New York Times bestselling author Olen Steinhauer brings back Milo Weaver in The Last Tourist. In Olen Steinhauer’s bestseller An American Spy, reluctant CIA agent Milo Weaver thought he had finally put “Tourists”–CIA-trained assassins–to bed. A decade later, Milo is hiding out in Western Sahara when a young CIA analyst arrives to question him about a series of suspicious deaths and terrorist … about a series of suspicious deaths and terrorist chatter linked to him.
Their conversation is soon interrupted by a new breed of Tourists intent on killing them both, forcing them to run.
As he tells his story, Milo is joined by colleagues and enemies from his long history in the world of intelligence, and the young analyst wonders what to believe. He wonders, too, if he’ll survive this encounter.
After three standalone novels, Olen Steinhauer returns to the series that made him a New York Times bestseller.
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Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I loved everything about this – the final in a 4-book series – so much that can recommend all the books of the series. In this finale Milo and his new organization discover even more secret machinations, on a larger scale than ever expected. The pacing was flawless, and enough turns and twists kept me thinking about this current, contemporary (America’s Screaming Angry Orange Man even gets a quote or three) novel after finishing it, taking in the US election/politics of 2016, corporate shenanigans, international secret deals and much more. This series is definitely recommended for fans of the genre. A great, complex story. #TheLastTourist
I wasn’t sure about this one at first, but it turns out Steinhauer’s Milo Weaver series is, in fact, just as compelling even when the action turns away from Milo for the beginning of the book… In earlier books in the series, I’ve commented that I vastly prefer it when Milo takes center stage – that continues to be true. While I didn’t mind Abdul’s first-person narration by the end, it did throw me at first and if I hadn’t already been so committed to the series, it might have turned me off. Not because there’s anything wrong with him as a character, but because I read these books entirely because of Milo.
He’s a fantastic character – bent almost to the point of being dysfunctionally broken by the system that created him. He’s Jason Bourne before he realizes he’s Jason Bourne – someone with a preternatural ability to stay alive despite the unbelievable odds stacked against him. But unlike Bourne, Milo always feels human and possible. It makes the books resonate with me in a way that the Bourne’s never did, for all that they are entertaining…
In this latest installment, Milo is once again facing an unbearable amount of evil vitriol aimed at him and his. Once again, he finds allies in the most unlikely places – and enemies (even if occasionally well-intentioned) as well. This ability to write complex interwoven narratives around multiple characters over multiple timelines and locations is one of the great strengths in this series for me. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to write them – there are SO MANY THINGS going on at all times, the ones that seem like red herrings usually aren’t and the ones that do not, well, you never really know about those. They have a tendency to reappear at the most unlikely times and result in the most unlikely consequences. It makes for a very tense (in the best possible way) read that requires attention to detail and an ability to roll with things as they play out. It’s active reading, and I love it for that.
You never know what will come next for Milo Weaver, and that includes whether there will continue to BE a Milo Weaver. When Steinhauer decides he’s done, it’ll be a shame – so here’s hoping he puts it off a little longer and this latest title indicates a revitalization of the series!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
“The Last Tourist” is not about casual vacationing in beautiful exotic locations. It is about espionage, secrets, “black ops” groups, terrorism, politics, and general threats to peace everywhere. Readers get to know Abdul Ghali through his first person narrative. He shares his thoughts about his family and the journey to his job in “data” at the CIA. He spends a lot of time developing a complete background for readers including his own unique background as an “outsider,” from a disputed desert expanse just south of Morocco called Western Sahara. While he is not sure why he was selected for this task despite his connections to the region; others have an opinion. “Now I know why they sent you…You’re expendable.” But there is another reason as well, a bigger more important reason.
The book is divided into three blocks of time. The story begins in January 2019, and readers learn about the players, the preparations, and the mission. Then, the narrative goes back four months in a detailed backstory that shows why the mission was necessary, and how the players got to the January situation. Finally, readers follow everyone to the “conclusion” of this mission. Steinhauer created a thriller where the geography is as detailed as the characters. Pages are filled with local flavor, and the specifics make this exotic setting real for readers. “Milo Weaver is there because it’s an excellent place to hide.” This exact story could not have taken place anywhere else.
The Last Tourist” starts as the story of an interview and a desert rescue, but things are not that simple. The plot is complex and filled with political intrigue, counter intelligence, undercover spies, and abundant dirty tricks. I received a review copy of “The Last Tourist” from Olen Steinhauer, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books. It is book four in the Milo Weaver series, but I did not realize this until after I finished the book. It certainly stands alone, and is a unique and interesting way to advance a series.
I thought after reading the first book that it couldn’t get any better but I’m here to tell you that it has! This is a thrilling page turner that I had a tough time putting down! I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves secret service, spy, thrillers. Thanks for a great book!
The Last Tourist is apparently the fourth in the Milo Weaver series, but it easily stands alone. The novel has plenty of plot twists equalling what’s expected in this genre and occasionally words are strung together in near-poetic way. The protagonist, Milo Weaver, is a scarred veteran of the spy world, but has returned to the States, married and has a child. Weaver isn’t a suave debonair 007 copy, nor is he the skilled Jason Bourne,. He lacks the characterization Daniel Silva has invested his Gabriel Allon with, but Weaver is a relatable character. He’s a scarred man who’s has traded his old life for a wife, daughter and a normal American home life, but is now forced to return to the world of spook-dom.
