BOOK: A FORGOTTEN KILL
AUTHOR: ISABEL MALDONADO
PUB DATE: MARCH 2023
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REVIEWThanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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For me, this book had a slow beginning and it took me a long time before I reached even 30%. But, once I passed that, I was unable to stop. I wanted to understand why the perp was committing all those acts and their connections. At first, I was still wondering what would happen next when the perp was discovered in the middle, and I thought it would be boring again. But, there were just more mysteries to unfold. I liked this book, the characters and the storyline. I'd definitely read thr next book in the series
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Our FMC, SAC Dani Vega was amazing and she was facing a lot of trauma. It was nice to see her heal after going through so much trauma as a teen. I'm in awe of her strength and abilities.
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This book was a good one and I'm glad I read it!
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I enjoyed reading this second book in the Daniela Vega series from the very beginning until the end. I finished it in almost one sitting because the story didn't let me go. Just wanted to see how this game of cat and mouse would end. Daniela is a fantastic well-developed character who is a great opponent of the bad guys with an excellent and sharp mind that solves code and sees patterns when others don't. The story itself is like a fast train that starts at a somewhat normal speed and goes faster and faster while keeping you on the edge of your seat. I wished my eyes were trained to read faster just to see what would happen next. The personal connection with the other cases was a nice touch and gave more depth to the story. While reading I was impressed by the explanation of the procedures for solving the cases, even though this is not my first book by Isabella Maldonado, this is the first time I've searched her background and found out that she worked at the FBI, and she knows this from her own experience. I highly recommend this book and the other ones by this author to everyone who wants to read fast-paced procedurals with strong female characters who are fighting against serial killers and other criminals.

A Forgotten Kill by Isabella Maldonado is the second book in the Dani Vega series, but I didn't read the first one and I had no problems picking up on the characters or the plot. There are a few references to events in the first book, but nothing substantial and nothing that would leave a reader scratching their head.

A Forgotten Kill is a garden variety police procedural with two cases taking Dani's attention. One is personal and in trying to gather information from the presiding detective, Dani makes a deal to look at his current cases using her codebreaking skills. She soon discovers that an unknown serial killer has been terrorizing NYC for a decade and that his current kill count is set to increase immediately. From here the plot moves at a brisk pace until about the 58% mark in the arc. Then it feels like the action is supposed to keep increasing, but Maldonado doesn't really sustain the pace and I felt like the climax occurred too early in the book.

This is probably a solid three star book for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I did like the characters, but they didn't really feel like real people so to speak. Maldonado feels like her writing relies on stock characters and Dani didn't feel that different from Nina even though their backgrounds and whatnot were totally different. The vibe just felt the same. The plot hinges on hitting certain types of parameters and when the unexpected occurred, it didn't quite hang together for me. By the end, I was ready for the book to be over.

Title: This book was made for the Criminal Minds girlies!

When she was 18, Daniela Vega came home to find her father bleeding out and her mother clutching the knife. Dani was the one who tried to save him, called 911, and spoke with detectives. Her mother has been comatose ever since. Fifteen years later, Dani has followed in her father’s footsteps to become a decorated Army Ranger and works as a special agent for the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. And she’s finally equipped to take a deeper look into her father’s death when she discovers that her neighbor was killed the very next day. What are the odds of two murders in two days in the same building? Her mother couldn’t be responsible for the second death, so what if she was innocent of the first?

I feel like thrillers tend to be somber or subdued but this series is sexy and explosive. It feels weird to say that since Dani is hunting down terrorists and serials but… the reading experience felt like the book equivalent of watching Criminal Minds (tv). But instead of profilers, Dani is a codebreaker. She recognizes patterns and makes connections that others cannot see. Whether it’s untangling secret messages or realizing a string of unrelated cases are actually the work of the same perpetrator. I love that her POV is focused on the case and it's everyone else around her that’s wrapped up in the drama. You also get the POV of the unidentified perpetrator and that was thrilling and engrossing. Glimpses of his childhood, his past crimes, him watching the authorities try to track him down. And then the moment Dani catches his eye! THE CHILLS I GOT!!!

The continuing storyline of her childhood trauma, taking care of her siblings, and her hateful Aunt, fulfills my hunger for drama and enriches Dani’s character. If you’re looking to branch out from your usual reads, this is the series for you!

