When Daria Gibron, the formidable ex-Israeli secret service agent from Dana Haynes's Crashers and Breaking Point, returns in Ice Cold Kill, she's mostly working as an interpreter in the United States. Then she receives an urgent e-mail from an old acquaintance that lures her to New York City, where she narrowly but cleverly escapes the trap set for her. Placed on the wanted list by American and international government agencies, she has no choice but to join forces with a well-known terrorist. The two go on the run across Europe while trying to shut down a horrific conspiracy--though the world considers Daria a threat, she may be the only one who can save it.
Daria is an adrenaline junkie who has incredible physical assets, both in looks and skills. Sometimes, protagonists who are good at everything become boring, but Daria is always someone to root for; her hardscrabble background as an orphan justifies her toughness and survival skills. Her relationships with both her temporary ally and the man she's pursuing are complicated, resulting in surprising revelations.
Haynes can abruptly shift the point of view, at times within a single chapter, which might cause some disorientation, but it's not difficult to get back on track as the explosive action and cinematic language propels the plot forward. It's easy to "see" many scenes as if they're on a screen, like watching a Hollywood summer blockbuster that's happening in your mind. --Elyse Dinh-McCrillis, writer/editor blogging at Pop Culture Nerd