A spooky story, this sent chills down my spine! I could imagine being there! Another great story from Silvia!

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

This book started as what could be described as a traditional "haunted house" story...but developed in to far more than that!!

I won't go on and on about the plot - simply because it is too hard to describe without giving the game away too early but, suffice to say, this is a beautifully rendered historical novel with lush overtones of gothic mystery and supernatural goodness!
The Mexican setting was probably the highlight for me - so many mysteries like this are set in either England (or the UK) or the US - it was so refreshing to find something outside those normal mystery tropes. Add to that the historical element and I felt transported back in time. The sense of place - the location and time - were first-rate.
The story itself, however, really was a little slow to get going for me. I understand the "slow-burn" idea - especially for these kinds of tales - but I guess I had this book hyped up so much in my head that I was expecting it to leap from the page and knock me down from the start. It doesn't do that. It does take quite a while to really start to reveal itself - and then BANG!!! "What just happened??" Absolutely worth the wait!!
Finally, the one thing that I didn't expect from this novel but was pleasantly surprised about was my interest in learning more about Mexican folklore and mythology. I am an Australian so it isn't something we learn about but it is certainly something I am going to read more about!

Overall, a definite must-read!!


Paul
ARH

The book got me staying awake even though I was only meant to finish 2/3 of it last night. Alas, today I felt so dazed due to lack of sleep. Bad behaviour, don't try it at home.

Where was I? Oh, the book. It's Gothic with a capital G. Crimson Peak. The Haunting of Hill House. But with a Mexican twist. Heck, and even some Agatha Christie. I absolutely the way it was written. So atmospheric. Starting from the glitzy night life in Mexico circa 1950, to the highlands that reminded me of the creepy English or New England setting in Shirley Jackson novels (but not as bucolic).

The MC was a party girl who strove to become an anthropologist but still finding her way in life when she was assigned by her father (he only appeared for a bit but I love their relationship) to check her cousin who wrote them a weird letter after spending her time as a newly wed with a dude whose family used to be super rich due to their mining business. Sounds familiar?

Anyway, the horror that she faced - did I mention this is a horror fantasy ? - was mindboggling and visceral and downright creepy I could totally imagine that the novel would make an excellent Guillermo del Toro or J. A. Bayona (director of El Orfanato) movie.

Thanks Netgalley and Del Rey for the review copy.

I was again victim of a lovely cover..
Could this cover be more perfect?

Having also loved God's of Jade and Shadow requesting this one was almost by instinct.

The author writes beautifully and once you start reading you are transported to whatever era or place she writes about.

One of the things I loved the most about this book was how unpredictable it was, you start reading and have no clue what you'll find.

Lighter than horror, perfect for easily scared. ( Nonetheless I did had some crazy dreams while reading) .

The writing style of “Mexican Gothic“ was beautiful, but it took me forever to get invested in the characters or the plot. I guess I would’ve loved the book if I’d read it some other time, but right now I just wasn’t in the right mood for it.

What seems like a stereotypical Gothic novel, complete with large remote house and creepy occupants becomes something far more disturbing and sinister, worthy of a horror film or my nightmares.
The house is menacing and malevolent, the servants mute, the family vicious in their manner, with unbreakable rules that fashionable, fun Noemi breaks with no regard, finding them stuffy and backward.
Uncle Howard's obsession with eugenics is creepy too, and the reason behind it all was honestly so sinister and sent shivers down my spine.
This was a book that made me wonder how the author could dream up such a nightmarish plot. But at the same time it was a brilliant read, expertly plotted and delivered.

Putting the word "Gothic" in a book's title gives it a particular vibe to live up to, and this book does it wonderfully. Full of delicious darkness and gloom, it has all the factors you want in a great Gothic novel, while maintaining it's own individual spirit. Simply wonderful.

I really don’t know what to put in this post, as everything feels like a spoiler.

Start this one knowing as little as possible. You’ll go in lured by the blurb, expecting an homage to REBECCA, perhaps, or a gothic haunted house. And there are similar aspects: a creepy house, a strange family, a stifling, eerie quiet.

The first half is a slow, kind of nauseating build-up. I felt as trapped as Noemí, who is a fabulous character. I knew SOMETHING was up. The hints are all there, sprinkled throughout the narrative, but in such a way that I retrospectively clicked them together.

And then the second half does that. And goes there.

I read this in ebook, and this is one that I’d recommend you pick up a physical copy—the tactile sensation of holding the book and turning the pages will add to the experience. I have an earlier work by the author; excited to check that one out soon!

