Olen Steinhauer

"Steinhauer’s use of multiple perspectives allows him to lead readers down a suspenseful path,..."

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:35:00 -0800

“Steinhauer’s use of multiple perspectives allows him to lead readers down a suspenseful path, then double back and fill in the timeline with information from a new angle that forces total reappraisal. With all the switchbacks, though, one thing remains constant: Milo is fiercely dedicated to protecting his wife and daughter. His enemies can use that against him, but it also fuels his anger against them, creating an uneasy tension that lasts until all the major players have manuevered themselves into place. Even then, Steinhauer continues to redraw the boundary lines, leaving himself (and Milo) an opening for further exploits. It’s an ending that should please both Milo’s existing fanbase and newcomers alike.”

- Ron Hogan’s terrific review of An American Spy in the most recent Shelf Awareness.

An audio preview of An American Spy

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:03:03 -0800

An audio preview of An American Spy

Required reading for spy fans | BookPage

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:58:00 -0800

Required reading for spy fans | BookPage:

Terrific mention in BookPage from Bruce Tierney. Says he:

Serious, gripping and lightning-paced, An American Spy should be required reading for fans of espionage fiction.

Thank you, Bruce!

(NOTE: As a commenter on Facebook pointed out, the link to this review should have a SPOILER alert. Consider yourself alerted.)

Some South African Love

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:22:37 -0800

Some South African Love:

It’s always nice to get favorable attention from South Africa, where over the years I’ve gotten some really wonderful mentions. Thanks to Mike Nicol for this one on The Tourist. One of these days I’m going to have to visit…

Back on the Case: Elmore Leonard's "Raylan"

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:11:00 -0800

Back on the Case: Elmore Leonard's "Raylan":

This just up: My NYT Book Review take on Elmore Leonard’s latest novel, Raylan. Check it out.

A Literary Spy: Olen Steinhauer

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:45:00 -0800

A Literary Spy: Olen Steinhauer:

Just after Christmas I had a lovely lunch with Tim Peters, who interviewed me for Publishers Weekly, and we chatted about plenty of things, only ending the conversation because of other obligations. Here’s the profile he wrote. Thanks, Tim!

Focus Features | Videos & Extras | Slideshow | Spy Writers On George Smiley

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:08:00 -0800

Focus Features | Videos & Extras | Slideshow | Spy Writers On George Smiley:

Somehow I missed this before—but it’s some of Focus Features’ “extra content” for Tinker Tailor. William Boyd, Philip Kerr, and I were asked to share a few thoughts on that legendary character, George Smiley.

Library Journal has its say

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:40:01 -0800

Despite the lack of a star, Library Journal’s review of An American Spy is quite stellar. Witness:

This follow-up to The Tourist and The Nearest Exit proves the adage that good things come in threes. With Milo Weaver as the conscience-worn hero, Steinhauer does for Chinese-Western intrigue what John le Carré did for the Cold War era of international espionage. A mesmerizing series for dedicated readers of spy fiction.

Pretty great!

(For those of you not in the publishing business—meaning, most everyone—I’m charting the pre-publication reviews put out by the industry magazines: Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal and…hopefully next…Kirkus Reviews. While the general public doesn’t read these reviews, librarians and booksellers do, which means they’re important to the success of any title, helping build momentum before the book hits the shelves.)

Booklist has excellent taste...

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:37:00 -0800

…which is an obnoxious title for a post, but Keir Graff over at Booklist has over the years given my novels some wonderful attention, and his forthcoming starred review for An American Spy has me blushing. It’ll come out in the January 15 issue, so keep an eye out for it, but in the meantime I’ll share the climactic, sure-to-be-quoted-on-the-back-cover line:

“Another must-read from the best novelist working in the tradition of John le Carré.”

Star in PW!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:01:00 -0800

Star in PW!:

Just came across this starred review of An American Spy in Publishers Weekly. Though I always notice the negatives (they find the opening “initially convoluted”) it’s a very praising review that I’m proud to receive. Thanks PW!

