, it was perfect. I loved the characters and the dynamic they shared. Noemí was a party girl who was a bit selfish, but her strong resolve made her a likely heroine. I loved seeing her challenge her cousin’s equally stubborn husband and his family.

Probably the best part of Mexican Gothic was that it included one of my favorite tropes: an unreliable narrator. Noemí is a pragmatic and believable character, but the longer she stays in the house the more she sees things that don’t make sense. The author develops this trope is such a subtle manner that’s it’s difficult to tell when Noemí starts hallucinating–or if she’s witnessing reality. I love the tension this trope created, and how eloquently it fit into the story.

Overall, I have nothing negative to say about this book. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you like a character-driven mystery and don’t mind a slow-paced horror, I highly recommend Mexican Gothic.

May your days be full of magic and dragons,

Peyton

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Goodreads