The Tourists

Mac Dekker #2

by Christopher Reich

From the New York Times bestselling author of Matterhorn comes a heart-stopping thriller about a man who returns to a life of espionage to save the woman he loves and the City of Light.

Retired special agent Mac Dekker travels to Paris to propose to Ava Attal, once Mossad’s deadliest operative. After too long, life is good. But before he can propose, Ava leaves the table to take an urgent call. And never returns.

Mac launches a frantic search, spiraling through the city’s brightest and darkest places. People are lying, agents are dying, and he finds himself caught in the crosshairs of CIA shadows and enigmatic assassins while battling a wealthy, ruthless prince planning a truly terrifying act of violence.

With only hours to find Ava and save thousands of lives, Mac’s CIA training kicks in, along with his Is Ava truly missing, or did she come to Paris on a mission even more secretive than his own?

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, Thriller Suspense, Suspense, Mystery, Audiobook

333 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Christopher Reich was born in Tokyo. In 1965 his family moved to Los Angeles. He attended Georgetown University and the University of Texas and worked in Switzerland before returning to the United States to become an author. His novel The Patriots Club won the International Thriller Writers award for Best Novel in 2006. He lives in Encinitas, California.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher Reich’s book, The Tourists, is full of intrigue, espionage, and politics. The second book in the Mac Dekker series has Mac and Ava Attal in Paris. Mac plans to propose, but before he can do that, Ava leaves the table to take an urgent call and never returns.

Mac frantically searches for Ava and despite being a retired U.S. Marine and longtime field operative with the Central Intelligence Agency, he’s having trouble of multiple sorts. People are lying and dying and he’s caught between the CIA and assassins and a someone planning a terrifying act of violence. Is Ava truly missing? Did she come to Paris on a secret mission? Can Mac stop the violence and find Ava or was the proposal doomed from the start?

Mac is raising his four-year-old granddaughter and somewhat content in Switzerland. But he hasn’t forgotten his training and seems to be somewhat restless. He’s smart, relentless, and doesn’t give up on an objective. Ava is accomplished, confident, brusque, and motivated. She was also once a deadly operative for Israel’s foreign intelligence and special operations agency. They’re both loyal to their countries. Can the two find their happily ever after?

This book starts with an action-packed and intriguing prologue, but takes a while to get into the meat of the action in current times. There are several flashback interludes and shifts in points of view that help with the understanding of what is going on, but adversely affected the flow for me. Themes include love, family, revenge, power, political intrigue, espionage, death, and much more.

Overall, this entertaining thriller becomes a wild ride with a race against the clock and with plenty of twists and turns. The characters have depth and the plot incorporates some relevant real-world issues into the story that adds to the realism. Those who enjoy political thrillers should check out this one.

Thomas and Mercer and Chrstopher Reich provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 14, 2025.
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My 3.98 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Grandma Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the chemistry of Ava and Mac. Plus a spy and espionage book. I did a tandem read, listened to the audio or read the Kindle. A wonderful way to experience this book. Kept me on my toes. Fast paced. Outstanding narration.

I was blessed with an e and audio ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Christopher Reich, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to explore the writing of Christopher Reich, I gladly returned for the latest Mac Dekker novel. Reich amps up the action once more and sprinkles in some great political perspectives with this piece. While Mac Dekker is happy living off the grid, he hopes to do so with the woman he loves. While Mac and Ava are out for a romantic meal, she disappears while taking a call. Mac goes on the hunt, causing havoc as he does so and is soon a wanted man. All the while, Ava finds herself caught up in a plot not only to see a power grab in the Middle East, but leave her beloved Israel in dire straits. The rush to locate Ava and neutralise a building threat are of the utmost importance to Mac, as long as he can stay alive. Reich delivers a captivating novel for readers to enjoy.

Mac Dekker gave up his life serving in the military and CIA to lay low in the Swiss Alps. While part of this was to hide away from those who would like to see him dead, it has also permitted him a chance to enjoy life, as well as his granddaughter and the woman who captured his heart. When Mac travels to Paris to propose to Ava Attal, he has high hopes that this will be the next great thing in his life, after some troubling events in his recent past. While Mac and Ava have much in common, including her work in Mossad, their connection is not complete without one thing. As Mac prepares to propose over a lovely meal at a French restaurant. Ava is called away from the table by an urgent call and never returns.

