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The Yalta Boulevard Sequence #4
Liberation Movements
Olen Steinhauer's acclaimed crime series set in Eastern Europe has taken readers from the first shots of the revolution and through the chaos of the 1960s. Now, it is 1975, and one of the People's Militia investigators is bound for Istanbul when his plane is hijacked by Armenian terrorists and explodes in midair.
Gavra Noukas, a secret policeman, and Katja Drdova, a homicide detective, are assigned to the case. Both believe that Brano Sev, their enigmatic superior and career secret policeman, is hiding the true motives of their investigation, but they can't figure out why until they learn that everything is connected to a seven-year-old murder with far-reaching consequences.
The compelling politics and history for which Olen Steinhauer's novels have been praised turn intimate in this ambitious novel.
Gavra Noukas, a secret policeman, and Katja Drdova, a homicide detective, are assigned to the case. Both believe that Brano Sev, their enigmatic superior and career secret policeman, is hiding the true motives of their investigation, but they can't figure out why until they learn that everything is connected to a seven-year-old murder with far-reaching consequences.
The compelling politics and history for which Olen Steinhauer's novels have been praised turn intimate in this ambitious novel.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2006
About the author
Olen Steinhauer
26 books1,194 followersOlen Steinhauer grew up in Virginia, and has since lived in Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Massachusetts, and New York. Outside the US, he's lived in Croatia (when it was called Yugoslavia), the Czech Republic and Italy. He also spent a year in Romania on a Fulbright grant, an experience that helped inspire his first five books. He now lives in Hungary with his wife and daughter.
He has published stories and poetry in various literary journals over the years. His first novel, The Bridge of Sighs (2003), the start of a five-book sequence chronicling Cold War Eastern Europe, one book per decade, was nominated for five awards.
The second book of the series, The Confession, garnered significant critical acclaim, and 36 Yalta Boulevard (The Vienna Assignment in the UK), made three year-end best-of lists. Liberation Movements (The Istanbul Variations in the UK), was listed for four best-of lists and was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel of the year. The final novel in the series, Victory Square, published in 2007, was a New York Times editor's choice.
With The Tourist, he has left the Cold War behind, beginning a trilogy of spy tales focused on international deception in the post 9/11 world. Happily, George Clooney's Smoke House Films has picked up the rights, with Mr. Clooney scheduled to star.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/olenst...
He has published stories and poetry in various literary journals over the years. His first novel, The Bridge of Sighs (2003), the start of a five-book sequence chronicling Cold War Eastern Europe, one book per decade, was nominated for five awards.
The second book of the series, The Confession, garnered significant critical acclaim, and 36 Yalta Boulevard (The Vienna Assignment in the UK), made three year-end best-of lists. Liberation Movements (The Istanbul Variations in the UK), was listed for four best-of lists and was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel of the year. The final novel in the series, Victory Square, published in 2007, was a New York Times editor's choice.
With The Tourist, he has left the Cold War behind, beginning a trilogy of spy tales focused on international deception in the post 9/11 world. Happily, George Clooney's Smoke House Films has picked up the rights, with Mr. Clooney scheduled to star.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/olenst...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 8, 2012
Some reviewers found this, the fourth in his 5 part series set in the Unnamed Fictional Eastern European Nation Under Soviet Control After WWII (Ufeenuscaw??), to be the best yet, but like some others, I thought it the weakest.
The prior books, centered on the homicide unit of the People’s Militia (but overtly overseen by the resident officer from the Ministry of State Security), evoked the dark and dismal atmosphere of both a war torn country and the effects of being under the Soviet thumb. And of course, the homicide investigations turned into political hot potatoes, as did the personal aspects.
This book was much more plot dependent, and I simply found the plot too far fetched: it depended on an incredibly accurate psychic beauty (with some half hearted attempts at a rational explanation for talent/skills by her brother), way too much coincidence, etc. Let’s see, the Milquetoast Slovak music student murders the seemingly nice guy simple soldier, who from unclear reasons is sought out for recruitment by the savvy Security man Brano, but the student become the recruit and quickly rises to levels of power and evil above Brano, while the soldier’s fiancee becomes a homicide officer with/under Brano. And another homicide officer Really?? And, after finally tying up all the loose ends, it ends with a new one, not explained.
One reviewer criticized the prior book for using a “shopworn” device of a discovered manuscript. That didn’t bother me near as much as this one’s repeated bouncing between the Prague Spring of 1968 (3rd person) and the present of 1975 in Ufeen and Istanbul (3rd person, but later 1st person by one of the characters previously in 3rd person!). Too disjointed for my taste.
