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Quick answer: If you loved Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, try Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling and The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell.
In Mexican Gothic, a glamorous young socialite named Noemí Taboada travels to High Place, a decaying English-style mansion in the Mexican countryside, after getting a strange letter from her newly married cousin. She finds a sinister family, a house that seems to breathe and dreams filled with eerie visions. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s novel updates the gothic tradition with a Mexican setting and sharp commentary on colonialism and class. The picks below share its crumbling mansions, creeping dread, strong heroines and secrets that rot beneath beautiful surfaces. Most are adult novels with violence and unsettling imagery.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Mexican Gothic
Readers love Mexican Gothic because it’s creepy and stylish at the same time. Moreno-Garcia gives Noemí a sharp wit and a glamorous wardrobe, and then puts her in a house full of mold, whispers and a patriarch with terrible ideas. The horror builds slowly, with sensory details such as mushrooms, mist and strange wallpaper, and the final chapters are bold and bizarre. It also works as a critique of colonial thinking and eugenics, which gives the book more meaning than a simple haunted house. It’s one of the standout horror novels of its decade.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Mexican Gothic: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gods of Jade and Shadow | Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Fantasy | More Silvia Moreno-Garcia |
| The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson | Gothic horror | The classic haunted house |
| Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier | Gothic classic | Mansions and secrets |
| The Little Stranger | Sarah Waters | Gothic fiction | A quiet, literary ghost story |
| The Death of Jane Lawrence | Caitlin Starling | Gothic horror | Dark romance and a haunted house |
| The Silent Companions | Laura Purcell | Gothic fiction | Creepy objects |
| Wakenhyrst | Michelle Paver | Gothic fiction | Marshes, mysteries and obsession |
| Jane Eyre | Charlotte Brontë | Classic | The original gothic romance |
| Wuthering Heights | Emily Brontë | Classic | Dark, wild love |
| Northanger Abbey | Jane Austen | Classic satire | A funny take on gothic tropes |
| Frankenstein | Mary Shelley | Classic | The original gothic horror |
| The Turn of the Screw | Henry James | Classic horror | Ambiguous ghosts |
| Silver Nitrate | Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Horror | Another Moreno-Garcia chiller |
| The Daughter of Doctor Moreau | Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Historical fiction | Colonial-era gothic |
| Sorcery of Thorns | Margaret Rogerson | Young adult fantasy | A gentler, bookish option |
1. Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
In 1920s Mexico, a young woman accidentally frees a Mayan death god and is drawn into a quest across the country. It’s fantasy rather than horror, but it has the same lush style and strong sense of place.
2. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Four people stay in a notorious mansion to study its supernatural reputation, and the shy Eleanor feels it calling to her. It’s subtle, psychological and a landmark of haunted-house fiction.
3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A young bride arrives at Manderley, her new husband’s grand estate, and finds herself living in the shadow of his first wife. It’s tense, romantic and one of the most famous gothic novels ever written.
4. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
A country doctor visits a decaying English manor in 1947 and becomes drawn into the family’s troubles as strange events escalate. It’s slow, elegant and chilling.
5. The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
A practical woman marries a mysterious doctor in a marriage of convenience and finds that his home holds terrible secrets. It’s gory and atmospheric, with a strong, unusual heroine.
6. The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
A young widow moves into her husband’s crumbling estate and finds a wooden painted figure that seems to move. It’s a classic Victorian-style ghost story with a modern twist.
7. Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver
In the early 1900s, a girl grows up in an English fen house with a tyrannical father who is obsessed with a medieval painting. It’s tense, brooding and beautifully written.
8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
An orphaned governess takes a job at Thornfield Hall and falls for its brooding owner, but a hidden secret threatens everything. It’s a romantic classic with a strong, independent heroine.
9. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
A foundling named Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw share a passion that destroys two families on the Yorkshire moors. It’s stormy and unforgettable.
10. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
A young woman who reads too many gothic novels visits a mysterious abbey and imagines murders. It’s Jane Austen’s humorous send-up of the genre.
11. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
A scientist creates a living being and then abandons it. It’s a story about responsibility and loneliness, and a founding classic of science fiction and horror.
12. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
A governess at a remote estate comes to believe that two children are haunted by ghosts. It’s short and open to interpretation.
13. Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A sound editor in Mexico City and her friend, a failed actor, uncover a cursed film and a dark occult secret. It’s an atmospheric thriller with film history woven in.
14. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau set in 19th-century Yucatan, told through the eyes of the doctor’s daughter. It’s lush and sorrowful.
15. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
An apprentice librarian in a world where grimoires come alive is drawn into a plot with a sarcastic sorcerer. It’s witty, romantic and less dark.
How to Pick Your Next Gothic Read After Mexican Gothic
- Want more Moreno-Garcia? Gods of Jade and Shadow and Silver Nitrate.
- Want classic gothic? Rebecca, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
- Want haunted houses? The Haunting of Hill House and The Little Stranger.
- Want something modern and gory? The Death of Jane Lawrence.
- Want a lighter touch? Northanger Abbey and Sorcery of Thorns.
- Check content notes. Several picks include graphic scenes.
What Makes a Book Gothic?
Gothic fiction began in the 18th century with books like The Castle of Otranto and became famous through Frankenstein, Dracula and Jane Eyre. It usually features a remote or decaying house, a mysterious past, a vulnerable heroine, a brooding man and a sense of dread. Modern gothic authors, including Moreno-Garcia and Sarah Waters, keep these ingredients but add new perspectives, such as race, class and colonial history. If you enjoy this genre, reading a few classics alongside the modern novels makes it easy to spot the influences.
Content Notes for Gothic Horror
Mexican Gothic includes body horror, sexual violence, coercion, racism and graphic imagery. Some of the books on this list have similar content, such as The Death of Jane Lawrence, with its gore, and Wakenhyrst, with its disturbing depiction of a family. Classics like Rebecca and The Turn of the Screw are subtler, with less graphic content, and are good choices if you want atmosphere without gore. If you’re not sure, read reviews for content warnings, or look at what other readers say about the book’s intensity.
Gothic Heroines Then and Now
Gothic heroines tend to be young women who find themselves in a strange house with no allies and must trust their instincts. In classic novels like Jane Eyre and Rebecca, they’re often quiet and modest, relying on observation. Modern heroines such as Noemí are more confident, funnier and more willing to question authority. That change reflects what readers want today: stories where the woman is not a victim but a detective who solves the mystery. Comparing old and new gothic novels shows how the genre has adapted without losing its mood.
From Page to Screen
Mexican Gothic has been optioned for adaptation, and many readers imagine the strange mansion in vivid color. The novel’s imagery, from the green-tinged walls to the glowing fungus, translates well to film, but it’s best experienced first on the page, where the slow build of dread is easier to feel. Several books on this list have film versions that are worth comparing: Rebecca by Alfred Hitchcock, The Haunting of Hill House as a Netflix series and The Little Stranger as a 2018 film. Seeing how different directors interpret the same house is one of the pleasures of gothic fiction.
Building a Gothic Reading Month
If you’d like to read more gothic fiction, try an easy month-long plan. Week one: a classic such as Rebecca or Jane Eyre. Week two: a modern haunted-house novel like The Haunting of Hill House or The Little Stranger. Week three: a twist such as Mexican Gothic or The Silent Companions. Week four: something lighter, like Northanger Abbey. This builds mood gradually, lets you see how the genre has changed over two centuries and ends on a funny note. Add tea, a blanket and a rainy afternoon for the full experience.
Related: books like The Shining and books like The Night Circus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Mexican Gothic?
The Haunting of Hill House, Rebecca and The Little Stranger are the closest classic matches, while Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Silver Nitrate is her other horror novel.
Is Mexican Gothic scary?
It’s more creepy than gory for most of the book, with a few graphic scenes near the end.
Is Mexican Gothic a horror or a gothic novel?
Both. It follows gothic conventions and adds body horror and social critique.
What is the setting of Mexican Gothic?
It’s set in 1950s Mexico, with much of the action taking place in a remote mansion in the mountains.
Is Mexican Gothic suitable for teens?
It’s an adult novel with disturbing content, so it’s best for older teens and adults.