A worrisome letter from her cousin Catalina brings Noemí to a remote place called „High Place“. Only a year ago, Catalina married Virgil Doyle and moved with him in the mansion close to a former mine where the British family made a fortune. Even though it is 1950, there is still no electricity in the house and Noemí feels like being in a British novel of the 19th century. Her cousin is in an awful state, not only physically, but also mentally and she does not only rely on the medication of the family doctor but also got some tincture from a local healer. Strange rules make it difficult for Noemí to adapt to life in the house and it does not take too long until she herself feels that something strange is going on in there. She has very lively nightmares and cannot get rid of the impression that the walls are talking to her. Is she also going mad like Catalina?

Quite often you open a novel and while reading you have the impression that the title and the plot do hardly have any connection. In Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s book „Mexican Gothic“, however, the title perfectly announces what you will get: a wonderful Gothic horror story in the style of the 18th and 19th century. A spooky old mansion in a remote place without any available help close by, a mysterious cemetery whose inhabitants seem to wander about, nightmares, terror and morbidity accomplish it.

Noemí is presented as an educated yet a bit shallow young woman who cares more about partying and having fun than worrying about her family. Therefore, she only reluctantly follows her father‘s orders to put an eye on Catalina‘s situation. When she arrives at High Place, she continues her slightly contemptuous behaviour towards the Dolye family. Only after having talked to Catalina is she moved a bit and willing to help her cousin. Her stubbornness prevents her from being absorbed by the strange activities in the house.

Soon, however, the fine line between reality and insanity becomes more and more blurry, not only is neither the protagonist nor the reader sure if Noemí‘s dreams are only very vivid or if there are frightening things under way. And then, the horror show really begins.

I totally adored how the author gradually drags the young woman and the reader into this story which oscillates between fascinations and abhorrence. Even though you are well aware that most of what happens cannot be real, it is easy to imagine that in such an old house, ghosts could roam and walls could talk. A magnificent read which transports you to a time long gone and a world where much more is possible.

As I was literally reading this book. my laptop died on me. That is my excuse for my review being 8 days late. I have a new laptop but I am still behind on my reviews. You should buy this book. It’s really good and the cover is great.

This is a historical horror book. where Noemi goes to check on her cousin who she hasn’t seen since she was married. An isolated house and a family secret make a Gothic novel. I love stories with spooky houses and this novel fills that need so well. It even has a family graveyard which you would know I have a thing for it you’ve been reading my reviews for a while.

There is some horrifying imagery in this book but I wouldn’t say it’s that gory in detail. It’s just enough for it to be scary. I also have a high tolerance for scary but I do dislike media that just gore.

The characters are decent. The story is told in third-person closely following Noemi. Noemi is a modern woman of the 1950s (August 1950 if you want specifics) and wants to get a master's, which is her motivation. She is also always fabulously dressed. She is very relatable in she tried a few career paths in class choices.

There’s sort of a romance in this book. I am not the best person to review romance, nevermind in a horror book where they are few characters around. It’s fine. It’s a thing.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for Grave Mushrooms. I really enjoyed this book, I might buy my own copy (so many books to buy that I haven’t read) but I’ll definitely be checking more of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books. I think I’ve said all I can without getting into spoilers. It’s hard to review books that great.

There isn't a single thing I didn't love in this book! It's atmospheric, the characters , at least the main ones, are so vivid, and the ending! The ending of the book was so creative, and it really makes you believe there can still be originality in creating fictional stories.
Superbly done.

It was the cover of this book that first enticed me, as I’ve never read any gothic literature before - but wow, I don’t think this will be the last! The intrigue, the suspense, the fear - I could feel it all and no doubt I’ll be having a few bad dreams after this one!
Our heroine, Noemí, is an absolutely wonderful, “plucky” girl full of wit, sass and bravery - and stylish to boot. The costume descriptions were just beautiful and transported me to 1950s Mexico. Her relationship with Francis added something beautiful and sweet to this otherwise dark and terrifying novel and I just could not get enough of these characters.
An absolutely gripping must read that you will struggle to put down - fabulous!

Disturbing, weird, evocative, sultry, messed up--and I loved it.
Noemi is definitely top 3 of my fave characters I've read this year.

This book is sooo good! It’s a Gothic Suspense/Horror book that will keep you going “something is going on but what is it?” for a long time before it spills its secrets. Noemí receives a strange letter from her cousin Catalina. Catalina has recently married and gone to live with her English husband in a strange old house in the middle of the woods.

