Feathered Quill Reviews "When Power Fails"

Reviewed by: Trix Lee-Rainwater for Feathered Quill
Review Date: August 12, 2024

When unrelenting enemies are determined to bring your empire down, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Let’s find out more in When Power Fails, the 8th book of the Multima Saga by Gary McGugan.

The story opens with Suzanne Simpson, the CEO of the multinational conglomerate Multima, having just negotiated a transformative acquisition of Jeffersons Stores, a major supermarket chain in the American Southwest. With the ink barely dry on the contract, Suzanne and her top team must confront a daunting array of challenges, from integrating the new business to securing the financing required to close the deal on an impossibly short timeframe.

Complicating matters further is the looming threat of a devastating cyberattack orchestrated by Fidelia Morales, the head of a ruthless criminal organization known as "The Organization." As Suzanne and her chief of security, Serge Boisvert, work tirelessly to fortify Multima's computer systems against the impending cyberattack, a new complication arises - the discovery of a troubling connection between one of their most trusted executives, Gordon Goodfellow, and Amber Chan, a rising executive brought in to lead the Jeffersons Stores integration. Unknown to Multima’s management team, Amber is secretly colluding with the Japanese Yakuza crime syndicate, plotting to sabotage Multima. Torn between loyalty to his employer and his growing affection for Amber, Gordon finds himself descending down a treacherous path of moral compromise, his judgment clouded by passion and the lure of personal gain.

As the deadline to complete the Jeffersons Stores integration approaches, Multima faces a series of attacks - a bombing at one of its stores in Houston, an attempted drone strike on Suzanne's home, and relentless hacking attempts on their systems. It becomes clear that Suzanne and her team are facing a convergence of nefarious forces, each with their own agenda - the Yakuza, a Russian crime syndicate, and a sinister American figure known only as "the Shadow."

When Power Fails by McGugan is the 8th installment of the Multima Saga, a thrilling series that delves into the high-stakes world of the fictional global conglomerate, Multima Corporation. In this latest book, readers are plunged into a battle for power and control. Set against the backdrop of a global conglomerate, this novel delivers suspense, intrigue, and thought-provoking examinations of power and greed, the limits of loyalty, and the price of ambition. McGugan's narrative balances the high-stakes corporate drama with the deeply personal struggles of its characters, particularly Suzanne's journey as she navigates the sacrifices and compromises required to wield power in the modern business world. Her relationship with Multima's chief of security, Serge Boisvert, adds an emotional depth to the narrative as the couple navigates the challenges of their personal and professional lives.

While the intricate web of plot threads and character perspectives can at times feel overwhelming, McGugan's storytelling remains compelling, transporting readers into the treacherous world of corporate espionage, international organized crime, and the devastating consequences of technological vulnerabilities.

Quill says: A thrilling addition to the Multima Saga, When Power Fails is a corporate espionage thriller that serves as an examination of power, greed, loyalty, and the price of ambition in the highest echelons of the business world.