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Gabriel Allon #14
O caso Caravaggio (Gabriel Allon)
UM ESPIÃO DECADENTE • UMA OBRA-PRIMA DESAPARECIDA • UMA OUSADA MISSÃO
“Elegante, sofisticado e divertido, O caso Caravaggio é um thriller de leitura obrigatória, repleto de intrigas internacionais. O livro demonstra mais uma vez por que Daniel Silva é considerado o maior escritor de romances de espionagem do mundo.”
Washington Post
“Uma leitura divertida. Inteligente, dinâmico e cheio de personalidade, Daniel Silva fez de Allon o extraordinário guerreiro secreto da modernidade.”
Kirkus
“Este livro tem todos os elementos mais amados na narrativa de Silva — sua trama, seus incomparáveis personagens e a gama de emoções que saltam das páginas... O caso Caravaggio é uma magnífica combinação de elementos familiares e revolucionários.”
Huffington Post
“Prosa hipnótica, personagens bem escritos e ação ininterrupta vão eletrizar os fãs de Silva e converter os não iniciados.”
Revista People
“Os thrillers de Silva trazem o que há de melhor no mundo da espionagem. A ação não para, passando por cenários de glamour e devastação. Para leitores que gostam tanto de personagens profundos quanto de espionagem clássica.”
Booklist
Gabriel Allon, lendário espião e restaurador de arte, está em Veneza para recuperar um altar quando recebe uma convocação urgente da polícia italiana. Seu amigo, o excêntrico negociante de arte Julian Isherwood, se deparou com uma cena de assassinato no lago Como e foi detido como suspeito. Para salvá-lo, Allon só precisa realizar uma simples tarefa: encontrar a pintura desaparecida mais famosa do mundo.
A questão é: às vezes, a melhor maneira de encontrar uma obra-prima roubada é roubando outra...
O homem assassinado é um espião inglês decadente com um segredo: vendia obras de arte roubadas para um misterioso colecionador. Entre as pinturas está a mais emblemática obra de todas: Natividade com São Francisco e São Lourenço, de Caravaggio.
Para recuperar o Caravaggio e descobrir a identidade do colecionador, Allon embarca em uma jornada ousada. Uma busca que vai se transformar em uma estimulante caçada — dos charmosos boulevards de Paris e Londres aos sórdidos submundos do crime de Marselha e Córsega, e, finalmente, até um pequeno banco privado na Áustria, onde um perigoso homem vigia a riqueza ilícita de um dos ditadores mais brutais do mundo. Ao lado de Allon está uma jovem corajosa que sobreviveu a um dos piores massacres do século XX, cuja ajuda será crucial para a conclusão desse mistério.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2014
2926 people are currently reading
7784 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Silva
192 books9,533 followersDaniel 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
Series:
* Michael Osbourne
* Gabriel Allon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,982 reviews
December 29, 2017
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The Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence by Caravaggio, created in 1609 …. missing since 1969; worth some $20 million
The Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence by Caravaggio, created in 1609 …. missing since 1969; worth some $20 million
An art thief, a professional killer, the art restorer and former operative of the Israeli secret intelligence Gabriel Allon, join forces to locate those responsible for the death and torture of an art dealer, Jack Bradshaw. They soon discover he was suspected of possessing a stolen Caravaggio’s painting and about to sell it for a very hefty profit. Generating a game plan that will surely succeed or blow to smithereens in their faces, they travel Europe looking for clues before finally landing on the doorstep of one of the world’s most brutal dictators. Author Daniel Silva has achieved nothing short of an exhilarating, electrifying novel which will have the reader flying through the pages. Recommended!
February 12, 2022
The combination of murder, art theft, state corruption, and espionage provide the perfect ingredients and blend for a cracking thriller, especially if it is written by Daniel Silva, and ‘The Heist’ did not disappoint.
Gabriel must take on a mission to find the Caravaggio a priceless piece of art. When asked to take on this new assignment, ‘no’ is not an option, otherwise his friend dies. However, it soon becomes clear that Allon is up against a highly efficient and ruthless crime empire that has traded in its cash reserves for artwork because it is harder to trace, a cleaner way to store assets that cannot be frozen. So, when a piece of art is stolen by a brutal dictator the ability to track it down is much more difficult.
Part of Allon’s grand strategy is to set up a heist because “… Sometimes the best way to find a stolen masterpiece is to steal another one”, and in a live game of cat and mouse, Gabriel’s hunt takes him from Marseilles to Corisa, and Paris to Geneva and into the heart of the Syrian regime, as the plots, subplots and red herrings build a tension that accretive, frightening and perpetuating.
Review and Comments
What is to love about this Daniel Silva Crime thrillers? First of all, Silva never fails to deliver a complex plot that is gripping, thrilling and absorbing, and with his trademark use of infiltration into gangs and corrupt regimes, the tension is constant.
Secondly, Silva’s books offer great characterisation, a writing style that I feel will connect with most people and action packed plots that are superb. If I experience a series of disappointing books, Daniel Silva would be my go-to author because I know his books will not disappoint. In pre-kindle days when I preferred the hardback copy, Silva books would always have found a place in my holiday suitcase. A fabulous crime author.
There is nothing to dislike and everything to love about ‘The Heist’.
Gabriel must take on a mission to find the Caravaggio a priceless piece of art. When asked to take on this new assignment, ‘no’ is not an option, otherwise his friend dies. However, it soon becomes clear that Allon is up against a highly efficient and ruthless crime empire that has traded in its cash reserves for artwork because it is harder to trace, a cleaner way to store assets that cannot be frozen. So, when a piece of art is stolen by a brutal dictator the ability to track it down is much more difficult.
Part of Allon’s grand strategy is to set up a heist because “… Sometimes the best way to find a stolen masterpiece is to steal another one”, and in a live game of cat and mouse, Gabriel’s hunt takes him from Marseilles to Corisa, and Paris to Geneva and into the heart of the Syrian regime, as the plots, subplots and red herrings build a tension that accretive, frightening and perpetuating.
Review and Comments
What is to love about this Daniel Silva Crime thrillers? First of all, Silva never fails to deliver a complex plot that is gripping, thrilling and absorbing, and with his trademark use of infiltration into gangs and corrupt regimes, the tension is constant.
Secondly, Silva’s books offer great characterisation, a writing style that I feel will connect with most people and action packed plots that are superb. If I experience a series of disappointing books, Daniel Silva would be my go-to author because I know his books will not disappoint. In pre-kindle days when I preferred the hardback copy, Silva books would always have found a place in my holiday suitcase. A fabulous crime author.
There is nothing to dislike and everything to love about ‘The Heist’.
September 23, 2023
3.5 stars
In this 14th book in the 'Gabriel Allon' series the Israeli intelligence agent/art restorer investigates a wide-ranging art theft scheme. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Gabriel Allon - 5'8", slim and attractive.....with striking green eyes - is a man of many talents. He's one of the best art restorers (and forgers) in the world; a top-notch Israeli intelligence agent; a capable assassin; and a first class strategist/technician for covert operations.
