Mystery author. Former CIA intelligence officer.
You're in the right place for intrigue-filled crime fiction, including the award-winning Detective Emilia Cruz police series and the new Galliano Club thrillers.
Ready?
There's mystery ahead.
FEATURED BOOKS
NARCO NOIR
Detective Emilia Cruz Book #8
When a taxi driver is brutally executed on a busy Acapulco street, Emilia goes undercover to catch a gang killer.
But when her worst enemy steps off the curb and into her taxi, she's dragged to a movie set where she'll play the role of a lifetime.
Read for #FREE on KindleUnlimited
RUSSIAN MOJITO
Detective Emilia Cruz Book #7
When kidnappers target her family and a enigmatic guest winds up dead in the city's most luxurious hotel, Acapulco's first female police detective is served a terrifying crime cocktail.
Can Emilia deliver a dose of Mexican justice to a ruthless Russian killer?
Read for #FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
DETECTIVE EMILIA CRUZ BOX SET
"A thrilling series." - National Public Radio
The first 6 books in the Detective Emilia Cruz series are together in a box set for the first time. Includes Bonus Content: Acapulco Sugar, a prequel story and Emilia's Circle, with a riddle for you to solve.
Read for #FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
Get your free Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library
- The Beast prequel originally published by The Huffington Post
- The Angler novella based on a true-life murder
- Who’s Who Guide to the series
Reviews
"She tells about interesting characters striving to improve their lives in the difficult environment of modern-day Acapulco, rendering a story far richer than the thriller factories of the big publishing houses." - LibraryThing
Amato weaves an intricate assortment of themes into a vivid tapestry that depicts both the beauty and ugliness of Acapulco. Her attention to clothing, food, and other details of the cityscape bring life to her characters. - Kirkus Reviews
"For every clue that falls into place, the price is paid in danger and blood." - author Vee James
"Astounding . . . a haunting page-turner . . . The tragedy of decent members of society caught in the crossfire stayed with me long after I finished the book." - Nightstand Reviews
""Danger and betrayal never more than a few pages away." - KIRKUS REVIEWS
"The story is full of nonstop action and suspense, but what really got to me in this book is the range of strong emotions I've felt while reading it . . . Emilia is a character that is close to my heart." - MysterySequels
"Consistently exciting . . . A clever Mexican detective tale that will leave readers eager for the series' next installment." - Kirkus Reviews
"A brilliant character-driven detective story." - Artisan Book Reviews
"Incredibly absorbing, impossible to put down." - BookVue
"Carmen Amato has created a character that deserves to be recognized as an equal alongside well known favorites created by Hammett, Larson and Padura. I can’t wait to spend more time with Detective Cruz." - Felix Contreras, host, ALTLatino, National Public Radio
"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 . . . Unique and gripping." - OnlineBookClub.org
"Amato spins a taut tale, keeping the reader off balance and guessing just as much as Cruz does. The pace is swift and the action is realistically and unflinchingly portrayed." - Jim Nesbitt, author of the Ed Earl Burch series
Current projects
- MURDER AT THE GALLIANO CLUB 95%
- BLACKMAIL AT THE GALLIANO CLUB 60%
- REVENGE AT THE GALLIANO CLUB 10%
- LIAR'S PARADISE: Detective Emilia Cruz Book 9 5%
From the blog
The Big Pivot of 2021
The Big Pivot Do you remember the sofa moving scene in Friends? They guys are doing their best, but it’s too big to get up the stairs. Ross keeps yelling “Pivot, pivot” to no avail. That’s 2020. In 2021 we'll turn the corner. Pivot Ross GIF from Pivot GIFs My personal...
Best of 2020: Top 10 Book Reviews from the Mystery Ahead Newsletter
Best of 2020 Yes, 2020 had a silver lining. We all stayed home and read more. Every other Sunday, I fed the collective appetite of fellow mystery lovers with the Mystery Ahead newsletter. Readers enjoy sneak peaks of what I'm writing now AND reviews of books I love...
The Face that Launched 1000 Words
Some authors look for visual cues to help create setting and characters. Most call it research. I call it antiques hunting. THE FACE OF THE GALLIANO CLUB To build the Galliano Club series, I have my grandfather’s account books from when he was City Marshall, as well...
TOP SECRET(S)
A recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal, Carmen is also a survivor of three earthquakes, a train derailment, and a scuba diving encounter with a lionfish. She also owns a legendary vintage Furla bag or two.
Here's where all the extra goodies await, like free first chapters, a rogue's gallery of photos, and even my best tips for writing a mystery series. If you are looking for my CIA war stories, check out the #truestory category on the blog. Mojitos not included.