Rating - ⭐⭐1/2
"After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind."
Mexican Gothic is a standalone gothic horror novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
This book was a one hell of a roller coaster in the sense that my enjoyment took a steep nosedive. As usual, the main issue I have with the book is the MC, Noemi. There is a quote that sums up how I felt about Noemi pretty accurately - "For all your intelligence, you don't think sometimes."
I found her to be kind of manipulative and a bit of a bother. She also wasn't really clueing into things that were happening. You would think that if you thought there was something wrong with the people you were staying with, you would try not to irritate them or draw attention to yourself.
As for the twist ending, I will give the author props for going in a direction I wasn't expecting but that doesn't mean I enjoyed it.
If you're looking for a twist on a gothic horror, try this out and see how you feel about it.