#2, in series. Special Agent Alex Martel [former army combat medic and sniper] [didn't read #1, but don't think it matters much].

The setting: "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 diploma and Special Agent Alex Martel [who has served in different agencies, currently assigned to the CIA]... 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.... 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 so it begins, a fast-read thriller that I can definitely see as an action movie. Many characters, some seemingly [to me] caricatures--in the good guy/bad guy realm--all too transparent.

I enjoyed the book but found it somewhat predictable [cue in neat and tidy ending]. The players are well drawn [which is why I thought some of it was a foregone conclusion]. And it is current--with Finland in NATO, and Russia's moves on Ukraine as part of the backstory.

So if you need a distraction and enjoy thrillers, this book is for you. Not giving it the acclaim of other readers, 3.5, not rounding up.

Out in the Cold is book two in a series and starts where the first one left off so would be best read as part of the series for the full background. Special Agent Alex Martel is no longer a special agent for the FBI after losing her job for disobeying orders while saving Paris from a bomb. Now Alex has been recruited into the CIA and her special skills are once again in play. While on protection detail, someone tries to kill Alex’s former boss from Interpol and her Finnish diplomat lover. In an action packed read, Alex must stop someone from sabotaging NATO and decipher the red flags that show who the real culprits behind the attacks are before the US is dropped into war. Unpredictable and fast paced, Special Agent Alex Martel once again kicks butt and takes names in this wild thrill ride. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Special Agent Alex Martel, former army combat medic, sniper and assassin, returns in Author Steve Urszenyi's OUT IN THE COLD, an explosive, action-packed follow up to his highly acclaimed PERFECT SHOT. Readers wondering if the author could match the intensity, insane pace and action of book one can rest easy. Not only does Urszenyi match it, he surpasses it and then some. Strap on the bullet proof gear and settle in for an evening of nonstop, high-octane, cover-to-cover action as Agent Martel goes rogue to uncover the identity of forces whose actions threaten world peace.

Special Agent Alex Martel is aboard a luxury mega-yacht crossing the Mediterranean when explosions rock the ship. On a task force assignment with her temporary CIA boss, Caleb, Martel engages her unique skills as a former army sniper to fight off mercenaries and whisk her friend and Director of Interpol, Celeste Clicquot, and other dignitaries to shore safely. As other attacks ensue, political allies agree that all signs point toward Russia planning a massive takeover of Finland, a new NATO ally, potentially setting the stage for a third World War. With tensions high, political advisors in the United States convince the President to bring NATO troops back to the region in preparation of being ready to strike back should Russia invade Finland. When Martel's former mentor and friend, Cliquot, is attacked a second time, Martel disobeys orders, abandons her CIA assignment, and goes rogue with no backup vowing to avenge her friend while searching for the mastermind behind the attacks and the aggression against Finland. Martel's gut tells her the facts as they're known don't add up, and her gut hasn't failed her yet. Is it possible there's a conspiracy setting Russia up to take the fall? Who's really behind all the espionage and chaos? Are the answers to be found on American soil? Can Alex uncover the truth in time to advert a global catastrophe?

If you're a fan of high stake, international espionage thrillers with nonstop action, OUT IN THE COLD is the book for you. While I also highly recommend the first book in this series, PERFECT SHOT,
Author Steve Urszenyi does a fantastic job of setting the scene with sufficient backstory for readers to enjoy this one as a standalone. Be prepared to be highly engaged as the author brilliantly manipulates characters and readers through a tangled plot line of smoke'n'mirrors. Laden with danger at every turn, Martel is a dynamite female lead who manages to stay one step ahead of the bad guys while dodging numerous attempts on her life through her own highly honed skills. It's refreshing to find a female character with adept abilities that rival those of any male hero - one who's deadly and yet still harbors a softer side with a lot of heart, compassion and kindness. The tease of a possible romantic relationship with Caleb is simmering in the background, keeping readers hoping for more. A blistering pace driven by the constant threat of imminent danger kept me burning up the pages searching for the identity of the mastermind, and while my suspicions were correct, I suspect some readers will be surprised by the author's last page reveal.

Well-developed characters fighting their way through a complex plot line rich in conspiracy, espionage, political and international intrigue keeps readers highly engaged from the first page to the final line in OUT IN THE COLD. Highly recommended to fans of high action, covert, espionage style thrillers such as the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. Author Steve Urszenyi is authentic, and here to stay!

Have you ever read a story that sounded so true to life you weren’t sure if it was fiction or fact? Maybe it was fiction based on facts. That’s what I love about these spies/espionage thrillers of today.

These authors take a look at the political and International temperatures and craft stories that are so plausible it can be downright scary. Maybe it’s already happening but either way, it makes for an amazing story.

This book follows a female operator who is transferred from agency to agency and she’s definitely got her hands full.

Not knowing who to trust or where to turn, oftentimes she’s on her own. The story does refer back to a prior book in terms of people that she has met or actions that have happened, however, that does not impair this book in the least. It just makes you want to go back and read the first book!

Out in the Cold is fast-paced and full of action, twists that you don’t expect, friends, allies, and foes. The author does an amazing job with the storytelling and plot sequences. He keeps us on our toes and the pace of the book is perfect.

The good thing is this is an ongoing series so while there is a conclusion and closing, there’s always the next book that will take us on yet another adventure of our main characters.

Out in the Cold is one of those reads you do not want to put down and cannot wait to read again to get all of the nuances! So damn good!

This book is fast paced and a spy thriller. Alex has more lives than a cat, but she might run out soon. Who can she trust? Sometimes things aren’t as they seem on the surface. This book is part of a series but I don’t feel like I missed anything by not reading the first. This is also the first book I have read by this author and I will read him again. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

4. 5 stars which I will gladly round up to a resounding 5 star read.

Out in the Cold is fast paced, full of non stop action that sees the return of Special Agent Alex Martel.

The book opens with a bang and the action builds quickly and is non stop.

Russia is on the verge of war with Finland and Alex is battling enemies on all fronts.

Who can she trust.

Steve Urszenyi is a master of building suspense that has you holding your breath and turning the pages quickly while crossing your fingers .

Out in the Cold can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend you read Perfect Shot first.

I will be first in line for Book 3 ( no pressure).

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for another outstanding book in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series.

Another action packed adventure for special agent Alex Martel. Steve Urszenyi did not disappoint with his sequel to Perfect Shot, OUT IN THE COLD.

The story starts on a yacht and takes off from there with Alex (now working for the CIA) engaging in non-stop action.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher.

Readers seeking an espionage thriller in which the stakes are high and there’s plenty of action might want to give “Out in the Cold” a try. I liked most of it but had problems with some of it. Overall, I thought it an entertaining, topical tale well-suited for readers who enjoy the spy and adventure stories written by authors like Ian Fleming, Tom Clancy, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum.

It’s the second book in the “Alex Martel” series. (I’d not read the first, but I never felt at a loss since “Out in the Cold” adequately explains past events.) Martel is an attractive young woman who is ex-military, ex-FBI, ex-Interpol, and now a contract agent for the CIA’s paramilitary operations section. She’s an expert medic and a deadly sniper. She’s also good in a close-quarters fight. In the last novel, she saves Paris from being destroyed, for which she receives the Medal of Freedom from the President and her walking papers from the FBI for exceeding her orders. So, she’s also very independent and has no problem ignoring orders and/or the chain of command.

As the story begins, Alex is at a party aboard an industrialist’s mega-yacht cruising the Mediterranean. She’s there to meet with her close friend, Interpol’s Director General, who is romantically involved with the industrialist and who also is meeting with Finland’s ambassador to NATO. Tensions between Russia and the West are high. During the past year, there have been assaults upon Finland and her industries, which many believe have been caused by Russia which seems to want to invade and occupy its neighbor.

Without warning, the yacht is attacked by mercenaries aboard high-speed powerboats. Alex leaps into action and helps to repel the attack and spirit the Director General, the industrialist, and the ambassador away. Many think that this is another Russian attack, which increases tensions even further. But some wonder whether different actors might be at work. Alex and the team she is part of must now discover who is responsible for the attacks against Finland and their motives.

Out in the Cold is well-written, for the most part. The prose is clear. The dialogue is realistic. Author Steve Urszenyi is at his best when writing action scenes, maintaining high levels of tension. He seems intimately acquainted with his settings including the French Riviera, Washington, D.C. and its environs, and Helsinki and other parts of Finland. He seems equally familiar with all the hardware utilized in his novel (e.g., boats, cars, computers, weaponry, etc.). Clearly, he’s done his research.

He’s also given us a plot that seems somewhat realistic when compared with today’s current events. Although all the characters are fictional, there’s a Russian president who seeks to expand his country's boundaries, no matter what the cost, and Americans who insist that America fulfill its potential for greatness, no matter what the cost—even if the cost is a nuclear war that destroys the planet. High stakes, indeed.

On the negative side, I thought protagonist Alex Martel was not as well-drawn as she might have been. For me, she was a character of too many contradictions. Sometimes she’s tough and ruthless. Sometimes she’s soft and vulnerable. She’s a healing medic and a deadly assassin. She’s heroic, but independent to the point of insubordination. She’s a loner but torn between two love interests. She’s supposed to be a clever wunderkind of an agent, and yet we never really see any of that cleverness at work. In short, I sometimes had trouble believing in Alex Martel. However, it should be noted that many other readers/reviewers have expressed admiration for the character, so my opinion may well be in the minority.

I also thought Mr. Urszenyi’s decision to embed a conspiracy into the novel regrettable. It’s a device that’s been used many times before in books and films like “Seven Days in May,” “The X-Files,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” Robert Ludlum’s “Jason Bourne” novels, and Ian Fleming's "James Bond" novels, to mention only a few. Unfortunately, Mr. Urszenyi was unable to bring anything new or fresh to the concept.

Nevertheless, for the most part, I enjoyed “Out in the Cold” and think it deserves a rating of 3.75 stars rounded up to four

My thanks to NetGalley, author Steve Urszenyi, and publisher St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my independent opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alex Martel is ex-Interpol and is now working in the CIA. She is off the Southern coast of France on the yacht of her ex-boss’ wealthy new Finnish boyfriend when it is attacked and they barely make it back to shore alive. This all turns out to mean the Finland is under attack from Russia.

This is a well written book that just isn’t my thing. I was offered a widget and this seemed to be on the edge of what I would like. Turns out it was over the edge.. The early action sequence was out of an action movie, which I am not into and I am just not interested in war and CIA stories. I love international intrigue so I thought I might like this. I am giving it 4 stars because I think it is well done but I am the wrong audience.

3.5 stars rounded down for a spy thriller that will appeal to James Bond fans. Alexandra Martel is a CIA agent who has transferred from the FBI. She was a sniper in the US Army and served in combat in Afghanistan. The book opens with her aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of France. The yacht is attacked by terrorists in Zodiac style boats. Alex, Caleb, another CIA agent aboard, and security aboard the boat take on the terrorists. This is a fast paced thriller with a lot of action.
Alex and Caleb manage to unravel the sinister forces behind this attack and the others that follow with the help of other CIA employees and some unlikely allies.
Pros: The action was non stop. The plot moved along briskly. It is book 2 in the series, but worked as a stand alone for me.
Cons: The author describes every weapon and bullet used in great detail, which will appeal to gun enthusiasts, but probably not the general reader. The author is a retired paramedic with the Ontario, Canada, Provincial Police.
One quote, describing Alex's gun : "She retrieved her everyday carry--every day, that is, except when she was on company time-- a Kimber R7 Mako subcompact pistol with an attached Crimson reflex sight, and tucked it into the back of her jeans, the cold frame sending goose bumps up her spine."
Thank You Steve Erickson at St. Martin’s Publishing Group for sending me this eARC through NetGalley

Pub Date Nov 12 2024

Alexandra(Alex) Martel returns to action in the follow up, Out in the Cold, by Steve Urszenyi. A banger of a thriller and Alex kicks ass once again, as a contractor for the CIA. The book was hard to put down, with almost non-stop action. Good character development, fast paced plot, and the usual
3 letter agencies trying to play nice with one another.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for letting me read this ARC. I totally recommend reading the fantastic thriller and can't wait for the follow up next year. The author, Steve Urszenyi, is the real deal in thriller writing.

Special Agent Alex Martel returns in the 2nd book in this series, and Out In The Cold Is another winner. Martel, since dismissed from the FBI due to her insubordinate, albeit heroic actions in thwarting a nuclear attack, is now working for the CIA, and is drawn into what appears to be a series of terrorist actions by the Russians in Finland. But these attacks may be orchestrated by someone closer to home. The book once again 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. Lots of action here, and although the plot is not unique, it still holds the reader’s interest throughout the book, which starts off quick and continues that pace. The ending felt a little rushed and unfinished, which apparently sets up the next book in this entertaining series. Definitely recommended. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Just get through the curse-packed opening action attack scene on a luxury yacht (where our heroine Alexandra Martel drops a few too many f-bombs and the narration uses constantly changing insider military lingo that gets in the way of plot) to settle into a fabulous spy mystery. Russia seems on the verge of attacking Finland: based on a year of civilian attacks as well as assassination attempts on key Finnish leaders, along with a build-up on Russian troops on their border facing Finland. Government Hawks in the United States get the President to call back NATO troops that had been doing joint exercises outside of Finland and urge him to be ready to strike back at Russia for their continuing aggression outside of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Alex- who’s a one-time combat medic turned highly trained long-range shooter and assassin- has just ended her gig working for the FBI on assignment to Interpol in Oslo. Alex’s close mentor and friend, Celeste, who heads up Interpol, narrowly escaped with her life from the luxury yacht attack, alongside Celeste’s billionaire Finnish boyfriend. When another attempt is taken on Celeste’s life, Alex abandons her temporary assignment to an international squad in the CIA in D.C. so she can return to Finland to both protect and avenge Celeste. Alex’s new CIA boss (and crush) Caleb is exasperated to have Alex flying off on her own.

But while in Finland, Celeste quickly realizes that a U.S. based conspiracy by highly placed and wealthy Americans may be behind the attacks in hopes of provoking an all-out war with Russia and reestablishing U.S. world dominance. Bullets fly and bodies tumble as Alex, the private security team of the billionaire, the Finnish prime minister, and Alex’s CIA superiors try to figure out what’s really going on and to avert an all-out war with Russia if indeed this conspiracy has U.S. origins. Alex proves herself to be both a successful, rogue loner and ultimately a reluctant team player in getting to the heart of what’s really going on.

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

Alex Martel is a strong, smart and cunning woman who is amazing her job! This action packed story keeps you turning pages. I can't wait for her next adventure.

I loved book one Perfect Shot. So I got super excited about starting book two Out in the Cold an Alex Martel Thriller series by Steve Urszenyi.
This engaging, fast paced thriller featuring the extraordinary FBI special agent Alexandra Martel is such an exciting read.
I couldn’t stop reading this book once I started. This action packed adventure was such a thrilling ride.
And I can’t wait to see what is in store for the third book.

I knew Alex had it in her in Perfect Shot and Out in the Cold scores 4-stars with well paced action, good character development, and none of the technical problems of Perfect Shot. Urszenyi has a winner on his hands with this series.

The tension is palpable, the action relentless, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With sharp prose and intricate plotting, this novel delivers a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue that has me hooked from start to finish.

Former Army sniper, FBI, Interpol, and now CIA agent Alex Martel is back in the second installment of the series and it's just as exciting as the first one. Alex is onboard a yacht with the Director of Interpol and several other VIPs when they are attacked by mercenaries. Alex immediately jumps into action and helps save the Director and billionaire yacht owner but were they the only targets or is someone also after Alex as well? The action starts from the first few pages and never lets up as Alex is assigned to a task force investigation into Russian aggressions toward Finland. Is the crazy Russian president trying to provoke Finland and it's NATO partners into WWIII or is something else really going on behind the scenes. If you like whirlwind-paced thrillers with authentic details, covert agendas, and a great female lead character, I would definitely recommend this series. #NetGalley #OutintheCold

Once again, Special Agent Alex Martel is up to her neck in intrigue. As a CIA contractor, she is involved in investigating a series of incidents that may be designed to provoke a war between the U.S. and Russia. An interesting plot with a fast pace and plenty of twist and turns makes this a good read. Although I enjoyed this novel more than the first in the series, I again found some of the dialogue — and the description of thoughts whirling around in Andrea’s mind — to be pretty trite. Nonetheless, I look forward to more of Alex’s adventures.

Grabbed me right away and it didn't let up. I found it hard to put the book down. The characters are well written and the plot flows nicely. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book