In the Mouth of the Wolf is a journalist's investigation into the murder of a fellow reporter-- Regina Martínez. One of many journalists who have been disappeared, tortured, and/or murdered in Veracruz, Mexico, the author focuses on Regina specifically while also examining the broader picture where freedom of the press and the safety of its practitioners are not protected. As a matter of power and politics, independent media is a threat to those with secrets from the populace-- secrets that could overturn a carefully concocted image concealing ill-gotten wealth and the violence needed to keep it.

This is one of those true crime investigations without a clear answer. And I think that's fair because of the dangerous realities of the situation. The author's journey to get to know Regina and her work, her friends, and her family was meaningful. It tells of a specific, valuable life while also painting a picture of broader forces at work. I felt the author's frustration at each dead end as my own. Part three of the book is particularly gripping because it's the firsthand account of her investigation, complete with misplaced assumptions and new twists. Readers are steeped in the environment of paranoia, misinformation, and fear surrounding the journalists who knew and loved Regina. You feel a part of the search, hoping each new revelation will lead to justice. And I'm sorry that's not the case. I was disappointed even as I respected the result as a dose of messy facts to face off with the official story.

As a white, American journalist writing about Latin America, the author acknowledges some limitations of her POV, which I appreciated. I do think that she over-emphasizes Trump as a harbinger of doom for the American press-- not because I think he's a great ally to impartial news or because I think there are no parallels to observe between bullies enriching themselves with power. I just think it's a common oversimplification that overlooks biases and blind spots in the American press that were pervasive and harmful at a systemic level long before a specific person rose to presidential power. There's no pristine version of the press that once existed despite the good it can do and the respect I have for journalistic institutions.

As a final aside, this isn't what the book is about at all, but several fatphobic comments sprinkled throughout got my hackles up. You can't work on your own problematic mindsets without noticing when they pop up in other places. Sorry, not sorry.

In many ways, this is a powerful work of true crime because it examines one woman's life while also considering the milieu that allowed her murder to happen and then be covered up. While the author reasonably avoids making a sweeping conclusion given the data at hand, she still examines many angles about why Regina Martínez was murdered. And perhaps more importantly, she looks at the impact of this brave, bold journalist's life and death on a society where the press isn't safe. Thanks to Bloomsbury for my copy to read and review!

Well-reported and jaw-dropping story about a murder that I'm surprised I knew nothing about. It was hard to stay interested in this book the whole way through, but I'm glad it exists, and I'm glad I read it.

This was a very interesting and eye-opening story. Who knew that freedom of the press is not always freedom of the press in other countries. This is a true crime story, and I think it should be read by everyone.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Katherine Corcoran’s In the Mouth of the Wolf: A Murder, A Cover-up, and the True Cost of Silencing the Press (Bloomsbury 2022) is a harrowing account of the murder of Mexican journalist Regina Martínez. Martínez was found bludgeoned to death in her bathroom in 2012. Because Martínez often covered political corruption and drug cartels in her stories, many immediately suspected her murder was retaliation for her work.

Corcoran does an excellent job of contextualizing Martínez’s murder—journalists disappear and are killed often in Mexico, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world to work as a journalist. Add to this risk an incredibly corrupt political system and rampant drug cartels and you have the perfect storm for violence. Knowing this context is crucial for the average reader who may know much about Mexican journalism and its risks. However, I do think Corcoran’s contextualization is overlong and could have been significantly cut down—much of the first half of text failed to grab me as a reader because the information about politics, press, and general culture in Mexico was difficult to follow and confusing. It is also really only in the second half of the book that Corcoran begins to investigate Martínez’s murder in earnest—my suspicion is that many true crime readers may be turned off by this fact.

When the book does eventually turn to Martínez’s investigation, it is much more engaging and organized. This half of the book almost reads as a memoir at times—we as readers get to know Corcoran personally through her sharp perceptions, fears, and worries. Corcoran’s account of her investigation is, in many ways, a love letter to Mexico, and going down a rabbit hole of the Martínez investigation allows her to face not only the grave problems with politics in Mexico but also the political problems that exist in the United States, her country of origin. It is evident that the Martínez investigation was extremely personal to Corcoran, and her passion for the case is contagious.

Overall, I think many true crime readers will want to skip the first half of this text, unless they are particularly interested in journalism and Mexican politics. This portion of the text is overlong and does not focus much on the Martínez case itself. But the second half of the text is worth reading, not only for the information it offers on the Martínez case, but for its authors compelling and sharp perspective.

