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Fatal #4
Fatal Flaw
Back from their honeymoon, Senator Nick Cappuano and D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland are ready for some normalcy after the whirlwind of their wedding, but someone has other plans for them. When Sam discovers wedding cards containing thinly veiled death threats, she's not sure if she or Nick is the target.
Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she's chasing her tail.
With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer's clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily-ever-after.
Book 4 of the Fatal series.
Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she's chasing her tail.
With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer's clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily-ever-after.
Book 4 of the Fatal series.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2014
1311 people are currently reading
2999 people want to read
About the author
Marie Force
208 books8,410 followersMarie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont and Quantum.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
February 12, 2024
2024 Review
the setup…
Sam and Nick return from their Bora Bora honeymoon and minutes after she’s back on the clock she’s called to a puzzling crime scene. The victims were well liked and there’s no sign of robbery. After the third similar crime where the victims didn’t seem to have any enemies, it’s clear they have to be connected but the team is baffled. Meanwhile, Freddie & Elin reach a crossroad in their relationship; Terry O’Connor & Lindsey McNamara consider taking the next step in theirs; Sam & Nick decide to foster Scotty and Jeannie & Michael try to reach a new normal following her assault. Not enough? Sam and Nick are getting threatening notes mixed in with the well wishing cards and notes. And, Skip Holland has a health scare.
the heart of the story…
Good thing I like multiple plot lines in a story because there’s a lot going on here. So much so that the cases seem to take a back seat to all of the other personal dramas, surprisingly fine with me. I love that the secondary characters are given depth and angles, making this a richer story and series. Skip’s health crisis was a reminder of how precarious it is for quadriplegics and his last case before his shooting is explored again with troubling results.
the narration…
Kaminsky has her hands full with this one and she certainly showed her storytelling chops. Loved this on audio.
the bottom line…
I enjoyed this primarily because of the relationship focus. There’s so much going on but they thread together nicely. The case definitely took a backseat for me and I’m glad it did because I wouldn’t have figured out the resolution. It was hard to put this down and I’m so glad I decided to listen to it this second time around. It all felt fresh and new.
2015 Review
There's so much going on in this story! Sam and Nick return from their honeymoon and everything seems to be running amok. Among their wedding acknowledgements are some cards that are threatening, Skip Holland gets ill and there are a series of inexplicable murders that don't seem to be connected. If that's not enough, Sam has her detectives looking into the one case Skip was never able to solve
I enjoyed how the police work and the relationship issues were woven throughout the book. It's not just Sam and Nick's romance either as Freddie, Jeannie and Terry all have secondary storylines that contribute to a meaty installment. The cases were very interesting and not easily resolved, which is a plus for me.
I really like the characters in this series and am looking forward to continuing.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
the setup…
Sam and Nick return from their Bora Bora honeymoon and minutes after she’s back on the clock she’s called to a puzzling crime scene. The victims were well liked and there’s no sign of robbery. After the third similar crime where the victims didn’t seem to have any enemies, it’s clear they have to be connected but the team is baffled. Meanwhile, Freddie & Elin reach a crossroad in their relationship; Terry O’Connor & Lindsey McNamara consider taking the next step in theirs; Sam & Nick decide to foster Scotty and Jeannie & Michael try to reach a new normal following her assault. Not enough? Sam and Nick are getting threatening notes mixed in with the well wishing cards and notes. And, Skip Holland has a health scare.
the heart of the story…
Good thing I like multiple plot lines in a story because there’s a lot going on here. So much so that the cases seem to take a back seat to all of the other personal dramas, surprisingly fine with me. I love that the secondary characters are given depth and angles, making this a richer story and series. Skip’s health crisis was a reminder of how precarious it is for quadriplegics and his last case before his shooting is explored again with troubling results.
the narration…
Kaminsky has her hands full with this one and she certainly showed her storytelling chops. Loved this on audio.
the bottom line…
I enjoyed this primarily because of the relationship focus. There’s so much going on but they thread together nicely. The case definitely took a backseat for me and I’m glad it did because I wouldn’t have figured out the resolution. It was hard to put this down and I’m so glad I decided to listen to it this second time around. It all felt fresh and new.
2015 Review
There's so much going on in this story! Sam and Nick return from their honeymoon and everything seems to be running amok. Among their wedding acknowledgements are some cards that are threatening, Skip Holland gets ill and there are a series of inexplicable murders that don't seem to be connected. If that's not enough, Sam has her detectives looking into the one case Skip was never able to solve
I enjoyed how the police work and the relationship issues were woven throughout the book. It's not just Sam and Nick's romance either as Freddie, Jeannie and Terry all have secondary storylines that contribute to a meaty installment. The cases were very interesting and not easily resolved, which is a plus for me.
I really like the characters in this series and am looking forward to continuing.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
March 7, 2018
4.25 stars.
Look at it this way—never a dull moment.”
Next!
Look at it this way—never a dull moment.”
Next!
March 3, 2024
Sam and Nick are home from their honeymoon and ready to get life back to normal. But after reading through some of their wedding cards, Sam finds an anonymous threat. A look through the rest of the cards shows more threats. While trying to discover who is behind these notes, Sam and her team of detectives are pulled into a series of murders. The victims are people who seemingly have no enemies. There are no clues as to who is behind the killings. As time goes by, the murders come faster and faster. Sam must find the culprit and keep Nick and herself safe from the threats that are piling up against them.
This is the 5th book in the series (counting the novella). It's a quick read and entertaining; but suffers from too many story threads. On top of the series of murders and the threats against the main characters, Sam's father is sick, Cruz meets his estranged father, Jeannie comes back to work after the attack in the previous books, Nick and Sam think about adopting Scotty, and other secondary characters get some major time on these pages. I thought it was a bit overwhelming for one book and took away from the suspense portion of the story. But even a book by Marie Force that isn't top notch is still a good read. My rating: 4 Stars.
