Fatal Judgment Review

Y’all know I really enjoyed Irene Hannon’s Heroes of Quantico series. So when I received Fatal Judgment from her publisher, it jumped to the top of my reading pile. And I inhaled the book like I expected. Unlike the Quantico series, this book focused on a Marshal — with a cameo by some of the FBI agents from her prior series.

When I worked at a federal courthouse clerking for a judge, I interacted with U.S. Marshals on a daily business. When 9/11 happened a week after I started clerking, their job ramped up in intensity while new protocols were developed. As I read this novel which focuses on marshals trying to protect a federal judge from an assassin, it held the ring of truth and of an author who did tons of research to get the details right. I so appreciate that.

This book has the perfect blend of suspense and romance. A federal judge walks home to find her sister shot on the couch. While she’s waiting to see if her sister will survive, she comes under the protection of a marshal with whom she has history. The two have to work together as the marshals and FBI work to find the killer. They keep hitting deadends and the tension ramps up on both fronts.

I don’t want to give the story away, but if you love romance laced suspense, then this book is for you!

Product Description

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he’d rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward Liz haven’t warmed in the five years since she lost her husband–and Jake’s best friend–to possible suicide. How can Jake be expected to care for the coldhearted workaholic who drove his friend to despair?

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, his feelings slowly start to change. When it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life–and his heart–are in mortal danger.