Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
B&B RATING: 3 / 5
MOOD: If you’re looking for something to make your stomach absolutely turn while you turn some pages, this ones’ for you.
Synopsis
Noemí is a socialite preoccupied with her fun-filled, party-hopping endeavors when a disturbing letter arrives from her recently married cousin, Catalina. The rambling letter makes no sense, but causes concern with Noemí’s father, who sends Noemí to check out what’s going on - is something wrong with Catalina’s new life with her new husband Virgil? Sure, he’s broke and not up to her uncle’s snuff, but Catalina was so happy when they wed.
Arriving at her new home, High Place, Noemí starts to understand that something is not right with this place. The house is plagued by cold and dampness, the latter causing mold to spring up in all corners and crevices of the decaying Victorian mansion. Francis, a withering image of his cousin Virgil, offers Noemí little respite or insight into the quiet and bizarre rule-laden world that is High Place. Noemí is kept away from her cousin and only allowed supervised visits after much protest. Through fever dream nightmares and a constant feeling of being watched, can Noemí figure out what is going on to save herself and her cousin? And what in the world is that buzzing noise!?
Review
I had really mixed feelings about this one. I finished it in a few days, so clearly it wasn’t bad. It also wasn’t… great. I wanted it to be great. I also don’t have a lot of experience with Gothic novels, this being one of the few that I have read before. I was into it, but mostly because it just became outlandish. It’s hard to describe it without giving away crucial elements of the book - and that is making it even harder to explain my fury.
Drink Pairing:
A glass of NyQuil, mixed with Percocet. Yikes.