Second Shot

Helen Warwick #1

by Cindy Dees

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…

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Espionage, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Cindy Dees started flying airplanes while sitting in her dad’s lap at the age of three and got a pilot’s license before she got a driver’s license. At age fifteen, she dropped out of high school and left the horse farm in Michigan where she grew up to attend the University of Michigan.

After earning a degree in Russian and East European studies, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became the youngest female pilot in the history of the Air Force. She flew supersonic jets, VIP airlift and the “C-5” Galaxy, the world’s largest airplane. She also worked part-time gathering intelligence. During her military career, she traveled to forty countries on five continents, was detained by the KGB and East German secret police, she got shot at, flew in the first Gulf War, met her husband and amassed a lifetime’s worth of war stories.

Her hobbies include professional Middle Eastern dancing, Japanese gardening and medieval reenacting. She started writing on a one-dollar bet with her mother and was thrilled to win that bet with the publication of her first book in 2001.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous start to a new series! Cincy Dees, a new-to-me author, has created an exciting action-packed and suspenseful thriller with a more mature main character. Helen Warwick is fifty-five and recently retired as a deadly sniper for the Central Intelligence Agency with many sanctioned executions. Her cover was as a foreign trade specialist for the State Department. After spending their childhood traveling overseas on assignments, Helen is hoping to reconnect and repair her relationship with her three children, Mitchell, Peter, and Jayne. She also wants to reconnect with her husband who is currently in the Amazon jungle.

Helen is dog-sitting for Peter and his boyfriend Liang when hired killers enter the house. Why is she being targeted and by whom? Did they follow her to Peter’s house? Besides an unknown foe, she is pulled into an investigation into four murders where those convicted claim they are innocent. Can Helen discover what is going on and stop the killing before she or one of her loved ones is killed?

Helen is mentally tough, an excellent sniper, and able to compartmentalize her emotions, but she hasn’t been working out lately. Her flaws make her more relatable. Mitchell and Peter have complex traits along with Yosef, Helen’s handler before she retired. Readers also get insights into several of the secondary and tertiary characters. How many of them will show up in future books? I look forward to their development from this point forward.

This book demanded my attention during its entirety. The twisty plot with plenty of angst, action, and suspense kept me engaged and rapidly turning the pages. There was a terrifying realism to some of the scenes that left me breathless. The story is gripping and grabs your attention in the first chapter and doesn’t let up until its astonishing conclusion. It features death, attempted murder, spies, politics, family relationships, friendship, and much more. Helen’s dynamics with Peter and Yosef were one of the more compelling aspects of the story. What a surprising ending! It’s a great set-up for the next book in the series.

Overall, this fantastic novel is shocking, emotionally-charged, and pulse-pounding. Be aware that there is plenty of danger, death, intrigue, and violence in this story. While this is the first book I have read by this author, I want to remedy that by reading some of her other novels. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. It’s first chapter is shared at the end of this novel. Readers who enjoy action thrillers and espionage thrillers will likely enjoy this book.

Kensington Books and Cindy Dees provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 23, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

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My 4.59 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Shot by Cindy Dees
Helen Warwick series #1. Spy thriller, older female protagonist.
Helen recently retired from a government job. She expects to spend her days getting to know her adult children and grand-puppy but someone has other ideas. When a group of mercenaries invade her son’s home, Helen is forced to protect herself, kill three of the shooters and jump back into the espionage game. Someone clearly has it out for the retired government assassin.

Action packed and intricate twists in the assassin’s botched retirement. The question: who was really target that night? An interwoven secondary story includes a vicious serial killer.
DC is filled with government agencies and spies. Who can be trusted? Helen is 55 and not as agile as she used to be. At least that what hearing her say to herself as she dives into another covert situation. She still runs, chases, shoots and uncovers the enemy quite effectively.
Intriguing. She’s impressively protective of her extended family. The 1st in a series and several questions left unanswered.
4.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-Stars - "I Really Liked It"
Second Shot (Helen Warwick #1) by Cindy Dees
Audiobook: 10:10 Hours - Narrated by: Alex Picard
A mostly enjoyable listen!

