Today's entry will be the fourth book by author Silvia Moreno-Garcia to receive attention on this blog. Silver Nitrate was described as a horror mystery novel set in early 1990s Mexico that involved an unfinished classic horror film, as well as a secret hidden magic.
The Situation: Montserrat is a gifted and dedicated sound editor, but lately it seems her boss is intent on pushing her out, favoring a younger male colleague to her, in a job that already does not pay all that well, even when she does have a fair amount of shifts. Her best friend from childhood, Tristán, could be a source of comfort if he was not so preoccupied with his own problems. Having moved out on his own after a breakup, he is also attempting to revive his acting career, while dodging questions from journalists who wish to ask about a tragedy from his past. They both see an opportunity when Tristán discovers that his new neighbor is cult horror film director Abel Urueta. The man insists he is cursed, and Montserrat and Tristán may be able to help him.
The Problem: Abel insists that the only way to lift the curse is to shoot the missing scene of an unfinished film. After learning the intricate and troubled history of not only the film, but the people surrounding the production, Montserrat and Tristán agree to help Abel, but this is when strange things begin happening. The pair may have been dubious when hearing stories of the Nazi occultist that Abel worked with, and the supposed magic that the dangerous silver nitrate film holds. But Montserrat insists that something is following her, and Tristán is more than a little unnerved when he begins to see the figure of his dead girlfriend. It seems that helping Abel remove the curse was only the beginning of their adventure, and both must be willing to put their skepticism aside if they hope to survive.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a horror novel set in late 1993-early 1994 in Mexico. Montserrat is a plain woman (by her own admission) who is fine with having few friends, and spending hours at her job as a sound editor. She has long been in love with her friend Tristán, but she knows he has never truly seen her, and is more than a little self-absorbed. Together, the two of them find themselves involved in a mystery of magic, curses, and a cult whose leader was a Nazi who pieced together his own system of magic in his search for unimaginable power, and as a way to push his own racist concepts. Wilhelm Friedrich Ewers may not have been a real person, but he is a composite of several Nazi occultists. And the same is true for Abel Urueta, who is a combination of Mexican film director Chano Urueta, and actor Abel Salazar.
My Verdict: While the plot of this book is interesting, and it made me curious enough to continue reading through to the end, I cannot say that I found it all that scary. And at various points, I wondered if the narrative would have been better served if it focused solely on Montserrat, or solely on Tristán, as opposed to splitting the attention between the two of them. With that being said, both Montserrat and Tristán are fully realized characters with rich histories, as well as different approaches to the situation in which they find themselves. The introduction of a cult horror film director certainly added to the story, while also making it complicated to the point of it almost becoming uninteresting. A few intense scenes make for a compelling conclusion, but I am not sure if horror story lovers will find this one to be terrible engaging.
Favorite Moment: While Montserrat remains loyal to Tristán, this does not mean that she pulls punches with him. There are many moments when she refuses to put up with his nonsense, no matter how angry or desperate he gets.
Favorite Character: Montserrat has her issues, but she is no fool. She knows when someone is attempting to get the best of her, and has no problem with being direct and getting to the point.
Recommended Reading: I thought The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero was a hidden gem of a book that did not get nearly enough attention.
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