loved this romance and how the characters changed through the story. also loved the friends and all of the interesting things that happened during the story. loved the growth of the main character and all of her trials .

Black Wolf doesn’t pick up exactly where Red Queen (which I also rated four stars, though for different reasons) leaves off, but the same subject is on Antonia Scott’s mind now as then. So it stands to reason that Inspector Jon Gutierrez not only has his partner’s back in this endeavor, but that he’s also trying his best to shield his queen from all harm. That includes harm to herself.

Sometimes that’s a thankless endeavor, or at least a fruitless one, especially since Antonia is convinced their last case is connected to what happened to her husband and that accepting no assignments until these phantoms have been run to ground is their story and they’re sticking to it. Well, they were sticking to it until a mafioso’s pregnant wife narrowly escaped being assassinated in a shopping mall and then vanished into the wind. Now their boss wants Scott and Gutierrez to find her. The thing is: There’s a lot of people looking for this woman, and they all seem to have different interests.

Black Wolf is just as good as Red Queen, but for totally different reasons. The breakneck pace of Red Queen has slowed down a bit in exchange for a hurry-up-and-wait approach, because in this book there isn’t the ever-looming presence of a ticking clock bearing down on our characters and the plot. In my opinion, this is a good thing, because it allows us to get to know both Antonia and Jon more as people, which is a luxury we didn’t get in the first book. We learn about Jon, his loneliness, his struggles with being a queer man who’s large, and his longing for a loving relationship. We get to learn more about Antonia’s training, her feelings about her son and her fears about being a mother, her guilt and resentment surrounding the decline in her husband’s health, and her fears about becoming too reliant on Jon. The pacing suffers a little, but the story is interesting and a quickly developing subplot surrounding the entire Red Queen project kept things interesting around the perimeter.

I’m going to be very interested in seeing how this trilogy ends.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Book Series/Crime Fiction/Crime Thriller/Murder Thriller/Suspense Thriller

Exciting and fast paced, this suspenseful crime thriller is the second in a series featuring the enigmatic, brilliant Antonia Scott and her squire, Inspector Jon Gutierrez.

The duo works behind the scenes in Spain as part of the secret Red Queen project. They are assigned to the most difficult cases and try to stay within the boundaries of the law. After a harrowing pervious job, they are again sent into a delicate situation involving the mafioso. Yuri Veronin, a man known for his money laundering expertise, is found brutally murdered in Costa del Sol and his pregnant wife, Lola Moreno, is on the run after an attempt is also made on her life. The Russian cohort is hot on her trail and even call in the notorious contract killer, the Black Wolf. Antonia and Jon are meant to find Lola first. It seems that there is a lot of double crossing and profit skimming going on and no one is to be trusted.

I really rated the first two books in this series and can't wait for the third installment. I like the short chapters and the writing style. I both listened to the audiobook and read along with the e-book so I could fully appreciate the nuances and also helped with the fact that I am not fluent in Spanish. I love the characters of Antonia and Jon and they make quite an unusual pair. Appreciate so much that there is no romance and enjoy each of their personalities and quirks. The story line is great and there are some surprises along the way. Definitely some dark humor as well.

The audio was a superb production and I absolutely love the narrator, Scott Brick. He has the most wonderful voice and gave life and individuality to all of the characters he voiced in this novel.

I am recommending this series to everyone who likes a good crime thriller and am thankful for receiving the ARC audiobook and e-book from the publishers. Looking forward to the next, White King.

Also -- there is an adaptation of the first book in this series, Red Queen, on Prime right now and I sure hope to see this one there as well.

Black Wolf is the second book in the Antonia Scott series, and even though I had not read the previous book, Red Queen, I did not have any difficulty following the plot in this one. In fact, I will be sure to read the series in order before the next installment is released, because I liked the characters so much!

Antonia Scott as a protaganist is intriguing and deeply flawed. Her partner, Jon, is fiercely protective of her and adds a bit of levity to her darkness. In Black Wolf, there are so many villains that I struggled a bit to keep the story straight when the POV switched between them, but the interlocking stories fell together in the end, and the author leaves the reader with a cliff hanger opening to the next novel in the series. I can't wait to be back in the Red Queen world again!

