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)

Smart book, definitely not one to zone out to

The Tourist rewards you for paying attention. The story weaves its way along so if you are a reader that like to be carefully lead, then you might be disappointed. But if you enjoy a book that makes you think then you will want to give The Tourist a listen.

"Company" man, Milo Weaver works out of the Avenue of the Americas secret Department of Tourism as a clandestine operative ... a Tourist. Like a tourist, he has no connection to the country he happens to be passing through.

If you are expecting another Jack Reacher or Victor the Assassin character, you will be disappointed. As much as I enjoy those characters, I found myself drawn to this "everyman" spy. Milo (named after a dog) is every bit a professional, but one with a life and a past that unfolds as the story develops. And that past has more than a little bearing on the story.

And as for the story, you have to pay attention as POV and time and place of the story change. Things don't jump around in a jumble, but they do flow. And you can stay with it if you are willing. I enjoyed those twists right up to the last.

As for the narration, I think Tom Weiner's performance is just fine. I have listened to several books narrated by Tom and was pleased with them. So when I read a LOT of bad reviews about his reading of this book, I discounted them. Turns out I was right to do so. He might not do the best "woman's" voice, and that can be said of many male narrators, but I enjoy his work. It might be he is an acquired taste.

I can't say I know any CIA employees / operatives, but I doubt they sit around talking about "the company" or that they can do anything at any time, any where. I suspect they are real men and women, smart and capable, but people. Something like Milo. At no time do you mistake him for superman, but he is certainly fun to ride along with. Take a chance on The Tourist, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Exciting spy novel

Very well interpreted. Loved the narrator. Very convoluted story nicely sorted out in the last hour. Very entertaining.

Yawn!

I listed to this during an 8 hour drive. it was hard for me to follow the different character names. i was not driven to connect my headset during gas and rest area stops.

over rated

i liked the book, but judging by all the rave reviews I was ready for something new and mind-blowing. at times it was rather standard stuff, not like Day of the Jackal, or Spy Who Came in From the Cold, or Hunt for Red October, all novels which changed the playing field and i grew restless with it. it may make a good movie, though perhaps too much will have to be condensed and trimmed...but maybe at a break-neck pace you could make an almost strict actioner out of it.

Began slightly slow - then great.

Good story, great twists, ended just right. Will look for more by the author. Good enough to write a review!

I found a new author

I suppose most of us that listen to audio books are on the lookout for new authors that we might enjoy. There are so many here in audible.com. Often you don't read a book because of bad reviews others write when you're really not sure if it would be good or bad. I'd never heard of Steinhauer and read somewhere here in audible.com, maybe the home page, where Nelson DeMille, another author I think, said this was a really good book. Well, I read it and I agree it is a really good book. Interesting character development, interesting twists and turns, you find yourself likeing some of the different characters. Just before typing this review I saw Steinhauer has other books here in audible. I'll have to check them out.

Couldn't get into it

When I first began listening to this book, I thought the reader must be the author. Usually, when you hear a reader who is not all that great, it turns out to be the author. (Neil Gaiman is an exception: he's an excellent reader as well as a great writer.) In any case, the reading sounds clipped and too fast, and it can be difficult to understand. As others have mentioned, character voices, especially for female characters, are not done well.

This reader might do fine on non-fiction but he just wasn't well-matched to this novel. I gave up after about 2 hours.

Very Entertaining

I really like this story, my first from this author. I tend to favor a bit more action, but came to appreciate this one regardless. Very well told story. I had to rewind now and then since it got a bit complex at times. But I listen while I commute so it's easy to get distracted anyway. The author did a good job of providing recaps now and then that fit seamlessly into the story.

I look forward to more from this author.

Engrossing

Wonderful, full of plot twists. Characterization was well done--except for the bratty, unrealistically old-for-her-years daughter, whom I wanted to garrote. Reading was well done.

Good story, couple of surprises, ends a little too

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed the story and the characters. There were a few interesting surprises. I thought the story was tied up a little too quickly. The last couple of chapters seemed like a summary timeline that had not been filled in. Even so, the last few paragraphs clarified my understanding of the soul of the main character and I was already looking forward to the next installment.