For many people, Acapulco is a place of cliff divers, beach resorts, cruise ship ports of call, and spring break partying. The reality is considerably uglier, however, especially in recent years. It’s the real Acapulco that inspired author Carmen Amato, who has written a series of detective novels set there. Although I’ve never been to Acapulco, I feel that Amato captures the essence of the city in “Made in Acapulco,” a fascinating collection of short stories featuring Detective Emilia Cruz, Amato’s series protagonist.
Emilia Cruz is the first female detective in the Acapulco Police Department. The stories in “Made in Acapulco” serve as a prequel to the Cruz novels. In these stories, Cruz receives an education in the inner workings of the Department. It’s not a pleasant experience. The Department is filled with overt sexism, graft, and self-dealing. The city that the Department oversees is even worse. Drug cartels and street gangs operate brazenly, often either intimidating or paying off the police. Emilia soon finds that her detective skills and training mean little here. Instead, she gradually learns how to work within the system.
Many crime story fans are accustomed to TV shows set in the United States, where complex crimes are solved, and the criminals brought to justice in a one-hour timeframe. The stories in “Made in Acapulco” are quite different. Cruz and her fellow detectives never solve the crimes or make an arrest in several of these tales. But these stories are just as much procedurals as their television counterparts. Instead of gathering forensic evidence and interviewing witnesses, Cruz and the other detectives walk a tightrope of written and unwritten rules, payoffs, and corruption. Worst of all, Cruz has to battle sexism and harassment nearly every day.
My favorite story in the collection is “The Date.” Cruz, whose social life hasn’t been the greatest since she made detective, finally agrees to go out with another cop. The date proves disastrous when armed gunmen shoot up the disco where the couple went. Although Cruz brings down one gunman while her date watches, he turns the incident into a nice promotion for himself, thanks to some skillful after-the-fact maneuvering. Cruz learns a lesson in what constitutes effective police work in Acapulco.
One thing that readers won’t get from the stories in “Made in Acapulco” is a travel guide to the city. Various scenes occur in named locations, and some of these locales may well be scenic landmarks or tourist stops. But author Amato doesn’t offer the sort of detail that occasionally appears in stories set in exotic destinations. She is interested in telling a story, not promoting local tourism. In fact, I would definitely avoid a couple of locations, like the disco in the aforementioned story, on any visit to Acapulco.
Reader reactions to the stories in “Made in Acapulco” will be more of a case of YMMV than most. Those expecting shrewd detective work, detailed investigative techniques, or even a sense of justice prevailing may be disappointed. On the other hand, I really enjoyed seeing an unflattering but realistic look at police work in a foreign land. This isn’t a warts-and-all portrayal; instead, it’s warts-and-warts. Through it all, the character of Emilia Cruz emerges, occasionally bloodied, often frustrated, but learning and improving. As an introduction to the Cruz novels, “Made in Acapulco” is quite successful. I don’t intend to say adios to this character.
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![Made in Acapulco: The Emilia Cruz Stories (Detective Emilia Cruz Book 0) by [Carmen Amato]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51YJS0zzTcL._SY346_.jpg)
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Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2020
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Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2014
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Top reviews from other countries
Judith Dickinson
Life as some Mexicans live it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2019Verified Purchase
Peter Alan Matthews
A book that gives the feeling that you are in Acapulco - punches are pulled.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2020Verified Purchase
DGKaye
Strong Female Protagonist
Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2020Verified Purchase
Norm Hamilton
An excellent introduction to the series
Reviewed in Canada on November 21, 2013Verified Purchase
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