1970’s Mexico City is not for everyone. Students protest amid political unrest, while others just try to live their lives and keep going in an environment that is hardly stable. Maite is a secretary obsessed with romance comic books and records. She also tends to try to spice up her own life by stealing small items from apartments she house sits for. Her next door neighbor, Leonora, is everything Maite wants to be. She’s beautiful and seems to live a life of intrigue. Then Leonora goes missing, leaving Maite to watch after her cat. Soon, Maite finds herself delving into the mystery of her missing neighbor herself, and finds her way into Leonora’s life. Elvis’ boss is also looking for Leonora. The hired goon hates violence, loves old rock n’ roll and just wants to watch old movies and find someone else who understands him. And y’all, that’s before things get crazy. We’ve got Russian spies, shady government representatives, students with hidden agendas, hit men, and antique dealers who are not what they seem.
If you want vivid characters, fun story telling, and a fascinating look at the political unrest in Mexico in the 1970s, Velvet Was the Night is the book for you. I’m a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and I feel like her books just keep getting better and better. This novel is noir (no supernatural this round) and captivating. I didn’t want to put it down.
Velvet Was the Night is available August 17, 2021.
