Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi Series: Special Agent Alexandra Martel #1
Published by Minotaur Books on November 14, 2023
Genres: Thriller
Pages: 360
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Special Agent Alexandra Martel has put her days on the battlefield behind her. Charming and disarming, relentless and lethal, she earned a reputation as one of the most renowned and decorated Army snipers in the service before stepping away. But when Alex, now an FBI special agent on loan to Interpol, learns that an old friend, an MI5 officer, has been killed under mysterious circumstances, she’s pulled back into the dangerous world she left a world where some people fear her, some want to recruit her, and everyone seems to want her dead.
Following a trail of clues left behind by the dead woman, Alex pieces together a terrifying conspiracy that only escalates when a nuclear warhead goes missing. Dodging death at every turn, she reluctantly joins forces with a CIA officer, but he has plans of his own for her—and will stop at nothing to achieve them.
Perfect Shot sounded like a great read for me from the blurb. I like strong women, fast paced action, political/ military strategy and I don’t have to have romance. Normally, complex details and layers are a bonus. Somehow, this was not the book for me.
Alex Martel is a Special Agent for the FBI on loan to Interpol. She seems to throw her title up to her co-workers as well as other foreign personnel. Yes, some of them are calling her Ms. Martel to demean her. While her deductions about some aspects of the case are savvy, she is not smart in other ways. She knows she’s being followed by multiple others and decides to just fight it out rather than having backup or help. It seems like she is trained in guns but a bit less in fighting.
I understand her unwillingness to trust others since many aren’t trustworthy which leaves her on her own too often. The untrustworthy are only too happy to point her in the wrong direction or just kill her. She does her own thing regardless of the law or orders she is given. Alex does trust a computer analyst who provides and solves most things for her. In fact, she probably could have sat around and waited for his intel other than finding an initial clue from her dead friend and learning about the nuclear weapon.
I did not connect with the main character Alex or the other characters. I didn’t like them. Things Alex did just felt like a bunch of details, and I mostly didn’t care. She did manage to kill a lot of enemy agents trying to kill her, and find a US traitor.
I was excited to read Perfect Shot and wanted to love it. Others may enjoy it more than me.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
It’s hard to really enjoy a book when you don’t like anyone in the story. At least you can cross future books in this series off your list?
Probably. It has all the right things but didn’t work for me. Sigh.
Sorry this was a fail. Sometimes you can enjoy a story even when the characters are unlikable but this doesn’t sound like that kind of book. Hope your next one is a win!
Thanks. It should have worked but not for me. Hopefully others will enjoy it more.
Dang I hate when you can’t connect!!
yes I hate it. I hope it is a win for others.
Sounds like Alex wasn’t too smart with her actions. That’s hard to read. I get frustrated with those kinds of characters. Seemed like it could’ve been a good read.
She was smart most of the time, just over confidant that she could handle anything. She was just so arrogant.
Ahh, too bad it didn’t work for you with the story and characters. Always an interesting unknown when trying out new authors and series.
It sounded like the perfect thing I would like but it didn’t work for me.
Sorry this one was a disappointment for you. As you probably recall, I don’t read thrillers, but this sounded exciting with the lead as a female. It’s too bad it just didn’t work out.
You never know until you try a book. It had the things to make it great. Someone else might love it.
Oh no! I am sorry that this one wasn’t better for you.
I don’t know until I try. Maybe someone else will love it.
Too bad this one didn’t work out for you. It sounds complex and for that kind of read you need to connect with the characters.
I wanted to love it but just didn’t, even though it had everything I usually like.