Noemí is sent to visit her cousin, to make sure she is alright. Once she reaches the house she gets drawn into events more and more. Mexican Gothic will keep you uneasily on the edge of your seat throughout. I’m not usually a fan of horror but this one is just right. I’d recommend it to anyone who fancies a creepy yet beautifully written book!

Well, colour me intrigued from the beginning. This eerie, creepy and peculiar story had me entranced from the start. I was morbidly fascinated by this dark, rather delicious but mostly disturbing tale. I devoured it in a day, eager to piece together all of the pieces of this spine-chilling puzzle. I just had to know what on earth was going on - and I wasn't disappointed. This book was bursting with gothic elements, from the mysterious, complex characters to the grim and decaying setting.
Oh, the setting. The house. I think it may be my favourite character, and it is surely a character, as its presence is overbearing, suffocating and intoxicating. It felt so claustrophobic and creepy, menacing and dangerous. The perfect gothic setting.
Our protagonist, Naomie was simply fantastic. I loved her. She was feisty, outspoken, clever and loyal; she simply oozed glamour with a hint of sass and defiance. She was a great character to read from and felt all of her emotions vividly - I was horrified most of the time as she experienced some awful things and grew angrier and angrier as she suffered at the hands of some monstrous individuals. The other characters were great also. Some villainous and unpleasant, others warm and friendly. One made me feel physically sick. What a disgusting creature. But a great character nonetheless.
I honestly think this book would make the perfect horror/ thriller TV show or film. It read like a film and I could vividly imagine the setting, the characters and the events. And it's all down to the writing. The descriptions are so evocative and intricate, and made the world of Mexican Gothic come to life (no matter how much it scared me at times!). It was suspenseful and full of tension; it had me gripped, turning each page in anticipation. Yet another perfect element of gothic fiction.
All in all, Mexican Gothic was a sinister story that kept me guessing from start to finish. I felt like I couldn't breathe properly until the final sentence; it was atmospheric, suspenseful and hair-raising. It's not my usual read but I am so, so glad that I picked this up. Definitely read Mexican Gothic if you want a diverse, spooky tale set against a glamorously grotesque setting.

As some of you may know, I have a degree in English literature and during the course of my studies, I was exposed to a lot of literary fiction and classics. I read texts from Chaucer all the way to Margaret Atwood and thoroughly enjoyed every moment (give or take a couple of epic poems). Eventually, I had the privilege of reading Emily and Charlotte Brontë’s incredible novels Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, two of my favourite books of all time. Their stories are considered gothic owing to the intense emotions, dark happenings, and strange occurrences that take place in them. I loved the eerie tones and colourful characters of each novel and recommend both to everyone I know. So, when I came across Mexican Gothic, I knew I had to give it a try.


Noemi Taboada is a confident, educated and headstrong socialite living in 1950s Mexico City when she receives a distressing letter from her cousin, Catalina. Noemi may not know much about Catalina’s new life or husband since her cousin moved to the rural town of El Triunfo, but that doesn’t stop her from leaving her high life in the city to check on Catalina. However, her trip to the remote mansion of High Place is not as straightforward as it seems. A strange family and even stranger occurrences lead Noemi to believe that there is something more sinister at play and so she decides to investigate further. But will she be able to save Catalina, and herself, from the dangers that lurk within the walls?

There were a couple of elements to this story that I quite enjoyed. The first of these was the dark, gothic setting of High Place. As with any gothic mansion, you expect the dark corridors and sombre mood of the house. But Mexican Gothic takes the space to another level entirely. High Place is not just a gloomy old mansion – it’s a deeply unsettling place. There is a real sense of High Place (and even El Triunfo itself) being a world apart from the ordinary. This is mainly due to the emphasis that Moreno-Garcia places on silence in the story. The Doyle family discourages noise of any sort in High Place, from music to chatter at the dinner table. The townspeople don’t have much of anything to say or share with Noemi and are harbouring many secrets. This atmosphere of silence exacerbated the gothic mood of the novel, making every creak of a stair and patter of rain only that much spookier.

I also loved Noemi’s character. She’s educated, opinionated and not afraid to ask questions where they are definitely not welcome. Noemi poses a threat to the status quo of the Doyle family, who pride themselves on their English manners and narrow perspective on the world. They may try to impede Noemi’s every attempt at finding answers, but she remains unfazed by them and is continuously driven by her desire for truth. I enjoyed seeing how Noemi develops from a superficial character to a multi-layered one over the course of the story and feel that she made some bold and smart moves throughout, especially considering that she is a young woman living in the 1950s. She refuses to be reined in and toyed with, which ultimately leads her to reclaim her power in an interesting way by the end of the novel.

