Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Power Couple by Alex Berenson.

When Rebecca and Brian Unsworth go to Portugal for a family vacation, they are looking for a relaxing getaway. They've all lost each other during their busy lives, especially the couple, both working high powered government jobs. But then their nineteen year old daughter Kira gets abducted at a night club, and their vacation becomes a nightmare. Who would want to hurt their daughter? And could it be attached to their jobs?

This reminded me a lot of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but with kids. I liked how it jumped from the current situation and then dove into their back stories, helping you to understand exactly what kind of lives the Unsworths actually lead. Toward the end it felt a bit rushed, and I was hoping for a bit more of an epilogue, but overall a fun read.

Rebecca and Brian Unsworth seem to have it all, a nice house in the suburbs of DC, and two well-behaved, children. Rebecca works in counterterrorism for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Brian serves as a coder for the National Security Agency. However, the Unsworths’ marriage isn’t as perfect as it seems. After two decades together, they’ve drifted apart not connecting with each other. Seeking to revive their strained relationship, they decide for their twentieth wedding anniversary to take their two kids, Kira and Tony, on a European vacation. They are having a great time until one night in Barcelona when Kira doesn’t come home after sneaking out to meet a boy at a dance club. Over the course of a single weekend, the Unsworths will do everything in their power and use whatever resources they have to find her. Kira discovers just how far she’ll go to break free and escape her captors. As Rebecca and Brian come together for Kira, they realize their marriage is much shakier than they realized.

This is a domestic thriller with an espionage twist and was a great fast-paced book. Even though it’s a spy story, it’s also a story about a marriage and what happens when it’s thrust into crisis and long buried secrets come to the surface. He created exciting strong female characters; they were both well developed and neither of them allowed the men in their lives to make them a victim. When it mattered most, Kira was composed, level-headed and clever. Rebecca took charge of the case of her missing daughter and didn’t let anyone push her around. This novel had family, suspense and mystery. It was well written and drew me in from the very beginning and kept me turning the pages quickly so I could find out what happened next. Carve out some time without any interruptions when you start this book because you’ll want to finish it in one sitting.

It started a little slow for me and I actually went back to review the cover pocket to make sure I had the right book. Then .. wham! The storyline took off like a train. There were family problems common to all and intrigue and honest feelings leading up to the European vacation. Several times I found I was completely wrong in the direction it took. There were numerous layers to this story that you peel back to have a clearer understanding of the family dynamics and how sometimes you choose to look the other way rather than bring up real issues , necessitating real solutions. I was completely submerged and enjoyed every minute . #netgalley

Definitely a page turner. I stayed up late to find out how it ends. The backstory for the main characters was good. Possibly a bit long, but it did give more depth to the characters. Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the preview. I am definitely recommending this to friends.

This is the story of a typical DC power couple raising two teenagers. Actually, not: he is a coder for the elite NSA hacking group, she is a top counterterror field agent for the FBI. On their anniversary trip to Europe, their 190year old daughter is kidnapped. Is it due to one of her parents' jobs? Or a random event? The novel unfolds both after the kidnapping, as well as fills in the relationship of the power couple when they first met and got married. You gain a lot of insight into their relationship and some of the troubled years that led up to the European vacation. There is this matter of mutual trust and affection that Berenson is so great at characterizing and getting in deeply while still maintaining interest. I don't want to give a few of his classic plot twists away but safe to say, this book will keep your interest right up to the last page. Highly recommended.

Loved this book!

It had family, and suspense, and mystery. The writing just drew you into the story and kept you turning pages as fast as you could. I needed to know what happened next..

There was a time when i started thinking "oh no, I bet this is what happened", and it turned out to be true,,,,and not true. I was surprised at what happened. Then the story kept going, and the ending blew me away!

I also loved that we got the story from multiple characters, which is my favorite type of book.

What didn't I like? Nothing - there was nothing I didn't like..

I do want to thank the publisher, the author and #netgalley for the advance copy. This did not impact my review. My only regret is that now I dont have this book to look forward to when it comes out.. I just loved it.

