“Moreno-Garcia proves her prowess as a historical fiction powerhouse again.” - BuzzFeed The most tantalizing suspense of all comes with wondering what she’ll do next.” - Slate left me marveling at what kind of sorceress Moreno-Garcia must be as she reworks genre after genre, weaving in Mexican history and culture, satisfying familiar cravings without resorting to mere pastiche. “ is a noir with a heart of gold, and it’s a narrative in which the empathy we feel for its characters ultimately reveals an important truth: That Moreno-Garcia is not only a talented storyteller but also an incredibly versatile one.” -NPR Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes. Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora’s secrets-at gunpoint. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he watches Maite from a distance-and comes to regard her as a kindred spirit who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ’n’ roll. Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman-and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents. Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. “An adrenalized, darkly romantic journey.”- The Washington Postġ970s, Mexico City.