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carrieemoran's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this one. There were times when I felt compelled to read it as quickly as possible and then times where I almost didn't care. I felt like the story lost steam toward the end. It's certainly a book that you have to read consistently in order to keep track of the characters, events, and themes. I enjoy reading books written from different perspectives, but I know some people get frustrated by constant changes in narrator. On the whole this was a good read for those who like spies, intrigue, and international thrillers.
artemisienne's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty well told, if a bit dull and unnecessarily long-winded as it gets toward the middle. I didn't expect much from it going in, but it quite surprised me by the complexity and careful planning it showed. Quite interested to read some of his other books now.
booksmy's review against another edition
4.0
Long, tells the story from multiple points of view. Because of this, it backtracks periodically to show the same scene from another view. This, plus the flashbacks to the 90's, makes it complicated to follow. Good, just a slow read and hard to follow.
cheryl_r's review against another edition
3.0
Great plot & intriguing storytelling technique though as it progressed it could feel more like a cheap way to suspend the reader. Details made this seem real-world with some well-informed writing, but it was a bumpy ride as the style itself could read like a rough translation with unclear portions tripping up the reader. Odd yet interesting ending... sequel?
fables630's review against another edition
4.0
A really great read. While there was no character as memorable as Milo Weaver this book was written in a such a way that it has you guessing the whole time and even a bit unsure when you wrap it up.
adriannepeterson's review against another edition
4.0
As a teen and into my twenties, I devoured novels of the cold war, espionage, world tensions...but as the cold war receded, so did the fascination with the underworld spies, both by readers and writers. The Cairo Affair drops you right in the middle of modern day tensions; post-Arab Spring Egypt, conflict in the Balkans, America's role in world power, as well as the motivations, dreams, and flaws of all the key characters in this modern day espionage novel.
bplache's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
canadianbookworm's review
4.0
This fast-moving thriller jumps around to different narrators in the course of the story, often going over the same ground from a different point of view. At the centre of the story is Sophie Kohl, the wife of an American diplomat currently stationed in Budapest. The couple hasn't been in Hungary long, with Emmett's previous posting being Cairo. As the story begins in 2011, Emmett and Sophie are out for dinner, with Emmett accusing Sophie of infidelity during their time in Cairo just before a gunman enters the restaurant and shoots Emmett in the head, killing him.
Sophie is searching for answers and wondering whether his murder has anything to do with her affair in Cairo. With this thought in her head, the first person she reaches out to for help is her former lover Stan Bertolli, a Cairo-based CIA agent. Stan has genuine feelings for her and eagerly jumps in to help, but his impulse to protect her causes her trust to waver, and she reaches out to others.
Omar Halawi is an Egyptian intelligence officer and tied to a man Emmett met with shortly before his death, a man who since then came to Cairo. Is this man part of the story as well.
A contractor for the American government, John does whatever he is asked, whether it is driving someone into Libya or scouting out a meeting location. John has many skills and plays a key role in the story here.
A woman that Sophie and Emmett met decades ago in 1991 on their honeymoon in Yugoslavia, reappeared during their stay in Cairo and reminded them of a time and action they thought was long buried. It is the echoes of this that led to where Sophie is now, looking for the story behind Emmett's death and the actions in Cairo that relate. With intrigue and the passing of information, this story has many twists and turns, with each character adding to the understanding of the situation.
Sophie is searching for answers and wondering whether his murder has anything to do with her affair in Cairo. With this thought in her head, the first person she reaches out to for help is her former lover Stan Bertolli, a Cairo-based CIA agent. Stan has genuine feelings for her and eagerly jumps in to help, but his impulse to protect her causes her trust to waver, and she reaches out to others.
Omar Halawi is an Egyptian intelligence officer and tied to a man Emmett met with shortly before his death, a man who since then came to Cairo. Is this man part of the story as well.
A contractor for the American government, John does whatever he is asked, whether it is driving someone into Libya or scouting out a meeting location. John has many skills and plays a key role in the story here.
A woman that Sophie and Emmett met decades ago in 1991 on their honeymoon in Yugoslavia, reappeared during their stay in Cairo and reminded them of a time and action they thought was long buried. It is the echoes of this that led to where Sophie is now, looking for the story behind Emmett's death and the actions in Cairo that relate. With intrigue and the passing of information, this story has many twists and turns, with each character adding to the understanding of the situation.
darwin8u's review
3.0
“God in His infinite wisdom Did not make me very wise— So when my actions are stupid They hardly take God by surprise”
― Olen Steinhauer, The Cairo Affair
I love great genre fiction. Steinhauer represents some of the very best of modern espionage literature. While he hasn't yet reached the level of le Carré, he is now reaching towards the top shelf of literary spy fiction with peers like le Carré, Littell, Furst, etc.
The Cairo Affair is an important bookmark in espionage fiction. In this 21st Century, post 9-11 world, Steinhauer (along with le Carré) is the go-to fiction writer to understand the nuances of private-contract espionage, post-Soviet global realignments, and the moral failings of a waning American empire (all with a non-US-centric outlook on espionage and foreign policy). The Cairo Affair highlights the fact that the CIA is slowly losing its place as the gravitational center of the spy universe (at least in fiction) and seems to have lost its principled, idealistic foundations as well.
This isn't nearly a perfect spy novel. There are flaws and imperfections through out. What I appreciate about it is Steinhauer isn't looking to land an easy jump. He is jumping into complicated territory and I'll grade him a bit easier knowing he is gravitating towards the more difficult and nuanced stories. Give him time and he is going to inherit the crown.
― Olen Steinhauer, The Cairo Affair
I love great genre fiction. Steinhauer represents some of the very best of modern espionage literature. While he hasn't yet reached the level of le Carré, he is now reaching towards the top shelf of literary spy fiction with peers like le Carré, Littell, Furst, etc.
The Cairo Affair is an important bookmark in espionage fiction. In this 21st Century, post 9-11 world, Steinhauer (along with le Carré) is the go-to fiction writer to understand the nuances of private-contract espionage, post-Soviet global realignments, and the moral failings of a waning American empire (all with a non-US-centric outlook on espionage and foreign policy). The Cairo Affair highlights the fact that the CIA is slowly losing its place as the gravitational center of the spy universe (at least in fiction) and seems to have lost its principled, idealistic foundations as well.
This isn't nearly a perfect spy novel. There are flaws and imperfections through out. What I appreciate about it is Steinhauer isn't looking to land an easy jump. He is jumping into complicated territory and I'll grade him a bit easier knowing he is gravitating towards the more difficult and nuanced stories. Give him time and he is going to inherit the crown.
mepitts's review
3.0
This book has SOME things going for it: the benefits of careful research and what seems to be a detailed knowledge of spy craft and Middle Eastern history. Unfortunately it meanders all OVER the place with too many characters and too much time travel. Further, with the exception of contract spy John Calhoun and Egyptian spy Omar Halawi, the characters are either amoral or actively immoral and it’s not attractive to listen to their dark, self-serving thoughts or to get too concerned about whether they live or die. This book was too long, too cynical to endure. Not recommended.