Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Chris Collins CIA #2

Shanghai Crossfire

Rate this book
Could You Betray The Ones You Love For the Greater Good?

Chris Collins is an ex-CIA agent with a history of rogue missions. His enemies took away everything he had, and now it's time to pay. He knows his adversaries will stop at nothing to remove those who stand in their way - including himself. But they move in the shadows, and smoking them out means taking himself to some dark places.

As he hunts them down, he's reminded that for spies like him, romance is never easy. How can you find love when seducing strangers is part of your job description?

Across the world, a child is missing. Will the web finally lead back to him, or will he be lost forever?

This is an action-packed, seductive thriller set across exotic locations.

"A riveting political thriller."
"Straight out of the Mission Impossible or James Bond films"
"Fun, fast-paced and intriguing."

Readers of James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, and Mark Dawson will LOVE this series. Pick up a copy, put the phone on silent, and lock the door—this is going to be an all-nighter!


376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2020

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

John Hopton

32 books9 followers
John's fiction work focuses mainly on spy thrillers, while his only non-fiction work (so far) takes a humourous look at football around the world.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
120 (51%)
4 stars
81 (34%)
3 stars
22 (9%)
2 stars
5 (2%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
12.8k reviews191 followers
March 11, 2020
What a suspenseful story. Chris is ex-CIA, but he tries to solve a mystery. Will it go bad for him, you definitely want to find out. Loved it.
Profile Image for Shelley Amazon ca reviews as Purrrplehaze .
520 reviews46 followers
January 6, 2023
Twists and Turns abound!

Non-stop action, exotic locations, stress, pursuit, betrayal, confusion, friendship, loss, and banter abound in this installment.

The search for a traitor and a plot by a Secret Society takes our hero to the other side of the world...

Up next...Sahara Dawn!..
Profile Image for Rosemary.
4,018 reviews73 followers
March 11, 2020
Shanghai Crossfire - a review by Rosemary Kenny

James Bond and Jason Bourne etc may as well retire, with red-hot action man Chris Collins on the scene in Shanghai Crossfire,Book 2 of the A Chris Collins CIA Thriller series by David Berens and John Hopton.
There's even a slight homage to Honey Ryder coming out of the sea in Dr No,when love interest and partner in crime-solving, Tsu, comes out of the sea while they pair are on a romantic getaway in the Caribbean, while finally off-duty, to set a false sense of peace and harmony, which is shattered moments later, as the pair are fired upon. 
Of course there are the usual shenanigans - conspiracies, corrupt politicians, power-seeking megalomaniacs and a serious global threat - to keep the action going at break-neck speed, with much excitement and danger to spice up the mix. A young tech genius is kidnapped and his talents put to nefarious use, leads to a deepening of the plot and many, many, twists and turns for our heroes and their friends and others who help, hinder or generally get in the way of our heroic duio.Can anyone really be trusted? Who's the mole, leaking vital secrets that may endanger Chris and Tsu as they follow separate threads of the mystery?Why do Chris and Tsu go to Russia - and what happens there? Who's the VIP traitor who's promised asylum, then endangered once out of their 'comfort zone'?
Shanghai Crossfire's a sequel that doesn't miss a beat as the MCs travel internationally and face danger on every corner. David Berens and John Hopton certainly know how to keep their many readers fully satisfied and reading til the very end, as Shanghai Crossfire is a 5-star unforgettable winner you're sure to love. Get your copy today and don't forget to tell all your friends what a great new spy Chris Collins and his CIA Thriller series has brought once more!

134 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2020
Chris Collins sailed to Jamaica in his boat with his friend and former agent Tsu. Then, before you know it, they are shot at while lounging on his boat. They were uninjured but they caught the assassin who claimed a Mexican drug lord called The Priest had paid him for his work.

After speaking with his best friend Ned, a former NSA agent, Chris finds out that there was a man above The Priest who was actually in charge of a few others.

Then the remainder of the book follows Tsu who goes to to Mexico to find The Priest and Chris goes after other shady characters who appeared to be members of the Yale chapter of the Skull and Bones Society. But, more importantly, he goes after Helen Miller, his former traitorous boss and head of the CIA, who he finds out is now in Russia.

But more adventure awaits them after they get to Shanghai. By then it's really hard to put the book down in order to find out how everything turns out.

You'd better fasten your seatbelt because this is an edge-of-your-seat adventure.
Profile Image for Pete.
895 reviews8 followers
February 2, 2020
The storyline of this book is very clever and very exciting, with the two main characters Szu and Chris each having their own adventure in different parts of the world.
I like the characters, but not having read the earlier books in the series I was left a little unsure what their backstories were and why they were so passionate about the missions they were on.
I also found the writing style rather single paced, and found that the action scenes were rather underplayed, meaning that they lacked the punch that I was expecting.
So although this is well worth reading, and I will be reading more in the series, it didn't quite reach the heady heights of 5 stars for me.
I received an advance copy of the book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.
Profile Image for Margaret.
793 reviews5 followers
February 2, 2020
Shanghai Crossfire: A Chris Collins CIA Thriller by David F. Berens and John Hopton reminds me of Mission Impossible! Chris and Tsu are shot at while lounging on their yacht docked in Jamaica. And thus begins the epic adventures of this intricate worldwide thriller. They split up to follow leads in Russia where the traitorous former Director of the CIA is seeking asylum and in Mexico to find various lower level bad guys who may offer leads to The Priest, head villian they are ultimately after. The action gets really hot and heavy when they finally wind up in Shanghai. This CIA thriller is tough to put down, be warned!
460 reviews2 followers
February 13, 2020
A Thrilling Ride Around The World!

Chris and Tsu sure can get into a LOT of sticky situations but their skills and pure will keeps them alive and performing their best work. I like Author Berens' writing style - long on action without all the wordy descriptives. It doesn't lack any story but the reader doesn't get bogged down by verbiage. This story could be the ultimate text on how not to run an op. But when you have the training and the skills and the expertise, you can get the job done. Going now to Amazon to order the next episode.
Profile Image for David Taylor.
1,553 reviews27 followers
January 31, 2020
This installment of Chris Collins adventures in finding the person or persons responsible for upending his life takes him across the globe. This series just gets better with each new book, along with action and intrigue personal relationships blossom or are extinguished. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite spy thriller series. I received an Advance Reader Copy and chose to provide this review.
Profile Image for Jamie.
Author 1 book16 followers
June 21, 2021
Shanghai Crossfire has good action & both dystopian and interesting settings. It is a quick read. The authors are good at creating bad guys. But the story lacks depth and ends too abruptly. No doubt to be picked up in the next book of the series. Nothing was really said about any consequences to Landsdowne, other than a vague remark by the president. Need to wrap the story up a little better. If you are looking for fast adventure & espionage tales, this series may be for you.
345 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2020
Another great installment in the Chris Collins CIA series. The writing is fast-paced and very humorous. I am enjoying getting to know more about these characters as the series progresses. Definitely a thriller that keeps the pages turning because you can't put it down until the end. Each book get better and better. Can't wait for the next book of the series.
1,882 reviews14 followers
January 31, 2020
Chris is going to Russia to bring back the CIA director that is seeking asylum in Russia. Tsu is in Mexico to fine the Priest and find a missing boy. This is a page turning thriller with a lot of action through out. Danger for both of them as they dodge bullets, knives and very strong and determined people who want to kill them.
32 reviews1 follower
February 17, 2020
An exciting read.

Chris and The return in a new adventure when they believe they have uncovered a sinister plot somehow connected to the Yale 'Skull and Bones' secret club. The leads they develop split them up, sending them in opposite directions. The benefit to the reader is two adventures for the price of one. Both will keep you guessing and turning pages.
94 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2020
Another thriller

Another exciting fast paced novel by this author. His main character, Chris Collins and his friends get out of some jaw clenching situations, only to land in even more. Highly recommend you read this novel.
678 reviews11 followers
February 2, 2020
Chris is one of the best writers I have read. Shanghai Crossfire starts out with action and goes non stop to the end. If you like a lot of action spy agents you will love this one. Highly recommend you try it.
10 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2020
Loved it!!!!

Loved Shanghai Cross fire, it wss fast, thrilling and interesting to see how the various lives of Chris, Ned & Tsu were intertwined throughout the book. I've read all of Chris Collins books so far & cannot wait for the next one. On to Tsu's incredible journey.
319 reviews4 followers
February 6, 2020
Shanghai Crossfire

Well written and in the end it was left open for further adventure. Their are many ways to proceed in the next book.
14 reviews
March 17, 2020
Good read

Lots of action. Beginning of a good tortured love story. Love the comedic character Ned. Looking forward to the third book.
116 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2020
Hard to put down

If you like action and suspense this the book for you. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
295 reviews
April 8, 2020
Good thriller

A little too much adult language for my taste but the story was fast paced and stayed interesting. Quite a few errors, most being words left out.
338 reviews
November 29, 2020
Great action.

Exciting. Amazing one man and one woman could be presented with so many obstacles and survive. Very resourceful but very caring about what is right.
Profile Image for Shelley Amazon ca reviews as Purrrplehaze .
520 reviews46 followers
January 6, 2023
Twists and Turns abound!

Non-stop action, exotic locations, stress, pursuit, betrayal, confusion, friendship, loss, and banter abound in this installment.

The search for a traitor and a plot by a Secret Society takes our hero to the other side of the world...

Up next...Sahara Dawn!..
79 reviews
April 27, 2024
Fast paced

A fast paced international thriller. It may seem a little far fetched but I enjoyed it. I'll certainly continue with this series.
2 reviews
May 24, 2024
Shanghai

Great reading unable to put my kindle down. In order to keep reading and not wake my honey I had to duck under the covers :)
109 reviews5 followers
February 9, 2026
Better than the first one I read. Good plot. Still a bit unrealistic when it comes to the physical battles.
Profile Image for Kim.
522 reviews5 followers
September 7, 2021
Awesome action and adventure…

Another page-turner from this dynamic duo of authors that kept me reading late into the night. This story offers a relentless pace of globe-trotting adventure as our heroes, Chris and Tsu, attempt to repatriate a traitor and rescue a kidnapped boy being forced to utilize his hacking skills for benefit of some ruthless people bent on global domination. There is never a dull moment with these two and if their adventures don’t kill them off at a relatively young age, their drinking surely will. Either way, though, I am definitely going along for the ride into whatever hair-raising exploits Berens & Hopton dream up for them. Yippee Ki-yah!

While I was provided with an advance copy of this book by one of the authors, I also chose to purchase a copy and I am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews