Hooked me from the start, and I couldn't put it down. Agent Dani Vega is a force to be reckon with, but she also has a heart of gold for those she cares about. Her last assignment had her working with a professional hit man, who gained a conscience ???
The plot reads almost like a wild goose chase, a "treasure hunt" created by a hit man to reveal the secrets of those with power over him.
I love the characters and watching them work and interact together. The plot keeps moving and there is always another twist or turn. Cover to cover great read!
Looking forward to the next book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Once again we are back in the code world of Daniela Vega and I’m all here for it. I like this series for its diversity. Vega is Puerto Rican and her culture features heavily in the story. Then there is her boss who is Asian and a co-worker who is also non-white. There are mental health issues in her family which are discussed often. All of this is vital to who Vega is and the series.

Then we have the mystery which is an ongoing one from a previous book. The interesting relationship with a killer is viewed from another angle and it’s intriguing. It brings more layers to not only the killer, but to everything surrounding the story.

Isabella Maldonado sucks you into the story right away. The briefing of past events blends seamlessly into the current story. I would recommend though to get the full flavor and impact of what is happening to read the earlier stories. It really brings context and depth to A Killer’s Code.

I’m curious on where the author is going with some strings that were left dangling. Am I seeing things where there isn't anything or is something intriguing just around the corner. I can’t wait to find out.

The Killer’s Code by Isabella Maldonado is a fast-paced, gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. FBI Special Agent Dani Vega is thrust into a high-stakes investigation after hitman Gustavo Toro dies in her arms, leaving behind a cryptic video exposing a powerful and elusive mastermind. As Dani and her team follow the dangerous clues, they uncover a web of secrets more twisted than they could have imagined. With tense action, clever twists, and a relentless pursuit of justice, Maldonado crafts a suspenseful and engaging story that will appeal to fans of crime thrillers and intricate mysteries.

P.S. Can we please turn this into a tv show…

I enjoyed the book's fast-paced action and the intriguing puzzle-solving elements. However, the plot and character development felt a bit straightforward, lacking the complexity I was hoping for. Despite this, it was still an entertaining and engaging read.

5/5 stars

I took my time with this one because I really wanted to get all the details and process all the information. This is just another book that proves Isabella Maldonado knows how to create a world of suspense and intrigue that keeps you on your toes. This was the final book in the Dani Vega series and it ended very well. I did not expect to see a character that was written off in the beginning to come back and create a cat and mouse scavenger hunt. It was well written and entertaining. I will definitely keep reading from this author since I have yet to be disappointed.

Highly recommend this book for fans of suspense and mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Book #3 in an original series that gets better with each book. Daniella Vega is a three dimensional character whose strengths far out weigh any weakness she may have. A KILLER'S CODE closely follows the hunt started when a masterful criminal dies, but leaves a treasure trove of clues that will lead Vega's team to evidence they need to convict many of the worst criminals on the city's streets.

I've grown very fond of Isabella Maldonado's books. I'm assured an excellent mystery with plenty of clues to lead my guesses while appreciating the cast of characters and the way they work so well together. If you've not read her books, it's not too late to start this excellent series.

First, I appreciate “series” books that do not require the previous books to understand the next book in the series, just the main character going through another story. But this has honed me in in a way the other Dani Vega books are expeditiously being added to my TBR!

What a combination of thrill, suspense, romance, and action al packed into one. I absolutely loved this book!

A contract killer, who knows their death is imminent. Clues left for treasure. A race to see who can find it first. Undue deaths. Unknown causes. Why is the FBI involved and why are they always one step behind?

Conflicted with time, Dani struggles to manage home life and work life balance, being tugged from both ends. Feelings of not being present enough at one and being sucked in too far in another. Risking it all, family and her own life, for the sake of others. What could go wrong?

Nightmares of her past cloud her sleep, rehashing her past shortcomings. What she considers her failures have only given her the strength to pursue on and grow stronger, more efficient, though she wonders if she will ever be able to move past the blockade of her heart. Tactical training could never prepare her the heartbreak of losing someone you never admitted to loving. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Her team engages in a secret, read in only, mission in hopes of protecting the now only asset that can bring one of the worst sharks down. To do it, they must break through codes, interpret clues, and really get into the mindset of a killer—a dead one. Traveling through the ranks, this mission proves harder and more engrossed than any of the team could have imagined, and gets dirtier by the minute.