As the book opens Allon and his second wife Chiara - who's expecting twins - are living in Venice, Italy where Allon is restoring artwork in a church. Allon's quiet life is disrupted when he' s approached by General Ferrari - head of the art recovery squad - who's determined to retrieve a Caravaggio painting (The Nativity) stolen decades ago. Ferrari believes Jack Bradshaw - a murdered British expat living in Lake Como - may have known the whereabouts of the Caravaggio. Thus, Ferrari coerces Allon to investigate Bradshaw's death - and hopefully find the masterpiece.
The Nativity
In the course of his inquiries Allon learns that unscrupulous bigwigs, including mafia dons and dictators, collect stolen art to use as a kind of currency. Moreover, one of the Middle East's most ruthless tyrants - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - is amassing a large collection of stolen art. Al-Assad views this as a kind of insurance, in case he's ousted and can't access his hidden billions.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Allon hatches an elaborate scheme to part al-Assad with his fortune and to find the Caravaggio. The plan involves selling a forgery of Van Gogh's painting 'Sunflowers' (painted by Allon) to al-Assad's buyer and to hack al-Assad's secret accounts and steal the cash. For the hacking scheme Allon's team co-opts a woman named Jawal Nawaz - a Syrian-born, German citizen who works in a bank that al-Assad uses.
Sunflowers
Allon's plan requires lots of travel plus assistance from various 'series regulars' including Ari Shamron - former head of 'The Office' (the Israeli spy agency ); Eli Lavon - an ex-spy who's now an archaeologist; Uzi Navot - the current director of The Office; Navot's wife Bella - an expert on Syria and terrorists; and Christopher Keller - an assassin turned good guy (sort of). Several features of Allon's plan are completely unbelievable (for example, a banker keeps the only records of al-Assad's secret bank accounts in a notebook in his pocket).....but this is a novel after all. LOL
In the midst of all the action Allon visits his first wife Leah in a psychiatric hospital. Leah lost her sanity after being injured by a bomb that killed her (and Allon's) son Daniel. Leah's mind replays the bombing constantly, but she has occasional moments of clarity - and these scenes are disturbing and sad.
I won't say any more about the plot, except that Allon shows he's an honorable, stand-up guy.
Many reviewers remark that Daniel Silva's 'Gabriel Allon' stories are formulaic, and they are. But the books are well-written - with good plots and interesting characters. I'd highly recommend "The Heist " to fans of espionage thrillers.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
July 11, 2014
I've been reading Daniel Silva's books since he began writing them. I have to say that this is his best novel to date. He keeps getting better and better. I absolutely loved THE HEIST!!! Daniel Silva is the best thriller writing alive today. His characters feel like they are part of my family. And the topics he chooses to move his stories forward not only entertain me, they educate me. He uses current events; hot topics in all his books. And his research is second to none! This latest page-turner even had me shedding a tear at the conclusion. I can hardly wait until next summer when I hope Gabriel Allon will return once again. Thanks, Daniel, for giving us this fabulous story.
April 21, 2019
Another great book by Daniel Silva in which the legendary agent Gabriel Allon, who also works as an art restorer in his spare time, uses his spying skills to trace a lost piece of art by Caravaggio, which had also disappeared in reality about 50 years ago. The search leads him to an underground network of stolen art trafficking for the most dangerous people on this planet. Silva reveals before us the tragic fate of Syria and the story about the eye doctor from London, liberal and enlightened on paper, who eventually became the most awful and cruelest dictator the country has ever seen, even more than his infamous father. Silva describes in an authentic and fascinating way the horrors in Syria, the consequences of war, and the ones who'd gotten away but haven't forgotten. What I absolutely love about Sliva's books is that they have, beyond their carefully crafted plots, plenty of knowledge in a variety of areas - from art to the Middle East politics. It's fun to read books that have added values, and Silva's book fit this definition perfectly!
October 24, 2021
“Best deal I ever made.” (3.5 stars)
My adventures with Israeli art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon continue with THE HEIST, number 14 in this series. This series by Daniel Silva remains my ‘go to’ when I know I want to have a good read that will keep my attention.
In this text we get a story that incorporates the Syrian Civil War and the brutal dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad. Once again Silva has done a good job of entwining the fallout from the so called “Arab Spring” with a story that entertains and yet accurately and without bias brings in the real world geopolitics of the moment. Silva does not shy away from the conundrum that the world faces, choosing between a petty killer and criminal strongman like al-Assad and the chaos of radical Islam that would succeed in Syria if he were to fall. It is a frustrating catch-22 that the heroes in this book must face head on.
Like most in this series, THE HEIST, is a bit formulaic, but moves along at a satisfying clip. The read is entertaining, but also thoughtful. Consider this reflection a character has when pondering the genocide happening in Syria. “It was almost as if the lessons of the Holocaust had been forgotten. Or perhaps, thought Gabriel, they had never been learned in the first place.” As I write this review Syria has been a slaughterhouse for almost a decade now, with no end in sight.
THE HEIST also has one of the more realistic conclusions I have seen in this series. Not completely good, or bad.
On an unrelated note, here is a line from the book that I think is as damming an observation about some folks’ relationship to social media as I have come across in a novel. “In the online age, it was more important to live out loud than to live with dignity.” Boy is that sadly true!
My adventures with Israeli art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon continue with THE HEIST, number 14 in this series. This series by Daniel Silva remains my ‘go to’ when I know I want to have a good read that will keep my attention.
In this text we get a story that incorporates the Syrian Civil War and the brutal dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad. Once again Silva has done a good job of entwining the fallout from the so called “Arab Spring” with a story that entertains and yet accurately and without bias brings in the real world geopolitics of the moment. Silva does not shy away from the conundrum that the world faces, choosing between a petty killer and criminal strongman like al-Assad and the chaos of radical Islam that would succeed in Syria if he were to fall. It is a frustrating catch-22 that the heroes in this book must face head on.
Like most in this series, THE HEIST, is a bit formulaic, but moves along at a satisfying clip. The read is entertaining, but also thoughtful. Consider this reflection a character has when pondering the genocide happening in Syria. “It was almost as if the lessons of the Holocaust had been forgotten. Or perhaps, thought Gabriel, they had never been learned in the first place.” As I write this review Syria has been a slaughterhouse for almost a decade now, with no end in sight.
THE HEIST also has one of the more realistic conclusions I have seen in this series. Not completely good, or bad.
On an unrelated note, here is a line from the book that I think is as damming an observation about some folks’ relationship to social media as I have come across in a novel. “In the online age, it was more important to live out loud than to live with dignity.” Boy is that sadly true!
October 1, 2017
"Why did you steal a Van Gogh and sell a copy to an Arab named Sam?"
"Because I'm looking for a Caravaggio."
"For whom?"
"The Italians."
