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A Different Dawn (Nina Guerrera Book 2) Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 11,923 ratings

A Wall Street Journal bestseller.

For nearly thirty years a serial killer has been hiding in plain sight. So has the key to an FBI agent’s dark past.

A family is murdered as they sleep. FBI Special Agent Nina Guerrera and her new team are tasked with determining whether there is any link between this attack and another triple homicide from four years earlier and more than two thousand miles away. In the process, they’ll discover a serial killer so cunning that his grisly trail of death spanning nearly three decades has gone undetected. Each crime scene reminds Nina of the ghostly Latin folktale of La Llorona, which terrified her when she was an abandoned and vulnerable child. Now it’s back to haunt her.

Nina has known evil, but these macabre reenactments are as disturbing as they are baffling. Now she must uncover the meaning behind the rituals as the evidence leads her in an unexpected direction—far closer to home than anyone could have imagined. As the team narrows in on a suspect, the present collides with Nina’s past in a twist of fate that forces her to make the ultimate sacrifice.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for A Different Dawn

“A horrifying crime, cat-and-mouse detection, aha moments, and extended suspense…” Kirkus Reviews

“Maldonado expertly ratchets up the tension as the pieces of the puzzle neatly fall into place. Suspense fans will be enthralled from the very first page.” Publishers Weekly

“A thrill-ride from the very start. It starts off fast and never lets up. It’s one of the best thrillers of the summer.” Red Carpet Crash

A Different Dawn is a heart-stopping journey on parallel tracks: police detection and personal…Isabella Maldonado has created an unforgettable hero in Nina Guerrera.” —Criminal Element

Praise for Isabella Maldonado

“A killer of a novel. Fresh, fast, and utterly ingenious.” —Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“The survivor of a vicious crime confronts her fears in a hunt for a serial killer…forensic analysis, violent action, and a tough heroine who stands up to the last man on earth she wants to see again.” Kirkus Reviews

“[In] this riveting series launch from Maldonado…the frequent plot twists will keep readers guessing to the end, and Maldonado draws on her twenty-two years in law enforcement to add realism. Determined to overcome her painful past, the admirable Nina has enough depth to sustain a long-running series.” Publishers Weekly

“A heart-pounding novel from page one, The Cipher checks all the boxes for a top-notch thriller: sharp plotting, big stakes, and characters—good and bad and everywhere in between—that are so richly drawn you’ll swear you’ve met them. I read this in one sitting, and I guarantee you will too. Oh, another promise: you’ll absolutely love the Warrior Girl!” —Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author

“Wow! A riveting tale in the hands of a superb storyteller.” —J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author

“Intense, harrowing, and instantly addictive, The Cipher took my breath away. Isabella Maldonado has created an unforgettable heroine in Nina Guerrera, a dedicated FBI agent and trauma survivor with unique insight into the mind of a predator. This riveting story is everything a thriller should be.” —Hilary Davidson, Washington Post bestselling author

“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.” Mystery Scene magazine

“Delivers 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 Order

“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

“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

About the Author

Award-winning 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 the Fairfax County Police Department just outside DC, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than 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, which includes the Detective Cruz series and the Nina Guerrera series. For more information, visit www.isabellamaldonado.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08H223YDH
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas & Mercer (August 10, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 10, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2652 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1542022789
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 11,923 ratings

About the author

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Isabella Maldonado
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Wall Street Journal bestselling 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 the Fairfax County Police Department just outside DC, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than 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, which includes the bestselling FBI Special Agent Nina Guerrera series (soon to be a Netflix feature film starring Jennifer Lopez), the award-winning Detective Veranda Cruz series, and the Agent Daniela "Dani" Vega series. Her books are published in24 languages.

She can be found at www.isabellamaldonado.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
11,923 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023
Ms Maldonado has a true talent of story weaving. Just when you think you know, it changes and you wonde why you didn't see it before. The characters continue to evolve and , for me, bonded with the reader. I love the Hispanic cultural veiw from Nina, grumpy but teddy bear Buxton, protective Kent, big brother Wade, love struck Perez, and ever vigilant Beck. They all offer something that is unique to their person and contribute their expertise to finding the answers
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Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2022
A DIFFERENT DAWN [2021] By Isabella Maldonado
My Review Four Stars****

I am a big fan of the author’s debut novel THE CIPHER [2020] that introduced Nina Guerrera [“Warrior Girl”] and enjoyed reading the sequel last week. I really liked the concept of the FBI at Quantico approving a trial run for a hybrid team comprised of a cyberspace guru, a field agent, a trained forensic psychologist/profiler, and headed up by a veteran criminal profiler. The team would travel to the physical location and analyze the crime scene, render their profile and consult with local authorities. The main protagonist (Nina) is the field agent in this hybrid team composed of high caliber agents with different special areas of expertise.

