All the Old Knives

By: Olen Steinhauer

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos, Juliana Francis Kelly

Nine years ago terrorists hijacked a plane in Vienna. Somehow a rescue attempt staged from the inside went terribly wrong, and everyone onboard was killed.

Members of the CIA stationed in Vienna during that time were witness to this terrible tragedy, gathering intel from their sources during those tense hours, assimilating facts from the ground with a series of texts coming from one of their agents inside the plane. So when it all went wrong, the question had to be asked: Had their agent been compromised, and how?

Two of those agents, Henry Pelham and Celia Harrison, were lovers at the time, and in fact that was the last night they spent together. Until now. That night Celia decided she'd had enough; she left the agency, married, and had children, and is living an ordinary life in the suburbs. Henry is still an analyst, and has traveled to California to see her one more time, to relive the past, maybe, or to put it behind him once and for all.

But neither of them can forget that long-ago question: Had their agent been compromised, and how? And each of them wonders what role tonight's dinner companion might have played in the way things unfolded.

All the Old Knives is Olen Steinhauer's most intimate, most cerebral, and most shocking novel to date - from the New York Times best-selling author deemed by many to be John le Carré's heir apparent.

©2015 Third State, Inc. (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrators Ari Fliakos and Juliana Francis Kelly serve up a meaty meal of sexual tension and regret as they portray former lovers and CIA agents in Steinhauer's latest contemporary espionage." ( AudioFile)

Slow but good.

An espionage novel that takes places almost completely in hindsight.

Two former partners (and lovers) meet to discuss a still-open case from many years ago. One agent is actively investigating the case still, the other retired to avoid thinking about it.

It was the case of a double-agent who was never caught, and who was indirectly responsible for the hostage and bombing of an airplane, and the deaths of the innocent people aboard. Who was the double agent? Did he discover the mole planted aboard the airplane? How were certain sensitive facts found out causing the tragedy?

It is a slow burn, so don't expect a page turner.

Love vs Moral Dilemma, see Chris Pine

This was a good story which I purchased because of Ari Fliakos narration. However, author is a bit like another reviewer stated Eg John LeCarre, a bit too slow for me. The female narration was wonderful As she slips into German like others might slip into Spanish. You are right there In Europe. If she deepens her Male voice, she’ll get there. I just realized they made this book into a film with Chris Pine and an actress. I can’t remember her name either Netflix or prime.
Where my comments of help?

Interesting Concept

I usually enjoy anything Steinhauer does and I assume this was a sort of concept novel. While it was an interesting way to build the story, one table, two people and dual-dueling narrators didn't get there for me.

good read

never saw the ending coming.
great writing
good narration
can't wait to see movie tomorrow

Short but intense story

This is an unusual Spy story set in the present and the past. It's all about the dinner conversation and I must say it is a clever, well written story and I quite enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll be going for another spy book.
Narrator
The story is told from each others' point of view therefore each narrator does have to perform both voices which is a bit of a novelty. Unfortunately at about three hours in the sound quality deteriorated for a few minutes, this always spoils a listening experience.