“The world might indeed be a cursed circle; the snake swallowed its tail and there could be no end, only an eternal ruination and endless devouring.”
Spooky. Moody. Tense. Fascinating. These are just a few words I would use to describe MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. MEXICAN GOTHIC is an innovative gothic horror novel that not only delivers creepy scares but also provides a layered, thought-provoking narrative that explores Mexico’s colonial history.
Set in Mexico in the 1950s, the story follows a glamorous young socialite Noemí Taboada. Noemí is tasked with traveling to the remote countryside to check-in on her cousin Catalina who lives with her British husband and his family in High Place, their crumbling mansion. Catalina sent a disturbing and incoherent letter to Noemí in which she claims that her new husband is poisoning her, High Place is evil, and that ghosts haunt her. Is Catalina hysterical or is something evil lurching at High Place? You have to read to find out!!
MEXICAN GOTHIC is as sinister as it is smart! The writing is lush and the pacing is superb. The story starts more atmospheric and mysterious but as the tension gradually builds it grows into full on horror! Faint of heart be warned, there are some pretty gruesome parts! Noemí is an excellent lead and I loved that High Place appears as an actual living, breathing character in the book. What makes this story truly special is that the horror isn’t just supernatural but historical. The story explores the very real history of white colonizers exploiting the native people and land in Mexico as well as discusses eugenics, racism , and labor inequality.
A darkly twisted tale that captivated and entertained me from start to finish; I think horror and non-horror fans alike would definitely enjoy MEXICAN GOTHIC!
- Title: Mexican Gothic
- Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- Published: June 30, 2020 (Del Rey)
- Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
- Booky Nooky Rating: * * * *
Booky Nooky 