What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
17 days and 14:06:47
10 copies available
U.S. only
The Intrigue
Win a free print copy of this book!
17 days and 14:06:47
10 copies available
U.S. only
From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a sizzling noir about desire, danger, and greed, in which seduction is the ultimate con
Handsome con artist Ulises has long charmed lonely women via letters to steal their money, but money is hard to come by in 1940s Mexico. Ulises knows his looks won't last forever, and he's desperate to get his hands on a real fortune.
He thinks he's found it when he captivates his newest correspondent, Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse in picturesque Veracruz. But when he meets her, he finds something he didn't expect. The woman has a niece, Inés, who is as observant as she is desperate to escape her aunt's household.
When Inés discovers Ulises' true intentions, she wants in on the scheme. They'll convince her aunt that Ulises is a great catch, Perla will marry him, and her money will vanish. Easy, fast and clean. But Perla is not the desperate, silly spinster Ulises imagines. She harbors secrets. And although Ulises does not believe in true romance, Inés is more alluring than he bargained on. Suddenly, a simple plan may become perilously complicated.
Venture into the streets of a small town where the patina of convention and good manners conceals a cauldron of avarice and lust.
PRAISE FOR THE INTRIGUE:
'Lush and passionate with magnetic prose . . . The Intrigue will grab you by the throat and won't let go until its earth-shaking finale!' S. A. Crosby, author of King of Ashes
'As the deception and the bodies mount, I rooted increasingly for this Bonnie & Clyde to get away clean with the loot. Do they? Read and find out; you won't be sorry!' Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network
'Everything about Moreno-Garcia's latest exudes noir at its very best' Library Journal
'Moreno-Garcia delivers a pulpy noir-telenovela mashup that would make James M. Cain jealous' Los Angeles Times
'This is yet another rock-solid novel from a born storyteller. Clever, taut, and just flat-out fun' Kirkus Reviews
Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2026
About the author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
187 books29.3k followersSilvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu's Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,008 reviews
Read
October 22, 2025What genre is this?
Noir/historical/drama. This is *not* horror. There are no fantastical elements. Please do not tag it as horror/gothic or anything similar.
Are there any fantastical elements?
Nope. See above.
What is this about?
It's 1943 in Mexico and a charming con artist who runs romance scams has found his latest target. Things might not work out as planned.
When it this out?
July 2026.
Is there a playlist?
Yes. See here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/57u...
Is there a book kit?
Yep. Download here: https://silviamoreno-garcia.com/wp-co...
Will this be available in the UK? In Spanish (or other languages)?
It will be out in the UK in July 2026 through Arcadia/Quercus. No translation rights for any languages have been sold.
Will this be available from Goldsboro as a limited edition with the sprayed edges? BOTM? Other book boxes?
Yes, you can find it via Goldsboro.
Noir/historical/drama. This is *not* horror. There are no fantastical elements. Please do not tag it as horror/gothic or anything similar.
Are there any fantastical elements?
Nope. See above.
What is this about?
It's 1943 in Mexico and a charming con artist who runs romance scams has found his latest target. Things might not work out as planned.
When it this out?
July 2026.
Is there a playlist?
Yes. See here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/57u...
Is there a book kit?
Yep. Download here: https://silviamoreno-garcia.com/wp-co...
Will this be available in the UK? In Spanish (or other languages)?
It will be out in the UK in July 2026 through Arcadia/Quercus. No translation rights for any languages have been sold.
Will this be available from Goldsboro as a limited edition with the sprayed edges? BOTM? Other book boxes?
Yes, you can find it via Goldsboro.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Intrigue is a bold shift from the supernatural and gothic tones I usually associate with Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Instead of haunted mansions or mythic darkness, this novel leans fully into a slow-burning, psychological noir—an intimate, tension-filled story about deception, class, power, and survival. Set in 1940s Mexico, it blends historical atmosphere with a domestic thriller structure, where secrets simmer behind polite smiles and every relationship feels like a transaction.
While I personally still gravitate more toward Moreno-Garcia’s fantasy and horror works, I found myself drawn into this story in a quieter, more unsettling way. It doesn’t rely on shocking twists or dramatic spectacle. Instead, it creeps forward, tightening its grip with each chapter, building unease through small choices, stolen glances, and carefully hidden motives. True to its title, the novel unfolds like an intricate game—one where no one is fully in control.
At the heart of the story is Ulises Linares, a handsome, charming con artist who learned his trade from his father. His life has always been built on lies, letters, and borrowed affection, but after a failed scheme leaves him desperate and nearly ruined, he sets his sights on what he believes will be his final, perfect con. That plan leads him to Perla, the owner of a modest boardinghouse in a quiet town, who seems like an easy mark from a distance.
But once Ulises arrives, the story quickly proves that nothing is simple.
Perla lives with her niece, Inés—a young woman trapped by duty, poverty, and an unspoken longing for escape. Ulises’ presence unsettles the fragile balance of the household and sparks suspicion from Candido, a local man who has long been attached to Perla and begins digging into Ulises’ past. When Inés uncovers the truth about Ulises’ intentions, the novel takes a sharp turn. Instead of exposing him, she considers joining him—believing the con might be her only way out.
What none of them anticipate is that Perla herself is far from helpless. Beneath her rigid manners and stern exterior is a woman shaped by loss, bitterness, and secrets of her own. The power dynamics begin to shift, and the original scheme collapses into something far more dangerous. Every character becomes both predator and prey, and the question is no longer who is lying—but who will survive the truth.
Moreno-Garcia’s writing is lush, controlled, and quietly devastating. The setting feels alive, soaked in tension and suffocating social rules. The town watches, judges, and whispers, turning ordinary interactions into high-stakes encounters. The themes of class division, gender roles, ambition, and repression are woven seamlessly into the narrative, giving the story emotional and political weight.
I’ll admit that I didn’t fully connect with the characters, and I struggled at times to care about their fates. They often felt distant and morally cold. However, the strength of the writing, the carefully balanced pacing, and the way the plot coils into a powerful climax completely won me over. The ending—and especially the epilogue—felt sharp, satisfying, and haunting in its implications.
Even though this isn’t my favorite Moreno-Garcia novel, it is still a compelling, stylish, and immersive noir that rewards patience. It’s the kind of story that lingers, not because of shock, but because of the quiet cruelty and longing that drive it.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing this intriguing thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
instagram
facebook
While I personally still gravitate more toward Moreno-Garcia’s fantasy and horror works, I found myself drawn into this story in a quieter, more unsettling way. It doesn’t rely on shocking twists or dramatic spectacle. Instead, it creeps forward, tightening its grip with each chapter, building unease through small choices, stolen glances, and carefully hidden motives. True to its title, the novel unfolds like an intricate game—one where no one is fully in control.
At the heart of the story is Ulises Linares, a handsome, charming con artist who learned his trade from his father. His life has always been built on lies, letters, and borrowed affection, but after a failed scheme leaves him desperate and nearly ruined, he sets his sights on what he believes will be his final, perfect con. That plan leads him to Perla, the owner of a modest boardinghouse in a quiet town, who seems like an easy mark from a distance.
But once Ulises arrives, the story quickly proves that nothing is simple.
Perla lives with her niece, Inés—a young woman trapped by duty, poverty, and an unspoken longing for escape. Ulises’ presence unsettles the fragile balance of the household and sparks suspicion from Candido, a local man who has long been attached to Perla and begins digging into Ulises’ past. When Inés uncovers the truth about Ulises’ intentions, the novel takes a sharp turn. Instead of exposing him, she considers joining him—believing the con might be her only way out.
What none of them anticipate is that Perla herself is far from helpless. Beneath her rigid manners and stern exterior is a woman shaped by loss, bitterness, and secrets of her own. The power dynamics begin to shift, and the original scheme collapses into something far more dangerous. Every character becomes both predator and prey, and the question is no longer who is lying—but who will survive the truth.
Moreno-Garcia’s writing is lush, controlled, and quietly devastating. The setting feels alive, soaked in tension and suffocating social rules. The town watches, judges, and whispers, turning ordinary interactions into high-stakes encounters. The themes of class division, gender roles, ambition, and repression are woven seamlessly into the narrative, giving the story emotional and political weight.
I’ll admit that I didn’t fully connect with the characters, and I struggled at times to care about their fates. They often felt distant and morally cold. However, the strength of the writing, the carefully balanced pacing, and the way the plot coils into a powerful climax completely won me over. The ending—and especially the epilogue—felt sharp, satisfying, and haunting in its implications.
Even though this isn’t my favorite Moreno-Garcia novel, it is still a compelling, stylish, and immersive noir that rewards patience. It’s the kind of story that lingers, not because of shock, but because of the quiet cruelty and longing that drive it.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing this intriguing thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Roger Ebert, reviewing the movie "Match Point" about 2 outsiders who hope to infiltrate and exploit a wealthy family, remarks "But it's their bad luck that they are more attracted to each other than to their targets." He might as well have been talking about Ulises and Inés, two born schemers in 1940s Mexico who find each other on opposite sides of a con--or maybe, possibly, the same side.
In THE INTRIGUE, Ulises is a handsome con artist who scams rich spinsters via lonely-hearts ads. Looking for the big score, he sets his sights on wealthy, suspicious Perla--but runs afoul of Perla's savvy niece Inés who quickly susses out his true purpose. But Inés has her own reasons for wanting out from under her aunt's thumb, and is quick to propose a deal: she'll help Ulises into her aunt's arms and bank account, in return for half the money. But things aren't that simple (are they ever?) and part of the problem is that Inés and Ulises realize they are kindred spirits--very inconvenient in partners who need to maintain a healthy distrust of one another.
You may not like Inés and Ulises--they are certainly unscrupulous but they are a lot of fun, especially contrasting with Perla's narrow-minded and iron-handed control over everyone around her which made me root increasingly for her to get conned. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a great gift for making you cheer for things you shouldn't in her books, and THE INTRIGUE is no exception. As the deception and the bodies mount, I rooted increasingly for this Bonnie & Clyde to get away clean with the loot. Do they? Read and find out; you won't be sorry!
In THE INTRIGUE, Ulises is a handsome con artist who scams rich spinsters via lonely-hearts ads. Looking for the big score, he sets his sights on wealthy, suspicious Perla--but runs afoul of Perla's savvy niece Inés who quickly susses out his true purpose. But Inés has her own reasons for wanting out from under her aunt's thumb, and is quick to propose a deal: she'll help Ulises into her aunt's arms and bank account, in return for half the money. But things aren't that simple (are they ever?) and part of the problem is that Inés and Ulises realize they are kindred spirits--very inconvenient in partners who need to maintain a healthy distrust of one another.
You may not like Inés and Ulises--they are certainly unscrupulous but they are a lot of fun, especially contrasting with Perla's narrow-minded and iron-handed control over everyone around her which made me root increasingly for her to get conned. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a great gift for making you cheer for things you shouldn't in her books, and THE INTRIGUE is no exception. As the deception and the bodies mount, I rooted increasingly for this Bonnie & Clyde to get away clean with the loot. Do they? Read and find out; you won't be sorry!
August 15, 2026
Hard-Boiled Schemes in Old Mexico
In “The Intrigue,” Silvia Moreno-Garcia transforms 1940s Veracruz into a fog-choked trap of rigid expectations and decaying gentility. It’s an evocative, immersive setting that hits as hard as any character.
The plot hinges on a high-stakes confidence scheme featuring three deeply flawed, morally ambiguous leads. You won't like them, but you can’t look away. Watching their carefully constructed masks shatter is the book’s true strength. Moreno-Garcia avoids traditional heroes, focusing instead on the friction of their volatile covenant.
Be warned: the pacing hits a snag in the middle, and the romance is far more understated than the marketing implies. Don’t expect a love story; expect a cold, sharp study of desperate people in a stifling world where every decision has a price.
Ultimately, “The Intrigue” is a razor-sharp piece of noir. It trades rapid-fire thrills for psychological depth and moral rot, making it a rewarding read for anyone who prefers their stories messy, atmospheric, and uncomfortably real.
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheIntrigue #NetGalley
In “The Intrigue,” Silvia Moreno-Garcia transforms 1940s Veracruz into a fog-choked trap of rigid expectations and decaying gentility. It’s an evocative, immersive setting that hits as hard as any character.
The plot hinges on a high-stakes confidence scheme featuring three deeply flawed, morally ambiguous leads. You won't like them, but you can’t look away. Watching their carefully constructed masks shatter is the book’s true strength. Moreno-Garcia avoids traditional heroes, focusing instead on the friction of their volatile covenant.
Be warned: the pacing hits a snag in the middle, and the romance is far more understated than the marketing implies. Don’t expect a love story; expect a cold, sharp study of desperate people in a stifling world where every decision has a price.
Ultimately, “The Intrigue” is a razor-sharp piece of noir. It trades rapid-fire thrills for psychological depth and moral rot, making it a rewarding read for anyone who prefers their stories messy, atmospheric, and uncomfortably real.
