The Middleman is smart and entertaining and consistently intriguing, clipping along in brief chapters, somewhat reminiscent of the novels of James Patterson, and often animated by lovely, spare descriptive writing ... Yet because the premise of The Middleman is so audacious and because its point of view is fragmented, the novel doesn’t fully exhibit the propulsive force of some of Steinhauer’s spy fiction ... What makes up for that is the neat feat of asking serious political questions without burdening the suspense. In an era of rising income inequality, of unlimited corporate spending on campaign messaging that allows the richest forces in our society to gain unprecedented political power, of voters left and right rallying to outcries about a corrupt system and Washington as a swamp in search of a drain, why can no unity be forged between the viewers of Fox News and MSNBC, who instead prefer mutual vilification? ... The Middleman is a very good trip.
The result is an interesting but rather strange novel set in an alternative political reality ... Ultimately, Steinhauer’s story is that of a struggle between good and evil, as Rachel and Weaver face off against wife-beaters, police brutality, political corruption, bureaucratic duplicity and even rape in Africa. His plot is at times improbable and his narrative could stand some cutting, but...this remains a thought-provoking political thriller, a dark story for dark times.
When it comes to peaceful protests versus acts of domestic terrorism, where does one draw the line? That’s one of the fundamental questions asked early on in Steinhauer’s thought-provoking story ... Not only is Steinhauer’s story current, full of themes playing out across the country today, but in a rather unprecedented move, he covers the entire plot from all angles. Readers get to view the conflict through the eyes of an FBI agent, an undercover operative, a convert to the organization, and a writer closely following the story as it unfolds. Each character is expertly developed and provides a raw, unvarnished perspective that makes it challenging, at times, for readers to know who the bad guys really are ... smart, well-written ... you’d be hard pressed to find a better standalone thriller hitting bookstores in 2018.
...a revolutionary group called the Massive Brigade ... consists mostly of discontented young citizens with various social-issue agendas—all unified by feeling 'like aliens in their own country.' Without warning or explanation, Bishop and his followers one day drop off the grid. Where have they gone? What are they planning? ... The Middleman, with its abundance of multidimensional characters and political viewpoints, is a thought-provoking novel that never ceases to excite as a thriller.
...[a] nailbiter ... Steinhauer sketches out Proulx’s initial impression of Bishop with flab-free prose typical of the novel ... Steinhauer juggles his plot lines in brisk, alternating chapters, accelerating the tension throughout ... Steinhauer serves as an effective literary middleman throughout, connecting readers with plausible versions of how a diverse group of people – FBI agents, radicals, followers, bureaucrats, reporters hungry for a story – might respond to turmoil in a world of well-rendered verisimilitude ... one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking novels of the year.
Steinhauer has written an unnerving and timely thriller with incredible pivots. From a perspective on activist/terrorist civilian organizations to an examination of Big Brother conspiracy plots, there's something here for everyone to grip—with white knuckles.
Yes, this features the trappings of a thriller—shoot-outs, international locales, a looming sense of threat, sudden reversals—but the biggest thrills are the subtlest ones ... Though his earliest fictions were set behind the Iron Curtain, Steinhauer proves himself an equally adept chronicler of a world in which walls have come down and the most potent powers aren’t necessarily political. Another must-read from a modern master.
Steinhauer...is a veteran, a real pro; the issues raised in this well-paced thriller are serious and timely, and the characters are believable and likable. But the targets of the Brigade, corporate conspiracy and the protection of the rich from public scrutiny, never quite reach a viscerally threatening level, and the individuals who conspire to preserve the status quo seem merely bureaucratically venal. A professional and entertaining thriller a little short on menace.
This smart polemical thriller from bestseller Steinhauer...starts off strong, but loses its way ... Steinhauer has captured a very contemporary, very American angst...but the book’s muddled second half will leave many readers frustrated because the polarities aren’t that clear ... and the denouement is unsatisfying. Steinhauer fans will hope for a return to form next time.
