Acapulco's first female police detective dives into an ocean of secrets, lies, and murder when she investigates her own lieutenant's death.In this explosive start to the award-winning mystery series set in Acapulco, Emilia Cruz beat the odds to become the city's first female police detective. Now she lives in a pressure cooker of danger and distrust.Famous for beaches, resorts and nightlife, Acapulco has become ground zero for the war on drugs. Cartels fight over smuggling routes into the United States for fentanyl and cocaine. Homicide rates are exploding. Human trafficking is on the rise. Missing persons are never found.The police department is riddled with corruption. The cartels have infiltrated every level of the government.No one is more corrupt than Emilia's own lieutenant.When he's murdered, Emilia is assigned to lead the investigation. She uncovers an ugly mess no one wants exposed, including a rival cop. Both the mayor and the head of the police union apply pressure to close the case. Their reasons have nothing to do with justice.Feeling like one of Acapulco's famous cliff divers, Emilia must take a plunge to find the truth.But nothing has prepared her for the shock of the impact.Author Carmen Amato uses her real-life counterdrug and espionage experiences from a 30-year career in national intelligence to craft a story brimming with authenticity and intrigue."A thrilling series" -- National Public Radio"Consistently exciting" -- Kirkus Reviews"A wonderful crime mystery" -- MysterySequels.comPoison Cup award, Outstanding Series -- CrimeMasters of AmericaReaders who love international mystery series crime fighters including Armand Gamache, Harry Hole, Guido Brunetti, and the Department Q series will also love Detective Emilia Cruz's complex plots, pulse-pounding suspense, and exotic location.Perfect for lovers of international detective and crime fiction by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, and Peter May, as well as Don Winslow's Mexican cartel and border thrillers.
A greedy arsonist. A missing girl.Acapulco's award-winning female police detective is back, desperately searching for two people who don't want to be found.Detective Emilia Cruz has serious problems.Her new lieutenant is a drunk. Her new partner is a surly ex-boxer who refuses to work with women. Her new romance with hotel manager Kurt Rucker is already on the rocks.When a restaurant explosion interrupts their date, Emilia and Kurt barely escape a fiery death, along with Acapulco's popular mayor. Never one to let a good crisis go to waste, the mayor insists she was the target of an assassination attempt. Another arson attack and suddenly the city's all-important tourism industry is threatened. Acapulco's citizens take to the streets, turning a protest rally into a fiery call for action.As tensions and tempers soar, Emilia is feeling the pressure to find the arsonist. Yet she can't refuse a plea to look for a missing girl from her own neighborhood.The trail leads to Acapulco's famous lucha libre fighters. Their response? Kindle an inferno. If Emilia's only chance to survive the fire is to dance with the devil, will she take it? Would you? "A thrilling series" - National Public RadioPoison Cup award, Outstanding Series 2019 and 2020 -- CrimeMasters of AmericaAcapulco, 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.With unflinching authenticity drawn from the author's own counterdrug experiences in Mexico and Central America, this is a female police detective mystery series like no other.For fans of international murder mystery series, such as Ian Rankin's John Rebus series, Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series, and Ann Cleeves's Shetland and Vera Stanhope series, the Detective Emilia Cruz series offers an exhilarating and captivating experience. Fans of Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico will also find themselves hooked on Emilia Cruz's relentless pursuit of justice.
