Even though I think smoking is disgusting, I love the cover to this book. And the title. But it was just an ok book for me. But I'm also not much a fan of historical reads.

Loved every page. Great writing style. Recommend for a book club for women of all ages and races. Thanks for the opportunity to read this.

I enjoyed the author’s earlier Mexican Gothic. However, this one missed the mark for me. A mystery set in the 1970’s that has one of the most lackluster endings I can recall. At one point she writes, “Elvis was starting to believe his life was an unending circle, because they were back at Astrisk.” And, that is a pretty telling observation.

There’s been a lot of buzz in my library about Mexican Gothic so, even though I haven’t read it, the author was on my radar. When I found out that her new novel is set in the time of the Corpus Christi massacre in Mexico City in 1971 I was all in, as our 9th grade takes Mexican History for their first semester. Though it’s a really interesting novel in terms of its historical context, I did find the telling of it rather oblique.

Elvis is a member of a small cell of Hawks (a paramilitary group set up after the Tlatelolco massacre in 1968 to infiltrate and terrorize student activists) who are given orders by El Mago but have little idea of the context in which they are doing this. Maite is a naive frumpy secretary who lives through her syrupy romance comics and her record collection.

Their stories are brought together by Leonora, a student who apparently has taken some damning photographs of the response to the protest. Elvis and his comrades have been assigned to find the young woman and, particularly, the photos. Maite is a neighbor who Leonora ropes in to look after her cat while she makes herself scarce. As Maite searches for her missing neighbor, initially at least because she wants payment for her catsitting, she finds herself getting pulled deeper into the activist milieu.

The narrative switches between these two characters as they are inexorably drawn together though there are other forces at work here, which neither Maite nor Elvis are aware of, which really control their stories. Both of them have lived impoverished lives, both physically and emotionally, and their quest brings a romance and purpose that they have lacked. The links they share - their love of music (like the titular Blue Velvet), their interest in words - gives them more in common but also feels a bit like authorly effort to create that bond.

The author brings the time and place alive, evoking the activists’ desperation and commitment as well as the layers of distrust and betrayal. Though she states that the novel is “noir, pulp fiction” she does an excellent job of bringing to life a little known (to American eyes) point in time. It’s really only in the anti-climactic resolution that I felt she was bolting a story onto real life.

The author’s afterword gives some brief context to the political context of the Hawks and the activists. However, it also highlights the importance of music and the control of music as censorship as well as a way to show subversion - a topic I might suggest to a student or two for their research papers.

Thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

If you have heard anything about this book, you should know that this is not another Mexican Gothic. Velvet was the Night is noir and honestly could not have been more perfect in my opinion.

This story has so much heart in some unexpected characters. There’s also action, adventure, mystery, and a big reveal. Another thing I really enjoyed was how place-centered this was. I really had a feel for where/when the story took place. Add in a dash of romance potential/romance references and I think that just about anyone would find something to love here.

I highly recommend this read! 5⭐️

I was very excited when I was able to get an advance copy of Velvet Was the Night! I was already a fan of Silvia Moreno- Garcia and was intrigued with the Noir genre. In addition, the historical background of Mexico's student movement of the 70's caught my eye. This book did not disappoint! I fell in love with the main character and all her quirks fairly quick. It was so good that I ignored my kids for two days while I finished the book (I kid, I kid). Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Picked this one up because I loved Mexican Gothic. Also, the cover art is arresting. This was a totally different type of book - historical fiction. It's set in Mexico City in the 1970's during a time of political turmoil - student protests, corrupt police, corrupt politicians, and gangs. A terrible time in Mexico.

Maite, a secretary leading a quiet life, becomes involved in a complicated policitical situation. Her neighbor, Leonora, asked Maite to feed her cat for a few days while she was away. But Leonora did not come back. Maite finally got a call from her and was going to meet her and take the cat and a box Leonora wanted. But then Leonora didn't show up at the meeting place. Maite then begins meeting others concerned about Leonora. Her quiet life quickly become chaotic.

The book was atmospheric and the characters were vivid. The story provided a perspective on the political unrest at the time and even the suppression of rock music that had been imposed by the govenment. After reading the novel, I've decided I'm not a big noir fan. The story is really good, just not the type I normally enjoy.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Unfortunately, I put this book down 26% into it. While I commend the author's ability to switch and write different genres so easily and so well, I think noir is just not for me.

