Second Shot
An Action-Packed Novel of Suspense
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4.5 • 42 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“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 . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
CIA assassin Helen Warwick's hopes to ease into retirement are dashed when she's pulled back into the business in this diverting if uneven thriller from Dees (Beyond the Limit). One night, four assassins attack Helen out of the blue. She kills three of them, but one escapes, leaving her to wonder who ordered the hit and why. Meanwhile, two serial killers seem to be prowling the D.C. streets—one kills his victims and poses their corpses in scenes that mimic famous works of art, another finds ingenious ways to frame innocent people for his kills. Helen gets roped into both investigations and fears they may have connections with enemies she made during her time with the CIA. Helen is an endearing heroine, always reminding those around her that she shouldn't be doing any of this at age 55, but the adventure she's thrown into is cluttered and overstuffed. Dees manages a final note that's satisfying enough on its own but fails to bring the plot's many threads to graceful resolution. This will mainly appeal to readers who like their thrillers light and don't mind a little mess.
