REVIEW: Velvet was the Night (Silvia Moreno-Garcia)

Book: Velvet Was the Night

Review: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Premise: Mexico in the 1970s is a dangerous country. Maite spends her life seeking romance in cheap comics and ignoring the political activists. Elvis has a passion for rock ’n’ roll but knows more about kidney-smashing than intrigue. Swirling in parallel trajectories, Maite and Elvis attempt to discover the truth behind a young woman's disappearance, encountering hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies.

[⚠️TW: violence]

This book has a playlist attached to it that gives off an indie, noir mystery vibe. Think those classic espionage films with people smoking long cigarettes and drinking whisky. That's the vibe I got.

The story flips between Maite and Elvis. Maite is a dreamer and a cynic, constantly comparing herself to others but also judging everyone else. I felt for her because all she wanted was this dream life but reality had made her bitter. Elvis is tired with beating people up but worries about what he'd do if he left his band of thugs. You do can't help but want him to get himself out of his situation. The two don't properly meet until the end but you already know they're perfect for each other!

There's a good amount of mystery, politics and danger. There are bits of violence but nothing graphic. I liked finding out about the political backdrop and there's a note at the end about the historical context which I found interesting.