Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Awesome Thriller
I haven’t sat down to write a book review in quite some time, but I finished this one a few months back and thought it was the perfect opportunity to get back into the routine before the year ends. I love books, and when a story is as beautifully written as this one, it deserves to be shared with fellow readers.
This is my second read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and once again, it’s a solid 4-star experience—just like Mexican Gothic. Velvet Was the Night gave me West Side Story vibes with its moody atmosphere, forbidden undertones, and the feeling of two people caught up on opposite sides of a dangerous world.
Set in 1970s Mexico during a politically tense period shaped by the actions of the PRI political party, the story follows two very different characters whose paths unexpectedly cross. Elvis is a member of the Hawks, a shadowy group that unofficially serves the government during the Dirty War. Maite, on the other hand, is a lonely office clerk who hates her job, loves her romance comics and records, and is thirty, single, and yearning for something more.
Their lives intertwine when they both set out to find Leonora—Maite’s missing roommate. Maite searches out of concern, while Elvis hunts for her because she supposedly possesses photos that could expose dangerous truths. Their search pulls them deep into a perilous web of lies, violence, and political intrigue.
While the book is an action-packed, intense political thriller, at its heart it’s also about two lonely souls trying to survive—and perhaps find meaning—in a chaotic world. Maite’s character development, her gradual awakening to the realities of her country and herself, was particularly well done.
I really enjoyed learning more about Mexican history and culture through this story. It kept me engaged from the first page to the last. If Silvia Moreno-Garcia continues writing books as atmospheric, thought-provoking, and visually stunning as this (those covers never miss!), I’ll definitely be picking up more in the future.
