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First Family #4
State of Shock
They never saw this coming…
This story picks up right where State of the Union left off with another wild ride for the First Couple as they navigate work, family and an all new and extra baffling murder mystery that has Sam pushing the boundaries to get answers before a killer can strike again. Meanwhile, Nick contends with the aftermath of his landmark State of the Union address as a person from his past threatens to undo all the progress he’s made since assuming the presidency.
Hold on to your hat for the next First Family book, coming December 20, 2022.
This story picks up right where State of the Union left off with another wild ride for the First Couple as they navigate work, family and an all new and extra baffling murder mystery that has Sam pushing the boundaries to get answers before a killer can strike again. Meanwhile, Nick contends with the aftermath of his landmark State of the Union address as a person from his past threatens to undo all the progress he’s made since assuming the presidency.
Hold on to your hat for the next First Family book, coming December 20, 2022.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2022
1186 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Marie Force
209 books8,447 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 325 reviews
January 2, 2023
Let me state this at the start of this review because I know the feminists out there are going to hate both it and me. I like this series and this book. I just would like it more if it was a little more about romance, relationships and crime solving and less about a Woke agenda of identity politics.
This is the 4th book in Marie Force’s First Family series. As a man I’ve come to believe this series is more women’s lit. than contemporary romance despite the romance and many steamy sex scenes between the main protagonists and some secondary characters it contains. The books are full of identity politics where the characters gender is a major factor and anyone who questions their successes (all white males) are small minded misogynists who resent a woman for getting ahead in what is considered a man’s world. The main character Samantha Holland is a second-generation detective who lives for her job. I have to wonder if the same qualities, the single-minded dedication and devotion to her job that makes her a great head of the D.C. Metro Police Homicide Division, the dedication that causes her to spend long hours away from her family, to be late or forget important events in hers and her husband’s lives, or to be there to support her suddenly widowed sister Angie, her inability to relax and enjoy family time, would be considered so admirable if she were a man? Just like I have to wonder if making being a woman the top priority for filling the roles of vice president or deputy chief of the MPD would be as palatable to readers if it were that the person be a man versus being a woman? I have long struggled with the idea that making gender or race a priority over qualifications in a job search is acceptable even as I’m painfully aware of the long history of white men in power overlooking qualified women and minority candidates in job and promotion searches. IMHO two wrongs don’t make a right. IMHO the #1 priority when seeking to fill a position should be the candidates qualifications regardless of race or gender. When President Cappuano’s short list of female candidates for his VP is reduced to one woman, (whom Sam’s famous gut says is a bad choice) it never enters his or his advisors minds to consider a man for the job ignoring half the population. When the black female mayor of Washington D.C. promotes Jeanie McBride a black female detective several wage grades below the more experienced male captains and lieutenants in the department to deputy chief, those who don’t celebrate or who resent her appointment, who question her promotion as being based more upon her race and gender than her qualifications (which it clearly was) are portrayed as misogynists, as small minded members of the “Old Boys Club.” So we have a female vice president who has never held a political office at any level and a deputy police chief who hadn’t been in the job long enough to have risen to the rank of sergeant yet, and that’s okay because their women and are very smart and diversity demands we need more women in top positions. When Sam has to replace the now deputy chief she choses a black woman for the opening based mainly upon how well she handled the details of her late father’s funeral which to me seems like strange rationale for being promoted from patrol officer to detective. Maybe she is the most qualified but the author doesn’t give us much more to go on. Which just continues to demonstrate Sam’s preference in hiring women and men of color to work in her division which as far as I can tell contains only two white males.
As this story opens Spencer, Sam’s brother-in-law, the husband of her older sister Ang, dies of a fatal overdose while her entire family and some close friends are vacationing with Sam and her family at Camp David. At this point I’d like to give the author kudos for highlighting the opioid epidemic in our country and the toll it is taking on the addicts and their families. At the same time I got a little tired of the dealers who sell the street Oxy, and the doctors who refuse to continue to refill oxy prescriptions being portrayed as the bad guys while the addicts who illegally purchase the pills seem to get a free pass being portrayed as helpless victims of their addiction with no question of their accountability for feeding their addiction through illegal means. Its as if no one should be angry at Spencer for failing his sobriety, buying and using illegal drugs that cost him his life and pretty much financially destroyed his family before doing so. It’s all his doctor’s fault of not prescribing more legal refills, or it’s the dealers fault for selling him tainted pills. None of it is Spencer’s fault for allowing himself to become addicted to what is recognized as a highly addictive substance and failing to kick his habit in two unsuccessful expensive trips to rehab.
Sam is immediately determined to find the person who sold Spencer the fatal dose of Oxy laced with fentanyl. Even though Sam has almost no experience in investigating in the world of narcotics it never occurs to her to involve Cooper, the head of the MPD narcotics division in her search. Of course when he discovers what Sam is up to and is chagrined that she’s froze him and his people out of the investigation, he's portrayed as just another incompetent white male officer jealous of Sam’s success rate, of which the D.C. MPD seems to be full of. She also goes out of her way to avoid involving the FBI or the DEA even though Spencer’s death occurred on Federal property because heaven forbid anyone but Sam and her homicide squad solve the crime. In fact, for days Sam has her homicide detectives, the IT division (headed by Archie a former lover) and CSI units focused on helping her find the drug dealer who sold Spencer the fatal pills while continuing to ignore the narcotics division and whatever expertise they might have to assist her. It's only at the chiefs insistence that she finally involves them. Despite Sam’s loan wolf M.O. way of running her division and her close familial relationship with both the chief and her captain (because her late father was the former deputy chief and one of their best friends) her many detractors in the department are written off as just jealous of her professional success and her position as first lady. Not because she is loathe to involve anyone outside of her people in solving a crime or that she pretty much is given the freedom to do as she pleases while investigating crimes that the other division heads don’t have. Or that the media mob that camps outside their place of work to get a minute with the first lady makes their jobs harder. And as far as being first lady goes, Sam has practically no use for that position (which she calls her side hustle), unless it proves advantageous to a cause she wants to promote. Other than being her husband’s arm candy at official events when she absolutely can’t avoid it, she does nothing to fulfill her traditional responsibilities as the nation’s first lady, leaving everything to her very capable and devoted all female White House staff.
Sam spends a lot of time in this story feeling guilty over the fact that she can’t focus on helping her sister in her time of grief without thinking about how she herself would be unable to carry on if something were to happen to Nick, the love of her life. She even admits to using her job to find the drug dealer peddling deadly pills as a way to avoid being with her sister leaving most of the job of consoling and propping the devastated Ang and her son Jack up to her sister Tracy who has her own family to take care of without the resources available to Sam. She also begins to feel stressed over the seeming resentment of her by many of her fellow peers in the MPD (not just Sgt. Ramsey) which requires multiple reassurances by her friends at work and home to assure her she’s a great person and a great detective and they’re all just jealous of her. Feeling momentarily guilty about the amount of time and attention she devotes to her job instead of her family and her responsibilities as first lady, she even wonders briefly if she should have taken the job of deputy chief where she’d be safer and have more regular hours so she could spend more time with her children and her husband. Thankfully her husband Nick who is her #1 cheerleader assures her that he and their children understand how important her job is to her and the people she serves and protects, and don’t resent the time it requires for her to spend away from them or the risk to her safety it involves. I find it ironic that while she worries about how she’d go on if something were to happen to Nick it barely occurs to her to wonder how Nick or her family would go on if something were to happen to her despite the number of near fatal occurrences she’s already experienced as she tracks down murderers. It’s also ironic that Sam defends her fellow officers perceived lack of dedication to their job by the chief explaining they’re just trying to find a work/life balance while Sam herself shows little desire to find the same in her own life.
Sam and her team spend a lot of time discovering previously unidentified overdose victims of the deadly Oxy while spinning their wheels looking for a break in who is selling them the tainted drugs. For a time Sam seems oblivious to the fact that multiple dealers could be supplying the drug and lives under the delusion that telling the public that there are dangerous fentanyl laced oxy pills out there will somehow discourage Oxy addicts from purchasing them. Sam of course is the person who eventually puts the pieces together to solve the crime and lead the charge to take down two major drug kingpins and their operations highlighting the fact that it was her and not the narcotics division or the DEA who accomplished the goal.
While this is going on Sam is still forced to deal with Sgt. Ramsey whose hatred and attacks on her have ramped up to dangerous levels since his son was killed by a police sniper while holding a naked female victim hostage with a gun to her head. It doesn’t matter to Ramsey that his son confessed to him that he was the rapist and murderer of several women. That he blamed his father and his cheating ways for being a rapist and a murderer or that he refused his plea to give himself up. It doesn’t matter that multiple witnesses testified that killing his son was justifiable and necessary. Like his being outed for having an affair, Ramsey blames it all on Sam. Even though the man now faces multiple local and federal charges against him I suspect we haven’t seen the last of Sgt. Ramsey. Sam’s partner Freddie Ramirez and his wife Elin must deal with a personal tragedy. Then there’s the continuing saga of the romance between detectives Cameron and Gigi and the interference of Cam’s deranged psychopath ex. Jaycee that ends in two violent confrontations. New deputy chief McBride has to deal with her detractors over her surprising promotion and her own insecurities and fears that it was based more upon her race and gender than her qualifications to do the job. We also get peeks at the budding relationship between Sam’s director of communications Roni and Nick’s assistant chief of staff Derrick who are the first couple in the author’s Wild Widows series. There are also a few secondary characters like a beautiful Asst. USDA, a handsome lead U.S. marshal and a DEA agent whom based upon the amount of attention the author give them in this story I suspect may get their own stories told in future books.
As much as I rail against the identity politics and male bashing in this series I find the Sam Holland character and her struggles to get beyond her comfort zone and be more than a great homicide detective fascinating. She truly loves her husband, her children, her siblings and the people who report to her but she struggles with pulling her focus away from her job to give her time and attention to anything but work. The murder mysteries she and her squad of detectives are charged with solving are pretty involved and interesting. The love she and Nick have for one another is inspiring. The relationships between the other characters give the story a bit of spicy variety.
This is the 4th book in Marie Force’s First Family series. As a man I’ve come to believe this series is more women’s lit. than contemporary romance despite the romance and many steamy sex scenes between the main protagonists and some secondary characters it contains. The books are full of identity politics where the characters gender is a major factor and anyone who questions their successes (all white males) are small minded misogynists who resent a woman for getting ahead in what is considered a man’s world. The main character Samantha Holland is a second-generation detective who lives for her job. I have to wonder if the same qualities, the single-minded dedication and devotion to her job that makes her a great head of the D.C. Metro Police Homicide Division, the dedication that causes her to spend long hours away from her family, to be late or forget important events in hers and her husband’s lives, or to be there to support her suddenly widowed sister Angie, her inability to relax and enjoy family time, would be considered so admirable if she were a man? Just like I have to wonder if making being a woman the top priority for filling the roles of vice president or deputy chief of the MPD would be as palatable to readers if it were that the person be a man versus being a woman? I have long struggled with the idea that making gender or race a priority over qualifications in a job search is acceptable even as I’m painfully aware of the long history of white men in power overlooking qualified women and minority candidates in job and promotion searches. IMHO two wrongs don’t make a right. IMHO the #1 priority when seeking to fill a position should be the candidates qualifications regardless of race or gender. When President Cappuano’s short list of female candidates for his VP is reduced to one woman, (whom Sam’s famous gut says is a bad choice) it never enters his or his advisors minds to consider a man for the job ignoring half the population. When the black female mayor of Washington D.C. promotes Jeanie McBride a black female detective several wage grades below the more experienced male captains and lieutenants in the department to deputy chief, those who don’t celebrate or who resent her appointment, who question her promotion as being based more upon her race and gender than her qualifications (which it clearly was) are portrayed as misogynists, as small minded members of the “Old Boys Club.” So we have a female vice president who has never held a political office at any level and a deputy police chief who hadn’t been in the job long enough to have risen to the rank of sergeant yet, and that’s okay because their women and are very smart and diversity demands we need more women in top positions. When Sam has to replace the now deputy chief she choses a black woman for the opening based mainly upon how well she handled the details of her late father’s funeral which to me seems like strange rationale for being promoted from patrol officer to detective. Maybe she is the most qualified but the author doesn’t give us much more to go on. Which just continues to demonstrate Sam’s preference in hiring women and men of color to work in her division which as far as I can tell contains only two white males.
As this story opens Spencer, Sam’s brother-in-law, the husband of her older sister Ang, dies of a fatal overdose while her entire family and some close friends are vacationing with Sam and her family at Camp David. At this point I’d like to give the author kudos for highlighting the opioid epidemic in our country and the toll it is taking on the addicts and their families. At the same time I got a little tired of the dealers who sell the street Oxy, and the doctors who refuse to continue to refill oxy prescriptions being portrayed as the bad guys while the addicts who illegally purchase the pills seem to get a free pass being portrayed as helpless victims of their addiction with no question of their accountability for feeding their addiction through illegal means. Its as if no one should be angry at Spencer for failing his sobriety, buying and using illegal drugs that cost him his life and pretty much financially destroyed his family before doing so. It’s all his doctor’s fault of not prescribing more legal refills, or it’s the dealers fault for selling him tainted pills. None of it is Spencer’s fault for allowing himself to become addicted to what is recognized as a highly addictive substance and failing to kick his habit in two unsuccessful expensive trips to rehab.
