I read this book a few months back and absolutely loved it. Having knocked out a few of Steinhauer’s previous novels, I thought I knew what to expect with this one. Boy, was I wrong. Masterfully written and full of suspense, The Middleman is a timely thriller that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.
You can read my full, spoiler-free review in another week or so, but in the meantime, enjoy this free three-chapter excerpt from Macmillan, and don’t forget to pre-order Steinhauer’s new novel, in stores August 7th.
The Middleman by Olen Steinhauer
1
Kevin Moore leaned against the counter at Sushi Taka. He counted the rings in his spicy tuna roll—one, two, three—thinking of architecture. Then he went about the ritual: the trimming of the chopsticks, the laying on of ginger, the measured smear of wasabi. The flavor was appealing, but nothing special, not to his palate, yet he had eaten so much of this food since moving to the West Coast a year ago that by now the ritual was second nature. The joy he took in eating sushi was one of form and not content; this realization felt like something important.
He shifted his gaze to the window in front of him—watching, like always. A few minutes ago, he’d seen a homeless guy urinate against the bland office building across the street, turning to face the wall as if by this show of modesty no one would notice. But San Francisco residents had seen far worse—hadn’t everyone?—so no one bothered him. By the time Kevin’s phone vibrated beside the tray, number unknown, the homeless guy was long gone, and there was nothing to interrupt the steady Sunday trickle of tourists, vagrants, and hookers.
“Hello?” he said into the phone.