Thursday, 5 March 2020

*** AUDIO REVIEW *** FATAL MISTAKE by Marie Force



Fatal Mistake (Fatal, #6)

A critical error.

A Cinderella season cut short.

A star player murdered.

DC is recovering from angry riots after one player's mistake blew the DC Federals' chance at the World Series, and Lieutenant Sam Holland is determined to unravel the twisted web of motives behind the star center fielder's death. Was it a disgruntled fan, a spurned lover or a furious teammate?

While Sam digs through clues, her husband, US Senator Nick Cappuano, fights for his political life in the final days of his reelection campaign as financial irregularities threaten his future. It's a distraction Nick can ill afford with Sam in the midst of another high-profile murder investigation and both of them trying to help their adopted son, Scotty, cope with the murder of a ballplayer he admired.

Determined to bring the killer to justice, Sam must root out the truth before another mistake proves fatal.
 


Sam Holland is sick of riding the desk.  When many cops are out on the street because the D.C. community is in an uproar after the Federals lost their shot at the World Series.   Sam sneaks out of the office when a murder is reported.  

I enjoy stories that take real life events and make a “what-if” murder mystery twist on the events.  In Fatal Mistake, the fictious D.C. baseball team is in a must-win game that will take them to the World Series.  They are down to the last three outs at the top of the ninth for the Feds to make it to their first World Series.  It is a given based on the closer on the mound then much to the fans’ surprise, they lost.  The entire police department is put on alert when all hell breaks loose with riots and mayhem all over the series. 

Sam is called out when a dead body is found in a dumpster.  The victim turns out to be the ball player who dropped the ball that lost the game.  As Sam and her team investigates, she finds a lot of secrets and possible suspects among his family, friends, teammates, managers, etc.  Will has a lot of endorsement deals because of the “so-called” squeaky clean life as a family man and father.  The investigation gradually shines light on all the reasons that don’t line up with his reputation. 

In addition to the murder, Sam and Nick are still figuring out their life as a married couple with a twelve-year-old foster son they are trying to investigate.  Nick is in the home stretch of his re-election campaign.  Getting used to the secret service invasion of their privacy, the headlines, and requests to accompany the President on trips is a life neither of them are prepared for. 

I had a little problem with Nick’s sealed lips about his travel.  It didn’t feel right for their relationship, and Sam’s career.  Sam keeps secrets on her job.  She knows what is going on, but Nick doesn’t confirm or deny.  As much as I like Nick, this scenario made me angry with him.  The Agent Hill narrative is interesting.  We see Nick’s jealous side while Sam needs to juggle Hill as a co-worker and Nick’s hatred of the man.  Fun times. 

I haven’t read any books in this series for a couple years.  It takes a little to get all the players back in my head, but it all comes back as the story progresses.  Fatal Mistake is a good story with a decent police procedural, and a lot of romance.  I’m getting back into the series with the audio books, that are featured with the Audible Escape option.    Eva Kaminsky is the narrator of the series.  Her voice is very pleasant.  She tells the story with a voice that keeps the reader focused on the events and not on the narrator.  I recommend this book to read or listen.  It is worth the time. 

4 STAMPS FOR THE STORY

5 STAMPS FOR AUDIO PERFORMANCE



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