Perfect Shot is a magnificent and high-powered adventure from debut author Steve Urszenyi, which holds nothing back with hot shot Alex Martel.

Martel’s journey starts off through the crystal-clear optics on top of her most trusted tool, while preparing to take down a group who is in possession of some stolen nuclear material. As the op starts to heat up, Martel begins a chase of epic proportions to prevent the material from leaving the eyes of law enforcement and keeping the bystanders safe. Eventually, things get personal when friend Krysten, an MI5 agent, is murdered in England and a friend reaches out for help.

Martel, an FBI Special Agent on loan to Interpol, a stack of bodies starts to build behind her, along with a reputation as a hard-nosed win-at-all cost individual. The Netherlands isn’t particularly keen on Martel’s skill set being shown in public, but after preventing a potential nuclear attack she’s let off the hook. This is where things start to get hairy. Martel is made aware of a serious situation in Incirlik, Turkey as a nuclear weapon from the American storage facility has gone missing. Will Alex be able to piece the puzzle together and recover the weapon or will the fate of millions rest in her soul forever?

Urszenyi crafts a gripping tale of perseverance highlighting dedication and selflessness while the grim reaper is knocking at the door. Martel is vivacious and cunning yet not perfect at everything, which drives confidence and understanding of how Urszenyi introduces you to Alex. He finds the perfect combination of uncertainty and creativity that allows Martel to shine. He doesn’t unload the past preventing you from indulging in the main plot line but blends the two into the right balance. Martel has a lot going on that he doesn’t let onto, but it is there for the taking in the future. Secondary characters are not overpowering and provide the right amount of support that makes them enjoyable as you try and figure out who is fighting for the right reasons.

So not what I usually read but totally grabbed me and dragged into a fascinating story. I feel like I would spoil it if I say anything else but just take a chance and read this.

Perfect Shot is a very good book. The author has created an interesting, realistic set of characters, and placed them in a believable and frightening plot. There are some very good twists in the book, and a number of interesting foreign locations. The protagonist is a female military operative with superb capabilities but someone who very much wants to do things in her own way, a trait I found likeable.

This was a debut novel for Steve Urszenyi, and a very good one at that. The author knows his way around weapons and tactics, and manages to discuss them without overwhelming a non-technical reader like myself. Urszenyi writes a good action scene, and the pace of the novel holds the readers interest. My only criticism is that the protagonist's character has a lot of potential but seemed a little undeveloped at this point. I believe his next novels will add additional dimensions to the main character, and I look forward to reading them. This series starts at a pretty high level, and I am betting it will get even better in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC.

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was well-written and very fast-paced action thriller featuring a female protagonist (yeah).

Special Agent Alexandra Martel has put her days on the battlefield behind her. A former sniper, she is now an FBI special agent on loan to Interpol. She is on a mission with Interpol to retrieve nuclear material, when she learns that an old friend and former MI5 office, has been killed under mysterious circumstances. She decides to take some time to investigate and follows a trail of clues left behind by her friend. She soon pieces together a terrifying conspiracy that only escalates when a nuclear warhead goes missing.

She reluctantly joins forces with a CIA officer with his own motives and will stop at nothing to achieve them. Chasing the truth, the story moves from the busy streets of London to the bustling Turkish markets to the catacombs of Paris.

As the clock ticks and the world edges closer to doom, she relies on her Special Ops skills to stop the unthinkable from happening.

This book was fast paced, thrilling, exciting and without too much technical jargon. I will become a fan of this series. I read in two nights as the plot was gripping and held my attention. Wish I could give it 10 stars.

I cannot believe this is a debut novel!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: November 14. 2023
“Perfect Shot” is the first novel by Steve Urszenyi, a former paramedic and police tactical medic with experience in every kind of urgent emergency response. “Shot” is also the first in a series, led by protagonist Special Agent Alexandra Martel.
After earning a reputation as one of the most precise and skilled shooters in the Army, Alex Martel is now working for the FBI, currently on loan with Interpol, trying to find and disarm all sorts of domestic threats. When she receives the news that her friend, Krysten, is dead, Alex also discovers that Krysten is not who she says she was. Krysten claimed to be working for MI5, but it seems she was connected to some very dangerous Russian terrorist groups, and Krysten wasn’t even her real name. However, the information she left Alex seems very legit and if true, entire continents could fall. But when Alex tries to get her contacts at the FBI involved, no one wants to trust intel from a Russian spy, and Alex is forced to go at it alone, hoping that trusting her gut will be enough to, literally, save the world.
Urszenyi has definitely put a lot of time and energy researching the novel of this plot (his personal experience doesn’t hurt either). Every agency, foreign and domestic, is involved, and every acronym comes to play- FBI, CIA, M15, FSB, SVR, and that doesn’t cover all of them. Not to mention every department and title therein, including military roles and ranks. It gets wordy and confusing, so you have to pay careful attention as to who is doing what to whom and why.
Alex is a great character and Urszenyi actually creates a representational and honest female viewpoint, which I respect. I was doubtful that brave, strong women like Alex would be given the chance to showcase their skills in male-dominated, misogynistic government and law agencies, but Urszenyi makes sure to cite a few examples in his “acknowledgements”, and I was grateful to know about these amazing human beings.
Alex narrates the entire story, which takes her all over the world, and there is not a single page in the novel that isn’t full of gun-toting, fast-paced action. If you can get through the acronyms and all of the scientific and official details provided, be prepared for lots of intrigue, subterfuge, coercion and gunfire! “Perfect Shot” sets the right amount of tension, preparing the reader for the next saga in Alex Martel’s electrifying life!