However, despite the well-developed setting and my love for Noemi, the story itself fell flat for me overall. At first, I was intrigued and wanted to uncover the mystery aspects alongside Noemi. But as I got deeper into the novel, a lot of the characters and events felt insubstantial and insignificant to the plot. The constant repetition of certain imagery also felt a bit forced down the reader’s throat and I struggled to see the importance behind the symbolism by the end. Moreno-Garcia put a lot of work in that ended up being inconsequential, and this was hugely frustrating and disappointing for me.

The horror element of the story was also extremely confusing. Whilst there were moments where I felt fearful for the characters and disgusted (even slightly disturbed) by some scenes, I was left confused by how the horror elements were explained. The bizarre mix of eugenics and pure gore made this story read as non-sensical. I felt like there was a lot going on and it was difficult to keep up with the reasoning behind certain events and the role that the Doyle family played in this. I’m all for being horrified, but the story behind the horror element was not clear and it all translated as very messy to me. Overall, I wouldn’t say that this book did a good job of translating the horror aspects off the page – it was just too confusing.

I looked forward to reading this book from the moment that I heard about it and was especially anticipating a spooky read. However, Mexican Gothic was quite underwhelming and ultimately disappointed me in the end. While I enjoyed the gothic elements and how well-constructed Noemi’s character was, the rest of the characters were bland (and sometimes pointless) and the horror aspect of the novel was difficult to follow and incorporated too many ideas. There are many reviews that rave about how incredible this novel is and so I’m likely in the minority here. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading Mexican Gothic, but it is not the story that I expected it to be.

First off, thank you to Netgalley UK and the publisher for the Advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review. Also, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and spread the word about this amazing book.

I had high hopes for Mexican Gothic and thank goodness it didn’t disappoint. Mexican Gothic is a gothic horror novel wrapped up in a historical fiction setting with a cover that registers not only old Hollywood, but also a bit of eerie sophistication. That’s initially what drew me to this novel. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it and when I was invited to do a buddy read with some amazing members of the book community, I jumped at the opportunity.

First let me say that the atmosphere that Silvia creates here isn’t “BOO! I gotcha” type horror. This is more of a creepy, slow build, hair raising, is this real or isn’t it type of story. Silvia does a great job of describing the environment, the characters, and just what about High Place has Noemi and her cousin on end. From the moment she sets foot in that house, a chill runs over you and you immediately want to get out of there. I promise you that it felt as though I was within those dingy walls with a bunch of creeps discussing Eugenics and fawning over Noemi’s brown skin. The longer Noemi is in that house, the more oppressive it becomes. The house itself never lets up and suddenly it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not. There’s something wrong here, but is it really what Noemi thinks it is or is the house just taking a toll on her. While it’s clear that the family of high place can’t be trusted, after awhile, I began to wonder if Noemi was really as reliable as she thought she was. Is she hallucinating or are these things really happening to her? Is her cousin really in danger or is she going through a mental breakdown from the sheer oppressive presence of the house? Are there really ghosts or is the house itself just driving them mad? These are the questions that you’ll ask yourself as you go through this story and I promise you it’ll be awhile before you get the answers.

Besides making me question what I thought I knew about the story and its characters, Silvia just did an overall job creating a beautiful story. She really paints a series of pictures with her words and her writing style is gorgeous. The haunted feel that she creates is enough to make your hairs stand on end and have you sleeping with the light on and looking at the shadows and your dreams with a complete side eye.

Character wise, I loved how eventually I thought of Noemi as a bit of an unreliable narrator. On the one hand it’s not hard to figure out who is the “likable hero” and who is the “villain” in this story, but the inbetween characters are what trip you up. Is everyone exactly who they seem to be or is there more to them than meets the eye? Is everyone in High Place as evil as they seem or are they victims here too? Even Noemi’s only ally, the youngest member of the High Place family seems caught in the middle. Is he as innocent as he appears or is there something sinister lying underneath the surface?

If we’re being honest, there were some things lacking here. When we get to the climax and the reveal, it’s crazy and something I didn’t completely expect, which was great, but I was left wanting more from one character in particular by the end of the story. I think the anticipation had me so on edge that in the end, I wanted something different from a particular character, but didn’t get it. It didn’t ruin the story for me though, so I can’t be too upset about it.