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheIntrigue #NetGalley
Read
January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Silvia Moreno-Garcia could write a guide on knitting sweaters for earthworms, and I'd be out here cheering, "Yesss, clothe the tiny invertebrates!" She has, of course, crafted an irresistible plot in a noir tale of desire, greed, and seduction. In 1940s Mexico, a handsome grifter charms women into giving him their money through letters. Intent on securing a bigger, more reliable bag when the letter scheme runs its course, he sets his sights on the owner of a boardinghouse in a small town in Veracruz. There are two holes in this plan: his intended victim's niece clocks him right away and wants in on the scheme as a means to escape this small town, and his victim is not the gullible mark he thinks she is... —Vanessa Diaz
Silvia Moreno-Garcia could write a guide on knitting sweaters for earthworms, and I'd be out here cheering, "Yesss, clothe the tiny invertebrates!" She has, of course, crafted an irresistible plot in a noir tale of desire, greed, and seduction. In 1940s Mexico, a handsome grifter charms women into giving him their money through letters. Intent on securing a bigger, more reliable bag when the letter scheme runs its course, he sets his sights on the owner of a boardinghouse in a small town in Veracruz. There are two holes in this plan: his intended victim's niece clocks him right away and wants in on the scheme as a means to escape this small town, and his victim is not the gullible mark he thinks she is... —Vanessa Diaz
October 11, 2026
Full spoiler breakdown/Connect with me: SpillthePlot.com.
Well, Silvia Moreno-Garcia finally won me over! I didn't care for The Bewitching or The Seventh Veil of Salome, so I wasn't expecting much. But I absolutely loved this one!
Set in 1940s Mexico, The Intrigue follows Ulises, a down-on-his-luck con artist who arrives in a foggy mountain town hoping to swindle a wealthy spinster. Unfortunately, her sharp-eyed niece Inés sees right through him. Instead of exposing him, she proposes a partnership. What could possibly go wrong? 😂
This is film noir on paper. Scheming, seduction, dark humor, morally questionable characters, and enough double-crossing to make your head spin. The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is fantastic, and I couldn't put it down!
My blog: spoiledbooks.blogspot.com
Well, Silvia Moreno-Garcia finally won me over! I didn't care for The Bewitching or The Seventh Veil of Salome, so I wasn't expecting much. But I absolutely loved this one!
Set in 1940s Mexico, The Intrigue follows Ulises, a down-on-his-luck con artist who arrives in a foggy mountain town hoping to swindle a wealthy spinster. Unfortunately, her sharp-eyed niece Inés sees right through him. Instead of exposing him, she proposes a partnership. What could possibly go wrong? 😂
This is film noir on paper. Scheming, seduction, dark humor, morally questionable characters, and enough double-crossing to make your head spin. The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is fantastic, and I couldn't put it down!
My blog: spoiledbooks.blogspot.com
September 14, 2026
silvia moreno garcia is never going to lead me astray. she is my religion.
and when she always delivers a romance that makes me feral what then???
Bookstagram | Blog
and when she always delivers a romance that makes me feral what then???
Bookstagram | Blog
July 2, 2026
Historical Noir Review🎧
I’m very sad to admit that The Intrigue was my first time reading this talented author’s work. As you can see… I have no excuse. She’s been sitting on my shelves.
First and foremost, this is not a horror novel nor a fantasy book. I would classify this as historical fiction/noir.
It’s 1940’s Mexico. A handsome con artist, Ulises pulls his victims by mail correspondence. Perla invites him to her home after they’ve been in contact for a while, with hopes of getting better acquainted.
But, Perla’s niece and housemaid,Inés, is on to him. Will she spoil his plan? Or join him out of spiteful revenge?
Look, this was a little out of my comfort zone. I didn’t really know what to expect going in. In which, turned out to be a good thing! Because I was OBSESSED with this story! Her writing is incredibly rich. These characters were original and I felt it added so much to the book. We get a good sense of all the characters and the author allows us to empathize with each and every one of them. The dialect was some of my favorite! I need more just like it.
I started with the physical and then switched over to the audio at about 150 something pages. Honestly, the narrator sounded flat and like he was reading from a book…..so I would definitely recommend reading a physical copy. Either way, I really loved it and highly recommend it.
Ultimately, The Intrigue is about greed, desire, and the seduction to pull off the ultimate con. It’s a slow burn character driven novel and if that’s your jam, pre-order this bad boy right now! I hope you love it as much as I did.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date 7//14
Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted copy.
I’m very sad to admit that The Intrigue was my first time reading this talented author’s work. As you can see… I have no excuse. She’s been sitting on my shelves.
First and foremost, this is not a horror novel nor a fantasy book. I would classify this as historical fiction/noir.
It’s 1940’s Mexico. A handsome con artist, Ulises pulls his victims by mail correspondence. Perla invites him to her home after they’ve been in contact for a while, with hopes of getting better acquainted.
But, Perla’s niece and housemaid,Inés, is on to him. Will she spoil his plan? Or join him out of spiteful revenge?
Look, this was a little out of my comfort zone. I didn’t really know what to expect going in. In which, turned out to be a good thing! Because I was OBSESSED with this story! Her writing is incredibly rich. These characters were original and I felt it added so much to the book. We get a good sense of all the characters and the author allows us to empathize with each and every one of them. The dialect was some of my favorite! I need more just like it.
I started with the physical and then switched over to the audio at about 150 something pages. Honestly, the narrator sounded flat and like he was reading from a book…..so I would definitely recommend reading a physical copy. Either way, I really loved it and highly recommend it.
Ultimately, The Intrigue is about greed, desire, and the seduction to pull off the ultimate con. It’s a slow burn character driven novel and if that’s your jam, pre-order this bad boy right now! I hope you love it as much as I did.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date 7//14
Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted copy.
August 1, 2026
From one of my favorite authors comes another historical noir novel, this time much sexier than I usually expect from her!
Set in 1940's Mexico, a con man named Ulises preys on lonely older women by writing letters through a lonely hearts newspaper column, but this time he might be in deeper than he realized. Perla is a single older woman who runs a boarding house in a small town with her niece. Ines is desperate to escape her aunt and move to Mexico City, but doesn't have the resources to do it. She quickly figures out what Ulises is up to and wants in on the scheme. But there are layers of family secrets and there will be murders before the book is finished...