2024 Re-read: I stand by my original review. This book has too much going on. I think the author could have saved half of the story threads for the next book. Still, it was highly entertaining. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is the 5th book in the series (counting the novella). It's a quick read and entertaining; but suffers from too many story threads. On top of the series of murders and the threats against the main characters, Sam's father is sick, Cruz meets his estranged father, Jeannie comes back to work after the attack in the previous books, Nick and Sam think about adopting Scotty, and other secondary characters get some major time on these pages. I thought it was a bit overwhelming for one book and took away from the suspense portion of the story. But even a book by Marie Force that isn't top notch is still a good read. My rating: 4 Stars.
2024 Re-read: I stand by my original review. This book has too much going on. I think the author could have saved half of the story threads for the next book. Still, it was highly entertaining. My rating: 4 Stars.
October 16, 2012
When it comes to romantic suspense, Marie Force delivers exciting, believable stories, and Fatal Flaw, the fourth book in the Fatal series is no exception.
Senator Nick Cappuano and D.C. Police Lieutenant Samantha Holland are home from their two week, romantic honeymoon on Bora Bora. Literally, just minutes past midnight on her official ‘first day back,’ Sam gets called to work, and it begins. With investigations, campaigning, cold cases, threats, cheating husbands, missing people and murder, Sam and Nick find themselves thrust back into life as they’ve come to know it; busy, bloody, and dangerous!
“My name is Terry, and I’m an alcoholic.”Fatal Flaw is a great addition to the series, and while I was happy to see so many things finally start to come together, what I was most impressed by was the way Ms. Force handled the issue of Terry O’Connor’s alcoholism. Openly, no sugar coating, Terry laid it all out and accepted responsibility for his actions. This was handled with honesty and compassion and without exploiting alcoholism or making it all about the drama.
“I told you—we’ll keep trying until we get it right. However long it takes. I’m not going anywhere, Jeannie. No matter what.”Another thing that I was so pleased to see was how Jeannie McBride was beginning to heal from her kidnapping and rape, with the help of her boyfriend, Michael. I adore him for his dedication and devotion to Jeannie, and I adore her for not giving up.
Okay, I need to get this off my chest... Something that really bugged me was Sam's repeated derogatory thoughts about Stahl's weight, not just in this book, but throughout the entire series. I mean, seriously... every time the man was on the page, Sam noted his "jiggling" or "wiggling" jowls, his sweating, his turning purple... Sure, the guy is repulsive, but he'd be repulsive even if he didn't have an ounce of fat on him, and so with each passing scene it started to feel more and more as though Sam's revulsion towards him was as much about his weight as it was about him being an ass-wipe. And, I'll be honest here, because I am a woman who carries some extra weight and have been known to jiggle from time to time myself - (though if you repeat that, I'll deny I said it) - it started to become a bit much. Just sayin'....
This final quote, a quick exchange between Sam and Nick, pretty much sums up their life:
“Holy shit.” His voice was unsteady, and she could feel a slight tremor in his muscles. “Holy freaking shit.”The bottom line - While this book isn't without flaws, once again Marie Force has written a thrilling, romantic, passionate, heartwarming, story that kept me guessing as to who the bad guy was and what the motives were. I enjoyed seeing how tight Sam and Nick's relationship has become... the honesty, the love, devotion... great stuff, that.
“Look at it this way—never a dull moment.”
That drew a reluctant chuckle from her husband. “Dull is boring and overrated.”
“I’d love the opportunity to find out.”
Tipping her chin up to receive his kiss, he said, “Not gonna happen in this lifetime, babe.”
This book was provided by netgalley.com in behalf of Carina Press.
February 18, 2024
I am not a Sam fan. But the books are intriguing, and I like the supporting characters. This book is all about those supporting characters and their relationships to the point that Force gave a very short shift to the mystery.
Sam and Nick return from a blissful honeymoon to piles of wedding cards. Such a popular couple. In those thousands of cards are a few that are downright sinister. Her first night back on duty Sam catches the murder of the owner of a popular restaurant and an employee. Sam is baffled she can't come up with a suspect. Another murder takes place and again Sam is stumped for a motive and suspect.
Sam and Nick return from a blissful honeymoon to piles of wedding cards. Such a popular couple. In those thousands of cards are a few that are downright sinister. Her first night back on duty Sam catches the murder of the owner of a popular restaurant and an employee. Sam is baffled she can't come up with a suspect. Another murder takes place and again Sam is stumped for a motive and suspect.
February 7, 2012
The honeymoon is definitely not over for Nick and Sam! But apparently it is their destiny to be cursed with continual confrontations and interruptions from all sides of the law. But never fear because these two are hotter than ever and their relationship steadily grows stronger. Sam and Nick's relationship remains front and center in every story, the cases continue to be "arresting" and captivating, the storylines developing among the secondary cast are equally as dazzling to read, along with the introduction of engaging new characters keeps readers begging for more.
By Book Five most series start a downward slide. Not so in this instance. Along with keeping the romance and suspense well-balanced, FATAL FLAW provides readers with another strong and flawless installment packed with all we've come to expect from this outstanding series. Marie Force has built a solid foundation and continues to build upon it. Her strength lies in being able to write the kind of stories that pull readers in and place them right in the middle of each scene.
As is always the case after finishing a book by this author, I'm ready for a reread of the current one and more than ready for the next book!
By Book Five most series start a downward slide. Not so in this instance. Along with keeping the romance and suspense well-balanced, FATAL FLAW provides readers with another strong and flawless installment packed with all we've come to expect from this outstanding series. Marie Force has built a solid foundation and continues to build upon it. Her strength lies in being able to write the kind of stories that pull readers in and place them right in the middle of each scene.
As is always the case after finishing a book by this author, I'm ready for a reread of the current one and more than ready for the next book!
