Velvet Was the Night

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of Mexican Gothic, presents a noir narrative set in 1970s Mexico City. The story follows Maite, a secretary who escapes political unrest by reading romance novels. Her neighbor Leonora, an art student with a mysterious life, vanishes under suspicious circumstances. Maite investigates Leonora’s disappearance and uncovers a world of student radicals and dissidents. Elvis, an eccentric thug working for a shadowy boss, also searches for Leonora on orders to squash activists. He loathes violence but loves old movies and rock music. While hunting the missing woman, Elvis observes Maite from afar. He becomes obsessed with her shared love of music and unspoken loneliness. The two characters converge as they seek the truth behind Leonora’s fate. The plot involves hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies protecting secrets at gunpoint. This book suits readers interested in political thrillers, noir fiction, and stories about missing persons. It may not appeal to those seeking straightforward horror or supernatural elements without a grounded political backdrop.