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Veranda Cruz #4
Exit Wound
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26Detective Veranda Cruz’s ultimate showdown with the patriarch of a notorious crime family tests her loyalty, courage, and identity in a riveting thriller by the bestselling author of The Cipher.
Detective Veranda Cruz’s single-minded mission to destroy the Villalobos crime family has cost her more than she ever would have imagined, both professionally and personally. And put her squarely in their sights.
A brutal enforcer has agreed to turn state’s evidence, offering vital information that will end the Villalobos dynasty’s thirty-year reign of terror. But when an extradition operation crashes and burns, a new series of murders terrorizes the city. As Veranda navigates increasingly deadly threats, she realizes the mastermind pulling the strings is the organization’s notorious Hector Villalobos.
After she deals his empire a stunning blow, Hector declares all-out war, arriving in Phoenix for a final showdown with Veranda. She has no choice but to confront him and the twisted ties that bind them. It’s a battle only one of them can survive.
Detective Veranda Cruz’s single-minded mission to destroy the Villalobos crime family has cost her more than she ever would have imagined, both professionally and personally. And put her squarely in their sights.
A brutal enforcer has agreed to turn state’s evidence, offering vital information that will end the Villalobos dynasty’s thirty-year reign of terror. But when an extradition operation crashes and burns, a new series of murders terrorizes the city. As Veranda navigates increasingly deadly threats, she realizes the mastermind pulling the strings is the organization’s notorious Hector Villalobos.
After she deals his empire a stunning blow, Hector declares all-out war, arriving in Phoenix for a final showdown with Veranda. She has no choice but to confront him and the twisted ties that bind them. It’s a battle only one of them can survive.
- GenresMystery ThrillerCrime
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 23, 2026
1 person is currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Isabella Maldonado
30 books1,597 followersWall Street Journal bestselling and 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 her police department, 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 Special Agent Nina Guerrera series, the Special Agent Dani Vega series, the Detective Veranda Cruz series, and the Sanchez and Heron series (co-authored with Jeffery Deaver). Her books are published in 24 languages. For more information, visit www.isabellamaldonado.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: Exit Wound
Author: Isabella Maldonado
Series: Veranda Cruz #4
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Crime
Pub Date: June 23, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 344
This is the fourth in this series and although I have read and enjoyed many Isabella Maldonardo thrillers this is my first In this series.
Story starts with Detective Veranda Cruz escorting Adelmo Salazar via government jet from Phoenix, AZ back to Mexico. Salaza known as “El Matador and has been on the most wanted list in four countries and has agreed to turn state’s evidence, offering vital information that will end the Villalobos dynasty’s thirty-year reign of terror however he has a condition that Detective Cruz accompany him back to Mexico.
However, once they arrive and are traveling in a van- Salaza puts his head down seeming to brace for a crash – yep it was a set up orchestrated by the notorious Hector Villalobos.
The Villalobos crime family has cost Det Cruz more than she ever would have imagined both professionally and personally and he is still.
He has declared an all-out war against Veranda and is ready for a final showdown with her. She has no choice but to confront him yet knows it is a battle only one of them can survive.
There is no doubt this is action packed. Story is great and what makes it great is our author is authentic. She uses her law enforcement background to make her stories realistic.
Isabella Maldonardo is an interesting person as she wore a gun and badge in real life before becoming a crime writer. She graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department; she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics.
After retiring she moved to Phoenix to write, and we are delighted she did!
Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 23, 2026.
Author: Isabella Maldonado
Series: Veranda Cruz #4
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Crime
Pub Date: June 23, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 344
This is the fourth in this series and although I have read and enjoyed many Isabella Maldonardo thrillers this is my first In this series.
Story starts with Detective Veranda Cruz escorting Adelmo Salazar via government jet from Phoenix, AZ back to Mexico. Salaza known as “El Matador and has been on the most wanted list in four countries and has agreed to turn state’s evidence, offering vital information that will end the Villalobos dynasty’s thirty-year reign of terror however he has a condition that Detective Cruz accompany him back to Mexico.
However, once they arrive and are traveling in a van- Salaza puts his head down seeming to brace for a crash – yep it was a set up orchestrated by the notorious Hector Villalobos.
The Villalobos crime family has cost Det Cruz more than she ever would have imagined both professionally and personally and he is still.
He has declared an all-out war against Veranda and is ready for a final showdown with her. She has no choice but to confront him yet knows it is a battle only one of them can survive.
There is no doubt this is action packed. Story is great and what makes it great is our author is authentic. She uses her law enforcement background to make her stories realistic.
Isabella Maldonardo is an interesting person as she wore a gun and badge in real life before becoming a crime writer. She graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department; she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics.
After retiring she moved to Phoenix to write, and we are delighted she did!
Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 23, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Exit Wound will have your adrenaline flowing and your heart beating faster as you are consumed with this battle of good vs. evil. Isabella Maldonado has once again constructed a high-octane, pedal-to-the-floor thriller that holds you captive as you journey to hell and back.
This is another stellar novel by Isabella Maldonado. Well-written, filled with great characters and a fast-moving plot, it has everything you could want from a thriller. Suspense, action, twists and turns, emotion and drama, and a big showdown between the protagonist and antagonist. It presses all the right buttons to deliver a gripping and engrossing read.
It’s also a story about family, friendship and finding your own path. Exploring the concept of nature vs. nurture and fate vs. control. Are you destined to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors because the DNA flowing through you has preordained the outcome of your life? Or are you a product of your environment and your actions, controlling the outcome of who you will become?
Isabella Maldonado has entered “must-read” territory. Delivering banger after banger. Crafting stories with depth, emotion, action and bloodshed that are engaging as hell.
Exit Wound will have your adrenaline flowing and your heart beating faster as you are consumed with this battle of good vs. evil. Isabella Maldonado has once again constructed a high-octane, pedal-to-the-floor thriller that holds you captive as you journey to hell and back.
This is another stellar novel by Isabella Maldonado. Well-written, filled with great characters and a fast-moving plot, it has everything you could want from a thriller. Suspense, action, twists and turns, emotion and drama, and a big showdown between the protagonist and antagonist. It presses all the right buttons to deliver a gripping and engrossing read.
It’s also a story about family, friendship and finding your own path. Exploring the concept of nature vs. nurture and fate vs. control. Are you destined to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors because the DNA flowing through you has preordained the outcome of your life? Or are you a product of your environment and your actions, controlling the outcome of who you will become?
Isabella Maldonado has entered “must-read” territory. Delivering banger after banger. Crafting stories with depth, emotion, action and bloodshed that are engaging as hell.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, I have got myself in quite a jam here. I downloaded the Kindle version of this first book in this series a few years back and it has sat on my virtual bookshelf unread since then. That definitely would have helped in reading this book.
I am familiar with the author from her series with Jeffrey Deaver. So, in reading “Exit Wound”, it was tough in that I didn’t understand the dynamics of all that was going on with this family and what all was going on with the antagonist. Comparing the two series isn’t quite fair.
The action was intense and writing was good in this novel. The emotion was brought out even though I had no connection to the characters involved. So, if you are like me and late in joining the Veranda Cruz series, I highly recommend going back to the beginning and following it through to “Exit Wound”. But if you choose to join in process like I did, then know there is a bit of catching up you will have to do.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
I am familiar with the author from her series with Jeffrey Deaver. So, in reading “Exit Wound”, it was tough in that I didn’t understand the dynamics of all that was going on with this family and what all was going on with the antagonist. Comparing the two series isn’t quite fair.
The action was intense and writing was good in this novel. The emotion was brought out even though I had no connection to the characters involved. So, if you are like me and late in joining the Veranda Cruz series, I highly recommend going back to the beginning and following it through to “Exit Wound”. But if you choose to join in process like I did, then know there is a bit of catching up you will have to do.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
March 30, 2026
I was so excited to get my hands on Exit Wound early!
As with the other books, there's a strong investigative build-up that keeps things moving, and I appreciated how the author included small reminders from earlier books to help connect everything without it feeling repetitive.
What stood out most to me was how things wrapped up for Veranda personally. I'm really happy she finally got the closure she needed, especially when it comes to her family. That part of the story felt meaningful and well done. I am excited that the author is going to continue Veranda's story further, so we might get more of her relationship with Diaz!
Overall, I gave this one 4 stars and I'm definitely looking forward to whatever Isabella Maldonado writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
As with the other books, there's a strong investigative build-up that keeps things moving, and I appreciated how the author included small reminders from earlier books to help connect everything without it feeling repetitive.
What stood out most to me was how things wrapped up for Veranda personally. I'm really happy she finally got the closure she needed, especially when it comes to her family. That part of the story felt meaningful and well done. I am excited that the author is going to continue Veranda's story further, so we might get more of her relationship with Diaz!
Overall, I gave this one 4 stars and I'm definitely looking forward to whatever Isabella Maldonado writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was a pleasure to see Isabella Maldonado return to solo writing following her recent collaborations with Jeffery Deaver. She has a remarkable talent for creating compelling stories centered on complex, resilient female law enforcement characters, and Veranda Cruz is a perfect example.
Following the reveals in the previous installment, it's captivating to watch Cruz navigate the obstacles necessary to bring down the Villalobos criminal family. The fast-paced plot and numerous twists kept me engaged until the very satisfying conclusion.
This leaves me wondering: what's next for Veranda Cruz? I look forward to Maldonado's future updates on the series.
Following the reveals in the previous installment, it's captivating to watch Cruz navigate the obstacles necessary to bring down the Villalobos criminal family. The fast-paced plot and numerous twists kept me engaged until the very satisfying conclusion.
This leaves me wondering: what's next for Veranda Cruz? I look forward to Maldonado's future updates on the series.
April 7, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
Veranda Cruz is involved in the transfer of a prisoner. When he is broken free, she investigates as thy try to find him, before the crime family he works for does.
I enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and hardly allowed me to take a breath. It was exciting and frustrating and kept me guessing. My only issue was this was one in a series and I didn’t realise. Lots of references to past events that I couldn’t make the link to. This was minor though and didn’t stop me from racing to the finish. I would love to read the others as these characters definitely pulled me into their world!
Veranda Cruz is involved in the transfer of a prisoner. When he is broken free, she investigates as thy try to find him, before the crime family he works for does.
I enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and hardly allowed me to take a breath. It was exciting and frustrating and kept me guessing. My only issue was this was one in a series and I didn’t realise. Lots of references to past events that I couldn’t make the link to. This was minor though and didn’t stop me from racing to the finish. I would love to read the others as these characters definitely pulled me into their world!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another gold star winner for Maldonado.
Det. Cruz is the natural daughter of the crime boss of the Villalobos crime fa.
But that does not stop her from pursuing them and making it a personal mission to bring them down.
When a prisoner escort that she is,traveling with, turns into a violent and deadly escape for one of
the heads of the crime family, she barely escapes with her life. Her and her,team become even more determined yo bring the family to justice.
Great action with non stop thrilling suspense.
Good read.
Det. Cruz is the natural daughter of the crime boss of the Villalobos crime fa.
But that does not stop her from pursuing them and making it a personal mission to bring them down.
When a prisoner escort that she is,traveling with, turns into a violent and deadly escape for one of
the heads of the crime family, she barely escapes with her life. Her and her,team become even more determined yo bring the family to justice.
Great action with non stop thrilling suspense.
Good read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Not my favorite of the series.
The book starts with a bang as Cruz is escorting a cartel criminal from the US back to Mexico when things go horribly wrong.