May 30, 2012
Sam and Nick return from their honeymoon, to be faced with a double murder and threatening letters to both their safety. This really shows the other facet to their characters in how they deal with the issues ahead of them and their committed love for one another. Which by the way is sublime. Nick Cappuano can "park his shoes" under my bed anyday!
Nick Cappuano.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the secondary stories, involving the other characters. It was like coming home, to people you love. So good.
Looking forward to the next installment in this fantastic series.
Nick Cappuano.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the secondary stories, involving the other characters. It was like coming home, to people you love. So good.
Looking forward to the next installment in this fantastic series.
November 11, 2020
Excellent book - didn't know who did it until the last couple chapters. Very good plot line, well written - really like this author and this series in particular.
From the blurb: Back from their honeymoon, Senator Nick Cappuano and D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland are ready for some normalcy after the whirlwind of their wedding, but someone has other plans for them. When Sam discovers wedding cards containing thinly veiled death threats, she's not sure if she or Nick is the target.
Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she's chasing her tail.
With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer's clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily ever after.
Highly recommend this series - two thumbs up!
From the blurb: Back from their honeymoon, Senator Nick Cappuano and D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland are ready for some normalcy after the whirlwind of their wedding, but someone has other plans for them. When Sam discovers wedding cards containing thinly veiled death threats, she's not sure if she or Nick is the target.
Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she's chasing her tail.
With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer's clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily ever after.
Highly recommend this series - two thumbs up!
December 9, 2015
Not too bad but a step down from the last book!
February 15, 2024
Fatal Flaw
3 Stars
Upon returning from her honeymoon, Detective Lieutenant Sam Holland is faced with a deluge of cards wishing her and her new husband, Senator Nick Cappuano, well. Amongst the encouraging missives, there are several with a more threatening tone. Sam is also called in to investigate a series of apparently unconnected murders whose victims are exemplary citizens - a well-liked pizza parlor owner, a friendly soccer mom, and a retired chemistry teacher. Why were they killed and who wanted them dead?
The focus in this installment is on the relationships between the primary and secondary characters rather than on the investigation. As a plot-driven reader, this is not usually my preference but in this case, it works.
To begin with, Sam is less unlikable in this book. She is finally putting other people's needs ahead of her own. This is particularly evident in her support for Detective Jeannie McBride, who is trying to get her life back after a vicious assault, and for her partner, Freddie Cruz, who is struggling with family issues.
Nick is as amazing as always and the ongoing storyline with Scotty is delightful. There are some truly heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes, which had me reaching for the Kleenex.
Unfortunately, the police procedural aspects of the book, and the series as a whole, are less than stellar. Force is better at writing romance than investigative elements, which is clear from Sam's poor detecting skills and one particularly egregious TSTL moment. Moreover, the dearth of clues makes it impossible for the reader to figure out the culprit, who more or less comes out of the blue.
In sum, the romance and the character development in this book are better than the suspense plot. There are some open questions still to be resolved, and it will be interesting to see where Force takes them.
3 Stars
Upon returning from her honeymoon, Detective Lieutenant Sam Holland is faced with a deluge of cards wishing her and her new husband, Senator Nick Cappuano, well. Amongst the encouraging missives, there are several with a more threatening tone. Sam is also called in to investigate a series of apparently unconnected murders whose victims are exemplary citizens - a well-liked pizza parlor owner, a friendly soccer mom, and a retired chemistry teacher. Why were they killed and who wanted them dead?
The focus in this installment is on the relationships between the primary and secondary characters rather than on the investigation. As a plot-driven reader, this is not usually my preference but in this case, it works.
To begin with, Sam is less unlikable in this book. She is finally putting other people's needs ahead of her own. This is particularly evident in her support for Detective Jeannie McBride, who is trying to get her life back after a vicious assault, and for her partner, Freddie Cruz, who is struggling with family issues.
Nick is as amazing as always and the ongoing storyline with Scotty is delightful. There are some truly heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes, which had me reaching for the Kleenex.
Unfortunately, the police procedural aspects of the book, and the series as a whole, are less than stellar. Force is better at writing romance than investigative elements, which is clear from Sam's poor detecting skills and one particularly egregious TSTL moment. Moreover, the dearth of clues makes it impossible for the reader to figure out the culprit, who more or less comes out of the blue.
In sum, the romance and the character development in this book are better than the suspense plot. There are some open questions still to be resolved, and it will be interesting to see where Force takes them.
June 15, 2020
SERIE FATAL vol. 4
Quando leggo questi libri, mi sembra sempre di tornare a casa. Adoro i personaggi e mi piace come si stanno intrecciando le storie personali e i casi da risolvere.
In questo volume ci prendiamo un bello spavento, e scopriamo qualcosa di più...non dico altro.
E' un rosa crime, forse più rosa che crime, ma devo dire che questo non mi disturba come con altre serie. Lo trovo romantico e intrigante al punto giusto. Per passare delle ore in relax, ma non troppo.
Dovrò ritagliarmi uno spazio questa estate per leggere i prossimi, perchè adesso le cose iniziano a farsi interessanti. Peccato che l'edizione italiana si fermi al volume 8. In america sono tipo al 20. Li leggerò in inglese. Che pizza però!
Quando leggo questi libri, mi sembra sempre di tornare a casa. Adoro i personaggi e mi piace come si stanno intrecciando le storie personali e i casi da risolvere.
In questo volume ci prendiamo un bello spavento, e scopriamo qualcosa di più...non dico altro.
E' un rosa crime, forse più rosa che crime, ma devo dire che questo non mi disturba come con altre serie. Lo trovo romantico e intrigante al punto giusto. Per passare delle ore in relax, ma non troppo.
Dovrò ritagliarmi uno spazio questa estate per leggere i prossimi, perchè adesso le cose iniziano a farsi interessanti. Peccato che l'edizione italiana si fermi al volume 8. In america sono tipo al 20. Li leggerò in inglese. Che pizza però!