Is Acapulco's first female police detective the next target of a ruthless cop killer? It's a serial killer thriller with a spicy Mexican twist."A thrilling series." -- National Public RadioSomeone is killing law enforcement officers who worked with Detective Emilia Cruz. When her partner's wife becomes the victim of a brutal home invasion, Emilia suspects that her partner was the intended target of the notorious El Trio killer. Instead of leading the investigation, Emilia is unexpectedly reassigned to the mayor's pet project. The new all-female patrol unit is a disorganized disaster that Emilia must whip into shape, forcing her to watch from the sidelines as the police fumble the El Trio investigation and send her partner to jail.Amid the chaos, Emilia begins to question everything she thought she knew, including her police career and future with boyfriend Kurt Rucker.In a beautiful city driven to its knees by drug lords, corruption and rampant violence, Emilia will gamble it all to find the truth.Her courage will be tested like never before.Yours, too.After a 30 year career as a CIA intelligence officer, Carmen Amato writes mystery crime fiction loaded with intrigue and action. Readers who love police drama books by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Peter May, as well as the Department Q murder mystery series and Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico, also love Detective Emilia Cruz's complex plots, fast action, pulse-pounding suspense, and exotic location.With unflinching authenticity drawn from the author's own counterdrug experiences in Mexico and Central America, this is a female police detective mystery series like no other.2019 and 2020 Outstanding Series award -- CrimeMasters of America"Danger and betrayal never more than a few pages away." -- Kirkus Reviews
Acapulco's award-winning first female police detective finds herself trapped in the deadly web of a voodoo-like cult."A thrilling series." -- National Public RadioIn the remote Coyuca Lagoon, where Hollywood's iconic Rambo was filmed, Emilia and her partner stumble upon a grisly crime scene-a man sacrificed to Santa Muerte, Mexico's forbidden saint of death. Drug cartels are often associated with the worship of Santa Muerte and it's clear that the killer meant to send a savage message of fear and intimidation. But who was supposed to find this chilling message?The answer comes when a rival gang retaliates, leaving a trail of macabre 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 by the so-called Skeleton Saint?Determined to see the murder investigation through to the end, Emilia goes undercover as a worshipper on the eve of the Day of the Dead, immersing herself in the dark world of Santa Muerte and all that is unholy. As secrets begin to unravel, so does her life.After a 30 year career as a CIA intelligence officer, Carmen Amato writes mysteries and thrillers loaded with intrigue and action. Readers who love police procedural series by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Peter May, as well as the Department Q novels and Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico, also love Detective Emilia Cruz's complex plots, fast action, pulse-pounding suspense, and exotic location.2019 and 2020 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series -- CrimeMasters of America "Carmen Amato has created a compelling, complex, well-rounded and durable character . . . PACIFIC REAPER is a great read and a great reason to pick up the other books in Amato's Emilia Cruz series." -- Jim Nesbitt, author of the Ed Earl Burch detective series.With unflinching authenticity drawn from the author's own counterdrug experiences in Mexico and Central America, this is a female police detective mystery series like no other. Don't miss your chance to experience the heart-stopping suspense and unyielding determination of Detective Emilia Cruz in her latest and most perilous adventure yet.
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.After witnessing the execution-style murder of a taxi driver, Emilia replaces him behind the wheel. Undercover with a false identity, her target is a shadowy gang extorting protection money from the upscale taxi service.Oddly enough, no one in Acapulco has heard of the gang. The homicide investigation is soon stuck in neutral. Yet the threat of another murder has all the drivers, including Emilia, scared to death.But when Emilia's worst enemy gets into her taxi, both her life and the murder case accelerate out of control. Next stop, a movie set where a second undercover role awaits.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?"A thrilling series" - National Public Radio"Darkly thrilling and accomplished . . . A brave, defiant character who's so vividly drawn that she fairly bounces off the page." - BookViralPoison Cup award, Outstanding Series 2019 and 2020 -- CrimeMasters of AmericaAcapulco, once the glittering playground of Hollywood's Rat Pack, now has the highest homicide rate in Mexico. Loaded with intrigue and action, the Detective Emilia Cruz police procedural mystery series takes on cartels, corruption and social inequality.Carmen Amato's 30-year career as a CIA intelligence officer serves up authentic and thrilling mystery crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. Fans of police procedural murder mystery series by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, and Peter May, as well as the Department Q novels and Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico, also love Detective Emilia Cruz's complex plots, fast action, pulse-pounding suspense, and exotic location.With unflinching authenticity drawn from the author's own counterdrug experiences in Mexico and Central America, this is a female police detective mystery series like no other.
Meet Emilia Cruz, first female police detective in Acapulco. She's fighting crime in the iconic resort city, where corruption lines pockets, drug cartels have declared war, and Mexican machismo runs deep. 2019 & 2020 Poison Cup award for Outstanding Series -- CrimeMasters of America Made in Acapulco is the riveting introduction to the award-winning Detective Emilia Cruz police procedural mystery series. Torn from today's headlines, these five stories show you what it takes to survive as an honest cop in Mexico. This is the Acapulco tourists never see. These are the stories of those fighting to reclaim their country from the cartels. A 30-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, author Carmen Amato delivers a unique blend of masterful storytelling and an unforgettable woman who will become your new favorite crime fighter. "A thrilling series" -- National Public Radio "Emilia is a character who is close to my heart" - MysterySequels "Amato brings her characters to life with her vivid writing style and sets them on the streets of a Mexico steeped in Catholicism and corruption" - OnlineBookClub.org With unflinching authenticity from the author's own 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 will also want to read the Detective Emilia Cruz police series. From the author: Acapulco is now one of the most violent cities in the Western Hemisphere. Drug cartels fight over points of entry and routes to lucrative markets in the United States where drug-related overdoses and deaths are reaching record highs. Emilia Cruz is the first and only female police detective in 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 and is always searching for Las Perdidas, the Lost Ones. Now eight novels into the series, readers have embraced Emilia, recognizing that there is more to her story than drug war violence and official corruption. Emilia represents hope for Mexico, with its rich and diverse cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and architecture, and of course, glorious food.
Driven to the edge by her own secrets, can the first female police detective in Acapulco give Russia a dose of Mexican justice?Finalist, 2020 Silver Falchion AwardSurvivor of a deadly cartel ambush, Detective Emilia Cruz returns to Acapulco to recover from the trauma. Before she can catch her breath, her penniless stepfather is kidnapped. The stakes couldn't be higher as Emilia finds herself thrust back into the dangerous world of drug cartel violence.At the same time, a Russian guest is murdered by a cold-blooded killer 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 fuel thieves wreaking havoc on Mexico's underground gas pipelines.Soon she's on a midnight stakeout, waiting and watching for the thieves. But she's really on a collision course with a cold-blooded killer and his powerful Russian boss.Author Carmen Amato is a former Central Intelligence Agency officer who uses her own experiences to craft intrigue-filled mystery crime fiction that keeps you guessing until the very end. Amato is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.With unflinching authenticity drawn from the author's own counterdrug experiences in Mexico and Central America, the Detective Emilia Cruz books are a female police detective mystery series like no other.Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series, 2019 and 2020 -- CrimeMasters of America.If you love international police procedural mystery series by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Peter May, Louise Penny, Liza Marklund 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.
Prepare for an adrenaline-fueled ride through a dark and treacherous world when Detective Emilia Cruz investigates Mexico's most notorious true crime. "Astounding" - Nightstand Reviews Emilia finds herself in Mexico City, part of a national task force examining the forced disappearance of 43 college students from a city in central Mexico. 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 spike the investigation. The offer raises profound questions of loyalty, conscience, and her future as an honest cop. Most importantly, will her personal vendetta against the shadowy criminal El Acólito cloud her judgment?43 MISSING is a gripping police drama 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 shrouded in mystery.2019 & 2020 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series - CrimeMasters of AmericaFinalist for Best Investigator, 2017 Silver Falchion Award "A thrilling series" - National Public RadioCarmen Amato's 30-year career as a CIA intelligence officer with counterdrug experience delivers authentic and thrilling mystery crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. Fans of police procedural murder mystery series by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, and Peter May, as well as the Department Q novels and Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico, will be captivated by the intricate plots, pulse-pounding suspense, and exotic locations of Detective Emilia Cruz's world. She confronts the complex issues of Mexican cartels, corruption, and social inequality portrayed in Netflix's "Narcos."It's a female police detective mystery series unlike any other.
A human finger sold as a religious relic lures Acapulco's first female police detective into a brutal arena of drug smuggling and corruption."A thrilling series." -- National Public RadioPolice detective Emilia Cruz is convinced she's found a religious relic related to Padre Pro, a Catholic martyr in Mexico's long-ago Cristero War. But it's more likely to be the finger of a kidnap victim whose captors want to encourage someone to pay a hefty ransom.At the same time, a dead body aboard a cruise ship is the first evidence of a new drug being smuggled into Acapulco. To Emilia's surprise, the new drug is connected to a string of random murders across the city.Hunting for answers, she's saddled with a clueless rookie detective as her new partner. With influential connections and a questionable agenda, he'd rather be flirting with his reluctant mentor than learning how to survive the drug war. He doesn't understand that this is El Chapo's Mexico and honest cops are in short supply.With the rookie in tow, Emilia will uncover the horrifying link between the two investigations. Is she strong enough to handle it?Are you?Acapulco, once the glittering playground of Hollywood's Rat Pack, now has the highest homicide rate in Mexico. Loaded with intrigue and action, the Detective Emilia Cruz police procedural mystery series takes on cartels, corruption and social inequality.Carmen Amato's 30-year career as a CIA intelligence officer with counterdrug experience gives readers authentic and thrilling mystery crime fiction loaded with danger and deception. Fans of police procedural murder mystery series by renowned authors such as Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, and Peter May, as well as the Department Q novels and Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico, also love Detective Emilia Cruz's complex plots, fast action, pulse-pounding suspense, and exotic location.2020 and 2019 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series -- CrimeMasters of America "Carmen Amato knows how to bring Acapulco to life . . . Emilia is definitely a character that is close to my heart." - Mystery Sequels"Amato brings her characters to life with her vivid writing style and sets them on the streets of a Mexico steeped in Catholicism and corruption . . . A unique and gripping mystery novel." - OnlineBookClub.org
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