A Very Elusive Serial Killer

Conner meets Angela at an elevated subway station every night at 2 am. While walking to her apartment, a mugger threatens him. Conner dispatches him quickly. He wants to call 911, but she tells him her papers are not in order. As they walk off, she slips her arm into his arm. They continue to her apartment. She asks him in and goes into the kitchen to make coffee. She stops when she notices that a stalker has been back. He had rearranged and organized her coffee and tea in her pantry. She tells Conner that this had happened four days earlier. She asks him to stay, but he won't. Outside, the mugger meets up with him and demands more money because a broken nose is not part of the deal. Conner tosses a few $100 bills on the ground. He had it all planned down to the minute. Angela only had a few days left on this earth. This ten-year-old murder and two others have plagued NYPC Detective Chapman until FBI Special Agent Daniella Vega helps him. From this start, an action-packed hunt starts.

This novel’s main storyline has three threads. The first thread is Vega’s unofficial investigation into her father’s murder. Her mother was the only suspect and had been institutionalized for the past ten years because she could not stand trial. She has just started talking and tells Vega that she did not kill her husband. To access the Murder Book, she goes to the detective who inherited the cold case. He doesn’t want to make the effort to reopen it, so he asks Vega to look at three cases going back ten years that he believes are connected. If she does find a connection, he will provide all the information that he has. This is the start of the primary thread of the main storyline. The serial murderer narrates the third thread. While Vega’s boss was very supportive, his boss, the Assistant Director in Charge, is upset that the Office of Professional Responsibilities had cleared Vega for her last case.

This novel pits a combat-experienced Army Ranger and a cryptologist against a killer who has remained below the radar for ten years, plans down to the tiniest detail, and does not leave any forensic evidence behind. Vega and the rest of the joint task force filter through the victimology, trying to find patterns to catch the killer. This investigation led to many twists and turns that kept me engaged with the main storyline. When Vega is attacked, the tension ratches even higher. My interest was maintained to the end.

This novel has much more about Vega's background than the first novel. Most of the background is provided in Vega’s professional relationship with her boss and the NYPD detective, again her partner in this novel. The reader will learn about Vega’s life, hopes, and desires. Most of this is seen in her interaction with her younger brother and sister, especially with her father’s sister, with whom Vega and her siblings lived after their father’s death. The Vega’s sour relationship with her aunt also affects the main storyline. I enjoyed seeing what makes Vega tick. Conner's background is also very deep. Understanding how his personality became so twisted also enhanced my reading enjoyment.

Some aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading are present in this novel. While there are not any intimate scenes, the murderer is a voyeur and abuses his victims before killing them. There are references to other intimate scenes. Most of the violence is portrayed in a more edgy way as it occurs. There is a noticeable but not excessive use of vulgar and rude language. Lastly, adequate information is provided in all references to events in the previous novel. If any of the first three categories are issues for you, be forewarned.

I particularly enjoyed the complexity of the investigation. I like it when I must think along with the protagonist. This novel kept me interested and engaged throughout the whole read. I even reacquainted myself with the Julian dates. Because of how the murder dates were predicted, I saw a better algorithm that fits the murderer’s personality and would be easier to explain to supervisors and fellow team members. This is just a minor issue.

This is the third novel by this author and the second in this series I have read. I have also purchased three previous novels. Based on the last two novels, I rated this author as a Will-Read. If her novels continue to be compelling reads for me, I will up the rating to Must-Read. I have already received an Advanced Reading Copy for her next novel. I do recommend reading this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

A Forgotten Kill delivered an action-packed, police procedural puzzle with an utterly detestable serial killer to chase and all my favourite characters from the first book back in fine form.

The plot in this one picks right back up on the amazing action from the first book in this series, and immediately sucks you into the whodunnit bad guy doing bad things with Agent Vega hot on his heels.

I love Dani Vega as a character - bad ass, fearless and brilliant, she is just so much fun to read as a lead character. And I SO appreciate how @authorisabella doesn’t derail Dani’s character with any stereotypical female character tropes - she’s not tripping over herself for a romance, she isn’t distracted from the job by something flighty, and she never needs to be rescued. It’s refreshing and it’s just a delight to read.

No spoilers for this but I will say the serial killer was one hell of a puzzle and I LOVED how deranged he ended up being. The case was complicated and brilliantly woven together and the whole thing comes together in an explosive and hugely satisfying end.

Which is your sign to jump on board and get this on your spring TBR. It can totally be read as a standalone but I can assure you, both books in this series are worth a spin.

Many thanks to @amazonpublishing for the copy!

Once again Isabella Maldonado gave us a thrilling chase through a maze to catch a killer. This time the puzzle revolved around years of information, disguises, and the streets of New York.

The mystery is solid. I was surprised that one part of the clue didn’t come to light quicker. It stuck out to me immediately when it appeared on the page, it was the only thing that made sense. It would have made solving it quicker, but it would have proven that the team is smart and can see what is right in front of them.