"Why is an Isreali intelligence officer looking for a painting for the Italians?"
"Because he finds it hard to tell people 'no.'"
So far the only major drawback of doing most of my reading via audiobooks is that I have no easy way of marking quotes to use later in my reviews, which is something I usually try to include. I listened to The Heist during my commute to work, and I want everyone to appreciate the fact that I had to rewind the above passage at least five times so I could write down the conversation on the notes app on my phone. The reason I went to so much trouble to write down this specific exchange was because it perfectly sets you up for this complex, convoluted plot, and there was no way I couldn't include it in the review.
Having never read any of Daniel Silva's thrillers, I can't say if his other books require so many steps just to get to the main conflict. But holy shit, this one's a doozy.
So the book starts with art dealer Julien Isherwood being called to a mansion on Lake Como, where he's supposed to pick up a painting for a colleague. Instead, he arrives to find the painting gone, and the owner of the house murdered. Isherwood calls in his friend Gabriel Allon, an art restorer and Isreali intelligence agent, to investigate the murder and clear his name. Allon soon discovers that the dead man was a former British spy who had been trading stolen artwork, and that one of those stolen pieces, now missing, is Caravaggio's famous lost Nativity painting. To recover the painting, Allon has to borrow a Van Gogh, make a forged copy, and trade that version for the Caravaggio. Oh, and the money trail for the stolen artwork leads to a bank in Germany that holds the fortune of a Middle Eastern dictator. Getting the Caravaggio back will require spying on, and stealing from, one of the most dangerous political families in the world.
Like, that's a lot, right? Around the time the dictator was thrown into the mix (probably two-thirds of the way into the story), I was already tired of keeping track of the various spy shit going on, and the last thing I needed was for Silva to add yet another complication to the mix. And what a complication it is. I had been enjoying the book up until then, because there was a lot of good stuff about art theft and forgery, and Allon is a great protagonist - he won me over early in the book when he's going to the Lake Como house to investigate the murder scene, and when the cop on duty tells Allon that he has one hour, and that he'll be following Allon around the house, Allon snaps "I'll take as long as I want, and you'll wait outside." (Quote is not exact, because audiobook.) Also I mentally cast Oscar Isaac as Allon, which certainly didn't hurt.
I was on board for all the art forgery stuff and tracking the thieves, but then we introduce the dictator, and Silva takes us on a chapter-long digression to explain the history of the dictator's rule. And before I knew it, my fun art heist caper was gone, and had been replaced by a dreary political thriller. Not that there's anything wrong with those kind of books, but it definitely wasn't what I signed up for, and I finished the book feeling almost like I had been the victim of a bait-and-switch.
The writing is good, the plot is complex and fast-paced, and all the characters that Allon works with over the course of his assignment were interesting and well-drawn (also I could read an entire book about Allon's Italian spy wife, Chiara), but ultimately, the change from art heist to political spy thriller was too jarring, and I could never adjust. Silva's books were recommended to me by someone who has the same taste in detective novels as I do, and I don't want to discount his work based just on this one book. I'd definitely be willing to give Gabriel Allon and Silva another chance in the future; this one just wasn't quite what I was expecting.
"Because I'm looking for a Caravaggio."
"For whom?"
"The Italians."
"Why is an Isreali intelligence officer looking for a painting for the Italians?"
"Because he finds it hard to tell people 'no.'"
So far the only major drawback of doing most of my reading via audiobooks is that I have no easy way of marking quotes to use later in my reviews, which is something I usually try to include. I listened to The Heist during my commute to work, and I want everyone to appreciate the fact that I had to rewind the above passage at least five times so I could write down the conversation on the notes app on my phone. The reason I went to so much trouble to write down this specific exchange was because it perfectly sets you up for this complex, convoluted plot, and there was no way I couldn't include it in the review.
Having never read any of Daniel Silva's thrillers, I can't say if his other books require so many steps just to get to the main conflict. But holy shit, this one's a doozy.
So the book starts with art dealer Julien Isherwood being called to a mansion on Lake Como, where he's supposed to pick up a painting for a colleague. Instead, he arrives to find the painting gone, and the owner of the house murdered. Isherwood calls in his friend Gabriel Allon, an art restorer and Isreali intelligence agent, to investigate the murder and clear his name. Allon soon discovers that the dead man was a former British spy who had been trading stolen artwork, and that one of those stolen pieces, now missing, is Caravaggio's famous lost Nativity painting. To recover the painting, Allon has to borrow a Van Gogh, make a forged copy, and trade that version for the Caravaggio. Oh, and the money trail for the stolen artwork leads to a bank in Germany that holds the fortune of a Middle Eastern dictator. Getting the Caravaggio back will require spying on, and stealing from, one of the most dangerous political families in the world.
Like, that's a lot, right? Around the time the dictator was thrown into the mix (probably two-thirds of the way into the story), I was already tired of keeping track of the various spy shit going on, and the last thing I needed was for Silva to add yet another complication to the mix. And what a complication it is. I had been enjoying the book up until then, because there was a lot of good stuff about art theft and forgery, and Allon is a great protagonist - he won me over early in the book when he's going to the Lake Como house to investigate the murder scene, and when the cop on duty tells Allon that he has one hour, and that he'll be following Allon around the house, Allon snaps "I'll take as long as I want, and you'll wait outside." (Quote is not exact, because audiobook.) Also I mentally cast Oscar Isaac as Allon, which certainly didn't hurt.
I was on board for all the art forgery stuff and tracking the thieves, but then we introduce the dictator, and Silva takes us on a chapter-long digression to explain the history of the dictator's rule. And before I knew it, my fun art heist caper was gone, and had been replaced by a dreary political thriller. Not that there's anything wrong with those kind of books, but it definitely wasn't what I signed up for, and I finished the book feeling almost like I had been the victim of a bait-and-switch.
The writing is good, the plot is complex and fast-paced, and all the characters that Allon works with over the course of his assignment were interesting and well-drawn (also I could read an entire book about Allon's Italian spy wife, Chiara), but ultimately, the change from art heist to political spy thriller was too jarring, and I could never adjust. Silva's books were recommended to me by someone who has the same taste in detective novels as I do, and I don't want to discount his work based just on this one book. I'd definitely be willing to give Gabriel Allon and Silva another chance in the future; this one just wasn't quite what I was expecting.
August 14, 2014
I'm a huge Gabriel Allon fan, but I humbly disagree with many of the rave reviews of this, the 14th book in the series.
Can it really be summer without time spent with my fave Mossad assassin and art restorer? I think not. Every year I have the publication date marked in my calendar, and eagerly await the new release of one of my fave characters in a contemporary series. As I look at my reviews of the previous books in this series, I see that my ratings have been dropping, but how can I resist attending the reunion of the Barak team every summer?
