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The Power Couple
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award winner Alex Berenson comes a supercharged thriller about marriage and the dangerous secrets spouses keep.
Rebecca and Brian Unsworth appear to have it all. A nice house in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Two well-behaved, healthy teenage children. Important government jobs—Rebecca working in counterterrorism for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Brian serving as a coder for the National Security Agency. Their lives stand to improve even more as Brian, in his off-hours, has just developed and sold a highly profitable app.
However, the Unsworths’ marriage isn’t as perfect as it seems. After two decades together, they’ve drifted apart, talking little and having sex even less. Seeking to revive their strained relationship, they decide for their twentieth wedding anniversary to take their two kids, Kira and Tony, on a European getaway.
They have a blast…until one night in Barcelona when Kira doesn’t come home from a dance club. She’s gone. Abducted. Over the course of a single weekend, the Unsworths will do everything possible to find her—as Kira herself discovers just how far she’ll go to break free of the trap that’s been set for her. And even as Rebecca and Brian come together for Kira, they realize their marriage is more tenuous than they realized.
The Power Couple is both a fast-paced, globe-trotting espionage novel full of surprising twists and a nuanced look at modern marriage—the challenges of balancing career, parenthood, sex, and love.
Rebecca and Brian Unsworth appear to have it all. A nice house in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Two well-behaved, healthy teenage children. Important government jobs—Rebecca working in counterterrorism for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Brian serving as a coder for the National Security Agency. Their lives stand to improve even more as Brian, in his off-hours, has just developed and sold a highly profitable app.
However, the Unsworths’ marriage isn’t as perfect as it seems. After two decades together, they’ve drifted apart, talking little and having sex even less. Seeking to revive their strained relationship, they decide for their twentieth wedding anniversary to take their two kids, Kira and Tony, on a European getaway.
They have a blast…until one night in Barcelona when Kira doesn’t come home from a dance club. She’s gone. Abducted. Over the course of a single weekend, the Unsworths will do everything possible to find her—as Kira herself discovers just how far she’ll go to break free of the trap that’s been set for her. And even as Rebecca and Brian come together for Kira, they realize their marriage is more tenuous than they realized.
The Power Couple is both a fast-paced, globe-trotting espionage novel full of surprising twists and a nuanced look at modern marriage—the challenges of balancing career, parenthood, sex, and love.
421 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2021
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November 17, 2020
Exciting Premise
The Power Couple is a suspenseful thriller about the kidnapped teen of an FBI agent.
I went in blind, and I think this is the way to go, so I am not going to include a plot summary.
The narrative is split between “The Power Couple,” Brian and Rebecca, with another view shared from their 19-year-old daughter’s perspective. I didn’t love the characters. I was rooting for one, felt nothing for another, and despised the other.One character was so revolting that they actually made their chapters hard to read because I just wanted to strangle them.
This is a gripping read filled with intrigue, espionage, and suspense. Berenson adds a different angle to a familiar trope. The title reflects the power dynamic between Brian and Rebecca. Both characters had me questioning who was going to have the final say in their relationship. There are some flaws that I am not going to get into, but overall I found The Power Couple worth reading.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Power Couple is a suspenseful thriller about the kidnapped teen of an FBI agent.
I went in blind, and I think this is the way to go, so I am not going to include a plot summary.
The narrative is split between “The Power Couple,” Brian and Rebecca, with another view shared from their 19-year-old daughter’s perspective. I didn’t love the characters. I was rooting for one, felt nothing for another, and despised the other.One character was so revolting that they actually made their chapters hard to read because I just wanted to strangle them.
This is a gripping read filled with intrigue, espionage, and suspense. Berenson adds a different angle to a familiar trope. The title reflects the power dynamic between Brian and Rebecca. Both characters had me questioning who was going to have the final say in their relationship. There are some flaws that I am not going to get into, but overall I found The Power Couple worth reading.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up
I had mixed feelings about this thriller. Rebecca and Brian take their two teenage kids on a grand 20th anniversary trip to Europe. It’s a way of celebrating the fact that despite problems, the marriage has survived this long. And everything is going well until 19 year old Kira meets a young man and sneaks off to meet him. It’s not giving away a plot point to say she is abducted.
The story is told from the perspective of Rebecca, Brian and Kira. Rebecca’s and Brian’s sections take us back and give us the couple’s history. We learn how they met, her career rise and Brian finally finding his feet and making a mint when he sells an app he designed. I preferred Kira’s sections. She isn’t the normal scared kid. Instead, she tries to find her inner strength.
This story wasn’t uniformly strong. There are great taut sections. But there are also sections that lag. I knew there had to be a reason Berenson included such an in depth background on the couple’s history, but that didn’t mean it was exciting. The title actually refers to the power dynamics between the two of them. These aren’t likeable people, but they make for interesting characters.
The book works well at keeping the reader off balance. It really ramps up for the last third, with some super twists.
Steven Weber does a great job of narrating. It’s a bit of a misnomer to say Marin Ireland also narrates. She narrates at most about five minutes.
I had mixed feelings about this thriller. Rebecca and Brian take their two teenage kids on a grand 20th anniversary trip to Europe. It’s a way of celebrating the fact that despite problems, the marriage has survived this long. And everything is going well until 19 year old Kira meets a young man and sneaks off to meet him. It’s not giving away a plot point to say she is abducted.
The story is told from the perspective of Rebecca, Brian and Kira. Rebecca’s and Brian’s sections take us back and give us the couple’s history. We learn how they met, her career rise and Brian finally finding his feet and making a mint when he sells an app he designed. I preferred Kira’s sections. She isn’t the normal scared kid. Instead, she tries to find her inner strength.
This story wasn’t uniformly strong. There are great taut sections. But there are also sections that lag. I knew there had to be a reason Berenson included such an in depth background on the couple’s history, but that didn’t mean it was exciting. The title actually refers to the power dynamics between the two of them. These aren’t likeable people, but they make for interesting characters.
The book works well at keeping the reader off balance. It really ramps up for the last third, with some super twists.
Steven Weber does a great job of narrating. It’s a bit of a misnomer to say Marin Ireland also narrates. She narrates at most about five minutes.
April 9, 2022
The Power Couple April 8th 2022
I waited a couple of days to write this review after I finished because I wasn’t sure what I thought about it. Which can be a good thing and, in this case, it was. The book opens with a well-used trope with a young adult being kidnapped in Europe. Both parents are Law enforcement agents on a federal level who pursue the villains and their missing daughter. The conflict takes a while to be set (about page 51). I almost put the book down. And was glad I didn’t. The story structure is divided between the mom, the dad and the kidnapped girl.
The forward motion of the story, the kidnap is stopped dead and we go into a telling section all about mom, starting with her meeting dad. This section goes on to describe her rise in the FBI. This is all “telling,” and not in scene. Here’s where the author bumped up from three stars to a solid four. Even though the writing was telling he still held my attention and I wanted to see what was going to happen to the mom. And this was a big chunk of pages too. This is no easy feat.
Then we go back to the kidnapping that moves the main plot forward shifting points of view from mom, dad, and daughter. All good.
Next, we go to dad’s point of view in backstory (same as we did with mom with another big chunk of pages) and it starts a little before meeting mom. We go over the same information mom gave but from his point of view. Here the plot takes a huge turn and the reader is now buried waist deep in the fictive dream wanting-needing to know what’s going to happen.
We then go back to the kidnap and finish off the story.
My writing instructor pounded into me that, “story is not story, character is story.” This book surprised me because I thought it was going to be mostly about the kidnapping when in reality this is a book about character. The mom and the dad become three dimensional and come alive on the page even though it’s done in, “summary,” or telling. It took a real craftsman to pull off this structure and he did it with verve and aplomb.
The lack of the last star to make it a five review and even a “Wow!” is because the ending did not woo me. It was too predictable. The author can really write, he showed me as much, so I was expecting a, “Knock you down, gob smacked ending, (like the one in Defending Jacob what a book that one was. I still think about the ending and it gives me chills. No way did I see it coming. If you haven’t read Defending Jacob what a helluva great read).
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
I waited a couple of days to write this review after I finished because I wasn’t sure what I thought about it. Which can be a good thing and, in this case, it was. The book opens with a well-used trope with a young adult being kidnapped in Europe. Both parents are Law enforcement agents on a federal level who pursue the villains and their missing daughter. The conflict takes a while to be set (about page 51). I almost put the book down. And was glad I didn’t. The story structure is divided between the mom, the dad and the kidnapped girl.
The forward motion of the story, the kidnap is stopped dead and we go into a telling section all about mom, starting with her meeting dad. This section goes on to describe her rise in the FBI. This is all “telling,” and not in scene. Here’s where the author bumped up from three stars to a solid four. Even though the writing was telling he still held my attention and I wanted to see what was going to happen to the mom. And this was a big chunk of pages too. This is no easy feat.
Then we go back to the kidnapping that moves the main plot forward shifting points of view from mom, dad, and daughter. All good.
Next, we go to dad’s point of view in backstory (same as we did with mom with another big chunk of pages) and it starts a little before meeting mom. We go over the same information mom gave but from his point of view. Here the plot takes a huge turn and the reader is now buried waist deep in the fictive dream wanting-needing to know what’s going to happen.
We then go back to the kidnap and finish off the story.
My writing instructor pounded into me that, “story is not story, character is story.” This book surprised me because I thought it was going to be mostly about the kidnapping when in reality this is a book about character. The mom and the dad become three dimensional and come alive on the page even though it’s done in, “summary,” or telling. It took a real craftsman to pull off this structure and he did it with verve and aplomb.
The lack of the last star to make it a five review and even a “Wow!” is because the ending did not woo me. It was too predictable. The author can really write, he showed me as much, so I was expecting a, “Knock you down, gob smacked ending, (like the one in Defending Jacob what a book that one was. I still think about the ending and it gives me chills. No way did I see it coming. If you haven’t read Defending Jacob what a helluva great read).
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
September 26, 2021
A mix of international espionage, suspense and domestic drama.
Narrated by: Steven Weber, Marin Ireland Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins Release date: 02-09-21 Audible edition
Wow, this was an engaging read. The characters were all well developed and the narration was spot-on.
Although there is a kidnapping, the story is more about the couple, Brian and Rebecca. She is FBI working in counterterrorism and he works for the NSA. Hence, power couple. A family vacation in Barcelona turns into a complex plot involving some unsavory characters.
There is plenty of unexpected turns and suspense. A highly unexpected ending. I had to finish and couldn't stop listening..... What a finale!! Loved it!!
Listened Sept 2021
Narrated by: Steven Weber, Marin Ireland Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins Release date: 02-09-21 Audible edition
Wow, this was an engaging read. The characters were all well developed and the narration was spot-on.
Although there is a kidnapping, the story is more about the couple, Brian and Rebecca. She is FBI working in counterterrorism and he works for the NSA. Hence, power couple. A family vacation in Barcelona turns into a complex plot involving some unsavory characters.
There is plenty of unexpected turns and suspense. A highly unexpected ending. I had to finish and couldn't stop listening..... What a finale!! Loved it!!
Listened Sept 2021
January 29, 2021
A power struggle within a marriage...and only one, the husband or the wife, can come out on top.
The entire premise of The Power Couple revolves around the personal lives and career trajectories of Brian and Rebecca Unsworth...trajectories which led them to the fateful night in Spain when their daughter, Kira, was kidnapped.
So...who kidnapped her, and why?
This is a beautifully paced novel which, unfortunately, suffers from two completely repugnant characters--Brian and Rebecca. Kira, whose vividly intense scenes ended up stealing the show, almost seemed like an afterthought, as her narcissistic and vaguely sociopathic parents duked it out. Why their son, Tony, was even added is beyond me. He added nothing to the tapestry of the story.
The conclusion, while entertaining, was also pretty silly. Despite all my minor grumps, I do think this is a story worth reading. I was never bored, and felt the writing was very much on point.
Available February 9, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my review copy.
The entire premise of The Power Couple revolves around the personal lives and career trajectories of Brian and Rebecca Unsworth...trajectories which led them to the fateful night in Spain when their daughter, Kira, was kidnapped.
So...who kidnapped her, and why?
This is a beautifully paced novel which, unfortunately, suffers from two completely repugnant characters--Brian and Rebecca. Kira, whose vividly intense scenes ended up stealing the show, almost seemed like an afterthought, as her narcissistic and vaguely sociopathic parents duked it out. Why their son, Tony, was even added is beyond me. He added nothing to the tapestry of the story.
The conclusion, while entertaining, was also pretty silly. Despite all my minor grumps, I do think this is a story worth reading. I was never bored, and felt the writing was very much on point.
Available February 9, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my review copy.
February 8, 2021
3.5 stars
Reading the synopsis of the book one would think this book is about the kidnapping of a couple's nineteen-year-old daughter, but it is about more - much, much more. Rebecca and Brian Unsworth decide to take a European trip to celebrate their anniversary. Their two children, Kira and Tony accompany them. The entire family appears to be having a good time, until Kira goes out one night and does not return! In the search to find their daughter, both Rebecca and Brian look back upon their past. Initially I thought this was ridiculous, I would be hysterical and vomiting nonstop if my son were missing, but while I would freak out, they individually decide to take a trip down memory lane. To each their own...
While both are looking back, we learn things about each of them. This is where the plot thickens. We also get to see Kira, and for most of the book, her parts were my favorite sections. Her scenes are full of tension, a sense of dread, tinged a sense of danger.
This book is not just about a missing daughter, it is also about a marriage and both Rebecca and Brian individually. As the plot thickens/progresses, the book becomes more intriguing and fraught with tension. It becomes a search for answers, full of intrigue, danger and espionage.
The title is very apt here for many reasons. None of which I will divulge in my review. Best to go in a little blind with this one. Initially when I started reading this book, I thought it would be like the movie "Taken". I thought they would be working nonstop to find their daughter; I was hoping for nonstop action and danger. But this book took at turn and gave me the unexpected look into a marriage. While at first, I was not sure what to make of this, don't you just hate when characters do not act the way you think they should? - it became an enjoyable book which concluded with an interesting ending.
This book had a few twists and turns which I did not see coming. They helped move the plot along especially when things began to get a little muddled down with too much backstory. Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining book.
Thank you to Simon Schuster and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Reading the synopsis of the book one would think this book is about the kidnapping of a couple's nineteen-year-old daughter, but it is about more - much, much more. Rebecca and Brian Unsworth decide to take a European trip to celebrate their anniversary. Their two children, Kira and Tony accompany them. The entire family appears to be having a good time, until Kira goes out one night and does not return! In the search to find their daughter, both Rebecca and Brian look back upon their past. Initially I thought this was ridiculous, I would be hysterical and vomiting nonstop if my son were missing, but while I would freak out, they individually decide to take a trip down memory lane. To each their own...
While both are looking back, we learn things about each of them. This is where the plot thickens. We also get to see Kira, and for most of the book, her parts were my favorite sections. Her scenes are full of tension, a sense of dread, tinged a sense of danger.
This book is not just about a missing daughter, it is also about a marriage and both Rebecca and Brian individually. As the plot thickens/progresses, the book becomes more intriguing and fraught with tension. It becomes a search for answers, full of intrigue, danger and espionage.
The title is very apt here for many reasons. None of which I will divulge in my review. Best to go in a little blind with this one. Initially when I started reading this book, I thought it would be like the movie "Taken". I thought they would be working nonstop to find their daughter; I was hoping for nonstop action and danger. But this book took at turn and gave me the unexpected look into a marriage. While at first, I was not sure what to make of this, don't you just hate when characters do not act the way you think they should? - it became an enjoyable book which concluded with an interesting ending.
This book had a few twists and turns which I did not see coming. They helped move the plot along especially when things began to get a little muddled down with too much backstory. Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining book.
Thank you to Simon Schuster and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 21, 2021
Mr. Berenson has a new fan! Omigosh, this was so good, a domestic thriller at the next level.
The Power Couple has me hooked from the beginning. I could not stop listening! I went into this blind and only read the synopsis after the plot took a turn from Kira, the nineteen year old daughter to the couple's backstory. I felt like the author put a break on the suspense and couldn't understand why. However, it all made sense later in the story. Just stick with it.
This book has it all, great characters, story and audio.🥰
The Power Couple has me hooked from the beginning. I could not stop listening! I went into this blind and only read the synopsis after the plot took a turn from Kira, the nineteen year old daughter to the couple's backstory. I felt like the author put a break on the suspense and couldn't understand why. However, it all made sense later in the story. Just stick with it.
This book has it all, great characters, story and audio.🥰
September 27, 2020
A domestic thriller with an espionage twist! An international domestic thriller! Great fast-paced and original book. I don’t normally read espionage thrillers and didn’t know this was going to be one — and I’m glad because I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this. Though it’s a spy story, it’s primarily a story about a marriage — what happens when that marriage is thrust into crisis and long-held secrets bubble to the surface.
I think it’s best to go into this book as blind as I did for maximum fun with the reveals. I really enjoyed the tough female characters (both mother and daughter), the backstory of the marriage and the fast paced plot. This book is My Lovely Wife meets the CIA. It is wickedly delightful.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster, Alex Berenson and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. A totally different kind of domestic thriller that was very fun.
I think it’s best to go into this book as blind as I did for maximum fun with the reveals. I really enjoyed the tough female characters (both mother and daughter), the backstory of the marriage and the fast paced plot. This book is My Lovely Wife meets the CIA. It is wickedly delightful.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster, Alex Berenson and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. A totally different kind of domestic thriller that was very fun.
March 26, 2021
Intelligence is deeply embedded while emotion lies too close to the surface.
Alex Benson has created quite the steel-edged storyline in The Power Couple. What we think we know about one another is merely a veneer of sorts. A buffed shine that reflects back to us of what we wish to see rather than what actually exists.
Rebecca and Brian Unsworth are a highly successful couple. She works as an FBI agent and he works in coding in the NSA. But it wasn't always that way. They struggled through some lean years while establishing their careers. Always front and center were the children. And now was a time of celebration. The Unsworth couple was coming upon their twentieth wedding anniversary. What better way to kick it into high gear than a trip to Paris and to Barcelona? A family trip.....Kira now nineteen and Tony now seventeen.
After a night of wine continuously flowing into empty glasses, Rebecca and Brian nod to Kira and Tony that they may experience the nightlife of Barcelona but must be back by midnight. But Kira seems to have more creative plans. Tony sits on the sidelines keeping a watchful eye on his sister. Eventually he becomes tired and heads back to the hotel. When Kira doesn't show up by 2 AM, her parents head to the streets in desperation trying to locate her. By the next day, Rebecca and Brian admit defeat and contact the police. And now this story has been lit into an intense flame......
The Power Couple is a whirlwind of characters adeptly deposited into the niches of this novel. Berenson keeps you guessing as to the motives behind their actions. You'll find yourself seething over some of them with a deep desire to elbow them in the gut. Berenson takes us full circle into some of their backstories as well with deepening plot points. It was the story of Kira that grabbed me from the onset. Your head will probably turn in her direction as well. But the side stories are essential to the escalating impact of the finale. And, oh, what a finale it is.
The Power Couple can't be missed.
Alex Benson has created quite the steel-edged storyline in The Power Couple. What we think we know about one another is merely a veneer of sorts. A buffed shine that reflects back to us of what we wish to see rather than what actually exists.
Rebecca and Brian Unsworth are a highly successful couple. She works as an FBI agent and he works in coding in the NSA. But it wasn't always that way. They struggled through some lean years while establishing their careers. Always front and center were the children. And now was a time of celebration. The Unsworth couple was coming upon their twentieth wedding anniversary. What better way to kick it into high gear than a trip to Paris and to Barcelona? A family trip.....Kira now nineteen and Tony now seventeen.
After a night of wine continuously flowing into empty glasses, Rebecca and Brian nod to Kira and Tony that they may experience the nightlife of Barcelona but must be back by midnight. But Kira seems to have more creative plans. Tony sits on the sidelines keeping a watchful eye on his sister. Eventually he becomes tired and heads back to the hotel. When Kira doesn't show up by 2 AM, her parents head to the streets in desperation trying to locate her. By the next day, Rebecca and Brian admit defeat and contact the police. And now this story has been lit into an intense flame......
The Power Couple is a whirlwind of characters adeptly deposited into the niches of this novel. Berenson keeps you guessing as to the motives behind their actions. You'll find yourself seething over some of them with a deep desire to elbow them in the gut. Berenson takes us full circle into some of their backstories as well with deepening plot points. It was the story of Kira that grabbed me from the onset. Your head will probably turn in her direction as well. But the side stories are essential to the escalating impact of the finale. And, oh, what a finale it is.
The Power Couple can't be missed.
December 11, 2020
Parts of this novel are extremely fraught with tension. Other parts go back over the Rebecca and Brian meeting and raising of children while Rebecca got her law degree and then became an FBI agent while Brian was the primary caregiver who lived where Rebecca’s career took her.
When their nineteen-year-old daughter is kidnapped in Spain, Rebecca thinks it might have something to do with her job as a counterintelligence agent. Or it could be that she was kidnapped for a ransom or to be sold into human slavery. Whatever the reason, Rebecca uses all of her skills to track her daughter down.
There were some major plot twists that I didn’t see coming, which is always fun. The characters are fully drawn, although this book does not make being married with kids and a successful career—things that are things that many of us dream about—seem all that enviable.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this suspense novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 9, 2021.
When their nineteen-year-old daughter is kidnapped in Spain, Rebecca thinks it might have something to do with her job as a counterintelligence agent. Or it could be that she was kidnapped for a ransom or to be sold into human slavery. Whatever the reason, Rebecca uses all of her skills to track her daughter down.
There were some major plot twists that I didn’t see coming, which is always fun. The characters are fully drawn, although this book does not make being married with kids and a successful career—things that are things that many of us dream about—seem all that enviable.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this suspense novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 9, 2021.
February 14, 2021
Rebecca and Brian have been married for 20 years and have 2 teenaged children, Kira and Tony. Rebecca has been consumed by working her way up in the FBI. Brian has enjoyed taking care of the children and working at non-demanding coding jobs, until he lands a challenging job at the National Security Agency. The marriage isn’t going great and each of the perfect couple fantasizes about the day when the kids are grown and they can finally divorce. While on a family vacation, Kira is abducted in Barcelona and her parents frantically try to determine why she was taken and by whom. Their search, and the interplay of Kira and her captors, provided the thriller elements that I was expecting from this book. However, Kira is basically irrelevant. The book is about her parents.
The book started out very well, but then there was a too-long section of backstory that rehashed how the couple got together and Rebecca’s prior cases and how rifts developed between the couple. Then there was a section from Brian’s point of view, which was an interesting counterpoint to Rebecca’s take on the marriage. Neither member of this couple is particularly likable or sympathetic. This book did not go in an expected direction, or maybe it was just that no one’s actions made sense so it was impossible to predict what was going to happen next. I certainly didn’t expect the ending. Despite the somewhat tedious Rebecca backstory, I wasn’t bored by the book as a whole and found it entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The book started out very well, but then there was a too-long section of backstory that rehashed how the couple got together and Rebecca’s prior cases and how rifts developed between the couple. Then there was a section from Brian’s point of view, which was an interesting counterpoint to Rebecca’s take on the marriage. Neither member of this couple is particularly likable or sympathetic. This book did not go in an expected direction, or maybe it was just that no one’s actions made sense so it was impossible to predict what was going to happen next. I certainly didn’t expect the ending. Despite the somewhat tedious Rebecca backstory, I wasn’t bored by the book as a whole and found it entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
February 26, 2021
Audio 5 Stars
Story 4 Stars
Story 4 Stars
November 4, 2020
I read this in a day and it was very good at keeping my attention. I wasn't expecting it to be so much an espionage tale but it wove well around the troubled marriage of the Unsworths. I most liked how Kira was portrayed and her relationship with her mother reminded me a bit of Elizabeth and Paige of The Americans. I don't want to spoil (and my mind is a bit on other things this week) but there was something of a lull but the momentum did reengage carrying the story to a decent end.
This is my first read by Berenson and I'd read another.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the Advanced Reader's Copy.
This is my first read by Berenson and I'd read another.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the Advanced Reader's Copy.
March 1, 2021
*2.5 stars*
The Brian/Rebecca flashbacks were at best fillers and unnecessary in moving the story forward. I would have preferred a more linear timeline, but then Berenson would have had to cut nearly a 3rd of the book.
Rounded up to 3 stars because that ending was oh so good.
November 10, 2021
"Funny, the other reason, the one that would have bugged most guys, that Becks was spending quality time with a special friend in the Los Angeles bureau, hadn't even occurred to him. And even now that he'd thought of it he couldn't worry about it. Because, really, if that's what she was doing, at this point good for her." (PG. 375)
Buddy Read with @Jenna (Thank you! Such great insight you have. This was fun.)
I didn't enjoy this novel. I have so many gripes, many are probably just eye rolls, but they are my gripes and I'm griping right now. More cons than pros.
Why did the author choose to keep saying Bri and Becks? Once or twice fine! but every time? It got freaking annoying! Berenson wrote in a female narrative, twice, and it did not work. I had assumed it was a woman writer and when I saw it wasn't it made sense. Husband and wife perspective was fine until it was a repeat of what the wife or husband thought also so it made the novel extra long by like 100 pages. It wouldn't end! Where does it end? Take me out of here! Lol... (Drama anyone?)
There were many errors in the novel, for example, the final part was called Kira and Brian (6 months later) but it was Brian and Rebecca's final chapter and the Spanish translations were wrong. Then there was the fact that Rebecca worked in the FBI but couldn't figure out what was in front of her practically mocking her? She needed to go back to FBI school. I think the author could have done without Kira's backstory.
I didn't like any of the characters. They were all pieces of crap. I would think since the author is a journalist by trade he could've had better imagination into a better twisted kidnapping/espionage story. Good thing all the female characters know that to destroy a man all she needs to do is go down on her knees and service the bastard.
I would not count this as a thriller as it was not thrilling. It was so domestic and shady and that's about it. I cannot stand reading about couples that hate each other. Rebecca was a mean B while Brian was a lazy house husband. Definitely not 'The Power Couple' more like 'The Boring Couple.'
Pros: It finally ended! And what a stupid ending!
Thank you for tuning in and I hope you enjoy more than I did!
Buddy Read with @Jenna (Thank you! Such great insight you have. This was fun.)
I didn't enjoy this novel. I have so many gripes, many are probably just eye rolls, but they are my gripes and I'm griping right now. More cons than pros.
Why did the author choose to keep saying Bri and Becks? Once or twice fine! but every time? It got freaking annoying! Berenson wrote in a female narrative, twice, and it did not work. I had assumed it was a woman writer and when I saw it wasn't it made sense. Husband and wife perspective was fine until it was a repeat of what the wife or husband thought also so it made the novel extra long by like 100 pages. It wouldn't end! Where does it end? Take me out of here! Lol... (Drama anyone?)
There were many errors in the novel, for example, the final part was called Kira and Brian (6 months later) but it was Brian and Rebecca's final chapter and the Spanish translations were wrong. Then there was the fact that Rebecca worked in the FBI but couldn't figure out what was in front of her practically mocking her? She needed to go back to FBI school. I think the author could have done without Kira's backstory.
I didn't like any of the characters. They were all pieces of crap. I would think since the author is a journalist by trade he could've had better imagination into a better twisted kidnapping/espionage story. Good thing all the female characters know that to destroy a man all she needs to do is go down on her knees and service the bastard.
I would not count this as a thriller as it was not thrilling. It was so domestic and shady and that's about it. I cannot stand reading about couples that hate each other. Rebecca was a mean B while Brian was a lazy house husband. Definitely not 'The Power Couple' more like 'The Boring Couple.'
Pros: It finally ended! And what a stupid ending!
Thank you for tuning in and I hope you enjoy more than I did!
April 9, 2021
I hesitated to read this book, as the summary is intentionally vague. This is what you are getting into so that you can accurately decide whether this book is for you. It is a domestic thriller with a large subplot of espionage, extortion, murder, and kidnapping. Not really my thing, but I was willing to give it a try.
The Power Couple is a very slow burn “thriller” and about 100 pages too long. I listened to the audiobook for over 13 hours, which was read by a man with perfect Russian and Spanish accents. While the narrator helped sell it, there were just too many times where I thought the plot wrapped up in a way that was too good to be true. Also, since Rebecca and Brian each alternated telling the story, I didn’t actually get a sense of them together as a couple, just their own motivations. I kept waiting for that “wow” moment, but it never came. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me.
3/5 stars
The Power Couple is a very slow burn “thriller” and about 100 pages too long. I listened to the audiobook for over 13 hours, which was read by a man with perfect Russian and Spanish accents. While the narrator helped sell it, there were just too many times where I thought the plot wrapped up in a way that was too good to be true. Also, since Rebecca and Brian each alternated telling the story, I didn’t actually get a sense of them together as a couple, just their own motivations. I kept waiting for that “wow” moment, but it never came. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me.
3/5 stars
February 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book once I got into the swing of the rhythm of the different points of view. One thing I loved about the book overall was that I didn't know who to trust. Every character has secrets, and Brian's and Rebecca's keep building on each other until the end. I personally adored the ending and thought it was perfect for the book.
Was the entire premise far-fetched and pretty unbelievable? Yes. Were the characters mostly unlikable? Also yes. Yet I just went with it and enjoyed the thriller for what it was. There's a missing girl, two high-powered parents who may or may not have the careers you think they do, and an international mystery that alternates between the past events that led up to the present event and from that forward.
Fast-paced and enjoyable thriller, recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Was the entire premise far-fetched and pretty unbelievable? Yes. Were the characters mostly unlikable? Also yes. Yet I just went with it and enjoyed the thriller for what it was. There's a missing girl, two high-powered parents who may or may not have the careers you think they do, and an international mystery that alternates between the past events that led up to the present event and from that forward.
Fast-paced and enjoyable thriller, recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 4, 2021
The plot of this new Berenson thriller took me by surprise and I don't want my review to spoil the ride for anyone else. As promised, there are bits of 'Taken' and 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' mixed in with some 'My Lovely Wife' bits. Our lead characters are Rebecca and Brian. She works in Russian counterintelligence for the FBI and he works in the elite hacking division of the NSA. When their daughter is kidnapped in Barcelona, they are celebrating their 20th anniversary after navigating some rough seas in their marriage relationship. Pick this one up to see what comes next with some additional insights into what happened before.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2022
I read this because I’ve been a super fan of the authors John Wells series for at least ten years. I guess the author decided to try something new. It was terrible.
All parties portrayed were horrible people. Sex scenes were graphic and disgusting. By the time it ended, I didn’t even care who died, so kinda kills the suspense. I think the only fitting ending might have been for the power couple, who really had no power, to both die together in a hateful blaze of ridiculous incompetence.
Most hated parts that made no sense:
- the daughter is kidnapped by Russian operatives, who wanted two million, and when they didn’t get it, continued to work with the dad?!? Why? Just to prove they could do whatever they want? They even tell the dad they planned to sell his daughter to the highest bidder before she escaped. His response, I’m going to go kill my wife.
I don’t enjoy reading about a couple who hates each other to the point of murder. It’s gross, and there is nothing redeemable in the story. And I think there should have been something in the synopsis to the reader about this mess but apparently the kidnapping was only a distraction for the stupid power couple, who had no power when it mattered, and simply hated each others guts enough to see who could murder who first.
All parties portrayed were horrible people. Sex scenes were graphic and disgusting. By the time it ended, I didn’t even care who died, so kinda kills the suspense. I think the only fitting ending might have been for the power couple, who really had no power, to both die together in a hateful blaze of ridiculous incompetence.
Most hated parts that made no sense:
- the daughter is kidnapped by Russian operatives, who wanted two million, and when they didn’t get it, continued to work with the dad?!? Why? Just to prove they could do whatever they want? They even tell the dad they planned to sell his daughter to the highest bidder before she escaped. His response, I’m going to go kill my wife.
I don’t enjoy reading about a couple who hates each other to the point of murder. It’s gross, and there is nothing redeemable in the story. And I think there should have been something in the synopsis to the reader about this mess but apparently the kidnapping was only a distraction for the stupid power couple, who had no power when it mattered, and simply hated each others guts enough to see who could murder who first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
This is a well-told story with fully-drawn characters and insights into each, as well as the primary relationship between Brian (Bri) and Rebecca (Becks), and sympathetic views of their children, Kira and Tony.
I have enjoyed Berenson's other books, and although this is outside his primary series, it was just as good.
It has the advantage of being set mainly in Spain, especially around Barcelona--always a welcome setting break for readers, doubly so for those who have visited.
Without giving away the story line, The Power Couple is suspenseful until the end, complex.
And while this is not in the pantheon of formerly-approved books that publishers/booksellers subsequently tried to completely ban commercially (through publishing, distribution or both--unlike, say, Sen. Josh Hawley's book), a rebel's additional reason to read The Power Couple is because the publisher pulled back on its normal marketing when they decided they didn't like the (formerly-NYTimes) author's (non-fiction) vaccine reporting.
So, like the coffee mug slogan, read banned books.
Again, the storytelling is superb, the plot suspenseful, and the characters interesting. Kudos to Berenson for writing strong women, (of course.) I also appreciated that rarity but one in which Berenson specializes-- more genuine, as opposed to stereotyped--characters and scenes in Houston, Alabama & generally anywhere in the US South/Southwest.
Plenty of Washington/FBI/NSA intrigue with a brief, informed reference to recent real-life FBI struggles.
Highly recommended.
I have enjoyed Berenson's other books, and although this is outside his primary series, it was just as good.
It has the advantage of being set mainly in Spain, especially around Barcelona--always a welcome setting break for readers, doubly so for those who have visited.
Without giving away the story line, The Power Couple is suspenseful until the end, complex.
And while this is not in the pantheon of formerly-approved books that publishers/booksellers subsequently tried to completely ban commercially (through publishing, distribution or both--unlike, say, Sen. Josh Hawley's book), a rebel's additional reason to read The Power Couple is because the publisher pulled back on its normal marketing when they decided they didn't like the (formerly-NYTimes) author's (non-fiction) vaccine reporting.
So, like the coffee mug slogan, read banned books.
Again, the storytelling is superb, the plot suspenseful, and the characters interesting. Kudos to Berenson for writing strong women, (of course.) I also appreciated that rarity but one in which Berenson specializes-- more genuine, as opposed to stereotyped--characters and scenes in Houston, Alabama & generally anywhere in the US South/Southwest.
Plenty of Washington/FBI/NSA intrigue with a brief, informed reference to recent real-life FBI struggles.
Highly recommended.
January 17, 2021
Berenson’s latest features a couple who works for the government — Rebecca for the FBI, Brian for the NSA. Talk about D.C. power! When their daughter Kira gets kidnapped during a family trip to Barcelona, all hell breaks loose. Twists, turns, intrigues, and explosive marital secrets make for one wild ride — a treat for lovers of global espionage and family drama.
4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 05 May 2021
#ThePowerCouple #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 05 May 2021
#ThePowerCouple #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
September 10, 2024
This book was just okay for me. It was a fast paced domestic thriller with a touch of espionage mixed in. There was a lot of focus on their marriage along with many secrets. I personally just had a hard time connecting with the characters and just couldn’t root for either of them.
October 18, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Power Couple.
Oh look, I actually liked this one!
The blurb caught my eye so I was excited when my request was approved.
This is not a typical domestic thriller; oh, there are some standard tropes; a marriage gone sour after many years, lies and secrets being kept from the spouses, the day to day grind of work, minutiae and reflection that makes you wonder: why did I marry this person?
** Minor spoilers ahead **
After 20 years of marriage and two kids, Rebecca and Brian Unsworth appear to have a solid marriage.
But, on an European vacation celebrating their union, their oldest child and daughter, Kira, is kidnapped.
Rebecca and Brian must ignore the strains of their marriage and rely on each other to find their daughter.
And, soon, Rebecca will come face to face with some truths about her husband and marriage she has been ignoring for some time.
I liked Rebecca and Kira; mother and daughter are both similar and different to be respected for their redeemable qualities.
They're not perfect; no one is, but they're relatable and they're not victims.
it's rare I find and read a domestic thriller (or any thriller) in which the female main character is smart, savvy and respected.
Generally, the women fall into the many cliche categories that are too various to name but to start with; whiny, weak, doormats, on the receiving end of continuous gaslighting and/or various forms of abuse from a male partner.
Kira was a pleasant surprise; I expected her to wait for rescue, to be your typical privileged whiny brat but she stepped up.
She had flaws and she owned up to them; instead, she learned from her past mistakes, dialed back her fears and drew strength from within herself to take control and fight back.
A good portion of the narrative is an info dump, exposition on how Rebecca and Brian met, what they were doing to get to where they are now in the book, so there's a lot of telling, no showing, which I get, but the prose was dry, textbook-like.
I did like the behind the scenes peek on how the FBI works, and how Rebecca used her influence to get things done.
For me, the narrative didn't pick up until close to the end, when the reason behind Kira's kidnapping is revealed, which I guessed right, but not the reason behind it, which made me go "Oooh. Now it's getting interesting."
The ending is satisfying, and exactly what I expected from a narrative with a savvy and intelligent female main character.
I look forward to the author's next book.
Oh look, I actually liked this one!
The blurb caught my eye so I was excited when my request was approved.
This is not a typical domestic thriller; oh, there are some standard tropes; a marriage gone sour after many years, lies and secrets being kept from the spouses, the day to day grind of work, minutiae and reflection that makes you wonder: why did I marry this person?
** Minor spoilers ahead **
After 20 years of marriage and two kids, Rebecca and Brian Unsworth appear to have a solid marriage.
But, on an European vacation celebrating their union, their oldest child and daughter, Kira, is kidnapped.
Rebecca and Brian must ignore the strains of their marriage and rely on each other to find their daughter.
And, soon, Rebecca will come face to face with some truths about her husband and marriage she has been ignoring for some time.
I liked Rebecca and Kira; mother and daughter are both similar and different to be respected for their redeemable qualities.
They're not perfect; no one is, but they're relatable and they're not victims.
it's rare I find and read a domestic thriller (or any thriller) in which the female main character is smart, savvy and respected.
Generally, the women fall into the many cliche categories that are too various to name but to start with; whiny, weak, doormats, on the receiving end of continuous gaslighting and/or various forms of abuse from a male partner.
Kira was a pleasant surprise; I expected her to wait for rescue, to be your typical privileged whiny brat but she stepped up.
She had flaws and she owned up to them; instead, she learned from her past mistakes, dialed back her fears and drew strength from within herself to take control and fight back.
A good portion of the narrative is an info dump, exposition on how Rebecca and Brian met, what they were doing to get to where they are now in the book, so there's a lot of telling, no showing, which I get, but the prose was dry, textbook-like.
I did like the behind the scenes peek on how the FBI works, and how Rebecca used her influence to get things done.
For me, the narrative didn't pick up until close to the end, when the reason behind Kira's kidnapping is revealed, which I guessed right, but not the reason behind it, which made me go "Oooh. Now it's getting interesting."
The ending is satisfying, and exactly what I expected from a narrative with a savvy and intelligent female main character.
I look forward to the author's next book.
March 26, 2021
Although I had high hopes for this book based on the summary description, I was extremely disappointed. It is a psychological thriller that could have been cut down by at least 100 pages due to all the back story for Rebecca and Brian - it was way too long for me and really slowed down the story.
I had a few problems with this book / story:
-I hated the nicknames. "Becks" and "Bri" were used interchangeably with their actual names and even the daughter used them in her POV. I'm okay with them used in dialogue, but not in descriptions of what is happening.
-I didn't see the point of having both Rebecca (mom) and Kira (daughter) having eating disorders. It added NOTHING to the story.
-My main gripe is that both women used giving the men blow jobs as their "escape" method. At first I thought this book was written by a woman, but seeing that a man wrote it really bothers me. I'm not sure why they both had to go there.
-There were also a lot of typos throughout the book. Including the title of the last part "Brian and Kira" which did not have Kira's POV at all... it was Rebecca's. Shouldn't it have been "Brian and Rebecca"?
This book was way too long and the ending felt very rushed. Overall, I didn't really enjoy this one and felt more annoyed the longer I thought it about it. I will not read another book by this author.
I had a few problems with this book / story:
-I hated the nicknames. "Becks" and "Bri" were used interchangeably with their actual names and even the daughter used them in her POV. I'm okay with them used in dialogue, but not in descriptions of what is happening.
-I didn't see the point of having both Rebecca (mom) and Kira (daughter) having eating disorders. It added NOTHING to the story.
-My main gripe is that both women used giving the men blow jobs as their "escape" method. At first I thought this book was written by a woman, but seeing that a man wrote it really bothers me. I'm not sure why they both had to go there.
-There were also a lot of typos throughout the book. Including the title of the last part "Brian and Kira" which did not have Kira's POV at all... it was Rebecca's. Shouldn't it have been "Brian and Rebecca"?
This book was way too long and the ending felt very rushed. Overall, I didn't really enjoy this one and felt more annoyed the longer I thought it about it. I will not read another book by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2021
Twist, turn. Twist, turn.
What could go wrong with a 20th wedding anniversary celebration in Europe with one's entire family?
The answer?
EVERYTHING!
When "power couple" Rebecca and Brian Unsworth's teen daughter Kira is abducted in Barcelona during their family vacation, the Unsworth's idyllic world is instantly shattered.
Who abducted Kira and why?
The major portion of this intense domestic thriller is dedicated to the backstories of Rebecca (FBI agent) and Brian NSA executive).
READER BEWARE: Although "everything you wanted to know about Rebecca and Brian" was interesting, it was disappointing that the author did not devote more of this book to Kira and her abductors.
Overall, this book was fast-paced with an impossible-to-guess ending. In the end, we learn who has the real "power" in Rebecca and Brian's relationship.
I listened to the book's audio version and the narrator was superb, making this book difficult to push the stop button.
This was my first Alex Berenson book and I will be looking forward to enjoying more titles by this author.
What could go wrong with a 20th wedding anniversary celebration in Europe with one's entire family?
The answer?
EVERYTHING!
When "power couple" Rebecca and Brian Unsworth's teen daughter Kira is abducted in Barcelona during their family vacation, the Unsworth's idyllic world is instantly shattered.
Who abducted Kira and why?
The major portion of this intense domestic thriller is dedicated to the backstories of Rebecca (FBI agent) and Brian NSA executive).
READER BEWARE: Although "everything you wanted to know about Rebecca and Brian" was interesting, it was disappointing that the author did not devote more of this book to Kira and her abductors.
Overall, this book was fast-paced with an impossible-to-guess ending. In the end, we learn who has the real "power" in Rebecca and Brian's relationship.
I listened to the book's audio version and the narrator was superb, making this book difficult to push the stop button.
This was my first Alex Berenson book and I will be looking forward to enjoying more titles by this author.
February 9, 2021
3.5 /5 stars
The Power Couple is a thriller. This is my first book by this author.
The book is divided into 6 parts. Some of the story takes place in Washington (D.C), and some of it takes place in Spain (although there are other locations too).
The book starts off in a dual POV. We see Rebecca (the mom) and Kira (her 19 year old daughter). Both are 3rd person POVs.