This book was AMAZING. It was full of twists and turns, and I can honestly say I didn't see any of it coming. The only thing I would have to say is I would have liked all of the characters to have closure, not just the "power couple."

I also really either loved or hated each character, but every character had an amazing storyline and backstory.

Overall, it's one of the best books I've read this year by far.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book and review it. You can find my reviews at:

https://kileystruecrime.squarespace.com/config/pages
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3642292853

A little slow in the beginning (plus, an angsty teen girl - haven’t we all been there?), but then the book quickly picks up and takes the reader on quite the adventure - I enjoyed that much of the story took place outside of the US - nice to feel and read about someplace else right now when you can’t get there!

This is one of those books that you won't be able to put down until you have finished it. I read through it in one long evening and enjoyed all the twists and turns the story takes to reveal the characters and actions of the power couple. It's more than just a story and I could see a book club tackling this and having some spirited conversation.

Unfortunately this was not the book for me. I gave it 3 stars because the book is written exceptionally well and was interesting just not my cup of tea. I will say that I can see how people will love it and for that I would recommend reading it.

After a dozen thrillers starring indestructible super-agent John Wells, Alex Berenson ventures out on his own and writes his first novel featuring a different characters. I've read the entire John Wells series and have liked them all, and yet I see the wisdom of Berenson branching out. The Power Couple is fairly decent, but it is disappointing in one key way.

As a high concept, The Power Couple is basically Mr. and Mrs. Smith meet Taken -- not all that original, but well executed. Staying in areas he knows well from his days as a reporter for the NY Times, Berenson's family drama goes out of the box by casting an FBI agent as Mom and an NSA analyst as Dad. Trying to find some spark in their flagging marriage, they take the whole family (i.e their teenage children) to Europe to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

But the vacation goes awry when their 19-year-old daughter is kidnapped in Barcelona. That's where we enter Taken territory, but with FBI Mom in the Liam Neesom role. As the story unfolds, the Mr. and Mrs. Smith side of the plot kicks in, as FBI Mom and NSA Dad clash over the best ways to find their daughter.

I found it quite clever to make the Mom FBI -- it renders it completely plausible for the pursuit of the kidnappers to take on a fast pace. But the story line stumbles because of the Dad's history with the NSA. Not only does it strain my ability to suspend my disbelief to the breaking point, but it is not even necessary (no spoilers). Berenson would have better served us by keeping things on a personal marital level, where it was working well, rather than take it over the top.

That is not, however, a showstopper -- it merely takes what was an engrossing five star read down to 3 1/2 to four stars. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this in a day and it was very good at keeping my attention. I wasn't expecting it to be so much an espionage tale but it wove well around the troubled marriage of the Unsworths. I most liked how Kira was portrayed and her relationship with her mother reminded me a bit of Elizabeth and Paige of The Americans. I don't want to spoil (and my mind is a bit on other things this week) but there was something of a lull but the momentum did reengage carrying the story to a decent end.

This is my first read by Berenson and I'd read another.

Recommended.

This was a fascinating and thrilling book! It’s fast pace and many twists kept me reading as fast as I could. Be prepared for some unexpected surprises!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Bottom line: It’s just an okay book and not one I’d highly recommend you rush out to read.

Without going into detail about the plot, the focus of The Power Couple is on Rebecca and Brian Unsworth - she’s works in a senior position In counterterrorism for the FBI, he works in software at the NSA — whose marriage has been less than ideal for years due to their differing career and personal trajectories. To try to bring them closer together, they decide to take a family vacation in Barcelona with their 19-year-old daughter, Kira, and teenage son. Shortly after arriving, Kira is kidnapped. I was hoping that the parents’ efforts to find Kira, and Kira’s efforts to escape from her kidnappers, would jump start the excitement level of the book; which up that point, pertained to each parent’s perspective on why their marriage is falling apart. While this portion of the book was interesting, I did not find it to particularly exciting or suspenseful. From there, the plot jumps ahead a few years and returns to focus on Rebecca and John’s continually deteriorating marriage and their suspicions of each other; which eventually devolves into each others’ secret plans to “end” the marriage. Sound a bit like Gone Girl? That’s because The Power Couple and Gone Girl have a good amount in common.

