Mexican Gothic – Buddy Book Review

“After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.“

1. What did you think of the premise of the story?

Sugar: I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love a good gothic horror, and this one brings some unexpected twists along the way and has a really satisfying slow burn that unravels into complete insanity. Needless to say, I was very entertained. I liked the main character and understood her motivations and was invested in her journey to piece together what exactly was going on with this creepy family in this creepy house.

Scream: I thought it was a fun premise. What a strange thought, that you might need to go rescue your cousin from either herself or her new husband? All to avoid any scandals to bring down the family name. It’s set before texts so you can’t just shoot a quick “Yo bitch, what’s going on?” to find out.

2. Would you have acted so calmly and retained your manners trying to rescue your cousin?

Sugar: Absolutely not. lol I would have been polite at first obviously being a guest in their home and all but with everything going on it would not have taken long for me to want to get the hell out of there and to drag my cousin along with me. 

Scream: I cuss like a sailor on a regular day when I’m not even mad. I would have kicked out of that house so fast, but I would have fought whoever I needed to get my cousin out of there. And I’m not above fighting dirty.

3. Stuck in a seemingly haunted mansion, what would you have done to pass the time?

Sugar: To be honest, I feel like my hobbies perfectly equip me to live my best life in a haunted mansion. Spending my days roaming around foggy graveyards, reading a bunch of books, and foraging for mushrooms and cool plants and creating art sounds pretty nice to me. 😉 Unfortunately, I’d probably be mostly oblivious to the creepy and sinister going-ons of the mansion because I’d be too busy having fun. 

Scream: Reading books and wandering around cemeteries is just a normal day my life. (My house backs up to a cemetery.) If I were to develop a new hobby to pass the time? Bird watching.

4. Without any spoilers, what did you think of the big reveal behind the house and family?

Sugar: I loved it. It was fun trying to piece together all the clues along the way and once everything came to light, I just strapped in and enjoyed the ride as we descended into utter madness. 

Scream: Original. That’s the word that comes to mind. The story kind of leads you on a red herring like route and then drops the unexpected in your lap. That’s a story I can get behind.

5. Would you recommend this to people and why?

Sugar: Definitely! If you like gothic horror this might just be right up your alley. 😉 If you haven’t dabbled in the genre yet but enjoy spooky things give it a whirl! 

Scream: I would. It has a classic horror kind of feel to it and that’s something I’ve been missing. If you’re just looking for something that doesn’t feel like everything else you’ve read, then I would suggest giving this a shot as well.

Have you read Mexican Gothic? What are your thoughts?

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