January 21, 2012
Returning from her honeymoon (after getting married to Senator Nick Cappuano in Fatal Destiny: The Fatal Series Wedding Novella), Police Lieutenant Sam Holland finds herself plunged abruptly back into the world of investigating crime. Someone is killing people who seemingly don’t have an enemy in the world; someone else is sending Nick and Sam distinctly unfriendly sounding “congratulation” cards. Or could there be a connection between the two?
This was my first time trying this series; my first take was that set-up was reminiscent of J.D. Robb’s Eve and Roarke, but then the many continuing dramatic subplots and secondary couples reminded me more of Brenda Joyce’s “Deadly” series. It’s less “cozy” series than Robb’s as well -- the regulars aren’t safe from bad things happening to them. In some ways, this feels like an in-between book -- a lot of exciting/tragic events happened in the previous books and now many of the characters are reacting to and recovering from those events. But there’s still plenty going on, and Sam constantly wonders whether they’ll ever get to have a normal life: “Didn’t she deserve just a tiny bit of happiness with Nick? Didn’t she deserve a small interlude in which no one was out to get either of them?” As long as people are enjoying this series, I think you’re out of luck, Sam.
Although it’s a smooth, easy read, there’s a slightly edgy feel to this book that I liked; it goes places I’m not used to going in mainstream contemporary romance. Sam is a realistically imperfect heroine for example, with fertility issues, dyslexia and a problem with migraines. The catch-up with the previous books got a bit tiresome, and although I was able to follow the storyline, I would strongly recommend beginning at the beginning of the series: there are many spoilers for the previous books, and the relationships will probably feel more meaningful.
(reviewed from e-arc provided by netGalley)
This was my first time trying this series; my first take was that set-up was reminiscent of J.D. Robb’s Eve and Roarke, but then the many continuing dramatic subplots and secondary couples reminded me more of Brenda Joyce’s “Deadly” series. It’s less “cozy” series than Robb’s as well -- the regulars aren’t safe from bad things happening to them. In some ways, this feels like an in-between book -- a lot of exciting/tragic events happened in the previous books and now many of the characters are reacting to and recovering from those events. But there’s still plenty going on, and Sam constantly wonders whether they’ll ever get to have a normal life: “Didn’t she deserve just a tiny bit of happiness with Nick? Didn’t she deserve a small interlude in which no one was out to get either of them?” As long as people are enjoying this series, I think you’re out of luck, Sam.
Although it’s a smooth, easy read, there’s a slightly edgy feel to this book that I liked; it goes places I’m not used to going in mainstream contemporary romance. Sam is a realistically imperfect heroine for example, with fertility issues, dyslexia and a problem with migraines. The catch-up with the previous books got a bit tiresome, and although I was able to follow the storyline, I would strongly recommend beginning at the beginning of the series: there are many spoilers for the previous books, and the relationships will probably feel more meaningful.
(reviewed from e-arc provided by netGalley)
May 31, 2013
Another great page turner from Marie Force. I'm not usually a violent person...ask anyone!!! However, when the bad nasty serial killer broke into my girl Sam's house and slashed all her clothes including her beautiful wedding dress made by Vera Wang.....well, that was the last straw!! I wanted to string them up by their finger nails. Poor Sam was just heartbroken over the dress.
Marie is oh so clever with the murders in these books. You just never know who the killer is till the end.
Nick & Sam were firing up the bed sheets in this one too...as well as Lindsay & Terry.
I've already started Fatal Deception and looking forward to the new book out In June....can't wait!
So glad my friends bugged me to read these books and lay off the vamps for a while!!
Marie, please tell me Scotty will change his mind about living with Nick & Sam!!
I recommend these wonderful romantic suspense masterpieces to everyone!!!
Marie is oh so clever with the murders in these books. You just never know who the killer is till the end.
Nick & Sam were firing up the bed sheets in this one too...as well as Lindsay & Terry.
I've already started Fatal Deception and looking forward to the new book out In June....can't wait!
So glad my friends bugged me to read these books and lay off the vamps for a while!!
Marie, please tell me Scotty will change his mind about living with Nick & Sam!!
I recommend these wonderful romantic suspense masterpieces to everyone!!!
January 24, 2012
http://atastyread.blogspot.com
The Only FLAW in Fatal Flaw was that it ENDED!! I NEEDED MORE!!
Let me tell you, a Samantha IN LOVE is a Samantha I love!! From the first page we have our Nick and Sam back, and not just back from Bora Bora, where they Honeymooned, but we get the Sam and Nick who love each other more than anything in the world, and I didn't think I could fall anymore in love with this Series, but Marie made it possible!
So, here we have Sam and Nick, In Love and Happy....well....that only lasts for like three pages...then BACK TO THE GRIND and boy, does Sam get ground up!!
Fatal Flaw is everything we love about the Fatal Books, steamy sex, a crazy case to be solved, and a storyline that keeps us on the seat of our pants. And we don't just get Sam and Nick..oh no...we get all of our favorites, Cruz, Gonzo, Skip, and some great new storylines with more Lindsay and Terry and Jeannie and Michael, who made me cry...that Michael and all his love and support!!
I don't want to give anything away, because I want to keep all my Marie lovers in suspense, but I will say...I personally hope we find out more about The Fitzgerald Case....I hope Sam gets a feeling and reopens that folder...could make some ripples!! YAY...MORE FATAL!!
Marie Force has hit the nail on the head with Fatal Flaw. I adored the romance, I adored Nick more than I ever thought and his little "Bora Bora" surprise...Oh Marie... I shouldn't love him this much...but I do!! Another one for the Favorites Shelf....getting a little crowded, but I always can build a second one, if Marie keeps writing amazing books!
The Only FLAW in Fatal Flaw was that it ENDED!! I NEEDED MORE!!