This does a great job of highlighting the moral and financial constraints placed on women at the time, especially from more gentrified families. They had few options, often had to rely on men for financial survival, and were disallowed sexual promiscuity. Moreno-Garcia does a great job writing complex female characters and this novel is no exception. Noir isn't my favorite genre by this was great. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Set in 1940's Mexico, a con man named Ulises preys on lonely older women by writing letters through a lonely hearts newspaper column, but this time he might be in deeper than he realized. Perla is a single older woman who runs a boarding house in a small town with her niece. Ines is desperate to escape her aunt and move to Mexico City, but doesn't have the resources to do it. She quickly figures out what Ulises is up to and wants in on the scheme. But there are layers of family secrets and there will be murders before the book is finished...
This does a great job of highlighting the moral and financial constraints placed on women at the time, especially from more gentrified families. They had few options, often had to rely on men for financial survival, and were disallowed sexual promiscuity. Moreno-Garcia does a great job writing complex female characters and this novel is no exception. Noir isn't my favorite genre by this was great. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
This author really knows how to bring the vibes, and this is packed full of atmosphere and tension. The setting feels rich and immersive while the writing's gorgeous. There's a very specific slightly creepy sense that nobody's being completely honest at any given moment, which I always love.
I had a good time with this, but I didn’t like it quite as much as Mexican Gothic. That one had me immediately obsessed, whereas this felt a little more restrained and pulled me in a lot more slowly. I could absolutely appreciate what it was doing, and this is still an excellent book in terms of character work and emotional undercurrents, but I wasn’t totally feral about it.
Still, when it comes to style and atmosphere, few come close to Silvia. This is smart and moody, with elegant writing, messy dynamics, subtle tension, and a pervasive sense of unease.
This author really knows how to bring the vibes, and this is packed full of atmosphere and tension. The setting feels rich and immersive while the writing's gorgeous. There's a very specific slightly creepy sense that nobody's being completely honest at any given moment, which I always love.
I had a good time with this, but I didn’t like it quite as much as Mexican Gothic. That one had me immediately obsessed, whereas this felt a little more restrained and pulled me in a lot more slowly. I could absolutely appreciate what it was doing, and this is still an excellent book in terms of character work and emotional undercurrents, but I wasn’t totally feral about it.
Still, when it comes to style and atmosphere, few come close to Silvia. This is smart and moody, with elegant writing, messy dynamics, subtle tension, and a pervasive sense of unease.
July 20, 2026
Ulises Linares plies the lonely hearts columns of wartime Mexico City, courting widows through the mail with a silvered hairline and an equally silvered tongue. His epistolary hunting grounds route him toward Puerco Ahogado (not the dish), a mountain town fogged in perpetual chipichipi drizzle, and a room inside the crumbling guesthouse.
Perla Inclán runs that guesthouse on the fumes of her father's coffee empire, counting beans and pesos with matching stinginess. Her niece Inés serves supper, mends hems, and endures a status somewhere between family and unpaid staff, orphaned by a mother's fatal tumble down the very stairs she still dreams about. Ulises means to charm the aunt and instead ends up drawn toward the girl folding his stained jacket, obsidian eyes included.
Moreno-Garcia builds her intrigue slowly, letting us steep alongside Ulises as he tallies the value of chipped china and cracked fountains, weighing whether Perla's fortune justifies a longer stay.
A professor smuggles sherry past a locked cabinet. A suitor bribes the help for gossip. A dog gets banished for napping on a dead monsignor's settee. Then the plot turns bitter. A locked desk yields a forgotten father, an unclaimed inheritance, and a motive honed past any coffee grinder's edge. Sherry stops being a polite nightcap.
Two grifters, one professional and one born of pure domestic grievance, discover a shared talent for deception. Their courtship plays out in stolen glances over canasta and midnight visits meant to look accidental.
Ulises came for an easy mark and got outmatched by an amateur armed with a garden full of toxic seeds. Inés, raised on Nepomuceno's Greek myths, absorbs lessons about ambitious mortals and vengeful gods far better than her Latin conjugations.
Moreno-Garcia frames her romance against a Mexico caught between blackout drills and society pages, a country performing patriotism at cocktail parties while black market sugar changes hands under the counter. The historical texture stays stitched into the plotting instead of floating above it. Every period detail, from swastika flagged cars to rationed sugar, deepens the moral rot Ulises and Inés are about to commit.
If you are hoping for a tidy romance you should adjust your expectations. This courtship runs on poison and property law, and Moreno-Garcia clearly enjoys watching her spinster heroine reveal claws keener than any suitor imagined. The novel percolates instead of racing, favoring atmosphere and slow building dread over pulpy speed.
A gothic confidence game, brewed strong, served scalding, and best enjoyed without sugar. 3 ½ stars.
[image error]
❤️ 🇮🇱
Perla Inclán runs that guesthouse on the fumes of her father's coffee empire, counting beans and pesos with matching stinginess. Her niece Inés serves supper, mends hems, and endures a status somewhere between family and unpaid staff, orphaned by a mother's fatal tumble down the very stairs she still dreams about. Ulises means to charm the aunt and instead ends up drawn toward the girl folding his stained jacket, obsidian eyes included.
Moreno-Garcia builds her intrigue slowly, letting us steep alongside Ulises as he tallies the value of chipped china and cracked fountains, weighing whether Perla's fortune justifies a longer stay.
A professor smuggles sherry past a locked cabinet. A suitor bribes the help for gossip. A dog gets banished for napping on a dead monsignor's settee. Then the plot turns bitter. A locked desk yields a forgotten father, an unclaimed inheritance, and a motive honed past any coffee grinder's edge. Sherry stops being a polite nightcap.
Two grifters, one professional and one born of pure domestic grievance, discover a shared talent for deception. Their courtship plays out in stolen glances over canasta and midnight visits meant to look accidental.
Ulises came for an easy mark and got outmatched by an amateur armed with a garden full of toxic seeds. Inés, raised on Nepomuceno's Greek myths, absorbs lessons about ambitious mortals and vengeful gods far better than her Latin conjugations.
Moreno-Garcia frames her romance against a Mexico caught between blackout drills and society pages, a country performing patriotism at cocktail parties while black market sugar changes hands under the counter. The historical texture stays stitched into the plotting instead of floating above it. Every period detail, from swastika flagged cars to rationed sugar, deepens the moral rot Ulises and Inés are about to commit.
If you are hoping for a tidy romance you should adjust your expectations. This courtship runs on poison and property law, and Moreno-Garcia clearly enjoys watching her spinster heroine reveal claws keener than any suitor imagined. The novel percolates instead of racing, favoring atmosphere and slow building dread over pulpy speed.
A gothic confidence game, brewed strong, served scalding, and best enjoyed without sugar. 3 ½ stars.
[image error]
❤️ 🇮🇱
July 22, 2026
Set in 1940s Veracruz, Mexico, The Intrigue follows Ulises, a charming con man who travels from town to town targeting lonely women for their money. His next mark is Perla, a wealthy spinster who owns a guesthouse, but Perla’s niece, Ines, figures out his scheme and proposes they split the profits instead. She had her own history with her Aunt Perla that drives her to get out of her house.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s descriptive writing is, as always, excellent. She brings Veracruz to life, and the atmosphere is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Unlike her supernatural novels, this is a character-driven story more in the vein of The Beautiful Ones, my favorite by the author.
It’s clear from the beginning that Ulises and Ines aren’t meant to be admirable people, and perhaps the novel is intended as a study of the darker side of human nature. I just wished there had been a deeper exploration of their pasts than what we do get. Even Perla, who should inspire some sympathy for being the victim, is difficult to root for. But to be honest, I was hoping for a not so good ending for her. The story also had the melodramatic feel of a telenovela, which some readers may enjoy, but it wasn’t quite for me. But the “intrigue” of it all kept me reading, even though it was predictable. While I appreciated Moreno-Garcia’s writing, I found the story a bit dry and emotionally distant, and I kept hoping for a character arc that never quite happened for me. 2.75 stars
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s descriptive writing is, as always, excellent. She brings Veracruz to life, and the atmosphere is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Unlike her supernatural novels, this is a character-driven story more in the vein of The Beautiful Ones, my favorite by the author.
It’s clear from the beginning that Ulises and Ines aren’t meant to be admirable people, and perhaps the novel is intended as a study of the darker side of human nature. I just wished there had been a deeper exploration of their pasts than what we do get. Even Perla, who should inspire some sympathy for being the victim, is difficult to root for. But to be honest, I was hoping for a not so good ending for her. The story also had the melodramatic feel of a telenovela, which some readers may enjoy, but it wasn’t quite for me. But the “intrigue” of it all kept me reading, even though it was predictable. While I appreciated Moreno-Garcia’s writing, I found the story a bit dry and emotionally distant, and I kept hoping for a character arc that never quite happened for me. 2.75 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The air in The Intrigue feels thick enough to breathe. Silvia Moreno-Garcia transports you effortlessly to sweltering 1940s small town Mexico, inside a boarding house long past its glory days. It's a noir steeped in faded elegance, quiet desperation and simmering tension, its faded grandeur clinging stubbornly to respectability as the walls close in around its inhabitants.
You can almost feel the oppressive heat, the cramped rooms and the weight of expectation pressing down on every conversation. Her prose is effortlessly immersive, bringing the setting and era to life, where class, gender and reputation become invisible cages and every desire for freedom comes at a cost.
As always, Moreno-Garcia's characters are a triumph. Ulises, the charming con man. Inés, trapped by circumstance and aching for independence. Perla, the seemingly wronged spinster who rules her boarding house with an iron fist. They are wonderfully alive, morally grey people whose shifting loyalties and carefully guarded secrets constantly reshape the balance of power. No one is wholly innocent, yet no one is entirely villainous either. Even the dog isn't entirely lovable. The suspense is all about watching ambitions collide, facades crack and desperation grow.
Essentially it's still a confidence scheme wrapped around tangled relationships. It's a familiar story, less interested in shocking twists than in reveling in the unveiling of buried secret selves and the inevitable consequences that unfold. The plot beats are relatively easy to anticipate and there's never quite the kind of transformative twist that redefines everything that came before.
Yet I found I didn't mind. The destination may be familiar but the journey is intoxicating. The exquisite atmosphere, nuanced character work and simmering psychological tension elevate what could have been a conventional noir into something rich, elegant and utterly absorbing.
Like the boarding house itself, The Intrigue is all faded glamour and hidden rot - a slow burn noir where every closed door conceals another secret and every carefully maintained facade is just one desperate choice away from collapse.
My thanks to Del Ray for the arc
You can almost feel the oppressive heat, the cramped rooms and the weight of expectation pressing down on every conversation. Her prose is effortlessly immersive, bringing the setting and era to life, where class, gender and reputation become invisible cages and every desire for freedom comes at a cost.
As always, Moreno-Garcia's characters are a triumph. Ulises, the charming con man. Inés, trapped by circumstance and aching for independence. Perla, the seemingly wronged spinster who rules her boarding house with an iron fist. They are wonderfully alive, morally grey people whose shifting loyalties and carefully guarded secrets constantly reshape the balance of power. No one is wholly innocent, yet no one is entirely villainous either. Even the dog isn't entirely lovable. The suspense is all about watching ambitions collide, facades crack and desperation grow.
Essentially it's still a confidence scheme wrapped around tangled relationships. It's a familiar story, less interested in shocking twists than in reveling in the unveiling of buried secret selves and the inevitable consequences that unfold. The plot beats are relatively easy to anticipate and there's never quite the kind of transformative twist that redefines everything that came before.
Yet I found I didn't mind. The destination may be familiar but the journey is intoxicating. The exquisite atmosphere, nuanced character work and simmering psychological tension elevate what could have been a conventional noir into something rich, elegant and utterly absorbing.
Like the boarding house itself, The Intrigue is all faded glamour and hidden rot - a slow burn noir where every closed door conceals another secret and every carefully maintained facade is just one desperate choice away from collapse.
My thanks to Del Ray for the arc
Did Not Finish
July 24, 2026DNF at 30%. The writing was fabulous, the plot was just taking too long to develop. Slow burn was unfortunately too slow for me.
No rating since I didn’t make it more than halfway.
No rating since I didn’t make it more than halfway.
July 16, 2026
This is a painful two-star review. I read Moreno-Garcia's last novel, 'The Bewitching', and was, well, bewitched by her writing. The quality of prose is not lacking in 'The Intrigue', certainly. However, the story itself I found lacking. I am the type of reader that craves conflict and mystery, and I felt that this novel lacked either. I found myself thinking it felt like a bad soap opera, only to find out in the author notes that it was entirely intentional. I fear that, to really hit that campy telenovela mark, it needed a lot more outrageousness. This story felt entirely bland, predictable, and glacially slow moving. It made me very sad to have enjoyed it as little as I did.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the Advanced Reader Copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the Advanced Reader Copy.
October 10, 2026
THE INTRIGUE is very different from MEXICAN GOTHIC, but I feel like it approaches the burden of familial obligations in the same way, showing what happens when the ties of family become the bars of a prison and tradition becomes a way of silencing abuse and continuing the oppression of generations past.