Mac launches a search for Ava, after she cannot be located anywhere and is not answering her phone. He covers as much of Paris as possible, encountering some resistance within his own hotel room, which leaves two men dead. Now, he is not only looking for Ava, but is on the run from the French authorities. Soon, the list expands to the CIA, who want to use this time to 'red flag' him once and for all, taking his secrets to the grave, albeit much sooner than Mac would have liked.

While the hunt for Ava intensifies, Mac discovers that she might have been involved in a mission that could send shivers up the spines of many. A poweful Middle Eastern prince has a plan that could change the face of geo-politics with one press of a button. Mac must locate Ava and neutralise the threat, all while trying to stay two steps ahead of those who would leave him bleeding on the side of the road. Mac's instincts are to keep looking but also to unravel what Ava has been doing to see if she, too, is a piece in this horrifying puzzle. Reich delivers a gripping second novel in his series that has me eager to see where things are headed next.

Christopher Reich is always an author worth my time, as his ideas vary and he never lets the reader know too much at one time. The narrative keeps a fast pace and begs the reader to take the plunge to discover exactly what's taking place. With chapters that set the pace, Reich delivers a top-notch story that gains momentum with each passing page. He uses strong characters that sketch out the intensity and add depth to an already solid piece. Plot points fuel the major aspects of the book, leaving the reader surprised and entertained by all the twists on offer. I am excited to see where Christopher Reich will take this series and his writing in the future!

Kudos, Mr. Reich, for always delivering superior stories!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
A spy thriller that kept me guessing until the end, this was enjoyable! Mac Dekker is in a race to save his girlfriend Ava, a retired Mossad agent. At times the plot did get a little complex, to the point of having to go back and double check things. I also didn't realize that this was a sequel when I first picked it up, so I was a bit confused at parts but that one's on me

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Adrian Dooley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mac Dekker is back for his second outing after the excellent Matterhorn, which I hugely enjoyed.
His second outing The Tourists is an underwhelming follow up.

Here Mac is on a weekend break with his partner, ex Mossad agent Ava in Paris. While out for a meal Ava goes outside to take a phone call and disappears off the face of the earth. As Mac searches for her he uncovers a plot between Israeli and Middle Eastern subversives to hijack a peace deal for the region that is to take place in Paris. Can Mac find Ava and stop a large bomb going off?

I have to admit this was a bit of a let down after the immensely fun and enjoyable Matterhorn. For one, Mac features much less here, Ava takes centre stage and she just isn’t that interesting or well written a character. Also the “baddies” and indeed members of royal families etc involved in everything around the peace deal were cookie cutter characters with little to draw you to them.

It’s all a bit of a bubblegum story, dumb reach stuff but without much flavour. It’s also set in present day and it even references the current situation in Israel and Gaza and I kind of felt uncomfortable spending so much time with and supposedly rooting for a Mossad agent. Maybe that’s just me though.
Perhaps if the book was a more serious proposition it might have felt more appropriate but this throw away style ott thriller didn’t seem the place for it despite the subject matter.

I’m pretty disappointed in this one overall. I had high expectations after the first outing but this one was a real let down.

Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second entry in the Dekker series takes place a year after Matterhorn. Dekkerand Ava are on vacation in Paris when she steps away from the table to take a call.

She disappears and Dekker is unable to find her. After ducking assassins in his hotel room a madcap adventure gets rolling. The cops are after him. The CIA is after him(again).

And meanwhile a terrorist attack is imminent.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Espionage / Thriller
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

The Tourists is the second installment in author Christopher Reich's Max Dekker series. Key Characters: Max Dekker, formerly of the CIA, was supposed to be dead after a car bomb 9 years ago. Ava Attal, a covert operative who worked for the Mossad. After kicking off the saga with Matterhorn—a mountain-climbing espionage tale inspired by Reich's own passion for alpine adventures—this follow-up shifts the action from snowy peaks to the glittering streets of Paris.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Tourists” by Christopher Reich is the sophomore novel in the very fast paced and exciting new Mac Dekker series. Without revealing too much, Mac who is an ex special ops agent is about to propose to the love of his life who just happens to be a a top ranking Mossad agent when she suddenly disappears. As he begins the desperate search to find her, he uncovers a secret plot to restore peace to the Middle East and identifies a ruthless prince who is planning to disrupt the endeavor by detonating a nuclear bomb.
This book is non stop suspense with an edge of your seat ending. I am so looking forward to reading book #3.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lape · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tourists delivers everything I love to see in a spy thriller. A relentless hero, a sharp and fearless female lead, intricate conspiracies, and pulse pounding twists. It’s a wild ride packed with emotion and suspense that keeps you turning pages right up to the final reveal.

