Head Shot takes place in Washington, D.C. and follows detective Marko Zorn as he struggles to balance his moral code with breaking the rules. The story kicks off as Zorn, with his junior partner, Lucy, investigates the murder of a former flame.

But just when things seem complicated enough, he is assigned an off-the-books mission: safeguarding Nina Voychek, the prime minister of Montenegro, during her official visit. Political enemies are planning her assassination, and he soon learns that he is also a target. After a few attempts on his life, he enlists some shady resources to hunt down whoever is after him and prevent an international tragedy on American soil.

The multi-layered plot is full of action and the protagonist, the smart-ass detective, is flawed and likeable. The author clearly has a great deal of knowledge about police work and international intrigue. For example, his description of taking out an opponent in a gunfight is very believable. There's a reason he is so knowledgeable: Otho Eskin served in the U.S. Army and in the United States Foreign Service in Washington and in Syria, Yugoslavia, Iceland, and Berlin (then the capital of the German Democratic Republic) as a lawyer and diplomat.

The formatting of my review copy was so messed up that it was difficult to differentiate between dialogue and paragraphs, but for the most part, the writing was solid. While each installment in the Marko Zorn series can stand its own ground, reading The Reflecting Pool (the series opener) first would have provided additional context.

I enjoy reading books published by indie presses, instead of always the big five and their imprints. I enjoyed this thriller and will read his other books. If you enjoy Daniel Silva and David Baldacci, give this author a shot.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the very beginning, I felt lost- like there was a bit of the story I was missing. In addition to that, it seemed at times, as if I was reading a Google Translation from an original language to English. It felt stilted and chunky to read, there was no easy flow for me. After getting almost half way through the book, I decided to DNF it due to the above struggles.

“Head Shot” by Otho Eskin, is a book that reminds me a lot of the Bosch series by Michael Connelly or the Archer series by David Baldacci. If you like books such as those, this will be a must-read. Although these are all attractive cop/detective types in these stories, "Head Shot" is a bit different. The main character, Marko Zorns, does not carry a weapon all the time! Yeah, my brain had to take a moment to consider that one. I enjoyed the way Zorns interacted with his partner. He was good support when it came to her being unsure of herself. I'm already ready for the next!

This book honestly wasn’t for me. I loved the premise of it and the ending brought everything together in a good way, but I was constantly lost throughout the book. There were so many new characters, it was hard to keep track of who was who. I felt like it could have been organized better to make for easier reading. It was a decent action thriller, but not necessarily for me. I actually think it would make a good movie though!

Once I started reading this book, it was hard to put down! Marko Dorn leads the reader on a journey of discovery, intrigue and politics.
I loved the pace and ‘edge of my seat’ anticipation, I will definitely look up the first book by this author!

Thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and Otho Eskin for the opportunity to read this fast paced book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed Head Shot. Multi plots all tying nicely at the end. Looking forward to Otho Eakins’ next Marco Zoron next book.

A shifty assassin and a snarky, offbeat police detective, Marko Zorn try to outmanueuver each other in a wild international murder plot.

This is the second installment featuring detective Zorn. The first, The Reflecting Pool, was released in 2020 and I've already purchased it for my kindle. The synopsis does mention these can be read in any order and it was fine.

I found this one to be fast-paced and action packed. There is also another murder that takes place that Zorn gets sidetracked with as well as a shooter out to get him. I enjoyed Zorn's brash, bold personality and trying to figure out how he would escape the situations he got tangled up in.

There are quite a few characters and twists going on, but it was still an enjoyable mystery that kept me invested and pulling for the good guys!

Marko Zorn is not a popular Washington Metropolitan police detective. His superiors put him on details that keep him out of the office and away from his fellow officers.

Nina Voychek is involved in a stage presentation whose main actress is killed during a performance. Zorn is chosen as a bodyguard during Nina’s time in America.

Otho Eskin has written an authentic hero in Marko Zorn. He is not the usual tall and dark James Bond type but rather overweight and short. His reputation among law enforcement has been tarnished by service in Chicago. His investigations are at times bumbling--bringing to mind Columbo. However, his successful record speaks for itself.

The climax is intriguing and very innovative. There was continual pressure placed upon Ms. Voychek by her country's ambassador and entourage. I suggest anyone who desires a good escapist tale buy the book. 5 stars - CE Williams

Marko Zorn is a cop and a shady character as well.
He is hired by multiple clients to protect the head of Montenegro from assassination while on American soil.
He almost gets shot outside of his home. His ex-girlfriend gets killed in what appears at first to be a suicide.
This is a fast paced novel with multiple lines of story and action. By the end , it all ties together quite nicely.
An enjoyable read.

Another fantastic addition to the Marko Zorn series!

I cannot stop singing praises about this story. Be it the suspense or the 'thrill that keeps one hooked on to the story until the end' or the character portrayal, Head Shot is no doubt one of the best thrillers of this year!

Highly recommended!

