Mexican Gothic

This has been one of the most anticipated horror novels of the year, so I was excited when my copy arrived and I finally had the opportunity to dig in to it. From the title and description, I expected to read a fairly classical Gothic tale, transposed to the Mexican setting. This expectation was partly fulfilled, though there's a lot more going on in this book than the established tropes of the Gothic genre.The important thing to know about this book is that, though it is a horror novel, the horror elements are fairly understated through most of the book. It's very much a slow-burn story, allowing the reader time to gradually get to know the characters and the setting before delivering its climax. On many levels, this is effective, though I do think the pacing is a little bit off. I don't mind a slow burn of a story, but after an intriguing opening, the middle section seems to drag on a bit longer than it ought, offering tidbits of information about the horrific mystery at the novel's heart in small doses and in a way that doesn't particularly add to the story's tension. Once the stakes have been established fairly early, these revelations do enrich the reader's understanding, bit by bit, of what's really going on, but they don't seem to raise the stakes much, making the novel's middle section a bit of a slog.The slow-burn character of the novel does finally reverse itself in the final third or so of the book, when a final set of revelations come in rapid succession, building to a true climax. In fact, these climactic revelations seem to come a bit too rapidly, once again short-changing dramatic tension in favor of bringing the plot closer to its conclusion. The novel's pacing would have been better had the revelations built more gradually to a crescendo.Issues with pacing aside, I found it overall to be an enjoyable read. The reader will have no trouble liking or disliking the characters according to how the author means them to be viewed. While some characters are better-developed than others, they do provide an interesting ensemble. The writing style occasionally veers toward the wordy or "flowery," but always stops just short of the point at which it becomes too much so, giving the book a haunting, almost meditative sort of characteristic.Endings in horror are often difficult to get right, because once one knows what the evil (or the "big bad") actually is, it immediately loses much of its power to terrify. Admittedly, the revelation of this novel's big bad strains the limits of the willing suspension of disbelief a bit, but it nevertheless leads to an ending that's more satisfying than those of most horror novels.It's far from a perfect book, but it's well worth a read.

"Is... is your English any good?""Lessons every day since I was six," she said, switching from Spanish to English. "I'm sure I'll have no trouble."That quote from a very early part in the text stuck with me because until that point, I had been incorrectly assuming that the characters were communicating in English. And it's those kids of assumptions, the nature of colonialism, eugenics, and a haunting mystery that drive the book forward. This brilliant author has no trouble weaving culture and texture into a gothic horror story.For anyone who reads this and finds themselves wanting the book to be "more Mexican" I would ask you to stop and question what that means to you. What doesn't feel Mexican enough in this story? From my perspective, the characters, setting, dialogue, food, and music all feel very authentic to the time and place. The absence of Mexican culture at High Place is very deliberate and explored as part of the themes.I do not usually read horror, but I was immersed in the chilling and claustrophobic atmosphere of High Place. I agree with other reviews that describe the beginning as a slow burn and I found that to be necessary for the gradual descent into darkness and chaos that arrives near the end.

I cannot for the life of me understand the rave reviews for this book. I tried to like it but just couldn’t. To compare it to a novel like Rebecca is laughable. The writing is mediocre, doesn’t evoke the time period the novel is set in, and I disliked the main character immensely. Mediocre at best!

I'm truly puzzled by all of the good reviews for this book, not just from Amazon readers but from major newspapers and periodicals. Based on those reviews--from sources in which I usually have some faith--I couldn't wait to get my copy and dive in. Not only do I enjoy the shivers that great examples from the genre of supernatural dread and "magical realism" can provide, I was excited to learn more about Mexican legends, culture, etc.What an incredible letdown! The writing.....well, not meaning to be too unkind about it, but it was amazingly juvenile. No sense of the time period (the 1950's), no sense of location (most of the characters are British! So why even set it in Mexico??), no real sense of atmosphere (except for the usual cliches: fog, bad dreams, dark corridors, old cemeteries, assorted fungi), and no real narrative drive. The character of Neomi is kind of interesting, but her behavior and thoughts seem anachronistic. It was a chore to slog through the so-called "thrilling" and "terrifying" climax, as the vast majority of reviews described it. In fact, at times it seemed unintentionally funny. Or maybe intentionally? I often had the feeling that the author felt that she was "slumming" for the bestseller horror crowd by throwing in every predictably gross and worn-out image she could conjure up (probably giggling all the way), checking off what she thought such a readership might be expecting.If you want to read about indescribable eldritch horrors, dig out your old Lovecraft books instead. If you want modern psychological horror or true magical realism, try Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, R.B. Russell, Michael Marshall Smith, Rebecca Lloyd. If you want "creepy" that will stay with you for years, read Robert Aickman. If you want visceral horror with classy thriller writing, read Scott Smith's THE RUINS.This is the most over-hyped "horror" novel since BIRD BOX. But maybe that's just because most readers don't really want to be haunted by their horror reads.

