by Marie Force
Series: Fatal #10
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Every family has its secrets…
As the first anniversary of her marriage to Vice President Nick Cappuano approaches, Lieutenant Sam Holland is dreaming of Bora Bora—sun, sand and a desperately needed break from the DC grind. But real life has a way of intervening, and Sam soon finds herself taking on one of the most perplexing cases of her career.
Government worker Josh Hamilton begs Sam to investigate his shocking claim that his parents stole him from another family thirty years ago. More complicated still, his "father" is none other than the FBI director. When a member of Josh's family is brutally murdered, Sam begins to question how deep this cover-up goes. Is it possible the revered director was part of a baby-napping ring and that others involved are also targets?
With a killer intent on deadly revenge and her team still reeling from a devastating loss, Sam's plate is full—and when Nick and their son, Scotty, take ill, is her dream of a tropical anniversary celebration in peril too?
This series does not get old. Sam and Nick are back and celebrating their one year anniversary. It’s hard to believe that so much has happened in this year and true to form there is another mystery at hand. A young man approaches Samantha, who is suspended for an event that occurred at the end of the last book, because he recognizes himself in an adult rendering of a Missing Child’s picture. He wants Sam to investigate. The catch? He is the son of the current FBI Director. For the first time in awhile, this mystery threw me for a loop. It kept me guessing and I could not have imagined the ending.
This series is wonderful not only for the suspenseful stories but also the family that makes up Sam and Nick’s world. It’s a family of team members, blood relatives, and yes, even some of the Secret Service agents. Nick has to navigate around his role as VPOTUS, but he always prioritizes his role as husband and father first. I may have said this before, but it is worth repeating, Sam and Nick have a model relationship. Simple, but not easy.
For the fans of the series, you will note that Marie Force throws an interesting tidbit or two that had me saying, "hmmm." First, it seems as though Sam's unwavering support from Chief Fransworth may be coming to an end. Sam is under scrutiny because she punched a fellow officer at the end of the previous book. He deserved it, but nonetheless, he wants to press assault charges. Chief Farnsworth, her godfather, let her know that he may no longer be able to protect Sam from the fallout from her unorthodox and often, rulebreaking methods of solving a crime. This is one of the reasons I like Sam. She operates in the gray. There are times she breaks the rules, but it is not without consequences.
*Spoiler Alert*
Another interesting and disturbing issue is Avery's continuing obsession with Sam. He loves Shelby, but he still can't help fixating on Sam when he is in the same room as she is. He is confounded by his reaction. Is the author forecasting a future risk or is this just closure for a loose end? Nick and Avery do have a heart to heart, but I don't know if I fully trust that resolution. I think it is a odd thing to bring up (again) and I guess only time will tell.
IN A NUTSHELL:
If you a fan, this will be a truly satisfying addition to the series. This book is just as romantic as the first, even more so because this love is tempered and enduring.
