Olen Steinhauer writes yet another excellent story about secrets and how they affect ones lives.
Two agents (Henry and Celia) share a very troubled past but what are they ready to do in order to survive the aftermath of their actions?

Story revolves around a dinner between Henry and Celia. Henry an active agent stationed in Vienna and Celia, retired agent seeking comfort in normal civilian life. Henry aims to find out what exactly happened in Vienna (where they were both stationed) six years back and what was the cause of bloody failure at the airport - event that marked them both in so many ways. To achieve his goal he arranges for friendly dinner with Celia and during the conversation at the table reader is presented with the plenty of skeletons-from-the-closet from both parties.

Excellent novel, highly recommended to all fans of spy-fiction and thrillers in general.

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At first, I had a hard time following this book, because it seemed to be kind of boring, so I wasn't paying attention. It seemed like some sort of romantic story, and most of it took place in a single restaurant with back and forth conversations about the actual plot in the form of reminiscing by the couple. Some of it was along the lines of Gone Girl.

But I rarely quit reading books, so I kept on, and then went back to skim over the previous story, where I picked up a couple of things I missed that made the whole thing make more sense. Not to say it made total sense, at least not right away. The problem is, both of them were from the intelligence field, and neither could be trusted to be 100% honest.

But it finally came together (not romantically), and there did seem to be some romance, even if each considered killing the other at various times. ( )

I've had this book on my shelf for a couple of years, picked up from a sale table somewhere. Last week I came across a glowing GR review from someone whose tastes it spy fiction I trust and decided it didn't need to wait any longer.

This truly is a small jewel of a book, the length just long enough to contain all the elements of a tense thriller - where nothing much happens in real time. A meeting in Carmel recounting events in Vienna 5 years before. An examination of love and betrayal set within the world of espionage that had me on the edge of my seat, reading straight through to an ending that could not have been improved.

Another great end-of-year read. ( )

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All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer is an espionage novel attempting to trace a hostage situation gone wrong. Mr. Steinhauer is a writer, TV show creator who has been nominated for several awards.

A terrorist group took over a hundred hostages in Vienna, Austria. The rescue attempt, however, went horribly wrong. Witnessing the tragedy, CIA’s Vienna branch believes the inside breach was someone in their office.

Case Officer Henry Pelham, investigating the night of the crisis, goes to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, to relive the past with his ex-lover, Celia Harrison. Over dinner, Henry and Celia hash out their roles of a tragedy six years in the past.

I have enjoyed several of the author’s novels previously, so I was excited to read another one. All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer is an exercise in writing, an espionage story chiefly taking place over dinner. Certainly, a departure for the author.

I thought this was certainly an interesting approach to telling a story. Not the whole narrative takes place over dinner though. The story evolves through the eyes of the leading characters, until the surprising finally.

Unlike the other books, there really aren’t chases, secret drops, and last-minute rescues. Instead, the story-line unfolds, playing with memories and narratives which have been fogged up over several years.

Towards the ending, one needs to pay attention. I felt like Mr. Steinhauer decided to either end the story abruptly, or is missing a scene. The twist happens quickly, after a few lines (or line) attempting to misdirect the reader. If you were reading quickly, or tired, or didn’t pay close attention you probably missed it.

Furthermore, I felt, this was a disservice to the reader. While we certainly don’t need to be hit over the head with it, the twist could have been a bit more pronounced.

But again, that might have been the intent. ( )

Perhaps I was just in a bad mood the day I tried reading this book, but I just couldn't get into it, and put it down. I liked "The Cairo Affair" by the same author, so I was surprised that this one just didn't grab me. Perhaps if I try another Steinhauer book in the future, and like it, I'll come back and try this one again. ( )