4.5 Stars
No surprise here that I love this new SMG noir, I hope you enjoy it too!

Some of the things that I loved about this book are:
* A slow but sleek pacing (keeps you on your toes. It's a quiet intensity that has you wondering when shit will go down and very surprised once it does come)
* Two different missions to find one enigmatic girl in the heat of political turmoil (perfect complimentary plots. Our two main characters are always just missing each other or see one another from a distance--and yet their missions are almost the same. And the politics of Mexico at the time set a backdrop for even more wondering and questioning of what is really going on here.)
* SMG's signature transportive writing (it's the smoky and secret-filled atmosphere for me. Seriously, that dark and smoky cover is the visual representation of the book. All this glamour and mystery veiled behind secrets and deceptions!)
* Those explosive final chapters (remember to pick your jaws off the floor. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. SO much action and suspense left for our final bites of this wonderful story)
* And of course! Wonderfully crafted characters that have wedged their way into my heart while others were there for the pure enjoyment of hating! (I do love hating characters--it's my thing!)

BUT my absolute FAVOURITE part of this book is that Maite believes she has no main character energy when she is in fact The Main Character™ This paradox (if I can call it that) is just so well played from start right till the very end. Simply, simply the best! This aspect plus the fact that she is a lover of comics and is always trying to find a way to fit herself into the drama of a story (even if she made them up in her head) was very relatable to me in a way haha.

Overall, a very rich story and one that I enjoyed immensely.

1970s Mexico City is filled with discontent. The students are protesting the government, there are groups of enforcers attacking those students, including Elvis, and then there is Maite. Maite is a 30 year old secretary who feels unfulfilled with her life and her prospects. She gets pulled into watching her bohemian neighbor's, Leonora, cat while she is out of town for a few days. When Leonora doesn't return on time, Maite unwittingly becomes part of a group of people trying to find Leonora. She crosses paths with Elvis as he, too, looks for Leonora.

This was a great historical noir. The setting was interesting and made me want to do research on that time. I loved the writing and story. The characters took me a little bit to be fully drawn to them, but I got there eventually. This was my first Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel, but it won't be my last!

Because I really enjoyed reading Mexican Gothic last fall, I was excited to read the eARC of Velvet Was the Night by the same author. While Morena-Garcia’s talent at creating atmosphere is evident in both novels, the novels are very different.

I recommend that readers check out Silvia Morena-Garcia’s notes on Goodreads, which clarify that Velvet Was The Night is a historical and noir novel, not a thriller. Set in 1970s Mexico City during political turmoil, and one of the main characters is in a paramilitary group hired by the government to infiltrate student populations and attack protestors. The other main character is a 30-year-old secretary and dreamer who enriches her life through romance comic books and her vinyl music collection.

The author spends time developing the main characters, providing background, and creating an atmosphere of danger and unrest in Mexico City. The female lead slowly finds herself in situations she had only read about or dreamt about after a cat-sitting gig changes the course of her mundane routines.

I appreciate Morena-Garcia’s writing, as she is talented in creating settings and characters, but I think this book will be too slow for some readers’ tastes. The ideal reader of Velvet Was The Night appreciates atmosphere, setting, character-building, music, politics, and history. This is not a fast-paced read, but if you appreciate noir and historical fiction, you should pick it up.

Music lovers, there is a Velvet Was the Night Spotify playlist, as music adds to the mood in this novel. Also, this cover is stunning!!

I absolutely love all of SMG’s works that I’ve read so far and this was no exception. Velvet Was the Night is a historical noir set at the start of the Dirty War in Mexico. We follow along with two very different characters, Maite and Elvis who are both separately searching for the same person, but for different reasons.

I love how SMG is able to create complex and believable characters who are people that you could know in your own life. Even when the action is slow, her style of writing just keeps me so interested in the story. And fair warning, the plot is slow moving in this one. But if you love characters and atmosphere, then you will enjoy this book.

I first read this author when I cracked open Gods of Jade and Shadow and I loved it. So when I saw this come up for an ARC review I jumped at the chance to snag it...

This is a historical noir and the first I've read in this genre. I love the writing, the atmosphere and the storyline. That being said this is definitely one you NEED to be in the mood to read because it is a slow read. Not a slow burn..a slow read.

From what I understand that's the niche of a noir. It's mostly about atmosphere and mystery which this one does well with.

If you're looking to dive into this genre and love historical fiction, I would say go grab this one and give it a go.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

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/7oUAqLnfPuRR3tdXV7tDGH?si=22a4c7ceccf842ce

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

As always, Silvia never lets me down. There is just something about the way she writes, it pulls me in and doesn’t let up. Velvet was no different. Fully expect this book to hit best seller lists.