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A copy of In the Mouth of the Wolf was provided to True Crime Index by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

About the Writer:

Jesyka Traynor is an academic living in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. When she’s not writing or researching her dissertation, she’s consuming all the true crime and non-fiction she can find time for. Jesyka holds two degrees in English literature and is currently pursuing a doctorate in contemporary Californian literature. Her work on women in twenty-first century true crime has been published in Crime Fiction Studies.

A few months ago I listened to a podcast about the perils of journalists in Mexico. So, when I came upon In the Mouth of the Wolf I knew I had to read it. Katherine Corcoran did a phenomenal job investigating the murder of Regina Martínez a journalist in Veracruz, Mexico. This book is a page-turning expose into the dangers that face journalists as they investigate and expose the truth.

I enjoyed this book as it is relevant to the dangers journalists still face today in some countries. It was a little slow at times, but the underlying message was there.

This was a very interesting read. The risk to journalists in countries without a free press is immense and this really helps to drive that home. Couple the corruption in some governments and it's horrifying what people risk just to report the news. I can see that the author was trying to strike a balance between repeating what has already been reported on the murder at the heart of it, her own experiences in Mexico (both researching and in general) and puling you into the investigation activities. I'm not sure that was done to the best effect but it's still an interesting read that I would recommend.

Unputdownable investigation of Journalists Regina Martinez’s murder in Mexico so well written so heartstopping kept me reading till late into the night.#netgalley #bloomsbury

An eye-opening, riveting account of the murder of a Mexican journalist. The author did a great job of doing a deep dive into the investigation as well as exploring and explaining the local politics and culture at play.

An interesting case of investigative journalism, in which the topic is another investigation - the one that led to the killing of the book's heroine. Katherine Corcoran, a veteran AP correspondent and former bureau chief, dives deep into the dangerous world of Veracruz politics to find answers. While there is lots of information about the risks that Mexican journalists face, this is the first book that I have read that is focused on their fates. I have found it engrossing and well written, even though I think it could be a bit shorter - sometimes the details of local politics described here were a little confusing. Anyhow, I recommend this book to anyone interested in the freedom of press and the reality of living through Mexican violence.

It is worth noticing that despite the topic this book is also a love letter to Mexico - the author's fascination for its people and culture is contagious, which makes the story even more heartbreaking.

Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury USA, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Absolutely brilliant riveting account of one journalist’s investigation into Regina Martinez’s murder in Mexico- well written, suspenseful and eye opening - she really tells the story of how important journalism is in todays world of “alternate” facts

Regina Martinez was small and stature but not in opinions. She worked for a political Mexican magazine and unlike most Mexican reporters she wrote the truth and not what the gangs wanted her to write. When other reporters were running scared she stood firm and stood for what she believed in and although she wasn’t alone in this venture it still somehow got her killed. Her murder was and still is a mystery and just like in America the local police found someone blamed him and he’s convicted and in jail. Catherine Cochran who is fluid in Spanish knows and understands the culture is the author of this book and she did a great job explaining the atmosphere in Mexico when it comes to all the things they don’t want to speak about. she investigates the different leads to Regina story even those she knew would be a dead-end. This is a very interesting story and it’s so sad but just for telling the truth people can lose their life. A lot of reporters get murdered in Mexico but none with the clout and influence of Regina Martinez sadly her influence didn’t translate to finding her Keller. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind to dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

"Don't trust anyone" is often an overused cliche in stories where you are supposed to be suspicious of everyone. In the Mouth of the Wolf by Katherine Corcoran is the first true crime book where I truly felt like I couldn't trust anyone but the author.

The story follows Corcoran as she investigates the murder of famed Mexican journalist, Regina Martinez. Who killed Martinez? There is no shortage of possibilities and this book meticulously walks through Corcoran's search for the truth. Well, any truth because it seems like everyone is at the very least holding something back if not lying completely.

This book is also an indictment of Mexican politics. I don't know much about the Mexican government, but I certainly feel like I got a crash course on the massive corruption throughout the country and how everyone seemed to be on the take.

I loved the book even if it is heartbreaking in many ways I did not expect. Corcoran masterfully handles the subject matter with a direct but light touch. A subject like this can easily become a treatise on corruption, but Regina Martinez is the center of this story and Corcoran never lets us forget it. You will at times feel anxious, angry, sad, and hopeful. It's a great book and a must read.

(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on