The Daughter of Doctor Moreau

Carlota Moreau, daughter of the eccentric yet brilliant Dr. Moreau, has lived a sheltered life in Yucatán tucked away in a secluded estate. They live among the hybrids; Dr. Moreau’a experiments of man and beast and Carlota’s dear friends. Montgomery Laughton, mayordomo and assistant to the daughter completes this motley crew. A tragic past haunts him, one that he attempts to drown out in a bottle of aguardiente. Their life may be a bit chaotic but it’s theirs and Carlota wouldn’t trade it for the world. Unfortunately, their bubble is pierced by Eduardo Lizalde son of Moreau’s benefactor, who takes a liking to the doctor’s beautiful daughter.

As the real world inches closer to their Utopia, secrets the doctors has been hiding are exposed, revealing a terrible reality.

Moreno-Garcia has delivered another enthralling Gothic Mexican historical fiction. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is loosely inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau and the harrowing true events surrounding the Yucatán peninsula in the late nineteenth century. The five decade-long caste war  serves as the story’s backdrop.

Moreno-Garcia writing is eerie and dripping in curiosities. This history behind novel is well-researched and melds beautifully with Moreno-Garcia’s imaginative story making for a memorable story I would like to revisit one day.