Mexican Gothic

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “It’s Lovecraft meets the Brontës in Latin America, and after a slow-burn start Mexican Gothic gets seriously weird.”—The Guardian
 
ONE OF TIME’S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER BOOKS OF ALL TIME • WINNER OF THE LOCUS AWARD • NOMINATED FOR THE BRAM STOKER AWARD

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, NPR, The Washington Post, Tordotcom, Marie Claire, Vox, Mashable, Men’s Health, Library Journal, Book Riot, LibraryReads
 
An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes “a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror” (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico.

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.

“It’s as if a supernatural power compels us to turn the pages of the gripping Mexican Gothic.”—The Washington Post

“Mexican Gothic is the perfect summer horror read, and marks Moreno-Garcia with her hypnotic and engaging prose as one of the genre’s most exciting talents.”—Nerdist

“A period thriller as rich in suspense as it is in lush ’50s atmosphere.”—Entertainment Weekly

• ISBN10: 052562080X
• ISBN13: 9780525620808
• Publish Date: 15 June 2021 (first published 30 June 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Del Rey Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525620808

Reviews

[girlinthepages]

Mexican Gothic is probably one of the most buzzed about books of 2020 in my online social circles, and I can't deny that it's easy to see why when you look at the cover, the synopsis...just everything about it screams READ ME. As excited as I was to dive into it, I'll admit I did have some reservations because I am not a horror type of gal. I'm so glad I did push myself out of my comfort zone though as Mexican Gothic proved to be a compelling, if rather surprising, read.

Set in 1950s Mexico, Mexican Gothic follows protagonist Noemí, a young socialite who dreams of pursuing a masters in anthropology, to a creepy house in the country called "High Place" after receiving a disturbing letter from her cousin who has married the heir to the estate. Her father, tired of her partying ways, strikes a deal with her- she goes and checks on her cousin, quashing any potential family scandals, and he won't stand in her way of attending grad school. Never one to back away from a challenge, Noemí heads off to the country expecting to swoop in and save her cousin from perhaps an unhappy marriage and some eccentric relatives, but finds herself quite literally trapped in the horrors of High Place, which is as much an enemy and threat to her as those who reside in it.

The mystery of Mexican Gothic is a slow burn, and while undoubtedly atmospheric, I will admit the first quarter of the book or so had my scratching my head as to why it was labeled a "horror" novel. As a reader I could tell there were obviously shady things going on behind the scenes but there wasn't anything outright scary. As Noemí continues to linger at High Place, refusing to leave her cousin under the care of this strange and stern family and their incompetent doctor (who blames her clearly physiologically distraught condition on tuberculosis), the story slowly became more sinister, through increasing nightmares, bouts of sleepwalking, persistent fog/gloom, and never ending mold- mold EVERYWHERE, on the ceilings, in the walls, between the pages of the books...the house truly had an infestation. Given Noemí's father's paint empire and her corresponding knowledge of chemical reactions I thought perhaps the book would follow a more scientific explanation (i.e. everyone in the house is just hallucinating because they're all being slowly poisoned to death by mold spores in the air) but the plot of the book took science and melded it with the horrors of the paranormal to provide the foundations of High Place and the mystery surrounding the Doyle family. I can't say much more than that without getting into spoilers but it was DEFINITELY something I hadn't seen done before (although admittedly I have hardly read/watched any horror so keep that in mind!)

Noemí was a great protagonist for a story like this. She was a great blend of being strong yet still a normal person who also fell vulnerable to a house full of psychopaths at times, which is completely realistic (at least I assume, lol). She had moments of doubt or weakness but also balanced that with her natural predisposition toward resiliency and courage, and she was smart and could hold her own in conversations with the entitled, elitist Doyles (who, in a twist surprising no one, are huge Eugenicists). I also loved reading about her outfit descriptions, a bright spot in the perpetually dreary manor. Noemí's fashions were sophisticated and colorful, and I loved that she was both an intellectual AND committed to fashion (and she herself even ruminates on why these two traits are often treated like they are mutually exclusive).

