Ransom: A Novel

Gabriel Allon #26

by Daniel Silva

#1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva delivers another action-packed tale of high stakes international intrigue.

Master novelist Daniel Silva has thrilled readers with twenty-five thoughtful and gripping spy novels featuring the “much-loved Gabriel Allon” (Booklist) and ingenious plots that have taken him around the globe and back—from the United States to Europe, Russia to the Middle East.

Now, Silva returns with another blockbuster thriller, a powerhouse novel showcasing his superb skill and brilliant imagination that is a must read for both his multitudes of fans and growing legions of converts.

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

480 pages, Paperback

First published July 14, 2026

About the author

Daniel Silva was born in Michigan in 1960 and raised in California where he received his BA from Fresno State. Silva began his writing career as a journalist for United Press International (UPI), traveling in the Middle East and covering the Iran-Iraq war, terrorism and political conflicts. From UPI he moved to CNN, where he eventually became executive producer of its Washington-based public policy programming. In 1994 he began work on his first novel, The Unlikely Spy, a surprise best seller that won critical acclaim. He turned to writing full time in 1997 and all of his books have been New York Times/national best sellers, translated into 25 languages and published across Europe and the world. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Series:
* Michael Osbourne
* Gabriel Allon

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another year and another Gabriel Allon novel sees the daylight. Once the boss of the Israeli intelligence service now retired and a director in an art restoration company based in Venice. Gabriel now does what hé prefers art, wife and children.
While enjoying their Kids summer holidays in their house in Cornwall Gabriel does the art world a pleasure by being part of a benefit that is meant to finance an artshow that would otherwise not happen.
It is there that he meets the man who is about to be responsible for taking Gabriel away from wife and children.
Edward Knight his wife has dissapeared and he want the former spymaster to actively take part in her return. When Gabriel Allon does so he finds she is abducted and will be returned for a steep RANSOM. So Gabriel gets caught up in the negotiations.
And from then we get caught in a traditional spy story with peace at stake in the European mainland.

This time art does take a backseat to the Europa of today which is trying to stop Russia from taking Ukraine. And taking cyberwar to a whole new level.
Gabriel Allon is once again back into the dark places he wanted to leave and shows a scary place and time in Europa.
A bloody great spy thriller as only Daniel Silva can deliver.
For obvious reasons there is no Israëli involvement whatsoever. That is living up to realistik politics and expectations.

Still an excellent thriller.

[Melanie Briscoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 stars! As always Daniel Silva is my most anticipated thriller read of the year. His iconic character Gabriel Allon is my all time favorite literary thriller character. He is a an Israeli intelligence officer who is also a world class art restorer! His spy espionage thrillers have wonderful characters and usually a ton of art history woven throughout for an outstanding read everytime. This book felt very light on the art history element this time so it is no where near my favorite. Honestly it felt a little “rinse and repeat” ish as the plot felt similar to some others. It is still an excellent read that I recommend! However -if you are new to the series, I would suggest you start much early in the series as this one is not his best work.

[Stacey B]

I can give only the "story plot" a 4*.
But
Not yet ready to write a review. Many variables I need to consider in order to be fair.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who has preordered every Daniel Silva novel for years, this one pains me to write.

Gabriel Allon books are comfort reads for me. When a new one comes out, I usually clear my schedule because I know I’ll devour it in a single day. I’ve reread many of the earlier books a dozen times or more.

Ransom was the first Silva novel that felt like a chore.

The familiar cast is here: Timothy, Julian, Iris, Sarah, Chiara, and the family, but they felt less than the heart of the story. What has always made the Gabriel Allon series so compelling is that the stakes are personal yet universal: art, history, terrorism, intelligence, and, ultimately, the idea that Gabriel is trying to save something larger than himself.

This time, the central plot revolves around searching for a wealthy woman simply because Gabriel was hired to do so. By the second section, I wasn’t turning pages because I couldn’t wait to see what happened, I was turning them because I kept hoping the book would become the Daniel Silva novel I expected.