Sam is immediately determined to find the person who sold Spencer the fatal dose of Oxy laced with fentanyl. Even though Sam has almost no experience in investigating in the world of narcotics it never occurs to her to involve Cooper, the head of the MPD narcotics division in her search. Of course when he discovers what Sam is up to and is chagrined that she’s froze him and his people out of the investigation, he's portrayed as just another incompetent white male officer jealous of Sam’s success rate, of which the D.C. MPD seems to be full of. She also goes out of her way to avoid involving the FBI or the DEA even though Spencer’s death occurred on Federal property because heaven forbid anyone but Sam and her homicide squad solve the crime. In fact, for days Sam has her homicide detectives, the IT division (headed by Archie a former lover) and CSI units focused on helping her find the drug dealer who sold Spencer the fatal pills while continuing to ignore the narcotics division and whatever expertise they might have to assist her. It's only at the chiefs insistence that she finally involves them. Despite Sam’s loan wolf M.O. way of running her division and her close familial relationship with both the chief and her captain (because her late father was the former deputy chief and one of their best friends) her many detractors in the department are written off as just jealous of her professional success and her position as first lady. Not because she is loathe to involve anyone outside of her people in solving a crime or that she pretty much is given the freedom to do as she pleases while investigating crimes that the other division heads don’t have. Or that the media mob that camps outside their place of work to get a minute with the first lady makes their jobs harder. And as far as being first lady goes, Sam has practically no use for that position (which she calls her side hustle), unless it proves advantageous to a cause she wants to promote. Other than being her husband’s arm candy at official events when she absolutely can’t avoid it, she does nothing to fulfill her traditional responsibilities as the nation’s first lady, leaving everything to her very capable and devoted all female White House staff.
Sam spends a lot of time in this story feeling guilty over the fact that she can’t focus on helping her sister in her time of grief without thinking about how she herself would be unable to carry on if something were to happen to Nick, the love of her life. She even admits to using her job to find the drug dealer peddling deadly pills as a way to avoid being with her sister leaving most of the job of consoling and propping the devastated Ang and her son Jack up to her sister Tracy who has her own family to take care of without the resources available to Sam. She also begins to feel stressed over the seeming resentment of her by many of her fellow peers in the MPD (not just Sgt. Ramsey) which requires multiple reassurances by her friends at work and home to assure her she’s a great person and a great detective and they’re all just jealous of her. Feeling momentarily guilty about the amount of time and attention she devotes to her job instead of her family and her responsibilities as first lady, she even wonders briefly if she should have taken the job of deputy chief where she’d be safer and have more regular hours so she could spend more time with her children and her husband. Thankfully her husband Nick who is her #1 cheerleader assures her that he and their children understand how important her job is to her and the people she serves and protects, and don’t resent the time it requires for her to spend away from them or the risk to her safety it involves. I find it ironic that while she worries about how she’d go on if something were to happen to Nick it barely occurs to her to wonder how Nick or her family would go on if something were to happen to her despite the number of near fatal occurrences she’s already experienced as she tracks down murderers. It’s also ironic that Sam defends her fellow officers perceived lack of dedication to their job by the chief explaining they’re just trying to find a work/life balance while Sam herself shows little desire to find the same in her own life.
Sam and her team spend a lot of time discovering previously unidentified overdose victims of the deadly Oxy while spinning their wheels looking for a break in who is selling them the tainted drugs. For a time Sam seems oblivious to the fact that multiple dealers could be supplying the drug and lives under the delusion that telling the public that there are dangerous fentanyl laced oxy pills out there will somehow discourage Oxy addicts from purchasing them. Sam of course is the person who eventually puts the pieces together to solve the crime and lead the charge to take down two major drug kingpins and their operations highlighting the fact that it was her and not the narcotics division or the DEA who accomplished the goal.
While this is going on Sam is still forced to deal with Sgt. Ramsey whose hatred and attacks on her have ramped up to dangerous levels since his son was killed by a police sniper while holding a naked female victim hostage with a gun to her head. It doesn’t matter to Ramsey that his son confessed to him that he was the rapist and murderer of several women. That he blamed his father and his cheating ways for being a rapist and a murderer or that he refused his plea to give himself up. It doesn’t matter that multiple witnesses testified that killing his son was justifiable and necessary. Like his being outed for having an affair, Ramsey blames it all on Sam. Even though the man now faces multiple local and federal charges against him I suspect we haven’t seen the last of Sgt. Ramsey. Sam’s partner Freddie Ramirez and his wife Elin must deal with a personal tragedy. Then there’s the continuing saga of the romance between detectives Cameron and Gigi and the interference of Cam’s deranged psychopath ex. Jaycee that ends in two violent confrontations. New deputy chief McBride has to deal with her detractors over her surprising promotion and her own insecurities and fears that it was based more upon her race and gender than her qualifications to do the job. We also get peeks at the budding relationship between Sam’s director of communications Roni and Nick’s assistant chief of staff Derrick who are the first couple in the author’s Wild Widows series. There are also a few secondary characters like a beautiful Asst. USDA, a handsome lead U.S. marshal and a DEA agent whom based upon the amount of attention the author give them in this story I suspect may get their own stories told in future books.
As much as I rail against the identity politics and male bashing in this series I find the Sam Holland character and her struggles to get beyond her comfort zone and be more than a great homicide detective fascinating. She truly loves her husband, her children, her siblings and the people who report to her but she struggles with pulling her focus away from her job to give her time and attention to anything but work. The murder mysteries she and her squad of detectives are charged with solving are pretty involved and interesting. The love she and Nick have for one another is inspiring. The relationships between the other characters give the story a bit of spicy variety.
October 20, 2022
Marie Force's latest addition to the awesome First Family Series definitely lives up to its title. At the end, my head was totally spinning, and I felt like I had been through a whirlwind of emotions that spanned the spectrum - sometimes from one minute to the next. Combined with highs and lows and laughs and tears, MF spins readers through updates on our beloved characters while introducing new ones into the cast.
In the midst of a personal family crisis, Sam and Nick take charge and offer comfort as they go about their difficult jobs while grieving alongside others.
In a case of senseless killings and one that hits very close to home, Sam is dead set and determined on bringing the guilty to justice. And that's just one of the many "shocking" facets of this book -- that includes so many surprises (past and present) and movement forward in this series.
When I say that I was left in a "State of Shock," believe me. You don't want to miss this installment set for release on December 20, 2022.
