Into the Fire

Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi is Book One in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel Series. 

FBI Special Agent "Alex" Martel is on loan to Interpol when she meets CIA man Caleb Copeland who winds up saving her life from a fierce attack while she's on her way to meet someone at a coffee house after learning of a past friend's (Krysten) death. This past friend's demise was suspicious, but it isn't until Alex explores Krysten's home that her death becomes a serious mystery. 

CIA man Caleb wants Alex on his new team he's been okayed to form. He knows things about her only a very few eyes have seen. She's been an Army sniper, a member of the ultra-secretive ISA, and has performed expertly in everything's she's done, having earned a Silver Star and Purple Heart during her career.  

Bad news and constant threats surround Alex on the latest mission which seems to revolve around a Russian contingent and their connection to her dead friend. Using an associate IT wizard to help her decipher a message left hidden for Alex, what she learns compels her to disobey a direct order and make her way to Paris.

I've left a great deal out of the storyline, but of course you can read the fuller account on Amazon or the book jacket, but I think it's important to let the tale be told to the reader within the pages of the actual book without too much information. Urszenyi's debut novel is indeed a thriller, and it's a well-done story of a hardcore operative who happens to be female. She's a take-no-prisoners kind of woman who has a heart for the pursuit and a nose for the problem, willing to defy not only the odds but to fiercely ignore all the higher-ups' objections to her determination to nail the solution. A courageous heroine similar but different from those of "Hatch" of L.T. Ryan's novels or "Ham" of Dustin Stevens' books.

It seems to be a trend in publishing recently – although not new – to do the back and forth, past and present, introduction to heroes and heroines, then on to the antagonists and/or enemies. At times this annoys me because I don't like the bouncing back and forth effect, the distraction from the present events. However, when setting the stage for a multi-layered problem in multiple locales, it seems to be the most logical formula to take.

Although both heroine Alex and co-protagonist Caleb can be somewhat unlikable at times, overall they triumph in engaging the reader and ultimately carrying the story to its fitting conclusion and warm-up to the next one in the series. 

I can definitely recommend this story to thriller readers. It's a good debut novel.

Father, only you are the inspiration for good things. May you bless Steve in his writing and continue to give him stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.