Let me tell you, a Samantha IN LOVE is a Samantha I love!! From the first page we have our Nick and Sam back, and not just back from Bora Bora, where they Honeymooned, but we get the Sam and Nick who love each other more than anything in the world, and I didn't think I could fall anymore in love with this Series, but Marie made it possible!
So, here we have Sam and Nick, In Love and Happy....well....that only lasts for like three pages...then BACK TO THE GRIND and boy, does Sam get ground up!!
Fatal Flaw is everything we love about the Fatal Books, steamy sex, a crazy case to be solved, and a storyline that keeps us on the seat of our pants. And we don't just get Sam and Nick..oh no...we get all of our favorites, Cruz, Gonzo, Skip, and some great new storylines with more Lindsay and Terry and Jeannie and Michael, who made me cry...that Michael and all his love and support!!
I don't want to give anything away, because I want to keep all my Marie lovers in suspense, but I will say...I personally hope we find out more about The Fitzgerald Case....I hope Sam gets a feeling and reopens that folder...could make some ripples!! YAY...MORE FATAL!!
Marie Force has hit the nail on the head with Fatal Flaw. I adored the romance, I adored Nick more than I ever thought and his little "Bora Bora" surprise...Oh Marie... I shouldn't love him this much...but I do!! Another one for the Favorites Shelf....getting a little crowded, but I always can build a second one, if Marie keeps writing amazing books!
April 15, 2013
Love how this series just keeps getting better. Sam and Nick are awesome! Loving the Scotty story line and the wisdom of Graham O'Conner in that area. Sam and Nick are truly blessed with the village that surrounds them. I can't write a very long review because I need to go and start the next book! Enjoy...
April 18, 2013
Wished there was more space to put more stars. I cannot say enough about this series, the only thing is I wished there were more in this series. Next to the "In Death" series this has to be my next favourite series. Love reading it more with each book. Really recommend this series to anyone.
October 15, 2012
4.5 Stars
March 14, 2024
This series is on a roll! 👏🏽👏🏽 Sam's character arc is evolving in a beautiful way. I can't even choose which secondary character I love the most. They're all soooo good! 😅
The mystery... wooo weeee... some people are NUTS! But it was good.
The mystery... wooo weeee... some people are NUTS! But it was good.
August 30, 2013
ชอบเรื่องชุดนี้ที่เล่ม Fatal Justice มาก ๆ (ซึ่งเป็นเล่มสองในชุด แต่เป็นเล่มแรกในชุดนี้ที่เราอ่าน) มากขนาดกลับไปไล่อ่านเล่มหนึ่ง แล้วก็ติดตามเล่มต่อ ๆ ไปเรื่อยมา
แต่ก็ต้องบอกตามตรงนะคะว่า เรารู้สึกว่า คุณภาพของงานในชุดนี้ด้อยถอยลง มันไม่ถึงกับชัดแจ้งเท่าไหรในเล่มสาม แต่พอมาถึงเล่มนี้ ซึ่งเป็นเล่มสี่ในชุด เห็นได้ชัดเลยค่ะ เพราะประเด็นในส่วนของความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพระนางได้ลงตัวไปแล้ว (แต่งงานเรียบร้อย รักกันหวานชื่น) คนรอบข้างก็มีความสุข ตกอยู่ในห้วงรักกันหมด ที่แย่ก็คือ ประเด็นเรื่องการสืบสวนของเล่มนี้ไม่น่าสนใจเอาเสียเลย
เรารู้สึกเหมือนเป็นอาถรรพ์นะคะ เรื่องที่ใช้พระนางคู่เดิมดำเนินเรื่องไปต่อเนื่องหลายเล่ม ย่อมต้องมีช่วงเวลาที่สะดุด และเรารู้สึกว่า เล่มนี้คือเล่มที่มารี ฟอร์ซสะดุด เพราะไม่มีอะไรที่น่าสนใจเลยในเล่มนี้ เราชอบนะคะที่คนแต่งไม่ได้ไปสะกิดประเด็นความรักระหว่างแซมและนิคให้มาเป็นเรื่องอีก เราชอบที่พระนางแต่งงานกัน แล้วอยู่กันอย่างมีความสุข แต่ประเด็นเรื่องการสืบสวนของเล่มนี้ไม่สนุกเอาเสียเลย
เริ่มพูดถึงทีละเรื่องแล้วกันค่ะ
ความสัมพันธ์ของแซมกะนิค หวานชื่นน่ารัก ปมในใจของแซมน้อยลง นิคยังเป็นหนุ่มในฝันเหมือนเดิม การที่ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพระเอกนางเอกลงตัว รักหวานไม่ใช่เรื่องเลวร้ายนะคะ เจดี ร็อบบ์พิสูจน์มาแล้วว่า สามารถเขียนให้ได้น่าติดตามได้ ยังคงทำให้คนอ่านถอนหายใจเป็นพัก ๆ ได้ แต่เล่มนี้อ่านแล้วรู้สึกหยุดนิ่งค่ะ ไม่คล้อยตาม รู้สึกเป็นกิจวัตรประจำวันมากเกินไป ไม่รู้สึกว่า มีอะไรพิเศษ (อ่านแล้วไม่เหมือนคู่แต่งงานที่เพิ่งกลับมาจากฮันนีมูนเอาเสียเลย เหมือนคนที่แต่งงานกัน���าแล้วหลายสิบปี)
นอกจากนี้แล้ว เมื่อความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างคู่หลักลงตัว คนแต่งหันมาใช้การเล่าเรื่องบรรดาคู่รอง ๆ ในเล่ม ทำให้เรายิ่งรู้สึกขาดความเชื่อถือ เพราะในเวลาไม่กี่เดือน คนรอบข้างแซม และนิคพบรักกันเป็นแถว ๆ แถมแต่ละคนก็ลงตัวแสนง่าย จริง ๆ เราสนใจคู่ของเฟรดดี้กะเอลินนะคะ เราว่าคู่นี้น่าสนใจ (ชายผู้ปวารณาตัวว่าจะเป็นครองความบริสุทธิ์จนกว่าจะแต���งงาน พลาดท่าให้สาวฟรีเซ็กส์) นี่เป็นคู่ที่เราคิดว่า คนแต่งสามารถเขียนได้อีกเยอะมาก แต่ทุกอย่างดูเหมือนจะลงตัวไปอีกเช่นกันสำหรับพวกเขา แล้วยังเพื่อนตำรวจอีกหลายคนของแซม ก็พบรัก มีลูก แต่งงานกันไปตามระเบียบ เล่มนี้ถึงขนาดขยายวงไปยังแพทย์ชันสูตรศพอีกต่างหาก
เรื่องความรักในเล่มที่มากเกินไป ไม่ใช่เรื่องเลวร้ายที่แย่นัก เราสามารถมองข้ามมันไปได้นะคะ ถ้าเพียงแต่พล็อตสืบสวนมีความน่าสนใจ แต่พล็อตสืบสวนในเล่มนี้บกพร่องมาก ไม่มีร่องรอยอะไรให้ได้ข้อสรุป มาถึงจุดนึงก็สรุปเรื่อง (แม้ว่า เราจะเดาได้นะคะว่า ใครเป็นคนร้าย แต่เป็นการเดาแบบมั่ว เพราะร่องรอยที่ให้ก็มั่วจนสรุปไม่ได้ เราก็เลยสรุปจากปัจจัยเดียวที่ทิ้งเอาไว้ให้ และนั่นกลายเป็นปัจจัยเดียวอีกเช่นกันที่คนอ่านอาจจะเดาได้ เรียกว่าไม่มีการเขียนแบบเรดแฮร์ริ่งเลยสักนิดเดียว)
โดยรวมผิดหวัง แต่ขอบอกนะคะว่า เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้เลวร้าย หากแต่เป็นเพราะเราคาดหวังกับงานเขียนในชุดนี้ไว้มาก เราเลยแก้ความผิดหวังด้วยการหยิบเอาเล่มต่อไปในชุดมาอ่านทันที
คะแนนที่ 60
แต่ก็ต้องบอกตามตรงนะคะว่า เรารู้สึกว่า คุณภาพของงานในชุดนี้ด้อยถอยลง มันไม่ถึงกับชัดแจ้งเท่าไหรในเล่มสาม แต่พอมาถึงเล่มนี้ ซึ่งเป็นเล่มสี่ในชุด เห็นได้ชัดเลยค่ะ เพราะประเด็นในส่วนของความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพระนางได้ลงตัวไปแล้ว (แต่งงานเรียบร้อย รักกันหวานชื่น) คนรอบข้างก็มีความสุข ตกอยู่ในห้วงรักกันหมด ที่แย่ก็คือ ประเด็นเรื่องการสืบสวนของเล่มนี้ไม่น่าสนใจเอาเสียเลย
เรารู้สึกเหมือนเป็นอาถรรพ์นะคะ เรื่องที่ใช้พระนางคู่เดิมดำเนินเรื่องไปต่อเนื่องหลายเล่ม ย่อมต้องมีช่วงเวลาที่สะดุด และเรารู้สึกว่า เล่มนี้คือเล่มที่มารี ฟอร์ซสะดุด เพราะไม่มีอะไรที่น่าสนใจเลยในเล่มนี้ เราชอบนะคะที่คนแต่งไม่ได้ไปสะกิดประเด็นความรักระหว่างแซมและนิคให้มาเป็นเรื่องอีก เราชอบที่พระนางแต่งงานกัน แล้วอยู่กันอย่างมีความสุข แต่ประเด็นเรื่องการสืบสวนของเล่มนี้ไม่สนุกเอาเสียเลย
เริ่มพูดถึงทีละเรื่องแล้วกันค่ะ
ความสัมพันธ์ของแซมกะนิค หวานชื่นน่ารัก ปมในใจของแซมน้อยลง นิคยังเป็นหนุ่มในฝันเหมือนเดิม การที่ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพระเอกนางเอกลงตัว รักหวานไม่ใช่เรื่องเลวร้ายนะคะ เจดี ร็อบบ์พิสูจน์มาแล้วว่า สามารถเขียนให้ได้น่าติดตามได้ ยังคงทำให้คนอ่านถอนหายใจเป็นพัก ๆ ได้ แต่เล่มนี้อ่านแล้วรู้สึกหยุดนิ่งค่ะ ไม่คล้อยตาม รู้สึกเป็นกิจวัตรประจำวันมากเกินไป ไม่รู้สึกว่า มีอะไรพิเศษ (อ่านแล้วไม่เหมือนคู่แต่งงานที่เพิ่งกลับมาจากฮันนีมูนเอาเสียเลย เหมือนคนที่แต่งงานกัน���าแล้วหลายสิบปี)
นอกจากนี้แล้ว เมื่อความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างคู่หลักลงตัว คนแต่งหันมาใช้การเล่าเรื่องบรรดาคู่รอง ๆ ในเล่ม ทำให้เรายิ่งรู้สึกขาดความเชื่อถือ เพราะในเวลาไม่กี่เดือน คนรอบข้างแซม และนิคพบรักกันเป็นแถว ๆ แถมแต่ละคนก็ลงตัวแสนง่าย จริง ๆ เราสนใจคู่ของเฟรดดี้กะเอลินนะคะ เราว่าคู่นี้น่าสนใจ (ชายผู้ปวารณาตัวว่าจะเป็นครองความบริสุทธิ์จนกว่าจะแต���งงาน พลาดท่าให้สาวฟรีเซ็กส์) นี่เป็นคู่ที่เราคิดว่า คนแต่งสามารถเขียนได้อีกเยอะมาก แต่ทุกอย่างดูเหมือนจะลงตัวไปอีกเช่นกันสำหรับพวกเขา แล้วยังเพื่อนตำรวจอีกหลายคนของแซม ก็พบรัก มีลูก แต่งงานกันไปตามระเบียบ เล่มนี้ถึงขนาดขยายวงไปยังแพทย์ชันสูตรศพอีกต่างหาก
เรื่องความรักในเล่มที่มากเกินไป ไม่ใช่เรื่องเลวร้ายที่แย่นัก เราสามารถมองข้ามมันไปได้นะคะ ถ้าเพียงแต่พล็อตสืบสวนมีความน่าสนใจ แต่พล็อตสืบสวนในเล่มนี้บกพร่องมาก ไม่มีร่องรอยอะไรให้ได้ข้อสรุป มาถึงจุดนึงก็สรุปเรื่อง (แม้ว่า เราจะเดาได้นะคะว่า ใครเป็นคนร้าย แต่เป็นการเดาแบบมั่ว เพราะร่องรอยที่ให้ก็มั่วจนสรุปไม่ได้ เราก็เลยสรุปจากปัจจัยเดียวที่ทิ้งเอาไว้ให้ และนั่นกลายเป็นปัจจัยเดียวอีกเช่นกันที่คนอ่านอาจจะเดาได้ เรียกว่าไม่มีการเขียนแบบเรดแฮร์ริ่งเลยสักนิดเดียว)
โดยรวมผิดหวัง แต่ขอบอกนะคะว่า เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้เลวร้าย หากแต่เป็นเพราะเราคาดหวังกับงานเขียนในชุดนี้ไว้มาก เราเลยแก้ความผิดหวังด้วยการหยิบเอาเล่มต่อไปในชุดมาอ่านทันที
คะแนนที่ 60
September 25, 2016
As much as I love Nick & Sam this series continues to disappoint with the suspense / police procedural aspects. The seemingly random murders, how they are eventually connected, and ultimately solved make absolutely no sense!!! Sam kind of floated through Fatal Flaw being constantly praised for being "one of the best homicide detectives in the country" but she never really DID anything. Our top rated detective didn't even figure out who the suspect was - another character did!!
Although I still find the romance / personal relationships of Nick, Sam, and the gaggle of supporting characters the best part of the series, with 4 secondary story lines crammed into the background even that was overkill.
