
NPR's Book of the Day In 'The Hacienda,' the protagonist is trapped in a haunted house – and her marriage
Oct 30, 2025
Isabel Cañas, author of the debut novel The Hacienda, delves into her haunting tale set in post-independence Mexico. She discusses the protagonist Beatriz, who encounters gaslighting amidst supernatural events and a patriarchal household. Themes of colonialism, syncretism, and personal agency arise as Beatriz transforms from a passive bride into a fierce fighter for her own destiny. Isabel also shares her inspirations, including childhood fears and cultural practices, making a case for the rich complexity of her characters and their magic.
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Origin Moment In Mexico City
- Isabel Cañas first sensed a haunted-house voice while on her honeymoon in Mexico City and typed the opening chapter into her phone.
- The moment came after many rejections and during a thunderstorm, which sparked the novel's beginning.
Childhood Basement Fear
- Isabel recalls being a five-year-old sent to the basement timeout and feeling a watchful presence that fueled her fear of the dark.
- That childhood experience fed her long-standing desire to write a haunted-house story.
History Shapes The Haunting
- Cañas chose the post-independence era to show how colonialism, colorism, and caste systems shaped social tensions that persist.
- She also highlights syncretism between Catholicism and indigenous practices as central to her characters and themes.





