I think it's time to stop think about Silvia Moreno-Garcia as a genre writer but thinking about her as one of the best South American writers of her generations.
I know she writes in English but her descriptions, characters and settings share a lot of trait with the best South American writers.
Velvet is the Night is a noir but it's also a book about historical facts, repression and the impacts of political unrest on the life of common people like Maite or outcast like Elvis.
It's a gripping story, a page turner I couldn't put it down and a book that made me learn about a part of Mexican history I didn't know.
Maite is not the average noir heroine, a femme fatale who can make things happens with a smile. She's a plain Jane, a dreamer and someone who is trapped in a life she doesn't want but she's unable to change. There are some unlikeable trait but there's also the realistic description of a 30 years old single woman in a Latin country in the 70s.
Elvis is an outcast, someone who joined a paramilitary squad as it was his only choice. He's also a dreamer, someone who doesn't like violence and want to improve himself.
They will become involved in the search for a woman who disappeared and they will have to face who wants to protect Leonora's secrets at all cost.
It's a slow burning story that takes its time to introduce us to the characters and the politica situation. The structure of the book reminded me of Paco Taibo and other South American mystery writer who always creates the atmosphere and introduce the characters before any twists.
I was hooked since the first pages and loved what I read, the final twist was unexpected and I loved it.
An excellent read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to Jo Fletcher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine