Power Play (Capital Intrigue Book #3)

I was captivated by this stunning, hard-hitting finale in the Capital Crimes series! I am really going to miss these close friends! Power Play can easily be read as a standalone as it includes sufficient information about the other characters. The author designed another intriguing plot taking place on US soil, rooted in international terrorism. I learned interesting things about the workings of some national agencies and have a better feel for the real people who support our country. Ultimately, it shows how vital faith in the Lord is for every aspect of our lives. Vivian is a State Department attorney. Her best friends, Layla and Bailey, work for the CIA and the FBI respectively, and she has worked with many ambassadors. I was surprised to learn the role of attorneys in some government agencies since I see lawyers as courtroom crusaders. Viv and Layla are at a special dinner attended by diplomats from around the world when Ori Zidan, the Egyptian ambassador to the US collapsed and was taken to the hospital. He was a young man but had a heart problem. Later, Viv saw Penelope King, the US ambassador to Belgium and a friend from having worked together in the past. Penelope waved Viv over, began to look ill, and collapsed. Viv believes something is going on behind the scenes to have two diplomats fall physically ill at the same dinner. Later they learn that Zidan was pronounced DOA at the hospital. Penelope was barely holding on with only a small chance of survival. Jacob, a former SEAL, is the State Department’s lead security man at the dinner. Vivian is one of his suspects as she was the first one to reach Penelope, and he had also seen her with Zidan after his collapse. The next day he is in a special joint task force with Viv and with directors and staff members of leading agencies. They will investigate what happened to the ambassadors the night before. He is unhappy to be paired with her as he is sure she will only slow him down. It is unknown why Viv becomes a target, even when an associate is murdered. The protagonists are very personable, defined primarily by their conversations and actions. I enjoyed meeting Delaney, a senior FBI agent partnered with Weston, a young, new agent, as well as getting to know Vivian much better. She adapted to incredible challenges over the course of the investigation that most people would not choose to. While she wanted to know who killed Zidan and possibly succeed in causing her friend Penelope’s death, she took over-the-top risks. Jacob is a hard person to get acquainted with, but the closer he and Viv work, the more we learn about him. At the heart of the novel is how Viv, her friends, and Jacob live out their faith, especially as they both deal with significant past events. I appreciated how they viewed their life and work, even as they fulfill difficult job functions. Viv and Jacob investigate the Egyptian diplomat’s death while the FBI team handles Penelope’s case. I could not imagine doing what Viv did, and so many others do every day! Seeing the courage and wisdom of our government representatives gave this reader an insider’s look at our many unsung heroes. The last few chapters showed a power play of epic proportions, more than Vivian could have foreseen. I highly recommend this thrilling adventure, and the rest of the series! From a thankful heart: I received an electronic ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

With strong characterization and a fast-paced plot, this conclusion to the Capital Intrigue series is a definite must-read. State Department attorney Vivian Steele gets inadvertently caught up in government schemes when she witnesses the deaths of two ambassadors at a state dinner. The Egyptian ambassador’s death appears to be a plot against his government and somehow Viv is targeted afterwards because of her prior dealings with that government. Because she becomes a target, she is assigned security in the form of Jacob Cruz, a former SEAL who is determined that no one else will die on his watch. The American ambassador who died, Penelope King, has an entire backstory that is intriguing and adds to the story. Her death is being investigated by Delaney, an FBI agent extraordinarily well-suited for her position. Delaney is mentoring Weston and the two of them together make a formidable team. This second plot had a lot of twists and turns as Delaney follows the clues and finds the killer. Delaney’s investigation was a cerebral one for the most part. The first plot, involving Viv, had a lot more action in it, with bad guys targeting Vivian and some “bite your nails” moments as she narrowly escapes death herself. There is violence depicted in the book, but it is not graphically described, so the novel is a clean read. I was sorry to see the series end because I have befriended the well-developed characters. I did especially enjoy the epilogue that was like a curtain call for all of the characters from this book and the previous ones. This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the entire series because each book is a fascinating look at investigations and the inner workings of our national government. Fiction, of course! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is book three in the Capital Intrigue series, even though it is a stand alone book, you do miss some history of some of the characters by just jumping into this one, plus you miss some good reads. This book is full of mystery, Suspense and some romance. If you enjoy FBI, NCIS, CIA type stories you will love this one. I loved reconnecting with characters we met in the first two books but also getting to know some new ones. In book three we focus on State Department attorney Vivian Steele and the former SEAL and current Diplomatic Security Service agent, Jacob Cruz.. Viv and Jacob must work together to try to solve a crime all while also trying to stay safe. There are many twist and turns in this novel and I love the sparks between Viv and Jacob. I was given a copy of this novel for my honest opinion.