This one is the worst in the series so far. It is rather formulaic and the writing seems rote. The characters are recycled without any additional depth added. The story is almost the same as a couple others in the series, just updated with Syrian troubles. I almost did not finish it, and that makes me sad. If you have yet to read about the exploits of the man named like an archangel, I would highly recommend reading some of the earlier books in this series. But skip this one.
And yet. I'll be waiting to see if there is a new installment next July. Come on Mr. Silva, give this junkie a good fix. Please.
Can it really be summer without time spent with my fave Mossad assassin and art restorer? I think not. Every year I have the publication date marked in my calendar, and eagerly await the new release of one of my fave characters in a contemporary series. As I look at my reviews of the previous books in this series, I see that my ratings have been dropping, but how can I resist attending the reunion of the Barak team every summer?
This one is the worst in the series so far. It is rather formulaic and the writing seems rote. The characters are recycled without any additional depth added. The story is almost the same as a couple others in the series, just updated with Syrian troubles. I almost did not finish it, and that makes me sad. If you have yet to read about the exploits of the man named like an archangel, I would highly recommend reading some of the earlier books in this series. But skip this one.
And yet. I'll be waiting to see if there is a new installment next July. Come on Mr. Silva, give this junkie a good fix. Please.
September 23, 2014
... another excellent Silva, exciting and fast-paced. It is, as some have said, somewhat formulaic, but the formula works so well it is not at all objectionable, at least to me. Silva stays just close enough to actual current events to make it very real, and events since it was written make it even more real, almost like historical fiction in the present instead of the past.
July 21, 2014
I love a great hero; from Tarzan to Perry Mason to Harry Potter, the good guy gets my attention every time. Over many years of reading, favorites have emerged - characters whose personalities are so appealing that I look forward to reading about them again and again and, were it possible, with whom I'd love to share a beer (or two) and what I have no doubt would be interesting conversation for a couple of hours.
These guys have been on my Top 10 list for quite some time now (in case any are unfamiliar to other readers who might want to give them a try):
10. Forest ranger Joe Pickett (author C.J. Box)
9. Manhattan bookstore owner and part-time burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr (Lawrence Block)
8. Prison chaplain and former police officer John Jordan (Michael Lister)
7. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers (John Sandford)
6. Psychologist and police consultant Dr. Alex Delaware (Jonathan Kellerman)
5. Cleveland private eye Milan Jacovich (Les Roberts)
4. The mysterious Roarke, husband of police lieutenant Eve Dallas (J.D. Robb, a.k.a. Nora Roberts)
3. British 007 agent James Bond (Ian Fleming)
2. Boston private investigator Spenser (Robert B. Parker)
And in the No. 1 spot? None other than art restorer and accomplished Israeli spy Gabriel Allon, who's the star of this book. In it - the 14th in the series - his beautiful (and younger) wife, Chiara, is pregnant with twins; they've been living in Vienna, where Gabriel is helping restore a major work of art. When a friend discovers the torture and murder of a former British diplomat who apparently has turned to trafficking stolen art, Gabriel begins to investigate - learning that the works of art may be a cover for a Syrian dictator to hide scandalous amounts of money. The chase, as usual, takes Gabriel to several countries where he dons different disguises as he and his team put together an involved operation to bring the dictator to his knees and, hopefully, locate the stolen art (in particular, a Caravaggio that's been missing for decades).
Many characters from previous books return in this one, and perhaps a little too much space is given up to explanations of who they are for the benefit, I suppose, of making sure new readers know the background rather than simply trying to fill up pages. Also, the ending is predictable and a bit abrupt - reasons that prompted me to give this one 4 stars rather than 5 (although I'm willing to go 4-1/2 if that were possible).
But in the end, it's a great adventure and a pleasure to read. I always enjoy the historical information that's sprinkled liberally throughout (even if it's not always factual). I honestly can't say this book is the best of the bunch, but it sure held my attention throughout.
These guys have been on my Top 10 list for quite some time now (in case any are unfamiliar to other readers who might want to give them a try):
10. Forest ranger Joe Pickett (author C.J. Box)
9. Manhattan bookstore owner and part-time burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr (Lawrence Block)
8. Prison chaplain and former police officer John Jordan (Michael Lister)
7. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers (John Sandford)
6. Psychologist and police consultant Dr. Alex Delaware (Jonathan Kellerman)
5. Cleveland private eye Milan Jacovich (Les Roberts)
4. The mysterious Roarke, husband of police lieutenant Eve Dallas (J.D. Robb, a.k.a. Nora Roberts)
3. British 007 agent James Bond (Ian Fleming)
2. Boston private investigator Spenser (Robert B. Parker)
And in the No. 1 spot? None other than art restorer and accomplished Israeli spy Gabriel Allon, who's the star of this book. In it - the 14th in the series - his beautiful (and younger) wife, Chiara, is pregnant with twins; they've been living in Vienna, where Gabriel is helping restore a major work of art. When a friend discovers the torture and murder of a former British diplomat who apparently has turned to trafficking stolen art, Gabriel begins to investigate - learning that the works of art may be a cover for a Syrian dictator to hide scandalous amounts of money. The chase, as usual, takes Gabriel to several countries where he dons different disguises as he and his team put together an involved operation to bring the dictator to his knees and, hopefully, locate the stolen art (in particular, a Caravaggio that's been missing for decades).
Many characters from previous books return in this one, and perhaps a little too much space is given up to explanations of who they are for the benefit, I suppose, of making sure new readers know the background rather than simply trying to fill up pages. Also, the ending is predictable and a bit abrupt - reasons that prompted me to give this one 4 stars rather than 5 (although I'm willing to go 4-1/2 if that were possible).
But in the end, it's a great adventure and a pleasure to read. I always enjoy the historical information that's sprinkled liberally throughout (even if it's not always factual). I honestly can't say this book is the best of the bunch, but it sure held my attention throughout.
July 28, 2014
Three pages into the novel and you do a collective sigh of relief as a big smile spreads across your lips. You know that feeling; it's the one you get when you realize you've found a novel that is an instant guarantee it's going to take you on a great, well paced, interesting ride into the dark underworld of espionage.
Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon, the top of the game assassin for the Israelie Mossad, is at his best in this one. Allon has never been one-dimensional as a character. He's always been a complex soul with his own specific ghosts to deal with. But this journey is a classic.
You'll have to read the book for yourself. But I'd lay money down (if I had any money, by the way) on the table and bet that you'll fall in love with Gabriel Allon.
Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon, the top of the game assassin for the Israelie Mossad, is at his best in this one. Allon has never been one-dimensional as a character. He's always been a complex soul with his own specific ghosts to deal with. But this journey is a classic.
You'll have to read the book for yourself. But I'd lay money down (if I had any money, by the way) on the table and bet that you'll fall in love with Gabriel Allon.
June 6, 2019
No review this time. Standard Gabriel Allon. Predictable story but fun to read.