IMO, read the first three first before deciding to try this one. I still plan to read #5, but with lowered expectations.
The prior books, centered on the homicide unit of the People’s Militia (but overtly overseen by the resident officer from the Ministry of State Security), evoked the dark and dismal atmosphere of both a war torn country and the effects of being under the Soviet thumb. And of course, the homicide investigations turned into political hot potatoes, as did the personal aspects.
This book was much more plot dependent, and I simply found the plot too far fetched: it depended on an incredibly accurate psychic beauty (with some half hearted attempts at a rational explanation for talent/skills by her brother), way too much coincidence, etc. Let’s see, the Milquetoast Slovak music student murders the seemingly nice guy simple soldier, who from unclear reasons is sought out for recruitment by the savvy Security man Brano, but the student become the recruit and quickly rises to levels of power and evil above Brano, while the soldier’s fiancee becomes a homicide officer with/under Brano. And another homicide officer Really?? And, after finally tying up all the loose ends, it ends with a new one, not explained.
One reviewer criticized the prior book for using a “shopworn” device of a discovered manuscript. That didn’t bother me near as much as this one’s repeated bouncing between the Prague Spring of 1968 (3rd person) and the present of 1975 in Ufeen and Istanbul (3rd person, but later 1st person by one of the characters previously in 3rd person!). Too disjointed for my taste.
IMO, read the first three first before deciding to try this one. I still plan to read #5, but with lowered expectations.
August 10, 2008
Another great one from Olen Steinhauer, my new favorite author. Can't wait to pick up more of his books.
August 3, 2024
3.5 stars. Set in an unnamed, fictional Eastern European country I demolished this over a lazy Saturday. It’s easy to read (in a good way) with plenty of fun if sometimes slightly bizarre twists and turns - although all seemingly inspired by real events. I have rediscovered my interest in reading about the Cold War and this fitted in wonderfully. It’s not as dark and edgy as some other equivalents but perfect for an undemanding but still interesting read.
April 28, 2018
The setting for Liberation Movements is Eastern Europe in the mid-seventies where connections from the past are influencing current events. An Armenian terrorist group blows up a plane en route to Istanbul. This act reverberates through the state militia impacting police officers Gavra Noukas and Katja Drdova in troubling ways.
This was my first read by Olen Steinhauer and it's the fourth book in the Yalta Boulevard series. I'd recommend starting with the first in this series as I believe an understanding of the background of the main characters would enhance the enjoyment factor for readers. Despite jumping in mid-series, I blazed through this book which accurately portrayed the dominance of a socialist era. Steinhauer will be moving to my must read list.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Goodreads for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first read by Olen Steinhauer and it's the fourth book in the Yalta Boulevard series. I'd recommend starting with the first in this series as I believe an understanding of the background of the main characters would enhance the enjoyment factor for readers. Despite jumping in mid-series, I blazed through this book which accurately portrayed the dominance of a socialist era. Steinhauer will be moving to my must read list.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Goodreads for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2019
Also the fourth volume of the Eastern Bloc series has been thrilling from the beginning. This part switched back and forth between the student riots in Prague (1968) and a few years later in Kiev and Istanbul. At first, I did not understand why this had to be so. Nevertheless, both parts were very important and over time, I also saw the connection behind it. Steinhauer has a main theme in every book in this series. This time it's about parapsychological experiments that were carried out on people who were in asylums by Russian scientists and their allies. Of course, the secret service has its fingers everywhere. The subject of homosexuality also gets its place, as this was of course strictly prohibited. If you were discovered you came in great danger for your life.
This story is great written and grabbed me until the end.
(4½ stars)
This story is great written and grabbed me until the end.
(4½ stars)
December 21, 2020
A truly interesting look into Steinhauer's world as a writer of thrillers.
July 13, 2020
Took some time for the stories to gel but when they did the plot turned from interesting to intense. Also the author found a unique way of providing background for the characters and time period.
May 14, 2021
Outstanding
June 6, 2013
I really not sure I know what to feel about this one. Apart from a certain amount of disappointment.
Come on Olen, I know you can do better than this.
To be honest, I'm not even completely sure I know what it was all about. Which is why I'm a little disappointed, as I was tremendously impressed by and thoroughly enjoyed the two previous books of his I've read.
Istanbul Variations really is nowhere near as good as it should have been, based on that previous experience. Nowhere near as mind-bogglingly good and memorable as they were, or this should have been. It's only because I'm holding the book in my hands right now, that I can remember what happened. In fact, I think I feel really rather ambivalent about it. Take it or leave it. As detached from the story as the story seemed detached from me, the reader. There was very little feeling of involvement got out of me, the reader. It was all seemed more than a little 'at arm's length'. Like watching the story unfold while being the other side of a misty window from it. Rather than being in the room with it. If you understand what I mean.
I'm guessing (and of course no doubt guessing wrongly), but it seemed like he wrote a full story, then took out a lot of the explanations and plot detail, in an attempt to make it seem a lot more exciting, pacey, lean and interesting. Like it would be a challenge to us, to do some work to figure it all out. But I think he left too much out. Perhaps not to the detriment of the tale. But to the detriment to gaining my involvement, making me care. I kept going back over a section to see if I'd missed the line that would make the difference. Never found it.
What's it about?! Istanbul, 1975, Cold War (eastern) Europe, airport, hi-jack, plane crash, investigation, Prague Spring, treachery, dredging up the past, mind-control…and that's where it left me behind.
However, as I so much enjoyed the others I have read, and because I have a couple more up on the shelf there - I will give more Olen Steinhauer a go.
Come on Olen, I know you can do better than this.
To be honest, I'm not even completely sure I know what it was all about. Which is why I'm a little disappointed, as I was tremendously impressed by and thoroughly enjoyed the two previous books of his I've read.
Istanbul Variations really is nowhere near as good as it should have been, based on that previous experience. Nowhere near as mind-bogglingly good and memorable as they were, or this should have been. It's only because I'm holding the book in my hands right now, that I can remember what happened. In fact, I think I feel really rather ambivalent about it. Take it or leave it. As detached from the story as the story seemed detached from me, the reader. There was very little feeling of involvement got out of me, the reader. It was all seemed more than a little 'at arm's length'. Like watching the story unfold while being the other side of a misty window from it. Rather than being in the room with it. If you understand what I mean.
I'm guessing (and of course no doubt guessing wrongly), but it seemed like he wrote a full story, then took out a lot of the explanations and plot detail, in an attempt to make it seem a lot more exciting, pacey, lean and interesting. Like it would be a challenge to us, to do some work to figure it all out. But I think he left too much out. Perhaps not to the detriment of the tale. But to the detriment to gaining my involvement, making me care. I kept going back over a section to see if I'd missed the line that would make the difference. Never found it.
What's it about?! Istanbul, 1975, Cold War (eastern) Europe, airport, hi-jack, plane crash, investigation, Prague Spring, treachery, dredging up the past, mind-control…and that's where it left me behind.
However, as I so much enjoyed the others I have read, and because I have a couple more up on the shelf there - I will give more Olen Steinhauer a go.
January 28, 2022
This was a really strange story. It takes place between Czechoslovakia, Armenia and Turkey in the early 1970s. The characters are all caught up in the political unrest in some way. The timeline jumps back and forth although it’s not immediately clear that the story isn’t on a single timeline.
The story begins with the hijacking and explosion of a commercial airline. Afterwards, someone in Istanbul is tying up loose ends by killing agents and anyone associated with a particular psychological experiment. As we jump back and forth to before and after the hijacking, the story of how it happened starts to unfold. There is a young mystery woman at the center of it all.
Although I found parts of the book intriguing, the characters we spend the most time with are the least interesting in the book. I found that frustrating. The end of the book was incredibly disappointing and made the entire story feel pointless. I was not left with any desire to read more from this series.
The story begins with the hijacking and explosion of a commercial airline. Afterwards, someone in Istanbul is tying up loose ends by killing agents and anyone associated with a particular psychological experiment. As we jump back and forth to before and after the hijacking, the story of how it happened starts to unfold. There is a young mystery woman at the center of it all.
Although I found parts of the book intriguing, the characters we spend the most time with are the least interesting in the book. I found that frustrating. The end of the book was incredibly disappointing and made the entire story feel pointless. I was not left with any desire to read more from this series.
