A strong and promising debut introduces Special Agent Alex Martel- FBI special agent, former sniper, and Army combat medic-- as as a routine raid and an unexpected email set her on the path of a deeply complex plot involving a stolen nuclear weapon, a murdered intelligence officer, and a conspiracy spanning continents. The technical details were good, and I was quite impressed reading them; there was a plot twist I did not see coming that added an entirely new angle to the game; and Alex herself was a strong and compelling character.

That said, it does feel like a debut novel. The prose sometimes felt unpolished, side characters weren't as deeply developed as I would have preferred, and the end of the novel was somewhat underwhelming. Despite being an investigator and having an espionage-mystery element, solving the mystery mostly happened through a combination of off-screen computer assistance and a series of hunches and guesses that I think could have been more satisfying.

However, I did really enjoy the novel, especially the tactical portions and the great game of spies that was being played in the process. Definitely recommending it to fans of NCIS, Don Mann, and Clive Cussler.

As a big fan of thrillers by the likes of Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and Ted Bell I’m always on the lookout for something new. Well with Perfect Shot author Steve Urszenyi delivers an excellent thriller with a wonderful new character: Special Agent Alexandra Martel. She’s an ex-Army sniper, now FBI agent. Her current mission sets her off on a globetrotting adventure with nuclear threat implications. Yes at the start there is no denying there was a bit of a novelty to having a female lead since so many of these types of thrillers feature male leads, but Alex is legitimately an excellent character who can stand toe to toe with the best of them. Perfect Shot features a tight, fast paced story with serious tension and some great action. I’ll definitely be looking forward to her next mission. I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Perfect Shot.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3PTJRG76JI8X9/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

2.5 hearts

Perfect Shot sounded like a great read for me from the blurb. I like strong women, fast paced action, political/ military strategy and I don't have to have romance. Normally, complex details and layers are a bonus. Somehow, this was not the book for me.

Alex Martel is a Special Agent for the FBI on loan to Interpol. She seems to throw her title up to her co-workers as well as other foreign personnel. Yes, some of them are calling her Ms. Martel to demean her. While her deductions about some aspects of the case are savvy, she is not smart in other ways. She knows she's being followed by multiple others and decides to just fight it out rather than having backup or help. It seems like she is trained in guns but a bit less in fighting.

I understand her unwillingness to trust others since many aren't trustworthy which leaves her on her own too often. The untrustworthy are only too happy to point her in the wrong direction or just kill her. She does her own thing regardless of the law or orders she is given. Alex does trust a computer analyst who provides and solves most things for her. In fact, she probably could have sat around and waited for his intel other than finding an initial clue from her dead friend and learning about the nuclear weapon.

I did not connect with the main character Alex or the other characters. I didn't like them. Things Alex did just felt like a bunch of details, and I mostly didn't care. She did manage to kill a lot of enemy agents trying to kill her, and find a US traitor.

I was excited to read Perfect Shot and wanted to love it. Others may enjoy it more than me.

Although I don't read as many political thrillers (Clancy, Thor, Flynn) as I used to because they seem repetitive, Perfect Shot was a great book to scratch that itch. This debut novel stars a fantastic female protagonist Alexandra Martel, a former Army sniper who is an FBI agent, who must travel around the world to prevent a nuclear incident. I wasn't a fan of her travel companion Caleb. I hope that in future books, he becomes a more layered character rather than simply a jerk.
I found the writing and storyline extremely propulsive. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks for this ARC through #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

FBI Special agent Alexandria Martel is tasked with stopping the terrorist from getting a hold of nuclear material. She is one that will not back down on any occasion. She is great at what she does but unfortunately there is dead bodies a lot of the time. She is the male Jack Ryan. Then in comes Caleb to help her and he is low keyed and it was fun with the banter in between those two.

This book has so much action and plots that it will definitely keep you wanting to see what happens next.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The action starts off at full speed from the very beginning and does not let up at all as the story progresses. It's the kind of book that you pick up and can't put down because not only do you need to know what happens, but you're so into the story that you don't realize just how much time has gone by. The blurb uses the word unrelenting, and it's the perfect adjective for the action and intrigue in this book. It's one thing after another in a way that pulls you in and doesn't let go.
Special Agent Alexandra Martel has training and experience that make her one of the best agents at whatever agency she's working for or with. She's smart and capable hidden under a layer of charming and disarming. She's asked to look into the supposedly accidental death of a friend just after she's seemingly randomly attacked on the street, so she takes some days off and heads to London. Except danger is now following her every step and things quickly start to get more complicated.
It's a truly international story as Alex travels from one major city to another in search of answers that only beg more questions. The way that Urszenyi writes makes it feel like it's all plausible and you're following along with an actual agent, which is honestly nerve-wracking if you really think about it.
I am hooked on this author and his character and can't wait to see what could possibly be next for Special Agent Alexandra Martel.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the pulse-pounding read!