Every long-running series has books that are stronger than others. For me, this is the weakest Gabriel Allon novel Silva has written. It isn’t poorly written—Silva remains a gifted storyteller—but the emotional core that has always made this series exceptional was missing.

I never thought I’d say this about a Daniel Silva book, but I was relieved when I reached the last page rather than sorry it was over.

2 out of 5 stars.

[David Mathews · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

The unnecessary political digs are tiresome. The anti American sentiment thrown in to take shots at the American president ruin this work.

[Jane Elam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ridiculous

The only thing I gained from Daniel Silva's latest book is how much he hates the current administration of the United States. I gave it one star because I finished it.

[Zorka Zamfirova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of Daniel Silva's Ransom – Disappointment After Years of Enjoyment

For years, I have read Daniel Silva's novels with great pleasure, but Ransom was a true ordeal for me. What was once a sophisticated spy thriller with depth and authenticity has now turned into a confusing and ideologically burdened text.

The biggest issue lies in the transformation of the main character – Gabriel Allon, formerly an Israeli intelligence officer with a clear identity and moral compass, has now been erased and replaced with a "new James Bond." With this move, Silva has sadly discarded everything that made his hero unique: his Jewish identity, his connection to Israeli intelligence, and the inner dilemmas that arose from that background.

Instead of a tense thriller, we get a political pamphlet in which the narrative is sacrificed on the altar of current messages. Personally, I feel let down – as if the writer had to make this shift to keep selling books, but at the cost of the integrity of the world he built.

It's sad to see one of my favorite authors lose what made him authentic. Ransom is not a novel for old fans of Gabriel Allon – it's an attempt to create something entirely different, which unfortunately fails both as a thriller and as social commentary.

[Mike Reinking · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a miss. The plot was a mess from the start - beginning with a kidnapping “who done it” that evolved into a James Bond level farce. Silva’s continuous display of anti-Trump rhetoric is front and center and his admiration of European countries and their leaders - as they quickly lead their respective countries into existence as third world nations - is misplaced. And so much of the story and action is told through exposition. Here’s an exciting part, now let me just tell you what happened rather than describe it through the characters in the story. Lazy writing.

Have read all the Gabriel Allon books and many of them multiple times. It might be time to let Gabriel retire happily with his family and focus solely on art restoration and the appreciation of life in Venice.

How about a few new stories about Christopher Keller? Or Ingrid? Let Gabriel rest.

[Amy Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good but where is Gabriel's passion

So glad to read that Graham's wife's cooking hasn’t improved.
But something in Gabriel's manner just feels off. His passion is missing. It’s hard to put into words but Gabriel has been living in me since he lost his son on that snowy night in Vienna. The writing is as great as ever but Gabriel is not.

Why has Gabriel completely abandoned Israel and his Jewish identity especially now as an another wave antisemitism and ignorance threatens all of our children again?

Thank you.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 25th book in the Gabriel Allon series that Daniel Silva somehow manages to have published around my birthday (7/16). If I didn’t know better I think he writes these exciting thrillers just to make sure I have a great birthday present. LOL!

In this novel, Gabriel is called into help a wealthy businessman, Edward Knight, find his wife, Alice. When a ransom call is made, Gabriel handles it but it looks like they maybe able to stop the ransom transfer things go awry. The plot thickens and twists and it turns out Knight is in deep with the Russians financially so maybe he arranged the kidnapping. It’s hard to write a synopsis without giving too much away so suffice it to say you have to read the book to find out more. You won’t be disappointed.

This was a great romp into international intrigue as only Silva can write. His pithy use of the omniscient narrator interspersed between the action parts and often a segue to tie things together is my favorite parts of his books. Plus he takes you to exotic places which are beautifully described - some of which I’ve been to bringing back great memories for me. But Gabriel’s decency as a character and his love for wife, Chiara, and children, Rafael and Irene, restore my faith in human kind.

The Author’s Note at the end is always the best. There Silva gets to tell you the themes that underlie his book and what if any historical context there may for his book. Don’t forget to read that.

Loved the book. My favorite series.

