The Stats

Title: The Hacienda

Author: Isabel Cañas

Narrated by: Lee Osorio,Victoria Villarreal

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group (3 May, 2022)

Time: 11 hours 7 mins

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, Horror, Gothic, Paranormal, Thriller

Trigger Warnings:

Read if you like: Mexican Gothic, Rebecca, The Death of Jane Lawrence, The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Feature Image from ReadingCaptures on Target

The Review

“The Hacienda” by Isabel Cañas is a debut supernatural suspense novel that takes place in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence. The story revolves around Beatriz, who accepts a proposal from the handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano, despite the rumors surrounding the sudden death of his first wife, in order to secure a wealthy life for herself and her mother. However, Beatriz soon realizes that Hacienda San Isidro, the estate where she is to live with her new husband, is not the sanctuary she had hoped for. Beatriz hears strange voices and sees visions of invisible eyes, and the weight of the malevolent presence haunting the hacienda is too much for her to bear alone. She turns to a young priest, Padre Andrés, for help, but even he might not be enough to battle the darkness that surrounds the hacienda.

This novel has been compared to “Rebecca” and “Mexican Gothic,” which was the main reason I wanted to pick this up as my next Audiobook listen. In the past two years, I have grown increasingly fond of the Mexican Gothic genre and as long as Mexican-American authors keep writing them, I am going to keep reading them. The perfect blend of gothic houses, supernatural horror, and Latin culture keeps me enticed, and “The Hacienda” did not disappoint.

The story is told in the perspectives of the protagonist, Beatriz, and Padre Andrés which was read by Victoria Villarreal and Lee Osorio respectively. The use of two voice actors adds to the storyline ensuring both point of views are well developed, and allows the readers to empathize with each characters of their struggles. The forbidden love angle between Beatriz and Padre Andrés is also heighten with the use of two narrators voices, which adds and extra layer of tension to the plot.

As for the writing, the book’s pacing is well done, and Cañas skillfully portrays the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence, with the social and political struggles of the time adding depth to the story. But what really sets “The Hacienda” apart from other Mexican Gothics is Cañas ability to paint a picture in the mind. The setting of the haunted Hacienda San Isidro is intriguing but the description of the haunted Hacienda is so well-written that it becomes a character in itself. Then the details of Beatriz’s nightmares, and the malevolent spirits that haunt the place, add to the suspenseful atmosphere that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

Overall, “The Hacienda” is a well-written and engaging novel that combines historical fiction with horror and suspense. The well-developed characters, intriguing setting, and unpredictable plot make this book a must-read for fans of Gothic horror and historical fiction. The ending is satisfying, tying up all the loose ends and delivering a great conclusion.

Overall, I give “The Hacienda” 5 out of 5 stars!!!!