The Seventh Veil of Salome
On sale
6th August 2024
Price: £20
‘Absolutely not to be missed’ – Kate Quinn on this sumptuous historical epic from the author of Mexican Gothic.
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.
‘Will leave you spellbound’ – Fiona Davis
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.
‘Will leave you spellbound’ – Fiona Davis
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Reviews
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.
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!
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
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!
The tale is like the dance - hints, evasion, deception and revelation - and with a shocking outcome . . . a compelling, thought-provoking take
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 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
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
[Moreno-Garcia's] writing possesses liveliness and conviction
Truly remarkable, grippingly told, thoroughly recommended
A gripping, glitzy tale
After reading and loving four of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books so far, I've decided that I will read anything she writes