August 10, 2014
This story would have been better if not for meandering throughout Europe in the midst of an operation. There was minimal relevancy for the distraction. In additon to better editing, this novel could have used a better ending. 5 of 10 stars
July 21, 2015
More about politics and less about the heist. Started out good and then, for me, went south. I kept on with it because George Guidall is one of my favorite narrators.
February 16, 2023
Mr. Silva delivers his stories in a most clipped & precise manner. Descriptions of people, places & things unfold as if it was a film playing before your eyes. There is not one wasted sentence or word in his novels & so it is with “The English Girl.”
The story races along at lightening speed but if I were to say this is an ‘easy’ read that would erroneously imply that the plot is lacking – which it is not - so let me just say it is a book you won’t want to put down. Every component required for a spy novel is evident & then some - in spades!
Having read all the previous Allon novels I keep waiting for the author to run out of steam just as other authors who write a recurring character do – but to date Gabriel Allon is as entertaining & exciting as ever.
“The English Girl” takes a different tack in that for at least the first half of the book Gabriel is primarily on his own with only the help of one other ‘associate’ & this ‘associate’ is not even one of his regular team. The recurring team appears at about Pg. 294. Unusual for Gabriel, but I do believe Gabriel has made a new ‘friend’.
“Gabriel reached out and ripped the stud from Lacroix’s right ear.” (Pg. 92) It is only Gabriel Allon – master assassin, art restorer & spy who could possibly have you cheering him on in such a violent act. Bravo Gabriel!
This is as close you’ll ever get to the perfect spy novel with a perfect protagonist & cast of characters. While real life does not produce perfection it is pure enjoyment to read. As for a real Gabriel Allon – well, we can all but hope & dream.
If you have read any of the previous Allon books this one will not disappoint. If you have not – start with this one at your own peril because if you do you will immediately want to go back to the very beginning & read them all. This is #13.
The story races along at lightening speed but if I were to say this is an ‘easy’ read that would erroneously imply that the plot is lacking – which it is not - so let me just say it is a book you won’t want to put down. Every component required for a spy novel is evident & then some - in spades!
Having read all the previous Allon novels I keep waiting for the author to run out of steam just as other authors who write a recurring character do – but to date Gabriel Allon is as entertaining & exciting as ever.
“The English Girl” takes a different tack in that for at least the first half of the book Gabriel is primarily on his own with only the help of one other ‘associate’ & this ‘associate’ is not even one of his regular team. The recurring team appears at about Pg. 294. Unusual for Gabriel, but I do believe Gabriel has made a new ‘friend’.
“Gabriel reached out and ripped the stud from Lacroix’s right ear.” (Pg. 92) It is only Gabriel Allon – master assassin, art restorer & spy who could possibly have you cheering him on in such a violent act. Bravo Gabriel!
This is as close you’ll ever get to the perfect spy novel with a perfect protagonist & cast of characters. While real life does not produce perfection it is pure enjoyment to read. As for a real Gabriel Allon – well, we can all but hope & dream.
If you have read any of the previous Allon books this one will not disappoint. If you have not – start with this one at your own peril because if you do you will immediately want to go back to the very beginning & read them all. This is #13.
August 20, 2024
I began my journey with the Gabriel Allon series with #23 Portrait of an Unknown Woman and found the character to be one of the most unique I'd encountered. From there I moved to the two previous 'episodes' then jumped back 10 years to #14. For those unfamiliar with Allon, he balances his intelligence work with a passion and talent for art restoration as well as husband to Chiara, and father to twins.
This episode takes place a year before he takes over the reins of Israeli Intelligence. While in the midst of restoring a Veronese altarpiece in Venice, General Ferrari, head of Carbinieri Military Police Art Squad, requests Allon's assistance to investigate the Lake Como murder of Jack Bradshaw a former British diplomat to the Middle East turned 'art collector'. Gabriel learns that after his diplomatic career, he'd been dispensing advice to British companies wishing to do business in the Arab world and lived in one of the most expensive villas on the lake. Ferrari knew of Bradshaw's involvement in the illegal exporting of Italian works of art and had detained Julian Isherwood, owner of a British art gallery and friend to Gabriel. If the art community got wind of Julian's arrest, his career would be over. Knowing this, Ferrari leverages this fact to force Allon to assist with the investigation of the torture and murder of Bradshaw.
When we are introduced to a character and his colleagues in later stages of his career, we only get glimpses into his and the collaborator's back stories. With this episode, there's a deep dive that's illuminating in countless ways. We learn that Gabriel's father-in-law was former head of Israeli intelligence and an icon in the spy community. We also learn of his ex-wife's traumatic breakdown when their car was blown up in a Middle Eastern debacle causing the loss of their only child. We also learn Christopher Keller was part of the Corsican mob boss' assassination team prior to his work with MI6. Added to back stories of his Israeli, British and French team members helped deepen understanding and engagement.
With Italian masterpieces costing millions, Allon's team 'follows the money trail' to a private bank in Linz, Austria. Using the latest tech, the team finds the Austrian bank is 'laundering' billions of dollars from Russian and Mid Eastern account holders to offshore shell companies. Putting two and two together, Allon traps Jihan Nawaz, a young female assistant to Waleed al-Saddiqi, one of the bank partners who 'manages' the illicit flow. As typical, Allon's crew disguises themselves while using advanced tech to monitor the targets. Jihan is left with no other choice than to join the mission which grows dangerous with each step taken.
Similar to the other episodes, we're taken into a swirling labyrinth of deceit, money and crime due to the brilliance of 'mission impossible' style traps. But Silva replaces blood thirsty violence, explosions and car chases with skill, grace and plot twists. In addition, the author shows similarity between the Holocaust and Syrian genocide adding yet another unique element. Similar to the first three episodes, the immersive, non-violent 'page turner' narrative is addictive and extremely well written. Highly recommended for those who enjoy slow burn mysteries packed with surprises.
This episode takes place a year before he takes over the reins of Israeli Intelligence. While in the midst of restoring a Veronese altarpiece in Venice, General Ferrari, head of Carbinieri Military Police Art Squad, requests Allon's assistance to investigate the Lake Como murder of Jack Bradshaw a former British diplomat to the Middle East turned 'art collector'. Gabriel learns that after his diplomatic career, he'd been dispensing advice to British companies wishing to do business in the Arab world and lived in one of the most expensive villas on the lake. Ferrari knew of Bradshaw's involvement in the illegal exporting of Italian works of art and had detained Julian Isherwood, owner of a British art gallery and friend to Gabriel. If the art community got wind of Julian's arrest, his career would be over. Knowing this, Ferrari leverages this fact to force Allon to assist with the investigation of the torture and murder of Bradshaw.
When we are introduced to a character and his colleagues in later stages of his career, we only get glimpses into his and the collaborator's back stories. With this episode, there's a deep dive that's illuminating in countless ways. We learn that Gabriel's father-in-law was former head of Israeli intelligence and an icon in the spy community. We also learn of his ex-wife's traumatic breakdown when their car was blown up in a Middle Eastern debacle causing the loss of their only child. We also learn Christopher Keller was part of the Corsican mob boss' assassination team prior to his work with MI6. Added to back stories of his Israeli, British and French team members helped deepen understanding and engagement.
With Italian masterpieces costing millions, Allon's team 'follows the money trail' to a private bank in Linz, Austria. Using the latest tech, the team finds the Austrian bank is 'laundering' billions of dollars from Russian and Mid Eastern account holders to offshore shell companies. Putting two and two together, Allon traps Jihan Nawaz, a young female assistant to Waleed al-Saddiqi, one of the bank partners who 'manages' the illicit flow. As typical, Allon's crew disguises themselves while using advanced tech to monitor the targets. Jihan is left with no other choice than to join the mission which grows dangerous with each step taken.
Similar to the other episodes, we're taken into a swirling labyrinth of deceit, money and crime due to the brilliance of 'mission impossible' style traps. But Silva replaces blood thirsty violence, explosions and car chases with skill, grace and plot twists. In addition, the author shows similarity between the Holocaust and Syrian genocide adding yet another unique element. Similar to the first three episodes, the immersive, non-violent 'page turner' narrative is addictive and extremely well written. Highly recommended for those who enjoy slow burn mysteries packed with surprises.
February 27, 2020
Italy had been blessed with two things in abundance: art and professional criminals. Much of the art, like the art in the church, was poorly protected. And many of the criminals were bent on stealing every last bit of it.
Gabriel Allon, onetime operative and the future head of Israeli intelligence (aka “the Office”) is in Venice restoring a Veronese canvas when he is summoned by the head of the Carabinieri’s Art Squad, General Cesare Ferrari. Gabriel’s friend, London art dealer Julian Isherwood, is being held as a suspect in the murder of a former English spy turned art smuggler, whose body he found at a villa in Lake Como. It’s a set up, but Ferrari is after bigger game: the Holy Grail of stolen art, a Caravaggio taken from a church in Sicily 45 years earlier. Isherwood will be released, on condition that Gabriel helps track down the stolen masterpiece. How? By placing another valuable artwork on the black market: a sting.
General Ferrari wore a business suit, a woolen overcoat, and dark glasses that shielded his all-seeing prosthetic eye from view. Gabriel, dressed in denim and leather, looked like the troubled younger sibling, the one who had made all the wrong choices in life and was once again in need of money…”In my experience,’ the general added, ”the best time to find a stolen painting is immediately after it has changed hands. We have to move quickly though. Otherwise we may have to wait another forty-five years.”
Both the art world and espionage are murky: Gabriel goes to Paris to see art fencer, Maurice Durand (a minor player in other titles in the series) who explains that while some of the “museum of the missing” is in the hands of private collectors, others are stolen as a hedge by the rich, a source of raising money if other assets are seized or frozen. When two men discover the body of a forger / art restorer, with links to the death in Lake Como, the search takes a more sinister turn.
Gabriel draws on human resources from “the Office”, and has over the years made shrewd alliances in other intelligence services: MI6’s Graham Seymour and Christoph Bittel of the Swiss counter-terrorism division. Then there are the “bad” guys – London-based Russian ex-pat billionaire Viktor Orlov and Corsican crime boss Don Anton Orsini, with his English assassin, former SAS, Christopher Keller – once adversaries, now friends. All play a role in the heist – the emptying of a despot’s bank accounts in tax havens across the world. Naturally, they need inside help, and not everything runs to plan.
Research aside, Daniel Silva’s writing is notable for its refreshing lack of extreme violence and foul language. In its place, a main character whose life has been blessed with love and dogged with tragedy, he suffers regrets and sleeps little during an operation. Though many of the characters appear in earlier and later books, each can be read as a standalone as the author provides brief biops to bridge the gap, and hints at later character development.
Keller made a show of thought. “I’ve never really enjoyed killing people, you know. It’s just something I’m good at.” - “I know exactly how you feel, Christopher.”
Verdict: Another interesting and thoughtful read, blending recent events with fiction.
Gabriel Allon, onetime operative and the future head of Israeli intelligence (aka “the Office”) is in Venice restoring a Veronese canvas when he is summoned by the head of the Carabinieri’s Art Squad, General Cesare Ferrari. Gabriel’s friend, London art dealer Julian Isherwood, is being held as a suspect in the murder of a former English spy turned art smuggler, whose body he found at a villa in Lake Como. It’s a set up, but Ferrari is after bigger game: the Holy Grail of stolen art, a Caravaggio taken from a church in Sicily 45 years earlier. Isherwood will be released, on condition that Gabriel helps track down the stolen masterpiece. How? By placing another valuable artwork on the black market: a sting.
General Ferrari wore a business suit, a woolen overcoat, and dark glasses that shielded his all-seeing prosthetic eye from view. Gabriel, dressed in denim and leather, looked like the troubled younger sibling, the one who had made all the wrong choices in life and was once again in need of money…”In my experience,’ the general added, ”the best time to find a stolen painting is immediately after it has changed hands. We have to move quickly though. Otherwise we may have to wait another forty-five years.”
Both the art world and espionage are murky: Gabriel goes to Paris to see art fencer, Maurice Durand (a minor player in other titles in the series) who explains that while some of the “museum of the missing” is in the hands of private collectors, others are stolen as a hedge by the rich, a source of raising money if other assets are seized or frozen. When two men discover the body of a forger / art restorer, with links to the death in Lake Como, the search takes a more sinister turn.
Gabriel draws on human resources from “the Office”, and has over the years made shrewd alliances in other intelligence services: MI6’s Graham Seymour and Christoph Bittel of the Swiss counter-terrorism division. Then there are the “bad” guys – London-based Russian ex-pat billionaire Viktor Orlov and Corsican crime boss Don Anton Orsini, with his English assassin, former SAS, Christopher Keller – once adversaries, now friends. All play a role in the heist – the emptying of a despot’s bank accounts in tax havens across the world. Naturally, they need inside help, and not everything runs to plan.
Research aside, Daniel Silva’s writing is notable for its refreshing lack of extreme violence and foul language. In its place, a main character whose life has been blessed with love and dogged with tragedy, he suffers regrets and sleeps little during an operation. Though many of the characters appear in earlier and later books, each can be read as a standalone as the author provides brief biops to bridge the gap, and hints at later character development.
Keller made a show of thought. “I’ve never really enjoyed killing people, you know. It’s just something I’m good at.” - “I know exactly how you feel, Christopher.”
Verdict: Another interesting and thoughtful read, blending recent events with fiction.
July 24, 2014
“Evil Incorporated”
There are plenty of action/thriller writers who try to capture “ripped from the headlines” issues and pontificate upon them within the confines of a fictional story, but mostly their efforts feel biased or partisan and all they really accomplish is to ruin an otherwise good story. There are also plenty of action/thriller writers who create stories in exotic locales and then proceed to fill their pages with mind-numbing descriptions that are better suited for a tourist guide (Dan Brown, anyone?).