Review soon -

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently released spy\action thriller with an interesting female, late middle-aged, ready to retire (maybe) crack shot assassin lead character. The story is filled with spies, serial killers and disgruntled family members. The ending is left open a bit as a second book tying up loose ends is teased. Good read.

My thanks to the author, Cindy Dees and the publisher, Kensington Books, for my advance Reader's Edition of this book. #Goodreads Giveaway

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cindy Dees you are a great author. What a intriguing book. Each page gets better and better. Second Shot finds former CIA assassin, Helen Warwick's plan to spend her retirement years with her family out the window. That's because there are adversaries, the DaVinci killer whose after her, and spies. It's not easy, but if she doesn't do something soon she may end up dead. She’s attacked by a crew of four, she’s called to assist with some murder scenes and she saves the life of her former boss. She also investigates serial murders and a conspiracy involving a high level person of interest. Even though her retirement wasn't what she expected it to be, I think she was glad to get back into her old career. I think she enjoyed the action. Highly recommend.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after winning it in a giveaway. This is the first book of this genre that I’ve read that was written by a woman. I love that her protagonist is a middle aged, retired assassin. It was fast paced and fun to read. This was the first of what I hope is a long series for Helen Warwick.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good story of retired CIA assassin/analyst, Helen Warwick, who gets pulled right back into the targeted kill business when her son and his partner's brand new home is shot up by killers targeting her. While babysitting their new puppy, she manages to kill 3 of them but 1 escapes. She is off on a mission to find the fourth and more importantly, the name of the person who ordered the kill while working hard to keep her grown children from discovering what she really did for the CIA.
Great plot with intriguing parallel storylines running along with it. Characters are richly developed with a couple of her kids quirky/self righteous enough to offer up some moments of comedic release reading.
Definitely interesting enough to pull me right into the next one.
Bring on #2👍

[Liz Fedor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t care for the characters or the story. Helen keeps harping about her age and yet she does all kinds of physical things that don’t seem to affect her. There is no ending and I think readers will have to read the second installment to find out who Scorpius is. I won’t be one of them.

[Barbara Mates · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Helen Warwick, 55, recently retired CIA "wet work specialist" (professional, highly skilled assassin) , wanted to do was to use her well earned retirement time to reconnect with her adult children who, she admittedly neglected when they were young, as her job took her where her skills were needed. Her well intended retirement plan was thrown out the window when 4 hired assassins burst through the literal window of her son's home while she was babysitting her grandpuppy and destroyed the abode with gunfire. Helen did manage to protect herself and the puppy all the while keeping her past job a secret. While offially retired she found herself needing to use her professional skills to protect herself, her family and friends from unknown persons who wish to harm them. Doing this should be enough for anyone, but, she agrees to help a new friend, an attorney who has clients who were framed by a serial killer psychopath. The psychopath, known as the DaVinci Killer, thinks its cool to use body parts to recreate famous works of art and post results on the dark web.
Helen is a great character strong, smart, skilled with a few vulnerabilities that makes her human.
Once you start reading it you wont be able to put it down. I'm ready for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Kessington for the ARC.

[Matt. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Second Shot" is a new series featuring Helen Warwick, a retired CIA assassin. The story is fast-paced and action-packed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Helen's past as a CIA assassin is revealed as the story progresses and the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns as Helen tries to stay alive and protect her loved ones from her powerful adversaries. The plot is well-crafted and the characters are well-developed, making it easy for readers to become invested in the story. Overall, "Second Shot" is a must-read for fans of action-packed thrillers and fans of series featuring strong female leads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Kensington for this advanced copy

[Sarah Kruszka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cindy Dee’s SECOND SHOT is the first in a series about a recently retired CIA assassin, Helen Warwick, who wants to make amends to her husband and adult children for not being around much in the last 25 years or so. The children don’t know their mom was a CIA assassin. Her relationship with them is strained. Things get off to a rocky start. When she is dog-sitting for the son who dislikes her the most, four assassins attack her son’s home. Even though she only has a kitchen knife to protect herself from the professional killers, she takes out three of them and sends one scurrying off into the woods. Helen is unsure whether she or her son or his boyfriend was the intended target. She tells the police it was an attempted burglary.

