Special Agent Alex Martel is back is Steve Urszenyi's new thriller.

It was supposed to be an upscale party on the mega yacht of a Finnish diplomat. Some of Europe's richest and most influential are there. Until the quiet is interrupted by an explosion.

As a new member of NATO, someone thinks Finland might be a wink link. And that someone plans to exploit the weakness. Working with CIA Agent Caleb, Alex is thrust into the middle of a conflict she doesn't understand. And neither she nor Caleb can tell the good guys from the bad.

Part political thriller, part suspense, this is a roller coaster ride of action and excitement. From the halls of CIA headquarters at Langley to the situation room of the Whitehouse, from the French Riviera, to Helsinki and Paris, Alex and Caleb always seem to be one step behind. Short chapters, changes in location, in focus and the constant threat of danger and confrontation allowed for a constant undercurrent of tension that builds as the story nears it's volatile conclusion.

I'm glad to see Alex back in action. As I wrote in my review of Perfect Shot, the first book in this series, Alex is my new hero.

Out in the Cold is the second book after Perfect Shot. While I didn't find Out in the Cold quite as gripping as the previous book, it was still a very enjoyable read. However, I did think that the characters, especially Alex and Caleb, could have been developed much more than they were. The reader just got a brief look into each character and the ending was quite abrupt, leaving the reader waiting for the next book.

I would still recommend this spy thriller and I thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy.

OUT IN THE COLD is the second in a series. Alex is presently acting as a consultant for the CIA. We find her on a yacht owned by the rich boyfriend of her former boss at Interpol Celeste Cliquot, Action starts at the very beginning. I could NOT TURN THE PAGE fast enough for the first 25-30 percent of the book. Alex and Caleb work to save the life of Celeste and her boyfriend when mercenaries board the yacht. After returning to the US and her job, she finds out that Celeste was seriously injured at The Hague. Celeste defies her superior’s orders and flies to the Netherlands. This is where I find the book drags until the last fourth of the book.

Out in the Cold is the second book in the Alex Martel spy thriller series about a maverick former sniper and army medic turned Special Agent who is now working for the CIA. I was rather lukewarm about the first book, Perfect Shot, and hadn’t intended to continue the series, but then the ARC became available and I felt I should give the author another try, because I do usually like this kind of action novel. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed this one a lot more - the things that annoyed me last time do not recur, and this was a fun fast paced story with a suitably kick-ass heroine. You don’t need to have read the first instalment to follow what’s going on here and there are no major spoilers for it here.

Alex Martel is enjoying some down time in the South of France with her mentor and friend Celeste, the head of Interpol, when the luxury superyacht they are travelling on is boarded my pirates. Alex is able to save her friends but it turns out this is just part of a conspiracy targeting Finland with a series of attacks. How can one woman stop the powerful figures intent on bringing about war between Russia and the USA when she doesn’t know who she can trust even on her own side?

I loved how this book wasted no time throwing our heroine into a Die Hard on a Boat scenario - the movie is referenced so it’s clearly a deliberate homage. The action takes her from France to Washington to The Hague and finally to Finland, and a showdown with global implications. Alex is stroppy, brave, resourceful and happy to take down anyone who gets in her way, but also willing to accept help from unexpected sources. Looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC and apologies for the late review. Out in the Cold is available now.

Steve Urszenyi (https://steveurszenyi.com) is the author of two novels. Out in the Cold was published last November and is the second book of his Special Agent Alexandra Martel series. It is the 91st book I completed reading in 2024.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

The story opens with Special Agent Alex Martel a guest aboard the megayacht Aurora sailing through the Mediterranean off the southern coast of France. She is mixing with the VIP guests when the yacht comes under attack. Martel and her new boss, CIA paramilitary operations officer and branch chief Caleb Copeland, are aboard at the invitation of Martel’s former boss Madame Cęleste Clicquot. Clicquot is the Secretary General for Interpol and is in a relationship with the owner of Aurora, multibillionaire Valtteri Lehtonen. Between Martel, Copeland, and Lehotonen’s security team, Clicquot and Lehtonen escape. They are pursued by their attackers, but make it to the French coast.

The question remains as to the objective of the attack. Was it Clicquot, Lehtonen, or guest Mikko Selänne, the Finnish representative to NATO, the target? Martel and Copeland apply their special skills to dispatch most of the raiders. Once the dust settles, they head to the US for a briefing on their first mission. A series of attacks on Finland appear to be the work of the Russians, though they deny it. Martel and Copeland are part of an intelligence task force whose mission is to investigate.

Meanwhile, Lehtonen’s limo is ambushed leaving passenger Clicquot hospitalized in serious condition. Martel insists on returning to Europe to see her friend Clicquot. Reluctantly, Martel is given permission. After seeing Clicquot, she is secretly whisked away to Finland to see their President. He has intelligence that Russia is indeed innocent of the attacks. That information had been passed by Selänne to Clicquot the night of the attack on the yacht.

Armed with this information, Martel gains CIA backing to investigate further. What she uncovers is a conspiracy to stir up animosity between the US and Russia. This will drive the sale of new military hardware, earning those in the arms trade millions.

Martel finds herself in one deadly situation after another. The trail leads her from the French coast to the US, Belgium, the Baltic, and back to the US. The conspirators will do almost anything to keep their plot hidden. Time and again, Martel puts herself in harm’s way as she unravels the conspiracy.

I enjoyed the 9 hours reading this 329-page thriller. While this is the second book of a series, it reads well on its own. The novel is full of action and intrigue, with a touch of romance for Martel. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded to 5) out of 5.

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This was a very addicting thriller into figuring out who is trying to cause the third world war to show that America is the world’s greatest power. But detective Alex is on the case and won’t let that happen if she has something to say about it.

Alex, a medic turned sniper is back. Alex has trouble playing with others and an aversion to taking orders. After being pushed out of the FBI and then loaned Interpol she ends up on Caleb’s anti-terrorist group. A working vacation on a super yacht with her old boss and her boss’s billionaire boyfriend ends up as another typical Alex explosion.

The plot centers around a cabal promoting world war for financial gain. The action is nearly continuous and makes it very difficult to put the book down at bedtime. Street, a private security agent, interacts with Alex and Caleb, not without some friction.

An old adversary turns up unexpectantly and with surprising behavior.

Urszenyi has crafted a winning protagonist in Alex. There is more than sufficient intrigue, action, and deceit, although this plot is not quite as byzantine as the first book.


I recommend the book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Steve Urszenyi is back with his second thriller featuring Alex Martel. Steve simply knows how to write a great thriller book. Nonstop action from start to finish and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next one. If you like espionage thrillers this one has to go to the top of your TBR pile!

Action and espionage featuring female CIA Special Agent Alex Martel. Someone is targeting Finland and trying to provoke a global disturbance--Russia, or someone else? The book is action-packed and some of it seems to be based on real current events. My only quibble is that Alex seems a little too capable--a superhero instead of a real person--at least when it comes to the action. She seems a little clueless in other areas, however. ;)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Out in the Cold is the second book in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series. Alex is charming and lethal. She’s a skilled sniper, and currently working as a contractor with the CIA.

A series of destabilizing events have targeted Finland. Alex is thrown into the middle of the turmoil, and must help discover who is behind the attacks.

Out in the Cold is action packed. A fast-paced read recommended for fans of spy thrillers with female protagonists.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Special Agent Alex Martel is off galavanting around the world trying avert imminent disaster. She’s as loyal as they come and as deadly as needed. This thriller is the female born identity! Thanks to NetGalley for the read!

Perfect Shot introduced Alexandra Martel, a former medic, sniper and FBI agent who is now a contract employee of the CIA. It was an edge of your seat thriller that left me hoping for her return. Now she is back and Steve Urszenyi has done it again. From a luxury yacht under attack in the Mediterranean to the streets of Helsinki, Alex jumps from one dangerous situation to another. Attacks have been staged against Finland, the newest NATO member, indicating that Russia is responsible. Madame Celeste Clicquot, the secretary general of Interpol and Alex’s friend and former boss, has her doubts. Her investigation into the actions leads to an attack that leaves her in intensive care. At the request of the Finnish prime minister, Alex continues the investigation. An attack on Alex leads to the discovery that her attackers are American. She is saved by Tatiana, a Russian agent who had once sworn to kill her. Tatiana provides proof of a conspiracy that could lead to a world war and it is up to Alex to find who is responsible. Time is running out as the president is being urged to take action and political tensions are growing.

Alex is a wild card. She is assigned to a task force back in Washington, but after the attack on Clicquot she is willing to put her career in danger by rushing to her friend’s side. Feelings have been developing between Alex and Caleb, her direct supervisor. He knows what she is capable of and provides what help he can when she goes off on her own. Rejoining at a conference in Helsinki and taking the action back to the United States for a final confrontation, this is an action packed thriller. Fans of Simon Gervais, Brad Thor and Brad Taylor will be adding Steve Urszenyi to their must read list. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur for providing this book.

In this 2nd in the series, kick ass heroine Alexandra Martel works for the CIA but still follows her own drummer as she tries to prevent World War III.

Of course we know she will, but it's the journey that entertains!

Another excellent adventure from Urszenyi in a sequel that keeps the fast, gripping pace and storytelling of the first book and expands on it by taking advantage of a world that's already laid out. If the first book was unrelenting, this one's ferocious in its pacing.

Things happen almost on top of each other as Special Agent Alexandra Martel finds herself in the middle of an ambush on a private yacht in the Mediterranean that's only the beginning of dominoes falling toward a great catastrophe. Alex has to rush from one fantastic location to another in hopes of saving her friends and avoiding WWIII.

It's violent and threatening, but I appreciate how Urszenyi keeps it entertaining and not as distressing as some international thrillers can get. The events feel alarmingly plausible, but hyper enough that you at least hope it's all just great imagination and craftsmanship at work.

