As a longtime fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing, I knew I had to pick this one up. Velvet Was the Night is a slow-burning, noir-inspired historical crime novel that transported me to 1970s Mexico, a time in history I wasn’t as familiar with but found fascinating. While the pacing starts slow and the main characters' naivete makes them harder for me to relate to at times, the rich atmosphere and political intrigue kept me engaged. This is a great pick for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a crime/mystery twist.