I rarely read horror but I seem to be on a bit of a horror bender at the moment, and picked this up to continue the ride. My initial thoughts are that it's quite disturbing and I both love and am afraid of this book!Set in 1950, Noemi lives in Mexico City, enjoying the parties, games and the flirting with handsome heirs to vast companies. When her cousin Catalina sends a telegram saying her new husband is trying to poison her, Noemi sets off to investigate her cousin's strange claim. Trekking across the Mexican countryside, Noemi arrives at High Place, a Victorian-style manor house that lords over a small town once famed for its silver mine. All that remains of the silver is Catalina's husband's family, the Doyles, and a few silver trinkets. Unwelcomed by the Doyles, Noemi finds her cousin has become a nervous wreck - making claims the walls are talking to her and her husband Virgil is trying to poison her - and vows to stay with her to keep her company. But as Noemi investigates her cousins claims, she unwittingly uncovers dark mysteries surrounding the Doyles and their silver mine. The more she scratches at the mysteries, the deeper Noemi begins to fall into the same dark trap as Catalina.This is NOT my usual read, however I'm lately taken by creepy houses/towns with creepy histories and this definitely delivers. It's a bit of a slow burn to begin with, but it absolutely knocks it out of the creepy park about 3/4 of the way through and looking back, it's not possible to do that without the slow setup.What I loved most about this book was the time period and the setting. The author describes everything so richly I had no trouble picturing it. Noemi also has several disturbing dreams and they too were handled really well - the creepiness of this book is delivered in the writing. Everything is so easily pictured and I think that's why I both love and am afraid of this book.It's honestly a gem and you should give it a go!

Set in Mexico in the early 1950s, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's novel 'Mexican Gothic' focuses on beautiful socialite, Noemi, who finds herself travelling to a remote mountainside estate after receiving a desperate letter from her recently married cousin, Catalina, who thinks her new husband, Virgil Doyle, is trying to poison her. When she arrives at High Place, a crumbling gothic mansion, Noemi meets the Doyle family, who are of English origin and all of them rather unusual characters. The handsome, cool and very collected Virgil tells Noemi that Catalina is merely suffering from a fever caused by a bout of tuberculosis and that Noemi need not worry herself about her cousin, but when Noemi tries to investigate further, she finds herself stonewalled by Virgil and the rest of the family - apart from the shy and gentle Francis, the youngest member of the family, who becomes very attracted to the lively and confident Noemi. As Noemi spends more time at High Place, the strangely menacing atmosphere begins to affect not only her waking hours, but also her dreaming hours and before long Noemi is having violent and macabre nightmares which seem too horribly real to be merely dreams. As time passes, and Catalina shows signs of acute mental distress, Noemi becomes convinced there is something rather sinister going on behind the scenes at High Place - but will she be able to discover what that is before something very unpleasant happens?This story is one that I can only describe as an incredible gothic romp - and, by incredible, I mean it is just not credible. It is true that I initially became caught up in the story and I enjoyed the author's descriptions of High Place with its unsettling atmosphere and its proximity to an eerie, mist-enshrouded cemetery, but this tale was just too far-fetched for me to really take on board and it became even more unbelievable as the story progressed. I have to say that I'm quite easily scared, but I'm frightened by things that I believe could possibly happen and not those which seem altogether too bizarre, so instead of finding myself "mesmerised by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place" (as promised by the 'blurb') I actually found it almost comical in places - especially when amongst all the gory descriptions provided by the author, Ms Moreno-Garcia takes time out to describe Noemi's fashionable clothing for the day. That's not to say that there weren't parts to this story which held my attention and, as already mentioned, I enjoyed the atmosphere created by the author (and the cover on the book is gorgeous), but this was all a bit too fantastically bizarre for me and the book is now off to a friend who reads fantasy novels and who I feel will enjoy this more than I did.2.5 Stars.