Velvet Was the Night is Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s second noir. Her first, Untamed Shore, has a more slice of life crime story feel while Velvet Was the Night is a darker, grittier noir. We spend the story following El Elvis, a lower level goon in a criminal group out to tamper down political activists, who loves rock and roll and records, and Maite, a lonely secretary who reluctantly agrees to watch her neighbor’s cat and finds herself embroiled in a mystery the likes of which she’s only read in her favorite comic series “Secret Desires”.

The thing I love most in this book is the way Moreno-Garcia crafts a character’s voice. Though both POVs are in third person, there is no way to become confused on who’s chapter it is as their voices are so distinct. I also love that at some points we get both characters describing the same scene but from their very different lenses.

The story itself is a slow build. We spend a few chapters getting to know El Elvis and Maite and how they interact with the world, the way they see their place in it, before questions (and bodies) start piling up. As the story moves along, the pressure mounts and the pace quickens before coming to a satisfying conclusion. The epilogue hurt me, but that’s all I’ll say on that.

I’ve loved all of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books, and Velvet Was the Night is no exception. If you like noir, character studies, and/or this author, I think you’ll love the way this story unfolds.

I have never read a noir novel before, and this was the perfect introduction to that genre. A bit historical fiction and a bit mystery, I found myself unable to put the book down because I wanted to see if Maite and Elvis's paths would cross and if the missing neighbor would be found. What Moreno-Garcia does well is painting the setting, which makes it easy to imagine you're right next to the characters throughout the book. While it was the mystery that got me hooked, it was the historical elements like the student protests and political unrest that kept me intrigued because I wasn't familiar with Mexico's history, especially in the 70s. This book would be perfect for anyone looking to find a mixture of genres in a book or someone who just loves a thrilling mystery.

3.5 stars

This is my first encounter with this author. I hear a lot about her because of her previous book (Mexican Gothic) and all the buzz with that story, I got the book and planning to read it with a group of friend later this fall, that’s the reason I jump to this one when I saw it it was for request. I have to be very honest, is not what I was expecting. It takes me a little to pass the first chapters, but after that was more easy to keep reading and finished. It was entertaining, but way to much political stuff, I’m not big fan of politics and try to avoided as much as I can. I was unable to connect with this character’s, Maite saying she’s no pretty many times was a little annoying. The corruption and threatening to journalists at the beginning was really hard to read because unfortunately is true. I do like the writing of the author, she uses phrases and the folklore of the Mexico I grow up listening in the news when I sat with my grandparents around the only radio they had. The story is good, just not exactly what I was expecting and not at all the idea I form in my head when I heard about this author. I’m looking forward to read Mexican Gothic, I think that is going to be an awesome read.
Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley and Netgalley and Randomhouse/Ballantine, Del Rey for trusting me with an e-ARC.

A historical crime noir set in 1971 Mexico City amongst political unrest. Maite is a secretary far removed
from the political opposition of the times. Elvis is a member of the Hawks, a group run by the government to squash student protests. Their worlds collide when Maite’s neighbor Leonora goes missing. Maite is looking for Leonora because she owes her money for watching her cat. Elvis is looking
for Leonora because he has orders to do so. Both go down a suspenseful trail of danger leading Maite into a world of crime and Elvis into realization of the future as he knows it disappearing.

My Thoughts:
A slow burn told in alternating points of view as the main characters investigate the case of a missing
girl. While this genre is not my style, the atmospheric writing had me visualizing my surroundings and
the characters of the time. I enjoyed the back story of the political state of Mexico in the 70s. And how
about that cover, just beautiful!

Velvet Was the Night was exactly what I had hoped it would be. It is noir set in Mexico in the early 1970s. I got what I was expecting. What I wasn’t expecting was how much I liked Maite. Even while reading the book, I was kind of wondering why she was the way she was. I mean, she reminds me a lot of Joan Wilder in Romancing the Stone (Kathleen Turner’s character). She’s a not-super-young single lady who just wants to find a love like she reads about in her comics (or writes about in her novels in Wilder’s case). She doesn’t think she’s anything special, and because of that, she’s really not. She’s safe. Maybe even a little boring. She doesn’t want to rock the boat. I should hate her. And yet, I don’t at all. I even kind of relate to her. She has big dreams and a small life – right up until her world gets much, much bigger all of a sudden. She finds herself playing a small role in a very big story.

If you’re looking for a noir story that has some basis in history, look no further. Velvet Was the Night takes place at the beginning of Mexico’s Dirty War, and stars a cast of characters including members of The Hawks – a real life paramilitary group (although the characters are fictional) used by the Mexican government against protesters. But don’t go in expecting action-action-action (remember, this is NOIR, not thriller or action). You’re going to get all sorts of character- and emotion-driven story, and yes, certainly some action, but the action is not the point. Right? Right. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has created a wonderful cast of characters here. Some you will love, some you are going to hate. Others you won’t be sure quite what to make of. But you WILL be invested. I promise you that.

