The Beautiful Ones

I really enjoyed Silvia Moreno-Garcia's previous two novels, but I have to admit to having my doubts about this one. On first look, it appears to be a historical romance slash costume drama inspired by nineteenth century English fiction. Exactly the sort of thing that sends me diving for my headphones and some industrial metal when my wife wants to watch the BBC adaptation on a Sunday evening, in other words. And, by and large, that's what it is. There is an element of magic involved, but it's not central, and it wouldn't have taken a fundamental rewrite to dispense with it all together. Essentially, it's a (sort of) love triangle, set against a background of strong social rules and manners. Let's be honest, I'm going to take ultraviolent psychopathic Mexican vampire drug lords over ruffs and fretting about etiquette any day, but I can still acknowledge that Ms Moreno-Garcia has turned in another good one here. There's a good sense of location, some sharp dialogue and by the end I was genuinely invested in what happened to the characters (and really hated Valerie). An away win, and one which shows that this author can handle some very different settings. I'll be looking for her next one.