Over the last few months I have read quite a few positive reviews for the novel, set in 1950s Mexico, at an estate linked to an erstwhile British-run silver mining company, high in the mountains. The building is text book spooky Victorian and the family members are an eclectic mix of curious individuals, who are each leading a strange life, incarcerated in their spookily atmospheric surrounds, a long way away from civilisation. Part Hammer Horror, part Addams family – or as the Guardian newspaper puts it – Lovecraft meets the Brontës in Latin America. The setting is perfect for the storyline and evoking this ghostly and atmospheric backdrop is something the author does superbly well. And. There are plenty of comparisons to Jane Eyre.I confess that this took me out of my comfort zone, I am not naturally drawn to the gothic/horror genre but I have to say it was the cover that swung me in the book’s favour; that, and also because it was set in Mexico. Just see, the power of the book cover ad location!Catalina is living with her husband Virgil Doyle, in the misty mountains near El Triunfo in the family mansion, where patriarch Howard Doyle is still wheezing away his days on his looming death bed. The family have mined the silver in the area for several generations. Catalina has sent a letter to her cousin Noemí’s family in Mexico City and Noemí is despatched to check on the health and well-being of Catalina. It seems that she might be experiencing psychological disturbance.Noemí arrives and almost immediately a shiver runs down her spine. It is a dank and dreary building, and the household is ruled with an iron fist (absolutely no speaking over dinner), with sharp-tongued Florence as at the helm.As Noemí delves deeper, she discovers all kinds of horrors and mysteries – and death.It is a reflective storyline, leaving the reader to ponder whether the house is sick or whether the sins of the ancestors – colonisers plundering the land for its resources – are being visited upon this generation.I was enthralled by the first third of the book, the writing and storytelling fully drew me in. Thereafter it levelled out for me. The longer she stays, the more Noemí sinks into the bowels of the sinister clutch of the house and its occupants. She starts to sleep walk, apparently, and the blur between reality and ghostly adventures starts to add confusion to her days. Soon thereafter it goes into more otherworldly realms. This is not my genre of choice and sometimes one just needs to step out of one’s comfort zone and expand one’s horizons. In many ways I am very glad I have read it. The New Yorker says its addictive prose “..is as easy to slurp down as a poisoned cordial…” It is indeed!

Mexican Gothic has been everywhere this year, and as a long-time fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work I’ve loved seeing so many more readers discover just how good she is. Weirdly, though, it took me a while to get to this novel despite it being one of my most anticipated releases of the year, because I saw so much hype for it that I worried I might hype it up too much in my head.I needn’t have worried. One of the things I love about Moreno-Garcia’s work is that I’m never entirely sure where it’s going, and that’s definitely true of this Gothic horror novel.It’s Mexico in 1950, and socialite Noemí Taboada is asked to visit High Place, an old manor in the Mexican countryside, after her father receives a worrying letter from Noemí’s recently married cousin, Catalina. It sounds as though Catalina is unwell, perhaps she requires treatment for her mental health, and Noemí’s family want not only to make sure Catalina is safe and well, but also to make sure there’s no scandal for their family.When Noemí arrives at High Place, however, it’s clear that something isn’t quite right. The English family who live there, once the proud owners of a wealthy mining empire, are peculiar and secretive, the townspeople claim the family are cursed, and Noemí often feels like something in the very walls is watching her.As always, I fell in love with Moreno-Garcia’s heroine. Each of her novels has had a very different woman at its centre and I’ve loved all of them, and Noemí is no different. She loves parties and boys and drinking and smoking, but she also wants to attend university and she’s not someone who can be easily pushed around. If this were a Gothic novel written back in the 18th or 19th centuries, Catalina would probably be our innocent heroine – and I was very fond of Catalina, too – but I loved how Moreno-Garcia gave us a Gothic heroine of a different kind.In this way Mexican Gothic is more Northanger Abbey than The Mysteries of Udolpho. Just as Northanger Abbey‘s Catherine views her world through a Gothic lens and therefore gets to the heart of the villain’s true nature, Noemí also feels like the heroine of a Gothic tale that has already been told. She’s both in a Gothic story, and yet also in a Gothic aftermath story. Much of the terrible things that have happened to women throughout the history of the Gothic genre have already happened by the time Noemí arrives at High Place, and instead we’re seeing the Gothic novel from the perspective of the rescuer rather than the innocent, vulnerable girl. If you’re a fan of Angela Carter’s fairy tales, this is a novel for you.This is a Gothic novel in which women are allowed to be angry for all the crap they’ve been put through throughout the history of the horror genre, without ever pointing a finger at the horror genre as being the problem. Women have been writing horror for as long as the genre has been around, with Mary Shelley and Ann Radcliffe being some of the better known early examples, and this novel doesn’t criticise the genre itself, but instead really focuses our attention on the kinds of violence women are subjected to within the genre, which played out beautifully against the backdrop of Mexico in 1950, when women didn’t yet have the vote.Mexican Gothic is so easy to read, and genuinely quite creepy at times–there were a couple of moments when I knew that, had this story been a film, I’d’ve jumped out my skin–and if you’re a fan of Gothic tales with creepy houses, like Rebecca, this is one novel you need to try. I didn’t know I needed a Gothic novel with a Mexican twist until I picked up this book, and now I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more Mexican horror.

After her father receives a disturbing letter from her cousin, Noemí Taboada is dispatched to the remote Mexican town of El Triunfo to assess the situation between Catalina and her new husband, Virgil, and Catalina’s mental state. Noemí is instantly a fish out of water, plucked from her comfortable socialite lifestyle, where she is expected to “devote her time to the twin pursuits of leisure and husband hunting” and plunged into a strange place full of strange people. High Place, the family home of the Virgil and his extended English family, is perched on a hillside removed from the rest of the town, enveloped by an almost constant sea of dense fog. Noemí notes at once that the dirty and drab home looks like something from Victorian England, which is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this eccentric family.Patriarch, Howard Doyle, is very old and very ill, spending most of his time confined to his room and cared for by the mistress of the house, his niece and Virgil’s sister, Florence. Francis, Florence’s son, rounds out the Doyle family, and is the one member of the family who Noemí warms to, as he is the only one who does not treat her visit with suspicion and hostility. The first meal to “welcome” Noemí to High Place doesn’t go at all well, with Howard keen to press his guest on Eugenics and the hierarchy of their races. It makes for an uncomfortable read, to hear such terrible ideologies, but it perfectly reflects the character of the old man, and possibly the rest of the Doyle clan.But Noemí isn’t so easily intimidated, as she continues to oppose the oppressive atmosphere of the strange place. She continually disregards Florence’s admonitions about wandering the grounds on her own, or travelling to El Triunfo to seek medical advice other than that offered by the family doctor, or even smoking in her room. She is fiercely loyal to her cousin and wants nothing more than to discover the nature of her illness and return her to full health, even if it means getting her away from the increasingly manipulative hands of her new husband. Noemí isn’t immune to the charms of the attractive Virgil, but she knows there is something more, something worse, beneath the polished veneer he presents to the world.Within the suffocating setting, and seemingly hounded by the sinister Virgil and Florence, Noemí is soon also haunted by terrible dreams and begins to wonder if she too is succumbing to the same illness afflicting Catalina. As the story accelerates towards its horrific conclusion, our fiery, no-nonsense heroine’s mettle will be tested by the very human evils of racism, misogyny and the outdated notion of patriarchy. But she will also face a very unhuman evil that will make sense of much of the strange occurrences she has been exposed to thanks to the eerily gothic home and its eerily gothic inhabitants. There are passages of this book where the reader will have to remind themselves to take a breath lest they pass out, left breathless by the overpowering sense of dread.Moreno-Garcia should be commended for combining the horrors faced by many women in real life with the unique and monstrous horror (hopefully) only thought of in her imagination to bring a truly terrifying and tense story to life. The characters are also well done, the villainy of the antagonists equal parts delightful and gruesome (not that they are delightful, just that they are perfect for their roles). And, in Noemí Taboada, Moreno-Garcia has gifted us one of the most endearing and forceful heroines of recent horror fiction. A masterpiece of modern gothic storytelling, complete with a captivating storyline driven by a strong cast and brooding atmosphere, Mexican Gothic deserves all the plaudits it has received, and then some.