I’ve been meaning to read Mexican Gothic for years, and… I still haven’t. But hopefully soon! As it is, at least I’ve now read this author’s newest work.

In The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, we follow three connected timelines. In the 1990s, Minerva is working on her thesis about Beatrice Tremblay, an author of Gothic literature who never gained fame despite her talent. The more she researches, though, the more she grows intrigued by a real-life mystery that Beatrice was caught up in: the disappearance of her university roommate, Virginia, which might have been the result of foul play, or even something supernatural. We also are privy to the 1920s journal entries that Beatrice wrote during the months leading up to, and just after, Virginia’s disappearance. Then, in the 1900s, Minerva’s grandmother Alba grapples with the possibility that her family farm is being plagued by a malicious witch. Heart heavy with grief, she turns to her uncle Arturo, who is sure there’s a reasonable explanation for everything. But Alba isn’t so sure, and once her older brother vanishes, she’s determined to find the truth.

This was a pretty cool book! It’s rare to find a novel that features multiple timelines that I’m equally invested in; there was never a point where I found one story line tedious or annoying. I was always pleased to read each scene, even if where we’d left a different one was suspenseful. I think that speaks to Moreno-Garcia’s writing prowess that she crafted three such compelling tales with solid protagonists.

It’s honestly quite difficult to say if I had a favorite leading lady, because they’re all cool and interesting for different reasons. Minerva is easy for me to relate to, since her world is closest to the one I’m familiar with, having grown up in the 90s and having attended university for English lit. Additionally, her fascination with Beatrice and investigation into the truth is very intriguing. I liked her interactions with fellow student Noah and his grandmother, who knew Beatrice in school. The themes of classism and race relations are well-written, as is the looming sense of danger as strange things start happening to Minerva.

Then there’s Alba’s story, which is a brilliant historical tale of rural Mexico. Watching the struggles Alba goes through, from grieving her late father to worrying about her missing brother, makes it easy to empathize with her. On the other hand, her interactions with her uncle are absolutely harrowing. I picked up on his creepiness early on, so the unease you feel while reading from her trusting, naive perspective makes for a tense, gripping reading experience. I quite enjoyed watching her grow and change, and come into her own, over the course of her chapters. (However, there is a significant scene that involves sexual assault, and it could be too intense for some readers.)

And finally, Beatrice’s side of the story. I loved getting the mystery of Virginia from her eyes, rather than what Minerva was learning. It truly exemplifies how history can be portrayed and perpetuated in such biased, incomplete ways. Also, Beatrice as a character is quite cool. She’s an unconventional woman for her time, writing horror stories and being an unapologetic lesbian in a time when neither were things “good girls” did. And her affection for Virginia and desperation to learn the truth really add to the intrigue and stakes of the situation.

(If I’m being honest, though, my favorite character isn’t any one of the aforementioned people; it’s actually Hideo, Minerva’s best friend. He’s so delightful, a loyal friend and kind soul. I’d do anything for him.)

As the story progresses, you start to put together the truth of what happened in the past, and what is happening in the present (ie, Minerva’s time), and how they connect. It’s a well-plotted and well-structured story, with plenty of creepy moments. Shadowy figures in the woods, odd sounds, occurrences that can’t possibly be real but seem so tangible—all the good stuff. I like that Moreno-Garcia combines witch history and folklore from Mexico and New England, which I’ve never seen a novelist do before. And as everything comes to a head, it’s hard to put the book down. Luckily, the author understands how to build tension and when to break it, so in the climactic chapter, she wisely breaks her previously established pattern and starts flipping back and forth mid-chapter between the relevant POVs, so that the storylines are resolved simultaneously. It was both clever and exciting!

In the end, The Bewitching is an excellent book. The characters are solid, the settings rich with history and atmosphere, and the creepy mood is wonderful. The mysteries are compelling, and the lurking dangers are deliciously ominous. I also liked the narration by Gisela Chipe in the audiobook. I’m very pleased to have finally read a book by this author, and look forward to more from her!

The Bewitching is available now!