The Nearest Exit

By: Olen Steinhauer

Narrated by: David Pittu

Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Milo Weaver has nowhere to turn but back to the CIA in Olen Steinhauer's brilliant follow-up to the New York Times best-selling espionage novel The Tourist.

The Tourist, Steinhauer’s first contemporary novel after his award-winning historical series, was a runaway hit, spending three weeks on the New York Times best seller list and garnering rave reviews from critics. Now faced with the end of his quiet, settled life, reluctant spy Milo Weaver has no choice but to turn back to his old job as a “tourist”.

Before he can get back to the CIA’s dirty work, he has to prove his loyalty to his new bosses, who know little of Milo’s background and less about who is really pulling the strings in the government above the Department of Tourism - or in the outside world, which is beginning to believe the legend of its existence. Milo is suddenly in a dangerous position, between right and wrong, between powerful self-interested men, between patriots and traitors - especially as a man who has nothing left to lose.

“Milo Weaver, Steinhauer’s hero, is the opposite of Swagger and Reacher - he is conflicted and neurotic and hopelessly sentimental - but no less entertaining.” (Malcolm Gladwell, TheNewYorker.com)

“Milo’s company is at least as valuable to the series’s appeal as is his flair for international trickery.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

©2010 Third State, Inc. (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Milo Weaver, Steinhauer’s hero, is the opposite of Swagger and Reacher—he is conflicted and neurotic and hopelessly sentimental—but no less entertaining.” —Malcolm Gladwell, TheNewYorker.com

“Milo’s company is at least as valuable to the series’s appeal as is his flair for international trickery.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times

A well written spy novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would highly recommend this author to anyone who liked early le Carre or enjoys Alan Furst. If they like the more popular authors, Clancy, et al, they might find it a little dull.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Nearest Exit?

This book is part of a trilogy, (at least), so I'd have trouble separating incidences. Overall it was suspenseful, without a lot of gratuitous gore, something I like. The book kept my interest consistently, but without huge and stupid violent scenes. A tightly written book.

Any additional comments?

Two faults: While I don't expect this sort of book to be realistic, there were moments when I had the "yeah, right", response to plot points. Still, it was far better than most of the more popular author's works. And, the reader cannot read women's voices. He makes the story sound like it occurs in a world consisting of heterosexual men and drag queens. I hate to be that critical, it's hard to "voice" your opposite sex, but it was distracting. Overall, a very enjoyable thriller.

Series is growing on me

This isn't a John LeCarre book and it isn't a Robert Ludlum book. It's more of a compromise between the two with much of the deeper intrigue of LeCarre with the understandable action of Ludlum. Spy novels are my weakness and this fits in just nicely with my tastes. If "The Company" by Robert Littell is your genre then this may not be for you but for the rest of us it's a great ride!

The New Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Would you listen to The Nearest Exit again? Why?

Best book I've read or listened to all year.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Erika Schwartz was the most unique and riveting female character. Warning: Angelina Jolie won't play this character, unless she puts on 200 pounds. Also, the main character evolves into the most fascinating spy since George Smiley. Just when you think you know who he is, something changes. I picture Kevin Spacey playing him.

Have you listened to any of David Pittu’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This guy is a terrific reader. He has no tics that interfere. Every voice is distinct. All the foreign accents are genuine. All the foreign languages are correctly spoken. His reading is hypnotic.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This book is the climax of the trilogy but it could be read alone. it's well worth reading thru the other two to get to it. Every moment is gripping. The suspense is nearly unbearable.

Any additional comments?

Don't start it unless you can entirely give over your life to it. Don't listen while driving -- you may have to pull off the road. Don't listen while going to sleep -- you'll never get to sleep.
It's terrific.

Entertaining and a different kind of "Hero"

Gud listen . . too many location changes for me and can't always keep the character names straight. . . but then I am getting old and senile. Definitely worth the price.

Best of the three novels in the Milo Weaver series

If I were to pick my one favorite fiction sub genre it would be espionage thrillers. There are several superb authors of 5 star espionage thriller series. Olen Steinhauer is NOT one of them. The Nearest Exit is a solid 4 star novel and is very worthwhile, but The Tourist and The American Spy are just good 3 star novels.

Many threads to follow.

Where does The Nearest Exit rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I could rank it among the espionage entanglements as laid out in British spy stories with a setting in Europe.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a very intriguing one, not the easiest plot with many fast paced scenes developing after each other. Nice addition is the background of Milo and all the European places he visits, it spices up the whole feel of the story. The dialogues are very good.

What does David Pittu bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice is perfect and grips your attention. His depiction of Erika is wonderful with a very nice German/English accent.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Milo is shot on the steps of his family house by the murdered girl's father.

Any additional comments?

I would love to read this story again to get a better grip on the story and not losing on the details. Like I do with all spy stories really.

A masterpiece of its genre

If you like espionage books in the Le Carre tradition, then this series of books is a must. I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. (the change in narrator definitely improved it).
Onto the third and final Milo Weaver book.. after which I'll revert.

Very good follow to a very good book

I read The Tourist early in 2009 soon after it came out and I rated it as one of my top fiction books that year. These are both spy books. They are post 9/11 spy books, so they are not wrapped up in cold war like the original Borne books. They are as good, or better, than Robert Ludlum’s version of Borne. In many ways I would compare them to the movie version of Borne. They are consciously post-cold war. Like the movie version of Borne, the bad guys are both inside and outside the US government and the controllers of “the tourists” (the black-ops arm of the CIA) may be as bad as the bad guys they are trying to defeat.

The Nearest Exit follows right on the heals of The Tourist, but you do not realize it at first. I listened to this on audiobook and so I may have missed some of the written clues about the changing timelines. I was about half way through before I finally put all the clues together and remembered enough of the first book (it has been over a year) to finally figure out what was going on. From that point, it was much clearer and much more enjoyable book.

I often read several books at a time. But this one I listened straight through, more than 12 hours in just 3 days. I do not read many spy books, but these are good. I am a fan of tainted heroes. Milo Weaver, the hero of these books, is definitely not perfect, but he also is not one of those tainted heroes that you just do not want to like. He has a struggling marriage and devotion to his daughter. He is less of a super-hero than Borne. I am not a fan of heroes that walk out of serious car accidents like nothing happened. Weaver gets hurt, gets blindsided by other spies, etc. There is a clear ending in this book, but an opening for another sequel. I hope it is being written.

The audiobook narration was good, but was a different narrator than the first book.

I love this author

I have read every one of Olen Steinhauer's audio books that are available to Canadians and love them all. The are all complex, have unusual plots and interesting locations. However, to trully understand and enjoy this audio book to the full, you must first read The Tourist which is the first book in the Milo Weaver series.

I want more...

I have listened to every Steinhauer book that has been produced for Canadian listeners. This book was excellent: great characters, great story and great narrator. Highly recommended.