Certain Dark Things

 

I was really excited to receive an advanced reader’s copy of Certain Dark Things  from Netgalley because I LOVED Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s book, Mexican Gothic. Certain Dark Things was originally released in 2016 and is being rereleased this year.  Certain Dark Things is a vampire novel set in Mexico City. Vampire themes in novels are sometimes met with trepidation, preferring original treatment like Grady Hendrix’s A Southern Bookclub's Guide to Slaying Vampires. However, after how brilliant Mexican Gothic was, I knew the depiction of vampires by Moreno-Garcia  would be acceptable.  Having a crime novel plot line definitely made for an enticing read!

The cultural backdrop of having vampires dwelling in Mexico City uplifts the realities of the third world, uplifting the gritty reality of the poverty and oppression that can take place in Mexico City.  In trying to expand to more diverse voices in literature, this definitely provides the point of view of the characters who are situated in Mexico.  Then this is coupled with the brilliant world building of vampire life, incorporating things like scientific terminology for vampires (homo cruentas) and policies regarding the presence of vampires. Don’t worry if you can not remember all of the terminology that is utilized in the story-- there is a glossary in the back of the book.  Moreno has a way of playing with words that really are hilarious at times and then at other times states things that are really thought provoking.  On top of that, Silvia Moreno-Garcia is also a master of suspense.  Certain Dark Things is a brilliant book that should not be missed! If it were not for the success of Mexican Gothic, this book would not be rereleased and would be a gem that lovers of crime and horror fiction would have overlooked completely.