Steve Urszenyi (https://steveurszenyi.com) is the author of two novels. Perfect Shot was published in 2023 and Is the first book in his Special Agent Alexandra Martel series. It is the 3rd book I completed reading in 2025.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

Special Agent Alexandra Martel has served in the military as a sniper and now works for the FBI. When the story opens, she is on loan to Interpol and a member of Task Force Angel. The Task Force is working to stop the sale of nuclear material. Action ensues when Interpol moves to stop an exchange, and Martel must use her exceptional skills as a sniper. During the encounter Martel meets the handsome, quiet, yet formidable Caleb Copeland of the CIA. Unknown to Martel, Copeland is there to recruit her onto his CIA team.

Soon after, Martel receoved a phone call from Cara, a woman in the UK. Cara breaks the news to Martel that their mutual friend Krysten is dead. Martel had met Krysten at a conference years earlier, and the two had formed a bond. Martel hadn’t known Krysten well. The two women shared experiences working in military special ops and in the security service of their respective countries.

Cara does not believe that Krysten’s death was an accident and asks Martel to investigate. The death is ruled suspicious, and Krysten’s MI-5 colleagues begin to investigate. Martel uncovers evidence that Krysten was not who she pretended to be. Martel asks a friend within Interpol to examine documents from Krysten for further information.

Having to leave the murder of Krysten behind, she and Copeland are sent to Turkey to investigate the disappearance of a nuclear weapon. While there is no evidence, they both feel the Russians are behind the theft. They follow the trail of the bomb, but due to a traitor and Russian agents, they are almost killed. They lose track of the weapon and are ordered back to the US. Intelligence services report that the bomb is destined for New York.

As they stop briefly in Paris, Martel receives new information. She believes that the bomb is in Paris and leaves Copeland behind on the plane. Her disobedience to orders to return to the US may be a career-ending move. World leaders are in Paris for a conference. Security for the conference and protestors have the local police fully occupied. Martel must strike out without backup and follow her instincts to find the bomb.

In the course of the story, Martel is attacked more than once by those she feels are Russian agents. Only with her considerable skills and the help of Copeland does she survive. Can she trust the warnings left by Krysten? Will the bomb indeed be found in Paris? Will it be found before it can be detonated? Will Russian agents be able to stop her?

I enjoyed the 10.5 hours reading this 360-page thriller. This is the typical thriller with action around every turn. I recently had the opportunity to read his second novel Out in the Cold. I have enjoyed them both. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

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Debut in a new series by Steve Urszenyi. Special Agent Alexandra (Alex) Martel is on loan to INTERPOL from the FBI when a thermonuclear bomb goes missing off of an American Air Force base in Turkey. I loved that a female main character with military background. She's highly trained, deadly and capable of doing things most wouldn't think were possible. She's now an FBI agent and trouble came to her, so she's going to handle her business. She doesn't know who to trust and as a reader you will struggle to determine as well. As the story is filled with action, and suspense, you should be ready right on the opening chapter as Alex and her team race to stop an alleged Islamic terror group from exchanging special nuclear material. Excited to see where this series leads. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity

Gives me Tom Clancy vibes, very engaging

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy

This debut novel introduces Special Agent Alexandra (Alex) Martel, a decorated Army sniper who finds herself pulled into international intrigue when an old friend, an MI5 agent, dies under mysterious circumstances and a nuclear warhead is stolen from an American Air Force base in Turkey. It’s an action packed race to identify the thieves and find the warhead before it can be used to create a worldwide catastrophe. In a genre that tends to be dominated by male ‘superheroes’, it was a pleasant change of pace to have a female lead character who is more than capable of holding her own and showing the boys how it’s done! Not only was this book a thrill ride of a debut, but it’s also presented readers with a female main character who’s patriotic and a warrior who believes in duty, justice, honor and loyalty.

(Rounded up from 3.5)
Perfect Shot is a thriller/spy novel that features female Special Agent Alex (Alexandra) Martel, FBI currently seconded to Interpol. The book opens with an exciting sequence in the Netherlands, which spotlights Alex’s sniper/sharpshooting skills, while she’s part of a team trying to prevent nuclear materials from getting into the wrong hands. For a debut novel, this was a really good tale, with vivid writing. It does get bogged down a bit here and there with a ton of acronyms and technical information, especially one chapter later in the book that gives me more information on nuclear bombs that I ever needed to know, but the action picks up again.

Of course, Alex is beautiful. Of course. And Caleb, a CIA guy who winds up working with her, is handsome. Of course. There are some stock figures in a bunch of evil scheming Russians and a couple of double agents along the way. Since this is the first in a new series (book two, Out In The Cold, will be out later this fall), there are a bunch of flashbacks inserted here and there, to give us Alex’s backstory, but they do take you out of the narrative flow.

One character I really loved was Gareth, a super-helpful cabbie in London. I hope he somehow reappears in further books, but that probably won’t happen. This book takes us to several places: Arnhem in The Netherlands, London, Paris and an airbase in Turkey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

In Steve Urszenyi's Perfect Shot, the debut of an electrifying new series, former Army sniper turned FBI Special Agent Alexandra Martel turns to high-stakes international espionage following the mysterious death of a friend. Urszenyi, drawing on a diverse array of locales from London to Moscow, Iraq to Turkey, crafts a narrative that's as rich in geographic scope as it is in suspense. Martel's probe into the death of her friend uncovers a chilling nuclear conspiracy that tests her skills in a world where she never knows who is trying to recruit her and who is trying to kill her.

Urszenyi's narrative smoothly weaves action sequences with introspective moments that delve into Martel's complex past as both a fighter and a survivor. There are even some Da Vinci Code level puzzles as Alex races across London, and memorable characters like Gareth, an Afghanistan war veteran turned stunt driving cabbie, add warmth and texture to the storytelling.

Drawing on decades as a tactical medic with the Ontario Provincial Police, Urszenyi brings an authoritative perspective to the depiction of international law enforcement agencies, from the FBI to Interpol. His portrayal of their inner workings, bolstered by insights from various experts cited in the acknowledgements, lends an air of authenticity that enriches the reader's understanding of global intelligence power dynamics. Perfect Shot is a confident start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing how Alex’s character grows in Book 2, Out in the Cold.

Perfect Shot is an action-packed debut thriller by Steve Urszenyi featuring FBI Special Agent Alexandra Martel, a decorated ex-army sniper who is presently on loan to Interpol.

Alex, based in the Netherlands, flies to London to investigate – in a personal capacity – the death of a woman named Krysten, a British intelligence agent whom she had befriended a few years ago during an intelligence conference. As soon as she lands, a group of thugs, seemingly Russians, try to kill her, and the visit worsens further as Alex finds some shocking facts about Krysten’s true identity and the probable reason behind her death – all the while trying to keep herself alive. Caleb Copeland, a CIA agent with a lot of clout, trails Alex from the Netherlands to London, even helping her out of a few tricky situations, but Alex is unsure if she can trust him. Meanwhile, a nuclear missile from the US base in Turkey goes missing, triggering widespread panic, and Alex senses a connection between the incident and Krysten’s story. However, she cannot convince her bosses about her assessment of the situation – due to her lapse in judgment about Krysten – and finds herself alone, except maybe for Caleb, in the race to save thousands of lives and prevent another world war.

In Perfect Shot, Urszenyi has created a fast-paced thriller with a formidable protagonist and a gripping plot. Alex’s character – beautiful, intelligent, fearless, resourceful, and so on – is as incredible as it is appealing. The other characters, too, are adequately defined, though a few of those are stereotypes one tends to find in such novels. The descriptions of people, places, and action sequences are vivid and crisp. Urszenyi uses plenty of technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms, which makes the novel feel authentic while making it incomprehensible at times. There are many sequences where the reader must suspend disbelief, but I guess they are par for the course. This book was offered to me by the publishers in exchange for my unbiased review, and I am glad for the opportunity to read this promising author. I hope Urszenyi will iron out the issues in the coming books in the series, and I would like to see what Alex does next.

I am grateful to St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for the digital review copy of Perfect Shot through NetGalley.

Looking for an over the top military thriller with a kick ass heroine? Look no further than Steve Urszenyi's Perfect Shot.

It introduces decorated army sniper Alexandra Martel, an FBI Special Agent on loan to Interpol, one who always follows her own drummer.

In this 1st episode, she and CIA officer Caleb (but mainly Alex) thwart a Russian plot involving use of a stolen nuclear bomb.

Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi is an action packed military thriller starting an impressive female main character. Special Agent Alexandra Martel is not only an excellent sniper but also an excellent FBI agent. The story is fast paced and full of intense action. The military details and acronyms made the story a little dull from time to time as it slowed the action. However, Perfect Shot is a perfect story for fans of Robert Ludlum or John le Carre.

Alex Martel, a trained medic when she was in the service. She became a sniper called in to take out bad guys. After the service, she became an FBI agent and is currently on loan to Interpol. On assignment in the Netherlands looking for nuclear material, Caleb a CIA agent wants to recruit her for his team. In the middle of all of this, she finds out that a Krysten, a good friend of hers in England is dead. After arriving in England, she has a whole lot of problems and finds herself being chased.
It was a good book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Marten’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to St Martins Press/Minotaur books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an action packed story that keeps the plot moving along quickly. I love seeing books that feature strong women characters in military/government roles. A great book sure to be loved by all those adrenalin junkies out there looking for a thrill.

This is book one in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series. (Not actually a series yet, but according to Goodreads will be one.) Special Agent Martel is an Army vet. If I have ever read anything like this, I can't remember it. It kind of gave me 'The Blacklist' vibes. I don't know what to say aside from I enjoyed it and will be keeping an eye out for the next book.

Better late than never - thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! There is a new operator in town and she has quite the attitude. Special Agent Alex Martel is a go-getter. She has a particular set of skills behind the scope of a rifle that she plies when her nation requires it. Fans of heavy hitters like Don Bentley, Brad Thor, and Jack Carr will want to add this debut novel to their “To-Read” list! Five big stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced audio copy and ebook copy.

"Perfect Shot" by Steve Urszenyi was a really enjoyable book! It was my first time reading a book by this author, and now I'm eager to read more, especially since it's part of a series. The book is about a talented female sniper named Special Agent Alexandra Martel, and let me tell you, she's really impressive.

Basically, the story follows Special Agent Martel, who works for Interpol as an FBI Agent, as she embarks on an important mission. Let me just say, the book starts off with a lot of excitement! There are car chases and helicopter rides that are described so vividly, it feels like you're right there in the action. And trust me, there are many surprising twists and turns that take you to different interesting places like Russia, Istanbul, London, and Paris. Special Agent Martel, with the support of the CIA, FBI, and Interpol, is on a mission to stop terrorists and save the world. This book really keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wondering who's really behind the terrorist attack.

One thing I really loved about this book is the great variety of characters, the thrilling action, and the well-crafted plot. Special Agent Martel, our main character, is really intelligent, strong, and brave. But you know what? She didn't start off as a sniper, she used to be a medic, and that adds a compassionate side to her character. As a fan of spy books, I have to say, "Perfect Shot" really impressed me. It's accurate and engaging, especially when compared to other books in the same genre.

Honestly, I highly recommend this book, and the fact that it's part of a series? That just makes me even more excited. With its amazing characters, gripping storyline, and all the action and suspense, this book is truly captivating. By the way, I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and these opinions are completely my own, no strings attached.

Solid debut thriller through and through. Steve has a knack for speedy character development that gets you caring without slowing down the plot. Alex Martel is a pistol, capable yet vulnerable, a woman determined to the do the right thing no matter the personal cost. I'm looking forward to her future adventures!

From the blurb, this sounded like a book I’d love. A female CIA special agent who is also a sniper? Sign me up! Unfortunately, I had a very disjointed reading experience. The first half was very clunky with lots of military acronyms and over explanations. It was hard to stay connected with the story. Thankfully, the second half was significantly better and read quickly. 2.5 stars, rounded up.

What a heck of a debut from an author with the personal and professional background to add more than enough authenticity to keep thriller fans engaged. Steve Urszenyi is a name to remember.

Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi
Special Agent Alexandra Martel #1

Hooked on page one and reeled in a bit more with each page read ~ Couldn’t put it down!

What I liked:
* Alexandra “Alex” Martel: widow, ex-military sniper, special ops experience, FBI Special Agent, on loan to Interpol, strong, resilient, lethal, strategic thinker, puzzle solver, follows her gut, dependable, someone I would want on my side
* Caleb Copeland: CIA branch chief developing a unique team of operators that Alex would be perfect for, experienced, dedicated, patriotic, capable, survivor, warrior, knowledgeable, lethal, interesting
* Beginning to know and care about characters that I hoped would make it through the book alive so that I can read more about them in future books
* The plot, pacing, settings, and writing
* That acronyms, agency names, military equipment, and technical information were well enough defined for me to follow without getting bogged down while reading the story
* The twists and turns
* Being thankful that there are people dedicated to keeping the world safe
* Being able to thoroughly dislike the bad guys and hope they would be vanquished
* The conclusion and lead into the next book of the series
* Reading a debut novel that is well written by an author I see great promise for

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how warped some thinking can be and how it leads to such evil plots, plans, and deeds

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

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This debut novel is a great spy/action thriller that follows FBI Special Agent Alex Martel as she tries to outwit and out shoot the perpetrators of the theft of a US nuclear weapon. On loan to Interpol, she is working with Caleb, a CIA agent, who wants her to be part of his select team.

The action is non-stop. The writing is edge-of-the-seat. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope to follow Alex as she uses her skills in other adventures.

A really good story from start to finish. You follow special agent Alexandra Martel in her travels around Europe taking out and looking for the terrorists. You also get her back story along the way which just adds to the story and you see the skills she has is more than just shooting. I found this to be a very good book from start to finish with a lot of action and was able to finish it in a few hours. Good characters and very much worth the read.