Mac Dekker, an ex-special ops agent living quietly thinks he’s finally found peace and love with Ava Attal, a former Mossad agent recovering from a near fatal gunshot wound.

Set against the romantic backdrop of Paris, Mac is on the verge of proposing when Ava vanishes without a trace. That’s the last moment of quiet in this book, what follows is a relentless, neck breaking race across Europe and the Middle East as Mac fights to find Ava, uncover a terrorist plot, and avoid being taken out himself.

I loved how the author masterfully balances intense action with emotional suspense. Yes, it starts with romance, but the love story only fuels the urgency. When Ava disappears, it’s not just another mission, it’s personal. As Mac digs deeper, he uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving a rogue Qatari prince, a long lost tactical nuclear weapon, and a plan to derail a fragile peace agreement that could reshape the Middle East.

The narrative moves at the speed of lightning, but never at the expense of character. Reich weaves in just enough backstory through flashbacks to give the stakes meaning without slowing the pace.

If you’re a fan of international intrigue, high stakes espionage, and breakneck pacing, then this should be a really good pick for you.

Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read the digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac and Ava are out for lunch in Paris, he's ready to propose, she gets a phone call, and then is abducted(or is this her plan?) Let the race begin for Mac to use his skills from his past to find and save Ava. A good twisty plot, good/bad characters, 3 letter agencies, and a good amount of action.
I really enjoy the author's writing(I've read several of his books) and this one did not dissapoint. Buckle up for the race to find/save Ava and stop the bad guys from blowing up the peace deal.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of the novel. Totally reccomend this book, it's due out on Oct. 14th, and will wait for the next installment of this series.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An of-the-moment thriller, this audiobook brings Max Decker back from his Red Notice. He’s having dinner with his Mossad-trained girlfriend at the very touristy restaurant in the Eiffel Tower when she is abducted. The twist in this mystery is that Eva can certainly take care of herself, so how was this done, by whom, and why? It’s a fast-paced and well-narrated audiobook that I raced through to the satisfying conclusion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook #TheTourists for review purposes.
Publication date: 14 October 2025.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tourists

I can’t tell you how long I have been waiting for this book to be released and it doesn’t disappoint. It is wonderfully exciting and a great story. But I suspect there is another long wait before the next one.

[Vicki Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy espionage crime thrillers with lots of tense action and suspense, likable characters, in the news political storylines, chases against the clock and themes of power and revenge, you will most certainly enjoy The Tourists. With all of those elements and a tactical nuclear weapon threat thrown in to the mix, this second title in the Mac Dekker series is for you.
Mackenzie Decker is a retired US Marine and former special agent in the Central Intelligence Agency, believed to be dead after a car bomb nine years earlier and under orders by the CIA to remain below the radar. Mack, as he is known by, is now working as a Swiss dairy farmer under the alias Robbie Steinhardt. Along with his partner, Ava Attal, a former Mossad operative, he is the loving caretaker of his four year old granddaughter whose parents were murdered. Although there are many flashbacks and references to such past events, the story works as a standalone but it is advisable to be familiar with the history of the two protagonists in order to better understand where they are in their lives as this tale unfolds.
The couple are seated in a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower with Mac ready to propose marriage when Ava leaves the table to take a phone call. That is virtually the beginning of the tale and most certainly the beginning of the adventure. Ava does not return, is nowhere to be found and Mac’s search for her becomes all consuming and his old life in espionage restarts. Mac is left to wonder who had called Ava and whether the woman he loved who had professed herself retired was indeed still working for Mossad and if it was the true reason for her desired trip to Paris. Or had someone from her past tracked her down?
A Qatari prince, Sheikh Nayan-bin Tariq al-Sabah, aka TNT, is attempting to thwart a secret plan for peace in the Middle East with the conference to be held at the Versailles Palace. The prince is holding Ava captive. Turns out, Ava was the instigator of her abduction, tracking the prince’s movements and getting “close” to him while at the clinic in Switzerland while receiving therapy for a gunshot wound to her shoulder. The prince has recovered an Isreali nuclear bomb, aka Samson, lost by Ava during a mission in the Middle East.
To top off the action and intrigue, a CIA agent, now a deputy director, who Mac had worked with on a mission and had had an affair with, has marked Mac with a red flag designating him a target for execution. Mac must now outrun and outwit an assassin as well as the French police who after him for a murder that was committed in self-defense. Will Ava survive if Mac gets arrested or murdered?
The setting is Switzerland, France and the Middle East. Reference is made to King Saul Boulevard in Tel Aviv as the headquarters of Mossad.
A prince with a father he hates, an older brother he wishes to replace as the next king, and a desire to stop a peace making effort as revenge against Isreal. A CIA deputy director who wants revenge against a past lover and a Mossad agent seeking to atone for a lost weapon of destruction. A retired special agent who has to find his love alive. All of this results in an urgent race through Paris to stop a bomb that will end a peace accord and cause the death of foreign dignitaries and the public.
The plot might not be the most novel but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. The story is exciting, action packed, and timely. The outcome is no surprise but getting there is fun. The characters you would expect to be good people are not always and those you might not think to be good are exactly that.
The conclusion was a bit hackneyed for me. We can guess that Mac is back to business and a specific reference to his next assignment is really not necessary other than as a lead in to the next book in the series. As far as Ava is concerned, just “put a ring on it.” The characters are engaging so let them get engaged already.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of The Tourists. This is my honest review of Christopher Reich’s novel.

