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A review by charles__
All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer
3.0
This it the first story I've read by this author. I had to noodle around to find one not part of a series. By all accounts, this is a 'small' book for the author.
Writing was good. Maybe the story is a tad long at about 300-pages. A large part of the story was dialog, which was as good as the the descriptive prose. Flashbacks and POV changes were well handled. I enjoyed many of the similes the author used most of which were in the Henry voice. They tickled my literary sensibilities. In particular I liked the description of a contract killer as an, "overweight, Willy Loman-like, figure".
There were very few characters-- Henry and Celia both ex-spooks (CIA), and ex-lovers verbally dance around a dinner table throughout the story. Celia is the better wrought character. Supporting characters are standard fare for the genre.
Plot is a basic whodunnit as an espionage/romance mashup. The story flashes back and forth between the present and to Celia and Henry's last time together six years ago in post-cold war Vienna. Henrey and Celia's relationship is spooled-out in relation to their: betrayals, loving loyalty and treason. Although, at a little past midway it became obvious, at least to me who was the traitor. The end was akin to watching an emotional train wreck.
This is a well-written story. Its solidly within the contemporary view of the genre. You'll be at home here, if you like [a:John le Carré|1411964|John le Carré|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234571122p2/1411964.jpg]. However, this story is not quiet as deep as [b:A Legacy of Spies|34496624|A Legacy of Spies|John le Carré|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495227039s/34496624.jpg|55619118]. Reading this story, I was reminded of Le Carré's Guillam character's lament in that book, What is the long game of espionage was all for at the end? (Note this scene also took place over dinner.) This book is quiet readable and has the advantage of being standalone and short.
Writing was good. Maybe the story is a tad long at about 300-pages. A large part of the story was dialog, which was as good as the the descriptive prose. Flashbacks and POV changes were well handled. I enjoyed many of the similes the author used most of which were in the Henry voice. They tickled my literary sensibilities. In particular I liked the description of a contract killer as an, "overweight, Willy Loman-like, figure".
There were very few characters-- Henry and Celia both ex-spooks (CIA), and ex-lovers verbally dance around a dinner table throughout the story. Celia is the better wrought character. Supporting characters are standard fare for the genre.
Plot is a basic whodunnit as an espionage/romance mashup. The story flashes back and forth between the present and to Celia and Henry's last time together six years ago in post-cold war Vienna. Henrey and Celia's relationship is spooled-out in relation to their: betrayals, loving loyalty and treason. Although, at a little past midway it became obvious, at least to me who was the traitor.
Spoiler
I was always sympathetic to Celia.This is a well-written story. Its solidly within the contemporary view of the genre. You'll be at home here, if you like [a:John le Carré|1411964|John le Carré|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234571122p2/1411964.jpg]. However, this story is not quiet as deep as [b:A Legacy of Spies|34496624|A Legacy of Spies|John le Carré|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495227039s/34496624.jpg|55619118]. Reading this story, I was reminded of Le Carré's Guillam character's lament in that book, What is the long game of espionage was all for at the end? (Note this scene also took place over dinner.) This book is quiet readable and has the advantage of being standalone and short.