4.5 stars

Oh, this is the kind of book that makes you so glad it's the start of a series and that - of course - there is more to come!

Alex is a compelling protagonist, and this book (refreshingly) passes the Bechdel test. This lead is not in the world saving business just to pass the time until she finds some man to save her (rolls eyes forever). She kicks butts happily, she's smart, and most interestingly to me, she's in part on the hunt to discover what happened to another woman and to provide a voice to the otherwise voiceless. Though this latter element is not an overtly featured goal, it still felt like a thoughtful choice to me. This isn't an anomalously smart or capable woman. In this universe, women are expected to be useful, skilled, and effective, and they prove that they are over and over again.

I was fortunate to receive the audiobook and listened to it almost straight through on a long day of chores and meal prep. It held my attention throughout, and I am already looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble Alex can resolve next!

I have to be perfectly honest. I do not ordinarily gravitate toward this type of book. However, I am so glad that I went with my gut and read this one. I was more than pleasantly surprised. Apparently this is Steve Urszenyi's debut novel and, in my opinion, is destined for the best seller list. I loved the characters in this story, especially the main character, Alexandra Martel. Alexandra Martel can be your best friend or your worse enemy. She is a former army sniper, who is highly skilled and highly decorated. She was actually a legend in the ranks of those who knew about her skills. She is now working as an FBI agent on loan to Interpol. Her keen observation skills, as well as her other talents have made her an indispensable part of their team. When a nuclear warhead goes missing, there is no better person for the job. She is not only talented, but she is tenacious and aggressive in her quest for setting things right. This is made even more evident when she gets a tragic message about a friend from her past that sets her spidey senses tingling.

You will be carried into the underbelly of many places I would never dream of being. There is loads of intrigue and suspense which will keep you on your toes. Alex does not know who she can trust, and you will not know who to trust either, but I knew that I would definitely want Alex on my side in the event of a catastrophe. Steve Urszenyi's bio shows a background that is interesting and multi-faceted, and has given him knowledge about things that shine through in his writing. I was hooked from the first couple of chapters. Alex Martel is a fantastic character who is a hero that needs no accolades. She is just doing her job. It indicated that this book #1. This makes me hopeful that we will be seeing more of Alexandra Martel. Even if you do not ordinarily enjoy an international thriller, do not hesitate to buy this book. I promise you will not not be disappointed.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Perfect Shot is the debut novel from Steve Ursenyi.

"Special Agent Alexandra Martel is an FBI agent on loan to Interpol. She's also a former sniper and combat medic. She finds out a former friend and MI5 agent has been killed and heads to London to investigate. Soon she's involved in a stolen nuclear missile and Russian state sposored terrorism."

Debut novels are sometimes hit-or-miss. I like the premise of this one. It's really good when Ursenyi is writing action scenes. The rest of it needs some editing and fine-tuning. There are several passages with overexplaining. I don't need four pages on how a nuclear trigger works. The beginning is clunky with no pace. And there are numerous plot holes. (Just shook my head) The ending is a wild one, though.

I think there's potential here but this one falls a little short. If spy/action/thrillers are your jam, you may still enjoy this one.

Perfect Shot has nonstop action, a gripping plot line and a tough, gritty female protagonist. This is one heck of a debut novel for Steve Urszenyi.

When Special Agent Alexandra (Alex) Martel learns that her old friend, Krysten, has been killed under mysterious circumstances, she gets special permission to investigate. She learns some things about her old friend that call into question what Krysten was really up to. Alex finds herself being tailed by Russians and needing to constantly be vigilant lest she herself becoming the next target.

When Alex finds out through encrypted code sent to her by Krysten, right before her death, that a nuclear bomb was stolen, Alex gets herself assigned to that investigatory team. Alex’ instincts are always spot on and she forges onward to the bitter end.

I love a good story that features a strong female character and I was completely enthralled by Alex. This is a fantastic thriller and I can’t wait for the sequel. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. This 5-star book is due to hit bookstores on November 14, 2023. All opinions are expressly my own.

Literally holding my breath… WOW!!!
This book will have you flipping the pages so fast to see what happens. This was my first book by Steve Urszenyi, but it won’t be my last! Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Perfect Shot Steve Urszenyi
Really enjoyed this story. Fantastic female lead. She is independent, introspective and committed to defending her country. Awesome debut. Looking forward to more.
#PerfectShot #SteveUrszenyi #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

*Sigh* I've come to the harsh realization that I don't particularly like military and/or special ops novels. Unlike police procedurals, military ops novels have a ton of acronyms that I'm not familiar with. And in the case of the Perfect Shot novel, there were so many acronyms with more letters than a can of alphabet soup. I struggled from the get-go and it became a futile and frustrating exercise in notetaking. I felt that all of the acronyms took away from any enjoyment I might have had with the overall narrative. I do realize, however, that the acronyms are a mainstay of any military op story so I am probably just not a reader that can assimilate and retain all of that military jargon.

I did like most of the characters. And I did enjoy the interaction between the main character of Alex and Caleb. But the characters just couldn't keep me engaged enought to enjoy the story.

Though I normally read to at least 33% of a novel before giving up, I just couldn't get past 25%. It just seemed like an endless sea of acronyms that I couldn't sail through. An unfortunate one star DNF.

I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Fast paced and one that I couldn’t put down. Grab this and prepare for a roller coaster that you won’t want to get off.

Amazing first novel. I was hooked from the start and loved the characters. A lot of unexpected twists. For fans of Carr, Flynn, etc, but with a great female protagonist for a change. Can’t wait for the next one!

A action packed military spy thriller with a strong, tough main character, Special Agent, Alex Martel.
Perfect Shot is full of intrigue, mystery, intense action and suspenseful moments.
Looking forward to reading more books in the Alexandra Martel series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a pulse pounding and action packed story. Alex is an FBI agent and ace sniper. Caleb is a CIA agent. The two must work together to stop a nuclear catastrophe. The plot is filled with international intrigue and misdirection as they look for clues as to who the bad guys are. The author gives great descriptions of the places they travel to and the characters they encounter that allow the readers to immerse themselves in the action taking place. The action swings to different setting and the author ensures that the reader never loses sight of where they are to be focused. This is a wonderful beginning to the series and I can’t wait to see what great adventures Alex and Caleb get up in the future.

You have a love a great debut thriller featuring an highly-trained woman sniper an FBI Special Agent on loan to Interpol, and who’s both smart and a bad-ass. Alexandra (Alex) Martel learns that a former MI5 British intelligence female colleague with whom she bonded as one of only a few women as at conference has died, and she’s been sent a photo that may contain clues to her possible murder. Alex travels to see her friend’s apartment and uncovers clues about an impending nuclear plot by the Russians, but her superiors pay her no heed. That is until a Russian team steals a nuclear warhead from a U.S. Air Force base in Turkey.

In the meantime, Caleb Copeland, a high-level CIA officer along for an opening operation in the Netherlands, observes Alex in action as a sniper and wants to recruit her to a highly secretive, top-level team fighting international crime. Alex finds him mysterious but pays him no heed until they need to pair up to go on the hunt for the missing nuclear bomb: which appears to be headed to a disrupt a global peace summit in Paris.

The action and danger keep ratcheting up until your pulse is racing as Alex races from London to Turkey to the catacombs of Paris to find the bomb.

Bring on Alex’s next adventure!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Rich well-developed characters and a fast-moving story line leaves you breathless and at the edge of your seat in this high-octane action thriller. With his vivid and down to earth writing style the author makes his protagonist, Alexandra Martel, come to life. This fast paced and action-packed story grabs you from the first page and keep you on the edge of your seat right to the last page. I could not stop reading this book once I started and now, I am anxious to read the other books from this series!

Thank you to the NetGalley and St Martin’s Press who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Special Agent Alexandra (Alex) Martel is on loan to INTERPOL from the FBI when a thermonuclear bomb goes missing off of an American Air Force base in Turkey. Was it the Turks? The Russians? A terrorist organization? That's what Alex and her CIA work mate (she says he's not her partner) Caleb have to find out.

On top of that, Alex's friend in the intelligence community has died, and Alex thinks that was no accident. Can she get to the bottom of her friend's death, and together with Caleb, find the nuke before it's detonated?

What a ride this book was! Steve Urzenyi writes action scenes that make this book nearly impossible to put down. As others have said, there's a lot of acronyms in this book, but I don't think that was necessarily an issue. Many of them you'll only see once or twice. There's a lot of technical information/ jargon here, too, but I think it lends authenticity to the story. The author has clearly done his research and knows his stuff.

Alex is a great character, and I can't wait to see how she develops. Hopefully, Caleb continues to develop in further titles by the author because he's kind of a jerk. The scenery descriptions were so vivid that it felt like I was watching yhis unfold on the big screen. If you're a fan of espionage, military thrillers, or edge of your seat action, you don't want to miss Perfect Shot!

In stores November 14.

My appreciation to Saint Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, author Steve Urzenyi, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.