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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This book was confusing. I skimmed the last 15 pages and decided that I didn't care about ANY of the characters. None. I would not read anything else by this author. He created about 15,000 characters who all had extremely complex relationships, which never actually resolved themselves. What? I just don't get it. I didn't like this at all, I needed much more explanation in order to actually get into and like this book.
Unfortunately, I really liked the first half of the book, which was why I kept reading, it just seemed like the author did not have a clear picture of what was happening so he decided to confuse the audience instead.
Unfortunately, I really liked the first half of the book, which was why I kept reading, it just seemed like the author did not have a clear picture of what was happening so he decided to confuse the audience instead.
FIrst, I think, of a trilogy, involving Milo Weaver, a "tourist" for the CIA who travels from country to country mostly assassinating people. In this novel, he's moved on from that profession, married, and become the father of a young girl. Events from the past, as they do, come back to haunt him, and it includes startling revelations about his own past. It's well-written and pretty fast-paced, though maybe it could have been shorter. Steinhauer wisely keeps the cats of characters relatively small, so we get to know them, and they are well drawn (though I missed one key character who died too early for my taste. Will I read the other novels? Don't know yet.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship
Three stars makes this sound like a mediocre book, which it really isn't. It certainly held my interest, but I found it too ambitious, and by the end, I didn't really feel connected with anybody. Somewhere inside this book was a smaller, better book fighting to get out.
A fun spy novel that balances free flowing action and the mental fatigue of this fictitious world of subterfuge.
Olen Steinhauer introduces Milo Weaver, a CIA-trained agent, in The Tourist. After a long and distinguished career ends with Weaver taking a bullet in his shoulder, he transfers to the New York City based headquarters where he works as an analyst for the Tourists in the field, just like he once was. Settled with a wife and child, Milo relishes his new role and for years has been determined to find the Tiger, an assassin who has vexed governments around the world.
Unexpectedly, the Tiger appears in the United States and is arrested, insisting he speak to Milo and no one else. At the same time, the CIA launches an investigation into one of Milo’s long-time friends now stationed in France. As these different strands converge, Milo returns to the field, but his instincts are dulled and he’s out of shape—he is easy prey and might soon become the hunted.
The freshman entry in the Milo Weaver series takes Weaver across Europe and the United States as he untangles who has been behind the Tiger’s jobs all along and who wanted his friend discredited. Along the way, he enters some exciting and unexpected confrontations, finding unlikely allies and surprising enemies. Overall, I liked the book, though I found that some sections were a little slow for me. Also, though Milo’s wife, Tina, certainly has her own opinions, I found her much more patient and understanding than I would expect her to be.
The book has a satisfying ending: the narrative strands are resolved, but Milo’s life is a mess, opening the way to book two.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for providing a free eBook in exchange for an honest review.
Unexpectedly, the Tiger appears in the United States and is arrested, insisting he speak to Milo and no one else. At the same time, the CIA launches an investigation into one of Milo’s long-time friends now stationed in France. As these different strands converge, Milo returns to the field, but his instincts are dulled and he’s out of shape—he is easy prey and might soon become the hunted.
The freshman entry in the Milo Weaver series takes Weaver across Europe and the United States as he untangles who has been behind the Tiger’s jobs all along and who wanted his friend discredited. Along the way, he enters some exciting and unexpected confrontations, finding unlikely allies and surprising enemies. Overall, I liked the book, though I found that some sections were a little slow for me. Also, though Milo’s wife, Tina, certainly has her own opinions, I found her much more patient and understanding than I would expect her to be.
The book has a satisfying ending: the narrative strands are resolved, but Milo’s life is a mess, opening the way to book two.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for providing a free eBook in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Challenged me a bit to keep to characters straight and see through complicated counter measures and twists to arrive at a desired end.
Good post cold war spy stuff. Well done twists but nothing earthshaking. Exposition piled on pretty heavy at the end. My kindle version did not have correct paragraph/dialogue breaks and was difficult to keep track of things, as such.
Extremely well written, lots of plot twists, turns, doublecrosses- everything you could want in a spy thriller.