I had not heard of Isabella Maldonado until earlier this year when Amazon made a novel she co-authored with Jeffery Deaver, a First Reads pick. After reading A Killer's Code, book #3 in the Daniela Vega series, I'm asking myself why? This is a propulsive thriller that reads like a spy novel. Her ability to put together a compelling and believable action novel is comparable to the NYT bestselling authors in the category. It kept me glued to the pages from the first line to the last. You will not be disappointed. This has all the makings for an excellent screen adaptation. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the digital ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have enjoyed other books by this author and this one did not disappoint. It involves and FBI code breaker, powerful individuals in and around Washington, DC, hit men and a family that is well hidden until events reveal their location. It is a fast paced, engaging read. I recommend this book for those who like fast moving books with a strong central woman character as the lead.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I did enjoy it, but I will admit it was slow paced in the beginning. Once I got into the story, it ramped up the pace to keep me from putting it down. It was an interesting story and plot line. I thought the plot was witty, and I enjoyed trying to work out the ending before getting there. The characters were well written, especially Vega the main female character. I would definitely recommend this book for a fun read. Thank you NetGalley ARC!

A Killer’s Code is a great problem-solving mystery. Mix in some romance, intrigue, codes, and lots of crime for a fast-paced thriller..

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

If you like your thrillers to be charming and fun, you won't be disappointed in the latest Daniela Vega adventure. Isabella Maldonado has given us another wildly entertaining tale. A hit man tries to do good when he realizes his days are numbered with an offer to help the authorities destroy a criminal enterprise. The secrets he has would take down the leader of the nefarious organization. Does the hit man give the Feds the name? No! That would be too easy. He leaves clues that have Vega and her team running around the country in pursuit of justice. It's the kind of thrilling page turner we've come to expect from Maldonado. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer for the copy of A Killer's Code by Isabella Maldonado. If you have never read Maldonado’s books you are in for a treat. Her books are always clever and I love trying to unravel the secrets. Dani Vega, the FMC in this series, is a codebreaker, so trying to break the codes along with her is part of the fun.I loved the story. Even though the beginning didn’t grab me right away, the characters and narrative ended up drawing me in. I loved learning more about Dani’s family, and I can’t wait to read more about their future as well as Dani’s. I can’t wait for the next installment! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

It definitely took me a minute to get into this one.

The thing is, I’ve read a prior book in the series, but once I started this it was clear I’d pretty much forgotten a lot about our characters and I felt like I was new to them. Eventually, about 25% of the way in, I settled and began to enjoy the read.

I did like our MC and found that the plot moved quickly. It was an entertaining read and I found myself very interested in the ‘why’ of everything.

Doesn’t work as a standalone and I found myself a bit lost in the beginning.

• ARC via Publisher

It’s been a long wait, but book 3 is finally here, and it’s excellent. This book is chock full of details from past stories that are now cleaned up,
along with some of the family issues that Dani must deal with even as her job is calling her with fury in its eyes. The writing is top notch,
nothing is left to guess and Vega remains the de facto in her team. This book is busy with changes in the lives of Dani’s family as well as
her FBI team, and as we all know, Dani is not particularly in favor of changes. I look forward to the next installment, and everyone who reads
this story will as well.
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer Publishing via NetGalley for the download copy of this book for review purposes.

After the explosive ending of the last book, I was so ready for another suspenseful and action-packed novel - and that's exactly what I got! From the first page to the end, I was totally on the edge of my seat while reading. I stayed up all night because I was hooked and just couldn't put the book down!
In the previous book, Dani found herself collaborating closely with the contract killer Gustavo Toro until his demise. After Toro sent a video message to the FBI with the ominous message "If you're seeing this, I'm dead," Dani and her team were tasked with deciphering the cryptic treasure hunt clues he had left for them. Unraveling Toro's enigmatic past proved to be even more convoluted than Dani had anticipated! imagined!
After his death, the FBI is on the hunt for a woman missing for 5 years, who holds the key to a valuable treasure. However, the search is complicated as every lead ends in a dead end. The company that was involved with Toro for many years is determined to find the missing woman before the FBI. Adding to the challenge, there is interference within the FBI ranks. Agent Vega must utilize her skills as a code breaker, along with her military and FBI training, while safeguarding her team, including her boss.
I love this series! Code-breaking is riveting, and there was non-stop action in A Killer's Code. I couldn't begin to guess what was going to happen next!

BIG thanks to both #ThomasAndMercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of A Killer's Code! This book is #3 in the Daniela Vega series and has an expected publication date of January 21, 2025.

Terrific follow up on FBI Special Agent Dani Vega's last case.
Dani is a headstrong, tough but very conscious driven agent who is just off
of an undercover cop that ended with a notorious gangster dying in her arms.
Now,she and her team are on the hunt to find evidence he left behind that will
enable them to arrest and convict an entire criminal organization.
No need to have read the last story to enjoy and follow this riveting thriller.
Dani's personal life is interspersed with her professional life, just enough to make you want
a little more. and will keep you ready for the next read.
Maldonado does a fine job of seamlessly blending "before" with "now" which makes the telling of the tale easy to follow and extremely enthralling.
The characters are well defined as always, easily relatable and actually likeable.
Not always the case with some.
Great thriller with intense action.
Next please, soon???