Content warnings for animal death, human trafficking, and violence

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press-Minotaur Books for the digital ARC of Black Wolf. The opinions in this review are my own.

Black Wolf is the second book in the Red Queen series by @juangomezjurad. Antonia and Jon are back this time trying to find the missing pregnant wife of a murdered Spanish mafia member. There is an assassin, aka the Black Wolf, who is also looking for this mafia wife. Who will find her first?!

I love the character of Antonia Scott and was so glad to read another book with her in it. I really enjoyed switching between the book and audiobook with this read since I did not want to put this crime thriller down. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. I recommend this series and reading it in order.

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @minotaur_books for allowing me to read and listen to this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

I love an odd couple investigation team and Antonia Scott is a quirky genius in the mold of Sherlock Holmes. and Her chemistry with Jon is great.

For me, the plot of Black Wolf felt quite different from the first book in the series, Red Queen. Red Queen was more of a classic serial killer book and this book went in a different direction. There was a high body count and a lot of violence. There was also a female assassin that reminded me of Lisbeth Salander. I liked the idea of a woman going against Antonio, but all in all this wasn't my kind of story.

Readers who are fine with really dark stories will love this. I am just not sure if this series is going in a direction I want to go as a reader.

Antonia Scott cannot seem to move on from the last case. But she has to get on with it. A brutal murder has occurred and the victim's pregnant wife has fled with a contract killer on her trail. With the help of Jon Gutierrez they may be able to find and save the wife and get the killer know as Black Wolf. Fighting the Russian Mafia and demons that are all too real Antonia won't stop.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - February 15, 2024
Publication Date - March 12, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @juangomezjurado, @stmartinspress and @netgalley!

I ended up rating Black Wolf 4 stars because of the story but for myself, I have to give it 3 stars because a dog was killed, which is one of my only triggers.

Black Wolf is the second book in a series but I didn't find it difficult to follow along without reading the first one. I found this book very atmospheric and descriptive, which is amazing for any thriller or mystery! Some people prefer “show, don’t tell” but I’m all for some descriptive writing when done well... and it is done well! I did find that the POV kept switching without warning throughout the book but I was able to figure it out easily enough. I enjoyed following what felt like multiple stories in the book because everything is connected but feels different at the same time. I also looked forward to scenes with Antonia because the way that her mind works is so interesting!

Get excited to read Black Wolf, available March 12, 2024! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

Wow. A fast paced, gritty topical entertaining Spanish noir thriller with an unusual protagonist in Antonia, a brilliant woman with, shall we say, issues. She's paired with Jon a more grounded detective to find bad guys. This time they're looking for Lola, the pregnant widow of a mobster. And the Black Wolf is looking for Antonia. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is the second in a trilogy and while those who read the first will appreciate growth in the characters this will be just fine as a standalone. A page turner.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I have just finished a bullet train of a novel. It moved along at breakneck speed. Jon and Antonia are sent to Marbella the home of sun, sea, sand and the Russian Mafia to locate Lola, a diabetic, pregnant mobster’s wife who managed to escape from an assassination attempt. Her mobster husband was not so lucky. Added into the mix are other parties interested in finding Lola for their own reasons: the Russian Mob, a mysterious figure only known as the Black Wolf and the local cops.

As well as all that going on, we find out a little more about Antonia’s past and what makes her tick. Poor Jon takes on his role again as the muscle who Antonia keeps in the dark far too much. Hopefully in book three she will finally learn to trust him and his judgement?

I throughly enjoyed this and although I’m firmly in “The Book Was Better” camp, I’m looking forward to Red Queen on Prime at the end of February. These books so far have been non stop action and I anticipate sitting on the edge of my sofa as glued to the show as I was to the books.

4.5 stars. Another adventure with Antonia Scott and her gay police companion Jon Gutierrez. He's not fat, just large. This is repeated throughout this book as it was their first foray, Red Queen. I have enjoyed both novels. This book involves a pregnant mafia wife and human trafficking. Lots of blood; however it does appropriately advance the story. Antonia must take medication to keep her ultra fine-tuned mind from spinning out of control. The downside to this medication is it can drive her insane. She balances this on a knife's edge throughout the story which adds to the tension of the rest of the novel. I look forward to the continuing escapades of Antonia and Jon. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martins Publishing for the ARC of "Black Wolf" in exchange for an honest review.
Awesome news for all readers who took the "Red Queen" thrill ride featuring the most odd couple of international crime fighters., Antonia Scott and Detective Jon Guiterrez.
They're back!
And once again facing a formidable array of vile villainy.
But even if you haven't introduced yourselves to them by reading "Red Queen", you can still plunge into this one......and; then chances are, you'll also want to go back immediately to the first book in the series.
Based in Spain, Antonia is a profiler-sleuth with powers of such instant perception, she may have skipped over an evolutionary cycle or two. 'Red Queen', a special agency dedicated to hunting the most dangerous criminals, has partnered her with Jon, a once disgraced, heavyset gay detective. Though brilliant beyond words, Antonia's also broken and tormented by the terrible damage left from their last case, with its still elusive perpetrator and her beloved husband left in a coma. And once again, her ever protective partner views her with a mixture of exasperation and tender adoration as well.
Their new case pits them against what looks like a bloody internal war among the Russian mafia based in Spain. A key mobster's been murdered and his beautiful trophy wife's on the run......quite a harrowing task for a woman who's pregnant and diabetic. And to up the danger level even more, the home based Moscow mob has dispached the 'Black Wof', a relentless ultra-skilled female assassin who's famous for leaving nobody alive in her wake.
All the thrills, twists and non-stop action are rendered even more entertaining when Antonia and Jon unravel what's really going on. Their interactions and revelations come at you fast, leavened with moments of heartrending emotion and sardonic wit.
Quite a team and quite a book. Just like my experience with "Red Queen" I had the best 5 star reading time with this one. And as I expected, the ending will leave you checking new release book news to see when the next one's coming out.

Another propulsive triller featuring the unique mind of Antonia Scott, and her wonderful partner Jon Gutiérrez. This plot is bananas, and it centers around the Russian mob. These books are an adrenaline rush from start to finish, and this one unfortunately ends with a huge cliffhanger. I desperately need book 3 in English!! I don't think my Spanish is good enough to muddle through an untranslated version. Sadly, I can't find any information on when the English translation of "White King" is being released. Hopefully very soon. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for a digital review copy.

A big thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of Black Wolf, due out March 12. Antonia Scott is back. “She looks normal. At least as normal as the most intelligent person on the planet can seem, someone who is also an agent for a secret European organization that operates on the margins of illegality.”

Partnered again with Inspector Jon Gutierrez, they are charged with finding the missing wife of a murdered member of the Russian mob operating in Spain. Turns out, that’s only the beginning of events. The partnership continues to blossom, in part due to Jon’s recognition that Antonia is a brilliant detective, “possibly the best there is”.

To recap the story is to give away what is so compelling. It should be discovered by the reader. It is said of Antonia, “Beyond her eccentricities, Antonia has many virtues. She can never do harm, and is adorable in her awkwardness. She is irritatingly stubborn. She is generous and courageous beyond reason. And she belongs to a species at risk of extinction: one that believes justice should be defended, not expected. It’s complicated.” There are many twists as well as fascinating studies of relationships. The book is suspenseful with great pacing. “God preserve whoever’s guilty from the wrath of Antonia Scott.

I’ve rounded up from 4.5.

The second Antonia Scott adventure sees Antonia and Jon looking for the missing wife of a murdered mafia figure who was found dead in his villa. The story is told from the viewpoint of Lola Moreno too who is trying to escape from assassins and who is both diabetic and pregnant.

