"A writer is someone who can make a riddle out of an answer." (Karl Kraus)

And that writer is Isabella Maldonado. This was my first book by this talented author. I have been brought to my knees. A Forgotten Kill is a smart, smart read that possesses a rapid-fire storyline and characters with extremely sharp edges. Although it's the second book in this series, it reads perfectly as a standalone. (Already grabbed the first book, A Killer's Game, to read later.) I've struck gold.

Let's introduce you to Daniela "Dani" Vega, a special agent in the FBI. But those are not her only credentials. She's a former Army Ranger and a crackerjack cryptanalysis agent. Dani never rests on her laurels.

Her focus has always been on her younger brother and sister, Erica and Axel. A tragedy occurred ten years ago when their father was murdered. From all indications, it appeared that he died at the hands of their mother. It was Dani who entered the family's apartment and found Camila with a knife in her hands hovering over his body. Incoherent, Camila was taken to Bellevue where she's been ever since. Their Aunt Manuela helped to raise the three of them.

But things have changed. Upon a recent visit to Camila, Dani found her lucid and claiming that she did not kill her husband. Even her psychiatrist notices a change in her. But is it enough to reopen the case?

Switch gears and Isabella Maldonado has turned Dani's head in a different direction. There appears to be a serial killer leaving tracks in New York City for over ten years. Dani started making connections. This guy is focused on single women living alone. Seems generic, huh? This individual is brilliant and leaves nothing behind. His hunting ground is usually in East Harlem, Manhattan and his dates are meticulously planned. He begins to leave puzzles/codes for the police. And they're tricky and well thought out.......not just an alley level creep.

Dani will work with Detective Mark Flint of the NYPD. Maldonado has crafted these two with brains on fire and analytical skills to match. It's a pleasure to finally read a storyline pumpin' with action and smarts. No loose ends and questionable actions here. After all, Isabella Maldonado has been an FBI agent herself in real life. And Momma.........it shows. One of my favorite reads of 2024.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Isabella Maldonado for the opportunity.

Isabella Maldonado was one of my favorite new author discoveries last year, and I still can't believe it took me that long to finally pick up on of her books. I was hooked as soon as I read the first Daniela Vega book last year, and I've been waiting impatiently for this sequel to be published. There is just something about the writing of this author that is highly addictive... And while A Forgotten Kill did have a completely different feel than the first book, I still very much enjoyed my time with it. The perfect dose of serial killer thriller!

Technically, A Forgotten Kill can quite easily be read as a stand-alone, especially considering there wasn't much space for personal development in the first book. I would personally still suggest reading the books in order though, because it will give you a better idea of what main character Dani is capable of as well as the dynamics with the other key characters. While the first book was more action thriller and cryptology focused, A Forgotten Kill is what you can call a typical serial killer thriller with a FBI agent in the lead. What makes this sequel stand out is Dani, as she adds her own personal flavor and skills to the investigation. Dani makes for such a fascinating lead with her codebreaker background and tragic past, and I've been looking forward to learn more about her. We definitely get a dose of personal developments in this one!

The main case in A Forgotten Kill is a serial killer investigation, but there is also focus on the murder of Dani's father ten years ago. Doubts about her mother's guilt make her want to look into that case, but the detective only agrees to give her the files if she helps with another case... And Dani ends up uncovering an active serial killer that managed to go undetected for ten years. There is less cryptology this time around, but I liked how this element was incorporated into the plot and the role it played in general. It was also interesting to see how Dani and the rest investigated the crimes... And there are multiple twists and dangerous moments along the way.

I always enjoy a serial killer POV, so of course I could really appreciate this POV in A Forgotten Kill as well. It was fascinating to discover more about his past and his motivations, and I definitely didn't see his identity coming. Once that was revealed, there was still plenty of story left and I was wondering how the plot could still grab me after that... But I shouldn't have worried, because Isabella Maldonado had plenty more to offer afterwards to keep you on your toes. If you like your thrillers on the tense side, you will be in for a treat!

A Forgotten Kill ended up being a worthy Daniela Vega sequel. While completely different than the first book, it still offered a tense and action-packed story with a dose of personal development thrown in. If you enjoy a good serial killer thriller, I can highly recommend it! Her books in general are well worth your time for that matter.

I really enjoyed the first book featuring Dani Vega and her special set of skills. In this book, you get more insight into Dani, her family dynamics, and how she started on her pathway to military service and law enforcement. Two mysteries are going on, the newly reopened murder of Dani’s father and a current serial killer. Fast-paced and engaging. I look forward to the series continuing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Isabella Maldonado for the eARC.

