The Hacienda

By: Isabel Cañas

Narrated by: Victoria Villarreal, Lee Osorio

Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca in this debut supernatural suspense novel, set in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence, about a remote house, a sinister haunting, and the woman pulled into their clutches...

During the overthrow of the Mexican government, Beatriz’s father was executed and her home destroyed. When handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano proposes, Beatriz ignores the rumors surrounding his first wife’s sudden demise, choosing instead to seize the security that his estate in the countryside provides. She will have her own home again, no matter the cost.

But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined.

When Rodolfo returns to work in the capital, visions and voices invade Beatriz’s sleep. The weight of invisible eyes follows her every move. Rodolfo’s sister, Juana, scoffs at Beatriz’s fears—but why does she refuse to enter the house at night? Why does the cook burn copal incense at the edge of the kitchen and mark the doorway with strange symbols? What really happened to the first Doña Solórzano?

Beatriz only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will save her.

Desperate for help, she clings to the young priest, Padre Andrés, as an ally. No ordinary priest, Andrés will have to rely on his skills as a witch to fight off the malevolent presence haunting the hacienda and protect the woman for whom he feels a powerful, forbidden attraction. But even he might not be enough to battle the darkness.

Far from a refuge, San Isidro may be Beatriz’s doom.

©2022 Isabel Cañas (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A thing of uncanny, chilling beauty. Hauntings, exorcisms, incantations, forbidden love — The Hacienda transports one to a world where love triumphs over demons.”
—The New York Times

“[A] gothic tale of doomed love and vengeful spirits."
—The Washington Post

"Cañas clearly knows the genre, alternately deploying and subverting haunted house tropes. The result is a brilliant contribution to the new wave of postcolonial Gothics. Readers won’t want to miss this."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

so scary

I love it. it was a scary story with a beautiful characters and beautiful plot.

Not my kind of genre

Too much gore for me. The supernatural forces got into my skin. The narration was good

Wonderful

Worth the read. I enjoyed myself. Only thing that was tripping me up was when the main character hit her heel and went sprawling backward.. and that just doesn’t make sense with me.

Thrilling!

Loved how every chapter keeps you thinking and wanting to hear more. Loved the narrators.

Loved it

The narrators were great and the story line kept me on edge wondering what would happen. Couldn’t put it down.

It’s an experience!

Isabel Cañas took my heart on a journey I only THOUGHT I was prepared for. I certainly was not. But by the end, I wasn’t ready for it to be over!

Really great

This is a really great book. Surprisingly creepy. Didn’t find a dull moment. And here is my fifteenth word

An excellent gothic

The performances were excellent! The writing was excellent. I was very close to loving it, but I greatly enjoyed it. I actually liked it better than Mexican Gothic, and that I enjoy too.

Enjoyed this book outside of my usual genre

I found the book interesting throughout and it kept my attention. the narrators were great. I don't usually read books involving the supernatural but I did enjoy this one.

A Haunting within a Historical setting draped elements of mystery, murder and romantic longing.

Isabel Canas debut as a novelist gives us a story that is well crafted with characters forged from historical events and a plot that is deeply rooted in Mexican folklore. This book is a thrilling ride for all audiences and an absolute gem for those with Mexican heritage. thank you Isabel Canas my wife and I couldn’t put it down!