Description

‘Like its namesake, Silver Nitrate catches fire and doesn’t stop burning until the end’ The Washington Post

‘Perfection. No one punctures the skin of reality to reveal the lurking, sinister magic beneath better than Silvia Moreno-Garcia’ Kiersten White, author of Hide

‘Wows you with its eerie atmosphere and deft blend of historical fiction, horror and black magic’ The New York Times Book Review

A breathtaking blend of Mexican horror movies and dark occultism from the bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.

Montserrat has always been overlooked. She’s a talented sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys’ club running the film industry in ’90s Mexico City.

Then her best friend Tristan introduces her to his new neighbour – cult horror director Abel Urueta, who promises that he can change all of their lives, if only they’ll help him finish what he claims is a cursed film by a Nazi occultist.

Disbelieving, but with nothing to lose, Montserrat and Tristan agree to help. However, as they work together to unravel the mystery of the film and its obscure creator, the pair might find out that sorcerers and magic are not only the stuff of movies . . .

Readers LOVE Silver Nitrate!
‘Deliciously creepy . . . a well-crafted slow burn horror novel that hooked me from the start’

‘Smart, scary and complex . . . I loved this beautiful book’

‘Atmospheric, seductive, just wondrously creepy in the best way’

‘Creepy, chilling and action packed! One could not ask for anything better than this!’

‘Absolutely wonderful! The author is such a great storyteller’

Love Silver Nitrate? Discover Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s sumptuous historical epic, The Seventh Veil of Salome, available to pre-order now!

Publisher Review

Stylish and edgy * NEW YORK TIMES on MEXICAN GOTHIC * A gothic chiller, set in 1950s Mexico, that will clamp you in its icy embrace and linger like a nightmare * DAILY MAIL on MEXICAN GOTHIC * Moreno-Garcia is a magician able to switch genres with ease . . . a superb noir thriller * THE OBSERVER on VELVET WAS THE NIGHT * Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing is unforgettable * CHRISTINA HENRY, author of ALICE, on CERTAIN DARK THINGS * Elegant, rich in description and filled with characters that come vividly to life * MUSE’S BOOK JOURNAL on THE BEAUTIFUL ONES * Simultaneously heartbreaking and heart-mending, a wondrous and magical tale * KEVIN HEARNE, New York Times-bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles, on GODS OF JADE & SHADOW * A coming-of-age fairy tale of haunting shadows commingled with vibrant life * THE I on GODS OF JADE & SHADOW * A beautiful work that will draw you in and keep you transfixed and reading far too late * GENEVIEVE COGMAN, bestselling author of the Invisible Library series, on GODS OF JADE & SHADOW * Saturated with references and genuine love for genre cinema, with supernatural and cinematic magic seen as often interchangeable * British Science Fiction Association * In between references every horror film fan will appreciate, Moreno-Garcia blends occultism with romance with rich characters and a pitch-perfect emotionally fraught atmosphere * Observer * Whenever I want to read a book I know will be good, I go to Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Her genres are ever changing, her ability to take on a wild story each time is incredible. You never know what she’s going to do, but you know it will be a page-turner * Taylor Jenkins Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones and the Six * Like its namesake, Silver Nitrate catches fire and doesn’t stop burning until the end * The Washington Post * An engaging, inventive story of moviemaking and the occult * Kirkus Reviews * Silvia Moreno-Garcia once again writes herself to the summit of a new genre . . . a haunting story with evocative atmosphere and Moreno-Garcia’s usual attention to detail and strong characters * Grimdark Magazine * A popcorn thrill ride into the underbelly of 1990s Mexican horror movies and occultism. Moreno-Garcia crafts a world so rich with details and history that you won’t be able to look away * Dana Schwartz, author of Anatomy: A Love Story * Perfection. No one punctures the skin of reality to reveal the lurking, sinister magic beneath better than Silvia Moreno-Garcia * Kiersten White, author of Hide * True to her method, [Moreno-Garcia] succeeds here by knowing when to follow the rules of genre storytelling and when to turn them upside down * Los Angeles Times * Wows you with its eerie atmosphere and deft blend of historical fiction, horror and black magic * The New York Times Book Review * Moreno-Garcia makes darkness shine * NPR * Another instant classic from one of our best genre authors * Paste * Silvia Moreno-Garcia proves, once again, that she is one of the most talented writers publishing today * Ms. * Silver Nitrate is a world of its own * Shondaland * [A] gripping and atmospheric thriller that seamlessly blends history and magic * Arlington Magazine * Hip as hell, Silver Nitrate delivers a cinematic and exhilarating punch. Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again with this creepy and unforgettable occult thriller, teeming with the decadence of old horror movies * Kali Fajardo-Anstine, bestselling author of Woman of Light and Sabrina & Corina * Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a treasure and Silver Nitrate is a gem: a chilling roller coaster of a tale that captures perfectly why we love horror movies, scary books, and things that go bump in the night * Chris Bohjalian, author of The Lioness * You don’t just read this book, you live in it – and it will charm you, intrigue you, and scare the daylights out of you * Tim Powers, author of The Anubis Gates * A love letter to Mexico City’s film industry and an excellent entry into the popular horror subgenre of occult films * Library Journal * This is a knockout * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a diverse and skilled writer . . . Moreno-Garcia’s strengths here are creating a menacing atmosphere and weaving real-life films and movie myths with possibly magical and devilish goings-on. The pacing of the narrative is expertly judged and the revelations perfectly placed. This is a writer with a natural feel for horror tropes and a desire to subvert them when needed. This is also a book that digs deep to create a believable framework for all the supernatural happenings. Exemplary stuff * Big Issue * Weaves together elements of horror, suspense, and historical fiction with a deft hand, resulting in a narrative that’s as compulsively readable as it is deeply thought-provoking. Each twist and turn is delivered precisely, building up to a climax that will leave you breathless . . . Moreno-Garcia has expertly woven a darkly enchanting tapestry that blurs the lines between reality and the occult, past and present, and fear and fascination * By the Cover * An embarrassment of riches * Toronto Star * Summons the fear of what’s hiding at the edge of your vision, just out of sight in the dark . . . her sentences deliver tidy packages of imagery like motes of light in the darkness, their beauty so great that sometimes you forget – just for a moment -about the things that go bump in the night . . . Moreno-Garcia’s prose is enchanting, full of perfect phrases that dot every page * BookPage (starred review) *