Publication Date October 14, 2025
I’ve realized recently that much of the reading that I find most enjoyable is in the thriller category…with the spy thriller being possibly my favorite genre (when it’s well done). I was super interested in Christopher Reich’s latest, The Tourists, and was pleased to receive a copy from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. Reich is well-known for his skill, having written Matterhorn, The Take, Numbered Account, Rules of Deception, and The Patriots Club,
In Matterhorn, we were introduced to Robbie Steinhardt, who was living a peaceful life in a tiny alpine village, taking care of his cattle, minding his own business, and for the most part avoiding the life he knew back when he was in the CIA, known as Mac Dekker. After he found out his son Will died following in his footsteps, he HAD to use the tools of his former career to solve the daunting mystery that was unfolding.
The Tourists is the second Mac Dekker book (although it can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone). In this one, Mac Dekker goes to Paris to propose to his love, a woman named Ava Attal. She was once an operative for Mossad, so she understands Mac. Before he can propose, Ava gets up from the table in the restaurant (“to take an urgent call”) – but she never comes back. Mac goes on a frenzied search through Paris, and along the way becomes a target of a ruthless prince who is plotting a horrifying act of violence.
Will Mac’s CIA training from years ago enable him to find Ava and save thousands of lives? Of course I figured it would, the question was HOW and whether it would be a believable story. One big piece of the puzzle is whether Ava was really missing – or maybe she was in Paris on her own secret mission!
For me, this was one of those thrillers where you KNOW going in that things are going to work out for the “hero”– the question is whether it is written well enough that you can just go along for the ride and enjoy the story. Reich is reliably skillful enough that this has been the case for all his books I’ve read (and enjoyed). He has done it again. Four stars.