The ending was fantastic, and left me on the edge of my seat. To the very end, I was absolutely hooked, and yet was still left with a sense of compassion and comfort, for all involved, even with all the loss.

First book read from this author but there will be many more to come. Excellent read.

This is book 3 and Daniela Vega is a refreshing character, codebreaker FBI agent. Enjoyable series

I enjoyed reading this book, the third installment in the Daniela Vega series. Dani is a member of the FBI and patriotic to the core. In the first book, Gustavo Toro and Daniela had been imprisoned in a labyrinth where they were subjected to a murderous game - they were expected to kill the other trapped people and each other until only one would survive. This is the 3rd book and relates closely to the 1st book. I didn't think it was possible but it is even more suspenseful. .

Toro had sent a video to the FBI director before he died, a video that was a puzzle of where various clues had been left. Since Dani had been the person closest to him during their ordeal in the maze that he didn't survive, she was chosen along with two colleagues to find the clues that Toro had left. The clues were to eventually reveal the name of a person responsible for serious crimes over several decades. Some of these clues came with a countdown - if not found by a certain time, it would blow up and possibly take innocent lives with them.

I highly recommend this series. My thanks to the publisher Thomas & Mercer for the e-arc. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review it.

A Killer’s Code is a gripping thriller from page one. The complex story revs up as code breaker Dani Vega tries to run down a complex set of clues from a former hitman Gustavo Toro before its to late as enemies circle can Vegas discover the truth or will she end up dead like Toro with the secrets buried with her. The plot is excellent and well paced and dangerous lurks around every turn s Vega uses her brilliant mind to do what only she can do. Another great installment in the series a must read that was hard to out down.

A Killer's Code by Isabella Maldonado is a gripping, twist-filled thriller that combines suspense, mystery, and personal stakes.
The characters are excellent and this is one fabulous story, very much worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC!

This is my favorite book in this series so far. My biggest criticism for books 1 and 2 was I felt that the author was reminding the audience of background information way too often, which frustrated me because it was so repetitive for no reason.

The overall story of this book connects back to book one which I really liked because I missed Torro so much, he was a really well written complicated character. I think I liked this book so much bc of the split POV with Dani and Steve.

Overall I think the characters were a lot more likeable in this book. Although, I think the author could work on relationship development because some things came out of the blue, like Angela wanting to meet Dani's family and the relationship developing between Dani and Steve.

Overall it made me want to continue the series, so I'm excited for book 4!

A Killer's Code is the third installment in author Isabella Maldonado's Daniel Vega series. During a recent undercover operation, hitman Gustavo Toro died in the arms of FBI agent and former military codebreaker Daniela “Dani” Vega, who had been on pins and needles waiting for the end of her career after she went rogue. Toro sends a video to FBI Director Franklin. In the video, Toro sets out – in the form of a puzzle – the whereabouts of hidden information that will lead to the identity of a man responsible for serious crimes that have been ongoing for decades.

As Vega, Special Agent in Charge Steve Wu, analyst Sanjeev Patel, and NYPD Detective Flint traverse the country following Toro’s coded clues, they start to piece together his past. Vega and their team must interpret clues, leading them to another place and further interpretive challenges until they find what they’ve been looking for. As an added incentive, they discover that lives are at stake and that their time to complete the task is severely limited. As a former US Army Ranger, Dani's elite military training in pattern recognition, crypto analysis, and counterintelligence are key to solving the case.

This story alternates between a bunch of players like Dani and Toro in the past and Wu and includes the villains. Villains who seem to be killing off key players who may have important information that could be worth billions. This leads Vega and her team to find Dr. Tina Castillo, who disappeared around the same time Toro died. It’s a wild goose chase back and forth across the country following the clues and every lead they follow almost gets them killed. Someone else is following the same leads and beating Dani and the team and doesn't care if they are federal agents.

