Mexican Gothic

I love a good Girl vs. House story: [b:Rebecca 17899948 Rebecca Daphne du Maurier https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386605169l/17899948.SX50.jpg 46663], [b:The Turn of the Screw 12948 The Turn of the Screw Henry James https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567172392l/12948.SY75.jpg 990886], [b:The Haunting of Hill House 89717 The Haunting of Hill House Shirley Jackson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327871336l/89717.SY75.jpg 3627], [b:The Silent Companions 35458733 The Silent Companions Laura Purcell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500725504l/35458733.SY75.jpg 55746774]. Earlier this year, I picked up [b:Nine Coaches Waiting 27695 Nine Coaches Waiting Mary Stewart https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550784765l/27695.SY75.jpg 1122506] hoping it would scratch that itch, only to be disappointed overall. BUT! This book takes a lot of the good elements of that story and uses them to much better advantage.This isn't a book with monsters jumping out of shadows or ghostly forces making themselves obvious. This genre is about the slow burn, and the heroine's uncertainty. She arrives at the Gothic pile, at the mercy of the inhabitants through poverty, lack of connections, desperation, or the extreme physical isolation of the manse. The staff are secretive, evasive, hostile. Her hosts seem to have something to hide - or is it all in her head? The place seems haunted - or is it her imagination, lack of sleep, stress?This sort of story works for me whether the haunting is metaphorical or clearly literal, and also if it's left ambiguous. It's about atmosphere and dread. And Moreno-Garcia works that angle beautifully. In this case, Noemí isn't poor or without familial support, which is refreshing. But the story believably cuts her off from her resources. She's still active and strong, and I was rooting for her the whole way. Is she battling supernatural evil? A family's dark secrets? Or is her mind betraying her as she deals with displacement and worry? I'll leave you to take the journey with her - that's what makes this so fun.