About:
The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer is an espionage novel set in the early 2000s. The novel involves the fictional “tourism” department of the CIA and it is the first book in the Milo Weaver series.
- 416 pages
- Publisher: Minotaur Books
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312369727
My rating for The Tourist — 5
Buy The Tourist from Amazon.com*
More Books by Olen Steinhauer*
Thoughts:
I always enjoy a good espionage book and The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer is no exception. It is fast, well written with twists galore.
The job of an undercover agent takes a toll not only on Milo Weaver, but on his family as well. Keeping secrets from his wife and daughter does not bode well with them and we are privy to their private conversations, and even the therapy sessions between husband and wife. This aspect makes the story, albeit fictional, more realistic and we come to see the characters as flawed humans doing their best to stay afloat, save their marriage and family.
Even though there is action in this book, it’s not a shoot’em up, kiss-kiss-bang-bang type of story. The plot centers around loyalties being tested in a world where you can trust no one, and no one trusts you.
This novel is the full package though, it is compelling, articulate and the struggle of Milo to balance his difficult, secretive, work with the important part of his life, his family, really comes across. The novel is marketed as a Milo Weaver series, but this is a standalone novel, even though there are more to come.
This novel is definitely in league with the top echelon of espionage novels. The good guys aren’t really “good”, the bad guys aren’t really “bad” and they’re all in the same line of work.
Synopsis:
Milo Weaver got himself a desk job with the CIA, leaving behind his field position as a “tourist”, an undercover agent in a secret department within a secret organization. But you never really “leave” the tourism department, when old cases start to float Milo realizes he has to go undercover again.
Going undercover takes a heavy toll on Milo’s marriage and family. Milo’s wife and daughter had had enough, and he keeps them in the dark for their own protection.
Buy The Tourist from Amazon.com*
More Books by Olen Steinhauer*
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account
No Comments