The last thing Noemí Taboada wants to do is leave her life of luxury in Mexico City, but when her family receives a troubling letter from her newly married cousin, she's tasked with getting to the root of the problem. Noemí finds herself in a foreboding, remote Victorian mansion, tucked deep into the forested mountains of Mexico, where her cousin lives with her English husband and in-laws. Something seems amiss about the entire situation--her cousin's behavior, the family, the house and grounds--and, despite warnings sounding all around her, Noemí is determined to find out the truth.
Moreno-Garcia puts a terrific spin on the classic gothic horror genre by placing it squarely in the heart of Mexico. The road leading to
Noemí's discovery was thoroughly creepy--I felt I was right there along side her every step of the way. While that gothic ambiance stands first and foremost, the novel also serves as a spot-on commentary of how indigenous Mexicans have been exploited by colonizers over centuries. Better still, as someone who both enjoys horror and is a complete scaredy-cat, I did not find myself needing to keep the lights on at night but still able to appreciate all of the horror elements.
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