I’m not a fan of the covers. It doesn’t help that the promos keep referring to The Cipher because the artwork is similar for the two series. I actually agreed to read the book thinking it was part of the Cipher series based on the cover design. I think there should be a definitive difference in the covers for the series which focus on two women.

I do hope that Maldonado isn’t going to create the usual trope of the boss getting involved with an underling. It would be nice to keep Wu and Vega’s relationship completely professional. Let her get involved with Flint or another NYC cop, just not anyone on her team or in her chain of command. It takes away from the strong diversity that Maldonado has created.

The killer works for me. The mystery resolves logistically. Maldonaldo should use more of her secondary characters, but hopefully that will come in time. I can’t wait to see where Vega goes next.

Isabella Maldonado knows how to keep her readers engaged and holding their breath. In this second in the Daniela Vega series, a prolific killer leads the FBI and city police through a fast-paced race to a showdown full of action. A capable woman driven by her heart, Vega sometimes makes questionable decisions but for the right reasons. I was most interested in how the author wove into this story Vega’s family history, revealing more to us readers about why Vega is so independent and passionate about the law. Some scenes were too perfectly resolved to be believable, and some word choices/phrasing distracted me from the story - otherwise this would have been a 5 star read for me.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this edge of the seat thriller.

"A Forgotten Kill" is a gripping thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. FBI Special Agent Daniela Vega's quest for justice and redemption is a compelling and emotional journey that delves into the complexities of family, memory, and identity. As Dani reopens her mother's case and hunts down a serial killer, the stakes are higher than ever, with each revelation bringing her closer to the truth about her father's death. Author Isabella Maldonado masterfully weaves together a suspenseful plot with well-developed characters, making this novel a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

This is second in the Daniela Vega series, and I cannot recommend this series enough! 
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Quick synopsis: Daniela (an FBI agent and former Army Ranger) wants to look back into her father's murder, and stumbles upon a serial killer that has stayed under the radar for 10 years. 
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This is just as action packed as the first book in the series, and every time it seems like it's all coming to a climax, more keeps happening. There were a few minor things I didn't love about this-- plot gaps maybe? not quite holes, but some inconsistencies...hopefully they're fixed in the published version. Also Dani is basically superwoman, between her military training and codebreaking, so it was just a tad farfetched.
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That said, with just a tad suspension of disbelief, I was completely invested in this, could not put it down! And I loved the way it came together in the ending. I hope there's more to come for this series!

Loved this book and character. I don't know why but the hand to hand combat fighting that Dani would go through was thrilling.
This is my first book by this author, doing research to see what else I can read from her.

Rating - 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - March 7, 2024
Publication Date - March 26, 2024

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

Even though this is the second book in the series, I was able to follow along well without reading the first one! Something I liked about A Forgotten Kill is that it feels like you are reading several stories at the same time because you are following and investigating several murders. This book is more procedural with mystery and less suspense but I actually liked it. I also really enjoyed the parts with behavioral analysis... you can definitely tell that Isabella is a retired police captain through her writing! I feel like some people stay away from procedural books because they can become kind of dry but the author did a great job of adding those procedural aspects with it enhancing the story instead of taking away from it. This book is also fast paced, which can be great for getting out of a book slump. I couldn’t guess the reveal! I honestly had no idea and was completely surprised.

Get excited to read A Forgotten Kill, available March 26, 2024! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

While helping the New York City police, FBI agent Dani Vega identifies the pattern of a serial killer. As the NYPD and FBI work together to find this twisted killer, a link emerges tying the case to Vega’s past.

I finished this fast-paced, action-packed thriller in less than a day. It was unputdownable!

Dani Vega is a total b@d@$$!!! She’s a former Army Ranger and trained codebreaker. Not only can she take of herself in just about any situation, she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save others. Like her teammates, I’m in awe of her!

“Warriors brought the battle to the enemy to keep others safe, and she was a warrior.”

I thought the first book in this series was excellent, but this book took it up several notches. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the suspense level high. This heart-pounding thriller weaves the past and present seamlessly as well. I’m looking forward to Dani Vega’s next case.

A Forgotten Kill is the ideal book for fans of police procedurals and/or thrillers with serial killer POVs.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the early copy of this book.

This is the 1st book from this author and I enjoyed it. Dani is a very interesting and strong character. I look forward to the next book.
The mystery was interesting and how the 2 cases connected was unexpected.

A well written and clever thriller featuring a dynamic and intriguing character in FBI SA Dani Vega. Dani sees patterns others don't so she's puled into an investigation that opens old wounds. I missed the first book but that wasn't a problem because this is nicely crafted. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.

