Mexican Gothic DEALS
I picked up Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia on a whim. I was bored by my latest read and was looking for something fun and freaky. Scrolling through my to-read list on Goodreads, I stumbled across this title, saved several years ago as a forgotten recommendation. So I checked it out from my local library using Libby and dove in.
I tend to read pretty broadly across genres, but I have a soft spot for horror and thriller novels. I love a good gothic story. (I was especially delighted to read Guillermo Del Toro’s recent list of gothic fiction recommendations.) I chose this book mainly because it had a reputation as a page-turner, something I was desperately seeking after a spell of slogging through a few less compelling books. I wanted something suspenseful, easy to read, and substantial while still fun.
This book did not disappoint. From a spooky dilapidated mansion in the middle of nowhere to a strong female protagonist to mysterious evil threats, this book has everything I love in a good horror novel. As a bonus, it’s a fantastic work of gothic horror by a female writer.
Mexican Gothic Synopsis
Mexican Gothic is the story of a young woman named Noemí Taboada, a socialite living her best life in 1950s Mexico City. She’s glamorous, she’s willful, and she’s not exactly the picture of feminine docility: she smokes cigarettes and longs desperately to attend university and continue pursuing a formal education.
Her life is upended one night when her father receives a mysterious letter from Noemí’s cousin Catalina. The unsettling letter alludes to some serious danger in Catalina’s home. Noemí’s father promises to send her to university if she agrees to go check up on Catalina.
So Noemí takes off for the mountains, arriving at the High Place Estate where Catalina lives with her husband Virgil and his unusual family, the Doyles. Noemí is creeped out by the decaying mansion, Catalina’s controlling in-laws, and the relentlessly haunting dreams she experiences every night. Nothing is as it seems, but can Noemí get to the bottom of the mystery in time to save her cousin and herself?
This novel, on its surface, is an ordinary gothic narrative that fulfills a lot of the conventions of the genre. What’s special about this book, however, is the clever ways in which Moreno-Garcia inverts horror conventions. At its core, this is a story about generational trauma, colonialism, familial obligation, and the myriad ways in which oppression continues to function in our society today.
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What I Loved About Mexican Gothic
There was a lot to admire about this book, and its strengths certainly outweighed its weaknesses. It was the first novel of Moreno-Garcia’s that I’d read, but I’m definitely sold on her writing. I can’t wait to read her newest book, The Seventh Veil Of Salome.
A Strong Female Lead
Noemí is a fantastic character. She’s fearless, she’s vulnerable, she’s loyal, and she’s strong. She is flawed, too, and her humanness makes her all the more relatable. Her triumph was easy to hope for as the book went on.
Exploration of Complex Themes
Perhaps my favorite aspect of the novel was the ways in which Moreno-Garcia incorporates important historical elements. The Doyles allude on numerous occasions to the benefits of eugenics, and their family wealth comes from the exploitation of local miners. While this novel is a work of fiction, Moreno-Garcia has said that it was inspired by real stories, and the legacy of colonialism in Mexico was a particularly compelling aspect of this novel for me.
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Atmospheric Setting
I also adored the setting of this book. It reminded me of so many dreary and spooky castles in other classic works of gothic fiction. Moreno-Garcia does a wonderful job of evoking the senses as she writes about the mist, the fog, the treacherous mountain roads, and the damp and moldy house. In fact, without giving any spoilers, one of the atmospheric elements of the novel becomes a crucial plot point.
What I Disliked About Mexican Gothic
In spite of Mexican Gothic‘s overall merits, I still disliked a few aspects of the novel
- Uneven Pacing
- I was tearing through this book in the first half, which was fast-paced and exciting. As the novel went on, I found myself becoming a bit more bored.
- Predictable Character Development
- With the exception of one character, whose fate I wasn’t sure about, every character in this novel kind of ended up revealing herself to be exactly what I’d expected. There wasn’t much nuance between the “good” characters and the “evil” characters, and that was disappointing.
- An Ending That Dragged On
- The ending of this novel felt a bit overextended. I thought the climax and conclusion could have been twenty pages shorter and the novel wouldn’t have suffered for it.
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Mexican Gothic Review Breakdown
While Mexican Gothic is by no means a perfect novel, I would recommend it to any fans of horror or suspense novels. I’d even recommend it to fans of dark romance, as the novel has its share of steamy moments. While it struggles a bit with pacing and an over-reliance on certain character tropes, it’s overall a fun and exciting read. Moreno-Garcia is a prolific and talented writer, and I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.
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The Review
Mexican Gothic
A flawed but engaging horror-romance that showcases Moreno-Garcia's talent, recommended for fans of suspense and gothic literature.
PROS
- Strong female lead
- Complex themes
- Great beginning
CONS
- Uneven pacing
- Dragged on ending
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