Now, the more "horror" type elements definitely pick up in the second half of the book, when Noemí learns the true history of High Place and the Doyles. While still not exactly "scary" in the traditional, jump-scare type way, this book definitely WENT THERE in terms of weirdness, unsettling descriptions, and gore. I honestly felt some of the gore was a little over-gratuitous, but then again once you realize what the root cause of the evil in the house is probably nothing will surprise you I never thought I'd see the day where basically an evil fungus is the villain by way of glowing mushrooms but here we are. I was definitely intrigued by the backstory of the Doyles and how they came to claim their horrific power (and everything did tie together neatly in terms of the other odd things happening in the town) but it was also just weird. So weird as to be much more absurd rather than frightening for me personally.

Overall: As I've mentioned throughout this review, I'm not a huge horror fan and therefore Mexican Gothic, while an intriguing read for me, didn't rank an overly high review because at the end of the day it really wasn't my cup of tea. BUT I do think it was well written and a really interesting twist on the classic "haunted house" story, and I enjoyed the experience of reading outside of my comfort zone.

 This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages

I finished this last night. It is so creepy and I enjoyed it very much. I typically can only read a book for about 20 minutes in bed before I fall asleep. Not this one. I was up, alert and couldn’t put it down.

⁣
For me it was 4.5 stars.

[Amber]

Rating: 3.5 stars

Mexican Gothic has proven to be a really tough book to review! I have mixed feelings about the book, but those mixed feelings are, on the whole, positive, if that makes any sense? Basically, there's nothing I disliked about Mexican Gothic. It's an atmospheric, eerie gothic story, and I was super invested in it for the most part.

I have to say, it all got a bit weird about halfway through. It was a little bit strange in the beginning, but as the book continued I kept wondering just how weird it was going to get. The atmosphere throughout was eerie and chilling, and then towards the end it was less atmospheric and more just outright bizarre.

I loved that the main character wasn't your usual strong and likeable heroine. She was snarky and negative, and downright fierce. I didn't click with her at the start, but as the book continued I was really rooting for her and her cousin.

I did find that there were a lot of characters to try to wrap my head around, and since I read this book over many sittings rather than just in one go, it got a little confusing. Especially as it seemed as though everyone was related, and I couldn't figure out the family tree.

I did NOT like the romance, though. I mean, it was fine, if you like that kind of thing, but I personally found it unnecessary, and you all know how I love my slow burn... this was not that. I almost never like romances in books nowadays, though, so don't dismiss this book just because of this one tiny thing.

Overall Mexican Gothic was a real gothic treat, and despite the bizarre elements and the... interesting relationships in the book, I ended up really enjoying it!

** I read this book with the Space Sirens Book Club, a speculative fiction book club which you can check out on Twitter and Youtube **

[Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub]

I don’t usually give trigger warnings in my posts. However, I’m going to give one here because I really wish I’d been given one. This book contains more than one instance of sexual assault. If I had been aware of that going in, I would not have read this book. So. There’s that.

In many aspects, this is a typical gothic novel. It contains many of the things often found in creeptastic books. Isolated rundown mansion? Check. Help staff that has been there forever and is eerily silent? Check. Possible mental illness? Check. Tragic, violent past? Check. Hallucinations-or are they hauntings? Check.

However, Noemi is a fresh take on the heroine. She’s a little spoiled and quite used to getting her way. Being thwarted at every turn only serves to increase her determination to figure out what’s going on. I liked that it explained why she wouldn’t cut and run when it became clear that something wasn’t right.

The other cast of characters were original spins on the usual tropes. There’s Virgil, who personifies the word “vile”; Florence, a strict woman who really dislikes Noemi; Howard, the old and wizened patriarch; Frances, the pale tortured young man; and Constance, the cousin who might be having a nervous breakdown.

In case you haven’t realized it by now, I didn’t care for this book. I was disgusted by the sexual aspects in this book, I was not surprised by any of the “twists,” and the final reveal bordered on the ridiculous. That being said, the descriptions were well done. The author made sure to use all the sense when describing the setting, which made it feel much more real.

If you can handle harsher content, you might enjoy this book. As for me, I was underwhelmed.

[Eve1972]

The first full book I have read in ages! I enjoyed it. Well written. Atmospheric. Kept me engaged. An all around good read!

[kimbacaffeinate]

From the cover to the hype, I knew I needed to listen to Mexican Gothic. I’ve long been a fan of gothic horror and this has all the classic elements readers and listeners alike enjoy.

The Setting is an eerie, neglected and damp mansion. After her father receives a suspicious letter from her recently married cousin Catalina, Noemi is sent to High Place. Set in the Mexican countryside this remote setting proved atmospheric.

Noemí is headstrong, smart and not at all pleased to be going but does her duty. She doesn’t know Catalina’s husband or his strange family, but she is determined to help Catalina. Alone and at the mercy of this strange, unsettling family, she discovers the unthinkable….

The tale that unfolds was creeptastic, gory, and twisted. It will leave you sleeping with the lights on. The author’s prose and vivid descriptions of the home and the people within sent goosebumps down my spine.

Noemí finds herself living a nightmare and questioning her own sensibilities as sounds emerge from the walls and dreams blend into reality.

With help from the family’s youngest son, Noemí will need to learn the secrets of this family beginning with the ancient patriarch. The author makes the unimaginable seem real and the terror very real.

The cast of characters from locals to the family were well developed and had me questions their motives, reactions and poor Catalina’s medical state.

Frankie Corzo did a wonderful job with the narration. From her tone to the voice she gives our protagonist, she enhanced the tale. Between the author’s descriptive writing and Corzo’s tone there were moments that had me clutching a blanket, unable to blink. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Inkslinger]

ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Silvia Moreno-Garcia via NetGalley. All opinions are mine and freely given.

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"You must come for me, Noemi. You have to save me. I cannot save myself as much as I wish to, I am bound, threads like iron through my mind and my skin and it's there. In the walls."

07-07: 'Mexican Gothic' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a wonderfully dark story filled with twisting paths and wicked antagonists. I absolutely loved it.

Centering around wealthy Mexican socialite, Noemi Taboada, the story follows her to a creepy old mansion in the countryside in response to a desperate sounding letter from her recently-wed cousin Catalina. The missive is fraught with anxiety and implores the family to send someone to save her. Her father doesn't really take it seriously and neither does she, they both think the girl is on the dramatic side, but he asks her to go for a visit to assuage his mind in any case and see if she does indeed need help.

Upon her arrival, what she finds is a seemingly menacing new husband.. not the classy, charismatic Englishman Catalina seemed to be marrying, a chilling patriarch who appears to be obsessed with racial traits and uncomfortably interested in Noemi, and a household run with a rigidity that is unlike anything she's ever experienced. Having come from the city.. a glamorous debutante with her choice of parties and dates to accompany her.. regardless of her sometimes inconsiderate behavior, High Place is definitely a culture shock.

Francis, brother to her cousin's new husband, seems to be the only one who might be trustworthy. Unlike Virgil, Francis is rather soft-spoken, gentle, and seems to want only to help her. Though he too may be hiding dark familial secrets and as the house begins to invade Noemi's dreams, she digs deeper.. trying to get to the bottom of what's happening in an attempt to help her cousin.


"Noemi felt suddenly like a girl who had her knuckles rapped, and this made her raise her chin and stare back at the woman in the same way she had stared at the nuns at her school, armored with poised insurrection."


Honestly, the family is messed up. Howard, the patriarch.. is the most unpleasant person to experience. Even sitting at a meal with him.. trying to have a regular discussion, it's pretty plain that his views are so removed from polite society.. I'd want nothing to do with him. The moment he appeared in the story.. I disliked him.

The house is managed by Florence, Howard's niece, and she's almost equally unpleasant. Her demands of structure seem outrageous and the friendliest emotion she seems to manage is disdain.

I really believed I knew early on what the origin of the family was going to be.. but I was wrong. It's an incredibly unorthodox story and I love that it wasn't explained in a big 'gotcha' reveal.. so much as a slow, dawning understanding. For me personally, I felt I was sort of battered over the head with the symbolism a bit too frequently, but it's plausible that zealotry could manifest in that way.


