The novel “The Death of Artemio Cruz” by Carlos Fuentes takes readers through the memories and reflections of a dying man, Artemio Cruz, as he looks back on his life.
A wealthy and powerful figure in post-revolutionary Mexico, Cruz recalls moments of ambition, betrayal, and personal loss that shaped his rise. The story offers a look at the corrupting influence of power in the backdrop of Mexico’s historical and social changes.
The novel “Pedro Páramo” by Juan Rulfo tells the story of a man named Juan Preciado who travels to the ghostly town of Comala to find his father, Pedro Páramo. The town is filled with echoes of the past, where the lines between the living and the dead blur.
Through fragmented narratives, readers uncover dark secrets about Pedro Páramo, a man both feared and haunted by his own actions. The atmosphere is haunting and filled with silence, heat, and voices that seem to come from nowhere.
“The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” by B. Traven follows three men searching for gold in the Mexican mountains. Their shared goal stirs greed and mistrust, leading to conflicts that test their morals and loyalty.
The story paints a rugged picture of the harsh landscape and the lure of wealth, showing how ambition can unravel even the strongest bonds.
The book “All the Pretty Horses” by Cormac McCarthy follows John Grady Cole, a teenager who leaves Texas for Mexico after his grandfather’s death and the loss of the family ranch.
In Mexico, he befriends a boy named Rawlins, works on a hacienda, and falls in love with the ranch owner’s daughter. The story captures the harsh realities of a life shaped by loyalty, love, and survival in a brutal and beautiful landscape.
Fernanda Melchor’s “Hurricane Season” tells the story of a small Mexican village reeling after the murder of a local witch. The book unveils the lives of the villagers, exposing their secrets, fears, and the violence that seems to haunt the community.
It shifts perspectives between characters, revealing their tangled motivations and the harsh realities they endure. With vivid and brutal storytelling, it captures the raw energy of human desperation.
The book “Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel tells the story of Tita, a young woman born into a family where tradition forces her to care for her mother instead of marrying the man she loves.
Forbidden love, family recipes, and emotional conflict drive the plot as Tita’s emotions influence the food she prepares, impacting those who eat it in unexpected ways. This novel weaves love, heartbreak, and magical realism into a rich tale set in early 20th-century Mexico.
“The Power and the Glory” by Graham Greene takes place in Mexico during a time when the Catholic Church is outlawed. The story follows a flawed and broken priest, often called the “whisky priest,” as he tries to avoid capture by local authorities.
Haunted by guilt and weakness, he still clings to his faith and duty, even when facing desperate circumstances. The novel weaves tension and questions of morality into the landscape of religious persecution.
Malcolm Lowry’s “Under the Volcano” takes place on the Day of the Dead in a Mexican town. It follows Geoffrey Firmin, a former British consul battling alcoholism, as his ex-wife Yvonne returns in an attempt to save their broken marriage.
The story moves through a single day, showing Geoffrey’s self-destruction and the tension between his love for Yvonne and his inner demons. The vivid backdrop of post-revolutionary Mexico adds weight to the emotional turmoil of the characters.
“Battles in the Desert” by José Emilio Pacheco is a short novel about a boy named Carlos growing up in Mexico City during the 1940s.
The story focuses on his life in a transforming city, his friendships, and his sudden love for a much older woman, who happens to be the mother of one of his friends. It captures the tension between tradition and modernity, painting a vivid picture of post-war Mexico.
“The Uncomfortable Dead” by Paco Ignacio Taibo II and Subcomandante Marcos is part mystery, part political commentary.
The story alternates between Héctor Belascoarán Shayne, a private detective in Mexico City, and a man named Elias, who confronts corruption and injustice tied to a ghostly figure called Morales.
The shifting narratives explore themes of resistance and power against a backdrop of Mexico’s reality, where the lines between the living and the dead blur in an unusual way.
“The Underdogs” by Mariano Azuela follows a group of rebels during the Mexican Revolution. It centers on Demetrio Macías, a farmer turned revolutionary leader. The story captures the chaos of war, showing how ideals and loyalty can shift in the face of violence and survival.
The characters are driven by their circumstances, allowing readers to see the personal toll of the conflict.
