Death Blow
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Amazon Publishing
Published:24th Mar '26
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Phoenix detective Veranda Cruz’s pursuit of justice and revenge pits her against her most lethal adversary yet in a gripping thriller by the bestselling author of The Cipher.
An explosion at a storage unit in Phoenix nearly kills Detective Veranda Cruz and her team. Evidence at the scene points to the Villalobos crime family’s most feared enforcer, Salazar. But he’s not the only one who wants Veranda dead.
Daria Villalobos is determined to inherit her father’s criminal empire. She’ll crush anyone who gets in her way, including members of her own family. To prove she’s ready to take the reins, Daria intends to scorch the earth under Veranda’s feet. Nothing is off limits as Daria sets out to destroy everything and everyone Veranda holds dear.
With two killers after her, Veranda will have to be every bit as cunning and ruthless as they are. Is the enemy of her enemy her friend or have Salazar and Daria combined forces to lure her into a deadly trap?
Revised edition: This edition of Death Blow includes editorial revisions.
Praise for Death Blow
“If you’re in the mood for a nonstop exposé of every fear you’ve ever had about cartel crime, Veranda Cruz is the woman to follow.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Finally! A kick-ass female protagonist and an author who knows firsthand the world she writes about. The combination makes for an explosive read that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go.” ―Alex Kava, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Lost Creed
“Red alert to all readers of police procedurals with a strong thriller bent: Isabella Maldonado’s Death Blow delivers nonstop action with substance, grit, and surprises.” ―Lisa Preston, author of The Clincher
“Gritty, raw, and realistic, Isabella Maldonado’s Death Blow is the real deal.” ―Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of the Detective Byron mystery series
“A gritty, gut-wrenching, page-turning thriller featuring a woman cop bent on bringing down a twisted cartel leader for reasons of her own. Death Blow grabs you from the first jaw-dropping scene to the last, and Maldonado’s stellar writing weaves it all together.” ―Jamie Freveletti, internationally bestselling author of Blood Run
Praise for the Veranda Cruz series
“Maldonado’s a writer to watch, and she showcases her own extensive law enforcement background in this tightly plotted police procedural.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Maldonado, a former law enforcement officer, brings her experience and expertise to this gripping police procedural. With its gritty heroine, this action-packed mystery will attract readers who enjoy crime novels about the war on drugs.” —Library Journal
“Phoenix may be burning, but Maldonado’s star is rising. Gritty and gripping.” —J.A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author
“Maldonado’s writing always bristles with urgency and authority.” —MysteryScene Magazine
“Delivers a brilliant and complicated heroine, accentuated by a take-no-prisoners plot...It’s spicy, smart, and entertaining.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author
“A highly entertaining police procedural…Maldonado rises to her written challenge to entertain, enthrall, and engage readers in this high-octane thriller.” —Suspense Magazine
“[A] tense thriller with a strong sense of place and an insider’s look at some of the most dangerous work in law enforcement.” —Jan Burke, New York Times bestselling author
“The Phoenix sun isn’t the only thing burning in this thrilling debut, and I look forward to more.” ―Shannon Baker, bestselling author of the Kate Fox mystery series
“An ex-narc leads a war against a powerful crime family. The payoff is satisfying.” ―Kirkus Reviews
ISBN: 9781662536656
Dimensions: 216mm x 140mm x 22mm
Weight: 340g
315 pages