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The Intrigue
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26From the
New York Times
bestselling author of
Mexican Gothic
and
Velvet Was the Night
comes a sizzling noir about desire, danger, and greed, in which seduction is the ultimate con.
Handsome con artist Ulises has long charmed lonely women via letters to steal their money, but money is hard to come by in 1940s Mexico. Ulises knows his looks won't last forever, and he's desperate to get his hands on a real fortune.
He thinks he's found it when he captivates his newest correspondent, Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse in picturesque Veracruz. But when he meets her, he finds something he didn't expect. The woman has a niece, Inés, who is as observant as she is desperate to escape her aunt’s household.
When Inés discovers Ulises' true intentions, she wants in on the scheme. They’ll convince her aunt that Ulises is a great catch, Perla will marry him, and her money will vanish. Easy, fast and clean.
But Perla is not the desperate, silly spinster Ulises imagines. She harbors secrets. And although Ulises does not believe in true romance, Inés is more alluring than he bargained on. Suddenly, a simple plan may become perilously complicated.
Venture into the streets of a small town where the patina of convention and good manners conceals a cauldron of avarice and lust.
Handsome con artist Ulises has long charmed lonely women via letters to steal their money, but money is hard to come by in 1940s Mexico. Ulises knows his looks won't last forever, and he's desperate to get his hands on a real fortune.
He thinks he's found it when he captivates his newest correspondent, Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse in picturesque Veracruz. But when he meets her, he finds something he didn't expect. The woman has a niece, Inés, who is as observant as she is desperate to escape her aunt’s household.
When Inés discovers Ulises' true intentions, she wants in on the scheme. They’ll convince her aunt that Ulises is a great catch, Perla will marry him, and her money will vanish. Easy, fast and clean.
But Perla is not the desperate, silly spinster Ulises imagines. She harbors secrets. And although Ulises does not believe in true romance, Inés is more alluring than he bargained on. Suddenly, a simple plan may become perilously complicated.
Venture into the streets of a small town where the patina of convention and good manners conceals a cauldron of avarice and lust.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 14, 2026
3 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
155 books27.2k followersSilvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu's Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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November 21, 2025UPDATE NOV 2025: Can be requested via Netgalley by reviewers Go here.
What genre is this?
Noir/historical/drama
Are there any fantastical elements?
Nope.
What is this about?
It's 1943 in Mexico and a charming con artist who runs romance scams has found his latest target. Things might not work out as planned.
When it this out?
July 2026.
Will this be available in the UK? In Spanish (or other languages)?
It will be out in the UK in July 2026 through Arcadia/Quercus. No translation rights for any languages have been sold.
Will this be available from Goldsboro as a limited edition with the sprayed edges? BOTM? Other book boxes?
Nothing so far, but it would be nice!
What genre is this?
Noir/historical/drama
Are there any fantastical elements?
Nope.
What is this about?
It's 1943 in Mexico and a charming con artist who runs romance scams has found his latest target. Things might not work out as planned.
When it this out?
July 2026.
Will this be available in the UK? In Spanish (or other languages)?
It will be out in the UK in July 2026 through Arcadia/Quercus. No translation rights for any languages have been sold.
Will this be available from Goldsboro as a limited edition with the sprayed edges? BOTM? Other book boxes?
Nothing so far, but it would be nice!
Want to read
October 16, 2025I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T WAIT!! FINALLY ANOTHER NOIR YAYYY
December 2, 2025
This was such a good book with themes of desire, greed, and cons! Ulises is an interesting character and a sneaky con artist but young Ines throws him off his game when he targets Perla, her aunt. As the plot evolved I found myself paranoid of who could be trusted and what everyone’s intentions really were. There were definitely twists and it made this book very hard to put down! I read it in a matter of hours because I was so hooked on the plot. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 1, 2025
(Disclaimer: I received the ARC from the publisher, but this has in no way influenced my review. My thoughts are entirely unbiased and honest.)
Absolutely floored with how this author consistently makes you feel immersed with the setting and genre she chooses her story to have.
Not really a spoiler but I was fully convinced that Puerco Ahogado was a real place until the Notes chapter revealed otherwise.
I'm rating this 4.25 because I found the character-building and its story progression better compared to the previous releases. Last book of hers I really enjoyed was The Beautiful Ones.
This book is kind of its edgier cousin with all the killing, kissing (and more), and just the overall darker themes rooted in class struggles and patriarchy.
Perla aka the Bigger Baddie is a very well-written villain. She sucks so bad hahaha
(I've been reading Silvia Moreno-Garcias' works before Mexican Gothic.)
I daresay Inés and Ulises may be the most romantic pairing this author ever wrote and kind of the healthiest dkdkfk
(Her other main characters tend to have.... questionable dynamics.)
To be honest, the best thing about this book really is the doggie named, Diógenes huhu and if you know you know
Absolutely floored with how this author consistently makes you feel immersed with the setting and genre she chooses her story to have.
Not really a spoiler but I was fully convinced that Puerco Ahogado was a real place until the Notes chapter revealed otherwise.
I'm rating this 4.25 because I found the character-building and its story progression better compared to the previous releases. Last book of hers I really enjoyed was The Beautiful Ones.
This book is kind of its edgier cousin with all the killing, kissing (and more), and just the overall darker themes rooted in class struggles and patriarchy.
Perla aka the Bigger Baddie is a very well-written villain. She sucks so bad hahaha
(I've been reading Silvia Moreno-Garcias' works before Mexican Gothic.)
I daresay Inés and Ulises may be the most romantic pairing this author ever wrote and kind of the healthiest dkdkfk
(Her other main characters tend to have.... questionable dynamics.)
To be honest, the best thing about this book really is the doggie named, Diógenes huhu and if you know you know
December 2, 2025
what can i say except she always knocks it out of the park
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews