From the author of the bestselling Mexican Gothic comes a deliciously dark tale of envy and entitlement set amidst the ruthless glamour of Golden Age Hollywood, as two ambitious actresses clash over who should play Salome in a big budget movie.
Golden Age Hollywood - a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue. Every actress wants to play Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary temptress.
So when the film's mercurial director casts Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingenue, in the lead role, she quickly becomes the talk of the town. Vera also becomes an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves.
As Vera navigates the glitz and the gilded glamour of her new city, Nancy follows silently behind, trying to take everything she believes Vera has been unfairly handed.
But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself. Consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Salome is a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart.
And tragedy is waiting in the wings . . . for all three women.
Publisher: Quercus Publishing
ISBN: 9781529431001
Number of pages: 336
Weight: 540 g
Dimensions: 242 x 162 x 34 mm
When I want to read a book I know will be good, I go to Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Her genres are ever-changing, and her ability to take on a wild story each time is incredible. You never know what she's going to do, but you know it will be a page-turner - Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six
The author has proved with previous books like Mexican Gothic (2020) and Velvet Was the Night (2021) that she's a master storyteller who can move among genres with ease, so it's no surprise that this foray into historical fiction is intelligent, exciting, and written absolutely beautifully. A rousing success: Moreno-Garcia proves, once again, that she is a master of her craft - Kirkus (starred review)
Using a kaleidoscope of perspectives, Moreno-Garcia skillfully depicts the rise of a starlet in 1950s Hollywood, capturing not only the glamour of poolside parties but also the sordid underbelly of the industry. That alone would be a great read, but she also weaves in the original story of Salome, adding rich layers to a story that bubbles with anticipation and will leave you spellbound. - Fiona Davis, author of The Spectacular
I've been a huge Silvia Moreno-Garcia fan since her sensational Mexican Gothic, but this epic of 1950s Hollywood really hits my sweet spot! A pensive Mexican ingenue becomes the talk of Tinseltown when she lands the part of Salome in a big-budget sword-and-sandal biblical epic; meanwhile a jealous starlet schemes to steal her place in the spotlight. Against their splashy soundstage drama, the real Salome (or is she?) tells her own story of love, revenge, and betrayal. The Seventh Veil of Salome is absolutely not to be missed! - Kate Quinn, author of The Diamond Eye
I've long been a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing. To me, she's one of the most versatile, quirky, and interesting writers around. In The Seventh Veil of Salome, she reveals-veil by veil-layers of emotion, character, the Bible, and Hollywood. What a fun and compelling dance - Lisa See, bestselling author of Lady Tan's Circle of Women
This is a darkly thrilling gem of a novel, a page-turner that winds ever more tightly around its twin heroines as they navigate Biblical court intrigues and 1950s studio scandals. Like the best Hollywood epics, The Seventh Veil of Salome catches you in its spell and won't let go until the credits roll! - Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni and The Hidden Palace
The tale is like the dance - hints, evasion, deception and revelation - and with a shocking outcome . . . a compelling, thought-provoking take - Stephen Cox, author of Our Child of the Stars
It's simply a book you can't tear yourself away from. We are treated to many points of view, balanced with the inner monologues of the main players . . . What Moreno-Garcia has come up with is a dazzling work of art - The Lady
[Moreno-Garcia's] writing possesses liveliness and conviction - The Sunday Times
Truly remarkable, grippingly told, thoroughly recommended - Historical Novel Society
A gripping, glitzy tale - The Sunday Post
After reading and loving four of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books so far, I've decided that I will read anything she writes - Cosmopolitan
[Silvia Moreno-Garcia] has proven that she's a master storyteller who can move among genres with ease, so it's no surprise that this foray into historical fiction is intelligent, exciting, and written absolutely beautifully. A rousing success: Moreno-Garcia proves, once again, that she is a master of her craft. - Kirkus
