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.
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