Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Detective
THRILLING START TO A SPINE-TINGLER ADDICTIVE SERIES!
Detective Emilia Cruz, Acapulco’s first female police detective, doesn’t know who to trust, and who can blame her? “Hostile work environment” doesn’t begin to cover it. Her workplace is brimming over with treachery as fellow detectives actively conspire to get her outta dere and return it to da all-boy’s club—and they just might have found the ammunition to do it. The murder of a police lieutenant sets the stage for the ouster. Seems that Cruz has been assigned to lead the investigation of her old boss’ demise and it’s a role she never wanted—especially when she discovers all the ugly little secrets her lieutenant was hiding. Illicit sex, money laundering, and kidnapping … you name the scummy crime and he probably did it. It translates to her being thrown in the deep end of the pool and means that any move she makes could be the wrong one. But she can’t keep treading water forever, and that fact alone is enough to shift her priorities from “keeping her job” to “staying alive.”
If reading intriguing, highly-addictive mysteries laced with a touch of the exotic is on your list of New Year’s Resolutions, you’re in luck! CLIFF DIVER ticks all the boxes and delivers more than any mystery fan could hope for. It certainly superseded my expectations. I was so blown away that I can state that CLIFF DIVER is the best start to a series that I’ve read in a long, long time. Impeccably written, the story thrusts a hook into your soft palate on page one and never lets up. The pacing held to that of a lighted fuse, the complexity of the murder develops quickly … the pieces coming together to paint a grim picture. This in thanks to author Carmen Amato’s masterful touch. But there is another aspect I’d like to make in reference to Amato’s skill as a writer.
Ms. Amato knows whereof she speaks. She’s walked the walk and talked the talk and has a depth of experience to draw from. It’s this first-hand knowledge responsible for why the locales are described in such vivid detail and why the interplay between police officers and the criminal element is so fleshed out and full of jargon actually used by professionals. There’s an honesty there … a genuineness that comes only when an author can ground their imaginative leanings in reality and Ms. Amato has done this. Her writing and perceptive narratives are full of emotion and memories. In other words, she’s lived Cruz and knows her intimately. And it’s the author’s ability to translate, transcribe, and infuse all that personal experience into her characters that makes the story that much more believable.
I also love the choices she’s made … the nuanced intricacies that add so much. Like Amato showing us the kind heart of Detective Cruz through the detective’s actions and reactions to situations instead of just telling us of the compassion residing there. The strategy is well-thought through and exposes the protagonist’s vulnerability and gentle soul lurking under the hard professional exterior. This is crucial in understanding just how hard it is for Cruz to rise to the occasion when the story swiftly develops into a gauntlet that she is forced to run. It seems everything depends on her making the right decisions, but how can she when there are so many options for interpretation dangling over her head? But sorting out truth from lies is only part of the problems that she’s barraged with as she races to find a solution. And we are right there with her … cheering her on.
Summary: Amato nailed the story … and most definitely … no doubt … (me giving my best, “don’t try to change my mind” expression) … this baby is getting five stars! Loved the book and loved the author. She’s one intelligent lady and the full smackdown of her mental superpowers is on display in this outing. Totally suggest you give this one a try. You’re welcome.
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