At this point the only reason I've decided not to end my dalliance with Ms. Force's Fatal is because I hated Felicity Munroe's narration!! I remember liking her in the past so I'm not exactly sure what changed. She did okay voicing Sam and most of the male characters but made nearly every other female character sound like a whiny teenager which continuously took me out of the story and annoyed the ever lovin' crap outta me :/ So I will skip the audiobook for
as this is the last book she narrates in the series and spend some quality reading time with my kindle instead. I've also been told the suspense / investigations quality improves with subsequent books so I've decided not to give up on the Sam & Nick yet!!!
Although I still find the romance / personal relationships of Nick, Sam, and the gaggle of supporting characters the best part of the series, with 4 secondary story lines crammed into the background even that was overkill.
At this point the only reason I've decided not to end my dalliance with Ms. Force's Fatal is because I hated Felicity Munroe's narration!! I remember liking her in the past so I'm not exactly sure what changed. She did okay voicing Sam and most of the male characters but made nearly every other female character sound like a whiny teenager which continuously took me out of the story and annoyed the ever lovin' crap outta me :/ So I will skip the audiobook for
as this is the last book she narrates in the series and spend some quality reading time with my kindle instead. I've also been told the suspense / investigations quality improves with subsequent books so I've decided not to give up on the Sam & Nick yet!!!
February 9, 2012
Book 5 in the series is not like most series that you think the first is the best. This could be the best one in the series so far! The only "Flaw" was that the book ended and left me wanting LOTS more. (Please write faster and faster Marie, I have to know what happens!)
Sam and Nick just back from Bora Bora are so in love and having a hard time wanting to go back to work. Murders throughout the city targeting them makes Sam head back to work faster than she expected or wanted. This case at times is much more than Sam can handle alone and is happy she has a great team and dad to help her through it all.
There are so many great story lines that continue throughout this book involving all of our favorite detectives. Plus there are open cases that leave us on the edge of our seats anxious to find out what is going to happen with them in the next book.
Sam and Nick just back from Bora Bora are so in love and having a hard time wanting to go back to work. Murders throughout the city targeting them makes Sam head back to work faster than she expected or wanted. This case at times is much more than Sam can handle alone and is happy she has a great team and dad to help her through it all.
There are so many great story lines that continue throughout this book involving all of our favorite detectives. Plus there are open cases that leave us on the edge of our seats anxious to find out what is going to happen with them in the next book.
November 2, 2020
3.5 stars.
Re-listened in Nov 2020. They seemed to have settled on one narrator but unfortunately, I find the male voices very weird.
This time around, I think I can still see a lot of similarities with the In Death series. I can almost do a one to one match of the characters! Sometimes, this series does feel like it's alternate fan fiction. But wouldn't it be nice if the USA has someone like Nick in Washington at the moment. Or President Bartlet from the West Wing. 😏
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I have to say that Sam is growing on me and the similarities between this series and the In Death series are not so evident now.
Also good that they have now settled on the same narrator since the last book. It makes the audio versions much better to listen to without having to get used to a new narrator every time.
Re-listened in Nov 2020. They seemed to have settled on one narrator but unfortunately, I find the male voices very weird.
This time around, I think I can still see a lot of similarities with the In Death series. I can almost do a one to one match of the characters! Sometimes, this series does feel like it's alternate fan fiction. But wouldn't it be nice if the USA has someone like Nick in Washington at the moment. Or President Bartlet from the West Wing. 😏
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I have to say that Sam is growing on me and the similarities between this series and the In Death series are not so evident now.
