Mexican Gothic
An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes “a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror” (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico. 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 Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle
Where Mexican Gothic keeps showing up
Nine of our editors' lists feature this novel.
Books in conversation with Mexican Gothic
A few of the closest reads from our full list.
What you might want to know about Mexican Gothic
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
When her cousin Catalina sends a frantic letter from her new husband's remote silver-mining estate, glamorous Noemi Taboada is dispatched to investigate. The house, High Place, is hostile in ways she has not seen before.
Yes. Mexican Gothic is widely cited as one of the most genuinely unsettling horror novels of recent years. Silvia Moreno-Garcia draws on classic gothic conventions (the haunted manor, the family secret) and reframes them through Mexican history and Indigenous critique.
Yes. Hulu released a Mexican Gothic limited series adaptation in development since 2021. As of 2025, the project remains in development.
Mexican Gothic was written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, published in 2020 by Random House Publishing Group.
Mexican Gothic is 352 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Mexican Gothic takes most readers 5 to 8 hours to finish.
Mexican Gothic is a standalone novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, not part of a series.
Mexican Gothic is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
