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Mexican Gothic

October 16, 2020

Take a look at what I think is the best book cover of the year. Study the green wallpaper closely...

Does it look like it's moving to you? That's what I thought too!

Noemí Taboada, a beautiful, charming, intelligent socialite with great panache is called home early from a costume party, much to her frustration. It seems her dear cousin Catalina, recently married to English immigrant Virgil Doyle, is in peril, her letter declaring..."he is trying to poison me."  Noemí's father wants her to go stay with Catalina and assess if she needs to be moved into care.

Noemí travels to High Place, the family estate of the Doyles, and that's when things begin to get very, very creepy. Enter the ancient, unhealthy, racist patriarch of the family, Howard Doyle, his niece Florence, his son Virgil, and Francis, Florence's only son. Slight spoiler alert - Francis is the only likable Doyle. You'll learn why....

Once the family is introduced, the reader is drawn in by Moreno-Garcia's vivid descriptions of High Place, which I daresay is one of the most chilling examples of literary real estate (think Manderley, the Overlook...)

As Noemí tries to discover what is wrong with her cousin, things take a frightening turn. Mexican Gothic is one of the best horror stories I've read in quite a while. According to her publisher's website, it is in development as a Hulu original limited series produced by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. If done well, it will be soooooo good!

Crystal with large racoon

Crystal

Crystal Deane is a librarian in the Popular Materials Department. She likes mysteries, cookbooks, and cats. She dislikes spoilers, and won't include any in her reviews.

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