(It seems like many books today must have one or more LGBT characters. Helen’s oldest son and his friend/husband(?) fill that bill.)

Helen seeks the help and advice of her former, long-time handler, Yosef Mizrah. When the two are sharing a table at a café, an assassin shoots through the storefront window. Helen’s lightning reflexes save Yosef from being killed, but he is critically wounded. Helen is unsure whether she or Yosef was the intended target.

Helen kills her share of bad guys the rest of the book.

In a parallel storyline, a serial killer who films his kills and places his victims in a likeness of a famous painting and uploads the video to the DARKWEB under the name Real Davinci Killer. This joker is a copycat. The Original Davinci Killer is ticked off by this upstart and stages an elaborate plan to subject the Real Davinci Killer to a painful death.

Cindy Dees fans are giving the novel high ratings, but I was totally disappointed in the book. It’s slightly better than 3 stars but nowhere near a 4-star book.

The first 100 pages are formulaic, repetitious, and boring.

One key event made no sense to me. The Original Davinci Killer stages a killing of an important public figure to make it appear the culprit was the Real Davinci Killer. He wanted the police to put more effort into catching the killer. I never understood why. If the police put more effort into the case, that would increase the chances they’d catch the Original Davinci Killer too. Besides the “Original” wanted to make the “Real” suffer and die, not to have him captured (As pure conjecture, I can guess why Dees did this – subsequent novels and all).

Maybe a personal irritant, passed off as being a trained assassin, Helen Warwick has a Spidey Sense of Danger that would make Peter Parker envious, yet none of the highly trained assassins she faces (RIP) has the same attribute.

Definitely a personal irritant (and it likely won’t bother you), nearly all of the first fifteen chapters start with the word “Helen.”

The title of the novel is “Second Shot.” It could have several meanings. Dees explains one. When an assassin shoots through a window (like a restaurant window), the first shot is high to shatter the window. The ‘second shot’ takes out the target. Another possible meaning is this is her second shot to be a good mom after she blew her first shot.

There are lingering questions (intentionally I’m sure) for future books in the series. Sadly, I won’t be reading any of them to see how they are resolved.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something simplistic and immature about Helen Warwick. She could be talking about the scopes she uses on her rifles and then suddenly out of nowhere she will start acting silly. After a while Helen grows on you, you are smitten by her humor, professionalism and by her stubbornness in not giving up no matter the circumstances.

Helen’s family is a bunch of characters I could live without, needy and self centered sums it up. Love Angela and Yosef! I also liked the way the author integrated different races and sexual orientations in her book, it gives the author more ideas for plots by creating this American family.

The author really knows what she is talking about and although she claims she was not a sniper, Ms. Dees has been in precarious situations before to write from experience. Some of the male spy novelists with just a few exemptions, have not even gone to war they just sit on a desk and with a vivid imagination they write. Like Stella Rimington, this author is the real deal.

This is a thriller with a capital T. It is gripping and exciting as well as funny at times. Cannot wait for the next book of this series.

[Patty · Rating 1 out of 5]

This had a few scenes of genuine promise, but the idiocy of the main character destroys them. She is a retired assassin, but "Jiminy Crickets" and "praise the Lord and pass the potatoes" (accurate quotes); she is also a "mama bear." Seriously? Where do I gag? And then, to top it off, you discover you have to read the next book to find out the ending to this one. Do I plan to? No way! It was a silly book. I am not reading the sequel.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So exhilarating and amazing read! Book 2 cannot come fast enough

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Library
*Genre* Espionage Thriller
*Rating* 4.0

*Thoughts*

Cindy Dees' Second Shot is the first installment in the author's Helen Warwick series. 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. After unceremoniously being forced into retirement by the CIA, 55-year-old Helen Warwick is trying to settle down in her retirement to make up for lost time with her family, and her husband.


*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one I did enjoy. Sort of a female version of RED. Could have done without the ending. I understand this is book one of a series, but each book should be standalone. Not one long continous story. I used to watch Big Sky, but I got tired of the same creep appearing and the good guys never really getting to him.

That said I did like the overall story. This is the 2nd book this year I have read about female assassins. Just recently I read: by Deana Ratbourn (although this title might be closer to the RED theme). Both books feature retired female assassins aged 55 to 60ish. Both kick ass and I am onboard for the 2nd book in each series.

Helen is one tough character. Good choice for creepy sick bad guys. Great plot development and so on.

Come on HBO Max or whatever, here is your next thrilling series!

[Linda Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Helen Warwick is a retiredCIA assassin. Her project in retirement is to make amends to her family for the years her job took precedence over her family. Unfortunately circumstances develop that bring Helen back into the game. This time to protect the family she loves. The plot is good and the characters are believable. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few opening pages of this book were fraught with peril! Like fasten your seatbelts, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be a helluva ride….it’s outta control!!

Retired CIA assassin Helen Warwick just wants a quiet life, but that’s easier said, than done. She has neglected her children and husband to globetrot across the world killing bad guys for the CIA. But, all is not so great in retirement, as she tries to help her old boss track down a serial killer and, all the while hold off the Russian mafia, too!

Sound crazy? It is! And action packed, too! Now, I have to wait quite some time for the sequel.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I won this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway. **
This was my first book by this author but it will not be the last! Second Shot started off with a bang and never slowed down. Helen Warwick is a great character and I can’t wait to read more about her in the next book in the series. My only complaint is I wanted to find out more of her backstory in the first book. How did someone with her job manage to take time off to have 3 children?
Thanks Goodreads for the opportunity to read an advance copy. The only downside is I have longer to wait for the next in the series!

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

This thriller is the rather unbelieveable adventure of Helen Warwick, a recently retired CIA operator. Some of the action was interesting, but overall the story seemed like a super hero comic. Perhaps needed more editing. The author checks off an abnormally long list of politically correct agenda items. Consequently, I could not tell if she is a sincere believer or whether this was an attempt at satire. There is no conclusion to either of the two main story lines and the book ends with an introduction to the next one in the planned series.

Note: This review is based on a copy received through goodreads.com.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s been an absentee parent. She’s fifty-five, her kids are grown, and now she’s retired. But a retired urban assassin carries baggage. She’s attacked by a crew of four while she’s puppy-sitting for her son; she’s called to assist with some murder scenes; she investigates on her own; she saves the life of her former boss. And those are just for starters as she also investigates serial murders and a conspiracy involving a high level person of interest. How’s that for getting a second shot at a career she really wasn’t ready to end?

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of those books you can't put down until you've finished it.

Second Shot finds former CIA assassin, Helen Warwick's plan to spend her retirement years with her family out the window. That's because there are adversaries, the DaVinci killer whose after her, and spies. It's not easy, but if she doesn't do something soon...she may just end up dead.

Great read and I can't wait to read more by this author.

[Jan Hoffacker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this audio book. The numerous shootings and grisly murders described in detail plus the lead character's (a woman) chronic complaining about being so old (55) all just became boring. I stuck it out to 60% of the book, at which point I neither liked nor cared about any of the characters.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Would’ve been 5 except it ends on a cliffhanger with a lot of unanswered questions.

This was so fast paced and action packed I couldn’t put it down! Pretty much everyone seems sus but again, this leaves a lot of unanswered questions so those same people will be sus in book #2 I imagine.

Also, the audacity of her middle son Peter! His house gets destroyed in the “home invasion” while Helen is dog sitting and he is pissed at HER for the destroyed house??? Like she’s the one who had 4 guys break in guns blazing?? She saved his dog Biscuit for god’s sake! Thank god his bf Liang finally calls him (and the other family members) out on their grudges against her! I should also mention Liange is one of the characters who’s very sus, or a possible target, due to his high clearance job.

I don’t know why it wasn’t mentioned in the end of book if there was some high level clearance guy that randomly stopped showing up for work? Helen shot the supposed Scorpios-OG DaVinci killer’s face off. Yeah she has a tooth to possibly get someone to run testing on, but still you’d think it wouldn’t go unnoticed if someone with this level of training and working for the government just randomly disappeared?

I hate when books end on a cliffhanger or leave unanswered questions so that’s my gripe with this book. That being said, I am VERY much anticipating book #2!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was going to only give it 4 stars because i saw some mistakes, but I am not going to be nit picky.

Helen Warwick is an amazing character. I love the idea of a woman above the age of 30 being this type of character. She is 55, and pretty much been shelved in the spy world. Things do not just stop once someone turns a certain age, especially in that life.

I am not going into the whole thing. I am not a critic, or professional reviewer. I loved the book so much, that I went to Kindle and downloaded the next book, “Double Tap”, as soon as I finished it.

If you like spy novels, and unconventional leads, read it.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a read! This was such a fun Goodreads giveaway win. I was really excited because the main character was in her 50s. It was a really exciting story with great characters and connecting plots. There's a bit of a description involved with some of the kills so trigger warning if you are sensitive. I can't wait for the next book to be out!

[Melissa P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤩☆☆Won in a giveaway ☆☆🤩

Wow, this book is not necessarily what I would usually seek out. I'm not always into action books or movies (once in a blue moon, but not my first choice), but this one was such a pleasant surprise. From the first chapter, things go down. I was hooked right away. Ex CIA sniper, Helen, is one tough lady. I admired and respected her character so much. Even taking her family's negativity in stride. The action, the mystery, the friendships, everything was written really well. There are some pretty gory parts, just to warn those who don't like that. Not too many parts though. I feel very lucky that I had the opportunity to read this early. The book cover says it goes on sale 5/23/23. I love that there's going to be another. The end of the book previews the first chapter to the next book. I will certainly read it! I honestly believe this will most likely become a movie. I highly recommend this book, when you can get a hold of it. Happy reading! ⏰️🕶📑

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen Warwick a CIA operative is kicked out the door of the CIA because she is female and turned 55. Now considered too old. She is trying to acclimate at being a mother to adult children who are mad that she was never home no have no idea what she did accept her party line of an analyst. It starts out as she was going to puppy sit for her son and his partner when the place is shot up. She later is not sure if she was the target or her sons partner who is NSA but never really reveals what he does. She is trying to find out who placed the hit. There are several other incidents including a serial killers that all weave together reaching an ending. No spoilers given. What I can say is it is easy to follow even with all that is going on. Great character development and well written. It was one of the best reads I have had in awhile It clearly opens the door for a new series in which I suspected and will be reading. Loved the characters Especially Helen, Lei, Yosi and Angela.

[Pj Gaumond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read with lots of action and twists and turns. Helen is a 'retired' assassin for the CIA and now her family is being attacked. All she wants to do is to reconnect with her family and new granddog Biscuit. Instead she's back to fighting and killing the bad guys. The book tracks two stories that come together at the end in a very interesting culmination of events. The events are very descriptive and the reader can almost feel like they are watching close by as the events unfold. This is book one of a new series and I can't wait for the next one. Thank you Kensington, Between The Chapters and Goodreads for the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Readers Edition.