i really enjoy a thriller that sprinkles in some humor and that is just what this book did. Well paced with a great mystery, I enjoyed this one.

This book made me forget I was reading - it reads like a movie. The premise (I'll be brief), is that a disgraced cop is recruited to work on a secretive team that solves crimes. The pace is quick so you do not have time to recover from one scene before diving into the next, as it should be with a thriller. Many books tell you all about the main characters within the first chapter or so. I like that you learn more and more about the characters as this book develops.

I usually like to give details about the books I read, but I won't because I feel like this is the kind of book where if you give things away it'll ruin the experience of reading it for yourself. I will say that it had a good plot, good pace, and character that will make you invest in reading the series - I'm moving on to the second book soon - The Black Wolf.

Red Queen is an excellent thriller by this Spanish author with fascinating characters and an intricate plot. It takes place largely in Madrid Spain, giving the book an interesting location and feel. The characters are well written and develop in complexity and depth as the story progresses. The author slowly reveals ever more layers in the plot as the book progresses and ties them well into the characters' back stories and motivations. The ending is well written, leaving the reader waiting for the next book in this Antonia Scott trilogy.

Highly recommended.

I knew when I read the summary for Red Queen, I needed to get my grubby little fingers on a copy! Red Queen is an addictive crime thriller featuring the reluctant return of brilliant Spanish detective Antonia Scott. Still traumatized and in isolation after a past case, Scott is coaxed into investigating a gruesome ritualistic murder by Jon Gutierrez, a disgraced cop desperate for redemption. As the macabre killings continue and a high-profile abduction points to a sinister mastermind at work, Scott and Gutierrez race against time to connect the dots and stop the killer's twisted plan. Vivid characters, high stakes, and plenty of twists will keep readers guessing until the final reveal. Page turner until the very end!

This book was SO much fun. I normally would not offer comparisons for a book, but I am compelled to do it for this one. Our main female protagonist Antonia, is a cross between Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Dr. Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds and dash of Jason Bourne… for good measure. She is a fantastic character with depth and quirks and motivations that the reader might not quite understand, but respects and roots for anyway. Detective Jon Gutíerrez is a do-gooder who did wrong for the right reasons and got caught. The two must now work together to solve a string of mysterious crimes, for which neither has a clue about.

This odd couple finds themselves racing around the streets of Spain to uncover the who, why and where of these macabre crimes to save the daughter of one of the richest men in the country. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if they would make it in time; and what would happen next if they did.

This is a series that I can’t wait to read more of.

RED QUEEN is a fast-paced thrill-fest. This beginning to the Antonia Scott Series is dark, twisty, and filled with wit. Gómez-Jurado has gifted his readers with a start to something that will hopefully continue for many more books. RED QUEEN introduces a unique and captivating character with Antonia. I cannot wait to read more.

Red Queen

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

This book is a fast-paced, suspenseful, and original story that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. The author creates a fascinating and complex protagonist in Antonia Scott, who is not only a genius, but also believably flawed, complex (and vulnerable but brave).

The plot is full of twists and turns, and the writing is crisp and absorbing. This book explores themes such as trauma, justice, loyalty, and redemption.

Red Queen is the first book in a trilogy that has sold over 2 million copies in Spain, and has been adapted into an Amazon Prime series, and was selected one of 2023 best mysteries from Amazon editors.

If you are looking for a thrilling and intelligent read, you will not be disappointed by this book. I highly recommend it to fans of mysteries, spy novels,and psychological thrillers.

I absolutely loved this book and I was fascinated with Antonia Scott's mind, the secret organization, and Officer Gutierrez. It's written as a murder thriller/mystery, but there is compassion, companionship, and kindness shown throughout the book that makes it unique. The writing style is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Scott Brick narrating the audiobook. I can't wait for book two and I hope this becomes a long series.

"Red Queen" is a good mystery that’ll have you guessing throughout. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the characters and watching them unfold alongside the mystery. This book was well written and mystery lovers should add it to their tbr.

I received this book electronically via NetGalley and thoroughly enjoyed it! The female character of Antonia is very interesting. Her intelligence and demons combined to make her choices and actions very compelling. It was a fun read and I will enjoy more content with her character!

Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado is the first book of a trilogy.The Red Queen Project was developed to solve the most difficult crimes.Antonia Scott isa young woman with an unusually gifted mind who is able to look at crimes in a different way from other forensic scientists.Jon Gutierrez is in trouble and recruited to get Antonia to help solve a rime because she has been unwilling to help the Red QueenProject since a traumatic event.Good character development,, good plot twists ,thrills and humor all help make this a good read!I am looking forward to Black Wolf!Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC!

This is another thriller you must add to your tbr list if you aren’t sure where to start. This first installment in the Antonia Scott trilogy will introduce you to one of the most intelligent and interesting female characters since Lizbeth Salander.
Antonia is special, although at first glance most people underestimate her. While she's fierce and possesses a superior iQ than most humans, she shows her vulnerable side through her actions. To me, that makes her more relatable and imperfect, like most people are.
The narration style is different than I'm accustomed to, but it still made for an enjoyable read. I will continue reading this series for sure.
Fans of complex, flawed characters and lots of action will enjoy this thriller.