The family goes on a European vacation and something happens to Kira. This is the main focus of the story.
There were definitely parts of this book that intrigued me a lot. I was fascinated by Rebecca's high profile job. And I was fascinated by Kira's story.
There were parts that were a bit less interesting (we got to see how Rebecca and her husband met).
Part 4 was a totally different 3rd person POV. And that really changed the story a lot. It was unexpected. But it was a revelation.
Overall, there were things that were riveting about this story. But also parts that moved much slower. And honestly the last part was not what I was expecting at all. But it was an enjoyable thriller.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book.
The Power Couple is a thriller. This is my first book by this author.
The book is divided into 6 parts. Some of the story takes place in Washington (D.C), and some of it takes place in Spain (although there are other locations too).
The book starts off in a dual POV. We see Rebecca (the mom) and Kira (her 19 year old daughter). Both are 3rd person POVs.
The family goes on a European vacation and something happens to Kira. This is the main focus of the story.
There were definitely parts of this book that intrigued me a lot. I was fascinated by Rebecca's high profile job. And I was fascinated by Kira's story.
There were parts that were a bit less interesting (we got to see how Rebecca and her husband met).
Part 4 was a totally different 3rd person POV. And that really changed the story a lot. It was unexpected. But it was a revelation.
Overall, there were things that were riveting about this story. But also parts that moved much slower. And honestly the last part was not what I was expecting at all. But it was an enjoyable thriller.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book.
May 8, 2021
A suspenseful political thriller involving a tech savvy ‘power couple’, their kidnapped teenage daughter and in alternating chapters, an examination of past choices that have bought them to this current day search for their daughter.
May 13, 2021
Alex Berenson has done it again! I first read his work when I found a galley for The Prisoner, the eleventh in his John Wells series. When I saw that this stand alone thriller was available, I jumped on it. My thanks go to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for the review copy. The Power Couple is a fast read and a fun one, and I recommend it to you.
Rebecca (call her Becks) and Brian Unsworth are type A achievers, and both work for the federal government; she is a spy, and he is a hacker. But like so many couples, the similarities that brought them together are getting in their way now. With their children, Kira, who is nineteen, and Tony, who is younger, they take off for Europe to let off steam and spend quality time together. Maybe.
Early in the story, Kira is abducted, and from there forward, the pacing is perfect. Now and then Berenson pulls us back a bit as he shares sketches from their pasts that lead up to this event, but each reminiscence is brief, and the shift between points of view and time periods adds to the suspense. We see their lives through the perspectives of all except Tony, who is a minor character. In the end, Kira is the one we like best. (Trust me.) There’s not a lot of character development, but this isn’t that kind of novel.
I don’t want to give more away, because if I kill any surprises, you won’t enjoy the story as much; what I will say is that even if your own marriage is less than perfect, it is a shining beacon of integrity and affection when contrasted with that of the Unsworths.
This book is for sale now, and just right to take on vacation with you.
Rebecca (call her Becks) and Brian Unsworth are type A achievers, and both work for the federal government; she is a spy, and he is a hacker. But like so many couples, the similarities that brought them together are getting in their way now. With their children, Kira, who is nineteen, and Tony, who is younger, they take off for Europe to let off steam and spend quality time together. Maybe.
Early in the story, Kira is abducted, and from there forward, the pacing is perfect. Now and then Berenson pulls us back a bit as he shares sketches from their pasts that lead up to this event, but each reminiscence is brief, and the shift between points of view and time periods adds to the suspense. We see their lives through the perspectives of all except Tony, who is a minor character. In the end, Kira is the one we like best. (Trust me.) There’s not a lot of character development, but this isn’t that kind of novel.
I don’t want to give more away, because if I kill any surprises, you won’t enjoy the story as much; what I will say is that even if your own marriage is less than perfect, it is a shining beacon of integrity and affection when contrasted with that of the Unsworths.
This book is for sale now, and just right to take on vacation with you.
August 7, 2021
This author is not my cup of tea. I just don't like his writing style. It screams of a misogynist trying to throw in "feminist" things b/c his editor suggested it.
January 6, 2022
My first book of 2022 from an author I've never read before. I enjoyed the thriller and really disliked two of the central characters - Becks and her spouse Brian. I liked Kira and to a lesser extent her brother only because his character was less well defined.
Becks is a hard-charging FBI agent whose number one priority is her career, not her children and certainly not her marriage. Brian is a bit of a loser and ambles along following Becks wherever her career opportunities will be optimized.
What impressed me was the characterization their young daughter Kira who at at nineteen years of age had a lot more maturity than either of her parents and who showed great initiative and courage while she was being held hostage. Her mother Becks understandably went charging into finding her using threats, intimidation and female wiles whereas Brian huffed and puffed but at the end of the day rationalized his daughter's disappearance as "Kira had gone through a couple of hard days, sure, but she’d come out the other side. Maybe it had even done her some good. Toughened her up, given her an edge over the average twenty-year-old snowflake at Tufts. Nah, he didn’t feel guilty."
A lot of the novel was concentrated on the power couple's flaky relationship, perhaps too much - considerable internal monologues about their frustrations with each other. His lack of ambition, her spendthrift ways were just a few of their petty grievances.
It was a good thriller with some unforeseen events which kept me reading despite all the marital bitchiness.
Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy, wrote this review.
Becks is a hard-charging FBI agent whose number one priority is her career, not her children and certainly not her marriage. Brian is a bit of a loser and ambles along following Becks wherever her career opportunities will be optimized.
What impressed me was the characterization their young daughter Kira who at at nineteen years of age had a lot more maturity than either of her parents and who showed great initiative and courage while she was being held hostage. Her mother Becks understandably went charging into finding her using threats, intimidation and female wiles whereas Brian huffed and puffed but at the end of the day rationalized his daughter's disappearance as "Kira had gone through a couple of hard days, sure, but she’d come out the other side. Maybe it had even done her some good. Toughened her up, given her an edge over the average twenty-year-old snowflake at Tufts. Nah, he didn’t feel guilty."
A lot of the novel was concentrated on the power couple's flaky relationship, perhaps too much - considerable internal monologues about their frustrations with each other. His lack of ambition, her spendthrift ways were just a few of their petty grievances.
It was a good thriller with some unforeseen events which kept me reading despite all the marital bitchiness.
Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy, wrote this review.
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