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The Hydra Effect: Revelations and Betrayal in Mexico City
Reeling from her break up and not ready to face the emptiness at home, JadeAnne Stone and her dog, Pepper, head to Mexico City at sexy Anibal’s invitation. Anibal reveals he is working under cover for the DEA and enlists JadeAnne to help take down Senator Aguirre’s organized crime network. The investigation leads into a maze of trafficking, greed, and coverup. Help comes from the senator’s associate, Jackman Quint, but at the cost of everything JadeAnne believes about her own life. Can she trust Quint or any of the Aguirre clan? Acting on her own, she discovers the truth, but not before facing the ultimate betrayal.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2019
About the author
Ana Manwaring
17 books20 followersAna Manwaring writes raw, unflinching crime thrillers that dwell at the crossroads of corruption, survival and vengeance. With a bold, gritty voice and a sharp eye for institutional injustice, her latest novel Mortal Revenge, co-authored with Fernando León Torrens, plunges readers into the sun drenched streets of Veracruz, where power and family secrets collide under the weight of violence and betrayal. Mortal Revenge isn’t just a thriller — based on a true story, it’s a fight for truth, told with unrelenting honesty.
Drawing on a deep-rooted fascination with Mexico, political and social intrigue and the human psyche under pressure, Ana builds morally complex anti-heroes whose fights for justice blur into quests for survival. Her work brings Latin American infused crime fiction to the forefront — combining intense action, layered character drama, and social realism. Her novels include the JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventures and the the Dafne Olabarrieta Mexico Mysteries. She has also written a memoir of her years living in Mexico, Saints and Skeletons.
When she’s not weaving dark plots or crafting shocking twists, Ana connects with her readers on social media, sharing behind the-scenes insights, cultural inspirations, and the emotional heart of her stories.
Ana also teaches creative writing, produces North Bay Poetics, and is the Vice President of of Sisters in Crime Northern California. https://anamanwaring.com https://linktr.ee/anamanwaring
Drawing on a deep-rooted fascination with Mexico, political and social intrigue and the human psyche under pressure, Ana builds morally complex anti-heroes whose fights for justice blur into quests for survival. Her work brings Latin American infused crime fiction to the forefront — combining intense action, layered character drama, and social realism. Her novels include the JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventures and the the Dafne Olabarrieta Mexico Mysteries. She has also written a memoir of her years living in Mexico, Saints and Skeletons.
When she’s not weaving dark plots or crafting shocking twists, Ana connects with her readers on social media, sharing behind the-scenes insights, cultural inspirations, and the emotional heart of her stories.
Ana also teaches creative writing, produces North Bay Poetics, and is the Vice President of of Sisters in Crime Northern California. https://anamanwaring.com https://linktr.ee/anamanwaring
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 25, 2022
What a great action thriller!
I read the author’s first book, Set Up, and this book deepened the dark intrigue of that story. It also gave us a more comprehensive view of JadeAnne Stone, balancing her curiosity, fearlessness, and her need for justice. I love the regional flair, the complex story, and the action never stops.
I read the author’s first book, Set Up, and this book deepened the dark intrigue of that story. It also gave us a more comprehensive view of JadeAnne Stone, balancing her curiosity, fearlessness, and her need for justice. I love the regional flair, the complex story, and the action never stops.
May 18, 2022
In the most recent release by Manwaring, we find JadeAnne and Pepper hanging around Mexico, trying to do some processing after the death of her friend Lura. Feeling compelled to attend the funeral, she runs into Anibal and reluctantly accepts his invitation to stay with him while in Mexico City. It doesn’t take long for JadeAnne to start thinking that something does not add up with Anibal, the warning to never come to his floor of the house, the help he employs, the vast amount of money, and his need for bulletproof clothing. Something is just not right with his reveal of being a DEA agent.
