THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU, the latest masterpiece by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is out next week in the UK! Due to be published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

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 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 with plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: The fruits of the Doctor’s labour, destined to blindly obey their creator while they remain in the shadows, are a motley group of part-human, part-animal monstrosities.

All of them are 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.

The book will also be available in two special, sprayed-edge signed hardcover editions from Waterstones, which is available to pre-order now.

Unsurprisingly, THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU has already been wracking up plenty of glowing reviews…

‘ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022’ – She Reads

‘The imagination of Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a thing of wonder, restless and romantic, fearless in the face of genre, embracing the polarities of storytelling’ – New York Times

‘[T]his wholly new novel paints a vivid picture that is as alluring as it is unsettling, filled with action, romance, and monsters. However, it is Moreno-Garcia’s ability to mesh the unease of the scientifically created beasts with the real-life terrors of a life on the margins and the horror of colonialism that elevates this story. Readers will fall into this tale immediately, enchanted.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘With its evocative prose, post-colonial historical setting that drives the plot, and the introduction of vibrant, fascinating characters, both familiar and new, THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU very much stands on its own.’ — Locus

‘[T]he setup is crucial to the book’s action-packed second half, and the payoff is worth it. Moreno-Garcia’s previous work has spanned genres — horror in Mexican Gothic (2020), noir in Velvet Was the Night (2021) — and in this volume, she deftly combines fantasy, adventure, and even romance; the result is hard to classify but definitely a lot of fun. This isn’t the first book to riff on H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), but it’s definitely one of the better ones. A fun literary remix.’ — Kirkus

‘This imaginative retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau takes place in 19th-century Mexico, revolving around the sole daughter of a reclusive researcher (who may or may not be a madman) and the unexpected guest whose curiosity compels Carlota to question things herself. It’s got action, romance, and even monsters — what more could ya want??’ — Cosmopolitan

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia stuns us once again with her atmospheric world-building and beautiful prose in this historical reimagining of H. G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau. Fans of Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic will rejoice to have another fantastic read to add to their collection.’ — Barnes & Noble

‘If there are two things I love in this world, it’s contemporary reimaginings of Victorian era horror and sci-fi, and joyful genre mashups in literature. Thank the Lord, then, for Silvia Moreno-Garcia… A thrilling fable of imperialism and exploitation… This sublime hybrid of historical, speculative, and gothic fiction might be Moreno-Garcia’s best yet.’ — LitHub

‘I can’t get enough of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s playful takes on classic genres… steeped in sultry atmospherics…’ — CrimeReads

Zeno represents Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.