When I read The Reflecting Pool last year, I thought main character Marko Zorn would be a great character to build a series around. He is one of the most complex characters I've read. With his connections, on both sides of the law; doesn't want anyone knowing too much about his movements, doesn't care to carry a fun - well he's either a terrorist or a spy. I'm leaning more towards spy since his actions do seem to indicate he wants to do the right thing - see justice served.

Head Shot is the second book in the Detective Marko Zorn series but you don't really need to read book one to enjoy this one. There are a few threads from the first book, but you get enough details so that you are up to speed. (I don't actually remember all the details of the first book and didn't have any trouble fitting the pieces together). Zorn is still an engima. We don't get a lot of info about his background in the first book and there isn't much more revealed in Head Shot. We see a few more of his contacts and get a glimpse of his past as a New York police officer because he has a connection to the first murder victim.

It took a little while for me to get into the story, even though it starts with a bang - literally as Zorn is being shot at. But it picked up for me when the different threads started to intertwine. In addition to the attempt on his life, a past lover is shot in a theater full of people. She's an actress and her character was supposed to be shot off stage so was it a prop malfunction, suicide, or murder? Then there is Zorn's other assignment protecting the Montenegro Prime Minister while she is making a state visit after becoming Prime Minister when the former dictator was killed by an angry mob in Chicago.

The plot is interesting but the draw for me is figuring out who Zorn really is. I was hoping for a few more clues in this book and since there weren't many (any?) secrets revealed my interest waned a bit.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/12/two-thrillers-for-long-winters-night.html

Another wild ride through the streets of Washington D.C. Head Shot by Otho Eskin is the second but hopefully not the last book about Marko Zorn. I am glad i found this author. He writes fast paced suspense filled and action packed stories about the life of a homicide detective with some strange dealings on the side. This series is the most pleasant surprise of the year. If you never heard of this author or tried his work you really should. They are great and filled with witty dialogue. They are almost impossible to not read in one sitting. I must thank @oceanviewpub @netgalley for giving me this advance copy and @othoeskin for writing these great books. Highly recommended.

Head Shot is a book that begs to be read in one sitting. It is fast paced, full of action and drama and plenty of twists to keep you guessing until the very end. This is the second book to feature Detective Marko Zorn but can easily be read as a stand alone as I did. In saying that, I will definitely go back and read the first book, The Reflecting Pool.

Marko Zorn is a DC detective who works on the side for some questionable people. He doesn't always play by the rules and likes things done his way. He has nothing to lose and puts his all into his work. Head Shot has alot going on with a dead actress with whom Marko has a history with, and a visiting political leader with a target on her head. Marko is involved in both cases, and soon finds that his life is in danger as well. There were a few times that I had to suspend belief, but I love a good police drama and I flew through this one.

Thanks to Oceanview Publishing, Netgalley and Meryl Moss for my advanced copy of this book to read. Released December 14th, I highly recommend.

A gruff cop who plays by his own rules is a common crime novel protagonist. He’s not pleasant to deal with, but he will do anything necessary to solve his case, thwart a killer, prevent a disaster, etc. When a novel is centered around a common character type, it needs to be well-written and interesting enough to stand out as a crime novel worth reading. Head Shot is a crime novel worth reading.

It didn’t take me long to realize that this wasn’t the first book Eskin has written about Detective Marko Zorn, but Head Shot works as a stand-alone novel. There is just enough information about Zorn to give a new reader a clear picture of Zorn, but not so much that those who read his first book would drift off. Eskin hints at the previous story without revealing so much that a new reader would not be interested in reading that book. The only spoiler is that Zorn obviously survived whatever happened in the first book, since there’s another book in the series.

Did I want to stop ready when I realized it was book 2? No. Did I grab a copy of the first book so I could read it later? Yes. That’s the biggest compliment I can give to a book series. I didn’t even need to finish the book before I knew I wanted to read another Detective Zorn novel.

Head Shot is a messy book, which is another compliment. Someone is trying to kill Zorn. His former lover is killed, and he’s working on her case. He’s pulled from the case because he has been selected to be part of the team protecting the new Prime Minister of Montenegro while she visits Washington, DC. Add in secret Caribbean bank accounts, Hedda Gabler, a potential coup, and the five NY mob families, and there’s utter chaos.

Somehow, Eskin is able to take this giant tangle and tie it up in an intriguing bow. The characters, warts and all, are intriguing. The story is always moving forward with a clear objective that compelled me to follow it through to its end. There were tiny plot points that didn’t work for me, but they were minor ones that did not affect the overall flow of this gripping novel.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to read book 1, The Reflecting Pool.


Thank you Meryl Moss Media Group and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

There is a germination of an idea here, but early on the story goes off the tracks.

Author Otho Eskin presents his second book featuring Marko Zorn, displaying him as a hard-charging slightly jaded detective who takes no prisoners and is willing to stand up to anybody. This characterization extends to Marko’s speech as well as the descriptive paragraphs as Marko is also the narrator. Unfortunately, while the clipped speech (a la Dragnet’s Joe Friday) works for the main character, the melodramatic speech from the other characters creates one-dimensional foils for Zorn, and the book doesn’t live up to its promise.

For readers who enjoy over-the-top fare, you will probably love this book. Zorn has his fingers in many different worlds, from his beat in Chicago to international spy escapades all around the world. The book does not worry much about the police procedural aspects and instead focuses on the action, a positive aspect that keeps the pulse of the story beating at a quickened rate. Mr. Eskin also injects multiple storylines (though not too many that the reader becomes confused).

Unfortunately, the lack of police procedural aspects pulls the book in a direction that frequently borders on the unbelievable. The ending and big reveal came out of left field, forecasted early in the story and thus anticlimactic. I am also wary of authors who insist on writing about guns without performing a minimum of investigation of terms. Incorrect use of terms, describing guns as if the author’s words were lifted straight from a manufacturer’s catalog, and complete disregard for the human element when in a life-and-death situation all were huge red flags. Worse, the main plot of a street cop being recruited by the State Department to help prevent an assassination of the leader of another country would never happen. Research of the subjects in this book would upgrade the star level. As written, the lack of realism weakens the book.

Bottom line, if you are seeking a book that has quick pacing but disregards the reality of the worlds of police work and international espionage, this book is for you. For other readers, I am not able to recommend this book. Two-and-a-half stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Meryl Moss Media for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

From Bullets to Explosions, Zorn Masters the Mayhem

This is my second Mark Zorn novel, and I really like the character. Although he's a lawman who doesn't always follow the law, it seems that he has a healthy inner compass.

I don't know who he really is, but he appears to have more skills, contacts, and clout than his role as a detective would suggest.

This story is as well written as the last. The author allows the plot to unfold through action and the suspense builds quickly. It should appeal to any police/political suspense thriller fan.

I'm grateful for the free advance review copy of Head Shot, courtesy of Otho Eskin, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley, though I'm not writing my review under any obligation to them. I'm happy to recommend it!

Head Shot is a novel that gets your adrenaline running and you wanting more. The book opens with a bang - literally with someone shooting at a D.C police detective Marko Zorn. It’s non stop action with several murders throughout the book. Hitman, mofia, famous actresses and spies.

This book definitely was a crazy ride of a book in a good way. Always on edge, wondering what would happen next.

I will be reading more of this author in the future!

This was a great read. Even though it is the second book in the series and I have not read the first I did not feel left behind. The "hero" Zorn is not perfect, but who is. There is action from the beginning and Zorn is a great character. He is not your classic "cop novel" cop, and that is perfect. Throughout the book Zorn appears to be a tough guy without having to go through all the tough guy tropes. He does his best to help and better those around him. He is a perfect anti-hero

I’m 1/3 of the way through “Head Shot” and have to call it quits. For me, the story lacks authenticity and is simply not believable.

It starts out well enough. The first-person narrator tells us he’s been shot at and almost killed by someone with a high-powered rifle. Immediately, we want to know: who’s the narrator and why is someone trying to kill him?

Turns out he’s Milo Zorn, a homicide detective with the Washington, D.C. Metro Police who also moonlights for big money for a mysterious individual who wants him to protect the President of Montenegro about to arrive in Washington for a state visit. Simultaneously, a big-time actress and Zorn’s lover from many, many years ago, is murdered while performing "Hedda Gabbler" in something of a “locked room” mystery. And then there’s the Chicago police who would like to know if Zorn knows anything about the recent assassination of Montenegro’s former pro-Russian president, especially since Zorn was in town at the time, Clearly, there’s a lot going on.

But I didn't believe any of it. For example, there’s no believable reason stated as to why or how Zorn, a city homicide detective, can contribute to the protection of a visiting head of state. Certainly not in Washington where the U.S. Secret Service and/or the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service are charged with protecting foreign dignitaries. There’s nary a mention of either service. For further example, when called to the scene of the murder of his former lover, Zorn does not reveal their past relationship. I suspect any decent homicide detective would understand that such a failure if discovered, would only serve to strengthen any suspicion that might lie against him.

As a reader, I might have been willing to overlook some of these flaws if the characters had been the slightest bit interesting. But they just aren’t. They’re thinly drawn caricatures. An actor who dramatically throws the end of his scarf over his shoulder as he walks off in a huff. The nefarious, obese powerbroker who is eating himself to death while pulling strings to accomplish who-knows-what. Zorn himself is not very likable. He comes off as something of an arrogant wiseacre. The problem is that none of his wisecracks are funny. They’re simply awkward and off-putting. But the biggest problem of all? I can’t tell what any of these characters want or why they want it.

On the positive side, the author knows how to put words on a page. In other words, the writing is fairly clear. And there’s a lot going on. The plotting is ambitious. But I don’t believe the author knows or has researched Washington, D.C., the theater, police work, protective services, diplomacy, or world affairs well enough to make this story believable.

Lots of threads introduced into this story challenge and author’s ability to weave a good story, but weave it he does. The hunter/hunted/Investigator/protagonist constantly changes hats as he navigates through a quick-paced story.