Second Shot - by Cindy Dees

Book Synopsis

"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

Fans of J.T. Ellison and Julie Clark will be riveted by this exhilaratingly sharp thriller from a New York Times bestselling author and former spy. This taut, action-packed thriller introduces unforgettable heroine Helen Warwick, a highly skilled CIA assassin trying to navigate retirement, settle into a normal life, and reconnect with her family . . . in the midst of mortal combat.

Retirement isn't easy for a former CIA assassin. For fifty-five-year-old Helen Warwick, it may be impossible. Even Helen's family doesn't know the true nature of the work she's done for decades--the secret black ops, the sanctioned executions. But her plan to spend time reconnecting with her grown children has just been blown up--along with her son's house--by hired killers. Why is she being targeted now--and by whom?

Years of eliminating the nation's enemies one sniper bullet at a time have earned Helen powerful adversaries. Then there are mysterious new foes, including a psychopath dubbed The DaVinci Killer, who wages a twisted war with a rival serial killer to turn murder into art. And when he sets his sights on Helen, she may very well become his next exhibit.

From homegrown spies to Russian mafia hitmen, Helen's ghosts don't just haunt--they kill. And staying alive long enough to make up for the past, and protect those closest to her, will take every ounce of skill she possesses . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Second Shot

"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

"Sharp as an assassin's bullet, Second Shot is a must-read for every spy novel enthusiast out there!" --Lisa Jackson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"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

"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 and NYPD Negotiators series

"[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

"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

"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

"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.