I enjoyed this but boy was it slow. I kept waiting for it to pick up and it never did. I liked the characters and did want to find out what happened but this was not a page turner.

In the 1970s in Mexico City there is political unrest and student rebellion. That is besides the different criminal groups and gangs trying for dominance. Maite is a young woman, too old for student protest, older than the desirable marriage age and stuck in a secretarial job in a law firm. She has romantic dreams and unrealized ambitions….which are not getting her anywhere.
Elvis is a young man from a poor, hardscrabble barrio. He also has romantic dreams and unrealized ambitions. He wants status, money and a good life. He chose the name Elvis because of his love for the real Elvis – the music and the look. He sees his path forward as an enforcer for a powerful gangster.

One day Maite’s beautiful neighbor, Leonora, asks her to tend to her cat while she is away. Grudgingly, Maite agrees. When Leonara goes missing, Maite just wants to return the cat. But Leonora may be in possession of some critical information that may affect some high up politicians. Enter Elvis and his associates. There starts a series of missed connections, false leads, beatings, endangerment and murder. Both Elvis and Maite do not know who the good guys are, nor the nature of what is wanted. They are on a parallel course but don’t know it.

Good points in this book were a great cover, getting to know 1970s Mexico City and the unrest, the depiction of the city. Less invested in the characters of Maite and Elvis who were not very likeable or compelling. Pacing of the title was more like an historical noire, not a suspenseful thriller. But if you read it you will be searching online for all the songs mentioned for a soundtrack. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy to review.

Velvet Was the Night
A Novel
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Del Rey
Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers | Women's Fiction
Pub Date 17 Aug 2021 | Archive Date 31 Dec 2021

From the best-selling author of Mexican Gothic comes this tale of intrigue and mystery. Smokey, sexy and mystery... What more can you want?
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. of this book. Hit the Spot for historical fiction.

4 star

A bored young woman living in 1970s Mexico gets pulled into a noir story of political unrest. Maite is a secretary who only wants to read her Secret Romance comics and dream of a handsome man seducing her. When she is asked to watch a neighbor's cat, she gets pulled into the middle of some intrigue, when the neighbor, Leonora, asks her to bring the cat and some things to a secondary location and never shows up. Now all sorts of people are looking for Leonora, including Elvis, who works for a shadowy figure running goon squads aimed at breaking up the political unrest. As Elvis watches Maite from afar, he notices they have a few things in common, like music, and dreaming of another life. As danger closes in on Maite, who will be there for her?

This is an interesting blend of historical novel and crime noir, with antiheroes and a gorgeous musical soundtrack you can find on Spotify that adds to the atmosphere of the novel.

"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 watches Maite from a distance - and comes to regard her as a kindred spirit 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."

The must read author of the moment with seriously my favorite cover of the summer. Look at that type people!

Every time a read a book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia it's completely different from her previous books and this was no exception. This book was like a historical, political thriller with a hint of whimsy. The plot was a bit slow for me in the beginning but I think that may be because history isn't my favorite genre. Once the actual plot got going it moved a little faster.

The characters were unique and interesting and I felt connected to Maite. She was a dreamer with low self esteem that you couldn't help rooting for. The setting we well developed and Moreno-Garcia did a great job of making you feel the tension of the times.

Overall a unique story and different from anything I've read before.
Thank you NetGalley and Random-House Publishing Group for the ARC.

Velvet was the night was a beautiful mystery and historical crime novel that depicts complicated characters.

Set in Mexico in the 1970s, Elvis was a member of the Hawks, a group that unofficially worked for the government during the Dirty War. Maite is a secretary who hated her job and loved reading romances novels and listening to records. Both cross paths while both trying to find Lenora. Maite discovers more than she was searching for as she is exposed to the world around her and the politically charged civil unrest of her country. Elvis is a loner who is unsettled with his current lifestyle and yearns for a change throughout his interaction with Maite. Even though this is a historical crime and mystery, this book proves the depths of finding ones true identity while searching for Lenora and surviving dangerous situations.

