In the middle of 2020, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic was released, and ended up winning the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror Fiction, among a few other things. Today I will talk about Velvet Was the Night, a historical fiction book that follows two people around 1970s Mexico City as they both look for the same missing woman.
The Situation: Maite is anxious about being single and close to 30 years old, and her nagging mother certainly does not help. She is proud to live on her own, have a job, and own her own car...though it is currently being held hostage at the repair shop until Maite can pay. When she agrees to help take care of the cat for her young and beautiful neighbor, Leonora, while the girl is away, Maite cannot help but envy the free and exciting life she clearly leads. But when Leonora does not return, things get interesting quickly, and Maite is not the only one eager for her to come back. Elvis (not the name he was born with) is also looking for Leonora, but it is an assignment from his boss, El Mago. Eager to please and to move up in the ranks, Elvis does as he is told, and that soon means closely following Maite.
The Problem: As annoyed as Maite is over Leonora's disappearance - the woman owes her money after all, and she cannot take care of her cat forever - she has to admit she is somewhat curious about the mystery of it all. At least two attractive men are searching for Leonora as well, both curious to know if Maite has found a camera or rolls of film. Despite a lifelong habit of keeping her head down and staying out of trouble, Maite joins the search, though it may lead her into danger. Elvis always knew this was more or less the life he was meant to live, and he is excited when El Mago makes him a team lead, but that means more risks and more action as he looks for Leonora. He barely takes any notice of Maite at first, though he is impressed by her massive record collection, something he only sees when he searches her apartment for clues. While Maite searches for Leonora out of curiosity, Elvis does it as part of an assignment. And as both head for the truth, they also walk into a precarious situation that neither of them expected.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in 1970s Mexico City. At the beginning of the novel is a telegraph sent by the CIA in 1971 that acknowledges the existence of the Hawks, a group in Mexico that would target students who would protest against the government and support communism. The Hawks is the group that Elvis is a part of, a group that he has fully committed himself to, mostly because he has no idea what else he would do with his life, but also because he longs to be like the group's leader, El Mago. Elvis sees himself as little more than street scum, while El Mago has money, style, class, and power. Maite is a single woman attempting to make a life for herself, hoping to one day be marry and settle down, but doubts the probability of this. What is happening with Leonora reminds her of the stories in the romance comic books she likes to read. With little happening in her own life, she easily gets caught up in someone else's. The two stories intertwine as Elvis and Maite both look for Leonora, filling in the other one's gaps and missing details.
My Verdict: The author described the novel as noir or pulp fiction, but it is based on real events and a real group that would target protesters. And instead of focusing on or having the story narrated by the one in trouble (Leonora), I like that the reader gets to hear from the neighbor across the hall, and the hired man that has been put on the case. Maite and Elvis could not be more different, except for that they both appreciate the same kind of music, and love a good record collection. It is clear that there is danger on every page, and that the wrong move can result in a death, but there is still something appreciatively subtle about the style. And the setting of 1970s Mexico City only adds to that feeling, with political unrest being to topic on everyone's mind. The twists and turns are there, but they are not over the top, and are well-placed. Anyone who enjoys a good thriller or detective story should also appreciate this one.
Favorite Moment: Though it is a little hard to read, there is a part at the beginning of the book that shows just how little Maite's family cares for her. It is sad to see, but it certainly paints the picture.
Favorite Character: Elvis has his issues, but I like his commitment to a routine, and he is certainly smarter than a lot of people would give him credit for.
Recommended Reading: Mexican Gothic was not necessarily one of my favorite books of 2020, but I can understand why many people enjoyed it. I recommend Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras.
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