This is also a very musically-driven story. This is because during the era in which the story takes place, the Mexican government under Echeverría was in the midst of censoring music or anything related to the counterculture of the time (anti-war, communism, hippie culture, etc.) lest it lead to civil unrest or a repeat of the Tlatelolco massacre of 1968. I tried to say that as neutrally as possible, and hopefully I succeeded. I’m not here to judge, just to report. But I am judging. Government overreach is upsetting. But since it is musically-driven, the author was kind enough to include a playlist at the end of the book, which I greatly appreicated. It is filled with mood-invoking music of the era.

Velvet Was the Night is top-notch noir, plain and simple. However, if noir is not your thing, you’re probably not going to enjoy it so much. Don’t go in expecting any SFF or horror twists just because it’s Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is what I’m saying.

From the haunting title this is an atmospheric well written novel.that draws you in. Characters that come alive a daydreaming secretary ,an enforcer a mystery a book that envelops you in the world of the story.Will be recommending.#netgalley #randomhouse

This book pulled me in from the beginning and didn't let me go until the last page! It was an action packed political thriller, but it also touches on themes of relationships. The pacing was excellent, and the writing was fantastic. I loved both of the characters. Highly recommend!

"Velvet Was the Night" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is definitely not what I expected! The writing is exquisite; the author's words create a tense and dark atmosphere. However, I have come to the conclusion that the genre of the book, noir, is just not for me. I started reading this book knowing nothing about it and hoping that it would be like "Mexican Gothic" or "Gods of Jade and Shadow," both of which I adored. Unfortunately, it was nothing like those two books. However, with this book, Ms. Moreno-Garcia shows an incredible talent at writing across genres-all of her books are very different. I'm glad I read this book and will definitely be reading all future works by this author. This one just wasn't for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This story takes place during the 70's in Mexico City. Political unrest and protests are prevalent during this time. A young woman named Leonora becomes involved in something and asks her neighbor, Maite, to feed her cat for a couple of days. Maite is a lonely secretary that lives for her fictional stories of passion and danger . When Leonora doesn't return after a couple of days, Maite takes it upon herself to find her. It turns out that Maite is not the only person looking for Leonora. The story is a race to the finish to discover where Leonora is and what part she is playing in a dangerous political conspiracy.

The story is well written and Moreno-Garcia does an excellent job setting the mood for this slow paced thriller. The characters were not very likeable to me and I had a difficult job staying interested in the story. I appreciate the fact that she does not write the same type of books and is able to write other genres very well. This was just not a story that captivated me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #VelvetWastheNight

I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and she proves yet again that she is a master at shifting genres along the line with E Schwab or Neil Gaiman. However, this just ended up being a genre that I was not completely thrilled with. It focuses on a noir setting that I didn't hate, but it didn't capture my attention to the same degree as some of her other books. BUT, without a doubt, This author creates a realistic female character who has to struggle between the reality of what it means to be a woman versus the belief of what it means. I definitely both sympathized and didn't like Maite at the same time, which I think is the entire point.
If you like noir-style mysteries, and marvel at genre differences like Schwab or Taylor Jenkin Reids then give this book a chance. This particular story just didn't quite enthrall me the way I wanted to, and that's okay.

This was my fourth book (and fourth genre!) by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and it might be my favorite so far!
Mexican Gothic (gothic horror) first and I really enjoyed it. Then I read Gods of Jade and Shadow (fantasy) which I liked. Third was Certain Dark Things (is vampire a genre?) which was also fun but pretty outside of my usual genre preferences.

I love that she can write all of these different genres and that each book is well written and highly entertaining. That said, this one was fast-paced and totally intriguing to me. I really liked the historical fiction aspect and I just really liked Elvis and Maite - misfit dreamers in a hard world.

Thanks Silvia Moreno-Garcia!

3.5. I enjoy noir, so I was excited to read this. (Full disclosure: I also adored Mexican Gothic.) I was also expecting Maite to be a more compelling character, but her constant self-criticism annoyed me (though that is a pet peeve of mine). I actually enjoyed the Elvis vignettes more than the main plotline, which surprised me--his Hawk activities are all pretty similar and have a certain level of violence, but I liked Elvis better as a character.

If you like Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, and other historical noir media, try this one.

Was it just me or was there an undercurrent of slapstick comedy in this book that was actually based on a dark time in Mexico City's history? Almost like a noir parody. We have multiple people trying to track down a woman and some photos she has taken. We have individuals on each side of the fight, maybe, who are both struggling to find themselves. These are the two points of view that the reader gets: Elvis, and Maite. Elvis is the member of The Hawks, an actual group that existed and imposed terrorism and violence throughout Mexico City. Maite loses herself in fantasy romance comics and frequently throughout the story day dreams an alternate to what is happening to her to better fit her romantic notions. But, with the disappearance of her neighbor, Maite is drawn in to her own adventure. This is where the writing and character development give the reader a rich adventure of their own. Loyalties and the impression of who is good or bad constantly shift providing for an interesting read.