Mexican Gothic

Mexican Gothic is a 2020 gothic horror novel by Mexican Canadian author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It centers on a young woman investigating her cousin's claims that her husband is trying to murder her.

Mexican Gothic
AuthorSilvia Moreno-Garcia
Audio read byFrankie Corzo
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreGothic horror
Published2020
PublisherDel Rey
Media typePrint (hardback), ebook, audiobook
Pages320 pages
ISBN0525620788 First edition hardback
OCLC1121602979
Preceded byUntamed Shore 

The novel landed on multiple bestseller lists and Moreno-Garcia's writing has received comparisons to Daphne du Maurier and Guillermo del Toro.

Synopsis

Noemí Taboada's cousin Catalina has written to her, begging Noemí's help, as she firmly believes that her husband, Virgil Doyle, intends to murder her. Suspecting that Virgil may also be after Catalina's money, Noemí travels to the Doyle home, High Place, which is located in the mountains. Once there, Catalina begs her cousin to seek out a healer living in the small village near the mansion, Marta, and pick up medicine that could save her. Noemí does so, but the medicine instead causes a seizure that keeps her from freely visiting Catalina as frequently.

As a result of the decreased visits Noemí spends her time learning about the Doyle family, notably that the family has a history of incestuous marriages, and experiencing strange dreams and visions. She also cultivates a friendship and relationship with one of the Doyles, Francis, who warns her that the family cannot be trusted.

When she begins to sleepwalk, Noemí decides that she must leave the Doyle household, only to be told that she cannot leave. They reveal that Virgil's father, Howard, discovered a strain of mushroom that they used to heal themselves and prolong their lives - and that Howard is hundreds of years old. As the fungus's potency is lessened depending on the individual's genetics, the Doyles have intermarried in order to ensure that their offspring can also receive these benefits. Spores from the mushroom are rife throughout the house and can hold memories, which the family refers to as the "Gloom". The spores can also help the Doyles control people who have inhaled them, which frightens Noemí. She grows more horrified, however, when she learns that Howard's wife Agnes was used as a sacrifice to grow the spores - and that Howard can use the gloom to take over the bodies of family members, which he's used to further preserve his own life.

The Doyles have found that Noemí's genetics are complementary to theirs and can help perpetuate their bloodline, as the inbreeding has taken its toll on the family, particularly when it comes to producing viable offspring. Howard tells her that she will marry Francis and that after the wedding, he will inhabit Francis's body. They also wish to have access to her money, as the family has become impoverished. Refusing to allow his family to carry out their plans, Francis obtains the medicine Catalina sought out earlier in the novel, as it interferes with the mushroom's abilities. Together the three flee the house and manage to set Agnes's body on fire, presumably killing the rest of the Doyles in the process and setting the entire home on fire. Afterwards Francis, who was wounded during the escape, worries that the fire wasn't enough to completely eliminate the spores and that he should kill himself to ensure that the family curse is truly ended. Noemí shares his concerns, but is optimistic that together they can overcome any potential issues.

Release and sales

Mexican Gothic was released in hardback and e-book formats in the United States and Canada through Del Rey Books, as well as in the United Kingdom through Jo Fletcher Books, on June 30, 2020.[1][2] An audiobook adaptation narrated by Frankie Corzo was released on the same day through Random House Audio.[3] Moreno-Garcia has also released a book club tie-in that includes a paper doll accompanied by four outfits modeled after the novel's protagonist, Noemí Taboada.[4]

Sales for the novel have been high enough for Mexican Gothic to place on the hardback bestseller lists for the Washington Post and New York Times.[5][6][7]

Adaptation

In August 2020 Milojo Productions and ABC Signature announced that they were producing a limited series adaptation of Mexican Gothic, to be released on the streaming platform Hulu.[8] Moreno-Garcia will serve as executive producer. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the author stated that the series is estimated to be "between 8 and 10 episodes max".[9]

Reception

Mexican Gothic has received praise for its atmosphere and gothic concepts,[10][11] which Slate likened to the styles of Daphne du Maurier and Guillermo del Toro.[12] NPR drew comparisons between the book and "Jane Eyre, Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, Dracula, Rebecca and that 1958 classic sci-fi movie, The Blob", also praising its sense of dread.[13] The New York Times drew similar comparisons, citing Mexican Gothic's "spunky female protagonist and an ancient house filled with disturbing secrets".[14]

References
  1. Moreno-Garcia, Silvia. Mexican gothic. New York. ISBN 0-525-62078-8. OCLC 1121602979.
  2. Moreno-Garcia, Silvia. Mexican gothic. London. ISBN 1-5294-0267-0. OCLC 1122873663.
  3. Moreno-Garcia, Silvia; Corzo, Frankie; OverDrive, Inc (2020). Mexican Gothic. S.I.: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. OCLC 1155191372.
  4. Egan, Elisabeth (2020-07-16). "Silvia Moreno-Garcia Has Crafts Covered. Bring Your Own Scissors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  5. "Hardcover Fiction Books - Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  6. "Washington Post hardcover bestsellers". Washington Post. September 1, 2020.
  7. "Silvia Moreno-Garcia's book Mexican Gothic riding high on New York Times best-sellers list". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  8. Liptak, Andrew (2020-08-11). "Hulu is Turning Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic Into a Series". Tor.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  9. "'Mexican Gothic' author Silvia Moreno-Garcia shares what fans can expect from Hulu limited series". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  10. Memmott, Carol (June 30, 2020). "'Mexican Gothic,' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia book review". Washington Post.
  11. Grady, Constance (2020-07-16). "In the deliciously creepy new novel Mexican Gothic, the true evil is colonialism". Vox. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  12. Miller, Laura (2020-07-27). "This Haunting New Bestseller Is Part du Maurier, Part del Toro". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  13. "'Jane Eyre' Meets 'Dracula' In This Sharp, Inventive 'Mexican Gothic' Tale". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  14. Trussoni, Danielle (2020-07-22). "Where Evil Lurks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
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