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Every film studio in 1950s Hollywood was making a sword-and-sandals movie based on biblical stories, preferably with a seducing woman and a powerful man falling under the woman’s spell. The moviegoers were also tired of seeing Gary Cooper and wanted Richard Burton’s animal magnetism. Hence, in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s new novel “The Seventh Veil of Salome,” a seasoned movie director decides to make a movie based on the story of Salome, a young woman who danced so beautifully that she could ask Herod for whatever prize she wanted – and she asked for John the Baptiste’s head on a silver platter. The director casts an unknown Mexican ingénue Vera in the leading role.

Vera, a shy girl with a preference for classical music, seems an unlikely fit for the Hollywood spotlight. Yet, her grace, fresh and unexpected in the cutthroat world of Tinseltown, sets her apart. The allure of the Hollywood spotlight, with its false smiles and fake friends, is a tempting yet treacherous path for Vera. Nancy, an actress who had her sights set on the role of Salome, finds herself resenting the charming newcomer. Will Vera succumb to this allure, or will she stay true to her honest ways?  And how far will Nancy go to reclaim her place?

Separated by centuries, there is another young girl, Salome. Like Vera, she is on her path to discovering who she is and what she wants. And just like Vera, she must distance herself from her family and admit her feelings. This fascinating woman became the subject of paintings and an opera. The contrast between the two eras, the 1950s Hollywood and the biblical times of Salome, is stark and intriguing. We know what will happen after her dance, yet we can’t take our eyes off her dancing.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia wrote an engaging story of three women. Men are in the background; they mostly set the stage for women. The background of old Hollywood was fascinating, but what truly stands out is the author’s unique perspective on it, obviously based on her thorough research and her love of cinema. The earlier book of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, “Silver Nitrate,” also talked about the old movies world.  I read both of these books, and they are very different – “Silver Nitrate” is more of a horror story, while “The Seventh Veil of Salome” feels like a psychological mystery with a touch of a coming-of-age novel.

 I tremendously enjoyed the author’s latest venture into the alluring world of old movies. I was entertained and learned about Hollywood of the past.  Interestingly, my reading of “The Seventh Veil of Salome” coincided with the Emmys Awards, where the subject of diversity was, once again, raised. Vera, being a Mexican woman, faces prejudice, which didn’t entirely disappear in 2024. This novel takes a reader into the past but makes one think about our times, which is the greatest gift any book can offer.

THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Random House Publishing, 2024