Part of book was easy to read because it was a "story" about how to find a stolen bomb and the murder of Alex's friend. The other half was technical weapons specs and political intrigue which is too dry for me. Stories I like; technical reading is not so enjoyable. I also like stories about strong, capable women and the main character was just that. Alex, an FBI special agent on loan to Interpol, can hold her own in a fight. After finding out her old friend, an MI5 officer, has been killed, she wants to know why. Clues left behind by Alex's friend, leads her to Paris and puts her at odds with her bosses. After finding out a nuclear bomb has been stolen, Alex's purpose is to find and stop the detonation of the bomb. The murder and the bomb stories intertwine to make it a good "who done it".

What a thrilling debut! This fast-paced novel hardly gives you time to breathe as highly trained FBI Special Agent Alex tracks a missing weapon of destruction. She’s disciplined while relying on her instincts and training. She’s respectful of commanding officers however, she’ll veer to her own path against orders when she’s right. She’s working with unfamiliar agencies and politics are always at play. There are double agents and spies as Russia is again attempting to assert dominance. Alex is unwavering in her loyalty and one of the best female protagonist I’ve read. She has to contend with Caleb continually appearing and not knowing exactly who he works for. I liked the tension between Caleb and Alex, they played off each other well despite differences of opinions. They each believe they’re right and friction follows. Alex is on loan to Interpol assisting with locating, recovering and determining who stole the weapon. The mission is international and will take the team from the Netherlands to London and Paris. It’s fast paced non-stop action with highly technical details. It isn’t my area of expertise so couldn’t say if it’s accurate but it kept me engaged, unwilling to stop reading.
Not to be repetitive but, this is an electrifying and highly enjoyable action mystery with substantial characters. I would read more about Alex and more by this author and am confident recommending it. I received a digital advance reader copy from NetGalley of “Perfect Shot” by Steve Urszenyi, published by St. Martin’s, Minotaur Books. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

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I huffed and puffed to keep up with this fast paced thriller right out of recent headlines. Multiple international antiRussian agencies work (more or less) together to stop a diabolical plot. Spec Agt Martel is a bit lone ranger in her efforts to bypass all the interagency politics and Get The Job Done. Just when she has a clue, she is called to the Middle East to put out a figurative brush fire. Definitely needs to Drain The Swamp one way or another with or without complicit assistance. Absolutely an adrenaline rush!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

WOW! This story took me on one exciting ride. LOTS of action, adventure, and intrigue. The characters are well developed, and who doesn't love a tough, female lead! Truly a great international action book. The book reads similar to a Tom Clancy book, a must read!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Much thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martins Publishing for the ARC of "Perfect Shot" in return for an honest review..
Wow. And double wow. I tore through this book faster than the bullets that come flying in all directions at Special Agent Alexandra 'Alex' Martel. For every reader who loves diving into a non-stop, perpetual motion international thriller. this one's a must.......this is the epitome of Action-Adventure with two capital "A"s.
FBI Special Agent Martel, combat veteran, ex-paramedic and world class sniper is on loan to Interpol for her 'particular set of skills'. And she's instantly plunged into thwarting an attempt by terrorists to swipe a nuclear warhead.
But in this world of increasing, dire global threats and double dealing espionage, nothing (and nobody) is what they appear to be. And that includes a murdered young woman whom Alex once befriended in Paris and now revealed as an MI5 British agent......an agent who may have died uncovering intel related to Alex's hunt for the stolen warhead.
Up against continuous violent action, Alex finds herself at odds with her new unwanted partner CIA special operative Caleb. But you can bet your Sig Sauer firearms they've got each other backs when bullets and fists start coming at them at every twist and turn of the plot And once Alex is provoked into action, it doesn't bode well for her many assailants.
From the opening firefight to the slam bang clock-ticking-down finale, 'Perfect Shot' gave me perfect thrill ride, guaranteeing I'll be first in line to read Alex's next adventure. And I'm pretty sure everyone's figured out by now that I'm talking 5 star review here.

