Member Reviews

Velvet Was the Night is a historical noir set in 1970s Mexico, during the political and military repression known as the Dirty War. The story begins with a student demonstration, introducing one of the two main characters, Elvis, a young member of the Hawks—a paramilitary group created by the government to violently repress protesters. On the other hand, we have Maite, a secretary oblivious to the country’s political landscape, who in her free time loves reading romance comics.

When everything seems to indicate that a missing young woman, who turns out to be Maite’s neighbor, has some photos taken during the protest that the government doesn’t want to be made public, both protagonists find themselves involved in a search for both the young woman and the photos: Elvis obeying his boss’s orders, while Maite initially only wants to find her neighbor to claim the money she owes her for taking care of her cat.

This is the second novel I’ve read by Moreno-García, and I was initially interested in it because it’s a genre that was very different from Mexican Gothic, which was Gothic horror. And while I liked the noir vibes and there is a revelation at the end that I didn’t see coming, I have to say that this was a read that left me rather indifferent. Neither the plot of finding Lenora nor the characters managed to get me interested. The latter are quite gray, which I usually like, but I found the naiveté of both throughout the story frustrating, to say the least.

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Firstly I just need to say LOOK AT THAT COVER. Striking, beautiful, unforgettable just like the pages within,

Velvet was the Night was such a fun ride! I always go into Garcia's books blind never knowing what im in for and let me tell you this one was a treat! Definitely in my top five and honestly I need that cover framed on my wall.

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This is not really a genre I would typically go for, but it was definitely a good one but lots of character development.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Very different to other Moreno-Garcia books I've read and not as enjoyable for me. A slow start to a taxing story about Mexico, just didn't quite appeal to me though well-written.

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disclaimer : I received a copy free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

content warnings: violence, blood, gore

rep: mexican characters & setting

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a pretty safe author for me - she never fails to hit the spot. Velvet Was the Night takes place in Mexico in the 1970s & I would describe it as a noir thriller. Not necessarily high stakes but keeps you on your toes enough. We follow Maite, an unlikeable protagonist, while she looks for Leonora - a neighbour that has gone missing & also owes her money. We also follow Elvis - equally unlikeable - who also searches for Leonora for different reasons. Engaging & enticing story with some very morally ambiguous characters & Moreno-Garcia has a knack for creating some great stories with awesome vibes.

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I enjoyed elements of this book but it wasn't my favourite. I've not loved many books by this author but would try another.

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I always look forward to this authors books as they are all so different. This one is a bit thriller/noir set in 1970s Mexico searching for a missing woman. As usual an entertaining and interesting read with politics, protest and music.

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"Velvet Was the Night" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a mesmerizing and atmospheric noir novel set against the backdrop of 1970s Mexico City. The story follows the lives of two unlikely individuals, Maite and Elvis, whose paths become entwined in a web of political intrigue, espionage, and mystery. Moreno-Garcia brilliantly captures the tension and paranoia of the era, weaving a tale of love and danger with rich historical detail. The characters are complex and compelling, and the author's evocative prose immerses readers in the vibrant yet perilous world of Mexican politics. "Velvet Was the Night" is a captivating blend of noir aesthetics, historical authenticity, and a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

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Silva M-G is such an incredible writer I would read anything she creates. Every one of her books is totally different and ‘Velvet…’ is no different.
There is no supernatural aspect to this story, rather it is a period piece set in 197”s Mexico. As ever the main characters are beautifully written and the world is impeccably imagined. I wasn’t quite as gripped by this as some of her other novel- honestly if this was written by someone else I may not have read it. But I did enjoy it greatly

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I think I have to assume noir isn't really the genre for me, because this was very well written, but I still didn't love it. I did think it was good, although it was a little slow to start. I found myself hooked around halfway through, but I especially enjoyed Maite's chapters - I just found her the more interesting character. The ending felt a little too quick for me and I'd have wanted a little more out of it. I do want to read more of Silvia Moreno Garcia's books and to slowly make my way through her other books that I haven't read yet.

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At this point I have to accept that Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books aren't for me.
Like the other books I've read by her, I wasn't invested in the story and I found it hard to care about the characters.
I do think that people who've enjoyed the author's other books will enjoy this one as well, but it didn't work for me.

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Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There was a struggle for me at times with this book as the pace was slow in some areas. One of the main characters Maite was someone echo wanted more to her life but is not really sure how to get that until she is asked to look after her neighbours cat for a few days. When her neighbour doesn’t return Maite is thrust into a part of the Mexican underworld that’s gives her more excitement than she bargained for.
I enjoyed this story although like I previously wrote it was very slow in places which is why my rating was not higher. It gives a terrifying look into Mexican politics in the 70’s and what the people went through just to have a partial voice.

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3.5 stars

I really liked the noir atmosphere of the story and that it centred around morally grey characters.

I’m a big fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing style but I definitely prefer her fantasy stories.

