Detective Emilia Cruz

Acapulco's first female police detective dives into an ocean of secrets, lies, and murder when she investigates her own lieutenant's death."Consistently exciting" -- Kirkus ReviewsIn this explosive start to the award-winning crime fiction series set in Acapulco, Emilia Cruz beat the odds to be the city's first female police detective.Now she has to navigate the corruption that turned the department into a pressure cooker of danger and distrust.Drug cartel money can buy anyone, it seems. Including Emilia's own lieutenant.When he's murdered, Emilia is assigned to lead the investigation. She uncovers an ugly mess no one wants exposed.Both Acapulco's mayor and the head of the police union want Emilia to sweep evidence under the rug and close the case. Male colleagues are ready to sabotage her, resentful of a woman in the squadroom.But Emilia won't walk away because her prime suspect is another police detective.Feeling like one of Acapulco's famous cliff divers praying not to smash into the rocks below, Emilia must choose between truth and survival. Either way, she won't be ready for the impact.Neither will you."A thrilling series" -- National Public RadioAwarded the National Intelligence Medal for her counterdrug work, ex-CIA author Carmen Amato guides you through a world torn from today's headlines. Detective Emilia Cruz isn't just solving crimes, she's showing you the pervasive darkness of Mexico's narco underworld. Acapulco is ground zero. In today's war on drugs, cartels fight over smuggling routes into the United States for fentanyl and cocaine, homicide rates spiral, human trafficking is on the rise and missing persons are never found.The danger is real, the stakes couldn't be higher and every cop is a target.Yet each day, Emilia Cruz finds another reason to keep fighting for the people of Acapulco.She's a good liar, a fast thinker, and a mean kickboxer in a department that didn't want her and is still trying to break her. Even as she fights to keep what she's earned, Emilia keeps a record of women who have gone missing--casualties of Mexico's drug violence--and is always searching for Las Perdidas, the Lost Ones. Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/

A greedy arsonist. A missing girl.Acapulco's first female police detective is desperately searching for two people who don't want to be found.Detective Emilia Cruz has problems.Her new lieutenant is a drunk. Her new partner is a surly ex-boxer who refuses to work with women. Worst of all, her new romance with hotel manager Kurt Rucker is already on the rocks.When a restaurant is firebombed, Emilia and Kurt barely escape a fiery death along with Acapulco's popular mayor.As more upscale restaurants are targeted by an unknown arsonist, Emilia is assigned to investigate who is behind the attacks. At the same time, a shadowy group on social media incites rage-fueled protests that bring Acapulco to a standstill.Despite intense pressure to find the firebug, Emilia can't refuse a grandmother's plea to look for a missing girl from her own neighborhood.The girl's trail leads to Acapulco's famous lucha libre fighters. Inside the coliseum, Emilia will find a shocking link to the fires.If a female police detective's only chance to survive is to dance with the devil, will she take it?Would you?Ex-CIA author Carmen Amato infuses the Detective Emilia Cruz series with the authenticity and intrigue from counterdrug experiences during her own career. Perfect for lovers of international detective and crime fiction by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves and Peter May, as well as Don Winslow's Mexican cartel and border thrillers.2-time winner, Outstanding Series Award -- CrimeMasters of America"A thrilling series" -- National Public Radio"A story far richer than the thriller-factories of the big publishing houses. If she continues writing this series, I'll keep reading it."– LibraryThingAcapulco, the fabled resort city known for nightclubs and cliff divers, now has the highest homicide rate in Mexico. The Detective Emilia Cruz series takes on cartels, corruption and social inequality. It's not just a walk on the beach. Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/

Is Acapulco's first female police detective the next target of a ruthless cop killer? It's a serial killer thriller with a bold Mexican twist."A thrilling series." -- National Public RadioThree officers are dead. Acapulco police detective Emilia Cruz worked with all of them. The connection is impossible to ignore.When the wife of Emilia's partner is murdered in a home invasion, the conclusion is obvious. He must have been the target of the so-called El Trio killer. The wife was the unintended victim, alone in their home.Determined to help her grieving partner and lead the murder investigation, Emilia is stunned when she is instead assigned to a pet project of Acapulco's powerful mayor. The new unarmed all-female patrol unit feels more like a publicity stunt than real police work.Just as Emilia feared, the new unit is a political disaster that forces her to watch from the sidelines as the police fumble the El Trio investigation and send her partner to jail.Meanwhile, is boyfriend Kurt Rucker concealing a dark secret?When yet another cop is killed, Emilia decides to take matters into her own hands. She'll gamble everything to uncover the truth and bring down the killer before she becomes the next victim.In a city plagued by drug lords and rampant violence, Emilia's determination and courage will be tested like never before.Yours, too.Ex-CIA author Carmen Amato, who was awarded the National Intelligence Award for her counterdrug work, tackles the gripping themes of cartels, corruption, and social inequality, painting a vivid and gritty portrait of a city losing its soul and an honest cop struggling to save it.Perfect for lovers of international detective and crime fiction by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves and Peter May, as well as Department Q thrillers and Don Winslow's Mexican cartel and border thrillers.Back-to-back winner, Outstanding Series Award -- CrimeMasters of America"Danger and betrayal never more than a few pages away." -- Kirkus Reviews Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/