It would behoove you to ensure you are taking notes or are very good at keeping things in your memories. The main reason I continue to read this series is the background of the author. Isabella Maldonado wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. Over two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and precinct commander. She uses her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing. Maldonado loves her trilogies, and this is probably the end of the Dani Vega series.

A Killer's Code is hard to put down, so clear your schedule: FBI Special Agent Daniela “Dani” Vega is back in another exciting, fast-paced, smart thriller! Hit man Gustavo Toro reaches out to the FBI from beyond the grave, providing them a series of cryptic clues to what is basically a treasure hunt to evidence he collected over his career. This evidence is so "hot" that it will identify powerful men that have been using Toro's services and help put them away, but one of those men is in a position to know what the FBI knows and will do everything he can to stop Vega and her team from finding Toro's treasure. Maldonado knows how to grab -and keep- the reader's attention: the plot is action-packed and suspenseful, and the characters are three-dimensional and relatable, despite some almost superhero-like qualities. Vega is a strong but very likeable female "lead". While this book is 3rd in a series, I think it can easily be read as a standalone (although there is spoiler or two, so if you love this one and go back to read the earlier books, you may need to try to forget some of what you know).

A Killer's Code, the third installment of the FBI Agent Dani Vega series, showcases her exceptional skills in code-cracking, a talent honed during her time as an Army Ranger.

With the death of Gustavo Toro, the riddles he leaves behind become the catalyst for a high-stakes chase. Dani and her team embark on a thrilling journey across the country, racing against time to unveil a powerful mastermind. The investigation is a rollercoaster of suspense, with cryptic puzzles, secret locations, and a constant battle to stay one step ahead of the adversaries. The tension mounts, leading to a gratifying conclusion. It's an exhilarating read.

While A Killer's Code is a captivating standalone read, the experience is enriched when you delve into the action-packed thrillers of the previous two books, making the series a must-read for all thriller enthusiasts.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital advance review copy. A special shoutout to Isabella Maldonado for crafting such an immersive series! I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series, and I'm sure you will be, too, after reading this one!

Isabella Maldonado’s A Killer’s Code delivers a gripping blend of action, mystery, and suspense. FBI Special Agent Dani Vega’s race to decode cryptic clues left by a hit man is as intense as it is compelling, with high stakes and dangerous adversaries at every turn.

The pacing is relentless, and Maldonado’s knack for weaving complex puzzles into the narrative keeps you hooked. While some character moments could have been more deeply explored, the story’s twists and propulsive energy make it hard to put down.

A thrilling ride for fans of crime and suspense, A Killer’s Code is a satisfying and action-packed read.

Deceased hit man Gustavo Toro sends the FBI on a treasure hunt. FBI agent Daniela Vega and her small crew travel across the country in hopes to find what Toro tells is a treasure trove of evidence that will send many people in jail. The treasure hunt is intense and dangerous. Dani has many valuable skills under her belt from her Ranger days. Those skills include code braking and cryptanalysis, which leads the team from clue to clue and finally to the treasure. This book sure is suspenseful and full of dangerous encounters. Dani's adversaries are cunning and resourceful as well and have all the protection and power money and a high position can give them.

This was not as good as the previous book in this trilogy, but surely has many good things going for it. The characters are familiar and I was sincerely rooting for them. This is the last book in a trilogy and therefore tried to tie all the loose threads together, maybe even too neatly. All in all this was a really enjoyable reading experience. I will absolutely be on the lookout for any upcoming books from this author.

A Killer’s Code is FBI Agent Dani Vega’s strongest outing yet. She’s called in because of her previous undercover assignment involving hit man Gustavo Toro, who left a cryptic message for the FBI before his death. The investigation leads Dani and the team all over the map in a fast-paced and suspenseful adventure involving standard thriller drama plus puzzles, secret locations, and a race to get to the next step before the bad guys beat them to it. It’s a gripping story with a side of complicated family dynamics as well as intrigue supplied by the FBI version of office politics.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital advance review copy.

