Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Two horror novels in a row! Happy 21-days after Halloween! 

This is just a good ol’ fashioned haunted house story about a spooky family. What sets it apart is the protagonist, a young socialite named Noemí Taboada. She’s a fun, smart character who isn’t the usual “sad girl in a sad world” type. The story is set in Mexico City in the 1950s. There’s a cousin who’s sick, a husband who may be trying to poison her, a strange family, a weird house, a bunch of secrets and everything else you’d want in a somewhat silly/somewhat serious scary story. 

I liked it a lot. It’s a story that makes for a good book and would be the inspiration for a very forgettable, bloated 9-part Amazon Prime show. That it hasn’t yet been turned into a show means either Hollywood has learned that not EVERYTHING needs to be televised or that I haven’t checked my local listings. There’s a great chance this already is a show, it streams on Pringles Premium and has won 7 Emmy awards, and yet I still haven’t heard of it. 

As a show, it might be boring. But for a horror novel? It works! 

It’s the season of giving, so please consider donating to my Reading is Fundamental campaign! RIF gives books and literacy tools to kids. It’s a fantastic charity that needs your support. Click here to donate. Thanks!