Blood's Echo

Veranda Cruz Mystery Series, Book 1

Winner of the Mariposa Award for Best First Novel

Phoenix detective Veranda Cruz is dead set on taking down the Villalobos crime family, but the ruthlessness of her quarry demands a ruthless edge of her own.

No one in the department suspects the real motivation behind the obsession that pits her against Bartolo Villalobos, heir apparent to a powerful criminal empire...until an operation goes horribly wrong.

Targeted by an increasingly unstable foe, Veranda must protect her family and navigate adversaries within the force while she sets a trap for Bartolo. As the action heats up, Veranda and her new Homicide team - along with an arson investigator who kindles a flame of his own - are all drawn into a deadly gambit.

Taking down Bartolo is the ultimate goal, but is Veranda ready to trade her life for justice?

Contains mature themes.

©2017 Isabella Maldonado (P)2021 Tantor

A new heroine

I really enjoyed this book and all of the twists and turns. Think you have it worked out? Ha ha!
Super ending. Really great characters as well.

Great turn of events

Like how story makes you think you know what happens next, but you don’t always.

Closure

Pleased there was closure to this series and somewhat of a satisfying ending. Although there possibly could be a book 4!

Character development!

Enjoyable narrative leaving the reader wanting the next chapter and looking forward to the next novel in the series!

trigger warning

this book contains 3 rapes. they felt somewhat unnecessary given they did not add much to the plot of the overall book.
other than that it was a great read that kept you guessing.