This author has become a one-click author. Dani is definitely one of my favorite characters. Once I started this book I didn't want to put it down. As a true crime junkie this book pulled me right in.

The suspense and action that unfolded on Dani's quest for the truth kept me invested. Did I mention there was also a serial killer?

Isabella, definitely does an amazing job of delivering the story so you just want to finish the book in ine sitting, then find yourself wanting more.

I really love Isabella Maldonado's style of mysteries! This one started strong with a serial killer stalking his next victim and Dani realizing that she might not know the whole truth about her father's murder. The mystery took so many twists and turns. It kept me on my toes, and I really enjoyed the story! I can't wait to see what she will write next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Forgotten Kill was a superb follow-up to A Killer's Game. Daniela Vega is one remarkable woman and one of my favorite characters in mystery thriller fiction. An FBI agent with Ranger experience, Dani is highly skilled in cryptanalysis and code-breaking which allows her to see patterns that others might not see. Coming off her most recent case, Dani is pulled into a serial killer case while investigating her father's murder. This pits her wits and skills against an extremely intelligent murderer who leads the FBI and NYPD on quite a chase.

I cannot recommend this book and series highly enough and I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

As a big fan of Maldonado’s Nina Guerrera series, I decided to check out her other work, starting with her Daniela Vega series. I like Maldonado; she’s a good writer and storyteller. As a seasoned (20+yrs), former FBI agent, she uses that experience to give her stories credibility that so many readers demand. Me? I like it when a story rings true, but my enjoyment of a story isn’t contingent on a story’s level of believability. Personally, the crazier the story, the more entertaining it is for me. While this story had a serial killer with a really crazy MO, I would not be surprised if Maldonado came across a nutcase like this wacko during her FBI career. That thought is very exciting to me, regardless of whether or not it’s true.

So, the book summary pretty much lays out the primary storyline of Dani assisting two NYPD cops in investigating a serial killer in exchange for the NYPD opening up the case of Dani’s father's murder 10yrs earlier. Initially, Dani is on leave while the FBI investigates her actions during a previous investigation, which is why she has time to assist the NYPD. There is also the secondary storyline between Dani and her aunt (her father’s sister), who have a very contentious relationship because the aunt says Dani is just like her mother. Dani’s mother was convicted of killing Dani’s father and is now in a mental institution and has been pretty much non-verbal ever since she was committed.

Most of the story flips back and forth between Dani and the killer, Connor, who is operating on a really crazy kill calendar along with varying methods and even locations. As a former code breaker, when she was in special forces, Dani breaks Connor’s code pretty quickly, just not quick enough to catch him before he kills. Connor knows Dani is onto him and that he needs to step up his game to continue with his plans and kill calendar.

I LOVE DANI!!! She is such a bad@$$!!! The reader gets to see a lot more of that too. Maldonado delves deeper into Dani’s character development. The conclusion of the family background was a bit of a tear-jerker though. I'm very curious to see how Maldonado addresses that in the next installment. In the meantime, I’m going to check out her Veranda Cruz series. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #Thomas&Mercer #AForgottenKill

FBI Agent Dani Vega is on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation into her previous case when she gets a call from the doctors at Bellevue: her mother is showing signs of lucidity. Catatonic since the gruesome murder of her husband and Dani's father when Dani was seventeen, she is believed to be the one who killed him. Dani walked in on the murder and was instrumental in the case that led to her mother's incarceration.

When her mother says that she didn't murder her husband, Dani decides to look into the case again. She goes to the NYC Police Detective who investigated. He agrees to give her the files on her father's case if she will look at some of his open cases to see if he has a serial killer. Dani is a former Army Ranger who was trained to analyze patterns. She determines, rather quickly, that not only are the cases related, but that they are only part of a long string of murders all perpetrated by the same serial killer.

This discovery leads to the formation of a task force between the FBI and the various police forces of the places in NYC where the killer has operated. The investigation is tense and uses lots of new tools to link the 31 murders. But the killer has caught wind of the investigation and doesn't want Dani and the task force to succeed in stopping him.

This was an excellent and fast-paced thriller. Depending on how you feel about characters who are ultra-competent, the characters are interesting. Dani, herself, is a former Army Ranger with well-honed physical skills and with an almost preternatural ability to solve puzzles. But she is also a grieving daughter who lost her father to murder and was taken in by an aunt who was emotionally abusive to her because of her resemblance to her mother whom the aunt feels stole her baby brother from her. She feels guilt that her eyewitness testimony resulted in her mother's commitment to Bellevue.

I enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down until I reached the conclusion.