A love letter to the history of Mexican film—Silver Nitrate is an impeccably researched mystery about two friends, sound editor Montesserat and fading actor Tristán who befriend an aging director and agree to help him dub an unfinished film from his past. In the process, they’re pulled into a world of magic, cults, murder and supernatural happenings with a sadistic white-supremacist magician at its core willing to do anything for power and immortality. Montesserat finds herself drawn to the man and his teachings, despite being both disgusted and seduced by the secrets she uncovers.
“No, it’s bigger than that,” Tristán insisted. “The more you become immersed in his books, in his magic, the more you become immersed in him. You don’t realize it, but sometimes you sound like you admire the guy.”
Like her excellent novel Mexican Gothic, Moreno-Garcia folds discussions of racism, colourism, immortality, Mexican history and lore into a pulpy package, though maybe not as smoothly or with the same engaging spark that made Mexican Gothic such a smash hit. Billed as horror, Moreno-Garcia, builds more of an atmosphere of tense unknowing rather than gore here, allowing her bold and vivid writing to shine. Although slow-going, the friendship at the heart of this book pulls us in steadily and the final third is a series of reveals and cinematic payoff worthy of the silver screen.
“But sometimes, when you’ve been around magic, you tend to attract the attention of other things that lurk in shadows. Monsters, ghosts, and the evil eye.”
Moreno-Garcia continues to defy genre with her multitude of books and source inspiration, and while her newest offering might not be for everyone, she’s an endlessly inventive and prolific writer who spawns the kind of devotion that has us waiting with bated breath for whatever she chooses to publish next.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of the novels The Daughter of Dr. Moreau, Velvet Was the Night, 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 won the British Fantasy Award and the Locus Award for her work as a novelist.
- Publisher : Del Rey (July 18 2023)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0593355369
- ISBN-13 : 978-0593355367