FBI Agent Dani Vega is called to the mental hospital where her mother was placed after being found unfit to stand trial for the murder of her husband, Dani's father. But when Dani gets a call that her mother is beginning to have moments Dani plays her a visit to hear what she has to say unaware that what comes out of her mouth well change everything.

When Dani tracks down the detective who investigated her father's murder she strikes a dead to help him solve some cases in exchange for her father's file. What they didn't bargain for was to stumble across a serial killer who may or may not have made a mistake that ties himself and Dani together.

What will the killer do and risk to remain free, and what will Dani do to get justice for his victims?

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 2 of FBI Codebreaker Dani Vega's story. This was an excellent follow up to the first book from 2023. In a Forgotten Kill, Agent Vega's unique skills brings a prolific serial killer into her sights. Her cat and mouse game with the killer brings to light the truth behind her own troubled family history. Book 1 was excellent and quite possibly this one was even better. I wonder if there will be more books to come with this character as it has been one of the best new series that I have read. Kudos to the author. 5-stars!!!

First time reading a book by Isabella Maldonado and was surprised by how good the writing was. Thinking about buying the 1st book in the series. Great plot, character development, and the story keeps you guessing at the "who done it' aspect.
I would recommend this novel and thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this Daniela "Dani" Vega thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this prior to it coming out. I loved the first book in the series so I was excited to be able to read the sequel. I loved learning more about Dani’s family. It is alway easy to follow the story line. I feel like even though it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone.

When I picked up this book I thought that I had already read the first book in the series. When I realized I didn't I was so engrossed in the plot that I was unable to stop reading it in order to read the first one. I loved the story and all of the characters in this book and it kept me guessing until the end. In hind site I wish that I had read the first book first only because parts of the first book are resolved in this one. It's not going to stop me from rushing out now to get the first book.

Amazing book! The second in this series, I was eager to continue Dani Vega's story. This one was not as fast moving as the first book but definitely kept me guessing till the end on who was the the bad guy, and I love how the author died the old and new cases together. Would definitely read another one in this series.

My first read from this author and I will be reading her entire backlist! I love when real life gets spun into true crime and mystery books, and A Forgotten Kill marks a very memorable fifth read of 2024. Isabella Maldonado took her real life experience in law enforcement and has written a gripping, thrilling and phenomenal read.
This book is technically the second in this series but I do believe they are interconnected standalones- book two was based around completely separate cases than book one.
A Forgotten Kill was a great read, and I look forward to see what Dani Vega faces next!

Thanks for the approval of the ARC copy. :)

I tried, I really tried to like this book but it is dragging me. I DNF'ed it on 40% and reread again just to make sure that my judgements are correct but still gave me the same result. Sorry :(

In "A Forgotten Kill, Daniela Vega, Band 2" by Isabella Maldonado you will be given insight as to what made the detective who she is. Finally we have an in. Great read.

A pretty impressive book by Maldonaldo! 4.5. The cryptanalysis of Vega as well as her training result in a very interesting protagonist, dueling an extremely dangerous serial killer antagonist. Thanks for the ARC, and cheers!

A Forgotten Kill is a fast-paced, dramatic book in the ongoing Daniela Vega series that is robust enough to read as a standalone. High drama, family tensions, a serial killer and lots of unresolved passions all yield an exciting read.

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

Daniela "Dani" Vega left home and joined the Rangers after finding her mother sitting with a knife over her father's body. With Dani's damning evidence, her mother was incarcerated, but now, ten years later, Dani is having her doubts. Now an FBI agent, Dani seeks to have the case reopened and inadvertently attracts the attention of a serial killer.
What follows next is an exciting cat and mouse game that sees Dani solving riddles and codes to catch the killer. But will this lead to her father's killer???
Too exciting to put down. Another fabulous book from Isabella Maldonado.

A Forgotten Kill is an absolutely riveting crime drama full of suspense action snd a kick ass MC. Dani Vega is a force to be reckoned with and her keen mind and code breaking skills serve her well in a hunt for a serial killer. All the while giving made a promise to her mentally ill mother to find out who killed her father so many years before. All the while her mother has been locked in an institution fir the murder she now claims in a lucid moment nit to have committed. Little does Vega know as she hunts for the truth in one case she is set in a collision course with the other. Can Vega stop a prolific serial killer in his prime and find peace and justice for her family or will she fall prey to the kern intelligence that has prowled the streets unnoticed for all this time?

Hand down expertly woven with all the twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Highly recommend 10/5 hands down an excellent read.

