43 Missing

Emilia Cruz Mysteries #6

by Carmen Amato

Finalist for the Silver Falchion for Best Procedural of 2017--Killer Nashville International Mystery Writers Conference43 MISSING is based on the true events of September 2014, when 43 male students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College went missing in Iguala, Guerrero and have yet to be found. Given the choice between resigning from the squadroom in Acapulco or taking a new assignment, Detective Emilia Cruz finds herself on a national task force examining Mexico's most notorious crime. After 18 months and three inconclusive investigations, the task force is the Mexican government's last attempt to discover what happened to 43 students who disappeared after being seized by police in a small southern city. Comprised of cops from across Mexico, the task force lacks technical tools, organized case files, and reliable witnesses. It's a perfect scenario for failure. Despite its problems, the task force gives Emilia the opportunity to search for the rapist and murderer known as El Ac�lito, with whom she has an agonizing family tie. Digging into his past life in Mexico City, she'll learn a shocking truth about the man she's determined to kill. As the task force digs up confusing new leads, a diplomat from the United States embassy offers Emilia $50,000 to end the investigation. It's a tempting offer that would shift Emilia's hunt for El Ac�lito into high gear. But is the diplomat really who he claims to be? Does it matter? When the task force heads to the scene of the crime, Emilia knows her loyalty, conscience, and very future will be put to the test. PRAISE FOR THE DETECTIVE EMILIA CRUZ SERIES Cliff Diver "Consistently exciting." ― Kirkus Reviews Hat Dance "Emilia . . . is a force to be reckoned with." ― MysterySequels.com Diablo Nights "Amato's unique setting, realistic characters, and intriguing plot set her apart." ― OnlineBookClub.org King Peso "Danger and betrayal never more than a few pages away." ― Kirkus Reviews Get all the DETECTIVE EMILIA CRUZ SERIES books: Cliff Diver Hat Dance Diablo Nights King Peso Pacific Reaper 43 Missing Made in Acapulco

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

297 pages, Paperback

Published December 14, 2017

About the author

Carmen Amato is the author of the Detective Emilia Cryz mystery series pitting the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico's cartels, corruption, and social inequality. Starting with Cliff Diver, the series is a 2-time winner of the Outstanding Series award from CrimeMasters of America and was hailed by National Public Radio as “A thrilling series.”

Her standalone thrillers include The Hidden Light of Mexico City, which was longlisted for the 2020 Millennium Book Award.

A 30-year veteran of the CIA where she focused on technical collection and counterdrug issues, Carmen is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.

A judge for the BookLife Prize and Killer Nashville’s Claymore Award, her essays have appeared in Criminal Element, Publishers Weekly, and other national publications. She writes the popular Mystery Ahead newsletter on Substack with her top secrets, exclusive excerpts and book reviews: https://mysteryahead.substack.com.

Originally from upstate New York, after years of globe-trotting she and her husband enjoy life in Tennessee. https://carmenamato.net/links

Reviews

[Chitra Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

43 Missing by Carmen Amato is a fast paced action thriller. The moment I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read the book. Not to boast about my intuition but the truth is, it has never let me down! This book is amazing, it is absolutely smashing and I’ll tell you why in a moment. Let’s get to a short summary first.

Summary

Detective Emilia Cruz is back on the force and is given an assignment to find the 43 students gone missing from a Mexican city. She is selected as a part of a secret task force to solve what the Mexican police has been hopelessly trying to for the past many months. While Emilia has the urgent need to find a perpetrator from her past, El Acolito, she pauses the search and takes the assignment head on. As she gets friendly with her team mates, she meets the very convincing foreign attache, who wants her to cut the assignment short for good reason. But is he really who he claims to be? Is Emilia ready for the incoming ambush?

Have I go your hopes high yet? Trust me, the book is much more interesting than the little cluster of words I put up as summary. Now to the part you’ve been waiting for.

Continue reading here:
https://bookvue.wordpress.com/2018/08...

*** This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Natalie Vazquez Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
This was my first book by Carmen Amato, and I thought it was a strong and thoughtful read. It’s based on the true story of the 43 missing students in Mexico, which makes it even more impactful — and sad knowing that, in real life, the case still hasn’t been fully resolved.

The book handles the subject with respect and clarity. There were a few slower or repetitive moments, but overall it kept my attention and I appreciated the way the author approached such a difficult topic. A solid introduction to her work.

[Lynda Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific story from one of my favourite authors. Detective Emilia Cruz is a tough, capable woman surviving in the male-dominated world of the Mexican police. I can't wait to read about her next adventure.

[The Rev. Cheryl Pero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding! I did not want to put this book down, particularly as Emilia finds herself!

[E.R. Yatscoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series. Detective Cruz is a wonderful character_ dogged, vulnerable, and a good detective amidst all the distrust and corruption. This novel has more intrigue than the others and higher stakes. Read my thriller set in Cancun.

[Mikel Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Detective Emilia Cruz has done it again. This time, she’s solved the mysterious disappearance of 43 college students – the 2014 real-life unsolved tragedy that continues to reverberate through Mexico. In this fictionalized account, Cruz and a team of investigators find missing parts of the puzzle that government authorities would like to keep hidden. Every chapter of this latest book contains twists and turns, and will win new fans for Cruz and her detective instincts in the series by accomplished author Carmen Amato. This account has it all: grieving parents, corrupt politicians, crooked cops, drug cartels, official government coverup, and efforts by the highest level of government to stop the investigation. Without giving away the Hollywood ending, let’s just say it sets the stage for another great book in the series that has been optioned for TV.

P.S. If you don’t know about the back story of the national tragedy, read a recent news account of the parents’ continuing search for the truth by clicking https://theintercept.com/2017/09/07/t.... And then read the book, maybe twice.

[Candis Flesher-Dodds · Rating 4 out of 5]

a well written account of police procedure in Mexico-based on the national tragedy that took on global media attention-The deaths of 43 student teachers from Michoacán - and the ensuing cover-ups and obfuscation by justice and police organizations and political officials -as through the eyes of female detective Emilia Cruz-Gives a very accurate account of the true patriarchal hierarchy -as it exists in Mexico -today -A rare insight of Latina life-

[Laurie Kazmierczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A challenge for the detective to become a task force member and be away from her familiar Acapulco. The detective is thrown in with different officers and has to overcome new barriers. Emilia Cruz stories always have a good plot to be unraveled. I recommend book 6.

[Mona Grant-Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

,Amato Scores Again

Emilia Cruz is still feeling from some shocking disclosures concerning her mother and an assault she doesn't remember. Acapulco is becoming too cloying for her. While on administrative leave, Emilia has been asked to participate in a national task force that requires her presence in Mexico City for at least two months. She decides to accept the offer. Emilia needs time away and time to think. The task force's purpose to to confirm the validity of the evidence from three separate investigations into the disappearance of forty-three students. The students had commandeered four busses to attend a rally. Tennessee were were found, but not the students. The disappearance of the coal-fired students has been investigated by three law enforcement agencies, including the Mexican f deral government. This is a high profile assignment and the stakes are even higher. Given the paramets within which the task force must function and the nonchalant cooperation from their support staff, one question becomes quite clear-who doesn't want the truth to wil become known Will they investigate or placate?

[Cwinter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The emilia cruz novels are really good books extremely well written with a great depth of experience behind the writer's information. I have really liked and read all the previous Books in the series but this is the last one I plan to read. They are really good books. Her characters, especially Amelia herself, are really well crafted, deep portraits. but personally, they've reached a tension and violence level that's beyond my personal safety zone for recreational reading. Given the topic and the location, I don't doubt that these are pretty accurate books for how life is in these kinds of locations for investigators and people who live in the communities. I recommend the whole series for anyone who has higher tolerance for that sort of thing than I do. To tell you the truth, most people DO have higher tolerance than me for violence in the books they read. The level of tension and the complexity of the plot deepen with each book in the series. I loved the ones I read and that's enough for me.

