Head Shot takes place in Washington, D.C. and follows detective Marko Zorn as he struggles to balance his moral code with breaking the rules. The story kicks off as Zorn, with his junior partner, Lucy, investigates the murder of a former flame.
But just when things seem complicated enough, he is assigned an off-the-books mission: safeguarding Nina Voychek, the prime minister of Montenegro, during her official visit. Political enemies are planning her assassination, and he soon learns that he is also a target. After a few attempts on his life, he enlists some shady resources to hunt down whoever is after him and prevent an international tragedy on American soil.
The multi-layered plot is full of action and the protagonist, the smart-ass detective, is flawed and likeable. The author clearly has a great deal of knowledge about police work and international intrigue. For example, his description of taking out an opponent in a gunfight is very believable. There’s a reason he is so knowledgeable: Otho Eskin served in the U.S. Army and in the United States Foreign Service in Washington and in Syria, Yugoslavia, Iceland, and Berlin (then the capital of the German Democratic Republic) as a lawyer and diplomat.
The formatting of my review copy was so messed up that it was difficult to differentiate between dialogue and paragraphs, but for the most part, the writing was solid. While each installment in the Marko Zorn series can stand its own ground, reading The Reflecting Pool (the series opener) first would have provided additional context.
I enjoy reading books published by indie presses, instead of always the big five and their imprints. I enjoyed this thriller and will read his other books. If you enjoy Daniel Silva and David Baldacci, give this author a shot.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.