Silver Nitrate

1

An engorged, yellow moon painted the sky a sickly amber hue, illuminating a solitary figure. A woman, standing between two sycamore trees.

It had rained, and the earth was slippery as, breathing with difficulty, she ventured toward the cabin. The woods felt awake and dangerous, with the sounds of crickets and rolling thunder in the distance. There was a thin humming. Was that a bird? It was too high-­pitched, that noise.

The woman pressed a hand against her lips and stared at the cabin, with its welcoming lights. But that oasis of warmth was distant. A twig snapped, and the woman looked behind her in terror. She began to run.

The noises of the night were now mixed with the patter of her feet. She flew forward, and her hands desperately pulled at the front door ­there was a thump, so loud it sounded like a cannon ­until she finally managed to burst into the cabin. She immediately shut the door, bolted it, and stepped back, waiting. Her eyes were wide.

The crash of an axe against the wood made the woman jump. Splinters flew. The woman screamed, pressing back farther into the room as a man hacked his way through the door. The scream was an annoying squeal that made the levels jump into the red. The man lingered at the threshold, clutching the axe. He began advancing; his breath was heavy, punctuated with an annoying pop. 

Demon possession again? Montserrat asked. Her eyes were on the VU meter; on her knee she balanced a notepad.

Ghosts, Paco said.

She scribbled in the notepad. I thought you were into ninjas.

We re still doing the ninjas. Just not now.

A ninja moratorium.

The woman screamed again. Montserrat pressed a button. The image froze on the screen. She spun her chair around.

The padded room smelled faintly of the pine-­scented air freshener that the other sound editors liked to spray around to cover up the fact that they were smoking inside. The whole place was a bit of a mess. The editors

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

True to her method, [Moreno-Garcia] succeeds here by knowing when to follow the rules of genre storytelling and when to turn them upside down. Los Angeles Times

Like its namesake, Silver Nitrate catches fire and doesn t stop burning until the end. The Washington Post

Wows you with its eerie atmosphere and deft blend of historical fiction, horror and black magic. The New York Times Book Review

Moreno-Garcia makes darkness shine. NPR

An engaging, inventive story of moviemaking and the occult. Kirkus Reviews Another instant classic from one of our best genre authors. Paste

[A] gripping and atmospheric thriller. Arlington Magazine

Silvia Moreno-Garcia . . . is one of the most talented writers publishing today. Ms. Silver Nitrate is a world of its own. Shondaland

Silvia Moreno-Garcia proves, once again, that she is one of the most talented writers publishing today. Ms.

[A] gripping and atmospheric thriller that seamlessly blends history and magic. Arlington Magazine

Hip as hell, Silver Nitrate delivers a cinematic and exhilarating punch. Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again with this creepy and unforgettable occult thriller, teeming with the decadence of old horror movies. Kali Fajardo-Anstine, bestselling author of Woman of Light and Sabrina & Corina

Perfection. No one punctures the skin of reality to reveal the lurking, sinister magic beneath better than Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Kiersten White, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a treasure and Silver Nitrate is a gem: a chilling roller coaster of a tale that captures perfectly why we love horror movies, scary books, and things that go bump in the night. Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of The Lioness

Silver Nitrate is a popcorn thrill ride into the underbelly of 1990s Mexican horror movies and occultism.