[Mr Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sixth installment in Emilia's series. I wasn't too keen on the preceding volume of this series, but I felt like this one really delivered a good, compelling story. It capitalises on a change of location and gives us a different kind of investigation for our lead character to work on – and gives her some new supporting cast to bounce off. I do feel like Amato tends to go a little bit overboard with the endings of her books, but even though this one went very big, it worked for me this time. I'll be catching up with book seven shortly.

[M Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed my autographed (!) complimentary copy of 43 Missing by Carmen Amato. This book is part of a series and definitely stands on its own but there were references to past events and promises of upcoming interactions that made me want to read more from this series. The main character, Emilia Cruz, is strong and logical. The story of the search for the killers of 43 college students was intense. Thank you for my ARC. I look forward to more books by Ms Amato.

[sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Emilia Cruz young beautiful dangerous ?

This is a series ... somehow I missed the beginning and this is several books into it..
Detective Cruz is quite engaging... really cared what happened to her .. all the characters are well written.. and the plot of the story has just enough back story to make me want to read Emilia's origin stories.. I don't like overly detailed stories...this one was just right

[Richard Cowart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Emilia is assigned to a national task force to find out what happened to 43 students but they are supposed to just review the previous inconclusive investigations and not really find new evidence. The five member task force has an unknown traitor in their midst which causes havoc in the end. Great reading with many twists thanks

[Daniel Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

Sra Amato never fails to provide a spell binding story with her character Emilia Cruz. Love the language and Mexican culture insights. Her Cliff hanger in this story does the job. I am ready for the next episode of Emilia Cruz. Bravo Carmen Amato.

[Tom Mahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars. The interesting locale, and the fact that the central character was a woman in an all male work environment were pretty much the high points in this one. Otherwise just a middle of the road police procedural set in Mexico.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silvio Chief of Detective got Cruz on the National task force, a case that has been unsolved for months. A vacation of sort in Mexico City, 43 students disappeared after an outing, and no leads. Would get her away from Acapulco for awhile to heal more. Six weeks mandatory leave and this is what she gets now. Even Kurt a love she has for him, but instead punishing herself by moving out.The story is based on a true one, Will one ever know the truth, of who was honest or were some corrupt. It is a strong plot that will keep you to the end. Once again the author has given us a riveting story.

[Patricia McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well-written Amato story

Carmen Amato's books are always fascinating, never formulary, always original. This story is no exception. Emilia is on a task force in Mexico City to solve the disappearance of 43 students, over a year after they disappeared.

[stephnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible series that I otherwise would not have known about had I not received this in a giveaway. And boy, am I glad that I did. I am completely enthralled by detective Cruz, she is such an amazing and strong character.

[Paige Kolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excitement in every page

This entire series was filled with excellent characters, adventurous story lines and just enough romance to lock me in. More please!

[Sally Dillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Wasn't sure a goal would be accomplished, but it came to an exciting conclusion.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series. Each one unique but all revealing different aspects of Mexico.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where are the 43 missing students??? Emilia may find them, but??? I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written detective story set in Mexico. I kept hoping that the 43 missing would be found alive.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Emilia Cruz is still at it, I will rate this book my favorite of the series so far. Yes, even if it looks like Kurt.... Well, read it to find out.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I prefer to read books set in Mexico when I am in same and Carmen Amato has come to rescue again. I admit to having been on an Emilia Cruz bender since our plane left the ground. Fortunately, her books seems to be getting better and better. Cruz is a detective working in Acapulco. Talk about shovelling water with a pitch fork! But for Cruz and her ilk the place would be far more corrupt than it already is. The author Amato is a retired CIA operative and knows a lot about her subject. Amato sets this book around a plausible explanation for the forty-three missing education students in Michoacan a couple of years ago. Amato does not pull her punches or sugar-coat her endings. Wow!