A Forgotten Kill is a well written thriller. Great plot and character development. If you enjoy and edge of your seat page turner you will enjoy this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

A Forgotten Kill is book to in the Special Agent Daniela Vega series and Dani is back in all her fearless glory. Dani’s mother has been locked in a psychiatric facility for years for the murder of Dani’s father. One of the first lucid things she has spoken in years is to tell Dani that she is innocent. Dani heads to the NYPD to try and get her hands on her father’s files. The detective is willing to help her if she’ll help him first. Using her code breaking skills Dani unearths a serial killer who has been killing for years. In an action packed thriller, Dani races the clock to stop a serial killer and uncover her father’s murderer. Twisted and fast paced, Dani’s latest adventure is a pulse pounding thriller that makes this series a must read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Filled to the brim with suspense and danger, A Forgotten Kill is one of those great reads that crackles with nervous energy from start to finish. A book that urges you forward with a desperate desire to learn the outcome as quickly as possible.

FBI Special Agent Daniela “Dani” Vega is compelled to relook at the evidence of her father’s murder from ten years ago. To get access to the files, she will have to help a veteran NYPD homicide detective uncover the identity of a newly discovered serial killer who’s been secretly operating throughout New York City for a decade. Given Dani’s background as an Army Ranger trained in codebreaking, she’s the best person to find hidden patterns and decipher riddles left behind by the perpetrator. But the killer is watching her every move and engages Dani in a deadly game that puts more innocent people in danger and also unearths secrets that will rock Dani’s world and everything she thought she knew about her father’s death.

A battle of wits between a strong and intelligent female FBI agent versus a brilliant and obsessive male serial killer? Yes please and thank you. And it’s the mental battle that really elevates this thriller to another level. There is certainly enough action – gun battles, hand to hand combat, hot pursuits through the streets of New York – to satisfy anyone looking for their fix of physical confrontations. But the true action is in the psychological contest between the hunter and the hunted. Where every move our hero makes is anticipated and countered by the killer she so desperately wants to bring to justice, bringing renewed vigor and motivation to the chase rather than frustration or resignation. A deadly engagement where neither side knows the meaning of the words quit or surrender. A chess match between two grand masters that enthralls and entertains every spectator as each “check” is immediately counteracted by a move to prolong the game.

Isabella Maldonado has delivered a second straight banger to kick off the Daniela Vega series. Fans of serial killer novels like the UNSUB series by Meg Gardiner should add A Forgotten Kill to their 2024 TBR pile without delay. It’s intense, propulsive and fantastic!

I'm really torn as I write this review because in the past, I have truly enjoyed several books by this author. I did read the first book in this series, and it was the first book that I, well, I really did not like it that much. But it was the first book in a series and there is a lot that has to be done in a first book (set up the world, introduce the characters, etc) so I gave it a bit of grace.

In this book though, the things that bothered me in the first book did not get better and did - in fact- get worse. We get to see the female MC Dani Vega again. She is now an FBI agent with a background in Cryptology. She served in the Army and was one of a very few women who made it through Army Ranger training. Unfortunately, she is also superwoman. Able to out-shoot, out fight, outwit everyone else, even though she is a young rookie.

One thing that really bothers me in a story is being told versus shown. The only thing that bothers me more is being lectured. BOTH of those things happen pretty much non stop in this book.

I can not count how many times it is mentioned that she is a Ranger, and therefore able to ......
(insert ANYTHING) because of her Army Ranger training. Then, there is the constant talk about her willingness to do her duty, regardless of the outcome. In fact, here is an exact quote from the book-
"If that involved sacrificing herself, so be it". This was just one of MANY, many times something like this was thrown out. So much that it lost its meaning to me and became more of an eye rolling experience for me. I mean, come on.

The other big issue that I had was almost exactly the same issue as in the first book. Here is a serial killer who has been killing in New York for 20 years. No one knew - he had gotten away with every kill without anyone tying them together. But, the MINUTE that Dani figures it out, the WORLD knows about it. They didn't even have one day before the killer is aware and making changes to his MO to thwart the police. Every move that the task force decides to make is somehow a step behind this guy, even though a week ago, no one even knew he existed. Without spoilers, I can't really go into too much detail, but it was frustrating, actually beyond frustrating, the way things just seemed to "happen".

I did take a peek at some of the reviews and I seem to be in the minority, but then I looked back at my review for the first book and discovered that my thoughts were almost exactly the same as they were for the first book. Don't get me wrong. I have REALLY enjoyed this author in the past. But I would rather have a protagonist who is human - who makes mistakes - than one who can take down 3 men at the same time and no one bats an eye. And please, stop telling me how great she is. I can read just fine and figure it out myself by the actions in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.