I have been looking for something similar to Will Trent and this really hit that spot for me! I especially loved that it features a strong FMC. The storyline and law enforcement aspects felt very authentic, the writing is really good and immersive and overall this is a captivating mystery/thriller

I really enjoy reading Isabella Maldonado's books. This was another excellent book. The main character, Dani Vega, is a strong woman in law enforcement. The characters were very interesting and intense. Because the author's background is also in law enforcement, the storyline is very solid and the author really knows what goes on in these scenarios. The writing was good and it was very entertaining. I would recommend this for people who like to read thriller and mystery books. I look forward to reading another of her books!

4 stars.

I really enjoyed the thriller element to this book, it had that concept that I was looking for and enjoyed about the genre. I enjoyed the use of the FBI codebreaker and how everything worked together to tell the story. The characters were wonderfully done and enjoyed how good the characters were in this story. Isabella Maldonado has a great writing style and I enjoyed everything that happened.

Another fantastic police procedural from Isabella Maldonado!

After famed hitman Gustavo Toro died, he left a secure video outlining how to find evidence of his crimes -- and take down his former boss. The video will lead codebreaker Daniela Vega and her team on a cross country hunt for clues -- and a search for a scientist who has been missing for more than five years. But Daniela may also need her Special Forces training as Toro's boss has his own tactical team on the same search, and they are somehow managing to continually be one step ahead.

Fast paced and thrilling, these books never disappoint! A lot of high tech and moving parts but nothing ever felt improbable or unbelievable.

This is a interesting series . I was a little lost on when Dani was undercover and met him , I haven't been reading this author for long so am hoping not everyone will be as lost as me.
But the mystery itself was interesting and the internal FBI politics added a extra layer to the intrigue.

Isabella Maldonado is one of my favorite authors. She is an outstanding storyteller, and her books are always action-packed and fast-paced. I loved that this book involved Toro, and that Flint was back as well. The plot was fantastic as Dani and the others try to find a treasure trove of evidence that will bring down a lot of powerful people. I also loved the personal aspects of Dani's life that were included. What happened at the end was exciting and it will be great to see her brother's role in future books. Her mom's drawings seem very interesting too. At times, I did think the villains were a little too all powerful and it was annoying that they were so often ten steps ahead but overall, it was still an excellent story. I highly recommend this entire series! 4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early ARC.
This is rounded up to 3.5
I liked this book, but I personally found it to be much less captivating than the previous two. I wasn’t as into the mission, and it felt like an action movie. Not a thriller mystery.
I love the characters, and I love that Flint was back. I wish we got more of him. His character was better utilized in the previous book.
I also love Dani. She’s close to being the annoying “I’m a saviour and will disobey everyone and hide my plan” but isn’t quite there. Her other qualities save her.
I liked the ending of the book for her on a personal level.

There will likely be another book because there’s still a lot of unknowns with her mom, and her brother’s involvement will be good. I’ll read it if it comes out.

After the director of the FBI receives a message from Gustavo Toro, Dani and her (well SAC Wu’s) team are back on another case.
I absolutely adore Vega and the entire series. Book 3 gives us a deeper dive into Toros past (and some of Vega’s), while they try and find his ‘treasure’. The hitman with a heart (or at least a code) has left a treasure hunt to discover those who have hired him.

Maldonado’s writing is impeccable and we follow Dani along for the ride. I really love how I find myself trying to crack the codes with Dani and her team before Maldonado explains them to us. I also love the hints of romance that are peppered into the stories. At its heart, the series is a mystery thriller and I always struggle to put it down. This book is just as good as the rest and definitely worth the read.

I will forever be grateful to A killer’s game being an Amazon monthly first read as I don’t know if I would have found this gem of a series without it. A special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas&Mercer for the eARC, I was overjoyed when I found out I didn’t have to wait until January for book 3. All views and opinions are my own.

Another book another adventure for Dani Vega. If you loved book one of the Dani Vega series you will love this one too as it brings us back to someone we met in book one, I highly recommend reading the books in order for the best experience,

Author Isabella Maldonado does it again! I love that we were brought back into the world of book one. The stakes are high and so is the action. This book is fast paced and keeps you completing entertained in a world of riddles, clues, mercenaries, and a small group of agents. Dani and the team try to beat the clock and get to a "treasure" before someone else does. They fight against an invisible force that is just a step ahead of them. They don't know exactly what this treasure is and what they will find but if they find it they will understand how big the pot actually is.

Free ARC from Net Galley

Lots of action and some neat turns in the code breaking details, almost reads like a good movie. I liked the fact that after the previous "Killer's Game", this can be read as a standalone novel. The story is always better when the author's background adds so much realism.