The way the story of Elvis and Maite was written was a bit slow paced but we were intrigued with throughout and were able to immerse ourselves into the character’s worlds. Another amazing read by this dynamic author.

This book is described as historical nior and it is my first dip into this genre but it won't be my last. I absolutely love how Garcia takes these niche genres and does amazing things with them.

This book takes place during the Dirty War in Mexico. It is a time when the government was killing and torturing students who they thought were communist threats, with the encouragement from the CIA. It was very interesting and I would recommend looking up The Corpus Christi Student Massacre.

You get two POVs one is Elvis and he works for The Hawks which is a paramilitary group hired by the government to attack student protesters. He is a big softee though and he doesn't like the violence. Instead he wants to spend his time reading and listening to music. His chapters gave me big Tarantino vibes! They were brutal but you develop a soft spot for him as an anti-hero.

And then there is Maite who is just a regular woman who has nothing going for her. She doesn't have friends or a boyfriend and she is nearing 30 (it is set in the 70s) all she does is go to work as a secretary (a job she hates) and goes home to listen to music and read her romance comics. But then she unknowingly gets involved with a woman who is working with government opposition groups and when she goes missing she starts looking for her because she owes her money and she is broke. I understand Maite as a character and her low self-esteem from always trying to live up to her sister and from trauma with men. But I did feel like other characters were too harsh on her. And she was so naive that it was hard to even read at times.

Overall this was a great book and I am already excited to see what Garcia does next! Although, I'd love to see more of this genre from her.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray Books for the eARC!

This book is out August 17th 2021.

This book is exactly what it claims to be, slightly historic fiction, slight romance but mostly a slow burning story. Even though the book is not intended for a reader like me, I really think the right reader will thoroughly enjoy the pace and story of the book. I personally was able to get into the book in the second chapter, while the first chapter with Elvis felt quite chaotic. I wished we started the book with Maite. I also appreciated the actual historic events driving the story forward.

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a fantastic noir. If you are unfamiliar with this genre it means that an author takes a deep dive to examine characters, mood and theme and at times the plot is secondary. In that aspect this book achieved its goal.

This book is told in alternating point of views, Luz is a woman looking for love and Elvis is a reluctant member of the Hawks. The setting is 1970s Mexico City during The Dirty War. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but once the characters began to interact a bit more it gained my interest.

Luz and Elvis have a common goal with a vastly different purpose, to find a missing woman who has her own secrets. Moreno-Garcia captured the true essence of Mexico City and the destruction wrought upon it by gangs.. Luz and Elvis both have many reasons to avoid being drawn into the fray but ultimately their sense of justice and curiosity overwhelm their desire for safety. As mentioned, the book is told in dual point of views. This provides a true understanding of the devastation to Mexico City and the political unrest.

Velvet Was the Night is a moving story of the political and social landscape of a country ravaged by war. You are drawn in so fully that you can not help but feel the suffering of all individuals. While this was a relatively unknown historical time period for me, I truly appreciated that Moreno- Garcia was truly masterful in her examination of a difficult topic.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for my honest review from Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

if silvia moreno-garcia is gonna do anything it is set the tone she writes in Such an atmospheric way. i've never really read noir & i feel like it doesn't seem like something i'd be into. the story was slow paced and felt low stakes, but i still had a good time reading it. it literally felt like vibing in a coffee shop in a black & white movie while listening to oldies on a record player. the historical and political context is also so interesting i loved reading & learning more about the beginning of the dirty war. maite was also a fun character in the fact that she is just so normal & aware of it. also Bonus the book's playlist is chef's kiss

This is my first novel from this author, and I really enjoyed it! I am always looking for good historical's and as this was set in 1970's Mexico, during the "Dirty War", I was eager to read it. Books like these always have me doing my own further research afterwards. Really enjoyed this "noir" tale of lonely Maite, an office worker with a love of romance, searching for her missing neighbor who's cat she is watching; she crosses paths with Elvis. a hood who's also looking for the same lady. Really enjoyed the music - 60's covers - that they listened too, also. But it was the historical nature of the book I personally found most interesting, I knew not much about this time and events in Mexico, as I was fairly young at the time and I really appreciate learning more about what the students and protestors went through. Highly recommend this tale and my thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC.