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Velvet Was the Night
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia · 2021
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"From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a riveting noir about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome thug, and the mystery of the missing woman that brings them together. 1970s Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger. Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman--and journeying deeper into Leonora's secret life of student radicals and dissidents.…
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"This noir thriller set in 1970s Mexico City, exploring political corruption and social unrest, fits Barack Obama's interest in diverse historical narratives and international perspectives."
"Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s newest novel takes place in 1970s Mexico City, toward the start of the country’s Dirty War. At the center of the story is Maite, a 30-year-old secretary who leads a lonely, boring life amid the political tumult. She prefers to escape into romance novels and rock music. But when her neighbor goes missing under strange circumstances, Maite soon finds herself deep in a world of danger, dissidents and radical artists, all while she’s being followed by an eccentric criminal named Elvis. Pro tip: Be sure to listen to the novel’s playlist on Spotify while you read to be completely transported back in time."