by Isabella Maldonado
Release Date: January 21, 2025
2025 Thomas & Mercer
Ebook ARC; 344 Pages
ISBN: 978-1662515842
ASIN: B0CYHLLXP5
Audiobook: B0DGB1X7PS
Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Suspense
Source: Review copy from publisher
4 / 5 Stars
Summary
A dead man’s riddles—and secrets—thrust an FBI codebreaker into a deadly cross-country race for justice.
During a recent undercover sting gone bad, hit
man Gustavo Toro died in the arms of FBI Special Agent Daniela “Dani”
Vega. But Toro had secrets he refused to take to the grave.
In the event of his death, Toro left behind a video that promises to expose a mysterious mastermind who has been operating with impunity for decades. But there’s a catch. Dani’s team must follow Toro’s cryptic clues on a cross-country hunt for justice, and piecing together his past is more twisted than Dani could have imagined.
In the event of his death, Toro left behind a video that promises to expose a mysterious mastermind who has been operating with impunity for decades. But there’s a catch. Dani’s team must follow Toro’s cryptic clues on a cross-country hunt for justice, and piecing together his past is more twisted than Dani could have imagined.
My Thoughts
A Killer's Code was a fast-paced thriller, and at its heart, had a trope that I absolutely love, riddles and codes. It may be a throwback to my childhood, but I love it when a killer/killers send police/Jason Bourne/whoever on a hunt through clues they left behind or set up to perplex those doing the hunt. This one had a nice mix of clues and situations that kept me turning the pages.
The continuing character development of Dani and Steve was quite enjoyable and I'm glad the author focused more on developing the MC's instead of focusing so much on the plot. Dani is as badass as ever, but she definitely showed signs of vulnerability, something I really enjoyed as it showed a softer side to her character, especially when it came to her younger brother and the storyline that is beginning to develop with regards to him. I also enjoyed the way the author is developing the relationship between Steve and Dani. I am curious to see what it will take to break down the walls both of them have built up through their experiences in the military.
The plot itself moved rather quickly, and you just have a minute to catch your breath before something else happens. Because I read the previous entries in the series, I am familiar with the pacing of these novels, but it does make it difficult to put them down. Dani and her team are following clues that pretty much lead them around the country, but at the same time, are trying to beat someone else who is also searching for the same thing. There were some twists and turns that caught me off guard or came out of nowhere and it's one of the reasons I enjoy this series so much. Plus, they are believable twists and turns, not just thrown in because an author thinks they don't have enough red herrings.
Verdict
A Killer's Code was fast-paced and there was a solid mix between character and plot development, something that was a bit lacking in previous installments. The various story lines wove together quite nicely, and I liked the fact that everything comes together in the end, even if the end isn't quite what you would expect. If I had any complains, it was about the clues. Even though I found them clever and interesting, there was still a part of me that was skeptical at how easily the team discovered them and deciphered them. However, the team dynamics and banter is one of the reasons why I keep coming back to these books, and I had a hard time putting this book down. Looking forward to the next one.
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