Mexican Gothic: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

We meet again!

Gothic is right. Fans of Jane Eyre and the Bronte Sisters will be a fan of this novel. I also got real Crimson Peak vibes with the state of the house, which that film is absolutely amazing. I read this book just in time to really get myself amped up for ~spooky season~. Brief Synopsis: Mexican Gothic begins with Noemi, a 1950s socialite in Mexico, learning that her newlywed cousin, Catalina, sent a distressing letter that did not make much sense, but accused her new family of poisoning her. Noemi's father sends her to High Place, her cousin's new home, with the promise that she can pursue further schooling if she so wishes when she returns with news about Catalina. She arrives and discovers the house dark, damp, quiet and gloomy. Her cousin is said to have TB, but Noemi suspects something else going on under the surface. She begins reluctantly exploring the moldy old house and continues to end up with more questions than answers. Noemi, who is wishing to study anthropology, doesn’t believe in the things that go bump in the night.

However, she can’t deny how strange High Place is. She begins sleepwalking, something that she hasn’t done since she was a child. She also has horrible nightmares. She feels that she’s being lied to, constricted, and begins to wonder what is real and what is not.

Francis is seemingly her beacon of light in the dark. He’s not her usual type: he’s not traditionally attractive, he’s awkward, and he seems to follow all of the weird and uptight rules and commands of High Place. However, he also seems to genuinely want to help Noemi, and he seems to be the only one.

The hallucinations grow stronger, both for Noemi and Catalina, and she begins to fear that there is no way out for either of them. Following a particularly harrowing dream (or was it?) Noemi decides enough is enough and she informs the people of the house that she wishes to leave.

They don’t want her to leave.

They trick Noemi one last time, and Francis once again comes to his senses and works to help the cousins (though, in my opinion, it’s too damn late). A final showdown brings the house crumbling after Noemi discovers just what makes High Place seem so… alive.

Did they make it out? Are they safe? Or did High Place get them in its clutches, the kind of clutches that never intends to let go?

My rating: I’m giving this one a solid 8.5/10. I really did not know what to think of it as I was making my way through it, but I cannot deny that it’s a story that you won’t soon forget easily.

Favorite Quote(s):

“…sinking into the lush paragraphs and the forest of footnotes.”

Other books I have read by this author: I am a Silvia Moreno-Garcia newbie, though I do see that she has written quite a few! I will definitely be checking her other books out.

Check out my Goodreads (Traci Bishop) to see what I’m currently reading and to see a good chunk of the books I have already read. My Instagram can be found on the home page and I will share whenever a new post is up as well!

Until next time <3