The book focuses on the new special agent to the FBI, Dani Vega. She served in the military under special forces, joined the rangers and had one of the top marks on her platoon. On her way to work one morning she witnesses a murder and goes in pursuit of the assassin until she looses him thru the subway. After meeting with her supervisor, SAC Wu, and conducting an investigation they are able to track down the assassin, Toro, and capture him. While interviewing him and gathering evidence the FBI realize that this was no ordinary murder, but a cover up. Now, Dani needs to infiltrate this team of mercenaries to gather the evidence they need to bring everyone to justice. An undercover sting that goes from gathering intel to a game of kill or be killed.
This was one of the first book I've read by this author and definitely not the last one. The story has multiple points of view that provides you with a perspective of where everyones state mind is due to the different situations happening throughout the story. The storyline flows easily, there's plenty of action and suspense from the beginning of the story, and the author keeps you guessing until the end. This story feels almost real with how the author gives you a view into law enforcenment procedures during investigations and the steps they have to take in order to gather the evidence. For example, the waits on the warrants from the assistant attorney. I really enjoyed the authenticity of the scenes. The character of agent Dani was definitely a favorite and with each chapter you learned more about her. You learned what made her a great soldier, why SAC Wu hired her, about her family, and what made her the way she is.

In “A Killer’s Game” (Daniela Vega #1) by Isabella Maldonado we are introduced to FBI agent Dani Vega. After she witnesses a murder on a Manhattan sidewalk and turns the for-hire assassin, Toro, into an informant her whole world gets turned upside down. Dani must fight for her life and try to keep the oath she took when she became an agent. But nothing is what it seems as she weaves her way through someone else’s game – where their can only be one survivor.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book, and this is my honest voluntary review.

I really enjoyed the Nina Guerrera books so I was excited to start a new series written by Isabella Maldonado. The new book follows new FBI agent Daniela Vega whose skills as a former Army Ranger help her prepare for almost any situation in the field. However, when she has to go undercover with a group of ruthless mercenaries she finds herself in a totally unexpected place: a maze of deadly traps and puzzles. The story was intriguing for the most part but I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous series. The character of Daniela seemed to be mostly focused on her skills and not as much on her personality, which I found disappointing. Perhaps future books will flesh out her character more. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Killer's Game is a really fun ride from beginning to end! Daniela Vega is a former Army Ranger and new FBI special agent who is onn her way to work when she witnesses a murder. After her team catches the murderer named Gustavo Toro, they learn Gustavo is a very small piece of a much larger assassin team. Gustavo agrees to go under with Daniela disguised as lovers to take down the assassin team from the inside.

The undercover mission goes wrong right from the start and Daniela, Toro and the rest of the team walk right into a trap. Daniela has to decide whether to trust Toro to have her back as she fights to make it out of the undercover mission alive. There are so many twists, turns, puzzles and code breaks throughout this book. Isabella Maldonado keeps you guessing to the end on who is behind all of this. Ultimately, the ending is very satisfying and the book is a rollercoaster of emotions and filled with plot (and plot twists).

I am excited to see what comes next in the series. This book is a must read when it comes out in May 2023. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of A Killer’s Game by Isabella Maldonando!

Big thanks to both Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of A Killer's Game.

4.5 Stars

Welcome to Daniela Vega's world, where she must stay undercover, unravel a bizarre conspiracy, and survive lethal puzzles!!

I'll confess that at first, Dani reminded me a little too much of another series I read, where some young whippersnapper (haha) is the only one who understands what is going on. I was wrong! Yes, Dani was the newest FBI Special Agent. And, yes, she was assigned to figuring out lethal puzzles. But, as it turned out, she had a team behind her, plus she had been a code breaker when she was in the military. So ... I went from "I'm not sure I'm going to like this book" to "I CAN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!!" What a hair-raising and gripping plot A Killer's Game has!! Picture this as a "locked-room" or "impossible crime" story on steroids!!

I have enjoyed reading Ms. Maldonado's Nina Guerrera Series, so I should have been more trusting. I highly recommend A Killer's Game, and absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

A simply wonderful story with my new favorite FBI agent/code breaker, from her previous book, The Cipher, Dani Vega. When Demi witnesses the murder of a very powerful US Senator's chief aide, on a NYC street, she takes off in pursuit, losing him to the subway.
Thus begins a non stop suspense filled cat and mouse game as the killer is found to be a notorious criminal named Toro, with whom Dani goes undercover with in an effort to find the brain behind the killing and possible large-scale corruption on the part of the Senator. The hunt becomes a virtual reality rendering of their search and escape efforts.
Great character strength and a plot that flows wonderfully with intrigue and non stop action.
Impatiently waiting now for Dani's next story.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. WOW! What a great mystery introducing FBI agent Daniela Vega. Daniela is a new FBI agent and a former military codebreaker. She witnesses a murder on her way to the courthouse. They eventually catch the assassin, Gustavo Toro, and he becomes an informant for the FBI to catch the head of this group of assassins. Dani and Toro go in as romantic interest for Toro’s next job. Except the whole team is caught in a trap. They have been told by a voice calling themselves Nemesis that they must fight for their lives. They are released from their locked chambers and have to follow clues to earn food, arms, and to stay alive. Dani and Toro decide to continue working together to get out of this maze. It is them against the others. Maldonado keeps you on the edge of your seat whether or not Dani and Toro survive and find out who Nemesis is. A thrill ride that you won’t want to miss.

I need more Dani!! This was a really.impressive read. The main character is a total badass and I loved i. The story itself is so well told and not bogged down with procedural aspects. Very compelling suspense definitely recommend

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the advance reading copy.

Review:

This one will keep you thinking and there’s no safe space to dial the tension down!

I love the writing. It’s fast paced, suspenseful, well planned and well played.

I am so impressed reading a suspense thriller fiction with the detective/police involved without much of the tedious repetitive scenes of investigations and dull dialogues.

Happy reader here. The characters are realistic. The suspense stays. I wish murder mysteries be this entertaining to read. The killer is someone really mysterious and it’s the best part reading about them here.

The blurb stays true I say.

As I said, your head will be pretty busy trying to solve the puzzles throughout this read.

Wow! I picked this one out after recently reading the Nina Guerrera series and loving every second. Isabella Maldonado does not disappoint with these strong Latina lead roles. Daniela Vega will be the next series to follow - a former Army Ranger turned FBI agent forced to utilize all of her experience in an unknown combat situation. When Daniela is forced to go undercover she finds allegiance with someone she least expected. This is fast paced action filled story to the very end. I enjoyed seeing the cryptanalysis theme again in this one. I also enjoyed the dual perspectives of seeing the inside versus outside investigative pieces come together.

I was gifted an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of A Killer’s Game by Isabella Maldonando. I loved the Nina Guerrera series, so I was really excited to read this new series. Code breaking and logic problems are FBI agent Daniela “Dani” Vega’ specialty. I loved the chapters when she has to fight her way out of a deadly maze, and her skills come in handy. I was less invested in the chapters that focused on the rescue mission, maybe because the maze chapters were so exciting and filled with action I wanted to keep reading them. This was a promising start to a new series and I look forward to learning more about Dani and her backstory!