Roberto Bolaño’s “2666” is a sprawling novel that connects various storylines across countries, with much of the action centering on the fictional Mexican city of Santa Teresa. A series of unsolved murders haunts the city, drawing in reporters, academics, and detectives.
The book moves through themes of violence, obsession, and the search for meaning, offering a vivid, unsettling portrait of Mexico and the world around it.
The book “Aztec” by Gary Jennings tells the story of Mixtli, an Aztec man, as he recounts his life to Spanish priests after the fall of the Aztec Empire.
Through his eyes, the novel explores the culture, beliefs, and daily life of the Aztecs while also revealing the brutality of the Spanish conquest.
Mixtli’s tale is filled with vivid details about his adventures, relationships, and experiences within a world both rich and unforgiving.
“Gods of Jade and Shadow” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican-inspired fantasy rooted in Mayan mythology. The story follows Casiopea, a young woman stuck in a dull, oppressive life in 1920s Yucatán.
Her world shifts when she accidentally frees the Mayan god of death, Hun-Kamé, from a chest in her grandfather’s room. Bound to him by fate, she must help him regain his throne in the underworld.
The book combines myths, adventure, and a journey through Mexico during an era of change.
James Michener wrote “Mexico,” which follows journalist Norman Clay as he travels to Mexico to cover a bullfighting festival. While there, he uncovers stories about his ancestry and the historical tensions between indigenous and Spanish cultures.
The novel explores centuries of Mexican history through the lens of family secrets, cultural clashes, and personal discoveries.
“Paradais” by Fernanda Melchor tells the story of Polo, a young man working as a gardener in a luxury housing complex, and Franco, a wealthy teenager living there. The boys form a dangerous bond fueled by their frustrations and fantasies.
Their interactions reveal the violence, class tensions, and darker impulses simmering beneath the surface of their lives.
The book “Caramelo” by Sandra Cisneros follows the life of Lala Reyes, a young girl from a Mexican-American family, as she pieces together the stories of her relatives and discovers her identity.
The novel spans generations, touching on family connections, migration, and cultural heritage. Through Lala’s perspective, readers get a glimpse into her vibrant family dynamics and her journey toward understanding the past.
The beautifully woven tales highlight moments of tenderness, struggle, and humor in both Mexico and the United States.
“The Savage Detectives” by Roberto Bolaño follows a group of poets in Mexico City. The story centers on their search for a missing poet, with parts of the book told through the voices of those they meet along the way.
The narrative shifts between youthful rebellion, their wanderings across Mexico, and the personal stories of people whose lives briefly intersect with theirs. It’s a story about art, ambition, and the chaos of life.
Nellie Campobello’s “Cartucho” is a collection of short, vivid stories that capture the chaos and violence of the Mexican Revolution. Through the eyes of a young girl named Nellie, the book paints scenes of soldiers, battles, and everyday life disrupted by war.
Campobello draws on her own experiences growing up during the revolution, offering a unique perspective filled with both harsh realities and childlike observations.
The novel “The Brave Bulls” by Thomas C. Lea, III tells the story of a celebrated matador named Luis Bello as he navigates the dangers of the bullring and the struggles of his personal life.
Set in Mexico, the book paints a vivid picture of bullfighting culture and the weight of expectations on those who perform in it. Luis faces both physical challenges and emotional conflicts, giving readers a glimpse into the high-stakes world of a bullfighter.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s “The Daughter of Doctor Moreau” reimagines H.G. Wells’ classic in 19th-century Mexico. The story follows Carlota, the sheltered daughter of a scientist whose experiments blur the line between humans and animals.
When Montgomery, a drunken overseer, arrives at their estate, tensions rise as Carlota begins to question her father’s work and the secrets he keeps. The lush, isolated setting adds intrigue as alliances are tested, and danger grows within the doctor’s creations.
Patricia Highsmith wrote “A Game for the Living,” a psychological drama set in Mexico City. The story follows Theo, a wealthy atheist, and Ramón, a deeply religious furniture maker, who become unlikely friends.
Their shared connection to a woman named Lelia takes a dark turn when she is murdered. The two men begin investigating her death together but grow suspicious of each other, testing their fragile bond against a backdrop of cultural and moral tensions.
“The Lacuna” by Barbara Kingsolver follows Harrison Shepherd, a man caught between two countries and cultures in the mid-20th century. Growing up in Mexico, he becomes involved in the lives of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as exiled revolutionary Leon Trotsky.
Later, moving to the United States, he faces political turmoil during the Red Scare. The story touches on art, history, and identity, painting a vivid picture of his journey through turbulent times.
“The Mangy Parrot” by José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi follows the life of Periquillo, a sharp yet unlucky young man who tries and fails at various professions in colonial Mexico.
Through his adventures, missteps, and attempts to outwit society, the story paints a vivid picture of life during that time. The humorous narrative and sharp critique of class and corruption make it an engaging read.
“The Power of the Dog” by Don Winslow follows DEA agent Art Keller as he takes on a brutal Mexican drug cartel. The story spans decades, showing how the drug trade shapes lives on both sides of the border.
It’s a stark tale of corruption, family loyalty, and violence, with characters caught in a dangerous and unforgiving world.
The book “The White Rose” by B. Traven tells the story of greed and exploitation as an American oil company seeks to take over a piece of land in Mexico. The land belongs to an indigenous community, and the tension between the villagers and the corporation drives the narrative.
The story shines a light on the collision between modern industrial interests and traditional ways of life.
“The Wonderful Country” by Thomas C. Lea, III tells the story of Martin Brady, an American who crosses the border into Mexico to escape his past and work as a hired gun.
Living in a small Mexican town, he finds himself caught between two worlds, struggling with questions of identity and loyalty.
The book dives into the landscapes and culture of Mexico, painting a vivid picture of the setting while following Brady’s journey of self-discovery and belonging.
Valeria Luiselli wrote “Faces in the Crowd,” a novel that shifts between the life of a young mother in Mexico City and her memories as a translator in New York.
The story blends the woman’s present-day struggles with her reflections on literature, identity, and a mysterious writer she once chased through her work. The book moves between past and present, creating a narrative that feels fragmented yet deeply personal.
“Almanac of the Dead” by Leslie Marmon Silko weaves together interconnected stories that span centuries.
Set partly in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, it follows characters like Seese, a drug addict searching for her missing child, and Lecha, a psychic transcribing an ancient almanac.
The book delves into themes of history, violence, and resistance, highlighting struggles over land and identity rooted in Indigenous traditions.
John Irving’s “Avenue of Mysteries” follows Juan Diego, a middle-aged writer who reflects on his childhood in Mexico while traveling in the Philippines.
As a boy, he grew up in a dump, collecting items with his sister, Lupe, who had a mysterious ability to read minds and see glimpses of the future. The novel alternates between his memories and his present, where dreams and past events seem to shape his journey.
The story weaves Juan Diego’s deeply personal connections with family, faith, and destiny in a unique way.
Jovita González and Eve Raleigh wrote “Caballero: A Historical Novel,” which takes place in South Texas during the mid-19th century, a time when Mexican traditions and American expansion clashed.
The story follows the wealthy Don Santiago and his family as they navigate cultural shifts, conflicts, and personal struggles. At its heart is the forbidden romance between their son and an American woman, reflecting the challenges of love across cultural boundaries.
The novel “Cities of the Plain” by Cormac McCarthy is set along the U.S.-Mexico border in the 1950s. It follows two ranch hands, John Grady Cole and Billy Parham, as they work on a struggling cattle ranch.
John Grady falls for a young Mexican woman, Magdalena, who is trapped in a brothel. His pursuit of love puts him at odds with dangerous forces and leads to conflicts that drive the story.
The book is filled with stark landscapes and moments that reveal the harshness of life in that world.
The book “The Mystery of the Aztec Warrior” by Franklin W. Dixon follows the Hardy Boys as they travel to Mexico to solve a case involving a missing treasure and an ancient mystery. They uncover clues tied to Aztec artifacts and face danger while navigating unfamiliar territory.
The story includes secret codes, hidden passageways, and a thrilling quest connected to Aztec history.
Robert James Waller wrote “Puerto Vallarta Squeeze,” a novel about a writer named Danny who is recruited by a mysterious ex-soldier, Clayton Price, for a dangerous journey through Mexico.
Clayton is on the run after assassinating a high-level government official, and Danny agrees to help him evade capture. Along the way, they are joined by Danny’s lover, a woman named Luz.
Their travels take them through rural Mexico, uncovering secrets about Clayton’s past while testing their loyalties and personal limits.