Another interesting novel from Kevin Wignall. Main protagonist Freddie looks like he jumped out of "The Conversation", movie starring Gene Hackman - Hackman's character is also surveillance expert haunted by the past trying not to cause more innocent deaths by his investigations. As I said very similar personalities and characters (although Wignall's Freddie is maybe younger than Hackman's Harry Caul).

I especially liked the twist (hiring spy that does not know language of actual information he is chasing).

Very good novel, highly recommended to all fans of thrillers and espionage. ( )

I jumped into this classic spy thriller after having closed the covers on Kevin Wignall's strongest of his five novels that I've read, A Fragile Thing. I have no desire to enter into a ratings contest, so enough of that. Probably what I liked most about this conventional yet well executed example of the genre is how it made me feel like I was reading a romance novel. A man falls in love with a city -- Vienna -- and gives up everything to wed his life to "hers."

The strength of this book as a work is in its pacing, which is superb, constantly driving the action forward. But there is, for this reader, a disappointing weakness toward the final chapters when Wignall contrived an ending of unnecessary convolution after the proper ending had already been signalled by slightly earlier events. While there are justifications for what Wignall does, they are unequal, IMO, to what plot logic and "trueness" demand. If I offer more by way of explanation, spoilers will be necessary. So, I'll back away and give freedom to astute readers to decide for themselves if an otherwise totally absorbing read really is "as good as it gets."

In sum: To Die in Vienna is worth the price and worthy of your time. Wignall is the closest working spinner of this type yarn whose talents approach the level of The Master we have no more. John le Carre. ( )

For more than a year, the MC surveilled a computer genius, who suddenly disappears, multiple attempts are made on the MC’s life, and bodies start to drop like flies—all in Vienna. The MC races to figure out what changed and why and must mastermind his own survival. An interesting and well-narrated audiobook. ( )

I've been reading a lot of heavy stuff lately (reviews to follow eventually ) and some law review articles in preparation for a presentation on John Bingham and the 14th Amendment, so it's always nice to find something well-put together that doesn't insult the intelligence, but nicely engages. Kevin Wignall's To Die in Vienna is of the spy-like genre, a favorite of mine, and it fit the bill nicely.

Freddie is a surveillance expert who has been tasked with watching the activities of a Chinese national in Vienna. He has come to know Cheng's habits intimately, but one day he returns home early to find his apartment being trashed and he barely escapes with his life just managing to kill his attacker with a steam iron. His boss is clearly terrified then he is also killed and Freddie realizes it's time to hide. So he does in the place least likely to be suspected and in plain sight.

Things get complicated as they usually do, and Freddie's determined not to kill anyone, the reason for which is gradually determined. Freddie also happens to have numerous skills that he had preferred to leave unused and hidden.

Good story that moves forward nicely. I will read more Wignall. ( )