Then there’s Daniel Silva … he’s absolutely a brilliant writer and his talents are on full display in THE HEIST – and with Silva, you get both the real-world issues and the exotic locales in a way that actually enhances the story rather than detracting from it.
In the past, Silva has used his enigmatic spy/assassin/art restorer Gabriel Allon to take on the PLA, Russia and Iran. This time the “real-world” issue Silva tackles is the Syrian regime that he appropriately titles “Evil Incorporated,” and it’s done exceptionally well.
The chase begins when Allon’s work restoring a painting in Venice is interrupted by a request to assist in a murder investigation – and it quickly carries him to Corsica, Paris, London, Geneva, Munich and Jerusalem. To catch a mysterious collector of stolen art and a murderer, Allon resorts to stealing a masterpiece to use as bait … but when the identity and motivation of the collector are revealed, the stakes are raised and what began as a murder investigation evolves into a massive intelligence operation.
The tradecraft, plotting and characters are phenomenal. The prose, dialogue and pacing are even better.
I’m confused by Silva’s critics who claim this series has become stale and too formulaic –Gabriel Allon remains one of the best continuing series characters in modern fiction and Daniel Silva is still leading the way among today’s top thriller writers. If you like spy/thriller/action novels then you should read this book.
There are plenty of action/thriller writers who try to capture “ripped from the headlines” issues and pontificate upon them within the confines of a fictional story, but mostly their efforts feel biased or partisan and all they really accomplish is to ruin an otherwise good story. There are also plenty of action/thriller writers who create stories in exotic locales and then proceed to fill their pages with mind-numbing descriptions that are better suited for a tourist guide (Dan Brown, anyone?).
Then there’s Daniel Silva … he’s absolutely a brilliant writer and his talents are on full display in THE HEIST – and with Silva, you get both the real-world issues and the exotic locales in a way that actually enhances the story rather than detracting from it.
In the past, Silva has used his enigmatic spy/assassin/art restorer Gabriel Allon to take on the PLA, Russia and Iran. This time the “real-world” issue Silva tackles is the Syrian regime that he appropriately titles “Evil Incorporated,” and it’s done exceptionally well.
The chase begins when Allon’s work restoring a painting in Venice is interrupted by a request to assist in a murder investigation – and it quickly carries him to Corsica, Paris, London, Geneva, Munich and Jerusalem. To catch a mysterious collector of stolen art and a murderer, Allon resorts to stealing a masterpiece to use as bait … but when the identity and motivation of the collector are revealed, the stakes are raised and what began as a murder investigation evolves into a massive intelligence operation.
The tradecraft, plotting and characters are phenomenal. The prose, dialogue and pacing are even better.
I’m confused by Silva’s critics who claim this series has become stale and too formulaic –Gabriel Allon remains one of the best continuing series characters in modern fiction and Daniel Silva is still leading the way among today’s top thriller writers. If you like spy/thriller/action novels then you should read this book.
August 28, 2017
2.5 stars
Gabriel Allon, superspy, artist extrordinaire, lover of women with riotous hair? Beautiful young woman in distress? Ueber competent team of Israeli agents? Check. Check. Check.
Silva's Allon series has, for a while, been feeling a bit repetitive. Repetition does not have to be a bad thing if it is clever, but I fear such was not the case with his latest installment in the series. I have read them all, so I feel equipped to pass this judgement.
Allon is, as ever, stiff and utterly humorless, but in the past his team or Keller have somewhat balanced that deficit. Unfortunately, his team plats only a tiny part in this story. Another issue I take with this book is the way a Silva connected the art heist with current events in Syria. It felt forced and almost as though he was taking advantage of the tragedy to sell a book. This is probably unfair, but it bothered me nonetheless. In terms of the writing and art historical research, this book was on par with others in the series. I particularly enjoyed learning more about Caravaggio, an artist I have always found quite intriguing.
All in all, however, this book just wasn't what I hoped it would be.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Gabriel Allon, superspy, artist extrordinaire, lover of women with riotous hair? Beautiful young woman in distress? Ueber competent team of Israeli agents? Check. Check. Check.
Silva's Allon series has, for a while, been feeling a bit repetitive. Repetition does not have to be a bad thing if it is clever, but I fear such was not the case with his latest installment in the series. I have read them all, so I feel equipped to pass this judgement.
Allon is, as ever, stiff and utterly humorless, but in the past his team or Keller have somewhat balanced that deficit. Unfortunately, his team plats only a tiny part in this story. Another issue I take with this book is the way a Silva connected the art heist with current events in Syria. It felt forced and almost as though he was taking advantage of the tragedy to sell a book. This is probably unfair, but it bothered me nonetheless. In terms of the writing and art historical research, this book was on par with others in the series. I particularly enjoyed learning more about Caravaggio, an artist I have always found quite intriguing.
All in all, however, this book just wasn't what I hoped it would be.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
August 12, 2014
Depth of action, great research, sympathetic characters and a strong feeling of portent for Allon both personally and professionally combine to make this another excellent book by Daniel Silva.
May 26, 2015
This was the best one so far. Great plot twists and low body count. Love all the art world info as well as the insights into the conflicts in the Middle East.
May 2, 2019
Mesmo depois de uma "relação" com alguns anos, não consigo deixar de ler a saga de Gabriel Allon.
São sempre verdadeiras lições de politica e de arte, descritas de uma forma primorosa, mas ao mesmo tempo leves, sem a carga que habitualmente estes temas carregam.
São sempre verdadeiras lições de politica e de arte, descritas de uma forma primorosa, mas ao mesmo tempo leves, sem a carga que habitualmente estes temas carregam.
March 8, 2015
I have been a huge Daniel Silva fan. No more. WTF. He must have been under deadline pressure, or under the influence, or he contracted the writing out to a Pakistani call center.
The plot is stupid: Allon is about to become the head of Israel Intelligence. So of course when a foreign spy asks him to track down a missing painting, he says yes. This is like Hillary Clinton agreeing to look for a lost dog in Finland. Bullshit.
So we take half the book to look for the painting, blah-blah-blah boring. Whoa! There's a Syrian connection! Now we have an Allon-worthy mission: hurt Bash-Ass, the despot of Syria. So, a little spying, a little planning, and a cool operation, worthy of an exciting short story. It goes wrong, of course, in the way every single Allon novel has gone wrong, by the bad guys figuring it out and taking a hostage. So-o-o predictable. But something new: Allon doesn't get the girl back with clever heroics. No. He just does what the terrorists want. Cool. No excitement, no challenge, no danger. Just give in. It's easy that way.
As if that wasn't enough of a yawner, most of the book is filler, telling from an omniscient narrator that drains any remaining tension from the story. It's like Silva had an idea for a story, half-thought out, and he let an intro-to-creative writing class do the writing.
Yuk.
What I don't know is: were all of them terrible and I just didn't notice? I know I'm more critical now than I was a year or two ago.
Weird.
