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Velvet Was The Night

a delicious, twisted noir from the New York Times bestselling author of MEXICAN GOTHIC
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( 30,494 ratings, 4,866 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Velvet Was The Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a gripping crime and thriller novel set in 1970s Mexico City. It follows the intertwining lives of Maite, a secretary with a passion for romance comics, and Elvis, a member of a secret government group tasked with quelling student protests. Both characters become embroiled in a mysterious disappearance that leads them deeper into danger and intrigue, revealing the tensions and allure of the era.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to noir thrillers with a touch of historical intrigue, set in the gritty backdrop of 1970s Mexico City. It offers a captivating story filled with mysteries, vivid characters, and the simmering tensions of political unrest. Perfect for readers who appreciate a blend of suspense, romance, and richly woven cultural details.

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Featured on Obama's Summer 2022 Reading List: a 'delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir' (Simone St. James) set in 1970s Mexico City.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

1970s Mexico City: while student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite seeks escape from her humdrum life in the stories of passion and danger filling the latest issue of Secret Romance.

She is deeply envious of her neighbour, a beautiful art student apparently living the life of excitement and intrigue Maite craves. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman, journeying deep into Leonora's secret life of student radicals and dissidents.

But 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. Watching Maite from a distance, he comes to see her as a kindred spirit who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.

As Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora's disappearance, they can no longer escape the dangers threatening to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents and Russian spies all aiming to find or protect Leonora's secrets β€” at gunpoint.

Velvet Was the Night: an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Velvet Was the Night is celebrated for its deft blend of noir and historical fiction set in 1970s Mexico City. Reviewers laud her ability to create vivid settings, memorable characters, and a compelling narrative that intertwines political intrigue with romance and danger. The novel is praised for its lush writing, engaging plot, and sociopolitical depth, offering a fresh take on the noir genre.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529417982

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 May 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Arcadia Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 226g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of the novels The Seventh Veil of Salome, Silver Nitrate, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and a bunch of other books. She has also edited several anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (aka Cthulhu's Daughters). She has been nominated for the Locus Award for her work as an editor and has won the British Fantasy Award and the Locus Award for her work as a novelist.

silviamoreno-garcia.com

Instagram: silviamg.author

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