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Not my favourite of Moreno-Garcia's books, it is extremely slow to get started and didn't hook me in like the others. Like the setting of a 70's Mexico, but I didn't take to Maite as much as I had the other books' central characters. I think this would be one that I would revisit with a different mindset and enjoy very much but at the time, it didn't hit the spot for me.

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3.5 stars

Maite is a secretary in 1970s Mexico City. Unhappy with her daily life, she finds escape in music and through reading romance comics.
Elvis is a criminal who works as part of a gang but doesn't like getting his hands dirty and dreams of more.
When Maite's neighbour, Leonora, goes missing, Maite is drawn into the search to find her which will become more dangerous than she could have imagined.
Elvis is also involved in the search for Leonora, and finds himself observing her neighbour, Maite.
Can Maite or Elvis find Leonora?
Will they survive the search?

As a fan of the author, I wanted to read this novel as soon as I heard about it, especially as it's described as an historical-noir.
Maite was an OK protagonist. I did find her relatable at times, but I also struggled to fully connect with her. However, I did feel sorry for her with the way she was treated by her mother and sister.
I preferred Elvis as a character and found him more interesting, rooting for him more.
The setting was interesting, especially as I didn't know anything about that period of history in Mexico.
The plot was enjoyable, but I predicted several things that happened. However, while I wasn't gripped, I never lost interest and was intrigued to see how the novel would end.
The writing style was easy to follow, and I love how different the author's novels all are.
I am a little bit disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but, for me, this didn't quite live up to its potential.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

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I absolutely loved this crime noir thriller! Moreno-Garcia's book is atmospheric with a wry sense of humor. I loved following Maite and her quest to track down Leonora. I cannot wait to read more of this author's works.

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Silvia Moreno Garcia is one of my favourite authors and I love the way she plays with genre, so when I heard her new release was a thriller-noir set in 1970's Mexico, against the backdrop of student protest and political tensions, I could not wait to get to it!

Maite works as a secretary, but spends most of her time reading romance comics, and longing for a life like the heroines she reads about. When here neighbour Leonora goes missing, Maite is forced to investigate, getting caught up in a political game with higher stakes than she could have realised. Meanwhile, 'goon-for-rent' Elvis, who's not-so-secret passion is rock 'n' roll, is assigned to search for Leonora. As Maite and Elvis begin to solve this mystery in parallel, meeting a colourful cast of characters from student radicals, to hitmen and even Russian spies, and become embroiled in the dangerous political machinations of the time.

The novel taps into the pop culture of the time in such an atmospheric way - from Maite's comics to the records and songs seeded through the book. I highly recommend checking out Moreno-Garcia's playlist to accompany it for a really immersive experience! This atmosphere laid on top of the dark, mystery plot and alongside compelling characters give the book a rich and compelling narrative, which compels you to read on.

Maite and Elvis are wonderful protagonists, and each narrative view is a joy to read, and a fun device as we see the mystery unfold in tandem. Moreno Garcia is a master at reinventing genre tropes to tell Mexican history and reflect Mexican culture. Velvet was the Night is an evocative, dark noir exploring a lesser known aspect of history (for Anglo-Western audiences at least), with an immersive delve into 1970s pop culture.

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Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a force to be reckoned with in this atmospheric read. Aptly described by the author in their Author's Note as a "noir, pulp fiction but it's based on a real horror story", I was completely taken once again by Moreno-Garcia's prose and storytelling. Brimming with hostility, and violence, Moreno-Garcia also details a part of Mexican history that is often skimmed over, displaying the extent of its turmoil during the 1970s. Both Elvis and Maite were interesting vessels for the story, their inner thoughts often juxtaposing their actions, making them fascinating to read about. I also loved how, despite being entirely different people, both of the MCs were connected through mutual loneliness and displacement in their lives, only finding solace in music. Their voices were so clear and distinct to each character which allowed me to become fully immersed in the story.
This novel is definitely on the slower side, leaning heavily into its noir influences, and is much more reliant on "vibes" rather than plot. However, by pushing through with the right expectations, I cannot see why anyone would not be entranced by this gorgeous, immersive, and dark tale.

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4 stars!

I don't think I've ever read a historical noir before but maybe I should read more of them, because this was fantastic.

Velvet Was the Night is set in Mexico in the 1970s, where there's a lot of political unrest and a lot of danger.

It follows Maite and Elvis, who couldn't be more different from each other, yet end up on the same path to look for a missing girl with a secret.

This is a dual POV story with lush descriptions, complex characters, and a distraught moral compass. One of that things that stuck out to me the most is how different each POV actually is from the other. You can definitely tell they're two different voices and I loved that about the book.

This is a very intense and exciting story filled with hopeful undertones and I highly recommend it.

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I was intrigued to try this noir crime thriller novel set in 1970s Mexico City and enjoyed it (perhaps not as much as the author's fantasy/horror novels I've read but not far off). The two main characters were morally grey at times but very human and I found I still empathised with them. I'm looking forward to reading her next one 'The Daughter of Doctor Moreau' out July 2022.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

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