Steve Urszenyi's follow-up to his stellar debut raises the stakes for Alex Martel and her team, and features a confrontation not to be missed! A must-read fall thriller.

This is the second book in the Alexandra Martel series. The first one had me captivated from the start and I was glad to see this book was available.

Description:
While sailing across the Mediterranean, the megayacht Aurora is rocked with explosions, taken under siege by unknown assailants. On board are some of Europe’s wealthiest and most powerful political players, including the secretary general of Interpol, a high-ranking Finnish diplomat, 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, 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.

As the US is pulled deeper into the conflict, a global catastrophe seems inevitable. 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.

My Thoughts:
A gripping, action-packed thriller involing wealth and politics. Alexandra Martel is a strong heroine who gets into extremely difficult life-threatening situations. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time while reading this book. This one hooked me from the start and the tension never let up. If you like thrillers and espionage you will like this book.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

We first met Special Agent Alex Martel in ‘Perfect Shot’ where she was involved in hunting down a stolen nuclear weapon in the streets of Paris. Fierce, indomitable and relentless this human dynamo stops at nothing to achieve her goals and now she’s back in an explosive new thriller. This time Finland has been subject to a series of attacks. Appearing to originate from Russia, tensions between NATO and Russia are rising as Russia appears ready to invade Finland and the world soon finds itself on the brink of WW3 - a chilling scenario all too easy to imagine in the current world political climate.. The US is pulled into finding out who is really pulling the strings – is it Russia or are there other malevolent forces involved?

After an explosion on a super yacht, nearly kills Alex’s friend, the Director of Interpol, Alex abandons the special CIA group she is working with to head to Finland on her own, much to the annoyance of her boss Caleb. Fast paced and action packed with great characters, the tension never lets up. Perfect for die-hard fans of intense espionage thrillers!

Out in the Cold
Book 2: An Alex Martel Thriller
Steve Urszenyi
November 12, 2024
St. Martin’s Press|Minotaur Books

Alex Martel is a beautiful, self-confident, smart, former medic, who has worked with Interpol, CIA and FBI. She has connections all over the world with important people, but she is stubborn and to quote Celeste “she is the most infuriating Interpol agent’ hired. Alex prefers to operate alone and is currently a contract employee. “More precisely a global response staff special agent and subject matter expert” but is loyal to a fault and her pull to Caleb and to her team is always there. Caleb, her counterpart and the man with a giant crush on Alex does what he does in the name of his fellow soldiers, special operators and country. He is more inclined to operate within the boundaries than Alex and they balance each other out.

Out in the Cold is very closely related to current events in the world including Russia invading Ukraine, and power plays by governing officials. The question remains – is starting another world war worth it to show how strong the United States is or is it just about power, money and greed. There is a lot of action, which continually propels this book forward. Immersive locations are the background for the story - anywhere from Langley to the Baltic Sea. Alex is a strong, kick ass heroine whose skills are continually put to the test as she navigates deadly situations and attempts to unravel traitors and conspiracies at the highest level of power. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Spoiler – my favorite part of the entire book is when Caleb punches Street in the throat. Best. Scene. Ever!

Out in the Cold is a disappointing attempt at a high-stakes international thriller. The novel has many issues, from its implausible plot to its one-dimensional characters.
The narrative is a whirlwind of over-the-top action sequences that lack realism. The narrative is more interested in showcasing explosions and shootouts than developing a believable story. The characters, particularly the protagonist, Alex Martel, are generic and devoid of depth. Her portrayal as an infallible killing machine, capable of quickly taking down multiple enemies, borders on the ridiculous.
A deluge of clichés and cringe-worthy narrative also mars the novel.
One of the most egregious flaws of the book is its uneven attention to detail. While the author spends considerable time describing the picturesque scenery of various European locations (which are lovely), he seems less concerned with portraying the intricacies of military and law enforcement operations, which is a shame given the author's experience.
Out in the Cold is a disappointing read that fails to deliver its promise of a thrilling espionage adventure. The over-reliance on action and the need for more character development make it a forgettable experience.

If not the best, one of the best spy/espionage books I have read! This book was action packed and appropriately intense. It has twists and turns you don’t expect leaving you with the feeling no one can be trusted. The book follows a female operator who is transferred from country to country, agency to agency as she uncovers a threat to not only her country but the world. There is great character development; the human touches demonstrated by the main character really made her relatable. Although this is part of a series, the book stands very well on its own (I hadn’t previously read the other book and didn’t feel I missed anything). The book is engaging, fast paced and a wonderful read!

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent second installment in the series. The heroine is an interesting character. Recommended.