December 28, 2022
2-1/2 stars.
While this was a well written book, it will be my last in this series. There have been little things that have irritated me throughout the series (for example, this authors need to repeat details over and over throughout a book - once is plenty, thank you), but it was killing off a spouse that pushed me over the edge. Was it really necessary to put yet another Holland family member through such a traumatic event?
As soon as it was confirmed Angela’s husband was dead, I knew Angela would show up in the new Widows series. It didn’t even take a chapter for the widows group to be mentioned and all my thoughts were confirmed. So predictable.
And Sam’s holier-than-though smugness is just too much to handle. It’s off-putting and just another reason for me to check out.
While this was a well written book, it will be my last in this series. There have been little things that have irritated me throughout the series (for example, this authors need to repeat details over and over throughout a book - once is plenty, thank you), but it was killing off a spouse that pushed me over the edge. Was it really necessary to put yet another Holland family member through such a traumatic event?
As soon as it was confirmed Angela’s husband was dead, I knew Angela would show up in the new Widows series. It didn’t even take a chapter for the widows group to be mentioned and all my thoughts were confirmed. So predictable.
And Sam’s holier-than-though smugness is just too much to handle. It’s off-putting and just another reason for me to check out.
January 12, 2023
Love the series but this book was not one of my faves.
January 12, 2023
Another great story by Marie Force! Such an action packed book- so many things happened and the reactions to all these events just enhanced the story. Great cast of secondary characters. Can't wait for the next book!
January 31, 2023
I have enjoyed Nick and Sam’s story from the beginning so a 3 star review just feels mean so many books in but I was just frustrated with Sam for much of this story. She is a strong female lead but she isn’t above rules and procedures in law enforcement and her entitlement really took front stage here. Her expertise is in solving homicides and not taking down drug kingpins so for her to bypass her fellow Narcotics lieutenant because she felt like she knew better just felt wrong and inappropriate. The way that all her friends and co-workers continue to treat her as if she can do no wrong is starting to annoy me a bit. As I was reading this I was left feeling like I may not continue with the series going forward. I like the steamy Nick and Sam scenes but the rest is starting to feel unrealistic for me now that they are residents at the White House. Not Marie Force’s best work.
March 17, 2024
Contemporary Romance Series 2024. Kobo+. #4 in First Family Series. Trope : Politics. MC’s h Lt. Samantha Holland Cappuano & H POTUS Nick Cappuano.
Story Content %: Police: 60% , White House 10%, Sam & Nick’s Family 30%
Main Topic : Fentynal deaths of young people.
Review I liked: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Story Content %: Police: 60% , White House 10%, Sam & Nick’s Family 30%
Main Topic : Fentynal deaths of young people.
Review I liked: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 3, 2023
When I started this series I really enjoyed it but this book wasn’t as great. Parts of it just seemed too far fetched and Sam comes across mostly as selfish. She says she’s doing everything for her sister but it keeps coming back to her. Kind of annoying. And the reader is supposed to believe no one leaked the cause of death? Everyone knew - in the real world someone would have talked.
August 14, 2025
This was all Sam and no Nick.
September 21, 2022
Another great book by Marie. I love reconnecting with the First Family and all their friends and family.
This was hard to put down. I like the suspense factor. Trying to solve the case before Sam and her team do. Please keep them coming! Can’t wait until December!
Definitely a must read!
This was hard to put down. I like the suspense factor. Trying to solve the case before Sam and her team do. Please keep them coming! Can’t wait until December!
Definitely a must read!
February 26, 2023
3.5 rounded down.
I’ve read all the Fatal Series and this is the 4th installment in the First Family series. The first half of the book deals almost exclusively with the grief and mourning of a family member, which slows the pace of the book considerably. The victim’s death is opioid addiction, which is a timely topic now due to the excessive use and abuse of this drug; the information presented in the context of the story concerning the opioid crisis is quite interesting.
The real exciting action did not occur until way past the 75% mark. Therefore, I took off a star as there was SO much redundancy- excessively so- in how sad everyone is due to the death in the family. However, the storyline (eventually) became tense and exciting with a solid, though brief, edge of your seat climax.
Kudos to Marie Force for presenting an enjoyable novel dealing with a very unenjoyable but important topic. Also, greatly appreciated is the romantic scenes were few and toned down. The characters are developed so well - three dimensional, round and dynamic but I don’t need to read how dynamic they are in bed!
If you are new to Nick and Sam, start with the first book in the first series ( The Fatal Series). The plots of each book build upon the former ones. Fast, fun and enjoyable series!
I’ve read all the Fatal Series and this is the 4th installment in the First Family series. The first half of the book deals almost exclusively with the grief and mourning of a family member, which slows the pace of the book considerably. The victim’s death is opioid addiction, which is a timely topic now due to the excessive use and abuse of this drug; the information presented in the context of the story concerning the opioid crisis is quite interesting.
The real exciting action did not occur until way past the 75% mark. Therefore, I took off a star as there was SO much redundancy- excessively so- in how sad everyone is due to the death in the family. However, the storyline (eventually) became tense and exciting with a solid, though brief, edge of your seat climax.
Kudos to Marie Force for presenting an enjoyable novel dealing with a very unenjoyable but important topic. Also, greatly appreciated is the romantic scenes were few and toned down. The characters are developed so well - three dimensional, round and dynamic but I don’t need to read how dynamic they are in bed!
If you are new to Nick and Sam, start with the first book in the first series ( The Fatal Series). The plots of each book build upon the former ones. Fast, fun and enjoyable series!
December 30, 2022
I enjoyed this story quite a bit, partly because the pace is always quite high even though the number of tragedies and messes that happen to Sam in a week seems really excessive. Spencer's story is unfortunately extremely realistic and confronts us with the opioid overdose epidemic that is now no longer relegated only to the United States. As for Nick and Sam, I personally look forward to their return to normal life.
Questa storia mi é piaciuta parecchio, anche perché il ritmo é sempre piuttosto alto anche se il numero di tragedie e casini che capitano a Sam in una settimana mi sembra veramente eccessivo. La storia di Spencer é purtroppo estremamente realistica e ci mette di fronte all'epidemia di overdosi da oppiacei che ormai non é piú relegata soltanto negli Stati Uniti. Per quanto riguarda Nick e Sam, personalmente non vedo l'ora che tornino ad una vita normale.
Questa storia mi é piaciuta parecchio, anche perché il ritmo é sempre piuttosto alto anche se il numero di tragedie e casini che capitano a Sam in una settimana mi sembra veramente eccessivo. La storia di Spencer é purtroppo estremamente realistica e ci mette di fronte all'epidemia di overdosi da oppiacei che ormai non é piú relegata soltanto negli Stati Uniti. Per quanto riguarda Nick e Sam, personalmente non vedo l'ora che tornino ad una vita normale.
January 25, 2023
3.5 stars.
Whilst I liked that we didn't have to spend time on those secondary young couples featured so prominently in the previous book State of the Union, this was a bit of a depressing read for the Holidays season.
There was so much drama and mayhem in Sam's side of things that my head was spinning. I do feel that Sam does need to ask for help a bit more instead of trying to investigate everything by herself and her team. I think that does make others feel she's a bit egotistical. But with that bit of news at the end of the book, I can imagine that the pendulum will swing very much towards Nick in the next book. This new First Family is definitely having a very choppy ride!
Whilst I liked that we didn't have to spend time on those secondary young couples featured so prominently in the previous book State of the Union, this was a bit of a depressing read for the Holidays season.
There was so much drama and mayhem in Sam's side of things that my head was spinning. I do feel that Sam does need to ask for help a bit more instead of trying to investigate everything by herself and her team. I think that does make others feel she's a bit egotistical. But with that bit of news at the end of the book, I can imagine that the pendulum will swing very much towards Nick in the next book. This new First Family is definitely having a very choppy ride!
October 20, 2023
3.5/4 stars!!
What a heartbreaking ride. I was disappointed that Marie decided to ruin Angela’s life but I think she’ll be getting a book for her widows series? Anyways I’ve not ever been frustrated with Sam until this book,she should’ve asked for help from other departments and when the heads of those department’s got annoyed with her she chalked it up to men hating a women in her position which I didn’t get that vibe from them. I would think she would be annoyed if another department wasn’t clueing her into their cases if they needed her help. Honestly I think the crime would’ve been solved much sooner if she would’ve asked for help. As for the side characters povs I’m still really enjoying their stories!!
What a heartbreaking ride. I was disappointed that Marie decided to ruin Angela’s life but I think she’ll be getting a book for her widows series? Anyways I’ve not ever been frustrated with Sam until this book,she should’ve asked for help from other departments and when the heads of those department’s got annoyed with her she chalked it up to men hating a women in her position which I didn’t get that vibe from them. I would think she would be annoyed if another department wasn’t clueing her into their cases if they needed her help. Honestly I think the crime would’ve been solved much sooner if she would’ve asked for help. As for the side characters povs I’m still really enjoying their stories!!
December 26, 2022
Shocking is right. I’m going to make this short so I don’t give anything away. This is a absolute must read for fans of this amazing long time series.
“I speak Samantha fluently. It’s been a while since there was a baby pang, huh?”
If your a Sam and Nick lover buy it now but don’t forget the tissues cause you’re going to need them.
What did it say about her that she loved him so much that even watching him move did it for her?
A roller coaster of highs and lows.
This is why I call you my Wonder Woman.”
“I speak Samantha fluently. It’s been a while since there was a baby pang, huh?”
If your a Sam and Nick lover buy it now but don’t forget the tissues cause you’re going to need them.
What did it say about her that she loved him so much that even watching him move did it for her?
A roller coaster of highs and lows.
This is why I call you my Wonder Woman.”
December 28, 2022
I’m gonna sit here in shock a while after that one!
Wow is not enough, amazing is not even close…
This story was beyond brilliant, in the writing, in the storyline and above all in the characters and their strength.
What a tough one to read, I cried at the beginning, middle and end but the hardest part was little Jack wow that kid just gutted me more than once.
Honestly best storyline of them all and that’s saying something.
Wow is not enough, amazing is not even close…
This story was beyond brilliant, in the writing, in the storyline and above all in the characters and their strength.
What a tough one to read, I cried at the beginning, middle and end but the hardest part was little Jack wow that kid just gutted me more than once.
Honestly best storyline of them all and that’s saying something.
January 8, 2023
A hard but fantastic read
This book should have come with a warning label that you will ugly cry several times. I have not lost any close relatives to drugs ,but definitely a few have experienced them. I wish no one would have to go through this kind of ordeal. The toughest thing is asking for help, it's also the bravest. Ask for help, people will stand with you. It may not always be the ones you expect, but I promise you that they will be the ones you need at the time.
This book should have come with a warning label that you will ugly cry several times. I have not lost any close relatives to drugs ,but definitely a few have experienced them. I wish no one would have to go through this kind of ordeal. The toughest thing is asking for help, it's also the bravest. Ask for help, people will stand with you. It may not always be the ones you expect, but I promise you that they will be the ones you need at the time.
January 1, 2023
*4+ Stars*
Loved this story! Didn't enjoy the tragedy of it or the lack of human caring from the bad guys, but that was meant to happen. Can't wait to see what comes next!
Well narrated by Ava Kaminsky.
Loved this story! Didn't enjoy the tragedy of it or the lack of human caring from the bad guys, but that was meant to happen. Can't wait to see what comes next!
Well narrated by Ava Kaminsky.
August 28, 2025
super interesting crime drama with ties to the President.
August 18, 2023
This book was so enjoyable. I don't know where to start but just believe me when I say that a lot of random shit happens to a ton of side character introduced in this series. But when the reporters commented on this fact in the book 😄. I 💀. I don't know if it was intentional but I hope it was.
August 28, 2023
The Sam & Nick Series (1-16 & (1-4)
I love to read...have all my life....but I had never before read anything by Marie Force but I intend to find other series/ books she has written. I am addicted!
The 20 audio books had me reading in the middle of the night as well as listening while I cleaned my house and cooked meals & crocheted afghans! I haven't watch TV since I started Book 1. Thank you Marie!
My ONLY complaint was too much very detailed sex --don't get me wrong, I may be 77 yrs old, but I am not "dead"....but page after page of VERY detailed sex is a bit much! My husband wanted to know if Marie had any more books because he benefited from them! Enough said! --but I learned quickly to "flip the pages" and move on! ����
Now I am heading back to Amazon to find more audio books by Marie Force.
---Sue Ann Dixon
I love to read...have all my life....but I had never before read anything by Marie Force but I intend to find other series/ books she has written. I am addicted!
The 20 audio books had me reading in the middle of the night as well as listening while I cleaned my house and cooked meals & crocheted afghans! I haven't watch TV since I started Book 1. Thank you Marie!
My ONLY complaint was too much very detailed sex --don't get me wrong, I may be 77 yrs old, but I am not "dead"....but page after page of VERY detailed sex is a bit much! My husband wanted to know if Marie had any more books because he benefited from them! Enough said! --but I learned quickly to "flip the pages" and move on! ����
Now I am heading back to Amazon to find more audio books by Marie Force.
---Sue Ann Dixon
June 23, 2024
3.5 stars.
June 2024 - re-listened.
______________
September 2023 - this first listen of the audio version reinforces how much happened in this book! So much that I'm surprised Sam doesn't have a relapse from her hip injury. The snippets with Jack are just heartbreaking.
______________
Jan 2023
Whilst I liked that we didn't have to spend time on those secondary young couples featured so prominently in the previous book State of the Union, this was a bit of a depressing read for the Holidays season.
There was so much drama and mayhem in Sam's side of things that my head was spinning. I do feel that Sam does need to ask for help a bit more instead of trying to investigate everything by herself and her team. I think that does make others feel she's a bit egotistical. But with that bit of news at the end of the book, I can imagine that the pendulum will swing very much towards Nick in the next book. This new First Family is definitely having a very choppy ride!
June 2024 - re-listened.
______________
September 2023 - this first listen of the audio version reinforces how much happened in this book! So much that I'm surprised Sam doesn't have a relapse from her hip injury. The snippets with Jack are just heartbreaking.
______________
Jan 2023
Whilst I liked that we didn't have to spend time on those secondary young couples featured so prominently in the previous book State of the Union, this was a bit of a depressing read for the Holidays season.
There was so much drama and mayhem in Sam's side of things that my head was spinning. I do feel that Sam does need to ask for help a bit more instead of trying to investigate everything by herself and her team. I think that does make others feel she's a bit egotistical. But with that bit of news at the end of the book, I can imagine that the pendulum will swing very much towards Nick in the next book. This new First Family is definitely having a very choppy ride!
January 19, 2025
Full of drama. The first family and especially Sam's family are at Camp David. It should be a nice break away, for all of them. But trouble follows in what seems to be a case of an overdose by one of the family. There is grief and horror. And also determination on Sam's part to find out how this happened. One of her sisters in now a widow. Another very enjoyable addition to the series.
December 31, 2022
Disappointing. I’ve been reading about Sam and Nick from the beginning. The issues were timely but the book was one crisis after another (no book needs that many crises). The dialogue of the children was also very advanced for 4-5 and 7 year olds and hit really weird. Very underwhelmed.
November 18, 2023
Another great instalment in the First Family (Fatal Series), a must read for fans, keep your tissues handy!
5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
January 29, 2025
RANdoM THOUGHTS
-3,9 stars
-This book was a lot. Like, a lot a lot.
First off, I was relieved we didn’t have to sit through more of those random young couples taking up page time, There was so much happening on Sam’s end that I felt like I needed a break for her. She just never stops. And I get that’s who she is, but at some point, she has to learn to delegate. It’s not a one-woman show, and her refusing to ask for help makes her look more egotistical than competent.
Then there’s the Holland family curse. I swear, every single person connected to them has been through some kind of trauma. Tracy had Brook, who was then gang-raped. Angie loses her husband and is now left with two kids and one on the way. Sam spent years miserable after multiple miscarriages. Skip got shot and can barely move. Sam’s colleagues? Shot, addicted to pills, kidnapped, raped, assaulted, losing babies… the suffering just never ends. At this point, I wouldn’t blame people for keeping a very safe distance from them.
And of course, the book just had to throw in another Ramsey mess. He attacks Sam (again), rams his car into her SS vehicle, and finally gets charged with attempted murder. Finally. The guy has had it out for Sam forever, and it’s about time he’s out of the picture.
Oh, and Nick’s mother? Yeah, turns out she was running a whole prostitution ring. So that’s going to be fun fallout for him.
The whole thing was heavy. I get that the opioid crisis is a serious issue, and I do think Marie Force tackled it well, but did we need all the extra drama on top of that? Sam’s injury, Gigi’s ex going full psycho, Freddie and Elin’s miscarriage—it felt like gut punch after gut punch.
And Sam? Love her, but she was frustrating in this one. Her stubbornness went from admirable to straight-up irritating. She refused to bring in the narcotics team even though this wasn’t her area of expertise, dragging out the case way longer than necessary. And her refusal to accept that Spencer’s addiction played a role in his own death? It’s sad, but no warning was going to change that. It was frustrating to see her cling to that idea as if it would make everything make sense.
That being said, the book did have some balance. There was humor, warmth, and the usual Nick-and-Sam fire. Their dynamic remains a highlight, and I love that even with all the chaos, they still get each other. And despite all my frustration, I can’t deny the story pulled me in. Spencer’s death, Angie’s grief—it hit. The way Sam needed to get justice for him kept me turning pages.
But yeah, if the next book doesn’t ease up on the nonstop trauma train, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up.
- I teard up a bit
-I loved that Nick got mad at Sam for siccing the feds on his mom. Like, for once, someone actually called her out on acting first and thinking never. She didn’t even consider what that would do to his image, his career—she just went full steam ahead like she always does. It was satisfying to see him push back on that.
And Angie? I completely got why she was angry. It wasn’t just grief—she was pissed that Spencer didn’t put her and their kids first, that he let his addiction take over. That kind of anger felt real, because yes, losing him was heartbreaking, but at the same time, she had every right to be mad at the choices he made. It added a layer of rawness to her grief that made it hit even harder.
-3,9 stars
-This book was a lot. Like, a lot a lot.
First off, I was relieved we didn’t have to sit through more of those random young couples taking up page time, There was so much happening on Sam’s end that I felt like I needed a break for her. She just never stops. And I get that’s who she is, but at some point, she has to learn to delegate. It’s not a one-woman show, and her refusing to ask for help makes her look more egotistical than competent.
Then there’s the Holland family curse. I swear, every single person connected to them has been through some kind of trauma. Tracy had Brook, who was then gang-raped. Angie loses her husband and is now left with two kids and one on the way. Sam spent years miserable after multiple miscarriages. Skip got shot and can barely move. Sam’s colleagues? Shot, addicted to pills, kidnapped, raped, assaulted, losing babies… the suffering just never ends. At this point, I wouldn’t blame people for keeping a very safe distance from them.
And of course, the book just had to throw in another Ramsey mess. He attacks Sam (again), rams his car into her SS vehicle, and finally gets charged with attempted murder. Finally. The guy has had it out for Sam forever, and it’s about time he’s out of the picture.
Oh, and Nick’s mother? Yeah, turns out she was running a whole prostitution ring. So that’s going to be fun fallout for him.
The whole thing was heavy. I get that the opioid crisis is a serious issue, and I do think Marie Force tackled it well, but did we need all the extra drama on top of that? Sam’s injury, Gigi’s ex going full psycho, Freddie and Elin’s miscarriage—it felt like gut punch after gut punch.
