The Tourist

A Novel

By: Olen Steinhauer

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In the vein of John le Carré and Graham Greene, this contemporary international thriller follows Milo Weaver as he is drawn into a conspiracy that links riots in the Sudan, an assassin committing suicide, and an old friend who's been accused of selling secrets to the Chinese. Once the CIA and Homeland Security are after him, the only way for him to survive is to return, headfirst, into Tourism.

©2009 Olen Steinhauer (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Weaver] is the perfect hero for such a richly nuanced tale." ( Booklist)
"Superbly accomplished at both plotting and characterization....highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

Confusing and Unsatisfying

I know that Steinhauer has a legion of admirers, but I guess I'm not smart enough to be one of them. I simply couldn't follow the plot. It's one thing to be in the dark as events are occurring, but at the end, I do like to know how it all turned out, a desire that eluded me in The Tourist. Yes, there were several interesting characters and the action and motives, in isolation, did provide some excitement, but how it all fit together was something I, for one, never figured out.

Can’t miss read

The writing and the reading are fantastic. My third time through now and the layers in both the story and the character are appealing and keep you interested in what happens next. Please read this book.

More twists than chubby checker......

It's a little hard to follow and you're always catching up. In the end, well, I might read it again.

Good story, delivery only fair

The story is interesting, but the author has made it so complicated by trying to put too much into it, that it loses some of its edge. In other words, much of the narrative should have been edited out. But, on the whole, it's a worthwhile read.

Fast paced, riveting

What did you love best about The Tourist?

This is an international spy thriller that moves at a very fast pace. Supremely entertaining. The writer keeps the action going so that the reader has no time to analyze the logic of it all

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I read this book before I listened to it. In most cases, the narrator adds dimension to the work. In the case of this novel it was not so.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book kept me awake wanting to know what happened next!

Any additional comments?

Good entertainment!

Best Book in the 3 book series

I have listened to all three in the series, this is by far the best. The second one not bad and the third well, I would skip it.

A book not for dummies

This is a first rate novel, but I will tell you (what might appear arrogantly) that this book is NOT written for a person who needs to be led by the nose through the intricate twists and turns of a spy novel. It is complex and a review of the plot would be difficult. Suffice it to say that I believe you will find it very enjoyable.

Our hero... the tourist (a CIA field officer)... is not at all what he seems to be. Perfect for a spy, of course! The cracks in his veneer are clear for all to see.

Seldom do a spy's family take part in a spy novel... except peripherally... but here, they merge nicely into a subplot and are active characters. They are likable.

There are numerous changes in time, in character and you must pay attention.

The reader had a nasty job with this book because of those many characters, their positions and their nationalities... and I think he did a credible job.

This book is not intuitive. It requires the concentration that readers of a John LeCarre novel must have in order to enjoy it. By no means though is it LeCarre. Not better... not worse... just really good.

You may eventually see the final direction of this novel, but you sure won't see it until the last hour or so... and even then, it will surprise you.

This is my first read of this author... and when I finish this review, I'll try another.

As so often is true, pay NO attention to the "Publisher's Summary". It is nonsense and must have been written either by a complete idiot or a person who never read the book. It damns it with faint praise. It is better than the summary.

I gave it 5 stars. I expect you will like it also.

Interesting...

I found myself torn over this audiobook. The genre is one of my absolute favorites. I was drawn to the author because at Amazon, he was consistently touted as "heir to Le Carre." But the plot seems to me very cliched, and I had some difficulty liking most of the characters. On reflection and careful review of the reviews, I have come to suspect that my problems may have been with the narrator, not the author. At any rate, it was well worth the time invested, and it is important to support younger authors with promising careers. I'll be watching to see the reactions of other Audible customers.

Follow the Bouncing Ball . .

CIA, Homeland Security, Agents and Double Agents. A fast moving story. One you have to pay attention to as it expertly brings together seemingly unrelated events to an unexpected climax.

homage

A homage to "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold."
Complicated but excellent view of the Western spy machinery today... thrilling.
very well matched to the reader