She’s the first female detective
and the last honest cop in Acapulco
Detective Emilia Cruz Series
Experience the raw intensity of Mexico’s drug war through the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series.
Created by former CIA officer Carmen Amato, this gripping police procedural 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, the series delivers an authentic, insider look at international crime.
If you crave strong female leads, gritty realism, and ripped-from-the-headlines suspense, brace yourself for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Acapulco.
Explore the books then head over to the Acapulco Archive reader hub for the stories behind the stories.
“A thrilling series” – National Public Radio
2019 & 2020 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series – CrimeMasters of America
2019 Silver Falchion Award, Best Short Story
Novels
Emilia investigates the death of a dirty cop in Detective Emilia Cruz Book 1.
Emilia hunts for a violent arsonist and a missing girl in Detective Emilia Cruz Book 2.
A rookie cop puts Emilia’s life in danger in Detective Emilia Cruz Book 3.
Emilia gambles it all to save her partner in Detective Emilia Cruz Book 4.
Emiia goes undercover as a worshipper of Santa Muerte, Mexico’s forbidden saint in Book #5.
Emilia confronts a mass disappearance that is Mexico’s most notorious true crime in Book #6.
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 bizarre murder of the mayor’s sister in Book #9.
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. Kindle format only.
Spanish editions
This bilingual edition of a prequel short story won the 2019 Silver Falchion award for Best Short Story/Collection.
The Spanish edition of prequel short story collection, MADE IN ACAPULCO.
Spanish translation of CLIFF DIVER, the first novel in the Detective Emilia Cruz series.
#EmiliaCruz from the Blog
An Excellent Liar
Big lies, white, lies, pretty little lies--Acapulco Detective Emilia Cruz is an expert at all of them. But in the Emilia Cruz police procedural mystery series, she hardly ever lies to the people she cares about. Hardly ever. Meet the main character blog tour Emilia's...
Reshaping the Acapulco Skyline
Acapulco has alot to offer: beautiful beaches, water sports, cliff divers, iconic skyscrapers, swimming with the dolphins. Get off the beaten path and you can add gun violence, murder, cops, and drug seizures. All that's missing is a skycraper that looks like a...
DIABLO NIGHTS Cover Reveal and Kindle Release
The third installment of the Emilia Cruz mystery series, featuring the first and only female police detective in Acapulco, is out on Kindle! The paperback version will be available in August. And finally--the Cover Reveal! The final cover, shown here, is a slight...
From Book to Beach: Favorite Hotels in Mexico
Planning a trip to Mexico? Wondering where to stay? Readers often ask if the Palacio Réal, the hotel in Acapulco that Kurt Rucker manages in the Emilia Cruz mystery novels, is real. The answer is well, sort of. The luxurious Palacio Réal is a composite of my three...
A Counterfeit Money Mystery
Have you seen the new US 100 dollar bill? Compared it to the old bill of the same denomination? Money and Mystery The changes in the $100 bill drive the plot of "The Cliff," a short story from MADE IN ACAPULCO: The Emilia Cruz Stories. "The Cliff" later became the...
Padre Pro, the Catholic Martyr Who Inspired a Mystery
The long road that has become DIABLO NIGHTS, the 3th Emilia Cruz mystery novel, started nearly 4 years ago, in Rome, Italy. I'd had my tour of the Vatican and was now on the hunt for gifts and souvenirs. A large Catholic gift and bookstore looked promising.Historic...