Below is the complete list of Marie Force’s First Family books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of First Family Books
About First Family
Samantha Holland Cappuano has spent her career investigating murders on the streets of Washington, D.C., while her husband, Nick Cappuano, has risen through the American political establishment. Their lives change dramatically when the sudden death of President Nelson unexpectedly makes Nick president of the United States. Marie Force’s First Family series follows the couple as they adjust to life in the White House, combining romantic suspense, police investigations, political intrigue, and the continuing challenges of marriage and parenthood.
The series directly continues Force’s sixteen-book Fatal series, which established Sam as a determined homicide detective with the Metropolitan Police Department and Nick as a prominent political figure. Their relationship develops through murder investigations, professional setbacks, marriage, and the expansion of their family.
First Family introduces a significant change in circumstances without abandoning the characters and relationships that defined the earlier novels. Sam remains committed to her work as a homicide lieutenant, even though her new position as first lady creates unprecedented security concerns and intense public scrutiny.
The opening novel, State of Affairs (2021), begins immediately after the events of Fatal Fraud. Nick receives a telephone call informing him that President Nelson has died at the White House on Thanksgiving, requiring him to assume the presidency.
The transition is particularly unsettling because Nick has recently announced that he does not intend to seek the presidency himself. Suddenly, he must accept responsibilities he had hoped to avoid while confronting the personal consequences for his wife and children.
Sam refuses to surrender her professional identity simply because her husband has become president. Her determination to continue investigating murders introduces considerable friction between her responsibilities as a police officer and the security arrangements required to protect the first family.
In State of Grace (2021), the couple faces the continuing pressures of their new positions as political responsibilities and personal challenges become increasingly difficult to separate. Their relationship remains central, particularly as both struggle to preserve the independence and intimacy they enjoyed before entering the White House.
State of the Union (2022) and State of Shock (2022) further develop the consequences of Nick’s presidency. Political crises, criminal investigations, and threats against people close to the family test the couple’s ability to maintain stability amid extraordinary circumstances.
Later novels, including State of Denial (2023), State of Bliss (2023), and State of Suspense (2024), continue balancing presidential responsibilities with Sam’s investigative work. The increasing demands of public life create new challenges for their marriage, while familiar friends and colleagues remain important sources of support.
In State of Alert (2024), State of Retribution (2025), and State of Preservation (2025), the continuing storyline examines the vulnerabilities associated with national leadership and the dangers confronting a family whose private lives have become inseparable from public affairs.
State of Unrest (2026) carries the family’s story forward, while State of Mind is scheduled for December 2026. The series remains ongoing, allowing Force to explore the long-term consequences of Nick’s presidency and Sam’s unusual position within the country’s political and law-enforcement institutions.
One of the series’ distinctive features is its portrayal of a first lady who refuses to abandon an established professional career. Sam’s experiences create conflicts between personal independence, public expectations, and the practical difficulties of conducting homicide investigations while surrounded by presidential security.
Nick faces a different challenge. Although he possesses considerable political experience, the presidency forces him to make decisions with consequences extending far beyond his own ambitions. His responsibilities also affect his relationships with Sam, their children, and the extended circle of friends who have supported them throughout their lives.
The recurring cast provides substantial continuity with the Fatal books. Sam’s colleagues in the homicide division remain important to the investigations, while family members and longtime friends help preserve a sense of normality amid the extraordinary circumstances of White House life.
The novels also connect with Force’s Wild Widows series, which follows characters associated with the same fictional world. These overlapping relationships allow supporting characters to develop beyond their appearances in Sam and Nick’s central storyline.
Although each instalment introduces new conflicts, the continuing personal and political developments make First Family a closely connected narrative. Its emphasis is not simply on solving crimes or navigating political crises, but on preserving a marriage and family under pressures that few couples could anticipate.
Through Sam and Nick, Force explores the tension between private happiness and public duty. Their enduring partnership provides the emotional foundation of a series in which national responsibilities, dangerous investigations, and family relationships continually collide.