Just like every Maldonado novel, this is an amazingly complex investigation that kept me turning pages late into the night. Clues left behind by a criminal keep Vega and her team on their toes as they traverse the country trying to get ahead of the bad guys who have a lot to hide and are willing to silence anyone who might bring their dark deeds to light. This is a thriller that rises to the level of the best of them.

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

“If you’re watching this, I’m dead. And others will be soon if you don’t act fast.”

Maldonado is an auto-read for me. I’ve really enjoyed this Daniela Vega series: A Killer’s Game took Dani into an undercover ultimate escape room style only one person gets out alive situation; A Forgotten Kill has Dani simultaneously chasing down a serial killer and getting to the bottom of her father’s murder.

A Killer’s Code brings back the man she went undercover with in book one (Gustavo Toro): as a hired assassin he kept an ‘insurance policy’ on those who hired him, a treasure trove of evidence and information the FBI would love to get their hands on. With his final days he sets up a ‘treasure hunt’ of sorts with clues and puzzles to lead the FBI to the stash in an effort to keep it safe from those who don’t want to be exposed. From New York to Las Vegas to Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, the hunt is on for the prize.

[Also, cool teeniest of shoutouts to Des Moines in the book!]

Like most of her books, this was a fast-paced read and full of action.

In this book you start to worry if the FBI will come through because Foley and his ‘boss’ seem to always be a step ahead of them on the hunt. They have a lot to lose if they can’t get to the evidence first.

Each of these books was released a year from each other. I think it would have been a lot better if I could have read them back to back instead of waiting a year. I did not realize this but apparently book one happened only a few weeks before A Killer’s Code. It’s crazy to think all that happened in such a short span of time! Probably a bit unrealistic, but I suppose this one couldn’t be too long after the first one considering its content. I wonder if she had had that planned from the beginning.

The long time in between had me struggling to remember some of the details. In my review for A Forgotten Kill I noted there was some groundwork laid for a possible romantic interest for Dani that could develop but I couldn’t remember if that was with Detective Flint of with SAC Wu. I wish I could have remembered what some of those details were because that was definitely a thread of A Killer’s Code and without knowing those details, some of it seemed a little out of nowhere.

There were a few things I was hoping for that didn’t come to fruition the way I would have liked. I was hoping Dani’s siblings would have played a larger role. I wonder if Maldonado will do a spinoff series following Axel’s career in the FBI with Dani as a side character.

I was also hoping Dani’s mother’s drawing was going to be an answer to one of the clues.

And I was hoping after we found out who the ‘boss’ was (which was about halfway) that there was still going to be another big reveal of a good guy who turns out to actually be a bad guy and doesn’t want the evidence to expose them.

Toro says in his video- “You’ll be surprised at some of the people you’ll be arresting.” So I wanted to be surprised when they arrested someone!

It was a little strange to know who the bad guy was for so long without another reveal.

I still loved the book, but just a few of my ‘I wish’ moments.

Historically speaking Maldonado has written trilogies. If that pattern holds true, then this series is over and we need to be on the look out for something new! I’m looking forward to seeing what she’s been working on.

She has written strong female characters in law enforcement jobs as that is Maldonado’s background. I wonder if she will explore a different type of character or scene in her next books.

Some other random comments:

Maldonado sent me down a rabbit trail looking at synesthesia which is really fascinating. Apparently if you have this, you have a pretty decent chance at becoming a professional artist or musician because so many of them do. I’m still trying to grasp what it would be like to taste colors or see sounds. So trippy.

I just picture Patel exactly like Aram Mojtabai from the Blacklist. They seem like they have very similar personalities so that’s who I imagined while reading this book.

Foley kept trying to stage murders like accidents and suicides but I had to chuckle because it never worked for longer than a couple minutes. It would have just been easier to shoot the person then exert all the energy and resources and time to pretend it wasn’t.

Recommendation

I would definitely recommend this book and the other books in the series! They are action-packed thrillers with likeable characters and a strong female lead.

There are no caveats. Maldonado is just a great author!




[Content Advisory: 10 f-words, 26 s-words, 1 b-words; no sexual content]

**Received an ARC via NetGalley**