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.

Special Agent Alex Martel is becoming involved in the world of international intrigue and deception. While sailing the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Monaco aboard the megayacht Aurora, is attacked. Alex is thrown into the center of a conflict between Russia and America, with NATO ally Finland being used as the flashpoint for a prelude to war. As military actions increase, a global conflict appears inevitable. Along the way, she encounters old friends and new enemies, but unsure who she can trust, Alex breaks ranks and risks everything to uncover the truth. Will she be able to learn the truth?

The author has written an action-packed thriller. At times, it seems too possible to happen in our current time or at least seems possible to me. I think that is what makes the book so good to read. The author’s writing is precise and compelling. I liked how Alex never gave up. Stopping was never an option. It’s a first time where I truly enjoyed reading an espionage and high-stakes thriller. I usually don’t enjoy reading them due to not truly understand what the writing was about. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wanted to read an espionage book.

A pleasant enough international thriller - lots of European locations, a bit of wealth porn (yachts, fancy hotels etc.), a headstrong female protagonist who kicks butt and ignores orders, and a high-stakes plot that kind of holds together if you read fast and don't think about it too much. There's also a slow-burn romance that gives the characters incentive to act like teenagers and suffer angst in the downtime between action sequences. Fortunately Urszenyi keeps the action frequent and well-choreographed, and the story moves quickly. If you like the genre, you'll enjoy spending a few hours with the book.

Alex Martel is a sniper, beautiful and smart. While on a luxury yacht with the head of Interpol they are attacked. Basically the book starts with a bang. There is a lot of action and loads of descriptions of every single weapon. Unfortunately that means nothing to me but if you like nonstop action versus characters and a lot of acronyms this is the book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

This was my first Alex Martel novel. I did not realize it was part of a series and I did struggle a bit reading it. She is a Special Agent and gets herself into some pretty intense situations.

I liked the ending in this book, and the ploy is fun. The setting is a bit odd, post Ukraine War but not by much, but all fictional character names for all the key Russian, UN and US public figures. It kinda worked but not entirely. I really was not keen on Alex, despite her badass sniper skills. If the text had said she was a 14yr-old prodigy I'd have bought that, because she comes across as about that level of maturity. The novel structure didn't help for me either, being very fragmented- rather than heightening the tension in the story, it was just confusing bouncing between Finland and the US and wherever else every page or two. There was plenty of action, and lots happens in this novel, but I could have done with more scene and setting building, so that,, for instance, I could easily imagine the posh party on the fancy huge boat- what it looks, sounds and feels like, what the champagne tastes like, etc.- before the jarring shift to the attack. As it was, I just found the attack sequence exhausting, and was not really drawn into the novel enough yet to care about Alex and the rest of the 'good guys when the fight started.'. So, this was not a 5-star novel for me, and I'm probably not rushing out to find book 2 in the series when it comes out, but I might give this series another shot in 10 books or so, when Alex has grown up a bit and the narrative style in this series develops a bit more polish. This was a 3.5 star book for me, not terrible, and probably good enough for a fast fun read, at least.

This is the second Alex Martel thriller and it does very well as a standalone, however, starting with the first book in the series, ‘Perfect Shot’ will give a bit more backstory and character depth. This is an action packed combination of a political thriller and an espionage thriller. The author incorporates real world issues into the storyline, lending a sense of realism and a feeling of ‘this could really happen’! Alex is a great character! She’s a skilled warrior who is committed to doing whatever is necessary to complete her mission. She has a strong sense of justice, duty, honor, loyalty and patriotism. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Out in the Cold by Steve Urszenyi is a thriller, and it stars a woman. The one thing all thrillers have in common is that the protagonist is unable to follow orders. Such is the case in this book when Alex Martel puts, what is possibly, her only friendship, above all else. Such is the case when she moves to protect Madame Celeste Clicquot from whomever seems to be targeting her. Celeste is the secretary general of Interpol, and truthfully, at first, Alex thought the assassin was targeting Celeste’s gentleman friend, Valtteri Lehtonen, a Finish businessman, very rich. She wan’t sure. It began on Valtteri’s yacht. Alex’s supervisor Caleb Copeland was on the yacht as well, hoping to get Alex to adhere to the commitment she had made to the CIA after her dismissal, insubordination, from the FBI. If the truth were to be told, Caleb wanted more from Alex, but the timing wasn’t right. She got them safely to shore but it was not easy. Several lives were lost and many people got wet. She thought the problem was solved and went with Caleb to Washington to meet with the person leading the team she was joining. Alex was not happy to hear it was more a research job than in the field. Things fell apart when Celeste and Valtteri were attacked in their car and one of their guards killed, both of them seriously injured. Alex was on the first light to Europe. Things got dicey from there.

Alex is a great character, but a lone wolf. She is clever, muscular, and beyond tough. She sees things and understands quickly. Above all, she is fearless. It is her character that makes this book worth reading. Oh, yes, there are other characters and a good plot, but it is Alex. As all thrillers, it makes me nervous that there is too much going on that is possible, even probable; that is’t not all in the writer’s imagination. That said, what a great imagination he has. Great read.

I was invited to read Out in the Cold by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #SteveUrszenyi #OutInTheCold

Following her instincts may leave her out in the cold

Alex Martel is continuing her work within the world of international intelligence albeit under the auspices of the CIA rather than being on loan to Interpol from the FBI. She has earned a strong reputation for her ruthless efficiency in the field and for her legendary skill as a sniper, but with those comes a (deserved) reputation for following her own instincts rather than the orders she is given. Thus far those instincts have proven correct, but in her new role she will not find the same measure of latitude. Prior to reporting for duty in Langley she is enjoying a glamorous party aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean alongside her friend and mentor Mme Celeste Clicquot, the Secretary General of Interpol, along with several other high profile guests. The ship is attacked by a group of well-trained mercenaries, but Alex and her new boss Caleb are able to assist the on-board security team and help Celeste and other important dignitaries to escape. It is unclear exactly who was being targeted in this assault, but it may be connected to a series of malicious acts targeting the newest member nation of NATO, Finland. Fingers have been pointed at Russia, both because it has expressed its displeasure at Finland’s joining NATO and because the types of incidents fall well within their known playbook of clandestine hostile acts. But is there something more nefarious at play? When another attempt is made to kill Celeste with catastrophic results, Alex disobeys her orders to stay stateside to further analyze data on the events in Finland and instead travels back to Europe to track down those responsible for the attacks against her mentor and bring them to justice. She will tangle for a second time with a Russian GRU agent (with whom she had engaged in a near-fatal encounter on her last mission), join forces with a new ally from Finland’s Supo, and butt heads with both Caleb and his (and Alex’s) boss CIA Deputy Director Kadeisha Thomas as she digs into what is unfolding. She soon discovers that telling ally from foe is even more difficult than usual; the enemy may be closer than anyone realizes, and she may need to put her trust in unlikely people if she is to stay alive long enough to prevent a new World War.
Out in the Cold is the second book in the series featuring Alexandra Martel. Skilled, intelligent and strong-willed, Alex is an intriguing female protagonist in a normally male-dominated field. In this outing, she grapples as well with the unwanted attraction she feels towards Caleb, which is problematic not only because of their professional situation but because a tragedy in her past has left her unwilling to risk that level of emotional connection again. She also battles the pull of old loyalties against her new obligations. The story is fast-paced and full of action, and will be an enjoyable read for fans of authors like Cara Black, Francine Matthews and Marc Cameron. The emphasis here is more on plot than character development, and I found the quasi-love story angle less intriguing than the rest of the storyline. Still a fun read, and I look forward to the next installment in the series. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me early access to Out in the Cold.

If you love action packed espionage thrillers with what could be a current day event plot line, then this is a book you will want to read. Oh, and a bonus is that the main character is a strong, impressive female. Alex (Alexandra) has a varied background starting out in the military as a combat medic and sniper, then moving to various intelligence agencies. She also tends to be a loner who takes action to resolve situations rather than waiting for permission.

This story had me hooked from the opening scene and had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. There are a lot of characters, but I don't think the story would have been as rich without them. The references to past events from the first story have me wanting to read it to learn more about the recurring characters. I'm looking forward to more stories with Alex Martel!

Special Agent Alexandra Martel is back to save another day. There's been attacks against Finland, a country that just joined Nato. Alex's former boss and close friend Celeste from Interpol and her partner, Finnish millionaire Valtteri seem to be purposely targeted.

This book has much of the same appeal as the first book in the series Perfect Shot. A ton of action, intrigue and dangerous situations. Alex works for the CIA now, with Caleb from the first book. Her shooting, combat and tactician skills are spectacular and and she sure is someone you would want in your corner, when things get bad. She's also stubborn and loyal as hell, and would do anything for her country and her loved ones.

The author has researched every aspect of the story quite meticulously. I'm Finnish and I know that the details on Finland were all correct. On the other hand, I did not need to know all the specs about every single weapon used in this book. Also the abundance of different acronyms and military jargon was quite overwhelming. I did enjoy the action and the fast pace and the knowledge that the bad guys will always get what they deserve.

This is the second book in this series, and I went into it without having read the first.
Alex Martel is a totally kick-butt, badass lady with every skill she needs to get the mission done, including the ability to disregard orders when the situation calls for it.
I was very interested in the story in the beginning. Something happens and Alex is able to display her impressive skills. I was impressed. However the story is incredibly detailed, and at times that attention to detail took me out of the story.

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, 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.

I have read the first in the series. You can see my review here. And just like the first one, I LOVE ALEX! She is a bad a$$!

I enjoyed this one better than the first one. It just moves quicker. It is not necessary that you read the first one. This can be a stand alone. I do feel I knew more about Alex because of reading the first book in the series.

Talk about a few twists and turns and shoot’em ups! This book has all of the above. Lots of intensity, drama and mystery.

Need a fast pace thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.