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There are currently 20 member reviews
for All the Old Knives
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Sharon W. (Columbia, SC)
These Knives Need Sharpening
Olen Steinhauer has produced a well-written spy story, but one with not much zing. His method of telling a story, in this case a conversation over the course one dinner between two old colleagues and lovers, fails to pace an otherwise intriguing plot to a satisfying climax. I was disappointed. I do, however, look forward to what other readers have to say.
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Patricia S. (New Canaan, CT)
Information revealed piece by piece
This is the first of Olen Steinhauer's books that I have read, but know how popular he is. His writing is easy, often clever, and yet I found myself not always sure which character was narrating the chapter until I had more clues. The book is often like a puzzle, giving you a piece of information and then realizing it doesn't fit. He built the tension up to the last page, but I didn't feel as vested in the book as I am in most other spy/mystery novels. I'll read another 1 or 2 books of his to see if this is just the way he writes.
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Carol G. (Little Egg Harbor, NJ)
All the Old Knives
I am not a fan of spy novels but the description of this book peaked my interest. I think the author developed complex characters, although not always likeable.
The book was satisfying but not special but I would definitely read this author again.
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Kenneth T. (Houston, TX)
All the old knives are not as sharp.
"All the Old Knives" is good, but not Olen Steinhauer at his best. Two former lovers, one now an interrogator, have lunch. The story slowly diverges from each point of view by the use of flashbacks.
The prose is polished but the plot is tired. He simply doesn't do the Rashomon effect well. I expected more from this author.
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Constance C. (Manchester, NH)
Disappointed
I have read all of the Olen Steinhauer, he is one of my favorite authors, he is one of the most dependable professionals writing thrillers . But this book is very different from his usual writings. It's short,and takes place in a restaurant analyzing what went wrong yeas ago. The usual edge is not there, actually a little dull. Three stars.
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Linda C. (Carlisle, MA)
Thriller of Sorts
I will preface this with the fact that this is the first book I've read of Steinhaurer's. This story takes place at a restaurant in Carmel-by-the -Sea. The meeting is between two ex-lovers, one still a spy, the other an ex-spy. They are revisiting a tragedy that took place when they worked together in Vienna 6 years before. There is a question of an agent being compromised. The brief story focuses mainly on these two characters with confusing flashbacks and a predictable outcome. I missed the thrills, twists and turns I've come to expect from mystery books. I'm not so sure setting a spy thriller at a restaurant table is particularly successful. However, given the quality of the writing, I would certainly explore other books by Olin Steinhauer.
