Oxygen Book Club's October Pick Is A Homage To Noirs, Mexico, And Anti-Heroes
In "Velvet Was The Night," written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, two people search for a missing art student for very different reasons.
If you love history, noirs, or crime reads, you're going to want to read Oxygen Book Club's October pick.
Oxygen Book Club highlights books in the true crime sphere each month and features exclusive interviews, guided discussions, and more. October's book is a fictional read set in the 1970s in Mexico City, written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: "Velvet Was The Night."
Moreno-Garcia, the author behind the 2020 horror hit "Mexican Gothic," has penned a twisty, slow-burn noir that focuses on two characters: Maite and Elvis. Maite is a shy woman who struggles with self-confidence, while Elvis is a criminal with a penchant for rock n' roll and a softer heart than it initially seems. Their paths cross when Maite's neighbor, Leonora, mysteriously disappears while Maite is cat-sitting for her.
Maite is entranced by Leonora, a beautiful art student and political activist, so she starts investigating her disappearance. Elvis, meanwhile, has been ordered to find Leonora by his shadowy boss, who's determined to get rid of political dissidents. Soon, hit men, Russian spies, and government secrets enter the plot, as the two characters converge in their hunt for Leonora.
"Velvet Was The Night" introduces readers to the boiling political atmosphere of Mexico in the 1970s, while also providing a twisty, thoughtful, and compelling homage to noir films of the past. It's a thrilling mystery you won't be able to put down. Read along with Oxygen Book Club! And keep an eye out for our video interviews with Moreno-Garcia, as well as guided discussion questions. Happy reading!