[Marion Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars Retired special agent Mac Dekker has settled into what he hopes is a quiet life away from the espionage world. He’s in Paris on a romantic trip with the woman he loves, Ava Attal—a formidable former operative of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. Mac intends to propose to her. But during a dinner at a landmark Paris restaurant, Ava steps away after an urgent phone call and then vanishes without a trace.

Mac launches into a frantic search through the streets and hidden corners of Paris—haunted by the question: Is Ava a victim of kidnapping, or is she carrying out a covert mission of her own? In the process, Mac’s old skills from his CIA and military past—skills he thought were behind him—are forced back into action. He’s drawn into a web of lies, double crosses, and shifting allegiances.

What initially appears as a personal crisis expands into something much larger and far more dangerous. Mac uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving a ruthless Gulf state prince and a tactical nuclear device once thought lost on the Israeli Syrian border—an explosive combination of geopolitical intrigue, terror plots, and high stakes diplomacy. As time runs out, Mac must not only rescue Ava but also thwart a catastrophic event that threatens thousands of lives.

Throughout the story, we see the life Mac now wants replaced by chaos and danger. The Paris setting and everyday tourist backdrop serve as a stark contrast to the deadly world of intelligence and terror that unfolds. What started as a dinner proposal becomes a race against time rescue mission, blending personal stakes with international espionage. The pacing is sharp and high octane in intensity, with flashbacks and multiple POVs adding depth, while Mac and Ava’s relationship anchors the emotional stakes even as the thriller elements dominate.

The Tourists will have you on edge from start to finish with a suspenseful, pulse-pounding and timely story that plows ahead at breakneck speed. Christopher Reich has delivered another thrilling and engaging novel filled with intrigue, emotion, and action. A worthy successor to his "Matterhorn" novel. Rumor has it that a 3rd installment is on the horizon - I cannot wait to read it.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris! It is the city of lights, romance and the city where Mac Dekker’s girlfriend Ava was kidnapped just moments before his proposal. Excusing herself from dinner to take a call, she never returned. Checking to see if she returned to their hotel, he receives a warning to get out. Before he can leave, he is attacked by Saudi assassins and manages to escape, leaving two bodies behind. Now he is also a wanted man. Ten years ago he had been set up, accused of being a mole. He escaped by faking his death and has been living as Robert Steinhardt in Switzerland for the last nine years. He came to the CIA’s attention when his actions on the Matterhorn, where his son was killed, put him in the spotlight. Don Baker, his former boss at the CIA, made an offer to allow him to keep his Steinhardt identity. It came with ten years of back pay and the requirement that he not contact any former associates and that he keep his head down. Now he is once again in the spotlight as he searches or Ava and the Deputy Director of CIA Ops, Elizabeth Elkins, has put out a contract on him.

Ava Attal works for Mossad. Years ago she was assigned to retrieve a number of small nuclear devices planted along Israel’s border. Sampson, one of the devices, was never recovered. While recuperating from injuries sustained on a mission, she meets Tariq, the second son of Qatar’s ruler. One of the staff tied to Mossad overhears a call referring to Sampson and alerts Ava. Her warnings to her superior lead to his disappearance and Ava being discredited. It is Tariq who kidnapped Ava. His plan is to use Sampson to destroy his older brother and his plans for peace in the Middle East. It is a race against time as Dekker hunts for Ava, unaware of the bomb, the contract on his life and Tariq’s plans. Both Ava and Dekker receive help from unexpected sources as the death toll mounts. Christopher Reich keeps the action level and the tension high from the opening scenes to the end. Fans of Jason Bourne will be delighted to meet Mac Dekker and Reich ends his story with a hint of things to come. I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing this book.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mac, going by Robert from Switzer land, is just getting used to having his life back from the CIA after he spent many years hiding out in Switzerland. The life of his life, Ava, is with him on a weekend excursion to Paris and Mac is just getting ready to pop the question. Ava gets an unexpected phone call and steps out into the entrance of the restaurant and disappears into thin air. No one knows what happened and Mac is at a loss. However when he gets back to the hotel, suddenly two people are trying to kill him. His skills from being in the CIA come in handy and he gets out of there before the police hold him for questioning so that he can do his best and find Ava. Little did he know what he was getting into. The action is fast and just keeps coming. A very believable story and I hope to be able to read more with these characters. Absolutely loved it! I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheree Buskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious Entertainment