December 16, 2016
Again, Olen Steinhauer intrigues. This is the fourth in the Yalta Boulevard series (there is one more). Read all five and I think you’ll have a good feel for Soviet Bloc Eastern Europe with more nuances, secret dealings, and clandestine untruths. Might sound a bit familiar these days. In this novel, we have Gavra Noukas, a secret policeman, and Katja Drdova, a homicide detective—with the setting in 1975 in the Capital of the unnamed Eastern European nation that could as easily be Bulgaria or Romania. But there is also a character, Peter Husak, a Czech whose story starts in 1968 in the Prague spring. The chapters which deal with the perspective of the individual characters (there are more than the three) are short and you keep learning more—with one counterplot moving into another. Now on to Victory Square”
January 5, 2022
I felt this was the strongest book out of the series so far. But that comes with the huge caveat that I have already read his complete bibliography following Yalta Boulevard, so I may be more inclined to like this as it feels much more like his Tourist novels and the Standalones. I enjoyed the playing with the timelines and the switch from third to first person with different POV's. It was a little jarring at first but was easy to distinguish the characters from each other because of it.
December 4, 2017
One of the stronger installments of the series. Could easily be read as a stand-alone, in my opinion. An interesting tale of a hijacking gone wrong, continuing the setting and many of the characters from previous books. Lots of short chapters with shifting points of view that are effectively handled to increase suspense and provide plenty of backstory. The different threads come together well to create a satisfying conclusion. Exciting and well-paced, easier to read and less convoluted than some of his other books. Except for the exploding plane, would be good for a long trip.
August 11, 2020
Only two are left in the homicide department of the People's Militia after the Armenian in the office is blown up on a plane to Istanbul. Why and who is essence of this thriller, fourth in the quintet. Set in the never named country near Poland and Hungary in the period after the WWII, it portrays a gloomy and murderous world. We meet two younger recruits who are being trained by Bruno Sev, the arch manipulator. The psychological powers of a a beautiful woman are a over the top, but hey, this is a spy story.
January 20, 2022
The series continues in its loose organization, each story only minimally contingent on the prior books. Exploring another perspective of the life and times of eastern Europe from the Cold War era, Steinhauer is a master descriptor of those living through the horror of this age in the bloc countries. Well done
June 22, 2022
First Olen Steinhauer I have read…
Set in Czechoslovakia, perhaps I could describe this as a spy thriller with undertones of war, war crimes, the hidden lives of those soldiers who want to be with their families, not to be fighting, those protesters who try to flee Czechoslovakia and the torture imposed on those caught.
And also the intrigue of spies who are spying on the spies…
Set in Czechoslovakia, perhaps I could describe this as a spy thriller with undertones of war, war crimes, the hidden lives of those soldiers who want to be with their families, not to be fighting, those protesters who try to flee Czechoslovakia and the torture imposed on those caught.
And also the intrigue of spies who are spying on the spies…
July 8, 2020
Never lets me down.
Good plot, good story, keeps me guessing.
Not as polished as le Carré but still awfully well done.
Doesn't rely on sensationism or gore.
Subtlety is key, in my opinion, and Steinhauer is subtle.
Worth reading the whole catalog.
Good plot, good story, keeps me guessing.
Not as polished as le Carré but still awfully well done.
Doesn't rely on sensationism or gore.
Subtlety is key, in my opinion, and Steinhauer is subtle.
Worth reading the whole catalog.
August 1, 2021
Another solid addition to this series that follows an overlapping cast of policemen and state security officers working for a fictional Eastern European in the decades following WWII. The book takes a strange turn I didn’t care for toward the end, but otherwise enjoyable and interesting.
December 28, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I love reading novels that teach me something and Steinhaur helps make sense of a tumultious time in the eastern European Bloc while providing an entertaining read.
January 23, 2019
This is the first Olen Steinhauer I have read. It is a pretty good thriller. I enjoyed the setting with scenes from Czechoslovakia and Turkey.
January 23, 2019
I'm quite liking this series by Olen Steinhauer.
February 19, 2019
This was an odd one, interesting but odd.
July 23, 2019
DNF, supremely boring.
October 16, 2019
This has such a massively unsatisfactory ending I threw the book across the couch when I finished! If I didn't love the complex plots, excellent writing, and cool setting, I would never persevere.
December 9, 2019
Another read in one day. Couldn’t put it down. It’s 2:30 am and I have to work tomorrow. LOL
November 29, 2020
Another interesting plot by steinhauer - a little twist here, another there
May 10, 2021
Totally loving this series.
Read
August 22, 2021Don't care for the characters
Just not as good as 1-3 in the series; 1 and 2 much better for depth of character development here.
Just not as good as 1-3 in the series; 1 and 2 much better for depth of character development here.
October 12, 2021
Not as good as the other books in this series. The outline of having each chapter be a different character - and sometimes a different year- made it difficult to follow.
July 27, 2022
Book 4 of 5 in Liberation Movements series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews