Fans of the serial killer genre and police procedurals are gonna love CIPHER. I can practically guarantee it.
The subject matter alone should make it clear: CIPHER is not for the squeamish. It involves the torture, murder and rape of children and teenage girls. For those of you still interested, you are in for a real treat!
I don't think I am going out on a limb here, when I say Isabella Maldonado's thriller, CIPHER, is every bit as thrilling, exciting, and engaging as Thomas Harris' RED DRAGON TRILOGY, which included THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Maldonado may have borrowed from aspects of that earlier work, but she has made CIPHER all her own.
The killer, both terrifying and complex, has nothing on his first victim, a terrified 16 year old Latina, who has run away from foster care. Nina is determined to not only escape him, but to make something of life, that transcends her unfortunate childhood.
11 years later, she is an FBI agent, when a video of her goes viral, exposing her new identity to the obsessed serial killer, who will forever see her as "the one that got away". So begins a cat and mouse game, with the CIPHER using social media to misdirect, cause chaos and embarrass the FBI, as they quickly make catching him their number one priority. Nina's inclusion on the taskforce is both a risk and a benefit. She is both incredibly strong and terribly damaged, as a result of her earlier encounter with the Cipher. She can also be instrumental in drawing him out.
The book moves along at a break neck pace, following the clues logically, and working well as a police procedural. From the opening scene to the dramatic conclusion, this book draws you in and never lets up. Even the minor characters are interesting, and pull the reader further into the story. We are left wanting to know even more about them, in particular, a neighbor of Nina's, a young girl in foster care, who a genius with a social media obsession. All the main characters are fascinating and, for the most part, realistic, keeping the story interesting and personable. Nina, is extremely empathetic and her fictional fans will, no doubt, be joined by real readers.
Maldonodo' s experience in law enforcement, (including experience working with the FBI), and her Latina heritage really bring this story to life, elevating it well beyond most other books in the crowded field of "serial killer" novels. I can't wait for the next novel featuring Nina Guerrerra, the "Warrior Girl".
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Good for fans of Criminal Minds, see content warnings. Turning into a movie!
** spoiler alert ** Book Review: The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado (2021) | Police ProceduralTLDR: A breakout novel from a very accomplished Latina federal law enforcement officer. Police procedural fit for fans of Criminal Minds. Big content warnings (see below). Serial killer, FBI search.The accomplished author is building off a life of federal law enforcement experience to craft a story about Nina, a woman who experienced a horrible kidnapping at the hands of a budding serial killer. Nina dedicated her life to becoming a FBI agent and solving crimes.This book is about the fight between Nina and her kidnapper who is obsessed with finding and killing her after years — she changes her name and leaves, but he ends up being able to find her after she goes viral while preventing her own rape while running in the park. “The Cipher” (aka the killer) issues a series of puzzles to Nina in order to taunt and test her, ultimately gaining a country wide following. The FBI enlists cyber experts, criminologists and Nina to the task of tracking down his identity... before he kills again.REVIEW (spoilers)This book is heavy on the procedures of a FBI investigation. It utilizes the author’s relevant knowledge to craft the story and inform the reader of what I assume would be the realistic steps taken in this situation. It reminds me of an episode of Criminal Minds, there’s even a quirky computer geek like Penelope. If you’re interested in the psychology / criminology of serial killers, this book also uses this as a major plot theme while they try to solve the Cipher’s puzzles. The reader is clued in to the investigation as well as some of the Cipher’s thoughts in chapters, but the main focus is on Nina. I liked that she was a strong woman who overcame unthinkable horror to become an agent.It is critical to say that this book is not for everyone. Within the first few pages, there is an explicit attempted rape. There is murder, graphic violence, rape, sexual and physical assault, kidnapping, etc. and the depictions are not sugarcoated. Please exercise caution if you think this may not be the right content for you.
