The little church in Mexico City was decorated for Christmas with 100 red poinsettias. President of the parish council, I was in the first pew with my family for the special Christmas Eve midnight Mass.
Father Richard was leading us in the Prayer of the Faithful when an armed man staggered up the center aisle, waving a handgun, shouting incomprehensibly, an unexpected and volatile presence.
The junkie accosted Father Richard. The priest didn’t move or stop the prayer, just dug through his robes, pulled out a few pesos and pressed them into the man’s hand.
Thankfully, several of the male congregants were able to disarm the man and take him out of the church. No one got shot. Christmas Mass continued.
Father Richard was murdered in his rectory five years later.
His killer was never found.
Write what you know
Most of my 30-year career with the CIA, including years ranging across the Western Hemisphere, had to do with technical collection and counterdrug issues.
By the time I retired, it was clear we weren’t winning the war on drugs. Violence throughout the region is getting worse. Cartels are branching out into extortion and human trafficking. Civil authority in Mexico is unraveling.
The wider world didn’t seem to be paying attention to the news so I decided to try fiction. Enter Detective Emilia Cruz, the first female police detective in Acapulco.
My gamble paid off. The Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series is a 2-time winner of the Outstanding Series Award from CrimeMasters of America and a Silver Falchion Award from Killer Nashville. Kirkus Reviews said, “Danger and deception never more than a few pages away and NPR dubbed it “A thrilling series.” Huffpost published Emilia’s first short story, chosen for Rita Wilson’s Fiction50 showcase.
Income from the books allow me to support St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Water.org, the Gary Sinese Foundation and other veteran and first responder organizations.
A beautiful pressure cooker
I knew setting a mystery series in Acapulco would resonate with readers. It’s an iconic city, famed for night life, sports, and Old Hollywood.
But Acapulco has fallen on hard times, thanks to the drug trade. With one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere, Acapulco is a prize being fought over by rival drug cartels.
Poverty and luxury co-exist. Both claw at Emilia.
The series is as authentic as the Mexico I experienced and the drug war I fought as a US intelligence officer.
Emilia and I are in it for the long haul. We’ll see if a mystery series can raise awareness of what’s going on in Mexico, with plot elements straight out of the headlines, an authentic dive into one of the most beautiful settings on earth, and a little salsa fresca from my own years in Mexico and Central America.
It’s all in Mystery Ahead
Mystery Ahead started as a simple email newsletter to get the word out about new book releases. It’s grown over the past 7 years to be an opportunity for readers to share their love of mystery fiction.
I’ve found untold support from thousands of readers. In return, I try to enlighten and entertain with tales of my CIA career, exclusive excerpts from what I’m writing now, and reviews of books that I love and think you will, too.
Now that we’re here on Substack, the sky’s the limit!
Thank you for spending this time with me.
Wishing you health, happiness, and more great reads.
All the best, Carmen
PS: To keep the newsletter free, consider buying a book. Or invite me on your podcast or book blog. I’ve got great stories to tell. Thank you!
PPS: Were you looking for all my free downloads including the Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library? Find them on my website here.
It sounds like an exciting series. I've heard some tales about the cartels and how they have been hurting Mexico. I look forward to turning some virtual pages on these tales. Thank you for getting the word out.