The Intrigue
From 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.
Reviews
"Writing with elegantly crafted prose to rival Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain’s discerning flair for morally complex characterization, Moreno-Garcia (The Bewitching) serves up her own seductive literary cocktail composed of equal measures of deception, danger, desire, and desperation. VERDICT From its expertly evoked settings to its flawlessly paced plot, everything about Moreno-Garcia’s latest exudes noir at its very best."
"[A] vivid noir treatment of a traditional costumbrista novel...Give to fans of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, as well as readers of more contemporary noir novels such as AravindAdiga's The White Tiger (2008) or Eileen (2015) by Ottessa Moshfegh."Booklist, Starred Review!
"The twists of lust and betrayal are enticing, but it’s Moreno-Garcia’s tart, clear-eyed social observation and unforgettable writing that make the novel sing. In noir, everyone has an angle, but they also have foolish desires and vulnerable soft spots. Moreno-Garcia gorgeously and unsparingly captures these gray areas of the soul. The Intrigue’s renderings of human desperation are top-tier, and no one is safe from the writer’s scythe...Elevating the novel further, Moreno-Garcia captures the social context and inconvenient truths of 1940s Mexico, all with the same ruthless yet artful eye that she casts on the crimes and trespasses that propel the narrative. The Intrigue more than lives up to its title."
"Moreno-Garcia has ventured into historical noir before with her excellent Velvet Was the Night (2021), and with her new novel, she shows that she’s still comfortable probing the darkness in people’s souls: Ulises is a fascinating antihero, with a charm that belies his amorality. The three principal characters, who each get alternating chapters, are drawn beautifully, and Moreno-Garcia’s slow reveal of their motivations is executed well. This is yet another rock-solid novel from a born storyteller. Clever, taut, and just flat-out fun."
"Moreno-Garcia satisfies with this devilish tale...Moreno-Garcia keeps the power dynamics unstable in this deliciously dark thriller, with most of the characters concealing momentous secrets that inform their respective motivations. The resulting fireworks are difficult to look away from."
"A love triangle with dueling plots, pitting hearts and minds against each other...Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s textured caper conjures a singular place and time, timeless themes"
"[A] pulpy noir–telenovela mashup that would make James M. Cain jealous"
“Hotter than hot… The colorful, complex characters will stick with you long after the last page.”People Magazine
"Moreno-Garcia's pacing is delicately controlled, her characters grounded in vivid detail, the story as much a matter of atmosphere as of plot. Ulises and Perla are memorable, but Inés is the real engine, transforming herself and everyone else caught up in this novel's powerful currents of passion and desperation. A model of what noir can be right now, The Intrigue is simply thrilling."The Irish Times
"The Intrigue is Silvia Moreno-Garcia in peak form, for another entry in a storied career."CrimeReads
"Attention fans of noir and Mexican costumbrista novels: you have an unmissable event coming up. If you’re looking for your next literary obsession, The Intrigue is the book for you. With a flawlessly developed plot and historical setting, this novel is a fascinating look into what happens when extreme conservatism, family crises, forbidden desires, and a looming murder all collide."
"Fans who appreciate psychological suspense and elegant prose will love this blend of romance, crime, and classic noir. Verdict: Fantastic literary noir filled with deception, desire, and unforgettable characters."
"Lush and passionate with magnetic prose, The Intrigue takes up the mantle of true noir classics like Double Indemnity or Black Wings Has My Angel, and reinvigorates the genre with a new perspective. Silvia Moreno Garcia writes with the soul of a sensualist and the eye of a practiced observer of human nature. The Intrigue will grab you by the throat and won't let go until its earth-shaking finale!"S.A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of King of Ashes
"Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a great gift for making you cheer for things you shouldn't in her books, and THE INTRIGUE is no exception. As the deception and the bodies mount, I rooted increasingly for this Bonnie & Clyde to get away clean with the loot. Do they? Read and find out; you won't be sorry!"Kate Quinn, New York Times-bestselling author of The Alice Network
"The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a smart, atmospheric slice of domestic noir that rewards readers who savor character over speed. It asks an uncomfortable question, which is whether a person raised inside a cage can climb out without becoming something monstrous, and it refuses to give a tidy answer. Come for the con. Stay for the rot beneath the good manners."
"The Intrigue is a gripping, unexpectedly playful novel about bad people doing bad things… and somehow not seeming as disagreeable as they should. I enjoyed every second of this book, and it’s going down among my favorites by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. As always, I look forward to whatever she releases next."
"Moreno-Garcia once again delivers a main cast of complex, likeably unlikeable characters and a plot that zigs just when readers think it is going to zag. And being a costumbrista plenty of atmospheric detail that brings both Mexico City and the little town of Puerto Ahogado to life. The Intrigue is yet another great read from a constantly surprising and versatile author."
"'The Intrigue' sounded deliciously dark and twisted and the reality delivered on those promises...Enter the story ready to accept that for many, social morals are a matter of what a character can afford. This is not a romance. Several MCs are not nice people and that maybe a lot also get what they deserve. Then sit down and enjoy the ride."
Awards & Accolades
LibraryReads: Hall of Fame, July 2026
People Magazine: "Book of the Week"