The suspense of the book picked up somewhat during the last 50 or so pages, but I found the ending to be pretty predictable and too little, too late. So, as I said earlier, The Power Couple is an okay read — but not much else.

#The Power Couple #Net Galley.

The Power Couple is very different than what I expected. I was pleasantly surprised. Brian and Rebecca have a complicated marriage. I suppose you can say most marriages are however, what makes theirs more complicated is the fact that Rebecca is a strong woman who works for the FBI. Both of them have important, high stress jobs. Their marriage had a rocky road along the way but once they take their two kids, Kira and Tony, on vacation to Barcelona, they must come together to deal with a horrendous event; Kira is kidnapped.

Kira is smart and strong but scared. Rebecca has taught Kira many things about being safe and how to think through certain situations. I would imagine parents that are peace officers would do the same. This is a good thing for Kira. The story gives a lot of backstory into Brian and Rebecca's lives and at times I think that much was not necessary but it didn't take away from the meat and potatoes of the story.

Great story, well written, satisfying ending and I am looking forward to the next Alex Berenson book. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this book. It is always such a privilege to share my reviews.

I really enjoyed this kidnapping thriller. The story centers around the Unsworth's: Rebecca and Brian and their two teenaged kids Kira and Tony. Rebecca is an FBI agent and Brian works for the NSA. They have drifted apart as their marriage has progressed and are trying to recapture the magic they once had. They are on a trip to Europe together for the twentieth wedding anniversary when Kira suddenly disappears in Barcelona after sneaking out to meet a young man she had encountered a day earlier in their trip. What follows is a thrilling chase to locate Kira and figure out who has taken her and why. The book is written from three points of view, Kira's and both of her parents, past and present. As the story moves forward more is revealed as to what happened earlier in their marriage and how it has caused their current situation. The ending is totally unexpected and really makes the book. Interesting story and great characters make this a great domestic thriller!!! Thanks to NG for the ARC!!!!

Oh wow this went hard as hell! I'm a big fan of everything this puppy offered and it all just gelled together so nicely. It has FX's The Americans energy which we love to see.

The perfect fusion of domestic suspense and spy novels - I was totally hooked by this novel! Prepare to read this book in one sitting!

In Barcelona, tourists would expect to eat tapas, drink sangria, and wait in a long line to see the Sagrada Familia. Unfortunately for Rebecca and Brian, their family trip gets a lot more complicated when daughter Kira doesn't come home from a night off. Rebecca, a successful FBI agent, is sure that Kira has been kidnapped. But why was she taken, and how can they get her back? Rebecca and Brian may seem like dutiful and loving parents, but their secrets are catching up with them...

Berenson takes on a lot here, handling both the present-day kidnapping and longer flashbacks showing the reader how Rebecca and Brian built their family and career lives. We see them struggle with money and co-parenting as Rebecca devotes more and more of herself to the job. When Brian joins an elite hacker squad at the NSA, things only get harder, not easier. This domestic drama grounded this novel in reality (something lots of thrillers lack) and helped balance the craziness of the kidnapping plot. Berenson also plots in a few well-placed twists, including a satisfying ending that I didn't see coming.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a great hook. I was immediately sucked in. The kidnapping plot was compelling. The marriage plot was well-written, both from the male and female POV. I was all in, until I got deeper into Brian’s backstory and unraveling. The book would have been stronger and more believable had Brian been more nuanced and conflicted.

The book fell apart in the end. The book had been complex and smart and suddenly, it felt like a Lifetime movie of the week. What had been a 4.5-5 star, tell all your friends about it book for me, fell to an instant 3 in a matter of 50 pages and I was so sad about it.