Silver Nitrate

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 Tristán 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 Tristán 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 . . .

Review

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

About the Author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the multi-award-winning author of Mexican Gothic (a New York Times bestseller), Gods of Jade and Shadow (one of Time magazine's top 100 fantasy novels of all time), The Beautiful Ones, Certain Dark Things, the noir thrillers Untamed Shore and Velvet was the Night, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Silver Nitrate and the forthcoming The Seventh Veil of Salome. She has won the Locus and British Fantasy awards for her work as a novelist, and the World Fantasy Award as an editor. Born and brought up in Mexico, she now lives in Vancouver, Canada.