Double Tap - by Cindy Dees

About the Book

"As an elite assassin for the CIA, Helen Warwick was trained to keep a low profile. To blend into the crowd. To eliminate her targets swiftly, silently, and efficiently. But now that she's retired, Helen is forced to take on a very different, and very public, role-as the proud mother of a rising young politician. At a DC press conference for her son's campaign, she sees the ominous green light of a gun laser fixed on her son's head-and her CIA training kicks in. She jumps into action, pushes her son down, and saves him from a sniper's bullet. In that moment, Helen realizes she will never escape the secrets of her past-or the deranged man she thought she killed. . . . He is still alive-and coming for her family. His code name is Scorpius. A Russian mole embedded in the CIA, he recruits dangerous sociopaths ejected from the military and trains them to kill at command. None of his CIA colleagues-including Helen Warwick-know his true identity. But when members of his kill team begin to disappear, he realizes his entire operation may be at risk. His greatest threat, Helen Warwick, has agreed to rejoin the CIA to help expose Scorpius after the assassination attempt on her son. She suspects that Scorpius may be one of her colleagues, part of a vast conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government. And now that her family has been personally targeted, she's willing to break every rule in the CIA handbook to stop Scorpius and his trained killers. Unless, of course, they kill her first. . . ."--

Book Synopsis

A government assassin. A sociopathic killer. Both hunters--and both hunted--in the ultimate game of deception, double-cross, and death. Retired CIA agent Helen Warwick returns in this electrifying thriller by USA Today bestselling author and former spy Cindy Dees. . .

She craved the shadows. Invisibility. Seeing but not being seen.

As an elite assassin for the CIA, Helen Warwick was trained to keep a low profile. To blend into the crowd. To eliminate her targets swiftly, silently, and efficiently. But now that she's retired, Helen is forced to take on a very different, and very public, role--as the proud mother of a rising young politician. At a DC press conference for her son's campaign, she sees the ominous green light of a gun laser fixed on her son's head--and her CIA training kicks in. She jumps into action, pushes her son down, and saves him from a sniper's bullet. In that moment, Helen realizes she will never escape the secrets of her past--or the deranged man she thought she killed. . . .

He is still alive--and coming for her family.

His code name is Scorpius. A Russian mole embedded in the CIA, he recruits dangerous sociopaths ejected from the military and trains them to kill at command. None of his CIA colleagues--including Helen Warwick--know his true identity. But when members of his kill team begin to disappear, he realizes his entire operation may be at risk. His greatest threat, Helen Warwick, has agreed to rejoin the CIA to help expose Scorpius after the assassination attempt on her son. She suspects that Scorpius may be one of her colleagues, part of a vast conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government. And now that her family has been personally targeted, she's willing to break every rule in the CIA handbook to stop Scorpius and his trained killers. Unless, of course, they kill her first. . . .

"A pitch-perfect adventure, filled with nuance and dire exploits. Take a breath, hang on, and enjoy the ride with this smart and clever heroine." --Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

Review Quotes

Praise for Second Shot

"A pitch-perfect adventure, filled with nuance and dire exploits. Take a breath, hang on, and enjoy the ride with this smart and clever heroine." --Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

"Sharp as an assassin's bullet, Second Shot by Cindy Dees is a must-read for every spy novel enthusiast out there! I couldn't put it down!" --Lisa Jackson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"[A] rollicking mystery thriller . . . Dees's background (intelligence work and detainment by both the KGB and East German police during her military career) and the nuanced writing of Second Shot suggests more exciting adventures to come." --Shelf Awareness

"A breathless thrill ride from the explosive opening scene, Second Shot delivers both high action and a twisted murder mystery. Helen Warwick is a refreshingly mature heroine who uses her extensive experience and sharp wits to turn the tables on all who come gunning for her. Definitely a series to watch!" --Sara Driscoll, author of the FBI K-9s series

"CIA assassin Helen Warwick's hopes to ease into retirement are dashed when she's pulled back into the business. . . . This will mainly appeal to readers who like their thrillers light." --Publishers Weekly

"What a fabulous start to a new series! Cindy Dees has created an exciting action-packed and suspenseful thriller with a more mature main character. This fantastic novel is shocking, emotionally charged, and pulse-pounding. Readers who enjoy action thrillers and espionage thrillers will likely enjoy this book." --Mystery & Suspense Magazine

"You won't want to stop reading Second Shot once you start. It's heart-stopping, ironic, humorous, and entirely believable. . . . I can't wait for the next Helen Warwick thriller." --Criminal Element

"Cindy Dees has crafted a highly entertaining tale that's part espionage thriller and part murder mystery with an incredibly deadly quinquagenarian woman at the center of it all. Second Shot is fascinating and irresistible!" --Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books

"Second Shot is full of exciting and dangerous twists and turns . . . Such a fun read! Cindy Dees has a clear and pleasing writing style. This gets my vote for most entertaining thriller of the year. If you liked Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age, you'll love this one." --Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

About the Author

Cindy Dees is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose suspense, romance, fantasy, and alternate history novels have sold more than two million copies. She is the recipient of the Golden Heart Award and Holt Medallion, and a five-time finalist and two-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award. An Air Force veteran, Dees enlisted after earning a degree in Russian and East European Studies, becoming the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She's flown supersonic jets, VIP airlift, and the C-5 Galaxy, one of the world's largest cargo airplanes. She also worked in intelligence, traveling to forty-two countries on five continents. She was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, and amassed a lifetime's experiences to fuel her stories of life on the edge of danger. A member of ITW, she lives near Ft. Worth, Texas, and can be found online at CindyDees.com.