A novel by Olen Steinhauer
Abdul Ghazi wasn’t a spy until he was one. Usually, he is a top analyst at CIA’s Langley HQ and had been for fourteen years. As an analyst, Abdul worked in the Africa Section, principally because of his ethnic background. His parents had immigrated from Western Sahara before he was born, and at their insistence, he spoke Hassaniya Arabic growing up. Now, here he is in the land of his forefathers looking for a man who associates with known terrorists and who has an Interpol Red Notice with his face on it. That man is Milo Weaver, an old school spy, and Abdul is supposed to ask him twenty questions. That will have to wait because both of them are running for their lives.
As far as spy novels go, “The Last Tourist” has it all. It is well written, has the feel of today’s news, the pace is fast, and the storyline is absorbing. Make no mistake; the world of Milo Weaver is not that of James Bond. There are no supervillains, fabulous cars, nor days of wine, women and more women. Milo works in today’s brutal covert intelligence battlefield where men and women will kill you just because you are in their way. The author’s best gift to his creation is a sense of tense realism that I have never encountered before. Fortunately, there are three novels in the Milo Weaver series that preceded this one, and I look forward to reading every page.
I applaud Olen Steinhauer’s writing skills and highly recommend “The Last Tourist” to one and all.
My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance digital galley of this excellent novel.
A comprehensive political thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and also has the potential to give you trust issues. It details shadowy government organizations working against the people they are supposed to protect. It has great characters and conversations that border on the surreal. It shows how the work of spies can have a great impact on a family. It is truly a remarkable story.
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A Complex International Spy Thriller
The novel starts with Abdul Ghali, CIA desk-bound Africa analyst, is called into his section head’s office. He was handed a thick and heavily redacted file on a former employee, Milo Weaver, who had left the CIA to work with the United Nations. Weaver also seems to have connections to a terrorist group, the Massive Brigade, and several months ago he dropped off the grid. He was just found in Western Sahara, and his section chief wanted him to go there and ask him 20 questions. Abdul is not sure why he was chosen. His parents are from that part of the world. He knows the native language. But, he never had been a field operative. Also, Milo is American and is fluent in English! Lastly, there is a CIA operative in Western Sahara. When Abdul is interviewing Milo, they are interrupted, and Milo tells Abdul why he was selected! The main storyline shifts back and to cover the time when Milo went off the grid.
For me the main storyline started very slowly. This first section did not capture my attention and left me wanting. That quickly changed at the very end of the first section through the rest of the novel. Eventually, the main storyline captured my attention. The cast is very diverse from multiple to many people from two terror groups, CIA, diplomatic and intelligence services from 12 countries, an NGO intelligence organization, and a global cabal of companies. The action stretches from Japan west to the United States and Northern Africa to central Europe. To add a little more flavor to this mix, global real events are sprinkled throughout the novel. On the plus side there are plenty twists and misdirections in the plot that helped keep my interest.
The B-storyline also is rich and complex. Milo seems to have a personal relationship with many of the characters in the novel. Much of Milo’s history is covered is covered; the essentials that make him Milo. Abdul’s character and background with his family also is covered in depth. These story lines are well integrated into the main storyline, and for me enriched the novel and my enjoyment.
There is not any sex. The violence is both described after the fact and some as it occurs. The language is moderate with a few very vulgar terms included. This level was not a negative mark for me but may be by some readers sensitive to this. Because of the large number of characters, I did use the search capability of my e-reader quite a few times to refresh my memory of who’s who. Lastly, this is the fourth book in the series, and the first that I have read. I did not feel after reading this novel that I needed to have read the others. When I looked up the titles of the other novels, I would say you still can read this novel first, but you may enjoy it more if you read the other novels first.
Overall, this was a slow but enjoyable read for me. It was a little more challenging for me that the novels I usually read. This novel did meet my criteria for a high rating but not the highest. I rate this novel with four stars. If this novel looks interesting, do give it a try.
I have received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from St Martin’s Press with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Although THE LAST TOURIST is a novel, a work of fiction, it reads like one of the current non-fiction, tell-all books that I have taken to reading over the past couple of years. The sprinkling of recognizable names only adds to the terrifying realism.
There was a time not so long ago where I would have given any number of the books I’ve read recently a definite pass. Now I devour books by journalists, ex-government officials, ex-federal law enforcement and security personnel. THE LAST TOURIST fits in my new reading pattern seamlessly.
It is hard to find a book published within the last three years that doesn’t, in some way, touch upon the state of the world facing both climate change and political change. Even genre fiction – horror, sci-fi, fantasy – manages to voice the very real concerns we face. THE LAST TOURIST doesn’t just voice these concerns, it drops them in your lap where they explode.
Olen Steinhauer has managed to make Ian Fleming’s James Bond, and Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne look like rank amateurs in the face of globalism and behind-the-scenes dirty dealing. This is Spy vs Spy for the 21st century.
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars. The premise of this story is so far fetched that it stretches the imagination. Milo Weaver is the head of a secret group called “The Library.” The Library is a secret intelligence sharing group of 12 countries based in a secret part of UN headquarters in New York city.
The 12 countries are Germany, Luxembourg, Iceland, Kenya, Bangladesh, Ghana, Portugal, Algeria,South Korea, Lebanon and Chile. They send intelligence to the Library, which stores and collates it, building up patterns of information. They then use this information to get favors from China, US, Russia and the UK. Some of the information that they have is hard to believe, i.e., secret codes of Japanese intelligence.
However, if you accept this premise, then it is an exciting, suspenseful spy book full of betrayal, double crosses and many plot twists. This is book 4 in the series and it explains some of what happened in previous books. The Tourists were a group of CIA assassins who worked worldwide. It was disbanded after Chinese intelligence killed a couple dozen of them in 1 day.
One of the groups involved in this story is a private security contractor. Another is a internet app called Nexus, similar to Facebook.
Thanks to St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheLastTourist