The Middleman - Olen Steinhauer

The Middleman is pretty much what is happening today in real life with some real people whose names have been changed and then some made-up people who probably exist in real life anyway. Of course the plot isn’t real life but it’s so close to real life that everything seems 100% plausible… I mean The Middleman could technically be a leaked very secret classified FBI or CIA file for all we know… Anyway, The Middleman reads as a thriller and will most likely be classed as a thriller and it was a very enjoyable, albeit chilling read. I’m not too sure enjoyable is really the right word though to be honest, because none of the story is particularly enjoyable. The Middleman is a good read though.

It’s 2017 and in the US the people are on the brink of a revolution. Regular protests take place because of police brutality, racism, gun violence, violence against immigrants, against women, civil rights are slowly and surely being squashed everywhere (ring any bells?). Suddenly 400 people disappear from their lives without a trace, and the Massive Brigade, up until then just another group on the radar, seems to move into action. Special Agent Rachel Proulx floors the accelerator on her investigation into left-wing activist groups and discovers that nothing is as it seems.

Nothing is as it seems right through to the very last words the reader will find. The Middleman is a good book, it brings up some timely events and issues, and basically leaves you with a big glaring question: where are you going to be when it starts going down?

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the advance copy!