Also good that they have now settled on the same narrator since the last book. It makes the audio versions much better to listen to without having to get used to a new narrator every time.
December 12, 2015
This was pretty good, but not as good as others in the series. The mystery felt thrown into the story and not fully developed. I liked the advancement of the character plots, and the surprising developments there, as well as how each book seems to build upon the last ones. The book felt a lot shorter than it actually was and I was able to read it in about a day. They do keep me entertained and coming back to the series!
July 25, 2014
OH MY GOSH, I think I just cried.
No, it wasn't that Sam couldn't catch a break in this book.
Nor was it Nick's devastating disappointment when he heard "No".
It was Terry. Dear alcoholic Terry. PURE SWEET REDEMPTION. His speech at AA, reduced me to tears.
Here's to everyone who's really working to make their second chances count. YOU ROCK!
No, it wasn't that Sam couldn't catch a break in this book.
Nor was it Nick's devastating disappointment when he heard "No".
It was Terry. Dear alcoholic Terry. PURE SWEET REDEMPTION. His speech at AA, reduced me to tears.
Here's to everyone who's really working to make their second chances count. YOU ROCK!
March 12, 2012
It's always a pleasure reading about Sam and Nick!!! I hope there will be another book since this was finished rather abruptly.
November 20, 2012
Marie Force's writing of Jeannie's recovery is heartbreaking and hopeful.
January 27, 2016
Another great read in this series!
August 3, 2016
Finora il peggiore della serie... Speriamo che con i prossimi si ritorni agli antichi splendori :)
December 14, 2020
4+🌟
Nel quarto capitolo della serie il tenente Samantha Holland con la sua squadra si ritrova ad affrontare un vero e proprio rompicapo a livello investigativo: molteplici omicidi di bravi e amati cittadini che sembrano non avere nessun collegamento, fino a quando non arriverà la svolta, che coinvolgerà personalmente il tenente e suo marito Nick, entrambi oggetto di minacce molto pericolose.
In questo libro, sinceramente, non mi ha convinta pienamente come è avvenuta questa svolta investigativa, a causa di circostanze che però non posso svelare.
Rimane comunque un ritmo incalzante e scorrevole, colpi di scena che mi hanno invogliato la lettura!
Per il resto, la storia d'amore tra Nick e Sam ormai ha raggiunto un suo equilibrio a cui si è aggiunto Scotty, un ragazzino di 12 anni, orfano che ha conquistato il cuore non solo dei protagonisti, ma anche del lettore per la sua storia, per la sua dolcezza e incute tenerezza per il suo senso di responsabilità nonostante l'età ancora molto giovane.
Ormai la serie ha preso un'impronta corale che personalmente apprezzo moltissimo, perché porta ad affezionarti a tutti i personaggi, quindi verremo coinvolti nelle vite di tutta la squadra di Sam. Questa volta viene approfondita la storia di Terry, il fratello del senatore morto nel primo romanzo, il quale sta uscendo dalla sua dipendenza dall'alcool. Tiferete sicuramente per lui in questa battaglia e per la perseveranza nel corteggiamento verso Lindsey McNamara, la rossa medico legale, molto restìa perché conosce da vicino questo problema. Riuscirà il nostro Terry ad abbattere queste barriere?
Nel quarto capitolo della serie il tenente Samantha Holland con la sua squadra si ritrova ad affrontare un vero e proprio rompicapo a livello investigativo: molteplici omicidi di bravi e amati cittadini che sembrano non avere nessun collegamento, fino a quando non arriverà la svolta, che coinvolgerà personalmente il tenente e suo marito Nick, entrambi oggetto di minacce molto pericolose.
In questo libro, sinceramente, non mi ha convinta pienamente come è avvenuta questa svolta investigativa, a causa di circostanze che però non posso svelare.
Rimane comunque un ritmo incalzante e scorrevole, colpi di scena che mi hanno invogliato la lettura!
Per il resto, la storia d'amore tra Nick e Sam ormai ha raggiunto un suo equilibrio a cui si è aggiunto Scotty, un ragazzino di 12 anni, orfano che ha conquistato il cuore non solo dei protagonisti, ma anche del lettore per la sua storia, per la sua dolcezza e incute tenerezza per il suo senso di responsabilità nonostante l'età ancora molto giovane.
Ormai la serie ha preso un'impronta corale che personalmente apprezzo moltissimo, perché porta ad affezionarti a tutti i personaggi, quindi verremo coinvolti nelle vite di tutta la squadra di Sam. Questa volta viene approfondita la storia di Terry, il fratello del senatore morto nel primo romanzo, il quale sta uscendo dalla sua dipendenza dall'alcool. Tiferete sicuramente per lui in questa battaglia e per la perseveranza nel corteggiamento verso Lindsey McNamara, la rossa medico legale, molto restìa perché conosce da vicino questo problema. Riuscirà il nostro Terry ad abbattere queste barriere?
October 15, 2021
A very well written suspense/romance. Sam is a police detective and her husband Nick is a senator. This series is full of murder investigations and has a lot of family involvement throughout the plots of each book. There are also multiple points of view from Sam and Nick's colleagues and many romantic relationships feature as well as the H/h's, most with quite steamy sex scenes.
I would say if you haven't read any of the Fatal series, then start from the beginning as I have. That said, the author recaps many pertinent points throughout, so you are kept in the loop re back story and characters if you happen to start one story without reading the others. Each book has a wrap up of the main murder/crime taking place, but there is an ongoing 'cold' case running through the background of the series.
I would say if you haven't read any of the Fatal series, then start from the beginning as I have. That said, the author recaps many pertinent points throughout, so you are kept in the loop re back story and characters if you happen to start one story without reading the others. Each book has a wrap up of the main murder/crime taking place, but there is an ongoing 'cold' case running through the background of the series.
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