"In a sense all dreams foretell events, but some more clearly than others."


Initially, I thought the book started out a little slowly, but as I read on I came to believe it was a methodical pace designed to put the reader in that carefree, rich party girl headspace. It gave me a chance to settle in, frown at the main character, and be dismissive of what was ahead because it didn't feel pressing. Likewise, my first impressions of the Doyle family only encouraged that thinking. I found them rude and cold, but not necessarily frightening.

Moreno-Garcia does a fantastic job of making sure the reader is exactly where she wants us to be. She's unafraid to use truly disturbing themes and manages to convey graphic scenes without the usual accompanying language. She's a gifted writer and now I find myself curious about one of her previous works, 'Gods of Jade and Shadow,' as well.

If you're thinking about picking this up and you like gothic horror, this is for you. There's plenty of mystery and extremely uncomfortable interactions to keep you turning the pages even before you understand what has occurred.

PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKSAMILLION | GOOGLEPLAY BOOKS | KOBO | WATERSTONES

[kalventure]

You can read an excerpt over on EW!

I devoured this book in one sitting; I simply couldn't pry my eyes away until the end... CREEPY house, CREEPY people, & excellently plotted Gothic thriller set in 1950s Mexico that you won't be able to put down!

"He is trying to poison me. You must come for me, Noemí. You have to save me."

The tightly woven narrative of Mexican Gothic fills you with a sense of foreboding early on, that tension slowly builds as the story progresses. The atmosphere is immersive and eerie, but so are the characters. Everyone and everything filled me with unease and I love how ominous and horrifying the book is.

"They're cursed, I tell you, and that house is haunted. You're very silly or very brave living in a haunted house."

This is definitely a plot & mystery-driven novel, but I love that all of the characters feel as real as the main character and narrator Noemí. She's a vain socialite in her 20s, a bit unlikeable for me but also caring for her cousin and deeply inquisitive. I like her strength to buck convention and challenge societal expectations, and I appreciated how nuanced she felt - unlikable, yet I found myself rooting for her.

"In a sense all dreams foretell events, but some more clearly than others."

I love how time and reality slowly begin to blur. Like the fog that blankets the mansion's grounds, there's an eerie dreamlike quality where you're not sure what you're seeing. (Honestly, this is what I wished The Haunting of Hill House was.) I loved how everything pieced together into a truly horrific last quarter of the book that left my horror-loving heart so satisfied!

Overall, this book was incredible and I can't stop thinking about it a week later. Mexican Gothic has a slow start that is true to the Gothic Horror genre and builds tension slowly. If you liked Crimson Peak, this book matches that aesthetic and vibes well in my opinion.

Content warnings: body horror, cannibalism, child death, gore, incest, racism, sexual assault

eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and subject to change upon final publication.

Pre-release hype:11/21/19: Check out the cover reveal and excerpt exclusively at EW, and then come back here to scream with me!

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[Leigha]

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Noemí travels from Mexico City to a replica English countryside mansion to investigate her cousin’s mysterious letter in this creepily fantastic adult historical fiction.

Set in a decrepit mansion in 1950’s Mexico, Mexican Gothic has the same ambiance of Stephen King’s The Shining and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. Vivid and grotesque imagery interwove with fairy tales from around the world pull together a lush and haunted setting. Someone much smarter than I will probably enjoy exploring the juxtaposition between the English estate and the Mexican village.

Noemí is the perfect protagonist to the fantastical. She’s practical and realistic, able to discern something is not quite right at High Place quickly. She’s a detective ferreting out clues from the house, the village, the family. I love that she never dismissed the paranormal as a legit possibility during her investigation. The secondary characters are as vivid as our heroine, each a catalyst – both good and bad – to the situation and setting.

I loved it. Absolutely loved it. Add in an unexpected romance, and it had everything I ever wanted. I’ll be interested to see how others view the romance. I could see some people disliking it, but it worked well for me. I hope those two crazy kids make it.

tl;dr This book delivered for me – I was in the head space for a creepy setting, an interesting plot, and compelling characters and it hits the mark in spades.