I can't wait for the next adventure.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the exhilarating read!

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series. This second book has just blown me away. It kept me wondering what was going to happen every time I turned around. It is full of suspense, mystery, and surprises! I definitely can’t wait to see what is going to happen next in this series.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Finland has been under sneaky attacks from several fronts for months and things point to Russia being the culprit. With Finland being a NATO ally this spells disaster if things keep up requiring a strong response that could lead to World War III. However, information comes to Agent Alex Martel from unexpected places. Can Alex and Caleb get to the bottom of the attacks, find the culprit and stay alive? That’s the challenge since Alex and her friends are under fire, left and right!

Out in the Cold is action packed from chapter one, and it was an exciting read! Alex is scrappy and undeterred, no matter the odds against her. There are several bad actors here, political zealots with no regard for life as they push their world vision through and benefit financially, too. It mirrors (unfortunately) some of the things you see in real life in this political climate. The ending was a satisfying and just conclusion. However, there was one bad character undiscovered, and I wonder how that will affect the future for Alex and Caleb.

Out in the Cold is the second installment in author Steve Urszenyi's Special Agent Alexandra Martel series. Martel, who was dismissed from the FBI for insubordination because of her actions in saving Paris, now has a new job, new bosses, and a new mission to save the world from powerful entities who are intentionally trying to manipulate world events to create a War between adversaries, US and Russia. While sailing across the Mediterranean, the mega yacht Aurora is rocked with explosions, and taken under siege by unknown assailants.

On board are some of Europe’s wealthiest and most powerful political players, including Martel's former boss Madame Celeste Clicquot, the secretary general of Interpol, a high-ranking Finnish diplomat who is NATO's Finnish representative, and Special Agent Alex Martel whose lethal sniper skills kick in to bring them safely to shore. Someone is waging a ruthless campaign of attacks against Finland, one of NATO’s newest members, in an attempt to throw the Alliance into turmoil.

Teaming back up with CIA agent Caleb Copeland who lured her away from the FBI because of her past as a combat medic, and Army sniper, Alex is thrust into the middle of the fray, pursuing the villains from the waters off of Monaco to the Baltic Sea and home to American soil. A global catastrophe seems inevitable as the US is pulled deeper into the conflict. But who is really responsible for these escalating attacks on Finland? The Russians, or someone much closer to home? As new allies surface and old enemies reappear, Alex has no way of knowing who to trust—and she might only have one last shot to keep the world from going to war.

The one thing all thrillers have in common is that the protagonist cannot or refuses to follow orders which leaves them out in the cold. Such is the case when Alex puts, what is possibly, her only friendship, above all else to protect Madame Celeste Clicquot from whoever seems to be targeting her. The book leans on Alex’s sniper skills, as well as her penchant for attracting trouble as she battles enemies on all fronts, and one enemy becomes an unlikely ally. One of the more interesting things that happen in the book is a meeting of enemies, who become unlikely allies thanks to the political manipulations that have pushed two powerful nuclear-capable countries to the brink of a war that nobody wants, well, except powerful warmongers in the US Congress, and Defense industries.

I received an ARC of this book. Puzzling suspense kept me reading until the end. I really enjoyed this book.

Out in the Cold by Steve Urszenyi

Great addition to the series ~ Hope this series continues for many more books!

What I liked:
* Alexandra “Alex” Martel: widow, ex-military medic & sniper, special ops experience, new member of CIA team, strong, resilient, lethal, strategic thinker, loyal, protective, follows her gut, intriguing, someone I would want on my side, might be attracted to Caleb
* Caleb Copeland: CIA branch chief developing a unique team of operators that Alex has joined, experienced, dedicated, patriotic, warrior, knowledgeable, lethal, intriguing, attracted to Alex but for some reason holding back
* Iain Street: ex-SAS, in charge of security and protection for Valterri, charming, lethal, would like to see him again
* Captain Tatiana Burina: Russian, GRU agent, liked her part in this book and wonder if she will show up in the future
* The plot, pacing, settings, writing, and conclusion
* The twists and turns
* Being able to thoroughly dislike the bad guys and hope they would be vanquished
* Wondering what the next book will be about…hope there will be a next book!
* All of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the bad guys and their willingness to sacrifice innocent lives for their goal and then how warped their thinking would have to be to do what they did

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Boom, boom, boom, bang, bang - I just love this woman and her ability to cut through all the crap and get the job done. There is so much going on in this story but it is so well plotted that I never got lost or felt confused. It just morphed from one raging conflict to another and Alex Martel is killing it, literally and figuratively.

“Perfect Shot”, the first book in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series was great and this second installment is equally good. The politics and conspiracy was creative and frightening. The characters and relationships are becoming more complex and really interesting. The reveal was near perfection.

If you are looking for a fast paced spy thriller that has super heroes, nasty bad guys, political overtones and a whole lot more - this book has it all. I could not put this book down which is one of the highest compliments I can pay. Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy.