Silver Nitrate cover art

Silver Nitrate

The Dark, Gripping 1990s Horror-Thriller by the Bestselling Author of MEXICAN GOTHIC

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Silver Nitrate

By: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Narrated by: Gisela Chípe
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About this listen

 '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 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 . . .

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' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐©2023 Silvia Moreno-Garcia Dark Fantasy Fantasy Ghosts Horror Paranormal Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Scary Magic Latin American Fiction Haunted Mexico

Critic reviews

Stylish and edgy
A gothic chiller, set in 1950s Mexico, that will clamp you in its icy embrace and linger like a nightmare
Moreno-Garcia is a magician able to switch genres with ease . . . a superb noir thriller
Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing is unforgettable
Elegant, rich in description and filled with characters that come vividly to life
Simultaneously heartbreaking and heart-mending, a wondrous and magical tale
A coming-of-age fairy tale of haunting shadows commingled with vibrant life
A beautiful work that will draw you in and keep you transfixed and reading far too late
Saturated with references and genuine love for genre cinema, with supernatural and cinematic magic seen as often interchangeable
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
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
Like its namesake, Silver Nitrate catches fire and doesn't stop burning until the end
An engaging, inventive story of moviemaking and the occult
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
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
Perfection. No one punctures the skin of reality to reveal the lurking, sinister magic beneath better than Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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
Wows you with its eerie atmosphere and deft blend of historical fiction, horror and black magic
Moreno-Garcia makes darkness shine
Another instant classic from one of our best genre authors
Silvia Moreno-Garcia proves, once again, that she is one of the most talented writers publishing today
Silver Nitrate is a world of its own
[A] gripping and atmospheric thriller that seamlessly blends history and magic
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
All stars
Most relevant
There’s something about the author’s way of writing that comes across as a little too wordy and vague to me, but her stories and ideas are always fascinating

Interesting concept but uneven

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3.5/5

This book started as a 5 star read but some choices, and one scene in particular really deflated the love I had for it. There was a lot to love in this book, old mexican cinema, Nazi Cults and some great character work, but the third act shifts in a way I really did not enjoy, it nearly climbs back to greatness but falters right at the end.

Flawed but worth the read

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A mysteries lost film! Nazis! Spooks! Cultists! It’s all here. Brought richly to life by the narrator. Like taking a warm bath and luxuriating in the story. Just don’t let it run cold!
5 stars. Would totally recommend!

Rich, Spooky and glorious!

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Plausibly flawed characters who confront their internal strife and adversity in equal measure, attentive to detail as ever, a vacation for the mind.

Not what I was expecting but a fun read nevertheless

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I really wanted to like this, but it fell flat. The storyline could have been so gripping, but it wasn’t. At all. Not sure why the guy had to be a Nazi, and this wasn’t explored at all. It just seemed to be to show how much of a bag guy he was. I’m sure there are other ways to do this. Disappointing overall.

Very mediocre

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