Acapulco's first female police detective finds herself caught in the deadly web of a voodoo-like cartel cult."A thrilling series." -- National Public Radio In Mexico's remote Coyuca Lagoon, where Hollywood blockbuster Rambo was filmed, a man is sacrificed on an altar to Santa Muerte, the forbidden saint of death.Acapulco police detective Emilia Cruz knows that Santa Muerte is worshipped by drug cartel killers. The so-called Skeleton Saint's image is used to intimidate rivals.But who was supposed to find this chilling message?The answer comes when a rival gang retaliates, leaving a trail of grisly crimes displayed on city billboards. As Emilia investigates the murders, everyone close to her has a near-death experience. Bad luck? Or has Emilia been cursed? Determined to see the murder investigation through to the end, Emilia goes undercover as a Santa Muerte follower making a pilgrimage on the eve of the Day of the Dead. As the cult of Santa Muerte draws her in, secrets unravel. Will Emilia's entire life be sacrificed to the Skeleton Saint? Back-to-back winner, Outstanding Series Award -- CrimeMasters of America This isn't just fiction. It's the reality of a nation in turmoil. Author Carmen Amato, who earned the National Intelligence Award for her counterdrug efforts, infuses the Detective Emilia Cruz series with authenticity and suspense from her own experiences during her long CIA career. Detective Emilia Cruz takes you into the chaos and beliefs of Mexico's narco underworld. The plots are ripped from not only today's headlines, but a deep understanding of what lies beneath, where every moment is a race against a dark reality and exposes a system where the innocent are vulnerable and justice is a luxury. Perfect for lovers of Shetland and Department Q thrillers as well as Don Winslow's Mexican cartel and border thrillers. Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/

Prepare for an adrenaline-fueled ride through a dark and treacherous world when Detective Emilia Cruz investigates Mexico's most notorious true crime.2017 Finalist, Best Investigator – Silver Falchion Award."Astounding . . . a haunting page-turner." – Nightstand ReviewsIn the midst of a personal crisis, Acapulco police detective Emilia Cruz finds herself in Mexico City, part of a national task force examining the disappearance of 43 college students from a city in central Mexico.A conspiracy of silence shrouds the investigation. It's soon apparent that despite its high profile, the task force is a paper exercise to cover somebody's political you-know-what.Nobody expects to find out how the 43 students disappeared. Nobody expects to make an arrest.As the task force heads to the scene of the crime, a supposedly trustworthy diplomat offers Emilia $50,000 to end the investigation. The offer raises profound questions of loyalty, conscience, and her future as an honest cop.With a choice to make, will Emilia's personal vendetta against the shadowy criminal El Acólito cloud her judgment?43 MISSING is compelling crime fiction based on the true events of September 2014, when 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers College were the victims of a mass kidnapping from Iguala, Guerrero. Carmen Amato's masterful storytelling solves the crime, which in real life remains a mystery.Back-to-back winner, Outstanding Series Award -- CrimeMasters of AmericaEx-CIA author Carmen Amato infuses the Detective Emilia Cruz series with the authenticity and intrigue from counterdrug experiences during a career that earned her the National Intelligence Award.Perfect for lovers of international detective and crime fiction by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves and Peter May, as well as Don Winslow's Mexican cartel and border thrillers. Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/

Driven to the edge by her own secrets, can the first female police detective in Acapulco give Russia a dose of Mexican justice?"A thrilling series" - National Public RadioSurvivor of a deadly cartel ambush, Detective Emilia Cruz returns to Acapulco to recover from the trauma. Before she can catch her breath, however, her penniless stepfather is kidnapped. His life is at stake as the kidnappers ask for an impossible ransom.At the same time, a Russian guest is murdered in the luxury hotel managed by her boyfriend, Kurt Rucker.As the kidnappers tighten their grip on Emilia's family, she discovers a chilling connection between the Russian murder victim and thieves stealing gas from Mexico's energy pipelines.Soon she's on a midnight stakeout. Waiting and watching for the thieves and praying they'll lead to a cold-blooded killer.One wrong move and the entire countryside could go up in flames, sparked by careless thugs and a leaky pipeline. If that happens, she'll never be able to save her stepfather from his brutal kidnappers.Does Emilia have the nerve to go through with such a risky plan?Would you?Detective Emilia Cruz doesn't just solve crimes; she confronts the chaos and corruption from the news headlines coming out of Mexico today. Get ready for crime fiction where the danger is real, the drama is relentless, and the reality more shocking than you could ever imagine.Author Carmen Amato infuses the Detective Emilia Cruz series with authenticity and intrigue from counterdrug experiences during her long career with the CIA. Amato is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.Russian Mojito is perfect for lovers of international detective and crime fiction by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves and Peter May, as well as Don Winslow's Mexican cartel and border thrillers.2-time winner, Outstanding Series Award -- CrimeMasters of America Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/

