Synopses & Reviews
From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a "delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir"* about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they're both desperate to find.
*Simone St James, New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel
1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger.
Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman — and journeying deeper into Leonora's secret life of student radicals and dissidents.
Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock 'n' roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he comes to observe Maite from a distance — and grows more and more obsessed with this woman who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.
Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora's disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora's secrets — at gunpoint.
Review
"[Velvet Was the Night] is a noir with a heart of gold, and it's a narrative in which the empathy we feel for its characters ultimately reveals an important truth: That Moreno-Garcia is not only a talented storyteller but also an incredibly versatile one." NPR
Review
"An adrenalized, darkly romantic journey." The Washington Post
Review
"...a rich novel with an engrossing plot, distinctive characters, and a pleasing touch of romance. Readers won't be able to put it down." Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
"It's hard to describe how much fun this novel is — Moreno-Garcia, whose Mexican Gothic (2020) gripped readers last year, proves to be just as good at noir as she is at horror. The novel features memorable characters, taut pacing, an intricate plot, and antiheroes you can't help but root for. A noir masterpiece." Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review
"A lush, magnificent trip into a world of danger and discovery. Not to be missed!" S.A. Cosby, author of Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears
About the Author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed speculative novels Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, Signal to Noise, Certain Dark Things, and The Beautiful Ones, as well as the crime novel Untamed Shore. She has edited several anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (aka Cthulhu's Daughters). She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.