You need to be versed in metric measurements to translate the author's use of that system. Then you need a score care to keep track of all the characters. The author keeps reminding the reader that one of the lead characters is gay. Two or three times would have been OK but the reader was repeatedly reminded of that fact.
The story is one I couldn't wait to figure out "who done it". Set in Spain, Jon is a cop suspended, and about to face criminal charges. He is told by Mentor that if he just does this one thing, he will be reinstated. But who is Mentor? All Jon has to do is convince Atonia to help solve a case. Easier said than done as she has a forensic mind that allows her to reconstruct crimes and solve baffling murders. Unfortunately she won't leave her apartment because her husband is in a comma she feels she caused. Resisting helping on the case, Antonia joins with Jon who protects and helps her investigate a new, terrifying case.

Red Queen is a fast paced forensic thriller that leaves no stone unturned in a Macbeth race to save a young mother. Spellbinding and powerful characters woven with deep threads of mystery intrigue and a despicable killer playing a face of his own making.

I can't believe I didn't read this book as soon as NetGalley gave it to me. I am SO glad I already have the ARC to the second book in the trilogy, and will be devestated if I don't get my hands on the third.

What a fantastic story! I was sucked in from the opening pages. I mentioned the novel to a friend at about 50% of the way through, figuring I was safe in my estimation that this would be a 4.5-5 star book. I was right! The plot moves at breakneck speed, the storyline is so interesting, the twists keep coming, the characters are fantastic. Antonia is a mess, but she's a genius. Jon is in trouble, but he's a good policeman. They learn to work together.

"Antonia Scott—the daughter of a British diplomat and a Spanish mother—has a gifted forensic mind, whose ability to reconstruct crimes and solve baffling murders is legendary. But after a personal trauma, she's refused to continue her work or even leave her apartment.

Jon Gutierrez, a police officer in Bilbao—disgraced, suspended, and about to face criminal charges—is offered a chance to salvage his career by a secretive organization that works in the shadows to direct criminal investigations of a highly sensitive nature. All he has to do is succeed where many others have failed: Convince a recalcitrant Antonia to come out of her self-imposed retirement, protecting her and helping her investigate a new, terrifying case.

The case is a macabre, ritualistic murder—a teen-aged boy from a wealthy family whose body was found without a drop of blood left in it. But the murder is just the start. A high-ranking executive and daughter of one of the richest men in Spain is kidnapped, a crime which is tied to the previous murder. Behind them both is a hidden mastermind with even more sinister plans. And the only person with a chance to see the connections, solve the crimes and successfully match wits with the killer before tragedy strikes again...is Antonia Scott."

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur book for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

gay-cops, thriller, 21st-century, crime-fiction, suspense, Spain, Spanish-literature, noir, detective, intrigue, kidnapping, Madrid, law-enforcement, forensic-consultant, reclusive, adrenaline rush, PTSD, extortion, gruesome, serial-murder, investigations, unputdownable*****

Translated into English from the Spanish of Spain.
Twisty, alarming, fast-paced, and thoroughly addictive. The publisher's blurb covers the very basics, and no need to repeat, and spoilers are just wrong. Did I mention addictive addictive?!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

#AntoniaScottNo1 #TranslatedIntoEnglish

Fast paced and suspenseful mystery thriller set in Spain.

First in a trilogy featuring the brainiac Antonia Scott, a young woman whose intelligence makes her able to solve some of the most difficult murder cases, who teams up with a disgraced police officer, Jon Gutierrez, from Bilbao. Together they are meant to work behind the scenes on an investigation involving the discovery of a savagely murdered teenaged boy from a very wealthy family. Then the daughter of a billionaire is nabbed. The cases appear to be linked. The clock is ticking and these two must figure out who and why.

The action was rapid and the chapters were short. Lots of time hops and backstory. Interesting details that many nerds will love. Despite it being a bit choppy, the narrative came together leaving some unanswered questions. The partnership between the two main characters is interesting and definitely has a lot of potential for added depth especially in their personal lives. I’m interested to see where the story goes next and plan to read the second in the series shortly.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

I really enjoyed this new to me author’s story. Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado
This is a fast-paced, full of tension an intrigue story.
I thought this thriller had a great plot, exciting characters and a compulsive story to keep reading to the end.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Antonia Scott was crafted into the woman she is today. Through intense and inhuman training she has become most intelligent person in the world. A covert police force created her to help them fight crime but it's come at a price...it's cost her the people she love. Enter dishonered Police Inspector, Jon Gutierrez, who has been blackmailed into bringing Scott back to work to find a heinous criminal mastermind.

Antonia and Jon were endearing characters. The location for the final scene was very interesting and if I'm ever in Barcelona I need to find it. The plot moved fairly quickly and the ending was satisfying - but only because I knew this was a series.

FYI There is a gruesome bomb scene described in minute detail so be warned if that's not your thing.

I'm looking foward to reading the next installment. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.