The Writing Style of “Mexican-Gothic”

“Mexican-Gothic” is written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and was released a few months ago on June 30, 2020, in the United States and Canada. It is a gothic horror novel and is rated-r. The book is set in Mexico during the 1950s and is a standalone book, soon to be adapted into a T.V. series by Hulu.

Noemí Taboada, the main character, is a Mexican socialite who pays her cousin Catalina a visit at her cousin-in-law’s residence. Catalina lived with Noemí up until she abruptly decides to marry an Englishman named Virgil Doyle and goes to live with his family. Noemí’s father sends her to visit Catalina after they receive a letter from an ill Catalina claiming that her husband was trying to murder her. She claims to hear whispers at night, and that she could no longer stay in that house that “stinks of decay,” with “every single evil and cruel sentiment.”

For most of the story, Noemí stays at the Doyles’ residence, learning the odd ways of the house. She learns about the family’s ominous past when the Doyles owned a mine. She inspects her cousin’s medical care and tries to convince her husband to let Catalina receive psychiatric treatment back in Mexico City. As Noemí continues to stay in the house she realizes that the contents of Catalina’s concerning letter may hold more truth than what she expects.

The most distinct aspect of this book is perhaps the author’s eloquent writing style. The author’s writing has a very aesthetic appeal. The book is told from the third person, through the form of an omniscient narrator. This narration style is suitable for the story’s genre, given that horror-themed books are seldom narrated in the first person.

The story’s pacing was also very notable. Many critics argue that the pacing of the story may be too slow. However, the story is not a horror saga with frightening scenes throughout the entirety of the book. The book’s pacing is what makes it so distinct from other horror-themed works of literature. The author’s use of the minimal setting change is used to build a sense of familiarity in the audience. Even though there are not many plot-twists until towards the end of the book, the author can make a slow-burn horror story. The romantic aspect of the book’s gothic genre is also very subtly incorporated into the story.

The characterization of one of the antagonists, Virgil Doyle, is explicitly well-crafted to make the audience despise him. How he violates Noemí in numerous scenes makes the reader’s skin crawl with disgust and shock at his contemptible actions. During said scenes, Garcia’s writing skills of the horror genre can be truly appreciated.

The author’s transition from the beginning, middle, and end could be refined. I did not see clear transitions occur. The pacing of the story is not the issue, but it was how the events are organized. Too many events occurred during the last 50 or so pages of the book. This was a little overwhelming for the audience.

Lastly, the ending of the book is too horror cliché. In the end, the antagonists are defeated…. or perhaps they were not. Garcia’s books usually end abruptly, and with slight cliffhangers. However, because the readers read through a story with minimal change of setting and slower pacing, it would have been appropriate to give the story an epilogue.

Personally, this book was an entertaining read, despite certain aspects of the book that could definitely be enhanced. The book is marked as adult gothic horror; however, I think that the book’s marketing would have been more successful if “Mexican-Gothic” was advertised as a YA gothic horror book. The book does contain some explicit scenes, but other YA books depict this content as well. Thus, I do not see the need to label the book an adult novel. I would not recommend this book for anyone into action horror and stories with fast pacing. However, f you are into slower pacing and slight but not overwhelming horror, this book is for you.