Veranda Cruz Series by Isabella Maldonado

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... morePhoenix 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?Winner of the Mariposa Award for Best First Novel less

The battle between Veranda Cruz and the Villalobos cartel turns Phoenix into a war zone.Homicide Detective Veranda Cruz will stop at nothing to take down the Villalobos cartel. But when a wave of violence in the city escalates, she fears that the secrets of her past will take her down instead.Adolfo Villalobos is a crime boss who's determined to stake his claim... moreThe battle between Veranda Cruz and the Villalobos cartel turns Phoenix into a war zone.Homicide Detective Veranda Cruz will stop at nothing to take down the Villalobos cartel. But when a wave of violence in the city escalates, she fears that the secrets of her past will take her down instead.Adolfo Villalobos is a crime boss who's determined to stake his claim. To prove that he's ready to run his family's sprawling criminal empire, he devises a plan to silence his siblings and destroy Veranda, leaving a trail of destruction through downtown Phoenix that makes national headlines. Veranda believes the task force she's been assigned to lead will end the cartel's reign of terror, until Adolfo's revenge takes a cruel--and highly personal--twist.Winner of the 2018 Mariposa Award for Best First Novel less

Homicide detective Veranda Cruz takes on the most ruthless member of the Villalobos cartel.Phoenix homicide detective Veranda Cruz is on a mission. After Hector Villalobos tried to destroy her family, Veranda vowed to take down his powerful crime syndicate.Beautiful, shrewd, and lethal, Daria Villalobos is on a mission of her own. Determined to be the first woman to take the reins of her father's notorious cartel, she hatches a plot to eliminate Veranda... moreHomicide detective Veranda Cruz takes on the most ruthless member of the Villalobos cartel.Phoenix homicide detective Veranda Cruz is on a mission. After Hector Villalobos tried to destroy her family, Veranda vowed to take down his powerful crime syndicate.Beautiful, shrewd, and lethal, Daria Villalobos is on a mission of her own. Determined to be the first woman to take the reins of her father's notorious cartel, she hatches a plot to eliminate Veranda.When the investigation blows up in Veranda's face, the hunt is on to stop a bomber. Veranda battles her department and her personal demons as she takes on Daria. To survive her most cunning adversary yet, will she make a pact with a killer?Praise for Death Blow, Book 3 in the Veranda Cruz Mysteries: If you're in the mood for a nonstop expos� of every fear you've ever had about cartel crime, Veranda Cruz is the woman to follow.--Kirkus ReviewsFinally! 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 CreedRed alert to all readers of police procedurals with a strong thriller bent: Isabella Maldonado's Death Blow delivers non-stop action with substance, grit and surprises.--Lisa Preston, author of The ClincherGritty, raw, and realistic, Isabella Maldonado's Death Blow is the real deal.--Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of the Detective Byron mystery seriesA 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 RunPraise for Phoenix Burning, Book 2 in the Veranda Cruz Mysteries: 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 JournalPhoenix may be burning, but Maldonado's star is rising. Gritty and gripping.--J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling authorMaldonado's writing always bristles with urgency and authority.--MysteryScene MagazineDelivers a brilliant and complicated heroine, accented by a take-no-prisoners plot...It's spicy, smart, and entertaining, definitely worth your time.--Steve Berry, author of The Lost OrderPraise for Blood's Echo, Book 1 in the Veranda Cruz Mysteries: Winner of the 2018 Mariposa Award for Best First NovelA highly entertaining police procedural...Maldonado rises to her written challenge to entertain, enthrall, and engage readers in this high-octane thriller.--Suspense MagazineA 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 authorAn ex-narc leads a war against a powerful crime family. The payoff is satisfying.--Kirkus Reviews less