Title: The Middleman
Author: Olen Steinhauer
Genre: Thriller
About the book: It’s about a radical group and focuses on four different characters. I received an ARC from the Goodreads giveaway program.
First impressions: I’m all for a good suspenseful thriller, but this wasn’t what I expected. I thought the story would be progress at a faster pace, but things started off slow.
I didn’t know what the novel was about at first. Once I had a better understanding of the story, I started to appreciate it a little more.
Characters: The main players include an undercover agent, a writer, an investigator, and a woman who gets involved with the organization.
I didn’t love anyone right away. I wasn’t even sure who were the good guys versus the bad ones until later. Some of them grew on me though.
Quote:
“…the key to success was neither genius nor brute force but persistence.”
Writing: I’m a fan of short chapters because oftentimes, they build suspense. The author doesn’t make anything too explicit until the end. He lets you arrive at your own conclusions. I enjoyed having to piece everything together myself.
Final thoughts: The Middleman isn’t your typical fast-paced read. I’d classify it as a political thriller that comments on the United States. Many of the issues addressed have relevance in contemporary society.
It’s certainly not a book for everyone. I recommend it to those who have some interest in American history and politics.
Overall, I recognized some references but missed others. The novel is more eye-opening than anything.
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Herminia Chow 