Steve Urszenyi has crafted a beautifully written, fast piece, female lead thriller on par with any James Bond novel I’ve ever read. I was particularly impressed with the authors, character development, work, and dialogue use . This will be a great read for someone walking for a fast spy, thriller experience.

Interpol and FBI agent Alexandra Martel is a former army sniper with an impeccable reputation for her shooting skills. She has just completed a successful mission when a friend and MI 5 agent is murdered in the process of sending Alex evidence of a conspiracy to steal and detonate a nuclear bomb. This book is action-packed from the very first page and does not let up as it follows Alex and her mission to avert a nuclear disaster from London, to Turkey, and Paris.
Along the way, Alex works with the American military, the CIA, and MI5 but not everyone is who they seem. Alex has to trust her own instincts to identify the bad guys, locate a stolen nuclear bomb, and stop a catastrophic international incident. If you like fast-paced spy thrillers, Perfect Shot is a good one and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
#PerfectShotBook

Loved the story here and the main character. There is a nice backstory here and you really learn about what she has been through. I actually enjoyed a lot of the technical details here. Storywise , I really like this book and look forward to the next in the series.
What lowered it a star for me was some of the comments seemed out of place. Caleb's 'thoughts' bordered on very immature. And the mention of James Bond irritated me for some reason.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Wow! What an action-packed heart-racing book. If you like Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime, then you are gonna love this.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book for my honest opinion

Tom Clancy meets James Bond in this thriller. Special Agent Alexandra Martel has had a storied career first as an Army medic and then a sniper as she served in Afghanistan. A desire to be home more led her to the FBI and the FBI loaned her to Interpol. When a friend she met at a law enforcement conference sends a strange message and then is found dead, Alex decides to look into the death.

As she searches through what her friend sent her, she uncovers a plot to set off a nuclear bomb at a Paris Peace Conference. She also discovers that her friend was a Russian sleeper agent who has finally come upon something that she can't tolerate. And the Russians know about her and want to stop her before she can disrupt their plot.

The story travels from Brussels to Paris to Turkey and back again. The descriptions of the various places were well drawn, and the action was intense.

The story was filled with "technobabble" with detailed descriptions of all sorts weapons. It was also filled with lots of technological spying which was also described in great detail. And it was packed with political maneuvering as she deals with the various agencies she works with. Alex was a more humanized James Bond who knows herself and her purpose and suffers from some flashbacks to earlier actions.

This one is the start of a series.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Alexandra is highly trained shooter in the military. She decides to leave the military for a peaceful life. When an individual she knows is murdered, it will take all the weapons in her arsenal to solve thus puzzle. This book was well written.

Special FBI Agent Alexandra Martel is a decorated Army sniper on loan to Interpol. When she learns a friend who is an M15 officer has been killed, she is drawn into a conspiracy involving Russians and a nuclear warhead. Surprising information on her dead friend is uncovered and leads to questions about the allegiance of people she comes into contact with. Action packed thriller with a strong
female lead.
#PerfectShot #NetGalley

Action and intrigue from the first page to the last. Alex doesn't seem to follow orders at all. She is a badass sniper in a world of men. She earns their respect. So when a friend dies she starts gathering clues and learns way to many secrets. Caleb wants her on his team so follows her into danger when a bomb goes missing. The two parts of her life can't be connected...can it? I like the way the story unfolds. I liked the book.

What a fantastic debut book by this my third favorite Canadian author. Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi is the first book about FBI agent Alexandra Martel. She is on lone to Interpol in the beginning of this book and she has a past history in the army as a paramedic and sniper. Urszenyi has created a great character and I can't wait until the next book to see where it all will go. I had some fun when I read this first installment in what I'm certain will be a great series people will talk about and I laughed out loud when two names appeared that I recognised from somewhere else. Both are pilots and one has written a book on my tbr pile. I will recommend this book to all that will listen to me. I found the plot and the telling of it very good and the author has managed to avoid most of the standard things one find in thrillers today, I don't know if it's something about Canada that is different when it comes to making up stories but the authors I like that comes from there is all blazing their own trail. Much to my delight, it can be a bit boring with the same old, over and over again. I must as always thank Minotaur Books Macmillan and Netgalley for giving me this great new book as an advance copy. It's out in stores November 14th, don't you dare miss it.