And Sam? Love her, but she was frustrating in this one. Her stubbornness went from admirable to straight-up irritating. She refused to bring in the narcotics team even though this wasn’t her area of expertise, dragging out the case way longer than necessary. And her refusal to accept that Spencer’s addiction played a role in his own death? It’s sad, but no warning was going to change that. It was frustrating to see her cling to that idea as if it would make everything make sense.
That being said, the book did have some balance. There was humor, warmth, and the usual Nick-and-Sam fire. Their dynamic remains a highlight, and I love that even with all the chaos, they still get each other. And despite all my frustration, I can’t deny the story pulled me in. Spencer’s death, Angie’s grief—it hit. The way Sam needed to get justice for him kept me turning pages.
But yeah, if the next book doesn’t ease up on the nonstop trauma train, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up.
- I teard up a bit
-I loved that Nick got mad at Sam for siccing the feds on his mom. Like, for once, someone actually called her out on acting first and thinking never. She didn’t even consider what that would do to his image, his career—she just went full steam ahead like she always does. It was satisfying to see him push back on that.
And Angie? I completely got why she was angry. It wasn’t just grief—she was pissed that Spencer didn’t put her and their kids first, that he let his addiction take over. That kind of anger felt real, because yes, losing him was heartbreaking, but at the same time, she had every right to be mad at the choices he made. It added a layer of rawness to her grief that made it hit even harder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2022
WARNING - ENTIRE PLOT SUMMARY AHEAD (used by me to keep track of series events)
REALLY - DON'T READ THIS; IT SUMMARIZES BOOK.
some content may be copied from other reviews
With Sam, Nick and their family and close friends spending a much needed weekend relaxing at Camp David. Until Spencer, Angie's husband and Sam's brother-in-law is found unresponsive and Nick's medical team struggle to resuscitate him.
Which leads Sam to open an investigation that is both difficult, baffling and heartbreaking. As healthy young men and women are dropping dead all over the capital. Thanks to spiked drugs and Sam is determined to catch them no matter the professional cost.
__________
Whole book is Sam solving the crime in one week after Spencer dies. He OD'd on laced drugs. A drug kingpin was killing his competitor's customers. She keeps on getting warned by other cops and feds that she shouldn't be investigating her BIL's death, but she ignores them and it didn't seem to matter.
"I need to be doing this. I know everyone must think I've got some sort of savior complex, but that's not it. This is the one thing in this whole world I'm really good at and my sister needs me..."
Narcotics division dropped the ball on the OD deaths.
Sister Angie has two kids and is pregnant.
Sam sets up GoFundMe, raises 4.5 million and media scrutiny.
Ramsey attacks Sam, grabbed before he punches her. Later he rammed his car into her SS vehicle. (Sam gets whiplash.) Gets charged with attempted murder; she'll finally be free of him. Ramsey is the one whose rapist/murderer son gets killed. He's always had it out for Sam.
Investigation into who helped Stahl hide fake reports. No answer.
Elin, Freddie's (wife?girlfriend?) has a miscarriage.
Gigi (Detective Dominguez), Cam's (Detective Green) GF goes off-radar. SWAT sent in. She was attacked, sexually assaulted by Cam's exGF Jaycee. Gigi kills her.
Jaycee's mom, angry that her daughter was killed, blames cops. She takes the new Deputy Chief Jeannie hostage and is killed. Jeannie's hub wants her to quit, the new position was supposed to be safer.
_____________
i do think Holland family is cursed, first Tracy got knocked up then she has Brook that led her as a victim of gang rape. Ang, lost her husband that left her two young kids and a unborn. Sam, miscarriage many times cost her six years of unhappy life. Skip, got shot with limited movement.
everyone around the families got bad things which hurts them much, sam’s colleagues, die from shooting, addiction on pills, kidnapped and rape, sexually assaulted, lost the baby…. on and on
___________
Nick's mother was never in Nick's life. Had been looking for $ in the past. When N was still VP, Sam had asked FBI to look at her; Sam wanted her to go away. Turns out she was running a prostitution ring; will have big fallout for Nick. Last line in book is that she's indicted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2024
At this point, I feel like I read this series partly because I have read so many of the books that it seems a waste not to catch up. Even so, this book seems to continue more of the same issues with this First Family series overall: There is SO much focus on everything except solving crime and the romance between Nick and Sam that it really doesn’t even feel like the same genre of book. The Fatal series wasn’t really a true contemporary romance/romantic suspense, but it balanced the romance and the actual crime solving much better than this series. The First Family series feels like it’s moved pretty firmly into women’s fiction, which is fine, but I miss the old stories.
This book felt particularly heavy given the subject matter. While I think Marie Force does a great job of highlighting the challenges of the opioid epidemic for patients, addicts and their families, some of the side plots (Sam’s injury, Gigi and Cam’s challenges with an ex-girlfriend, Freddie and Elin, etc) just felt like unnecessary gut punches. I am also thoroughly over the Ramsey plot line. It feels like Stahl 2.0 but more over the top and without any resolution in sight.
I also thought certain things about Sam in this book were frustrating. I love her character and watching her navigate her job as a woman who is truly excellent at what she does. But her stubborn refusal to ask for help from the narcotics unit or anyone who had any expertise in this realm made it incredibly slow going for the first half of the book. Even accepting help from Avery would have been preferable to the way it played out. I also found her stubborn refusal to let go of the idea that if there had a been a warning issued earlier, Spencer wouldn’t have bought or taken the pills frustrating. Sam seems the worst of people all the time. She’s typically pretty cynical. Why would she not be able to accept that he was just addicted and no intervention would have been enough? I don’t mean to be callus, but it was annoying to see that point raised over and over again to justify her feelings about not bringing people on from other units.
Overall, I liked this book better than previous installments in some ways, but it definitely lacks the spark of any of the fatal books.
This book felt particularly heavy given the subject matter. While I think Marie Force does a great job of highlighting the challenges of the opioid epidemic for patients, addicts and their families, some of the side plots (Sam’s injury, Gigi and Cam’s challenges with an ex-girlfriend, Freddie and Elin, etc) just felt like unnecessary gut punches. I am also thoroughly over the Ramsey plot line. It feels like Stahl 2.0 but more over the top and without any resolution in sight.
I also thought certain things about Sam in this book were frustrating. I love her character and watching her navigate her job as a woman who is truly excellent at what she does. But her stubborn refusal to ask for help from the narcotics unit or anyone who had any expertise in this realm made it incredibly slow going for the first half of the book. Even accepting help from Avery would have been preferable to the way it played out. I also found her stubborn refusal to let go of the idea that if there had a been a warning issued earlier, Spencer wouldn’t have bought or taken the pills frustrating. Sam seems the worst of people all the time. She’s typically pretty cynical. Why would she not be able to accept that he was just addicted and no intervention would have been enough? I don’t mean to be callus, but it was annoying to see that point raised over and over again to justify her feelings about not bringing people on from other units.
Overall, I liked this book better than previous installments in some ways, but it definitely lacks the spark of any of the fatal books.
January 6, 2023
State of shock is an UNDERSTATEMENT!
State of Shock (A First Family Novel Book 4) by Marie Force is a 'cue the water works and grab the kleenex' heartbreaker, but an absolutely fantastic read. This book packs an emotional wallop through gut wrenching heartbreaking grief. Marie Force writes such wonderful characters that the reader feels deeply connected as though each of them are at minimum an acquaintance to very dear friends. The range of emotions in State of Shock is vast and powerfully palpable which makes this story a gripping must read.
Sam and Nick are rocked to their core as their family is once again heartbroken. While the topic and grief is quite heavy, the book is very well balanced with humor. And because Sam and Nick are who they are, there's plenty of heat. And tons of heart throughout. Sam and Nick, along with most every other character, offer wonderful words of support, encouragement and love. And every character needs those heartwarming words, deeds and actions because in this book, when it rains it pours is putting it mildly.
I simply found this whole book quite profound and wholly embedded in my heart. Spencer's tragedy, Angie & Jack's grief, will stay with me for quite some time to say the least, but I felt the absolute need Sam experienced to find those responsible for the tragedy. This element of the book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. And, just as Sam gets those 'feelings' the case is about to break, the reader experiences it right along with her. Marie's form of justice is always right on point and lends a bit of hope to the heartbreak.
Overall, an amazing read. It's worth way more than 5 stars for its emotional impact alone. I have read sad and grief-stricken stories before, but it's not often I'm reduced to tears to the point I can't even see the page! I loved it for so many reasons, but most of all because of these beloved characters, Sam and Nick. For me, they (along with the other family and friend characters) inspire and remind us readers to be good to those we care about in our own lives.
State of Shock (A First Family Novel Book 4) by Marie Force is a 'cue the water works and grab the kleenex' heartbreaker, but an absolutely fantastic read. This book packs an emotional wallop through gut wrenching heartbreaking grief. Marie Force writes such wonderful characters that the reader feels deeply connected as though each of them are at minimum an acquaintance to very dear friends. The range of emotions in State of Shock is vast and powerfully palpable which makes this story a gripping must read.
Sam and Nick are rocked to their core as their family is once again heartbroken. While the topic and grief is quite heavy, the book is very well balanced with humor. And because Sam and Nick are who they are, there's plenty of heat. And tons of heart throughout. Sam and Nick, along with most every other character, offer wonderful words of support, encouragement and love. And every character needs those heartwarming words, deeds and actions because in this book, when it rains it pours is putting it mildly.
I simply found this whole book quite profound and wholly embedded in my heart. Spencer's tragedy, Angie & Jack's grief, will stay with me for quite some time to say the least, but I felt the absolute need Sam experienced to find those responsible for the tragedy. This element of the book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. And, just as Sam gets those 'feelings' the case is about to break, the reader experiences it right along with her. Marie's form of justice is always right on point and lends a bit of hope to the heartbreak.
Overall, an amazing read. It's worth way more than 5 stars for its emotional impact alone. I have read sad and grief-stricken stories before, but it's not often I'm reduced to tears to the point I can't even see the page! I loved it for so many reasons, but most of all because of these beloved characters, Sam and Nick. For me, they (along with the other family and friend characters) inspire and remind us readers to be good to those we care about in our own lives.
May 10, 2024
At the end of the last book, we left the family on the brink of an emergency. Angela's husband Spence wouldn't wake up. The intensity of the events starting here are extremely emotional awakening many varied responses to grief.
When it's revealed that Spence had been hiding a dependency on painkillers and Sam's ER friend Dr. Anderson tells her of the upswing in OD's lately Sam wonders why the Narcotics Squad hadn't put out a warning.
At Camp David the Commander of the base had sealed off the cabin where Angela and Spence were staying. With her Secret Service agents driving Sam returns to collect the evidence from the cabin, with Vernon as her witness. Sam is determined to keep this out of federal hands since the actual crime had happened in the district not at the camp.
Captain Jake Malone, currently on suspension from the shooting of Ramsey's son in the take down to prevent the death of a young woman, continues to track the people who would have had the access to archive fake reports for Stahl.
There are more revelations made as Angela confesses all the problems, she's now left with aside from raising three children, Spencer has left her with a lot of debt. He'd lost his job, lost his life insurance and been in rehab twice without medical coverage. Financially, she's a mess and has no idea how to deal with it. It's Freddie's idea to do a GoFundMe for her.
With some of the pressure off her Angela begins to think of the future even though she's still heavily grieving.
Sam continues her investigation, identifying more possible victims like Spence. She's determined to get the tainted drugs off the streets.
There's more with Ramsey, then Gigi and Cameron, a surprise with Officer Charles and a shocking revelation about Nick's mother and there's still so much more.
This is the most emotional of all the books so far, I spent a lot of time sniffling while waiting for Sam to find the right thread to tug everything apart.
I am already reading the next book!
When it's revealed that Spence had been hiding a dependency on painkillers and Sam's ER friend Dr. Anderson tells her of the upswing in OD's lately Sam wonders why the Narcotics Squad hadn't put out a warning.
At Camp David the Commander of the base had sealed off the cabin where Angela and Spence were staying. With her Secret Service agents driving Sam returns to collect the evidence from the cabin, with Vernon as her witness. Sam is determined to keep this out of federal hands since the actual crime had happened in the district not at the camp.
Captain Jake Malone, currently on suspension from the shooting of Ramsey's son in the take down to prevent the death of a young woman, continues to track the people who would have had the access to archive fake reports for Stahl.
There are more revelations made as Angela confesses all the problems, she's now left with aside from raising three children, Spencer has left her with a lot of debt. He'd lost his job, lost his life insurance and been in rehab twice without medical coverage. Financially, she's a mess and has no idea how to deal with it. It's Freddie's idea to do a GoFundMe for her.
With some of the pressure off her Angela begins to think of the future even though she's still heavily grieving.
Sam continues her investigation, identifying more possible victims like Spence. She's determined to get the tainted drugs off the streets.
There's more with Ramsey, then Gigi and Cameron, a surprise with Officer Charles and a shocking revelation about Nick's mother and there's still so much more.
This is the most emotional of all the books so far, I spent a lot of time sniffling while waiting for Sam to find the right thread to tug everything apart.
I am already reading the next book!
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