Ulises is a con-man who preys on lonely women to seduce them, parting them with their money and their hopes for romance. His latest attempt at conquest is Perla, the landlady of the boarding house where he'll be staying for the next three weeks. She is the heiress of a large coffee empire that is slowly falling into ruin, with a dwindling house staff that comprises a driver, a housekeeper, an errand boy, and her niece and future caretaker, Ines.
Ines, in her own way, is just as cold-hearted as Ulises. Trapped under her aunt's thumb her whole life and mourning the family she barely got to know or understand, she's been forced to live as a servant, and the bonds of her servitude will not end until her aunt's death, because if she leaves or takes a lover, she'll be disinherited.
It seems only natural that Ines and Ulises would turn to each other to conspire; after all, they're both weary of the hardscrabble life and are willing to do whatever it takes not to fall into poverty or ruin. But both of them have a dark past that is threatening to catch up to them-- and so does Perla. And one of the most interesting narrative devices Moreno-Garcia employs is writing the "past" sections in present tense, and the "present" sections in past tense. She did this for Perla, and to me, it felt like this was a deliberate decision to show how thoroughly Perla was being haunted by her secrets: the ghosts in this book were entirely of her own making, and driving every decision she made (perhaps leading her to her own doom).
In some ways, this book reminded me of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, specifically in how it approached the way that women are bonded to their families, and how generational trauma is perpetuated by haunted matriarchs who know on some level that what they are doing is wrong but choose to continue that cycle of abuse and violence anyway because they cannot fathom sparing the future generations from the suffering they see as their due when they were forced to endure it themselves. So many deep themes packed into such a relatively short book; while it is slow to take off the ground, the writing is lush, cinematic and evocative. This would be absolutely amazing on the big screen.
4.5 stars
Ulises is a con-man who preys on lonely women to seduce them, parting them with their money and their hopes for romance. His latest attempt at conquest is Perla, the landlady of the boarding house where he'll be staying for the next three weeks. She is the heiress of a large coffee empire that is slowly falling into ruin, with a dwindling house staff that comprises a driver, a housekeeper, an errand boy, and her niece and future caretaker, Ines.
Ines, in her own way, is just as cold-hearted as Ulises. Trapped under her aunt's thumb her whole life and mourning the family she barely got to know or understand, she's been forced to live as a servant, and the bonds of her servitude will not end until her aunt's death, because if she leaves or takes a lover, she'll be disinherited.
It seems only natural that Ines and Ulises would turn to each other to conspire; after all, they're both weary of the hardscrabble life and are willing to do whatever it takes not to fall into poverty or ruin. But both of them have a dark past that is threatening to catch up to them-- and so does Perla. And one of the most interesting narrative devices Moreno-Garcia employs is writing the "past" sections in present tense, and the "present" sections in past tense. She did this for Perla, and to me, it felt like this was a deliberate decision to show how thoroughly Perla was being haunted by her secrets: the ghosts in this book were entirely of her own making, and driving every decision she made (perhaps leading her to her own doom).
In some ways, this book reminded me of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, specifically in how it approached the way that women are bonded to their families, and how generational trauma is perpetuated by haunted matriarchs who know on some level that what they are doing is wrong but choose to continue that cycle of abuse and violence anyway because they cannot fathom sparing the future generations from the suffering they see as their due when they were forced to endure it themselves. So many deep themes packed into such a relatively short book; while it is slow to take off the ground, the writing is lush, cinematic and evocative. This would be absolutely amazing on the big screen.
4.5 stars
Read
August 21, 2026THE INTRIGUE
BY SYLVIA MORENO-GARCIA
Whenever I am in the mood for reading something on the dark and murky side, I pick one of Sylvia Moreno-Garcia's novels especially one of her noir works or a historical fiction piece.
She never dissapoints.
BY SYLVIA MORENO-GARCIA
Whenever I am in the mood for reading something on the dark and murky side, I pick one of Sylvia Moreno-Garcia's novels especially one of her noir works or a historical fiction piece.
She never dissapoints.
October 17, 2026
Film Noir book about a ladies con man who meets his match in the even darker heart of the niece of his latest mark, a boarding house owner. Patterned after classic films like Double Indemnity and The Postman Rings Twice, but moved to its setting in Mexico in the '40s and the frustrations of everyone feeling stuck in a small provincial town make it interesting.
December 2, 2025
This was such a good book with themes of desire, greed, and cons! Ulises is an interesting character and a sneaky con artist but young Ines throws him off his game when he targets Perla, her aunt. As the plot evolved I found myself paranoid of who could be trusted and what everyone’s intentions really were. There were definitely twists and it made this book very hard to put down! I read it in a matter of hours because I was so hooked on the plot. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 24, 2026
I absolutely love when the woman is crazier than the man.
I started this for the mystery and stayed for the romance, and while I’m not completely content with the way the ending was carried out, I regardless adored everything else about this. I need to read more noir books like The Intrigue, because this had it all from blackmail, to late-night mischief, to dark and stormy weather, to murder and cover ups.
Can’t wait to read another book by Moreno-Garcia.
I started this for the mystery and stayed for the romance, and while I’m not completely content with the way the ending was carried out, I regardless adored everything else about this. I need to read more noir books like The Intrigue, because this had it all from blackmail, to late-night mischief, to dark and stormy weather, to murder and cover ups.
Can’t wait to read another book by Moreno-Garcia.
June 28, 2026
Did anything actually happen in this book?
There were fleeting moments when I almost got drawn in, and then they were gone. The whole book seemed to be one big prologue. I am much more interested in the characters as they are in the prologue than I was in any chapter throughout the book itself.
This was well written, but a well written story without a story line is still a story without a storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were fleeting moments when I almost got drawn in, and then they were gone. The whole book seemed to be one big prologue. I am much more interested in the characters as they are in the prologue than I was in any chapter throughout the book itself.
This was well written, but a well written story without a story line is still a story without a storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2026
4⭐️ | This book further confirmed for me that I’d read anything Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes.
I love how she explores different genres in her novels, and this one is a gripping mix of noir and costumbrista.
Set in 1940s Mexico, the story follows a conman who swindles lonely women through mail correspondence. In his latest scam, he travels to a small mountain town to attempt to win over the unmarried matriarch of a respected family and things don’t quite go according to plan.
I love a morally gray character, and this book features a whole cast of them. The writing was artful and engrossing and I truly felt transported in time to the small town of Puerco Ahogado, where customs and status are everything, and the residents go to extreme lengths to maintain appearances. I especially liked the exploration of decay underneath these façades. I’d recommend this book to fans of noir and historical fiction, especially if you’re looking for a well written book featuring moral ambiguity.
Thank you to Del Rey and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for sharing the advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
I love how she explores different genres in her novels, and this one is a gripping mix of noir and costumbrista.
