Fatal Deception

The prescient third romantic suspense novel in Hunt’s action-packed Steele Ops series (after Lethal Redemption) focuses on a deadly virus with the potential to circle the globe. Dr. Isabel Santiago, one of the world’s leading experts on infectious diseases, hires the Steele Ops security team to investigate after a sample of a dangerous virus disappears from her lab. When the terrorists who stole the virus begin to test ways of transmitting it, Isabel and the Steele Ops team, including Isabel’s strong, tortured love interest, Roman Steele, are forced into the field to prevent a pandemic. Though Isabel advocates social distancing, she and Roman still find moments to get super close and even meet each other’s families. The plot is gripping, but Hunt relies on some frustrating contrivances to create suspense, as when smart, savvy Isabel breaks character to wander off alone and naively follow a stranger after Roman advises her to make sure a member of his team is always with her. Coronavirus will color the reception of this novel and may turn off readers looking for escape, but Hunt’s talent is clear and readers will be pleased to note that there are plenty more Steele brothers and associates to match up in future installments. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (Nov.)