[Tana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. Gabriel is supposed to be enjoying summer with his family at their summer home….but there is a missing person and he is hired to find her. Solid addition to the series.

[Lottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

En habil Silva, så fint up to date med det nya säkerhetsläget i världen. Tänker alltid, att det här skulle bli en bra film

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 25th book by Daniel Silvia, featuring Israeli espionage agent Gabriel Allon. Gabriel has retired from the Office and is now fully engaged in art restoration and time with his family. They attend a gala at the home of a wealthy businessman, who is interested in acquiring a painting Gabriel is restoring; however; it is an unusual dinner as the hostess never makes an appearance at the lavish gala. We soon learn that she has been kidnapped and Gabriel is approached to attempt to locate her, pay the ransom, or whatever else might be required. He refuses but relents, reluctantly, to take on this venture. Gabriel is pulled into a web of intrigue, dark secrets, hidden agendas, and other twisty unexpected surprises, as we have come to expect from this author. This book brings back many of the readers favorite characters from both the art world and those from Gabriel’s dark past life. There are also the art related sections that are always fascinating.

The book is unusual, as it is almost two books in one. The second half of the book takes an entirely different direction than expected. Although built from the plot line of the first half, it differs significantly from the original story. The early part of the book is necessary to set the foundation for what is to come but feels somewhat slow. The second half of the book pulls you along as the plot becomes darker, faster paced, and increasing complex.

The setting for this book is the present and there are subtle, and not so subtle, references to the global situation we now find ourselves living with in 2026. After resolving all the mysteries and intrigue of the book, Gabriel finally returns home to the family and the peace that he has been seeking since retiring. . However, this book doesn’t leave the reader with a sense of contentment. This book raises a number of disturbing scenarios, many of which are currently occurring, and others that are possibilities in the near future. It hints at a world that may be headed into a darker and very disturbing direction. Questions about AI and other technologies growing without constraint or oversight, political positions that may be unable to be resolved, and motivations behind current and future actions are all indicators of a turbulent future.

[Amy A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mr. Silva has been losing his touch. Every year I preorder these novels and have been increasingly disappointed. The writing is lazy and his anti American rhetoric is clear in every novel. Odd for a man who lives in Florida and D.C. And despite being Jewish, his anti-Semitism is wild. This novel is no exception, although rates slightly above the worst one - The Cellist. His earlier novels were so fun to read, filled with tension and a good slow build. This one, not at all. The last several chapters do not unfold - he tells us through various characters what has happened behind the scenes, we are not privy to them. Almost as if he, too, just wanted to be finished and move on. I know the feeling, Mr. Silva. I did, too. I think he’s lost his passion for writing and it’s being expressed through changes in Gabriel. He’s tired. This is definitely not a novel I’d place in the “thriller” genre. Just general fiction. And one final note: I also noticed that many of the 4-5 starred reviews came from people who received an advanced copy of the book to review. I trust those as far as I can spit.

[Mark Easter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, not one of my favorite Gabriel Allon novels. It was 85% predictable by page 65. I will not spoil the story by giving details of what was obvious at that point, Still, I was glad to read the next installment in preparation for #27.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure delivered by Daniel Silva of Gabriel Allon and friends. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page until the last.
This is the third book that I have read of Daniel Silva’s the others are The Order and The New Girl.

[Will A · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest installment in one of my favorite spy series. Not profound or particularly moving, but a gripping ride with a well constructed and paced plot. One of the better post retirement Allon stories imo

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice holiday read.

[Wena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply outstanding!

[Allie Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. That said, I will read every book Daniel Silva writes - Unlikely Spy is the gold standard for WWII historical fiction (totally unrelated to this/the Gabriel Allon series, just a friendly FYI)

[thewanderingjew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ransom, Daniel Silva, author; Edoardo Ballerini, narrator
When four old friends travel to their reunion, they get far more than they bargained for; Phoebe Chadwick, Ella Burns, Sophie Maxwell and Alice Winter have been meeting yearly since their days at Cambridge. Although their lives have diverged in different directions, it has been a consistent part of their lives. Alice is married to a very wealthy British man, Edward Knight, and she has decided to foot the entire bill for their latest trip. Because she was not happy with Phoebe’s choice of Iceland for their gathering, she has chosen a beautiful mansion on the island of Ibiza for all of them. It just happens to be owned by her husband. Phoebe feels put out by Alice’s apparent arrogance. Phoebe is the least financially successful of the group, and she resents Alice’s behavior and assumption of command. They have an angry row that sends Phoebe home earlier than planned.
Alice never returns home from their reunion. The two remaining female friends did not report her missing immediately, because Alice was a little unpredictable. When she does not reappear, however, it is assumed that she had been robbed, kidnapped, and/or has perhaps been murdered. One of the friends notified Phoebe about her disappearance. Phoebe worked for a non-profit that had recently received a huge bequest, and so she was now cast under a cloud of suspicion.
Because of his notoriety, Alice’s husband, Edward, thought it was best to keep the investigation of her disappearance quiet. He wanted a private investigator to protect his and Alice’s identity. Gabriel Allon, the former chief of Israeli security, now a renowned art restorer, was a guest at an art world fundraiser at the Knight home on the very night Edward was notified of Alice’s disappearance. Edward approached Allon and asked him to search for her without attracting any undue attention or publicity. Gabriel was there at the behest of his friend Julian Isherwood. He had also been engaged to restore a Bernardo Bellotto painting. At first, he refused to take on the assignment for Edward; he was no longer an investigator. When Edward purchased the Bellotto painting for an outrageous sum, to convince Allon to help him, the deal was made.
The search for Alice exposes a scandalous crime involving traitors and espionage, the financial world and oligarchs, danger and violence. It will involve many countries and leaders, some of whom will sound very familiar, and those that don’t sound familiar will surely resemble someone or another that is in a high position in a country, government, or security organization that you might recognize. The investigation and search for the missing Alice Winter, who is also a prominent influencer, as well as the wealthy wife of an important man, will take Gabriel and those he calls upon to assist him to several places in the world; among them will be cities in Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Great Britain.
Although the incidents in the novel are largely fictional, the times, some of the leaders. the places and the politics will not seem so. We are living in dangerous times. The subtle below the belt comments about the United States and its leader surprised me, but I guess it was pretty much to be expected when the novel is placed in the venue of world events today, especially with the Ukraine war and the Middle East tension. In this novel, Russia has resorted to its usual modus operandi of clandestine spying that it continues to deny, and to the use of drones, both miniscule and larger in size, that in addition to poisons and other weapons, have become another source for our enemies to deliver chaos, death and destruction. Drone and deadly injectables are very much in evidence in our current day political and controversial environment, especially as countries vie for dominance and power.
Allon will face great danger as he is joined by familiar characters, like Ingrid Johansen who can make things disappear in a flash, and Phillip Marlowe, aka Christopher Keller, who pollutes the air around him with his apparent inability to give up his smoking habit. Others also appear and the dialogue they share, conversational and witty, will sound like old friends. The banter between the characters, as usual, makes this a really delightful, as well as a thrilling read. There is lots of action as Sarah Bancroft, Christopher Keller, Chiarra Zolli, Detective Inspector Peel, the twins, Irene and Raphael, etc., reconnect with the readers to make this a friendly reunion for them as well. When the safe house and its staff is introduced, once again, the reader will feel right at home with Parish and Miss Coventry and their British ways. I truly hate when one of these books ends, because the next one is always too far off. The wait feels interminable.

[Mona Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Ransom before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Ransom is another sophisticated and absorbing thriller from Daniel Silva, bringing Gabriel Allon back for a tense investigation involving the disappearance of Alice Winter, the glamorous wife of British billionaire Edward Knight. Alice appears to have an extraordinary life, complete with beautiful homes, enormous wealth and millions of social-media followers. However, when she vanishes while on holiday with three old university friends, it soon becomes clear that the polished public image surrounding her life is concealing something far darker.

