The Vienna Assignment Olen Steinhauer 9780007210886

A powerful and atmospheric thriller set during the Cold War, from the internationally acclaimed author of 'The Bridge of Sighs.'

Vienna, 1966. To be wrongly accused of murder once is a misfortune. Twice - and it's a conspiracy.

It is the height of the Cold War. When a defector mysteriously returns to the Eastern European village of his birth, it's a chance for disgraced detective Brano Sev to redeem himself. Being framed for a murder should just be part of his cover story.

Or is it? Exiled suddenly to Vienna, treacherous city of spies, Sev finds himself caught up in a cat-and-mouse game where survival is the only prize. But in a world where no good deed goes unpunished, loyalty can be the biggest crime of all...

Olen Steinhauer's first two novels, The Bridge of Sighs and The Confession, have garnered thus far an Edgar nomination, an Anthony nomination, a Macavity nomination, a Historical Dagger nomination, and rave reviews. Inspired to write his Eastern European series while on a Fullbright Fellowship in Romania, Steinhauer was raised in Texas and now lives in Budapest, Hungary.

Praise for 'The Vienna Assignment':

'Fascinating...clever... a beautifully written spy thriller.' Guardian

'Well researched...Steinhauer vividly captures the atmospher and mood of the time with credible characters and impressive detail.' Sunday Telegraph

'Highly recommended.' Irish Times

'Steinhauer shows himself to be a master of plotting...he doesn't put a foot wrong...exquisitely written, full of well-drawn characters.' Irish Examiner

Praise for Olen Steinhauer:

'A powerful, thought-provoking literary thriller in the mould of Philip Kerr's Berlin Noir trilogy.' Daily Telegraph

'Steinhauer is a welcome addition to the wartime ground mapped out by Philip Kerr and Alan Furst.' Guardian

'Stunning and unique.' LA Times

'Grips from beginning to end.' Sunday Telegraph

'Steinhauer takes his familiar material and brilliantly infuses it with noirish twists and dark psychology... utterly compelling.' Time Out

'Think of the suspenseful erudition of Alan Furst's thrillers, especially the earlier ones such as 'The Polish Officer' and Philip Kerr's eye-opening 'Berlin Noir' trilogy... Steinhauer's debut - the start of a promised series - is right up there on those stellar heights, casting new light on relatively recent history we thought we already knew everything about.' Chicago Tribune