Kirkus on forthcoming thrillers

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:02:41 -0800

Kirkus on forthcoming thrillers:

A nice mention for An American Spy from Kirkus, in particular from J. Kingston Pierce, of the inestimable January Magazine and Rap Sheet, which makes it all the nicer.

For those who don’t know him, Ken Bruen’s a...

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:34:00 -0800

For those who don’t know him, Ken Bruen’s a brilliant, lyrical crime novelist who I first came to know during my first Edgar Award ceremony back in 2004. Both of us having lost, we obviously chose to drink ourselves senseless in Manhattan. As everyone else gradually disappeared, heading off to their hotel rooms, the two of us survived until four in the morning, talking nonstop. A wonderfully self-abusive night I’ll not soon forget. (Hat-tip to Seth Marko on this.)

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:49:00 -0800

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books:

I just learned from my publisher, St Martin’s, that I’m going to be in Los Angeles this April for a panel at the LA Times Festival of Books.

Early days, so I don’t know which panel, or who I’ll be chatting with, but I expect it to be a blast.

I spy, with my literary eye

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:27:22 -0800

I spy, with my literary eye:

A cool piece from a friend, Adam LeBor, on the state of the thriller in the literary world. I missed it when it came out, but am glad I caught up to the piece. Enjoy.

The state of the post-Cold War spy novel - Salon.com

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:30:00 -0800

The state of the post-Cold War spy novel - Salon.com:

In keeping with the Tinker Tailor theme, Salon asked a number of espionage aficionados—and me—for to answer a few questions about Cold War spy fiction and the current state of the genre. My two cents are at the very bottom.

Note the freakishly similar opening sentences shared by me and Charles Cumming…

St. Martin's Press: The "An American Spy" Advance Readers' Edition Sweepstakes

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:28:41 -0800

St. Martin's Press: The "An American Spy" Advance Readers' Edition Sweepstakes:

The contest of a lifetime!

Book with a Face

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:41:00 -0800

I’ve just set up a page on Facebook, and once I figure out how to do it I’ll run a feed from the page to here.

I’m working with St Martin’s on this, so in the coming months they’ll help me make the place interesting. One thing I know it will involve is a contest or two to win a copy of An American Spy before it hits the bookstores…which will make you smarter, fresh-cheeked, and far more attractive to the opposite sex.

So go check it out already!

The Rap Sheet: Dick Adler Passes Away

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:47:50 -0800

The Rap Sheet: Dick Adler Passes Away:

I was stunned today to learn (a day later than most) that Dick Adler, legendary book reviewer, has passed away. This is a tremendous loss for mystery & thriller fiction, as he was an astute yet generous lover of the genre. Early on in my own career he took to the pages of the Chicago Tribune to say wonderfully kind things about my work, and for that I have always been grateful. We never met, just shot a few emails at one another, but I know I’m going to feel the loss of him for a long time. Condolences to his family, and to the mystery community.

This is the image he used for his own website, Paperback Mysteries, so I’m sticking to his choice. Good luck on the other side, Dick.

The Crooked Road

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:54:00 -0700

I just heard from Janet Hutchings over at Dell, publishers of the fine periodical Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and learned that a story I published with them a few years ago, “Investment in Vevey,” is part of a new ebook anthology they’ve put out, called The Crooked Road: Ellery Queen Presents Stories of Grifters, Gangsters, Hit Men, and Other Career Crooks.

Terrific line-up, including the Bruen, Lawrence Block, Florence Mayberry, Doug Allyn, and many more. I’m ordering my copy now. I suggest you do the same.

My new review in the NYTBR: A Thriller, With Apologies

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:47:00 -0700

My new review in the NYTBR: A Thriller, With Apologies:

In Zoran Drvenkar’s novel, four friends whose profession is making apologies acquire a client who is a killer.

(And in case I wasn’t clear in the review, it’s a brilliant book. Go get yourself a copy.)