Gabriel is drawn into the search at Edward’s request, but what initially appears to be a straightforward kidnapping quickly develops into a much wider and more complicated investigation. As Gabriel begins looking beyond the obvious suspects, he uncovers layers of secrecy, corruption and betrayal. The mystery is carefully constructed, with new information constantly changing the direction of the investigation and raising questions about Alice, her marriage and the people closest to her. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the outward glamour of extreme wealth and the uglier reality hidden beneath it.

Daniel Silva is excellent at creating a strong sense of place, and the novel moves confidently through a world of London privilege, European wealth and international intrigue. The luxurious settings are vividly described without distracting from the story, and they add to the atmosphere of danger and deception. Silva also explores the influence that wealthy and powerful individuals can exercise over institutions and other people, making the story feel larger than a conventional missing-person investigation.

Gabriel remains a compelling central character. He is intelligent, observant and highly experienced, but he never feels completely invulnerable. Although he has supposedly stepped away from his former life in intelligence, his instincts and sense of responsibility make it impossible for him to ignore a situation when he believes someone may be in danger. Long-standing readers will appreciate the familiar characters and references to Gabriel’s past, but the central mystery is explained clearly enough that the book can still be enjoyed by someone who has not read every previous instalment.

The pacing is measured at the beginning while the characters and circumstances surrounding Alice’s disappearance are established, but the tension steadily builds. Once the different parts of the investigation begin to connect, the story becomes extremely difficult to put down. The later chapters are particularly gripping, with several revelations and changes of direction that kept me questioning who could be trusted. Silva manages to combine an intricate plot with action and suspense without making the story feel unnecessarily confusing.

One of the strongest aspects of Ransom is that it is not simply about discovering where Alice has gone. It is also about the secrets people protect, the stories they create about themselves and the lengths to which they will go to preserve power, reputation and wealth. The title becomes increasingly meaningful as the story develops, both in the literal sense and in relation to the personal price demanded from several of the characters.

Overall, Ransom is an intelligent, polished and thoroughly entertaining international thriller. It offers an intriguing mystery, glamorous settings, political and financial corruption, well-developed characters and a satisfying level of suspense. Daniel Silva once again demonstrates why the Gabriel Allon series has remained so popular. This will undoubtedly appeal to existing fans, but it would also be a strong introduction for readers who enjoy complex mysteries, espionage thrillers and stories involving the secretive world of the extremely wealthy.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANSOM begins with a fundraiser for the arts at Edward Knight’s grand estate. Finances are tight in Britain at this point, and the arts don’t rate high in the budget. Restoration expert Gabriel Allon, the retired head of an Israeli secret spy service known as the Office, is set to speak at the gathering. He’s a big draw for the event.

Naturally, there is a lot of mingling and rubbing of shoulders among Britain’s rich and famous, plus collectors from other countries. The party seems to be going well except that the host and hostess are conspicuously absent. Finally, Knight arrives and sits at a table, only to leave moments later after receiving a phone call. His wife, Alice Winter, does not make an appearance.

Knight explains to Gabriel that Alice has vanished. She went on her annual girls’ trip (this year they chose Ibiza), and she never returned. Knight lays this out to Gabriel in confidence and begs him to find Alice and bring her home. He assures Gabriel that he will make it worth his while. It’s the last thing Gabriel is looking for right now. He doesn’t care about Knight’s money. He just wants the peaceful retirement he’d imagined for himself. Wasn’t all of the intrigue supposed to be behind him?

Reluctantly, Gabriel agrees to spend some time searching for Alice. Using all of his usual resources, including professional thief and hacker Ingrid Johansen, he discovers unsurprisingly that Alice has been kidnapped. His wife, Chiara, gave him strict orders not to act as the bagman. He promised her that he had no intention of doing anything like that. But as they say, things go sideways, and Gabriel ends up in a very bad place. He tries to negotiate his way out only to find himself dumped on the side of a road.

So Gabriel found Alice but lost her again. Why did the kidnappers set him free? As he works to make sense of all of this and uncover more clues, he realizes that finding Alice may be the least of their problems. Knight didn’t come fully clean about his personal situation. In reality, he got caught up with some bad actors during the real estate slump when his investments and holdings took a beating. He saw a lifeline when a man approached him with a very large check. Of course, it was an instant fix that created a self-perpetuating problem. And now, the way to extricate himself doesn’t involve money. For his “partners,” Knight can be very useful.

Formulating a plan, Gabriel suggests that they set up an art auction at the Knight estate. This time, though, the money they raise is a side benefit. The true target is a very specific person. His identity is unknown to them, but the hope is that the auction will expose him. As the snare continues to close, Secret Intelligence Service Director General Graham Seymour has joined the gang, plus field agent Christopher Keller and Nigel Whitcombe of the SIS. The players get to work doing what they do best. Whatever is about to happen will be catastrophic, and they all know it.

What started as a missing-person case becomes a deadly race against the clock to save thousands of people from rogue foreign attacks. How they do it is, as always with Gabriel, masterful. The truly frightening part, though, is how plausible their scheme is. They used drones that can be controlled from anywhere --- which, of course, includes Russia. And stopping them won’t be easy. They first have to find them.

Don’t take your eyes off of Gabriel Allon; he’s not hanging around restoring paintings. Daniel Silva has many more challenges for him. As for how he’ll top this one, we’ll have to wait and see (but hopefully not too long).

Reviewed by Kate Ayers

[Lou Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

RANSOM by Daniel Silva
Publication: July 2026 by Harper Collins
Graded; A



Legendary spy Gabriel Allon may have retired from the Israeli Intelligence network, but even as a worldclass art restorer, he continues to get enmeshed in international intrigue, greed, and murder in this globetrotting tale that expertly melds with modern day fact and fiction and geopolitical politics. This is the 26th novel in the Gabriel Allon series that continues to show his evolution from spy, assassin and intelligence chief to art restorer , husband, father and sought after fixer of seemingly unsolvable situations. Although this is a later entry into a compelling international intrigue series, it can be enjoyed by all, as Silva’s seamlessly provides any necessary backstory. I tried to savor this immersive tale, but failed miserably and found myself gobbling it up in several settings.
The initial hook is the seemingly random kidnapping of Alice Winter, beautiful socialite and media influencer and wife of Britain’s richest businessman, Edward Knight. She mysteriously disappears from a posh Ibiza resort, at which she was vacationing with three of her long time college friends. Edward is a international real-estate billionaire , with widespread connections and calls upon the aid of Gabriel when the Spanish police cannot uncover any clues. Neither Edward nor his wife Alice are actually what their media suggests. As Gabriel investigates her kidnapping he uncovers multiple layers of far reaching conspiracies involving both finances and geopolitical conflicts. We knew this wasn’t going to be a simple kidnapping and murder, given the almost mythic nature of Gabriel Allon’s standing in the international community. A notable reprise by several beloved characters from previous novels will amplify the escalating intrigue and suspense. Most notable is the appearance of the lovely Ingrid Johansen, the Danish professional thief and hacker, who will be called upon Gabriel to aid in his unravelling of the many responsible culprits. He will also be aided, by his friend, the ex-assassin and current British operative, Christopher Keller. And lastly, Detective Timothy Peel, whom Gabriel befriended initially as a young boy in Cornwall.
Silva masterfully weaves together multiple plot lines, using his evocative prose to ratchet up the tension and intrigue. He has mastered the art of whimsical and yet satirical repartee in advancing the plot with his dialogue and relentless fast pacing. His elegant prose is both atmospheric and culturally relevant, and transcends traditional espionage fiction. Gabriel will dazzle not with physical skills and non-stop action, but rather by insight, judgement and patience. Silva excels in his world building with a cast of plausible and diverse characters.
This will culminate in a cautionary tale raising the possibility of an evolving “hybrid war’ with Russia, where world leaders will have to contend with the prospect of being eliminated by insect-size drones, capable of dispersing lethal nerve toxins. I can only hope we have not seen the last of the legendary Gabriel Allon.
.... to be published in Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine...

