Untamed Shore | 
pickThis dark noirish thriller set in Baja California in the 80s follows 18-year-old Viridiana, who has a gift for languages and a longing to leave her small, conservative town behind. When she is hired by a wealthy American tourist for the summer, she finds herself entwined in a plot worthy of the old movies she loves. Tense, atmospheric and unpredictable, this was a unique and violent coming of age story, with sharks of all kinds.
Hey everyone. 1st, massive apologies to everyone who entered, I‘ve been in a deep hole of health issues & unable to do much but lie here & wish for oblivion. But this isn‘t a whining post. 2nd, my readathon is extended to the 31st to give you all more opportunities to enter and for me to get through the backlog so far. 3rd, because of the delay, there‘ll be 3 prizes, a $50 voucher, a $25 voucher & a signed edition of the tagged book. Good luck!
The last of my recent #BookMail came today(with more on the way! I know, I have NO self control🫣)The latest Moreno-Garcia, it was released a few weeks ago, coming all the way from the UK. And signed too. Set in Baja, California in 1979, it‘s the story of Viridiana, a young girl dreaming of a better life who becomes entangled with some wealthy American tourists who offer her an escape. Until one dies & the lies and danger start to escalate.
pick“Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we learn to deceive.” The perfect quote for this book about a young Mexican girl who finds herself becoming involved with a trio of American tourists and the subsequent death of one and revelations of a myriad of secrets and lies. #AuthorAMonth
so-soI‘m rating this so-so with the caveat that it might be my mood.
It reminded me a little of a Patricia Highsmith book, but I just never got into the story.
#AuthorAMonth
pickI‘m glad I read Untamed Shore, but it‘s a bit like watching a train wreck and not being able to do anything to help. Beautifully paced, like one of the swimming sharks that appear in this story. We learn of Viridiana‘s involvement with two terrible grifters and her subsequent fall from her tenuous grasp on the bit of grace offered by her small town in Baja. I rooted for her, until I couldn‘t, but I won‘t soon forget her and I wish Viridiana well.
pickI don‘t know how I feel about the main character of this book. The book is by the same author that wrote Mexican Gothic, though this book wasn‘t as good, but still pretty good. In her hometown of Baja California, eighteen year old Viridiana starts working for 3 Americans, but soon learns they aren‘t who they say they are. I want to like Viridiana…but she seems too selfish but then, I know she doesn‘t have the best life. It makes me wonder ….
1. Then She Was Gone & Love, Lucy
2. The kind of books I read don‘t really GET a Happily Ever After… but I like when things are resolved.
3. Tagged
#weekendreads
pickA historical thriller set in Baja California in the 70s. When Viridiana agrees to do translation work for a group of tourists and one of them ends up dead she becomes caught up in a web of deception beyond her wildest imagining. An entertaining read with lots of twists and turns.
Pup's at the vet getting a pedicure so I'm doing some reading and writing at my favorite local coffee shop this morning.
so-soViridiana lives in Baja California (which is in Mexico, I share this because I did not understand it) in 1979 but she's bored and is resisting all attempts by her mother to settle down with a local. Three Americans come to town and hire her as an assistant because she speaks multiple languages. Life gets more exciting but also more dangerous. ↘️
I‘ve recently become enamoured with Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s works and I‘m so sad I didn‘t discover her sooner because it looks like most of her backlist is out of print?? I‘m just a few chapters into this one but I already know I‘m going to love it. If anyone knows where I can find physical copies of her older books please let me know!!
pickThis is as untamed and as shore-like as I get right now, and so this book was perfect 🤣
I love Moreno-Garcia's ability to construct settings, and the Baja California desert is so perfectly still in this quick little thriller. I could feel the sun baking down on me, and it was wonderful (see photo, again, for further information). The author captures parts of Mexico that are rarely seen, and makes them so real. I love it.
pickI really, really, liked this. It‘s the 1970s and Viridiana is a girl living in a small town in Baja. She takes a job helping out 3 Americans who come to vacation for the summer. One ends up dead. There‘s writing in here that volleys back and forth between dialogue and metaphor that had me smiling so big as I read about the many layers of Viridiana‘s coming of age in this noir. Pick!!!
I‘m stalling out on TSIASOS for want of an editor and a storyboard, and I love Moreno-Garcia‘s POV on Mexico, so let‘s see if I can revitalize my reading with this quick little thriller!
Cozy sweater, autumnal drink. Bring on fall!
pickA little bit of a slow start, but overall a fun Mexican Noir. Love this author.
pickIs coming of age noir a thing? This book is it, if it is. I devoured it like a tasty snack.
pickSilvia Moreno-Garcia's Untamed Shore is both a compelling coming of age narrative and a suspenseful noir thriller. It's 1979, Baja California. Viridiana is fighting the expectations of her mother, who wants her to marry to get her out of the house and to forge a business partnership with her ex-boyfriend's parents. Viridiana, however, has no plans to marry her ex. ⬇️
I tried to order this from my local #indie bookstore, but it‘s apparently caught in back order hell. Meanwhile, I also ordered (one of) this month‘s selections for Nonfiction Nerds And it arrived today. #setinmexico #bilioMAYnia
pickA pitch perfect noir thriller that follows a well-known formula but does it so thoroughly and so well, it doesn‘t detract from the reading experience. Moreno-Garcia‘s writing is wonderful, evocative & cinematic in scope—at times reading the book felt like I had stepped into a classic black and white movie. Loved the time and place, hated the main character—really, really hated the main character but I kept reading, surely the sign of a good book.
It‘s a day off for me which is perfect because while it is sunny outside, it‘s also only 11 degrees, feels like -6 (Fahrenheit)! Lucky me, I‘m at home with a cup of Nepal Black tea and a new book. I love Moreno-Garcia‘s writing and I‘m hearing great things about this book!
pickA slow burn of a thriller that does clever things with the “femme fatale” trope. I loved the metaphors and description she employed. And yes, I took advantage of the opportunity to put a shark on my Staff Faves card. 🦈🦈🦈
pickA bit different from other novels by Moreno-Garcia, her successful foray into the suspense/thriller genre. Taking place in a small shore town in Mexico during the 1970s, the scene is sets really well right from the start. Things quicky spiral out of control for main character, Vividiana. Enjoyable, engrossing, & nerve-racking!
In stores February 11
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through #NetGalley and #AgoraBooks.
pickThanks, #NetGalley!! Being a shark lover, this cover drew me right in to this #OwnVoices coming-of-age tale. It‘s marketed as a thriller and while I must admit that all of my guesses about the plot turned out to be right, the stellar 1979 Baja California setting makes this feel fresh and really wonderful. I wish there had been more live sharks, but it‘s a satisfying read. Viridiana makes for a great heroine who comes into her own in this one!
