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Fatal — by Marie Force
Fatal Series in Order: 18 books
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One Night With You
Book - 0.5
See where it all started with the Fatal Series prequel novella, One Night With You.
Since the debut of Fatal Affair in 2010, Fatal Series readers have been wondering about that "memorable" one-night stand between Sam Holland and Nick Cappuano... -
Fatal Affair
Book - 1
ANOTHER SCANDAL AT WATERGATE, ONLY THIS TIME IT'S MURDER... Detective Sergeant Sam Holland of the Washington, D.C., Metro Police needs a big win to salvage her career -- and her confidence -- after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportuni...
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Fatal Justice
Book - 2
She looked into the dead face of the man she'd dined with the night before. Standing over the body of a Supreme Court nominee, Lieutenant Sam Holland is hip-deep in another high-profile murder case. The fact that she was one of the last people to s...
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Fatal Consequences
Book - 3
Lieutenant Sam Holland has no sooner accepted Senator Nick Cappuano's proposal than she's back on the job. A woman has been found brutally murdered and evidence points to Henry Lightfeather, a senator and close friend of Nick's. While Sam investigate...
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Fatal Destiny
Book - 3.5
With the week of their wedding finally upon them, Washington D.C., Police Lieutenant Sam Holland and her fiancé, Senetor Nick Cappuano, are at odds. In the aftermath of a tragic loss, they struggle to reconnect as the big day draws near, but their ...
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Fatal Flaw
Book - 4
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...
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Fatal Deception
Book - 5
The wife of the White House Deputy Chief of Staff has been beaten to death, and their one-year-old daughter is missing. D.C. police lieutenant Sam Holland is in charge of the murder investigation, but she's forced to collaborate with Special Victims ...
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Fatal MIstake
Book - 6
When Willie Vasquez, the Washington Federals' star center fielder, makes a critical error in game seven of the National League Championship Series, he ends the team's World Series bid and its Cinderella season. An angry city descends into riots, and ...
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Fatal Jeopardy
Book - 7
Washington, D.C., Police Lieutenant Sam Holland and her husband, U.S. Senator Nick Cappuano, have been looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving with their son. But any thoughts of a restful holiday are dashed when Sam and Nick return home to a gruesom...
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Fatal Scandal
Book - 8
As a new year dawns in the capital city, dual scandals rock the Metropolitan Police Department -- and Lieutenant Sam Holland is right in the middle of them. Chief Farnsworth is catching heat for the way he handled a recent homicide investigation, and...
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Fatal Frenzy
Book - 9
Inauguration day is almost here... Lieutenant Sam Holland is on leave, recovering from an attack that shook her to the core. With no case to distract her, she's trying to stay busy -- even voluntarily meeting with her new White House staff. But i...
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Fatal Identity
Book - 10
Every family has its secrets... As the first anniversary of her marriage to Vice President Nick Cappuano approaches, Lieutenant Sam Holland is dreaming of Bora Bora -- sun, sand and a desperately needed break from the DC grind. But real life has ...
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Fatal Threat
Book - 11
With a killer on the loose, it's the worst time to be on lockdown... It's just another day at the office for Washington Metro Police lieutenant Sam Holland when a body surfaces off the shores of the Anacostia River. But before Sam can sink her te...
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Fatal Chaos
Book - 12
First the calm. Then the storm... Escaping DC during the dog days of summer is one of the smartest moves Washington metro police lieutenant Samantha Holland ever made. Beach walks aren't quite as romantic with the Secret Service in tow, but Sam an...
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Fatal Invasion
Book - 13
First the fire, then the heat... A brutal home invasion. Two small traumatized survivors who may have witnessed the horror. Lieutenant Sam Holland has never worked a case quite like this one, in which her eyewitnesses are five-year-old twins. But ...
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Fatal Reckoning
Book - 14
When tragedy strikes, a cold case suddenly turns hot -- and deadly A peaceful morning is shattered when Washington Metro Police lieutenant Sam Holland's beloved father succumbs to injuries from an unsolved shooting while on duty four years ago. As...
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Fatal Accusation
Book - 15
A deadly serious affair... The story breaks as Metro PD lieutenant Sam Holland attends a dinner party with her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano: President Nelson is accused of having an affair. More shocking still, campaign staffer Tara Weber...
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Fatal Fraud
Book - 16
A dangerous truth revealed...A prominent member of the D.C. community has been murdered, pulling Lieutenant Sam Holland into yet another high-stakes homicide investigation that has her trying to connect the dots between a dead woman and the friends a...
Series Premise
The series follows Lieutenant Sam Holland of the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Division, a brilliant but abrasive detective known for her relentless pursuit of justice in murder cases, especially those involving sexual assault or high-profile victims. Sam often tackles complex, politically sensitive investigations that intersect with the powerful world of Washington, D.C., including Capitol Hill scandals, White House intrigue, and threats to national figures.
The central premise revolves around Sam's cases and her evolving romance with Nick Cappuano, a charismatic senator (and later Vice President) whose life becomes intertwined with hers after a passionate one-night stand years earlier. Their relationship deepens into marriage and family, but Sam's job frequently puts them in danger—killers target her loved ones, political enemies exploit vulnerabilities, or cases hit too close to home. Mysteries typically involve baffling murders (serial killers, political assassinations, abductions), with Sam and her team racing against time to stop threats while navigating media scrutiny, bureaucratic hurdles, and personal fallout.
Over the series, stakes rise as Nick ascends to higher office, exposing the family to greater risks (assassination attempts, kidnappings, scandals). Subplots explore Sam's PTSD from a traumatic past case, her family dynamics, Nick's political ambitions, and their growing family (including adopted son Scotty). The premise celebrates justice, loyalty, and love amid chaos, with themes of resilience, partnership, and balancing career with personal life in a high-pressure environment.
Fatal Series Characters
Lieutenant Samantha "Sam" Holland: The fierce, brilliant protagonist—a top homicide detective known for her no-nonsense attitude, sharp mind, and dedication to victims. Haunted by a past case and personal losses, Sam is tough exterior with deep vulnerability, especially in her relationships. Her career and family life create constant tension.
- Nick Cappuano: Sam's husband—a handsome, principled senator (later Vice President) with a tragic past (orphaned young). Charismatic and ambitious, Nick balances politics with devotion to Sam and their family. Their romance is passionate and supportive, with Nick often caught between public duty and protecting his loved ones.
- Scotty Cappuano: Their adopted son—a bright, endearing boy whose presence adds family warmth and higher stakes when threats arise.
- Supporting/recurring cast: Sam's team (Detectives Freddie Cruz, Gonzo, etc.)—loyal colleagues with their own subplots; her father Skip (a retired cop paralyzed in the line of duty) and family; Nick's staff and political allies; recurring villains or threats that span books.
Setting of the Fatal Series
The series is firmly rooted in contemporary Washington, D.C., capturing the city's dual nature as a hub of power and a place of everyday life. Key locations include Metro PD headquarters, Capitol Hill offices, the White House (in later books), high-society events, crime scenes across neighborhoods, and the couple's homes (from modest apartments to the Vice President's residence).
D.C.'s political atmosphere permeates the stories—congressional hearings, media frenzy, lobbyist influence, and security details—while personal settings (family gatherings, quiet moments at home) provide contrast. The city feels vivid and lived-in: humid summers, snowy winters, crowded streets, historic landmarks, and the constant hum of power. Cases often expand to nearby Virginia suburbs or out-of-town locations, but D.C.'s political and law enforcement world anchors the narrative.
Tone & Themes of the Fatal Series
The tone is intense, romantic, and emotionally charged—romantic suspense with a gritty, fast-paced thriller edge and heartfelt warmth. Force delivers high-stakes tension through detailed investigations, shocking twists, and life-threatening peril, often with graphic crime elements (murders, violence) balanced by strong emotional focus on relationships and family.
Romance is central and steamy—passionate chemistry between Sam and Nick, with explicit scenes that emphasize connection, trust, and vulnerability. Humor emerges from Sam's sharp sarcasm, banter with her team, and family dynamics. The mood is urgent and dramatic but ultimately hopeful—justice prevails, love endures, and characters grow through adversity. Inspirational undertones appear in themes of perseverance and support systems, without heavy preaching. It's addictive, character-driven reading—thrilling yet grounded in real human emotions.
The Fatal series by Marie Force is a compelling, addictive blend of romantic suspense and political intrigue that follows Sam Holland and Nick Cappuano through high-stakes murder investigations and a passionate, evolving relationship in the heart of Washington, D.C. With clever plots, intense danger, steamy chemistry, and emotional depth, the books explore justice, family, and love amid power's corrupting influence. Over 16 novels, the series delivers consistent thrills, character growth, and satisfying resolutions while balancing darkness with hope and heart. It's a standout for readers who crave strong heroines, protective heroes, and bingeable suspense with real stakes. If you're seeking romantic thrillers where career and love collide in the nation's capital, the Fatal series offers nonstop excitement and a couple worth rooting for.
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