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great to have ONE THING consistent in this upside-down world we live in today, and that is Daniel Silva's novels in which Gabriel Allon, with a great deal of help from other characters, saves the day every time. In doing so, Mr. Allon and Mr. Silva together provide some of the most superb written entertainment imaginable. The newly released "Ransom" is no different.

While nominally retired from his life as a spy and now conducting full-time superb restoration of classic paintings, Gabriel Allon is unlikely to be able to refuse requests for his aid when serious threats with potentially dire consequences unfurl. In the case of "Ransom," the title may suggest that a kidnapping is afoot, and an accurate inference of the same begins the book. The beautiful wife of a wealthy British real estate mogul vanishes into thin air, apparently having been kidnapped. Edward Knight, the frantic wealthy husband, enlists Gabriel's help in finding his wife, Alice. Dealing with kidnappers and rescuing their victims is something Gabriel has done before, so he is eminently qualified for the role. But the thing about Gabriel Allon novels is that somewhere about halfway through each book, although it appears that the mystery is about to be solved, this is the reader's cue to assume that there is more to the whole story and that some entirely new and treacherous aspect of the situation is about to reveal itself. "Ransom" is no different in this regard.

In order to completely avoid giving anything else away about the plot of this novel, I will say no more about it. Things get more and more complex and dangerous and Gabriel and others surrounding him become more and more at risk.

I am a big Daniel Silva fan. I celebrate the release of a new novel and cannot wait to get my hands on it. I started reading this one as soon as it was downloadable and enjoyed every minute of it, knowing quite well that the first half of the novel was most likely a teaser for the real story, which in this case is quite true. I must admit that at times I wonder how Silva can keep up his winning streak? But have no fear, without question "Ransom" manages to do it. I loved it and am writing this review less than 15 minutes after reading the final pages. If you are already an Allon/Silva fan, you will not be disappointed. I suppose I should point out that I rarely rate anything a 5, but I happily did so for this book. If you are not already a fan but love thrillers and spy hero stories, I strongly encourage you to dip into Silva's Gabriel Allon tales. Each one can stand on its own, although there are many details that help a new reader follow along if the early books have not been read. But fear not. Just get on it and start. You won't be sorry.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considered on its own terms, Ransom is an excellent spy thriller. Exotic locations, financial and political intrigue, last minute heroics, and daring escapes. Some of the plot elements are a bit over the top, but that’s all part of the genre. Silva’s story-telling chops are impeccable. I would love to give it 5 star review but I cannot.

It is shameful and cowardly that Silva completely ignores October 7, the rise worldwide of antisemitism, and the reality that faces an Israeli in Europe. There is not a single mention or hint of anything remotely connected to any of this. Early in the book Allon is feted at a swanky art event in England – and yet there is not a single protester outside or near the event. Gal Gadot can’t film a movie in London without protests and attacks, but a well-known former Israeli spy can be featured and celebrated in art circles? That detail is far more unbelievable than the book’s preposterous climax.

The word ‘Israeli’ is used maybe twice in the novel, and I don’t think ‘Jewish’ is used once. None of the recurring Israeli characters from the first dozen or more of the Allon books remain. Silva has totally jettisoned any connection in these books to Israel or the Jewish people more broadly. This move away started a few books before October 7 but its absence is just too obvious now. It is not necessary that the plot revolve around October 7 or the war that follows; but it is beyond believability that none of this would ever be mentioned or cross the mind of Allon. He was the avenging angel of Israel and now couldn't care less?

Silva should just stop writing Gabriel Allon and instead just spin off a character like Christopher Keller and write about his exploits. That he continues to write books with an Israeli as the central character and not at all engage with that fact of the character is moral blindness or worse.

[Martin Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabriel Allon is back.

"Ransom", the 26th book in the Gabriel Allon series, see the former spy and now full-time art restorer asked to negotiate the ransom for kidnapped socialite Alice Winter. Since her husband is a billionaire property tycoon, money is no object - he just wants his wife back, and knows Allon is the man to do it.

