2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

D.C. Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career—and her confidence—after a disastrous investigation led to tragedy. What she doesn't need is sparks flying with a former one-night stand, who also happens to be chief of staff to a dead U.S. Senator.

Senator John O’Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Things get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O’Connor’s friend and chief of staff…and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier.

Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can’t afford—especially when the bodies keep piling up.

Settings
Washington, DC
Leesburg, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
Chicago, Illinois

37 Chapters
Epilogue

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Samantha (Sam) Holland: Washington DC metro police lieutenant in charge of city's homicide detective squad. She is 34-years old and has toffee-colored hair and pale blue eyes.
Nick Cappuano: Chief of staff for the U.S. senator from VA. He's 6'4" with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
Frederico (Freddie) Cruz: Sam's partner.
Will Tyrone: Detective on Sam's squad. McBride's partner.
Jeannie McBride: Detective on Sam's squad, Tyrone’s partner.
Michael Wilkinson: Jeannie McBride's boyfriend.
Tommy (Gonzo) Gonzales: Senior Detective on Sam's squad.
Arnold Arnold: Detective on Sam's squad. Gonzo's partner.
Archie Archelotta:Lieutenant who heads IT Division. He had brief fling with Sam after her divorce from Peter.
Stahl: Lieutenant over the Homicide division and Sam's nemesis.
Joe Farnsworth: Chief of Police.
Conklin: Deputy Chief.
Malone: Detective Captain, Sam's mentor.
Skip Holland: Sam's father, former Deputy Chief shot on duty two years ago.
Angela Radcliffe: Sam's older sister, married to Spencer and mother of their son, Jack.
Tracy Hogan: Sam's oldest sister. She’s married to Mike and father of their two children, Abbie and Ethan. He’s also stepfather to Brooke, Tracy’s 14-year old daughter from a previous relationship.
Celia: Skip’s nurse and caregiver.
Lindsey McNamara: Chief Medical Examiner. She has long red hair and green eyes.
Dr. Byron Tomlinson: Deputy chief medical examiner.
Charity Miller: Assistant U.S. attorney. One of a set of triplets.
Hope Miller: Assistant U.S. attorney. One of a set of triplets.
Faith Miller: Assistant U.S. attorney. One of a set of triplets.
John O'Connor:US senator from Virginia who was murdered.
Graham O'Connor: Former US senator from Virginia who is married to Laine. He's the father of John, Terry and Lizbeth and is very close to Nick.
Laine O'Connor: Married to Graham and Nick's surrogate mother. Terry, Lizbeth and John's mother.
Terry O'Connor: John’s brother.
Lizbeth O’Connor Hamilton: John’s sister, married to Royce. They have two young children, Emma and Adam.
Royce Hamilton: Lizbeth’s husband. They have two young children, Emma and Adam. He’s a horse trainer.
Carrie: Senior O’Connor’s family housekeeper.
Leo Cappuano: Nick’s father. He’s married to Stacy and they have two young sons. They live in Baltimore. He was 15-years old when Nick was born.
Christina Billings: Nick's deputy chief of staff.
Nelson: President of the United States.
Gloria Nelson: Married to POTUS.
Judson Knott: Chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party.
Richard Manning: Vice chairman of the Democratic Party.
William Stenhouse: Senate Minority Leader.
Harry Flynn: Nick's friend. Sam's doctor for stomach problems.
Lucien Haverfield: O’Connor family attorney.
Juliette Cruz: Cruz's mother.
Elin Svendsen: One of the women John dated for a time. She’s 5’10” with white blond hair.
Marquis Johnson: Drug lord whose son was killed in crackhouse raid ordered by Sam.
Quentin Johnson: Child killed in crackhouse raid ordered by Sam. His death is source of constant nightmares for Sam
Destiny Johnson: Quentin’s mother.
Darren Tabor: Washington Star newspaper reporter
Peter Gibson: Sam's ex-husband.

Non Recurring Characters
Higgins: Detective in the Explosives unit.
Natalie Jordan: John’s former girlfriend. Married to Noel.
Noel Jordan: Natalie’s husband, special assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice.
Tara Davenport: One of the women John dated for a time.
Patricia Donaldson: John’s teenage first love. She lives in Chicago.
Thomas O’Connor: Patricia’s son. He’s 20-years old and a junior at Loyola.
Andrea Daly: Terry’s “alibi.”
Dawn: Destiny Johnson’s sister.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
John had a completely secret life. He had a son by Patricia Donaldson when he was 16-years old and was forced by Graham to live a life separate from them. He was visiting them one weekend a month in Chicago and paying them $3,000/month. When he told them he was seeking a second term and not leaving political life, Thomas snapped and went on his murderous spree. He planned to kill Graham but Sam and Nick intervened.

Peter Gibson, Sam’s former roommate and later her ex-husband, kept Nick’s messages from her, leaving both to believe the other wasn’t interested. When Nick and Sam reconnected, Peter stalked them and then tried to kill them by placing bombs on their cars. He was captured and jailed.

Nick was asked to fill out John’s senate term and accepted! He bought a house down the street from Sam’s father, anticipating that one day she will move in. John left him his cabin so he still maintains a Virginia residency.

Skip and Celia plan to marry. (hide spoiler)]

Reading it again now. Imagine it might help to have read the prequel

Did you see my message about getting that prequel for free on audio?

Oh, I meant to say that having read the prequel made the Affair book give more meaning. Sorry I wasn't clear about that.

I’m having the same experience, Charlene!