⭐️: 3.75 / 5

Publication Date: March 26, 2024

I want to thank Thomas & Mercer and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second book following FBI Special Agent Daniela Vega. You don’t necessarily need to read the first book but it provides some nice background to the current state of affairs for Agent Vega and SAC Wu. The first chapter does a great job hooking you into the story!

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, was the fast-paced nature of the plot. I thought when the villain was revealed to be a nice surprise. I felt that revisiting cold cases in this book to be a nice change from the first book. I also appreciate that these books are self contained, you can stop at the first book or even at the end of this book.

As for my reservations, I didn’t like how many questions were written into the story this book. It distracted, more than anything. Additionally, it felt like Vega was being needlessly reckless at points in the investigation that would have put the case in jeopardy.

Overall I thought this book was not as good as the first book but still enjoyable. If you enjoy crime thrillers I’m sure you’ll enjoy this series as well. Personally, I don’t think I’m going to pick up the 3rd book in the series. I’m satisfied with the 2 books I’ve read so far and I’ll leave it at that.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- Nonlinear timelines
- New York City setting
- Action-packed
- Cold cases

A Forgotten Kill by Isabella Maldonado is a gripping, twist-filled thriller that combines suspense, mystery, and personal stakes. FBI Special Agent Daniela “Dani” Vega, still haunted by the memory of her mother’s conviction for her father’s murder, is forced to confront her doubts about her past when a veteran NYPD detective reopens the case. As they track a serial killer whose cryptic riddles target Dani, she must use her codebreaking skills to uncover the truth about both the killer and her father’s death. With high tension, intricate plotting, and a compelling protagonist, Maldonado crafts a pulse-pounding narrative that keeps readers on edge until the final page.

This is the 2nd book in Isabella Maldonado's "Daniela Vega" series.
FBI Special Agent Daniela "Dani" Vega was 17 when her mother murdered her father. Her own eyewitness testimony sent her mother away for a very long time.
Ten years later while tracking a serial killer in New York she is led back to her own cold-blooded past when she starts doubting what she saw. Did she get it all wrong?
In this riveting thriller Dani must stop a killer, using her expertise as a trained codebreaker, with each twist becoming more dangerous and personal.
A great continuation of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I love this series. If you are looking for a strong FMC she is it. I also love a good FBI Series so this fits both

Not only did I love this novel, I went out and read everything else she’s published. These are fun easy reads in the vein of Michael Connelly. I’m not usually one for serial killer narratives but every single one of hers has kept me engaged. That said, this series was a bit different than the last but used some of the same elements.

Another wonderful suspense author, one that I have no problem doing a one click buy. This story was not a disappointment. With a horrific past, Dani Vega, a FBI agent wants to know what happened with her dad. She goes to the local police station, except they want help with a serial killer that is roaming the streets. As Dani navigates through this case, her past secrets come to life and wow, was it an eye opener. With each page I turned, I became more enthralled with the story. A must read for suspense enthusiasts.

3.5 stars
There was a lot going on with this second installment of the Daniela Vega series. Dani helps an NYPD detective to find a serial killer in exchange for him helping her get to the bottom of her mother’s murder. I felt like things came together somewhat unbelievably but it was a solid book for the genre.

F.B.I. agent Daniel Vega is waiting for the all-clear from her review board to go back to work when she is requested to see her mother. Her mother is locked up in a psych facility for a mental breakdown and for killing her husband Daniel’s father. After this visit, she begins to question the day in question ten years ago because she was the one who walked into the apartment to the scene. The story then evolves into a series of murders throughout New York that puts her in the sights of the killer. Who is the killer is a surprise along with the story which is fast-paced and full of energy from the beginning to the end. The characters are excellent and this is one fabulous story, very much worth the read.

Dani Vega is back in this second installment of her series looking for a serial killer that has been active in NYC for over 10 years and investigating her own father’s murder on the side. I enjoyed this episode as much as the first. Filled with suspense and twists I did not see coming, it kept my interest from the first to the last page.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @amazonpublishing for an early copy of A Forgotten Kill by Isabella Maldonado. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: March 26th, 2024

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124935432-a-forgotten-kill?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nTnv0yQ1xX&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Unlike most sequels, A Killer’s Game is so much better than the first book in Isabella Maldonado’s Daniela Vega series. Not only does it dive deeper into Dani Vega’s character and her family’s past, but it also gives an interesting and disturbing take on this book’s antagonist, Conner.

Wanting to have her father’s murder re-investigated, we see more of Dani’s abilities in cryptanalysis when she discovers a series of killings spanning years, with the suspect following a strict schedule and pattern. I enjoyed learning more about her fantastic ability apart from her combat skills, which were highlighted in the first novel.

What I really enjoyed in this sequel is the antagonist’s POV. Despite being very disturbing, I found his POV so fascinating that I couldn’t put down the book. Even though his thoughts and actions were morally wrong, I admired his intellect and was astonished and amazed at how he managed to avoid being captured after stalking, raping, and killing all those women for years.

Maldonado’s works have proven to be very thrilling and kept me hooked from the very beginning to the end of each novel and I can’t wait to read more of them!

This is the second book in the Daniela Vega book. Whereas the first book really showed us how smart, resourceful and badass Daniela Vega was, this second book showed her in a more personal light. It showed her vulnerability and how much she had to overcome to get where she is. I loved this book even more. There is still a lot of action and all around bad-assery as she gets her man.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing this e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great. Loved the two cases and their intersection, lots of action, smart and strong lead character. Want to read more of this author.

A Forgotten Kill by Isabella Maldonado
Daniela Vega #2

Seeing patterns and connections is what Daniela has been trained to do. Having her mother speak for the first time in nearly a decade and say something that makes her question who really killed her father…well…that had her wanting to see the old case files and in order to do so, her special skillset is bartered in exchange for the information. Little did she know that there might be overlap in her father’s and the other murder cases.

What I liked:
* Dani: Ex-Army Ranger with lethal skills, intelligent, team player, loves her brother and sister, works for the FBI, strategic thinker, is growing on me
* Finding out more about her backstory including who killed her father
* Learning more about the process of breaking codes
* Hearing a bit about the backstory of the serial killer – didn’t make me like or sympathize or understand the killings but it was interesting
* Not really feeling like I *know* Dani or what makes her tick but hoping to find out more about her – does she have friends, what does she do in her spare time, does she have hobbies or date or???
* The police procedural aspects of the story and how the police and FBI worked together
* That I wasn’t SURE who the serial killer was until Dani figured it out
* Not knowing what is going on with her supervisor and how that will play out in the future
* All of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Trying to wrap my mind around the killer’s motivation
* The way Dani’s aunt treated her

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Once again, Isabella Maldonado comes through with a kickass heroine in an unbelievable situation in this taut thriller.

Dani Vega is still recovering from what happened in Book 1 and visits her Mom, who tells her a secret about Dani’s father’s murder. Suddenly, she’s on the hunt for the truth - even if it’s vastly different from the one she’s always known.

Along the way, a battle worn detective invites her to look at some open cases…before long Dani notices a pattern that no one else has. And there are a lot more bodies than anyone originally thought.

Well written, action packed, and heart tugging at the right moments—A Forgotten Kill is a great read from a new favorite author.

Maldonado’s background in the FBI gives her stories a real and credible feel. This mystery was just as good as the first book. I love Daniela Vega! She’s smart and tough and I love that she’s a codebreaker. If you enjoy action packed, fast paced serial killer thrillers then this book is for you! I highly recommend it and her Nina Guerra series which I just discovered will be a Netflix movie starring Jennifer Lopez.

This is a new favorite series of mine and was thrilled to read this one. It did not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley and publisher.

The second book in this series featuring army ranger turned FBI agent, Daniela Vega, and this time, she also gets to dig deeper into her murky past. The novel opens with her visiting her mother and receiving a somewhat cryptic message that prompted her to review that incident in her past. But, before she can review those files, she has to do a favour for a NYPD detective. Then begins their hunt for a killer across NY boroughs.

Crime novels are my jam so this was an easily enjoyable read for me. I also have enjoyed all of Maldonado's novels especially the Nina Guerrera's series. As much as I love just how kick-ass Vega is, I love Nina more! This novel isn't so much about whodunit as the reveal was about halfway of the book but more about the suspense on the chase. It was a pretty good chase and near unputdownable in the last half. There were just some things about the 'solving' that didn't gel for me but overall, a pretty good read.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts

It's rare that I like the second book in the series better than the first, but this is the case with A Forgotten Kill. FBI Agent Daniela Vega is back to work--but this time it's a little closer to home. While working on a cold case, she begin to find more clues into her father's murder. Did her mother really kill him? The cryptanalysis aspect is a win here too. I hope there more books in this series to come!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This is my second book by Isabella and I went in with just the blurb as guideline. The book follows an FBI agent Daniela who at the ripe age of seventeen lost both her parents when her mother murdered her father. Years later she starts believing otherwise and can you ever truly take everything at face value? We follow her as she helps a seasoned detective take outa serial killer. This is a perfect read for fans of thrillers centered around serial killers and the dynamics of trust and mother and daughter relationships but subtle.

Rating:3.5/5

I accidentally requested this book without having read the first one (I confused it with another book by this author). I missed out on the backstory about why Dani was on administrative leave from her job, but other than that it works well as a stand alone book.

That said, I will read every book in this series! I love Dani Vega, she is such a badass both mentally and physically. It was also refreshing to have a female MC not have a romantic interest.

I do think some parts were a little hard to believe, like how easily she was given access to her father’s case file, but overall this was very entertaining and kept me on my toes. Looking forward to more books featuring Dani Vega!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.