I wouldn't recommend starting the series with this book because the background is important. While I mostly enjoyed the book, the plot was a lot, the characters were a lot and I ended up skimming the last couple chapters. I'm hoping this series continues but I'm hoping now that this ended the way it did, that it will become more of a police procedural. JMHO.
The book starts with a bang as Cruz is escorting a cartel criminal from the US back to Mexico when things go horribly wrong.
I wouldn't recommend starting the series with this book because the background is important. While I mostly enjoyed the book, the plot was a lot, the characters were a lot and I ended up skimming the last couple chapters. I'm hoping this series continues but I'm hoping now that this ended the way it did, that it will become more of a police procedural. JMHO.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Boom 💥
I can’t tell you enough how much I love this series and this book was absolutely amazing. This is the 4th book in series. And while this one wraps up the thread in all books. I truly hope this is not the last time we see Veranda and all the characters we have come to love.
This was another book that literally starts off whiplash fast and does not let go. This author writes female heroines at an epic level. I could not put this down. I read the entire series in 2 days. I was obsessed and now I’m sad. WHAT. A. RIDE.
I can’t tell you enough how much I love this series and this book was absolutely amazing. This is the 4th book in series. And while this one wraps up the thread in all books. I truly hope this is not the last time we see Veranda and all the characters we have come to love.
This was another book that literally starts off whiplash fast and does not let go. This author writes female heroines at an epic level. I could not put this down. I read the entire series in 2 days. I was obsessed and now I’m sad. WHAT. A. RIDE.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Isabella Maldonado’s novels always pack a punch and Exit Wound is no exception. Challenging the crime family boss, Veranda Cruz takes on an ambitious and deadly plan. This is part of an ongoing series and the history in the previous stories is helpful to understand some of the complex plots in this one. A solid read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It’s very easy to see why Isabella Maldonado and Jeffery Deaver have collaborated in writing a thriller series…. Birds of a feather and all that. Exit Wound is Maldonado’s work only and is superbly and intricately plotted and difficult to put down… I got through this in a day and now find myself disappointed that I now have to find something else to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fast, tense, and hard to put down
I flew through this book. The stakes felt personal for Veranda Cruz, which gave it all the action a bit more weight, and I liked that she’s capable but not untouchable. It didn't slow down much, which is perfect if you’re in the mood for something gripping and bingeable. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I flew through this book. The stakes felt personal for Veranda Cruz, which gave it all the action a bit more weight, and I liked that she’s capable but not untouchable. It didn't slow down much, which is perfect if you’re in the mood for something gripping and bingeable. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love everything I have read by Isabella Maldonado!
This book kept me on edge for w days while I blew threw it. The twists at the end and the final showdown between Veranda and the Villalobos has me hooked !
Thabk you to Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
This book kept me on edge for w days while I blew threw it. The twists at the end and the final showdown between Veranda and the Villalobos has me hooked !
Thabk you to Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Exit Wound starts off with a lot of action, but I initially found it a bit hard to get into. However, around the 30% mark, I was fully invested. This is the fourth book in the series, but I was still able to enjoy it even without having read the previous books.
I loved how badass Veranda was, and I would have liked more closure between her and Diaz. I also appreciated how everyone had Veranda’s back, which really highlighted the strong team dynamic.
I loved how badass Veranda was, and I would have liked more closure between her and Diaz. I also appreciated how everyone had Veranda’s back, which really highlighted the strong team dynamic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I somehow missed the first three books in this series, but was not lost while reading Exit Wound as the author did a good job providing whatever details carried over from the previous entries into this one. It is a very fast paced thriller that kept me engaged from start to finish in a one day read. The main character, Detective Veranda Cruz, is another of Maldonado’s strong female protagonists who has a complicated family background, one that is entirely too closely entwined with her current investigation. With danger for her and those she loves as well as peripheral characters in nearly every chapter, you will be holding your breath quite often through this one. The premise of this series is not my favorite of the author’s, but the book was well written and entertaining.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this edge of the seat thriller.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this edge of the seat thriller.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews