The Confession: A Novel (Yalta Boulevard Quintet, 2)

Olen Steinhauer’s Confession isn’t a mystery to love. The narrator, Police Inspector Ferenec Kolyesar is an anti-hero not really much better than the murderous criminals he seeks to find. A period series set somewhere in Eastern Europe (this one set in 1956), this is the second book in a series of police novels loosely connected over time by the same characters, but each with different narrators. This book isn’t as as engaging as the first one, The Bridge of Sighs, but after putting this book down for a while, I picked it back up and quickly moved through the rest. The characters reflect the desperation of a police state in a desperate time in history. It reflects a time punctuated by informers, fear, propaganda, and blind loyalty. The meek couldn’t survive, which is why Ferenec is well-suited to be the deeply flawed narrator of this raw, gritty mystery.

As some other reviewers have stated, this one took some getting into. I read The Tourist and The Nearest Exit, and loved them both. When I found out there was another series that started with Bridge of Sighs, I had to read that as well and loved it as well. Switching from Milo to Emil was easy and both characters were so well crafted and enjoyable to read.The first few pages (dare I say chapters) of The Confession gave me a feeling of "oh no...." because for starters I really liked the main character of Emil in Bridge of Sighs and I really learned to dislike or at best distrust the other inspectors that Emil worked with. I really thought the author was off his rocker and reaching far too much to expect to carry forth a series switching to another character, especially a big beefy guy with rings on his fingers who sits in the corner typing.Another reviewer said he was glad that he stuck with it, and so am I. I actually stopped reading it two chapters in for a few weeks, and lamented to my wife that I wanted to get into it but I just couldn't. So I buckled down and re-engaged, and let me just tell you that if you're an Olen Steinhauer fan you will not be disappointed. How the author managed to switch characters and keep the series moving so well, I do not know, but he absolutely did.And without the ground work of the what-seems-boring beginning of the book, you can't really appreciate the more eventful sections. I hate to take away from Bridge of Sighs and I can't believe I'm saying this, but The Confession might just be my favorite Steinhauer book yet.

The setting in a fictional yet archetypal post-war East European country is very clever and well executed, and the premise of honest "true" cops (vs. secret police) investigating crimes in that setting is good. This was a nice follow up to Bridge of Sighs - with a well crafted plot slowly revealed and good characters. I won't give any spoilers but there were two side plots that I found distracting and contrived - and the ending didn't fit the rest of the novel at all. So 3 out of 5 - but worth the read.

This had promise, and I had enjoyed a previous book by the same author. ( Bridge of Sighs) However, the plot became bogged down occasionally by the inexplicable problems of the protagonist and his wife. What exactly was going on with them? Married characters had liaisons with wives and mistresses of co-workers which everyone appeared to accept as the norm. Was the author's point that the oppressive state ( an unnamed country under communist rule) had caused humans to stifle their emotions, and had created a country of people devoid of the ability to truly care about anything? The behavior of the protagonist in tying up his lover, and leaving her for a day was off the charts strange. He seemed truly puzzled by her understandable distress. Lots of unanswered questions in this one.

I am a Steinhauer fan. His first entry in this five book series, The Bridge of Sighs, hooked me and The Confession reeled me in. The unnamed Eastern European country imagined by the author provides a tremendous background for mystery, intrigue, and complex relationships. The characters are well developed, interesting, and completely believable. The plot of The Confession is highly engrossing with two mysteries interwoven along with the personal lives of the militia investigating them. At one point, the book appeared to be conventional but then broadened and surprised me in an unexpected and appreciated turn. I am very much looking forward to 36 Yalta Boulevard which is next in the series.

A marvelous, powerful, compelling blend of Koestler, Franzen, Dostoevsky, Greene, le Carré, Mankell, Nesbo... Slowly unfolding, multi-layered plot with beautifully sculpted characters set into action amidst the oppressive and pervasive gloom, fear, and despair of Eastern European totalitarianism.Steinhauer writes strong, clear prose that "sounds" right for the setting. And yes, it moves rather slowly, but it's measured and deliberate, not sluggish.If you have ever enjoyed any works by any of the authors listed above, you should find a spot on your Kindle for Steinhauer. I began with "The Tourist" and am now working forward from "The Bridge of Sighs." Great to know that there are four more to savor.

I was quite taken by "The bridge of sighs", but then I started on "The confession".What is it? Not a crime novel, nor a political or historical essay. Or maybe a little bit of each, combined with a well written personal journey (OK, let's add a dash of a beautyful love story). Is this The Story of Eastern Europe under Soviet? I think so."The confession" left me sad, but elated. I promptly lent it to my friend.

Interesting insight. No one was safe in a communist controlled country... not even the local police.

what a book, what a writer! I am a Steinhauer fan and I love the way the first person narration works in this book. Ferenc is the protogonist in an eastern European country which is paying lip service to nascent democracy. even as the state slides slowly towards secrecy, control and brutality, Ferenc's slow build of dread and realisation of betrayals and his continued personal journey towards certain hell are captured beatifully. Every aspect of the story is told in tender, unpatronising way with events unfolding slowly in a manner that doesn't appear to play tricks on the reader. Ferenc's own contributions to the betrayals and his descent from being a steady individual into someone he cannot understand is well captured. The final denoument played out in the prison camp is so brutally told it comes at the reader like a torrent as well as well as enveloping sticky gunk. The trust placed by the author in the readers' intelligence is very much appreciated and it is a style of writing which a rare gift for some. Steinhauer appears to have mastered the technique and it is a pleasure to read his novels. highly recommended. I actively sell this to all my friends all the time.

A great writer. Pacy and twisting novel. Good character development and graphic accounts. Plenty of plots and sub-plots. Makes you think!

I just don't like the style of writing. I prefer less description and more action. I found the plot wanting but who am I?

great read, kept my interest.