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Mexican Gothic

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

4.13

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

ThrillerHorrorHistorical FantasyScience FictionFantasyFictionAdult
Pages
338
First published
June 30, 2020
Language
English
Edition
Ebook

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Shelved by 17 Litcadians

Reviews

  • Finished October 11, 2024

    4/5⭐ 1/5🌶️ Tropes -Friends to lovers -Reluctant allies 📖My Thoughts A beautiful yet horrifying gothic fairytale. The author has a bewitching writing style that will pull you in. This is my second time reading this. I initially gave it a 5 star rating, however, I was still pretty new to my return journey of reading. I feel that I am a bit more critical since then and am giving it a 4 star simply because I can't say that it's an amazing read even though I really enjoyed it. I love the suspense and how the story slowly unfolds to something you aren't completely expecting. ⚠️Triggers This book covers a lot of triggering themes such as, attempted rape, cannibalism, eugenics, forced marriage, incest, miscarriage, violence and murder, racism, suicide, and live burials. 🌶️Spice There is not a whole lot of spice in this book except the moments of attempted rape and then closer to the end of the book the MFC and one of the MMC's finally get romantic after pining for each other throughout the book. That was probably my favorite part in the entirety of this book. You have this gorgeous, smart socialite who falls in love with this sweet, shy, and below average looking man. I loved that.

  • Started October 10, 2024 · Finished October 16, 2024

    I would give this a 3.5. This was not bad, a little weird, but well written. There were some parts that seriously grossed me out lol but the concept was interesting. Reminded me of “The Last of Us” - but not as scary, altho living in that house would be... The family in this was shitty, I really like the FMC though, she was sassy and fun to read.

  • Anonymous

    Started October 14, 2025 · Finished October 23, 2025

  • Started October 14, 2025 · Finished October 23, 2025

  • Finished January 19, 2025

    A slow burn with a dark vibe, Mexican Gothic had me hooked. I loved Noemí, the main character, for her strong-willed, intelligent, and fearless personality, which made her stand out in the eerie setting. The story itself is creepy and weird, and I will probably have nightmares of ol' Howard. But it was a fantastic read!

  • Finished August 18, 2024

  • Finished August 9, 2020