Antonia is still obsessing about events in her last case. She's the only one who believes in the mysterious Mr. White who was the master villain who orchestrated her last case. Mentor, who assigns her cases, wants her to move on. But moving on isn't what Antonia does. She is still visiting her brain dead husband and feeling guilty that she survived when he has not. As the product of a secret experiment designed to produce genius investigators, Antonia is often lost in her own head.

Jon Gutierrez is the Basque Police Inspector who has been assigned to be Antonia's keeper. Much of the story is told from his point of view. He's an interesting character who among other things is gay and lonely and not fat and who is a man loyal to Antonia and to the law.

The story has a fast-paced plot as Antonia and Jon try to track down Lola. They aren't the only ones who want her. She is also being searched for by Orlov and his men since she disappeared with huge amounts of the mafia don's money. And there is a mysterious assassin, whose viewpoint we also see, who wants to find her too.

The writing style, with the many shifts of viewpoint, keeps the reader busy trying to weave together all the various threads of the story. I enjoyed it and the cliffhanger ending makes me really want to get my hands on Jon and Antonia's next adventure.

BIPOC Mystery Thriller set in Spain featuring a woman with a gifted forensic mind and her disgraced policeman protector as they race to find a missing woman before a killer does.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Gomez-Jurado's Antonia Scott series which has been translated from Spanish and features a woman with an unusually gifted mind who's able to solve crimes that baffle others and the disgraced policeman who's her protector and helper. Gomez-Jurado has written a fast-faced police procedural style thriller and crafted a mystery that's deftly balanced and will leave you on the edge of your seat. The investigation is intriguing and the reveals are masterful. I especially love how the story arc involving Mr. White has been plotted out and I can't wait to read how it's resolved in book three. The concept of the Red Queen project, which is a secretive organization that works in the shadows to direct criminal investigations of a highly sensitive nature comprising a three person team: The Mentor, the intermediary, The Red Queen, the highly intelligent investigator (Antonia) and the shield bearer (Jon), their helper and protector, is fascinating. Additionally, Gomez-Jurado's character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Antonia and Jon haven't had it easy but they two work together perfectly. There are some very tough topics tackled, so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, I would strongly suggest reading this series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Red Queen.

I received this eARC thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Antonia is a detective machine, and her partner Jon is the muscle and her security. They are back in a second mystery, straight from Spain.

This novel gives off Lisbeth Salander vibes, but this edition is more of a straight police procedural. A mobsters' wife is on the run after a failed hit and Antonia is put on the case as a "sort of police" as she is described many times. This book is alternating action and slow burn mystery. I enjoyed it, despite the extremely uneven pacing. It is left on a cliffhanger; so, despite my desire to maybe not continue this series, of course I will now. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Love this second in the series. Antonia and Jon are two of the most interesting characters in crime drama today. We get both a thriller as Antonia and Jon hunt down the missing wife of a murdered mafioso and you get to see Antonia and Jon develop their relationship as she struggles to find her way with her family and manage her role in the Red Queen project.
4.5 rounded up. I cannot wait for the next edition to be translated.
Given a copy by NetGalley. Opinions are my own

Oh, book two--I've been waiting for you! I loved Red Queen, the first installment of this planned trilogy, so I was very excited to see that the second one was available. I devoured this one and enjoyed every moment of it! It was fantastic, fast-paced, and again, offered an intriguing mystery at its center.

Antonia Scott (a government agent trained to use her brilliant mind in unique ways) and Jon Gutierrez (her partner, a cop with a sense for justice no matter the costs) partner up for another weird murder that makes no sense to anyone. A Russian mobster is murdered in his home, a chaffeur/bodyguard is killed, and no one can find the mobster's wife. Pregnant and diabetic, Lola Montero's time is running out. Antonia and Jon are searching for her to makes sure that the Black Wolf doesn't find her first.

Another great entry into this fascinating Red Queen project. I love racing with Antonia and Jon, rooting for them even when all hope seems gone, and I can't wait for the third and final installment in this awesome trilogy! It's so refreshing to read about a woman who can do amazing things with her mind and body.

Loved it. Antonia is one bad character and very gifted at solving crimes.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.