A bitter past drives Acapulco's first female police detective into a Hollywood film starring lies and murder when she goes undercover to catch a killer. As the camera rolls, Detective Emilia Cruz will face her toughest case yet."A thrilling series" - National Public Radio2022 Finalist for Best Investigator -- Silver Falchion Award,After witnessing the execution-style murder of a taxi driver, Emilia replaces him behind the wheel. Undercover with a false identity, she's determined to catch the killer who is part of a shadowy gang extorting protection money from the upscale taxi service.Oddly enough, no one in Acapulco has heard of the gang. The investigation is soon stuck in neutral even as the threat of another murder has all the drivers, including Emilia, scared to death.Everything changes unexpectedly when Emilia's worst enemy gets into her taxi. Sticking to her cover story and relieved that he doesn't recognize her, she decides to lure him into a trap.Soon she's earned both his trust and an invitation to act as an understudy in a movie he's producing.It's Emilia's biggest mistake. The script is a nightmare. The director's cut is a double-cross. The leading man has looks that could kill.Can Emilia act her way out of murder?Could you?Author Carmen Amato infuses the Detective Emilia Cruz series with authenticity and intrigue from counterdrug experiences during her long career with the CIA. Amato is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.Forget what you think you know about crime fiction. Narco Noir plunges you into the high-stakes real world of hunting cartel kingpins. The danger is urgent, the search is all-consuming, and there's no turning back.If you love international police procedural mystery series by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Peter May, Louise Penny, and Jussi Adler-Olsen, you'll want to read the Detective Emilia Cruz series. With suspenseful twists, complex characters, and a taste of the exotic, it's a must-read for fans of Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico. Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/

Political corruption turns Acapulco's first female police detective into a fugitive on the run in Washington DC."A thrilling series" -- National Public RadioIn a derelict building for sale, Acapulco police detective Emilia Cruz stumbles on the body of a woman brutally shot to death. Incredibly, the victim was the sister of Acapulco's ambitious mayor, who is running for re-election against an opponent with deep pockets.Emilia's investigation is immediately under pressure for a fast result. The victim's ex-boyfriend has a suspiciously weak alibi but is the crime scene the key to finding the murderer? The building was once used for a secret Mexican government operation targeting a ruthless drug lord.Meanwhile, there's a conspiracy within the police department to force Emilia out. Before Emilia can save her job or arrest her prime suspect, she's sent on an errand of mercy to Washington, DC.It's a set-up. Emilia becomes a fugitive, hunted by killers masquerading as cops. Alone, desperate and on the run, Emilia turns for help to a man she once vowed to murder. Her brother. From cartel violence in Acapulco to the intrigue-filled streets of Washington, DC, the stakes couldn't be higher in this electrifying, page-turning thriller. 2019 and 2020 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series - CrimeMasters of America"Emilia is a character who is close to my heart" - MysterySequelsWith unflinching authenticity from the author's own espionage and counterdrug experience in Mexico and Central America, this is a female police detective mystery series like no other.The Detective Emilia Cruz series is for fans of international mystery and crime by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Donna Leon and Liza Marklund, plus the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Fans of Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico love the plots torn from the headlines of the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco. Carmen Amato turns lessons from a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency into crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. The Detective Emilia Cruz series pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's drug cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Dubbed "A thrilling series" by National Public Radio, the series was awarded the Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America in both 2019 and 2020 and has been optioned for television. Her Galliano Club historical thriller series was inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who was a deputy sheriff during Prohibition. Originally from upstate New York, Carmen was educated there as well as in Virginia and Paris, France, while experiences in Mexico and Central America ignited her writing career. She is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Every other Sunday, Carmen's Mystery Ahead newsletter unlocks her top secrets with exclusive announcements, sneak peeks at her next book and reviews of must-read mysteries. https://carmenamato.net/mystery-ahead https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-amato https://www.amazon.com/author/carmenamato https://facebook.com/authorcarmenamato/