The plot is stupid: Allon is about to become the head of Israel Intelligence. So of course when a foreign spy asks him to track down a missing painting, he says yes. This is like Hillary Clinton agreeing to look for a lost dog in Finland. Bullshit.
So we take half the book to look for the painting, blah-blah-blah boring. Whoa! There's a Syrian connection! Now we have an Allon-worthy mission: hurt Bash-Ass, the despot of Syria. So, a little spying, a little planning, and a cool operation, worthy of an exciting short story. It goes wrong, of course, in the way every single Allon novel has gone wrong, by the bad guys figuring it out and taking a hostage. So-o-o predictable. But something new: Allon doesn't get the girl back with clever heroics. No. He just does what the terrorists want. Cool. No excitement, no challenge, no danger. Just give in. It's easy that way.
As if that wasn't enough of a yawner, most of the book is filler, telling from an omniscient narrator that drains any remaining tension from the story. It's like Silva had an idea for a story, half-thought out, and he let an intro-to-creative writing class do the writing.
Yuk.
What I don't know is: were all of them terrible and I just didn't notice? I know I'm more critical now than I was a year or two ago.
Weird.
March 18, 2019
A spy, missing art and a female heroine... what’s not to like?
September 14, 2014
Daniel Silva's latest Gabriel Allon novel "The Heist" is a decent enough read, but it lacks the panache of the earlier books in the series and the essential characteristics of a thriller. The entire novel is predictable, except for the ending, which is a big let down.
The series has always been formulaic, but Silva has been able to put Allon in new situations, new plots and still keep the action semi-fresh. Although every book starts the same as Allon is interrupted restoring a famous masterpiece, investigates on his own or with a few others some nefarious situation, then calls in his special group, who all convene, smarter than any other spy or terrorist, and destroy in most cases the fiendish terrorist or enemy. I was still kind of believable for the familiarity and because Silva is a good writer.
Long time fans are probably very satisfied with this book, but anyone who likes a good thriller that has thrills and murders, a traitor or two, should look elsewhere. This is like seeing a lion in a zoo instead of in the wild. They both look the same, but one is a savage beast and one is not.
"The Heist" starts off well. Julian Isherwood, the owner of an esteemed English gallery and Allon's sometimes secret helper is found by the Italian police in the home of a murdered art dealer - Jack Bradshaw, who turns out to be an ex-agent of MI6. The Italian Art Squad extorts Allon into investigating, and from these small beginnings, Allon swiftly figures out that Bradshaw was a dealer in stolen art that was being sold to a mysterious figure, who may have possession of a classic piece stolen many years ago. But really, why would Allon even agree. Its just not believable.
Swiftly Allon plans to lure out the big player by offering him a stolen masterpiece, and the action is interesting if somewhat uneventful, but the plan backfires as the courier is taken off the board.
But naturally a lead develops -- how --the dead guy left an envelope specifically addressed for Allon, which lays out who Bradshaw was working with and who is Mr. Big.
And now, Allon assembles his team to go after Mr. Big, who is more than any old art collector, but the head of an evil nation state.
Does the plan work, it could but there is a setback, a captured innocent who must be traded for a ton of cash.
Close out.
Move on, try your luck somewhere else.
December 15, 2015
London art dealer, and friend of Gabriel Allon, Julian Isherwood has stumbled upon the scene of a chilling murder in Lake Como and is being held as a suspect. The dead man is a fallen British spy named Jack Bradshaw with a secret. He has been trafficking in stolen artworks and selling them to a mysterious collector. To free his friend Gabriel agrees to undertake a mission ... to find the most famous missing painting in the world, Caravaggio's "Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence". They say it takes a thief to catch a thief and our protagonist comes up with a plan to steal Van Gogh's Sunflowers as bait. When the book opened it appeared to be simply a story of greed and the darker side of the art world but it moves quickly to the world stage and the civil war in Syria. From Venice to the criminal underworlds of Corsica and Marseilles. From the boulevards of Paris, Geneva, and London. The only stop on the global stage missing in this outing is Washington, D.C. Adrian Carter may be missing is this story but the rest of Gabriel's team, including Christopher Keller the former SAS soldier, work with him on a daring plan that if successful will recover a missing masterpiece. Daniel Silva's novels always seem to reflect current events and this novel is no exception and reminds the reader of ongoing brutal civil war and it's impact.
December 13, 2018
Another (largely familiar) installment in one of my most reliable (which must mean, at some level, favorite, even if I don't really love them) primarily-when-I'm travelling serial fiction series.
More of the same in most ways - and that's perfectly OK - with a few basic twists (none of which I found uniquely compelling). Not my favorite, by any means, but also most definitely not one of the more disappointing ones, either.
It is what it is... I'm more than a dozen books into the series, and I'm confident I'll eventually get through to the end (or until the author gives up).
Non-spoiler warning: I can't imagine starting with this book - for me, it makes sense to consume them in order, particularly to the extent that most of the cast return, and, like the story line, evolve from book to book.
More of the same in most ways - and that's perfectly OK - with a few basic twists (none of which I found uniquely compelling). Not my favorite, by any means, but also most definitely not one of the more disappointing ones, either.
It is what it is... I'm more than a dozen books into the series, and I'm confident I'll eventually get through to the end (or until the author gives up).
Non-spoiler warning: I can't imagine starting with this book - for me, it makes sense to consume them in order, particularly to the extent that most of the cast return, and, like the story line, evolve from book to book.
September 13, 2014
I have read all of Daniel Silva's novels and thoroughly enjoyed them. The Heist is no exception. Gabriel Allon, art restorer and former Mossad agent, is back doing what he does best, restoring masterpieces and tracking down and foiling terrorists. The plot is long with many twists along the way. Silva constructs his edifice very skillfully and brings each novel to a satisfying conclusion.
I await the next Silva novel in which Allon will become a father and take over the reins of the Israeli intelligence service.
I await the next Silva novel in which Allon will become a father and take over the reins of the Israeli intelligence service.
August 26, 2017
Best one yet.
This was like the greatest hits of Gabriel Allon - Silva brought back the best of the best secondary characters from previous novels: Christopher Keller, Don Orsati, the goat (!), Maurice Durand, Julian Isherwood, Christoph Bittel, and Viktor Orlov, in addition to the brilliant cast of King Saul Boulevard. He worked them all together beautifully into a taut international thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. Perfection.
This was like the greatest hits of Gabriel Allon - Silva brought back the best of the best secondary characters from previous novels: Christopher Keller, Don Orsati, the goat (!), Maurice Durand, Julian Isherwood, Christoph Bittel, and Viktor Orlov, in addition to the brilliant cast of King Saul Boulevard. He worked them all together beautifully into a taut international thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. Perfection.
July 20, 2014
One of the best, if not the best in series; one of those novels you can't read fast enough but regret finishing. Silva adds one of his best female characters ever into a mix of art theft and computer bank theft. Terrific in every way.
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