And so, with very little objection from his long suffering wife, left with the kids in their Cornwall retreat, off our intrepid hero jets, across Europe and the Mediterranean in search of Alice. The author once again successfully conducts a travelogue and fast-paced chase thriller for the first half of the book, as Gabriel uses his skills to find Alice. Along the way he also uncovers the truth about Alice and her husband's marriage and just what prompted her kidnapping.

The second half of the book is both first-class caper, and sadly, a repeat of the last few books - and therein lies my problem. At book twenty-six, having successfully extracted the exceptionally long-lived Allon from his links with the Israeli secret service, the author has opted for a formulaic thriller series, which while still offering a decent beach-read thriller, brings nothing new to Allon or his adventures.

As previously, the book is bang up to date, with commentary on world politics, the state of the art world in Britain, the threat from Russia, and the dangers of AI all featuring in the story. As such, this book can be picked up and enjoyed without having read any of the previous books, but long-time fans of the series, may yearn for the earlier adventures of the spy, Gabriel Allon.

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel Allon, the legendary ex-spy and former head of the Israeli Intelligence Agency, has been living in Venice with his family, back working in art restoration. However, he keeps getting pulled back into his former world of international intrigue. Edward Knight, a British billionaire art client, contacts Gabriel when his socialite wife, Alice, disappears during a vacation with friends in Ibiza. At first, this seems to involve a potential hostage negotiation for her release. However, it soon becomes evident that the situation is far more complicated, with dangerous ramifications that extend beyond the wealthy couple. Gabriel enlists help from some of his former associates. Ingrid Johansen, a Danish hacker and thief, shows that her abilities are as sharp as ever. British operative and former assassin Christopher Keller is back, along with Detective Timothy Peel from Cornwall. 

Ransom is the 26th installment in Daniel Silva's series featuring Gabriel Allon. This retired spy continues to demonstrate his masterful skills as he finds himself entangled in much more than he expected. The book is fast-paced and timely, delving into current issues and global events. It can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. While I am phasing out long-running series that have lost their steam, this one remains fresh and exciting. I eagerly await the 27th book.

4.25 stars.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always loved this series of books and look forward to my “Summer Read” every year. Ransom is the latest offering from Daniel Silva featuring Gabriel Allon, erstwhile spy and art restorer.
I think the author has easily managed to extricate his hero from the Israeli secret service and transform him into a detective solving crimes which are art related.
In this book Gabriel tries to solve a crime when a husband who is an art client asks him to locate his missing wife. This takes up most of the first part of the book as Gabriel travels across the Europe in pursuit.
The second half of the novel restores Gabriel to the espionage setting and is completely up to date mentioning the Ukraine War and current geopolitics, mixing fact and fiction very cleverly.
The disappearance part of the plot was fast paced although I did guess some of it before the big reveal- that being said as I am lover of this type of fiction so it was no surprise to me that I was able to do this!
The espionage story was quite complex and contained a lot of information and commentary about the current world political situation. However sadly it was quite believable!
I’m now entering the long wait for the next book by this author- looking forward to September 2027!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ransom by Daniel Silva
Publisher Harper Collins
Expected Publish Date 16 July 2029


This was an ARC read and my first Daniel Silva novel, and I have to admit that spy thrillers aren’t usually my genre. I tend to gravitate towards character-driven fiction, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.

Ransom opens with the disappearance of Alice Winter, a wealthy socialite who vanishes while holidaying with friends. As Gabriel Allon investigates, what appears to be a kidnapping quickly unfolds into something much bigger, with hidden secrets, deception and international intrigue at every turn.

I really enjoyed the mystery and the slow unveiling of the truth. There were plenty of twists that kept me guessing, and I found myself wanting to know who could really be trusted. Silva’s writing is smooth and easy to read, and although this is the latest in the Gabriel Allon series, I never felt at a disadvantage coming in as a complete newcomer.

Whilst it’s probably not a genre I’ll rush to pick up regularly, I can absolutely see why Daniel Silva has such a loyal following. It was a well-crafted, intelligent thriller that kept me engaged throughout, and I’m glad I stepped outside my usual reading comfort zone.

Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that trying something different can be well worth it.

Thank you to the Author, NetGalley and Harper Collins for sharing this book