Kudos to the author for the creation of a serial killer whose MO and Signature are certainly unique. I was vaguely reminded of Frasier’s “Madonna Killer” circa 2002 and the infamous family annihilator Frances Dollarhyde AKA “The Red Dragon”. However, the author’s villain is a wholly different animal. The killer’s target is a very specific family composition, the dynamic consisting of a heterosexual married couple with their first child a newborn baby girl. He is truly unique in that he kills only on Leap Year with the homicides spanning four years apart.

The author exhibits a talent for writing a realistic and believable police procedural with details of recent advances in forensic science and accurate, informative psychological dialogue pertinent to psychopathy, sociopaths, and narcissism. The members of the FBI group, and their supervisor [Buxton] are interesting, well-written, likeable and prone to engaging in educational dialogue. The hunt for the newly discovered serial killer pulls the FBI group to Nina’s familiar stomping grounds of Arizona where she is united with former PD Detective Perez.

The narrative pulled me in immediately and the storyline never failed to keep my attention riveted to the narrative as it unfolded. The surprising plot twist was unexpected and served the purpose of placing Nina, our “Warrior Girl”, squarely in the crosshairs of our cunning and patient predator. This development gave me pause, since the debut novel had already put Guerrera directly in the path of the serial killer. Nina the “target” of two serial killers in a row? This was an element of the plot that didn’t ring true, albeit it was necessary in order for the author to bring about the kind of conclusion that she wanted at the end of the story. I know that is a cryptic statement, but I want this review to be “spoiler free”.

Bottom line? I really enjoyed the book, but if she (Nina) is placed in the crosshairs of still another maniac in the third installment I will say good-bye to the series because it would come across to me as contrived.
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024
Maldonado is a master crime writer. I read this novel in two nights and had a hard time closing my tablet to get a little sleep. Her words, plot and character development sizzles on each page. I highly recommend this book to readers who appreciate exceptional and in depth content in the murder genre.
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
Isabella Maldonado does it again keeping us interested in FBI agent Nina Guerrera who somehow manages to become the target of yet another serial killer.

I read A LOT of books about 7-10 books a week especially taking a break at night from grading / teaching but not so much in this genre. I read it as part of kindle challenge and it was the best murder mystery, I have come across in some time.

The book / audible just grabbed me and held me right from page one to the very last word. This book did not disappoint. Great plot, great crime solving team, and great last word.

Highly recommend not only this book but the entire series. Plan to read the next book and anymore of this author. So happy I have the free audible books that come with the book so I can listen to this when I cannot read it.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2024
I hadn’t read a book for a number of years and had searched for one that would catch me. The first book in this series, The Cipher, did the trick. I finished that and hungered for more. I read a couple more by other authors but was curious to see what else Moldonado had to offer in this series. Wow! This was so challenging to put down that I ran late in getting other things done. At the end, I found my eyes welling up with tears. Now…what’s in store with the 3rd in the series? I plan to download it onto my Kindle, as soon as I post this, and find out. I’m sure it will grab me on page one just like this one did!

Top reviews from other countries

Janine
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW amazing
Reviewed in Canada on July 10, 2023
What a story! I expected so much and was rewarded with more. I LOVE this group of characters. I am so excited for book 3. It's a completely crazy plot, but everything came together. Well written. Couldn't put it down.
Swifty
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2022
The first hand insight of this author shines through in the writing. A brilliant plot unfolds around strong, likeable characters and you're invested all the way along the journey. Great read.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Family and friends
Reviewed in India on September 4, 2021
I loved reading this book, I am satisfied with it.
My heart gets filled with happiness, when I read a story where hardships are paid with lots of love and blessings.
My emotions are entangling, I really loved reading this book
But I can not use the word perfect to describe it.
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars keeps you guessing
Reviewed in Australia on June 10, 2023
Strong plot not obvious who the killer is or why too early.
Interesting plot twist at the end which was nice
Linda Pfeiffer
4.0 out of 5 stars Second book in the Trilogy of FBI agent Nina Guerrera
Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2023
In the first book, we learned how Nina Guerrera, became involved with law enforcement, first as an officer in a police force and then how she joined the FBI. We also learned about her younger life that she was an orphan and had grown up in the system, never finding a family to call her own. In that book, she also chased down a serial killer who came out of her past. In the second book, we are enlightened even more about her very early life as a baby first found in a trash can. Then she is again chasing down another serial killer with a bizarre link to her. I'm almost fearful of reading the last book in the series because of this odd personal link to the serial killer. But as far as the second book goes, I liked it, a little less than the first, due to that coincidence. The writing is good and the story is suspenseful, though it is not difficult to figure out the eventual ending.
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