October 2024 Top Novel: “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Some books are just meant for October; haunting, atmospheric, and dripping with eerie suspense. Mexican Gothic was exactly that for me this month. I’ve read my fair share of horror and thrillers, but this one stayed with me in a way I didn’t expect. Maybe it’s the way Silvia Moreno-Garcia plays with the gothic genre: giving us the classic crumbling mansion, the dark family secrets, and the unsettling feeling that something isn’t quite right, but setting it all in 1950s Mexico made it feel fresh, dark, and rich with culture.
The story follows Noemí Taboada, a glamorous and headstrong socialite who’s more used to cocktail parties than haunted houses. When she gets a frantic, disturbing letter from her newly-married cousin, she finds herself traveling to High Place: a remote, decaying mansion tucked into the Mexican countryside. And from the moment she steps through those doors, you know things are not going to go well.
What really drew me in was Noemí herself. She’s not your typical gothic heroine (meek or terrified) but smart, skeptical, and stubborn. She questions the creepy family, the decaying house, and the disturbing dreams that start to plague her. It felt so satisfying to watch a female character navigate the classic “woman trapped in a house” storyline with wit and defiance.
And let’s talk about the house, because the house is practically a character of its own. Moreno-Garcia creates this suffocating atmosphere that builds slowly, until you’re practically holding your breath. There’s mold creeping through the walls, strange noises at night, and whispers of something monstrous lurking beneath it all. But instead of leaning on ghosts or jump scares, the horror here is more psychological; rooted in colonialism, eugenics, and the grotesque ways people justify their cruelty.
What surprised me most, though, was how beautifully it was written. Every description felt lush and cinematic, from the sweeping Mexican landscape to the decaying grandeur of the mansion. It was easy to get lost in the language, even when the story made my skin crawl.
On a personal note, reading Mexican Gothic made me think about the stories we inherit; and the ones we choose to break free from. The way the Doyle family (the creepy English bloodline) tries to cling to their dying legacy, no matter the cost, hit close to home in a strange way. How often do families, cultures, even, try to control the future by refusing to let go of the past?
Moreno-Garcia doesn’t just give us a horror novel; she gives us a story about power, legacy, and the strength it takes to walk away from something that’s been rotting from the inside out. It’s unsettling, yes, but also empowering.
By the time I finished, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. About how horror can be more than just fear, but it can be a mirror, showing us the ugliness we try to bury. And Mexican Gothic does that so well, without ever losing its grip on the gothic tradition.
I’d recommend this one to anyone who loves their horror slow, thoughtful, and dripping with atmosphere. It’s perfect for October—a little chilling, a little thrilling, and deeply satisfying. Light a candle, pour some tea (or maybe something stronger), and let yourself get lost in High Place. Just… don’t stay too long.