Fatal Jeopardy (The Fatal Series) Mass Market Paperback – June 28, 2016

This is the 7th book in Marie Force's Fatal series. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the characters. It's well written, action packed and has a fast pace.However, I had a few problems that brought this down to a four star for me:A) Nick goes ballistic when Sam cancels their vacation to help her niece who has just been gang raped. Now I get that the couple needs some down time after all in the last 11 months a lot has happened (and I had to remind myself its only been 11 months). This however, just didn't ring true of Nick's character and seemed contrived to cause friction between Sam and Nick. That would have been fine if she would have played it out but they both argue for a bit and then get over it and have sex.B) Sam is allowed to work both cases, the multiple homicide case and her niece's gang-rape. This was SO unbelievable I had a hard time getting past the complete conflict of interest. The author tries to get past it saying the father of one of the victims who is a prominent criminal defense attorney wants her on the case. But even with this there is no way she would be allowed to work this case. Furthermore, later in the book the author states something about the father that completely goes against his desire to have Sam on the case. <spoiler>The author states that the father probably knew all along that his other son was involved so why would he want the "best detective" on the case</spoiler> Further more, this father has previously publically stated his adverse opinion of Sam.C) Sam comes across as a bit of a bully in this book. She is rude and overbearing to a lot of civilians that she has to deal with in this book like the receptionist, security officers, principals, etc. Although, Sam is dealing with the rape of her niece she seems to blame everyone except the boys who actually raped her (saying several times well they were drunk and taking drugs and probably acted in ways they wouldn't ordinarily). So she looses it with the school that let her niece leave the school when they shouldn't but makes excuses for the boys who raped her niece? It seemed like the author was trying to make her a bad a** (like Eve in In Death) but it just didn't work - it came across as more rude, off-putting and seemed to make her a less effective police detective. D) Nick's accession to Vice President is so ridiculous and unrealistic. Again it's been 11 months since he became a senator in the first place. So he hasn't even been in office a year and now he's going to be picked to be Vice President. But okay maybe I could past that but then to say and we want you so much your wife can continue to be a police detective and you don't have to move.... There's only so much unrealistic scenarios I can take. I just don't see the need for Nick to move to VP so quickly when there is plenty of conflict with him being a senator.As long as you are willing to suspend your belief in realty you'll enjoy this edition of Nick and Sam and all their friends and co-workers. I hope that the author is willing to take a few risks and create some real conflict that might not be solved in 12 hours or that not everything is wrapped up nice and tidy. (Gonzo gets custody, while people get hurt there is no fear they'll actual die, Sam can be Sam no matter what position her husband has).Still with all that said - it's still a 4 star book that I really enjoyed and I will continue to read the Fatal series.

Just what I wanted

Fatal Jeopardy; Fatal Series Book Seven is by Marie Force. All of the series hits on some aspect of society that needs to be addressed in some way. This book hits on rape, murder, and cyber-videos. The direction this book takes makes it very emotional, more so than the others. It hits hard.Samantha Holland and her husband US Senator Nick Cappuano are looking forward to spending a week’s vacation together and spending Thanksgiving with their adopted son and their extended family. She and Scotty had watched as Nick was hurt in his ice hockey game. They dropped Scotty off at her father’s house and headed for the emergency room. Usually they are headed there for Sam but this time Nick is the victim. He has just bruised his ribs badly but is in pain. When they arrive home, they find Sam’s niece Brooke on the porch. She is naked, wrapped in a bloody sheet, and has been badly beaten, raped, and is unconscious. Back to the emergency room this time with Brooke. Who did this to Brooke? She was supposed to be in Virginia in a secure private school. How did she get to Sam’s? Before they get Brooke to a room, Sam is called out on a murder call. However, this time, she doesn’t go, she sends Gonzo to be the lead. When she finished with Brooke, she will go to the crime scene.The murder is a multiple murder- six teens have been killed while at a party where booze, drugs, and sex were served. Had Brooke been to this party? When a video hits social media, Sam finds herself watching as Brooke is raped by three men while a fourth films it. She recognizes the blanket on the bed as one from the murder scene. It now becomes obvious that Sam cannot investigate this murder as it is a conflict of interest. Can Sam stay away?Meanwhile, Nick who is trying to spend time with their son is called to the White House where the President asks him to be the new Vice-President when Gooding resigns. What will this do to their marriage? Will Sam have to give up her job? Will Nick insist she become the second lady? How will it affect Scotty?

I just finished Fatal Jeopardy and I loved it, marie had me in tears when Gonzo was shot and again when I read he was going to make it. She is such an amazing story teller, she makes the reader feel like they are there with Sam and Nick and part of their inner circle.I cannot wait until Jan 15 for their next adventure.

Another great book in this series that has had me hooked from the first one. Thoroughly enjoyed it!! Looking forward to the next one.

Sam Holland Cappuano and Senator Nick Cappuano are looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving with their son Scotty but when they return from a late evening out to find a small bundle outside their front door their plans change. Surprisingly the bundle contains her seventeen year old niece Brooke, who was supposed to be at school for troubled girls in Richmond. She is naked, covered in blood and barely conscious. Sam calls for medical support and wants to immediately investigate what has happened to Brooke. But when she and her team are called out to an incident involving the death of nine teenagers in a basement, suddenly her professional and personal life collides. Somehow, Brooke is connected with with this tragic homicide at the home of one of her friends and with an obvious conflict of interest she reluctantly has to takes a secondary role in the investigation.Throughout this period, we learn that Brooke has been raped and we the reader are given extensive details of her medical treatment, the pain she is in, how she feels and what a rape examination involves. And during this emotionally charged ordeal Sam is determined to help Brooke and also her family to come to terms with what has occurred. But will Brooke recover? Will her attitude ever change?At the same time Nick is being approached again to consider becoming Vice President of the United States although he said no when first asked when aboard Air force One. Will Nick accept? How will Sam and Scotty react? What life changing decisions might they make?

Book seven in the utterly fantastic Fatal Series is a story that hits extremely close to home for Lieutenant Sam Holland after she is called to investigate a multiple homicide that has links back to her niece Brooke, whom she earlier discovered naked and bloody on her doorstep when she returned home from an evening out with husband Nick and son Scotty. And with pressure from the top brass to step back from an investigation that is deeply personal and trouble brewing at home as Nick becomes increasingly concerned about Sam's laser focus in getting justice for her precious niece this was an exhilarating read not to mention an emotional one, and even though I've read it multiple times I was still gripped throughout and I would happily recommend it to others.

Just wow! I've only recently come across this series and 7 books in I haven't yet put it down. You'd think after this many it would start repeating itself but no! Marie force is one of the most brilliant, refreshing, emotion indices authors I've had the pleasure if reading. This book takes you through the struggles of all parents decisions and what-ifs. How couples have to work together to compromise on stuff that can change everything. Plus the added horror of kids being murdered. It grips you until the last page!