Think for a minute about what you like in a thriller. If it's over-the-top action without a hint of realism or rationality, then this book will suit you fine. But if you would prefer something that's a bit more thought-out, give this one a miss. Alex Martel is simultaneously or quite recently a medic, a sniper, a Ranger, a CIA operative, a linguist, an ex-FBI operative, a confidante of loads of important people, a thorn in the sides of numerous heads of agencies, and, of course, she's also breathtakingly beautiful despite bullet and shrapnel scars. Jason Bourne and Batman in a flowered dress.

An action novel with a terrific protagonist and good writing
CIA contractor Special Agent Alex Martel and her boss Caleb are looking forward to a luxurious cruise on a megayacht owned by a Finnish billionaire. The passengers include the secretary general of Interpol and the Finnish ambassador to NATO among other important figures. Her hopes are thwarted, though, when the yacht is violently attacked. Alex immediately goes into action and summons up her sniper skills, her medical expertise, and her analytic acumen.
The most obvious target is the Interpol secretary General, Celeste Cliquot, who is Alex’s friend, and the obvious culprit is Russia, but as the investigation proceeds, both of these assumptions are questioned. It seems the real target was the Finnish ambassador, and Russia might or might not be behind the attack. More violence ensues, and Alex finds all her abilities challenged as she works to protect her friend, Finland, and its NATO allies.
There is a LOT to like in Out in the Cold. I enjoy good thrillers, but I read a LOT, and too often my reaction has a definite tone of “been there, read that”. Out in the Cold manages to avoid that problem for me. Readers who enjoy lively action will be drawn to the well-done intense scenes, although some of them were a bit too graphic for my taste. Finland was a clever choice for the target rather than a larger country, and I picked up some factoids about Finland I did not know. The author used his professional background as a paramedic and police tactical medic to provide verisimilitude to the descriptions and conversation, but this was sometimes a challenge for the lay reader. Professionals use a LOT of jargon and abbreviations, and it is appropriate to write dialogue reflecting that, but he did not always translate for the benefit of people like me. There were a lot of women in positions normally overwhelmingly male, like the Interpol Secretary General and Kadeisha Thomas, the deputy director of CIA, who is also black. I especially enjoyed getting to know Alex, a highly skilled female professional in a dangerous field, one who is likely to be underrated by her targets.
The writing was also enjoyable. The characters were believable; for example, I chuckled when Kadeisha Thomas, on receiving bad news at the office, mutters “Sugar honey iced tea” (work it out!). There are nice insights into Alex’s feelings, such as when she retires to her room in a luxury hotel and looks out the window: “ She pushed the curtains aside and stood there , drinking in the sight. These moments were to be savored because she knew better than most that they could end without notice or fanfare. Just ask ___ or ___ [ two people who died during the violence]”. Although the setting was very true-to-life, the author was careful to put different names into the roles we would know, and he even extended that to companies, e.g., there is a corporation called Grumfield-Northing!
Then there was the very ending, which I did NOT see coming. Clever, Steve Urszenyi!
I certainly plan to read the first book in this series, but I suspect there are a LOT of spoilers in this book. I recommend you get to know Alex sooner than I did and begin with Perfect Shot!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

This is the second installment in the Alex Martel thriller series, set against a backdrop of global political tensions. The story kicks off aboard a luxurious mega yacht attacked by unknown assailants, plunging former Army sniper and Interpol Special Agent Alex Martel into a whirlwind of danger. This time, the plot focuses on a series of escalating attacks against Finland, one of NATO’s newest members, suggesting a looming global catastrophe. What makes this novel gripping is its timely plot, weaving real-world political issues like NATO tensions and global alliances into an action-packed, fast-paced narrative. I'm imagining this as a new Tom Cruise/Matt Damon series like Mission Impossible or the Bourne Identity.

Alex is a strong, kick-ass heroine, whose sniper skills are put to the test as she navigates deadly attacks, treacherous allies, and conspiracies at the highest levels of power. Teaming up with CIA agent Caleb Copeland, the story zips from Monaco to the Baltic Sea, and back to the U.S., always keeping the reader on edge. Despite its thrilling setup, the book also touches on themes of trust and betrayal, with Alex constantly questioning who she can rely on.

Though some may feel the action sequences and plot twists are sometimes way over the top, Out in the Cold is undoubtedly a page-turner and kept me entertained throughout. Its blend of espionage, political intrigue, and a fierce protagonist keeps the momentum going. Fans of contemporary military thrillers will enjoy the authors' ability to craft a story that feels relevant and pulse-pounding, even if it doesn’t fully explore all the complexities of its characters.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Alex is involved in a very difficult situation in Europe. He's going to need everything he's learned to diffuse this situation i liked this book.

Special Agent Alex Martel is back; the sequel to Perfect Shot, Out in the Cold did not disappoint.