Set in 1940s Mexico, the story follows a conman who swindles lonely women through mail correspondence. In his latest scam, he travels to a small mountain town to attempt to win over the unmarried matriarch of a respected family and things don’t quite go according to plan.
I love a morally gray character, and this book features a whole cast of them. The writing was artful and engrossing and I truly felt transported in time to the small town of Puerco Ahogado, where customs and status are everything, and the residents go to extreme lengths to maintain appearances. I especially liked the exploration of decay underneath these façades. I’d recommend this book to fans of noir and historical fiction, especially if you’re looking for a well written book featuring moral ambiguity.
Thank you to Del Rey and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for sharing the advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
March 24, 2026
So fun so good so atmospheric! Perfect little thriller and beautifully written. I love every character!
Very Patricia highsmith!!
Very Patricia highsmith!!
July 27, 2026
Silvia Moreno-Garcia loves noir, and loves to write about different parts of Mexican history. (See her previous book 'Silver Nitrate'). In this book, set in 1943, she writes about a con man coming to a small mountain town to inveigle a spinster to marry him, or to get her money any other way.
The con man calls himself Ulises, and he learned the trade from his father who died just a couple years prior. It turns out Ulises is not nearly as good. But he's handsome and glib, and is trying to move beyond penny-ante cons. This is the one he hopes sets him up for life.
The spinster, Perla, is a part of the moneyed class in this small town, and has a live-in niece who is the bastard child of Perla's dead sister. The niece is expected to live with Perla until she dies, and Perla treats the niece, Inés, with disdain. Inés chafes at her treatment but is dirt poor and has no other place to go. Then Ulises arrives at Perla's invitation after corresponding with him through personal ads in the magazines.
The stage is set with the important characters for an intriguing novel. Perla is imperious but harbors secrets and vices, Ulises is a little out of his depth but charming, and Inés is wondering if this is her chance to break free. It all comes together into an unexpected noir-ish ending. Yes, people die, but probably not who the reader would expect.
I didn't like this book as much as I did 'Silver Nitrate', partly because I found the Mexican movie business of the mid-20th century more interesting than life in a small town in Veracruz. Still, there are plenty of secrets, sultry looks and some surprisingly graphic sex moments, while everyone tries to figure out how to carve a life for themselves out of this town. One of the sub-themes is the rigid class structure of the time and how people were locked into their roles, both socially and economically.
Sometimes Moreno-Garcia writes fantasy novels, but this is not one. This is a straight historical fiction noir almost entirely set in a small Mexican town. For a book with a fantasy element, see her previous book, 'The Bewitching'.
The con man calls himself Ulises, and he learned the trade from his father who died just a couple years prior. It turns out Ulises is not nearly as good. But he's handsome and glib, and is trying to move beyond penny-ante cons. This is the one he hopes sets him up for life.
The spinster, Perla, is a part of the moneyed class in this small town, and has a live-in niece who is the bastard child of Perla's dead sister. The niece is expected to live with Perla until she dies, and Perla treats the niece, Inés, with disdain. Inés chafes at her treatment but is dirt poor and has no other place to go. Then Ulises arrives at Perla's invitation after corresponding with him through personal ads in the magazines.
The stage is set with the important characters for an intriguing novel. Perla is imperious but harbors secrets and vices, Ulises is a little out of his depth but charming, and Inés is wondering if this is her chance to break free. It all comes together into an unexpected noir-ish ending. Yes, people die, but probably not who the reader would expect.
I didn't like this book as much as I did 'Silver Nitrate', partly because I found the Mexican movie business of the mid-20th century more interesting than life in a small town in Veracruz. Still, there are plenty of secrets, sultry looks and some surprisingly graphic sex moments, while everyone tries to figure out how to carve a life for themselves out of this town. One of the sub-themes is the rigid class structure of the time and how people were locked into their roles, both socially and economically.
Sometimes Moreno-Garcia writes fantasy novels, but this is not one. This is a straight historical fiction noir almost entirely set in a small Mexican town. For a book with a fantasy element, see her previous book, 'The Bewitching'.
September 21, 2026
★★★★★
NON-SPOILER REVIEW
This is exactly the kind of book I can sink my teeth into.
The Intrigue starts moving early and just keeps building and building. Every time I thought I understood where Silvia Moreno-Garcia was taking the story, she added another complication. By the last third, it felt like a car with the accelerator pressed to the floor, heading straight toward a cliff. The only question was who was going to be inside when it went over.
At the center are Perla, her niece Inés, and Ulises, the handsome younger man who arrives in the small Mexican town of Puerco Ahogado after corresponding with Perla through a lonely-hearts magazine. Everybody has an agenda, everybody has secrets, and nobody seems quite as simple as they first appear.
One of my favorite things was the setting. This is an old Mexican town where reputation and social position matter enormously. One mistake can set the whole town talking, judging, and eventually creating its own version of the truth. After reading Moreno-Garcia’s author’s note about combining the Mexican costumbrista tradition with pulp and noir, I could see exactly what she was doing. The customs aren’t just background—they help drive the story.
The characters are what really made it work for me. They’re flawed, sometimes funny, frequently dishonest, and capable of some terrible decisions. And instead of slowing down near the end, Moreno-Garcia keeps pressing that accelerator until everything finally goes BOOM.
SPOILERS BELOW
SPOILER REVIEW
What I loved most was watching Inés and Ulises become possibly the world’s worst amateur murderers. Their first attempt kills the wrong person. Their problems multiply. Then they actually murder Cándido, try to send his car over a cliff—and even the damn car doesn’t cooperate.
Meanwhile, the biggest surprise for me was Perla. The more we learned about her past, the more I wondered whether Inés and Ulises were actually the most dangerous people in that house. Her killing of Encarnación, hiding the letters from Inés’s father, and desperate need to keep people from leaving completely changed how I saw her.
I also loved the romance between Inés and Ulises. Ulises actually escapes—and then turns around and comes back for her, having no idea he’s about to walk into a nightmare. And the epilogue makes it even better. Inés doesn’t become his dependent sidekick. She becomes his partner. Frankly, Ulises got lucky finding her. I think she’s going to make him a much more productive thief.
The final confrontation brought everything together beautifully, especially Perla falling down the same staircase where Encarnación died. Then Inés and Ulises escape together and, three years later, they’re still together and running scams.
The car kept gaining speed right through the final chapters.
And when it finally went over the cliff, Inés and Ulises somehow landed on their feet.
NON-SPOILER REVIEW
This is exactly the kind of book I can sink my teeth into.
The Intrigue starts moving early and just keeps building and building. Every time I thought I understood where Silvia Moreno-Garcia was taking the story, she added another complication. By the last third, it felt like a car with the accelerator pressed to the floor, heading straight toward a cliff. The only question was who was going to be inside when it went over.
At the center are Perla, her niece Inés, and Ulises, the handsome younger man who arrives in the small Mexican town of Puerco Ahogado after corresponding with Perla through a lonely-hearts magazine. Everybody has an agenda, everybody has secrets, and nobody seems quite as simple as they first appear.
One of my favorite things was the setting. This is an old Mexican town where reputation and social position matter enormously. One mistake can set the whole town talking, judging, and eventually creating its own version of the truth. After reading Moreno-Garcia’s author’s note about combining the Mexican costumbrista tradition with pulp and noir, I could see exactly what she was doing. The customs aren’t just background—they help drive the story.
The characters are what really made it work for me. They’re flawed, sometimes funny, frequently dishonest, and capable of some terrible decisions. And instead of slowing down near the end, Moreno-Garcia keeps pressing that accelerator until everything finally goes BOOM.
SPOILERS BELOW
SPOILER REVIEW
What I loved most was watching Inés and Ulises become possibly the world’s worst amateur murderers. Their first attempt kills the wrong person. Their problems multiply. Then they actually murder Cándido, try to send his car over a cliff—and even the damn car doesn’t cooperate.
Meanwhile, the biggest surprise for me was Perla. The more we learned about her past, the more I wondered whether Inés and Ulises were actually the most dangerous people in that house. Her killing of Encarnación, hiding the letters from Inés’s father, and desperate need to keep people from leaving completely changed how I saw her.
I also loved the romance between Inés and Ulises. Ulises actually escapes—and then turns around and comes back for her, having no idea he’s about to walk into a nightmare. And the epilogue makes it even better. Inés doesn’t become his dependent sidekick. She becomes his partner. Frankly, Ulises got lucky finding her. I think she’s going to make him a much more productive thief.
The final confrontation brought everything together beautifully, especially Perla falling down the same staircase where Encarnación died. Then Inés and Ulises escape together and, three years later, they’re still together and running scams.
The car kept gaining speed right through the final chapters.
And when it finally went over the cliff, Inés and Ulises somehow landed on their feet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2026
The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a fantastic noir novel and I loved it. Ulises is a conman a Casanova. Making his money off women. His partner in crime was his dad, but he died a couple years ago, and Ulises is down to his last pesos. He does still have women that send him money to help him out because they believe he is their prince charming who will be coming to save them. Ulises feels he is finally on to a big enough score when he finds Perla. Unfortunately, Perla's niece figures out Ulises game and she demands a cut. She will help him, but wants half the take. What is Ines' game? She provides good and unexpected help to Ulises and he begins to have complicated feelings about the situation he finds himself in. Our characters are well drawn and this story moves at a good pace. I highly recommend this read. Thank you so much Net Galley for this e-arc. I loved it. 4.5 stars.
September 18, 2026
sorry to that lady but I truly was rooting for these two to kill her and take all her money
September 23, 2026
silvia does it againnnn i cannot imagine fall time without her
November 30, 2025
(Disclaimer: I received the ARC from the publisher, but this has in no way influenced my review. My thoughts are entirely unbiased and honest.)
Absolutely floored with how this author consistently makes you feel immersed with the setting and genre she chooses her story to have.
Not really a spoiler but I was fully convinced that Puerco Ahogado was a real place until the Notes chapter revealed otherwise.
I'm rating this 4.25 because I found the character-building and its story progression better compared to the previous releases. Last book of hers I really enjoyed was The Beautiful Ones.
This book is kind of its edgier cousin with all the killing, kissing (and more), and just the overall darker themes rooted in class struggles and patriarchy.
Perla aka the Bigger Baddie is a very well-written villain. She sucks so bad hahaha
(I've been reading Silvia Moreno-Garcias' works before Mexican Gothic.)
I daresay Inés and Ulises may be the most romantic pairing this author ever wrote and kind of the healthiest dkdkfk
(Her other main characters tend to have.... questionable dynamics.)
To be honest, the best thing about this book really is the doggie named, Diógenes huhu and if you know you know
Absolutely floored with how this author consistently makes you feel immersed with the setting and genre she chooses her story to have.
Not really a spoiler but I was fully convinced that Puerco Ahogado was a real place until the Notes chapter revealed otherwise.
I'm rating this 4.25 because I found the character-building and its story progression better compared to the previous releases. Last book of hers I really enjoyed was The Beautiful Ones.
This book is kind of its edgier cousin with all the killing, kissing (and more), and just the overall darker themes rooted in class struggles and patriarchy.
Perla aka the Bigger Baddie is a very well-written villain. She sucks so bad hahaha
(I've been reading Silvia Moreno-Garcias' works before Mexican Gothic.)
I daresay Inés and Ulises may be the most romantic pairing this author ever wrote and kind of the healthiest dkdkfk
(Her other main characters tend to have.... questionable dynamics.)
To be honest, the best thing about this book really is the doggie named, Diógenes huhu and if you know you know
August 18, 2026
Set in 1940s Mexico, The Intrigue centers on a con man named Ulises, who specializes in lonely hearts scams, wooing and cheating middle-aged women. When Ulises travels to the small town of Puerco Ahogado to wrest some funds from a boarding-house proprietress named Perla, his history of fraud is quickly uncovered by Perla's niece Inés. But rather than expose Ulises, Inés blackmails him into partnering up with her, in hopes of escaping her overbearing aunt and the stifling culture of Puerco Ahogado.
In her author's note, Moreno-Garcia describes the noir genre as wicked people doing wicked things. I guess that applies well enough to The Intrigue, but unfortunately, the story didn't do a lot for me. Compared to many of Moreno-Garcia's other novels, noir and otherwise, this felt flat to me. I think I had a hard time connecting with and caring about any of these characters. I did enjoy the WWII historical setting. I had never thought much before about what that time period looked like in Mexico, so I enjoyed filling in a little of that gap in historical knowledge.
In her author's note, Moreno-Garcia describes the noir genre as wicked people doing wicked things. I guess that applies well enough to The Intrigue, but unfortunately, the story didn't do a lot for me. Compared to many of Moreno-Garcia's other novels, noir and otherwise, this felt flat to me. I think I had a hard time connecting with and caring about any of these characters. I did enjoy the WWII historical setting. I had never thought much before about what that time period looked like in Mexico, so I enjoyed filling in a little of that gap in historical knowledge.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,008 reviews