Book Review: "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
“Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Bookshop | Kindle
Publisher Synopsis: 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.
Trigger Warnings: homicide, incest, sexual assault, gaslighting
Rating (out of 5): 4
Review: I read this book in an afternoon on a day off from work, and had to sit with it for awhile after to truly appreciate its scope.
At face value, it’s a twisty, suspenseful thriller. There is a house that seems to be haunted, a weird family that occupies said house, and a glamorous protagonist who sets off to the house to rescue her cousin.
But the novel’s post-colonial setting and racial undertones—the cousin of our protagonist Noemí has married an Englishman, and the cousins are Mexican—combined with the traditional gothic mystery elements, make for a truly spectacular novel.
Noemí is an educated woman in 1950s Mexico, but her class and the time period mean she is expected to find a husband and settle down. When she is abruptly called to check in on her cousin living in a remote former mining town with her new husband and his family, she finds herself among white British people who make it clear that they think less of her because of her skin tone. Noemí is a formidable protagonist as she attempts to unravel the mystery of the house, and it’s never totally clear who she can trust. (Of course, there is even a creepy-ass graveyard on the property.)
Moreno-Garcia plays with Gothic elements, but truly takes it a step further with her portrayal of a Mexican protagonist who defies stereotypes.
TL;DR: A creepy page-turner set in 1950s Mexico with traditional Gothic elements (creepy house, gaslighting) that defy stereotype, and a strong-willed, clever protagonist you’ll want to root for. Highly recommend!
If you liked this, try:
“Gods of Jade and Shadow” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Bookshop | Kindle) (Elizabeth’s review here)
“The Snakes” by Sadie Jones (Bookshop | Kindle) (Moira’s review here)
“Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo (Bookshop | Kindle) (Elizabeth’s review here)
“The Stranger Diaries” by Ellie Griffiths (Bookshop | Kindle) (Moira’s review here)
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