The story starts off on a yacht in the Mediterranean and just takes off from that point; a good thriller with a plausible plotline. Not too many military/political thrillers out there that have a female as the main character which makes for a good story.

I enjoyed this book, but I think Perfect Shot was better. But would still give this a good rating and recommend to anyone that enjoys a good political thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher.

covert-ops, thriller, suspense, sniper, intrigue, Interpol, international-crime-and-mystery, international-crimes, international-espionage, international-tensions, intense, contemporary, action-adventure, SAS, riveting, CIA, unputdownable, mercenaries, US-army, US-rangers, intelligence-community, Europol, political-factions, political-unrest, politicians, witty, bureaucracy, family*****

Fiction inspired by tomorrow's news releases.
If you enjoy reading fiction featuring a high body count, current personal weaponry, greedy politicians with their Smoke and Mirrors approaches, you will love this fast action tale as much as I did!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Nov 12, 2024
#OutInTheCold by @SteveUrszenyi #SpecialAgentAlexMartelBk2 #InternationalThriller #PoliticalSuspense

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 12, 2024
Former paramedic and explosives expert, Steve Urszenyi, brings Special Agent Alex Martel back in “Out in the Cold”, the second novel in the series.
On board a mega yacht sailing across the Mediterranean is some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world. When an explosion rocks the yacht, sending the vessel and its occupants into peril, Alex is one of the few who is able to utilize her military training in order to bring the boat safely ashore. But what was the cause and who was the target? Through random and unknown attacks, it seems someone or something is targeting Finland, the newest NATO addition, in order to organize an attack against NATO’s enemies. But Alex doesn’t believe that Russia is behind the attacks, as her colleagues claim, and she needs to convince the U.S government that the violence was instigated on native soil, before its too late.
I read the first Alex Martel novel, “Perfect Shot”, and was excited to see her return in “Out in the Cold”. Like the previous novel, there is a lot of action, a lot of characters and a lot of weapons, as well as an even larger collection of United States government acronyms (CIA, FBI and all of their branches), so this is not a novel that you can skim over. It isn’t entirely necessary to read the first novel, as the plot line is entirely different, but I recommend it as it will definitely help keep the main players and their histories straight.
Primarily told from Alex’s point of view, there are a few short chapters narrated by other characters in the story, which add to the mystery and intrigue. I am a sucker for a strong, bad-ass female protagonist and Alex checks every box. Her will-they, won’t-they relationship with her partner, Caleb, is still simmering behind the scenes in this one too, as well as a charming (and Scottish) possibility to add some romance to the dramatic plot.
The plot is well-developed and flows well, from one high octane event to another. There is a lot of technical language, such as the specifics of different weapons and the steps to operating them, and a lot of government acronyms to keep straight, but the struggle is worth it. The ending had just the right amount of surprise and satisfaction. Fans of Jason Bourne who are looking for a bad-ass female to cheer for, will devour Urszenyi’s Alex Martel series.

This is a rollicking, action-packed tale of greed, betrayal, and international intrigue. Someone is performing acts of sabotage against Finland, making it appear that an aggressive Russia is employing its Ukraine strategy all over again. This time, however, the victim is a NATO member. And an international incident involving the member countries of NATO is sure to result, unless someone can discover the ruse and intervene before it’s too late. This book, the second in a series, features Special Agent Alex Martel, a tolerant boss or two, and some very capable colleagues. It is not absolutely necessary that you have read the first book, but there is a lot in here that builds off prior events. Out in the Cold is well written and frenetically paced. The characters are well developed and given discernible motivations. Any fan of high octane international thrillers will enjoy this one. I was able read this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to St Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for the opportunity.

Alexandra Martel, the decorated former sniper and an FBI special agent on loan to Interpol until recently, is engaged with saving the world from another Armageddon in her second outing, Out in the Cold by Steve Urszenyi.

Presently a consultant for the CIA, Alex is on the luxury yacht of the billionaire boyfriend of her former boss at Interpol – now a close friend – Celeste Cliquot, on the Mediterranean when the yacht is attacked by some heavily armed mercenaries. Alex performs death-defying stunts to save Madame Cliquot and her boyfriend but is ordered back to the US by the bosses to join a task force working on the vague intelligence about the covert attacks on Finland by Russia. Naturally, the US and the other NATO members are gearing up to defend their ally, and the next world war is only a minor misstep away. Before Alex can settle in her job, though, another deadly attack occurs in The Hague on Madame Cliquot and her boyfriend, killing the man – a Finnish national, incidentally – and severely injuring the lady, and Alex flies to the Netherlands against her superiors’ orders to find the attackers and punish them. But the appearance of an adversary from her previous case puts an incredible spin on the attacks – on Alex's friend and Finland – empowering Alex to avert the looming war, only if she can convince people holding power, some of whom are not to be trusted.

Urszenyi’s second novel follows a pattern similar to his first for the most part – the high-octane opening, Alex’s loyalty to her friend and disregard for authority, and her beliefs contrary to those of her higher-ups. Alex and her boss, Caleb Copeland, are in fine form, taking part in nonstop action from start to finish, but their relationship is still going nowhere. The fast-paced plot and the vividly described action sequences keep the pages turning. Alex’s never-give-up attitude and her distinctive responses to situations are as fascinating as before. The other recurring characters, and a few new ones, are compelling, too. On the downside, Out in the Cold has several issues, such as the proliferation of technical jargon and acronyms, the unresolved allegiance of an important character, the tamer action at the climax in comparison with the first book, and the revelations at the end that offer nothing much to interest the reader. While I liked Out in the Cold for its superfast narrative and the chance to reconnect with the lead characters, I doubt I would like to see Alex doing the same things once again.

I am grateful to St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for the Digital Review Copy of Out in the Cold through NetGalley.

Another great Alex Martel thriller! I won the first book from a giveaway last year and really enjoyed it, so I was excited when I received this sequel from NetGalley! I feel like these are a less-detailed, female version of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (which I also enjoy).
I didn't like this one quite as much as the first book. I think there were more simultaneous plot lines going on at once which made it a little harder to follow. But right from the first chapter, this book is fun, fast-paced and action packed. I definitely enjoyed it, would recommend to anyone who enjoys spy/military type books, and look forward to more missions for Alexandra Martel to go on!

The second Alex Martel thriller was an excellent story. It begins with Alex on a mega-yacht with her friend Celeste who is the secretary general of Interpol. She sees Celeste meeting with a Finnish ambassador who would like Interpol to begin an investigation.

When the ship is attacked, Alex's skills as a medic, sniper, and all around badass are called into play. Her goal is to get Celeste and her boyfriend to safety. Along the way she has to deal with boatloads of invaders.

The next day Celeste and her boyfriend are attacked. The boyfriend is killed, and Celeste is in a coma. Alex who has been seconded to the CIA was recalled to Washington before the second attack. She goes rogue to find out who is targeting her friend. Then she's called to Finland where she learns that the Finns don't believe that it is the Russians who have been causing all sorts of problems and raising tensions in the area.

Meanwhile, back in the US, the reader learns that there is a conspiracy that reaches deep into government and even to the President's advisers whose goal is to "restore American supremacy" by bringing the US to war with Russia.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns as Alex and some of her fellow spies unravel the conspiracy and find a way to end it. Fans of Alex who is a female version of James Bond will enjoy this fast paced adventure.

Canadian Steve Urszenyi who utilises his professional expertise as a paramedic and police tactical medic, follows up Perfect Shot, featuring his all action female heroine, Special Agent Alexandra Martel, fired from the FBI, and now with the CIA, this is a action packed thrill ride with its shifting locations. The contemporary global turbulence lend the story the kind of terror, grim fear, and possibility that you hope never materialises into actual reality. Alex is in the Mediterranean with her boss, Caleb, on board the Aurora, a megayacht owned by a Finnish billionaire and boyfriend of the Director of Interpol, her friend Celeste Clicquot, along with the presence of other important figures. There is chaos as explosions on board go off, Alex needs to use her incredible sniper skills to ensure the safety of the key people.

Finland is a recent member of NATO, and all the signs and thinking is that Russia is planning to invade, raising tension levels sky high, with some political advisors pushing the American President for NATO troops in the region. There are other attacks, could the world be heading into WW3? The dangers facing Celeste has Alex going out on a limb into becoming a loner as she heads to protect her friend, Celeste, much to Caleb's frustration, but are things really as they appear? Alex's finely tuned gut instinct tells her there is more going on behind the scenes, leaving her relying on her skills and talents, and the help of friends and allies. Will Alex be able to prevent the worst happening and live to tell the tale?

This will appeal to readers who love intense, non stop, breathless espionage thrillers, a genre that is male dominated, so it is refreshing to have a woman central protagonist that more than holds her own against the challenging enemies and dangerous circumstances she finds herself in, as Alex wonders who she can trust. An engaging and entertaining novel that does not require you to have read the first in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

This character driven, action-packed, espionage thriller was every bit as good as the first book in the series. . Unique for this genre of military/intelligence action thriller, the main character is female. Special Agent Alexandra Martel is a kick ass, sometimes rogue agent who never lets direct orders interfere with her mission. This is the second book in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series and although it can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend starting with "Perfect Shot" the first book in the series to avoid spoilers, especially regarding the relationship between the characters. Highly recommended for fans of John Gilstrap, Jack Carr or Marc Cameron.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy.