Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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 Noemí’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.
This was a weird one. I really didn’t know much about it going in. It was honestly a cover buy.
Noemi gets a letter from her cousin Catalina that doesn’t make much sense. She is asking to see her. When Noemi arrives, she can tell things are off right away. But she stays for Catalina. Weird things start happening. Noemi starts having weird dreams and seeing things. There is something wrong with the house and the family there. She learns that no one leaves there alive and she must find a way to get out with Catalina.
The pacing is pretty slow for this and I struggled at times. But the story itself was interesting and different. Lots of trigger warnings for this one.
I gave this book 4 stars.
Have you read this? Is it on your TBR?