When Anibal and JadeAnne find themselves in a shoot-out while shopping for clothing, JadeAnne realizes that she is not safe and neither is anyone else. Feeling rocked to her core and starting to miss her ex-boyfriend, Dex, JadeAnne is unsure where to turn and how to get out of her situation. Anibal has now turned hostile, making it much worse when Senator Aguirre’s bodyguard, Jackman Quint, suddenly appears on the scene and helps JadeAnne find not only the truth, but safety as well.
Manwaring has written an action-packed tension-filled novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Set in beautiful Mexico City, with the lavish shopping, fabulous food, heavy pollution, and constant influence of the drug cartels, the story becomes all too possible. Who can the female protagonist trust? How will she handle a gun and the face-to-face experience of violence, drugs, sex trafficking, and language barriers? Will JadeAnne get out of Mexico in one piece? Manwaring does a masterful job of weaving this action-adventure tale.
When Anibal and JadeAnne find themselves in a shoot-out while shopping for clothing, JadeAnne realizes that she is not safe and neither is anyone else. Feeling rocked to her core and starting to miss her ex-boyfriend, Dex, JadeAnne is unsure where to turn and how to get out of her situation. Anibal has now turned hostile, making it much worse when Senator Aguirre’s bodyguard, Jackman Quint, suddenly appears on the scene and helps JadeAnne find not only the truth, but safety as well.
Manwaring has written an action-packed tension-filled novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Set in beautiful Mexico City, with the lavish shopping, fabulous food, heavy pollution, and constant influence of the drug cartels, the story becomes all too possible. Who can the female protagonist trust? How will she handle a gun and the face-to-face experience of violence, drugs, sex trafficking, and language barriers? Will JadeAnne get out of Mexico in one piece? Manwaring does a masterful job of weaving this action-adventure tale.
June 25, 2022
JadeAnn is in over her head. She's too naïve to be in Mexico at all, let alone mixed up with drug cartels. Despite clear evidence, she doesn't seem to understand that nobody can be trusted... except her dog, Pepper. Early in the book, I realized that I needed to adopt JadeAnn's MO: Just go along for the ride and see what happens. It's an exciting ride, sprinkled with surprises, disasters, and a few victories. Don't bother trying to shout good advice at JadeAnn as she goes. She wouldn't listen even if she could hear.
Manwaring does her best to make this book work as a stand-alone read, but I wish I had read "Set Up" first. Characters like Lura, Zocer, Daniel, and Dex never appear in this story. Nevertheless they have a profound influence on these events.
Book Three is out now. I'm so glad because I need to know what happens next.
Manwaring does her best to make this book work as a stand-alone read, but I wish I had read "Set Up" first. Characters like Lura, Zocer, Daniel, and Dex never appear in this story. Nevertheless they have a profound influence on these events.
Book Three is out now. I'm so glad because I need to know what happens next.
January 21, 2023
Non-stop Adventure
JadeAnne has just finished a case that had a tragic ending and all she wants to do is go home to her cozy houseboat. However, when her friend begs her to help solve a murder, she finds it hard to say no.
Soon she finds herself and her faithful dog, Pepper, up to their necks in danger. Events happen so fast she barely has time to separate friend from foe, let alone enjoy the mouth watering local cuisine. It's a fast paced and exciting adventure that will keep you guessing. I've already started the next one in the series.
JadeAnne has just finished a case that had a tragic ending and all she wants to do is go home to her cozy houseboat. However, when her friend begs her to help solve a murder, she finds it hard to say no.
Soon she finds herself and her faithful dog, Pepper, up to their necks in danger. Events happen so fast she barely has time to separate friend from foe, let alone enjoy the mouth watering local cuisine. It's a fast paced and exciting adventure that will keep you guessing. I've already started the next one in the series.
August 7, 2022
Exciting read!
I'm already looking forward to the third book in this series. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat and second guessing who was on which side.
I'm already looking forward to the third book in this series. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat and second guessing who was on which side.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews