Cliff Diver (Emilia Cruz Novel, #1)

by Carmen Amato

[Quirky Cat]

I've been looking for a new mystery series to dive into, when PICT offered up Cliff Diver as part of their blog tour. Naturally, I couldn't resist! Cliff Diver, written by Carmen Amato, is the first in the Emilia Cruz Mysteries.

Emilia Cruz is the first female police detective in Acapulco, and she's proud of that fact. Yet the rest of the precinct doesn't feel the same way about her newest position, with several supposed coworkers striving to see her out.

Now, Emilia is on a high profile case – one that very well could make (or break) her career. Unfortunately, the murder victim is her lieutenant, and the things she digs up in the process will not be making her new friends anytime soon.

Words cannot express how much fun it was to read Cliff Diver. I really enjoyed Carmen Amato's writing style, the characters she created (well, I liked one, and loved to hate many others), the plot, everything. It made for a comprehensive story that sucked me right in.

The fact that it was exactly the sort of read I was looking for was icing on the cake. Emilia Cruz is a hard working detective, with countless odds against her – many stacked by those that can't stand the idea of a woman doing a job such as this. I know that this isn't a new plot, but I still am pleased that Amato covered it here. The more we talk about it, right?

Fans of police procedurals will love the details that come up during Emilia's investigation, that much I am certain of. She's the sort of detective that leaves no stone unturned, which is so incredibly satisfying to read.

After finishing Cliff Diver, I just know that I'm going to have to check out the rest of the series. Thankfully, it looks like there are several more waiting for me!

Thanks to Partners in Crime Tours for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks