Hello, I'm Carmen Amato.
Mystery author. Former CIA intelligence officer.
Expect secrets, lies, and murder in my intrigue-filled crime fiction.
You know how it is. A little something for everyone.
FEATURED BOOKS BY CARMEN AMATO
MURDER AT THE GALLIANO CLUB
Coming Soon!
The first book in the new Galliano Club series takes you to upstate New York during Prohibition.
It's hard to get a beer but there's plenty of murder, blackmail, and revenge on tap in this 3-book series inspired by my grandfather's stories.
Read all about the new series on the Galliano Club thriller series page.
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!
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 80%
- REVENGE AT THE GALLIANO CLUB 10%
- LIAR'S PARADISE: Detective Emilia Cruz Book 9 5%
From the blog
Inside my CIA Career: Variety and the Spice of Life
What did I do? Whenever I’m asked, “What did you do in the CIA?” I’m a bit stuck. There’s no good snappy answer. I did a variety of things, many of which can't be defined in layman's terms. One of the reasons for such a varied career was that I was balancing work and...
Inside my CIA Career: Encounter with a Spyplane
FLYING Several years ago, my husband got his private pilot’s license and we owned a small Piper aircraft. Our son was in kindergarten and promptly fell in love with all things aviation. This rubbed off on me. Our family was soon immersed in flying stories, books about...
Inside my CIA Career: Media Matters
What the heck is OSINT My resume includes this line: OSINT Analyst/Editor, Foreign Broadcast Information Service. Wrote, edited, and briefed analytical conclusions and OSINT reporting content to all levels of inter-and intra-agency audiences. OSINT is shorthand for...
TOP SECRET(S)
A recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal, Carmen Amato 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.
