I’m Carmen Amato, CIA veteran and author. I learned a few things about danger, deception and resilience during my 30-year career with the CIA focusing on counterdrug operations and technical collection.
This newsletter gives you a fresh perspective on world events, as well as my experiences and insights as a US intelligence officer. Plus, I’ll share how it all fuels my crime fiction, especially the Detective Emilia Cruz series set in Acapulco.
Crime fiction is my way of showing you the skill and resilience we all need when faced with hard things. Emilia Cruz is the first female police detective in Acapulco, confronting drug cartels, official corruption and social inequality amid the hunt for Mexico’s missing. Her job is a swirling stew of danger and suspicion but Emilia wants more, including a relationship with a man whose world of wealth in Acapulco’s luxe hotel zone feels like a million miles away.
Like Emilia, I was often the only woman in the room during my CIA career. Many of my own experiences make their way into the (so-far) 10-book series, which is a back-to-back winner of the Outstanding Series Award from CrimeMasters of America and has been optioned for both television and audio dramas.
I’ve very proud of the series and how far it’s come. (Scroll to the bottom to start the series for free.) But mostly I’m proud to have created a character who is so real. Emilia Cruz is coping with a bad situation she did not create. Nor can she leave.
Emilia refuses to accept defeat. She can do hard things and she shows us that we can, too.
This newsletter comes out every other Sunday, with special extras a few times a year.
As well as staying up to date about my books, expect posts at the nexus of world events and personal experience like these:
I hope you found this introduction helpful. If you have any comments or questions, please get in touch!
Thank you for spending this time with me.
Until next time,
PS: I’ve also written historical and political thrillers, essays about the craft of crime fiction, and live with a very large white dog named Bear.
PPS: A percentage of book sales and affiliate links go to support veterans and first responder organizations. When you buy a book, invite me on a podcast or recommend this newsletter, you help me help others. Thank you.
Ok. I just downloaded Cliff Diver.
Wow your books look amazing, I love to watch Police series on TV like The Bill, Cagney and Lacey, Line of Duty, now there's one about AC12 and I'm hooked can't wait for series 7 to be launched this year. I am also an avid fan of Lee Child's writing. I am so looking forward to getting more into your page.