From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir” about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.
1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger.
Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman—and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents.
Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ’n’ roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he comes to observe Maite from a distance—and grows more and more obsessed with this woman who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.
Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora’s secrets—at gunpoint.
Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes.
1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger.
Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman—and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents.
Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ’n’ roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he comes to observe Maite from a distance—and grows more and more obsessed with this woman who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.
Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora’s secrets—at gunpoint.
Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes.
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Once again this author has blown my mind. This book is a historical noir, something I'd never read before, and is set at the beginning of the Dirty War in Mexico. Something I had never heard of. The pacing might feel slow but stick with it and find the author's playlist on Spotify. I played it while reading the last few chapters and it really set the mood. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7oU...
Maite is a secretary who leads an unexciting life, in fact, the only thing that brings her joy is escaping into the latest issue of Secret Romance.
Her neighbor Leonora asks Maite to take care of her cat, offering her money, reluctantly Maite does it. When Leonora doesn't return she worries but she reaches out days later asking to meet up. When she doesn't show Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman and stepping into a world she knows nothing about.
Meanwhile, a group that works in the shadows, specifically to take down political activists, is also looking for Leonora. Elvis is a peculiar man, a thug who doesn't like violence. A man who loves rock and roll. And while looking for Leonora he is also tasked with checking on Maite. He discovers she also loves music as much as he does and so begins his fascination with her.
Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC to review
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