Where to start, but I will be short, just wow!!!!

I loved the suspense, the action and building of the story line. It’s like I was in a movie but reading. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book and wanted to know what happened next. It definitely set a stone in my radar for this author. I am more of urban fantasy with a kick ass woman character type reader but was raised on Jon Claude Van dam movies. A fan of NCIS and CIA shows, this was a very entertaining read. I loved everything about it with being action packed and seating at the edge of my seat of what happens next. It was a very enjoyable read and experience of new author I have no clue about. This author will be on my radar for sure.

[Leane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second in the Mac Dekker former CIA spy series after 2024’s Matterhorn (See my review for more.) is again well-paced and gives us a quick and compelling overview of terrorism in the Middle East involving Qatar, Israel, and the CIA, as well as French and Swiss Settings. Again, Reich gives us some twists that I both saw and predicted but also a few sleight-of-hands that I did not. In this installment, Reich uses the Paris geography, and famous places like Notre-Dame, Versailles, and the Eiffel Tower to create Tone and challenge his CHs very well. I saw a little more development for Mac & Ava but was, once again, disappointed that some obvious CHs were either just that—too obvious or not given enough nuance (especially most of the women). TNT, our Qatar playboy and social influencer, was an exception as his obvious entitlement, wealth, and social status plays well into the Plot and Tone as his CH becomes more layered. Spycraft details were better in this sequel but only by a bit; however, Reich mines the current prominence of social influencing and cutting-edge technology well in this novel. Reich leaves this at an okay conclusion, pretty much forcing a sequel. Don’t know if I’ll run to that. I enjoyed his Simon Riske series more. RED FLAGS: Violence; Predatory Sexual Behavior. Fans who have depleted their pile of Steinhauer, Carr, and Quirk may want to try this one.

[Judy Odom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tourists is the much anticpated second book in the Mac Decker series and it certainly does not disappoint.

The book is action packed, the stakes are high and the threat to the world is real.

When Mac's girlfriend Ava disappears from a dinner out, Mac puts his heart and soul into finding her.

There are powerful and corrupt people that don't want her found and Mac is soon running for his life and racing against the clock.

That is only the icing on the cake as there are political threats that will change the world forever.

Christopher Reich has done an amazing job and has cleverly plotted the book out so you will be guessing until the final page.

Buckle up its a wild ride and you wont want to put the book down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the privilege of reading and reviewing this amazing book The Tourists.

[Matthew O'Connell]

I usually love Christopher Reich books. Reich creates vivid characters and there are great action scenes and tension.
This was good, not great. It felt a little predictable and formulaic at times.

[Jay Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

83-2025. Very fine thriller. Our hero is dragged reluctantly out of retirement to save his girl and the world, in some order. Justice is done. Intrigue, spies, solid bad people, all the good stuff.

[Bri Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! Can't wait to see what happens next.

[Susan Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

book 2 - along with his girl friend, ex Mossad, helps stop the bad guys from setting off a nuclear bomb in France

[Sandra Bjarnason · Rating 4 out of 5]

9

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

high adventure. good story.

[Carolyn Dicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and unfortunately very believable

[Donna Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good details and background information - hoping for more Mac Dekker stories.

[M B Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it but not as good as the first, several major plot holes and a bit far-fetched in places. Still, would be keen to read another if the series is continued.

[Jkane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Top notch thriller, and totally on par with the first book. While I personally find Arab antagonists to be boring, Reich does a great job of choosing an interesting Arab villain with an intriguing billion-dollar family, mixing governmental politics with family politics, all the while following Mac and his search for his Mossad lover.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christoper Reich seems to have fallen into a rut. His first few books were great, standalone thrillers. These were followed by three character-driven series, each one weaker than the previous effort. This latest work? You'd be better off going back to his first.