She's the first female POLICE detective
in Acapulco
Detective Emilia Cruz Series
"A thrilling series" - National Public Radio
2019 & 2020 Outstanding Series Award - CrimeMasters of America
2019 Silver Falchion Award, Killer Nashville
Experience the raw intensity of Mexico’s drug war through the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series.
This high-stakes international police procedural series follows Acapulco’s first female detective as she confronts cartels, corruption, and social inequality amid the hunt for Mexico's missing.
Inspired by Carmen's own counterdrug expertise as a 30-year veteran of the CIA, the series delivers an authentic insider look at the war on drugs.
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Novels
Emilia investigates the death of her own lieutenant in Book 1, with dangerous consequences.
Emilia hunts for a violent arsonist and a missing girl as Acapulco burns in Book 2.
A rookie cop puts Emilia's life in danger as she investigates a fake religious relic in Book 3.
Stuck in a new unit, Emilia gambles her career all to save her partner in Book 4.
Emiia goes undercover as a worshipper of Santa Muerte, Mexico's forbidden saint in Book 5.
Emilia confronts a mass disappearance in 6. Inspired by Mexico's most notorious true crime.
As a family kidnapping unfolds, can Emilia deliver a dose of Mexican justice to a Russian killer in Book 7?
Emilia plays both a taxi driver and a movie star in the undercover role of a lifetime in Book 8.
Emilia investigates the murder of the mayor's sister before becoming a fugitive on the run in Book 9.
Emilia's hunt for a missing Customs inspector leads to a shocking international conspiracy in 10.
Short Reads & Collections
This prequel collection of short stories captures Emilia's first years as a detective.
Emilia and her partner go undercover in this very unexpected Christmas murder mystery novella.
Emilia discovers a list that could be payments to dirty cops. Or is it something much more sinster?
The first 6 Emilia Cruz novels, plus exclusive bonus content.
A Kindle+ exclusive.
Spanish editions
Winner of the 2019 Silver Falchion Award, this bilingual short story is perfect for language learning.
The Spanish edition of prequel short story collection, MADE IN ACAPULCO.
The Spanish edition of CLIFF DIVER, the first novel in the Detective Emilia Cruz series.
"Carmen Amato’s novels, besides being entertaining, challenge us and delve deep into the psyche of an honest woman in a profession tarnished by corruption. Beyond entertainment, they also show the complexity of law enforcement in Mexico, and the struggle a professional, highly motivated police detective faces in doing her job each day."
- Michael Hogan, award-winning author of ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND MEXICO, THE IRISH SOLDIERS OF MEXICO, etc
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