cover image Bochica

Bochica

Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro. Primero Sueño, $27.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-66806-257-9

Flórez-Cerchiaro debuts with an atmospheric if uneven take on the haunted house trope, set in 1920s Colombia. Antonia and her family flee her opulent childhood home, La Casona, following the death of her mother, Estela, who fell from the top of the nearby El Salto de Tequendama waterfall and drowned. Three years later, Antonia, now a schoolteacher in Bogotá, learns that La Casona is being converted into a luxury hotel, and she and her father, Ricardo, are invited to the grand opening. Then a man is murdered on opening night and Ricardo is fingered as the killer. With the help of handsome journalist Alejandro, Antonia sets out to clear her father’s name. The investigation forces her to confront her childhood nightmares and the mystery surrounding her mother’s death, leading her to uncover a secret family history connected to a cult worshipping an Indigenous god of music. The culturally rich and often eerie scene setting is impressive but the plot lacks a consistent pace and suffers from choppy writing. The scares are minimal, while underdeveloped supporting characters and a half-baked romance subplot will leave readers wishing for more depth. Gothic horror fans seeking something on the lighter side may want to check this out, but others can give it a pass. Agent: Janine Kamouh, WME. (May)