A Gothic Tale of Secrets and Desire
Julian Rodriguez makes a striking entrance into the literary world with his debut novel, The Girl From Colombia. Set in the late 19th century, this short Gothic-Victorian-Romance pulls readers into a darkly atmospheric story of arranged marriage, haunting secrets, and forbidden attraction. The novel offers a vivid glimpse into a time when appearances mattered more than truths, yet love still found its way through shadows.
The Story Unfolds in New Jersey, 1890
The year is 1890, and young Joseph Johnson arrives in New Jersey from London, summoned by his wealthy industrialist father, Samuel. Samuel’s empire has grown along the American coast, and Joseph is expected to play his part in the carefully planned future his father designed. But the property Joseph is meant to inherit isn’t the only surprise awaiting him.
While exploring the dunes, Joseph encounters Isabel, an eighteen-year-old girl living in a two-room cabin. She’s Samuel’s adopted daughter, rescued years earlier from drowning off the Colombian coast. For Joseph, the revelation is shocking. He hardly knows his father, let alone this mysterious sister-figure who carries with her both beauty and an air of danger.
Samuel’s plans for Joseph are clear: marry Elizabeth Edwards, the daughter of a respected local doctor, and solidify ties with the community. Elizabeth is lovely, refined, and everything a young man of Joseph’s standing should want. Yet Isabel captures his attention in ways he can’t ignore. The whispers about her frailty, the rumors of a fatal illness, and the haunting story of her attempt to poison Samuel as a child give her an edge of danger that makes her even harder to resist.
Isabel: Mystery Wrapped in Shadows
At the heart of The Girl From Colombia is Isabel, a character designed to unsettle and intrigue. She isn’t the demure orphan grateful for rescue. Instead, she greets Joseph with hostility, masking wounds carved deep into her past. Her presence in the household blurs lines between gratitude and resentment, loyalty and rebellion.
As Joseph spends more time near her, he realizes that Isabel carries secrets far larger than anyone has confessed. The story teases out these layers, asking whether Joseph can resist his growing fascination. The contrast between Elizabeth’s polished perfection and Isabel’s raw mystery makes Joseph’s choices ever more complicated. Each encounter builds suspense, feeding the question of whether love can survive within a web of lies and betrayals.
The novel thrives on tension. Rodriguez doesn’t rely solely on gothic tropes of gloomy houses and moody landscapes, though they are certainly present. He crafts suspense through his characters’ conflicting motives. Samuel, cold and domineering, plays puppet master. Joseph, torn between duty and desire, stands at a crossroads. And Isabel, unpredictable and dangerous, represents both temptation and possible ruin.
A Brilliant First Step for Julian Rodriguez
For a debut, The Girl From Colombia feels assured and confident. Julian Rodriguez, already known as a TV writer, brings a sharp sense of pacing to the narrative. Scenes move quickly, yet the atmosphere remains rich and layered. Readers never linger too long in one place, yet they carry the tension with them from chapter to chapter.
Rodriguez’s background shapes the book in fascinating ways. A Colombian-born writer living in New Jersey, he has long supported Latino artists through organizations like the Latino Playwrights Group and NALIP. His collaborations with libraries across the United States reflect his dedication to cultural storytelling. With this novel, he takes his commitment further by blending history, romance, and gothic intrigue into a single work that’s accessible and captivating.
The book doesn’t just tell a story of a young man meeting a mysterious girl. It explores deeper questions: how much control can parents exert over their children’s lives, what weight secrets carry when they’re buried too long, and how love can survive in the harshest conditions. Readers step into a world that feels both historically authentic and emotionally urgent.
Final Thoughts
The Girl From Colombia may be short, but it leaves a long impression. The combination of Victorian romance with gothic intensity creates a reading experience that feels both timeless and fresh. Joseph’s journey through love, obligation, and discovery keeps readers turning pages, while Isabel’s shadowed presence lingers in the imagination long after the final chapter.
Julian Rodriguez has introduced himself as a novelist to watch. His ability to blend atmosphere with character-driven storytelling shows the skill of someone who understands both drama and heart. For readers who enjoy gothic romance with a sharp twist of danger, The Girl From Colombia delivers exactly that.