As someone who has been recently re-reading all of Silvia-Moreno Garcia’s books, I have been so excited for The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. While Mexican Gothic still has to be my favorite, this one is a close second! If you love an atmospheric story where there’s something afoot, then keep reading this book review!
Summary
Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.
Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.
The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.
All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.
For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: body horror, alcohol abuse, scientific experimentation
Silvia-Moreno Garcia is a master at setting. And The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is no exception. This latest release has atmosphere, hot evenings, and an undercurrent of suspense. Dual POV, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau tells a story which explores sacrifice and self-discovery. When the ones who love us, see us only as objects, resources, commodities, it becomes up to us to define our place. But that journey can be fraught and full of unexpected discoveries.
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is multi-dimensional. On one hand there are characters who are complex and flawed. Both Carlota and Montgomery have to navigate tangled emotions as well as high stakes choices. Everyone’s motivations seem to be obscured and no one is laying down all the cards. They explore the ways we hurt people, the barbed comments, and pointed remarks. At the same time, they also celebrate friendship and support.
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Another element I loved in The Daughter of Doctor Moreau are the layers of class. How there are the hybrids, working class, and more all explored in the ways they intersect. Cages all over the place and escape in sight, but so far away. At the same time, a theme I enjoyed as well was the treatment – specifically medically – of women as a metaphor for how society views them. But that goes into spoiler territory! The Daughter of Doctor Moreau manages to be character driven – examining the minor and major ways we can be controlled – while having a steady current of action. Find The Daughter of Doctor Moreau on Goodreads, Amazon (US)(UK), Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.
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