All in all, I think that everyone needs to give this book a go. It’s released today, Jun 30th, and it’s about time we get some POC voices in the Horror world, am I right? Of course I am!

The Beautiful Ones has been my joint-favourite read of the year so far so I was eager to read an early copy of the author’s latest book, Mexican Gothic. I’m a big fan of gothic horror and was engrossed in this fantasy-horror tale from the very first page thanks to Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s evocative writing style. Noemí was a complex, confident and clever main character; a white knight intent on rescuing her cousin Catalina after she accuses her new husband of attempted poisoning.

Noemí is the typical outsider whose very presence throws the status quo into stark relief and shines a light upon every dark abnormality. Set in 1950, the author explores gender politics via both Noemí and Catalina. Their suspicions are frequently dismissed as hysteria by surrounding male characters, and the threat of being sent to as asylum is raised more than once.

Like any classic gothic horror, the setting becomes an additional character, one hiding decades of death. The author weaves a hauntingly atmospheric tale, slowly revealing the insidious corruption of High Place and the Doyle family using imagery of sickness and rot. The claustrophobic setting increases the building horror, and the nightmares, hallucinations and sleepwalking Noemí experience suggest a descent into madness reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper.

The Doyle family of High Place are mostly unlikeable and invite the reader’s suspicion – the patriarch of the Doyle family, Howard, is introduced via racist remarks espousing eugenics; Virgil, Catalina’s husband, is domineering and cold; Florence, Virgil’s cousin, is strict and unfeeling. There’s also an element of dangerous romance harking back to brooding characters such as Heathcliff and Rochester, where attraction wars with repulsion.

The author drops plenty of clues as to the cause of the madness but I was still surprised by the full explanation, which revealed an even darker truth. As hidden secrets come to light, the action becomes faster-paced as Noemí races to escape an encroaching horror that threatens to devour her whole. Mexican Gothic is an unforgettable and evocative tale of power, gender, and madness, that engages the reader from the first chapter and refuses to let them go.

They say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but with this book I did, and I am not sorry. I immediately added it to my TBR without even reading the blurb or how creepy it would actually be.

"This house is sick with rot, stinks of decay, brims with every single evil and cruel sentiment."

The story follows a young socialite, Noemi, who is used to parties, fast cars and the handsome gentlemen found in Mexico City. She soon leaves this all behind when she receives a distressing letter from her newly wed cousin, claiming her husband is trying to poison her. Upon rushing to her rescue, Noemi encounters the enigmatic Doyle family and slowly uncovers the horrifying truth about the house and those who call it home.

The book builds suspense and oozes atmosphere. High Place is secluded and sits apart from the nearby village of El Triunfo. The inhabitants of the house do not mingle with the Mexican villagers and there are rumors the Doyle's are cursed. The cemetery is especially spooky and constantly shrouded in mist. It fits the family well, and besides Francis, each member was easy to dislike. Usually my favourite characters are the villains, but Howard and Virgil were so repulsive that I felt no warmth for either of them.

"Women needed to be liked or they'd be in trouble. A woman who is not liked is a bitch, and a bitch can hardly do anything: all avenues are closed to her."

Noemi was a great protagonist. She was confident and stubborn, but also extremely loyal and family orientated. I liked that she confronted Virgil and Florence on numerous occasions and tried to maintain her independence while staying with them. The romance was not rushed and I adored the slow burn and the ending.

However, this book did contain incest and racism, which made it uncomfortable to read at times. I also wanted to see a little more of Catalina, when in reality she slept through most of the novel. Overall though, I thought it was twisted and chilling and completely different from any book I have read.

Here, I will say it. This is my favorite book of 2020, so far. And I absolutely loved it.
Set in the 1950, in a small town in Mexico, the book is everything you need right now. We follow Noemi going to see her cousin Catalina after receiving a interesting and worrying letter from her. What she doesn't expect is the old house, the people in it and the rules she has to follow. Plus, her cousin is clearly not okay and Noemi has to do everything to take her from the High Place.
The beginning was a little slow, we got to know the house, the characters, but the further I went, the darker the book got. I still can't believe the history of the family that lives there and it still gives me chills when I think about it.
My favorite part of the book was the atmosphere. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. It's something that makes her a new favorite author and I know I will pick every single book she will write.
Don't be fooled by the beautiful cover, Mexican Gothic is the definition of creepy and suspense. It is a masterpiece and I highly, highly recommend it!

Thank you Net Galley and Quercus Books for providing me with an early copy.