Crack Shot

A debut novel and darkly funny spy thriller in the vein of Slow Horses and The Sisters Brothers, featuring a teenage girl who witnesses the murder of a secret agent and is roped into a world of espionage, with national security secrets and her family’s livelihood on the line.

With her family’s farm on the brink of foreclosure, sixteen-year-old Janey is forced to go to Des Moines to make some money. In 1955 Iowa, that starts with secretarial school. But on the train to the big city, a chance encounter with two armed assassins sworn to kill each other pulls her into the center of a cat-and-mouse chase.

When a mysterious agent slips her a hidden object moments before his murder, Janey becomes the target of ruthless, bumbling operatives who are convinced she holds secret information that is key to winning the Cold War.

Armed with her wits and the lessons she learned from her late mother, Janey fights her way across cornfields, city streets, and a maze of deception, dominating everyone in her way, to everyone’s surprise but her own. As bodies pile up and loyalties blur, Janey must decide who she is in a world that doesn’t believe in her. She just wants to get home to the farm, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

A gripping blend of coming-of-age grit and Cold War intrigue, Crack Shot is a sharp story about survival, identity, and the cost of being underestimated.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs