Bochica, the spine-chilling debut gothic horror novel from Colombian author and versatile speculative fiction writer Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro, is out now through Atria Books/Primero Sueño Press. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy the eerie ambiance of Mexican Gothic and the psychological tension of The Shining.
Flórez-Cerchiaro, whose work blends history, the supernatural, and a dedication to elevating marginalized voices, weaves a dark and captivating narrative in Bochica. Drawing on indigenous Colombian mythology and the splendor of 1920s high society, she crafts a haunting tale filled with family secrets, inherited trauma, and restless spirits.
Set in 1923 in Soacha, Colombia, the novel follows Antonia, a young woman from an aristocratic family who once lived in La Casona – an extravagant mansion overlooking the famed Salto del Tequendama waterfall. However, the beauty of this luxurious home soon turns to nightmare when her mother tragically falls to her death from the cliffs. In his grief, Antonia’s father attempts to burn the mansion to the ground – with her trapped inside.
Fast forward three years, and the mansion has been converted into a high-end hotel, yet its dark past refuses to stay buried. Antonia, still tormented by her mother’s mysterious death, is drawn back to La Casona by strange dreams and cryptic entries in her mother’s journal. She returns to confront the house that nearly destroyed her and to uncover the truth behind her mother’s untimely demise – was it suicide, or something far more sinister?
As she uncovers long-hidden secrets and pieces together fragmented memories, Antonia begins to unravel a sinister legacy that threatens to claim her as well. In Bochica, it’s not just the places that are haunted – people, too, carry their ghosts.
In an exclusive interview, Flórez-Cerchiaro opens up about the real-world inspiration behind the eerie setting of the novel, the folklore that shaped its chilling atmosphere, and the meaning of confronting the ghosts of history – both personal and collective.
