2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Back from their honeymoon, Senator Nick Cappuano and D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland are ready for some normalcy after the whirlwind of their wedding, but someone has other plans for them.

When Sam discovers wedding cards containing thinly veiled death threats, she’s not sure if she or Nick is the target. Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she’s chasing her tail. With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer’s clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily ever after.

Settings
Washington, DC
Richmond, Virginia
Boston, Massachusetts

33 Chapters

Cast List
(view spoiler)[
Recurring Characters
Samantha (Sam) Holland Cappuano: Washington DC metro police lieutenant in charge of city's homicide detective squad. She's married to Nick. She is 34-years old and has toffee-colored hair and pale blue eyes.
Nick Cappuano: U.S. senator from VA, married to Sam. He's 6'4" with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
Scotty Dunlap: 12-year old boy who lives in a VA state home who was befriended by Nick.
Frederico (Freddie) Cruz: Sam's partner. He's dating Elin.
Elin Svendsen: Cruz's girlfriend.
Jeannie McBride: Detective on Sam's squad
Michael Wilkinson: Jeannie McBride's boyfriend.
Tommy (Gonzo) Gonzales: Senior Detective on Sam's squad, engaged to Christina.
Christina Billings: Nick's Chief of Staff, Gonzo's fiancée.
Alejandro (Alex): Gonzo's baby boy.
Will Tyrone: Detective on Sam's squad. McBride's partner.
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.
St. James: One of the officers assigned to protect Sam. She refers to both as Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Hernandez: One of the officers assigned to protect Sam. She refers to both as Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Lieutenant Stahl: Head of IAB and Sam's nemesis.
Joe Farnsworth: Chief of Police.
Conklin: Deputy Chief.
Malone: Detective Captain, Sam's mentor.
Avery Hill: FBI Special Agent called in to assist with serial killings investigation.
Terry O'Connor: Murdered senator John O'Connor's brother, Nick's deputy chief of staff. He’s seeing Lindsey.
Lindsey McNamara: Chief Medical Examiner. She has long red hair and green eyes. She’s seeing Terry.
Dr. Byron Tomlinson: Deputy chief medical examiner.
Faith Miller: Assistant U.S. attorney.
Harry Flynn: Nick's friend. Sam's doctor for stomach problems.
Skip Holland: Sam's father, former Deputy Chief shot on duty years ago. Married to Celia.
Celia Holland: Sam's stepmother.
Angela Radcliffe: Sam's sister, married to Spencer and mother of their son, Jack.
Tracy Hogan: Sam's sister.
Juliette Cruz: Cruz's mother.
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.
Shelby Faircloth: aka Tinkerbell. Sam's and Nick's wedding planner
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.
Irene Littlefield: VA State home director.
Darren Tabor: Washington Star newspaper reporter
Peter Gibson: Sam's ex-husband.
Mrs. Nesbitt: Alice Deal Middle School principal.
Roberto: Young man Sam met while undercover who's now working as a city hall clerk.
Leroy Augustine: Suspect in Skip's shooting.
Darius Gardner: Rapist who was jailed for shooting at Sam and Cruz and suspected of shooting Skip years ago.

Non Recurring Characters
Dr. Norman Morganthau: Retired medical examiner from the Fitzgerald case.
Carl Olivo: Owner of Carl's Burger's who was found murdered in the freezer.
Daniel Alvarez: Seventeen-year old young man found dead in the freezer at Carl's Burger's, along with his boss, Carl.
Joseph Alvarez: Daniel's father.
Raymond Jeffries: Retired high school chemistry teacher found murdered in his home.
Sabrina Campion: Raymond's daughter.
Crystal Trainer: Married mother of two who was murdered in her home.
Jed Trainer: Crystal's husband.
Josh Trainer: Crystal's son.
Nicole Trainer: Crystal's daughter.
Donna Kasperian: Crystal's best friend.
Janet Nealson: Woman with whom Jed had an affair.
Sean Morgan: Melissa's father.
Frieda Morgan: Melissa's mother.
James Lynch: Lawyer found murdered in his pool. Married to Amanda.
Amanda Lynch: James' wife.
Melissa Morgan Woodmansee:Sam's former friend
Justin Woodmansee: Melissa's ex-husband.
Frieda Morgan: Melissa’s mother, married to Sean.
Sean Morgan: Melissa’s father, married to Frieda.
Debbie Donahue: Mutual friend of Sam's and Melissa.
Tyler Fitzgerald: Boy abducted and murdered years ago. One of Skip's unsolved cases.
Cameron Fitzgerald: Tyler’s older brother.
Caleb Fitzgerald: Tyler's older brother.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
All of the “random” murders were committed by Melissa Morgan, an estranged friend of Sam’s from high school who decided to kill those who she felt had slighted her, including her parents. She was jealous of Sam for not inviting her to her wedding.

Nick asked Scotty to live with him and Sam but he’s asked for more time. Graham believes he’s scared they won’t want to keep him.

Freddie saw his mother with his estranged father and, in anger, decided to go his own way. He’s moved in with Elin but she later convinced him, along with Sam, to meet with his father and forgive his mother. His mother decided to stop badmouthing Elin and accept their relationship.

Terry and Lindsey are now seeing each other. She was reluctant because of his alcoholism and her experience with it in her own family. (hide spoiler)]

I'm almost halfway through. There is a lot of emphasis on the personal relationships in this one and the investigations (of which there are 3 different ones so far) are taking a back seat.

I just finished and you’re right.

I agree. Maybe that's why I liked this one better than the previous books.

I am a plot driven reader and usually enjoy following along with the clues and figuring out the "who-dun-it". However, Marie Force's plotting is not the best and the police procedural elements are very flawed (no pun intended).

So I am quite surprised that I am enjoying this series for the character and relationship developments more than for the investigations. Even Sam is starting to grow on me although there are times when my dislike resurfaces.