Unrelenting Peril - Book 3

Who is in the crosshairs of a crime syndicate called The Organization?

Howard Knight, its financial mastermind now in hiding?

Perhaps Multima Corporation’s superstar Suzanne Simpson, who finds herself in precarious and uncharted territory?

Is it Douglas Whitfield, an overconfident former company executive seeking to redeem himself?

 Or is it his promiscuous sometime lover, Janet Weissel?

 In Unrelenting Peril, the leadership team of Multima Corporation desperately defends against clandestine attempts by The Organization to seize control of the company. Unexpected twists and turns rapidly emerge across four continents as a ruthless and determined plotter relentlessly strives to steal a successful, multinational company worth billions. The conflict creates a tale of immeasurable corporate intrigue.

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Unrelenting Peril 
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford - April 8, 2020 

Gary D. McGugan pens the consummate ending to his Multima Trilogy, in the series’ third and final book, Unrelenting Peril. 

Surviving the latest trajectory of danger at the end of Book II, Suzanne Simpson settles into her role as CEO of the grocery chain under the Multima empire umbrella. While she lives to breathe another day beyond the grasp of mobbed up ‘godfather’ of The Organization, Giancarlo Mareno, suffice it to say he is none too pleased that he has been out-smarted once again by this beautiful and extremely talented Multima nemesis.

Fortunate for Suzanne, the greatest gift she receives is to learn John George Mortimer’s health is improving remarkably. After all, he’s much more that a boss to her. 

Meanwhile, just when we thought Howard Knight was long gone and out of the picture once and for all, it would seem he’s resurfaced. However, he’s not quite sporting an Armani suit and rolling up to VCI headquarters. Rather, he and his paramour are currently tucked away in the bowels of Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. Wait! What? How did he end up there and what about his betrayal to Mareno?

In due time all questions will be answered. Howard’s future is reliant on some very difficult decisions he needs to make and little to no time left to make them. We also left James Fitzgerald with a speedier than planned retirement on his plate. However, after the tragedy that struck the Fitzgerald household prior to his retirement, thoughts of happily ever after with Dianne in their perfect little hideaway was never going to happen. It seems Dianne’s plans for joining James in his retirement didn’t include James. Suffice it to say, eyebrows will raise over the course Diane takes sans James. 

I commend Gary McGugan for bringing old and new characters home to roost in the final book of the Multima Trilogy series, Unrelenting Peril. As was the case with both Books I and II, the end of this series was just as compelling and intriguing as the beginning.

These books have such high-velocity energy and action and the surprises sprinkled throughout the read are phenomenal. The characters continue to assume greater depth in their respective personas and the introduction and roles of new players in this last installment are just as viable and credible.

Reading this series was like sitting on the edge of something monumental about to happen and the only way to experience the moment was to turn the next page. However, just like the ocean, waves of Unrelenting Peril will roll and grow in sets until the seventh wave crashes; only to be followed by the next series of even more volatile waves to come. Brilliant Mr. McGugan! You have nailed the art of spinning the penultimate tale of corruption, greed and success among the many pages of this fantastic trilogy! I cannot wait to see what’s next. 

Quill says: Unrelenting Peril is beyond ‘unrelenting’ and a brilliant end to the Multima Trilogy series. 

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Unrelenting Peril 
Reviewed By Norm Goldman - July 26, 2019

When I picked up a copy of Gary D. McGugan's third novel in his Multima series, Unrelenting Peril, I didn't give much thought to its title. It was only after I had reached the last chapter that I well understood that McGugan could not have picked a more appropriate title, it was right on.

With his Multima series, it is quite apparent that McGugan has a clear understanding of the world of multinational corporations. His many years of business experiences and his travels on behalf of units of world-corporations provided him with a front row seat into the fundamentals of its landscape. It also has given him a clear perception of the environment, especially when it concerns company reorganizations, joint-ventures, mergers and acquisitions. 

We are in  for quite a thrilling ride with his latest novel where the principal theme focuses on reshaping the corporate strategy of a fictional company, Multima via the joint venture route. In the usual course of events these deals can entail huge risks, where you have to consider the strategic fit between the acquirer and its target. There is also the matter of blending the organizational fit between the two companies which affect their respective corporate cultures. But when you add in a criminal entity trying to infiltrate the transaction by a mixture of strategic decisions and trial-and-error-attempts coupled with employing a bank it has control over, then you really have an alarming problem! 

Make no mistake about it, not only is the plot of Unrelenting Peril very “real,” if you can recall past real experiences with rogue banks, but also McGugan's intriguing cast of characters are not crafted like cardboard cut-outs. They are alive and breathing who have human failings and aspirations. 

Moreover, they move at quite a flying pace, particularly Suzanne Simpson, who has recently become the CEO of Multima Corporation. She had previously been an executive with a Canadian supermarket chain, which had been bought by Multima. Initially, she was the president at Multima Supermarkets. She now has her eyes on making Multima Corporation the largest and most diversified supermarket chain in the world after Walmart. 

And here once again McGugan makes good use of his understanding as to how top executives function, how things get done (or don't) and he makes his readers care about what happens to Simpson and her plans.

Apart from the major plot of the novel, McGugan cleverly interweaves a somewhat fascinating sub-plot, the clandestine operations of the FBI as they penetrate a criminal entity known as The Organization. The FBI employs every means at their disposal including the use of a mole, as well as convincing key personnel of the criminal entity to turn states evidence. Although, you may not agree with some of the tactics of the FBI, but when you consider the alternatives and the ruthlessness of these criminal entities, perhaps the means does justify the ends. It makes you wonder how wide spread is the infiltration where we witness these criminal entities or persons representing them invest financial and/or human resources to participate in the decision-making process of these legitimate businesses? In addition, we have to question what are the risk factors that facilitate or promote infiltration?

As is the case with McGugan's two previous novels, Three Weeks Less A Day and The Multima Scheme, the plot of Unrelenting Peril is tight and complex. McGugan has a a gift for well-paced, well-blocked flurries of nail biting action that all lead up to a surprising finale. 

The dialogue carried on among the various characters is believable, and the principal character, Suzanne is a memorable woman who is not easily forgotten once you put the novel to rest. Are we in for another sequel in the Multima series?

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Unrelenting Peril 
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (8/19)

“Unrelenting Peril” is the final book in the Multima corporate intrigue series by Gary D. McGugan. It’s a ruthless battle for corporate dominance, and with billions at stake it’s a show-stopping dramatic conclusion to a brilliant trilogy.

The executives at Multima Corporation encounter their biggest challenges yet in “Unrelenting Peril,” and the new CEO at the helm, Suzanne Simpson, has her work cut out for her. Suzanne and her leadership team continue to do battle against The Organization, a crime syndicate dedicated to taking over Multima Corporation, no matter the cost. Contending with forces persistent and merciless, Suzanne must bring her “A-Game” to her every waking moment. While planningMultima Corporation’s successional climb to the top of the business world through a joint venture,Suzanne Simpson must outwit and outmaneuver her adversary to block a hostile takeover attempt.

First, the characters – and I can’t emphasize this enough: ALL of the characters in “Unrelenting Peril” are well-developed, multidimensional and intriguing – from the CEO and chairman of the board, to the crime boss, to the administrative staff and housekeeper. Readers easily develop crystalclear mental images of any given character’s physical description, behaviors, attitudes, and innerthoughts, along with a sense of how they will react to any given situation.

THEN McGugan spices things up a bit and has a character do something, well – out of character, as he remolds that character into an exciting new personality, i.e., the good guy becomes a bad guy, or vice versa.

Also, as a woman who enjoys the particular drama and intrigue provided in the environment of the corporate atmosphere, I was pleasantly satisfied to find a number of females in key executive positions at Multima Corporation. Kudo’s to McGugan for adding diversity to his stories andsuccessfully rising to the challenge of creating effective authentic characters of the opposite sex –not an easy thing to achieve. Whether it is in the context of sleeping with someone to obtain information, successfully chairing a board meeting or firing a long-time seasoned executive in order to protect the corporation’s image and reputation - the Multima women are fierce!

As to the story itself – “Unrelenting Peril” is another amazing ride. With a number of conflicts involving different characters and businesses, including the FBI, The Organization, and several international corporations, McGugan does a magnificent job of not only sustaining a high level of realistic drama but also escalating conflict and tension, building at a pace that guarantees the reader will not be able to put his books down once they start reading. He takes reasonable circumstances and adds a bit of the extraordinary to create layers of excitement that enhance the overall entertainment value.

One thing is clear - Gary D. McGugan knows how to write top caliber stories. Some authors write predominately character-driven books, while others drive their stories through enticing plotlines. McGugan does both, and with equal excellence – no small feat, especially in keeping a series exciting and suspenseful with escalating intensity.

I highly recommend “Unrelenting Peril,” along with the entire Multima series. In fact, I suggest readers consume all of the stories sequentially in the order they were written: “Three Weeks Less a Day,” then “The Multima Scheme,” and finish with “Unrelenting Peril.” While it’s definitely not necessary, as each of the stories stand quite capably on their own – do yourself a favor and get the set. I can honestly say this is the best trilogy I have read in quite some time and I am really going to miss the characters of this series – kind of like saying goodbye to old friends.