The New Girl

Gabriel Allon #19

by Daniel Silva

Ora a vês, ora não a vês.
A rapariga nova, um thriller novo em que o engano, a traição e a vingança andam de mão dada.

Num elitista colégio particular suíço, o mistério rodeia a identidade de uma rapariga de cabelo preto que chega todas as manhãs acompanhada por uma escolta digna de um chefe de Estado. Na verdade, o seu pai é Khalid bin Mohammed, o difamado príncipe herdeiro da Arábia Saudita. E, quando a sua única filha é sequestrada, recorre ao único homem capaz de a encontrar antes que seja tarde demais.

O que está feito, não pode ser desfeito…

Gabriel Allon, o lendário chefe dos serviços secretos israelitas considera Khalid um colaborador valioso, mas do qual não se fia, na guerra contra o terror. O príncipe comprometeu-se a quebrar o vínculo estreito que une a Arábia Saudita com o Islamismo radical. Juntos vão arquitetar uma aliança precária numa guerra secreta pelo controlo do Médio Oriente. Ambos os homens têm numerosos inimigos. E ambos têm tudo a perder. Do autor mais vendido do The New York Times, chega-nos um magnífico thriller novo de engano, traição e vingança.

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

479 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2019

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

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A spectacularly lackluster effort by one of my usually reliable and favorite authors. Not this time. 3 of 10 stars

[Lynn Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is somewhere between a 4- and 5-star book for me, but since Silva has proven that, for the 19th time, he's my favorite author, I'm going with 5.

The New Girl is vintage Silva: rapid-fire pacing, shifting locations, international intrigue, clearly defined characters, and crisp dialogue. I love everything about his writing and construction, and think Gabriel Allon is one of the best (if not THE best) protagonists out there. I relate to Allon in a way that I don't a Jack Reacher (Lee Chid) or a Cotton Malone (Steve Berry), probably because of Allon's affiliation with the Middle East and Silva's willingness to tackle tough questions that touch on religion and religious differences. And the author manages to describe settings in a way that makes me feel as if I'm there, enhancing the story while not distracting from it.

My only negative comment about The New Girl is that Allon is a little wooden. Although his inner thoughts and motivations are alluded to at times, I didn't see him develop as a character in this book. I realize that after 19 books it's hard to tease out new facets of a protagonist, and I'm confident that Silva will find a way to do this.

(Addition to this review after thinking about it: Allon's stiffness may be a result of his now being head of Mossad, instead of a spy/assassin. In The Other Woman, the previous book and first with Allon as Mossad head, I commented on the same thing. Perhaps Silva is having a hard time depicting Allon as a more passive figure, instead of a very active one? Just thinking . . .)

Even with my take on Allon being stilted, The New Girl is well worth the read. In my opinion Silva is the best thing going in thriller, and he's a master of international stories. I can't wait to order the book that should release next summer.

Very highly recommended.

[Amy Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why can’t I read slower?

Whenever I’m about to start reading the newest Gabriel Allon book from Daniel Silva, I always tell myself to read it slowly. Let the enjoyment that will overcome me when reading it last a little longer. Yep, I tell myself that every time. And every time I am able to go slowly at first but the more I read, the more involved I become with Gabriel and Ciara and Keller and Mikhail and Eli and Ari and Seymour with his wife’s earnest yet horrendous cooking. So the faster I read. I can’t help myself. I don’t have the words to describe how stupendously good this book is and how stupendously great a writer Daniel Silva is. So again, I read it too fast. So again I must wait another 51 1/2 weeks till the next Gabriel Allon book is released.

[L.A. Starks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silva consistently writes at a high, professional level and this thriller hits the mark again.

Because the author is willing to dig, research, plot, and then engage on the subject of complex global politics, readers will come away satisfied at having learned as well as having been entertained.

Moreover, Silva keeps the series fresh with new characters in addition to familiar ones.

The minor points---I'm so weary (editors? publishers?) of "Girl" in every new book title. It's already such an old thing. Perhaps eventually it will pass on like other cliched fads.

Also, there was far more going on with the activist & journalist on whom Omar Nawwaf is modeled than Silva suggests. However, he rightly points out practicing journalists in far too many countries-- in addition to Saudi Arabia--are silenced, arrested, or even executed.

But these are indeed minor points. The New Girl is a truly excellent novel, highly recommended to all thriller, espionage, and suspense readers.

[Anne Bogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second-ever Daniel Silva book and I'm glad I found him. I love a good spy thriller—they're perfect poolside reading—and this one has much to recommend itself: tight pacing, an intriguing setting (in the international art world), characters exchanging F. Scott Fitzgerald lines over dinner.

I particularly appreciated how Silva took his inspiration from all-too-real international events: this time, the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In this book, Silva asks what if?, imagining how events might play out in the real Middle East.

Don't miss the author's note at the end.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silva's Gabriel Allon series remains one of the best as Silva's understanding of Middle Eastern politics shines: hatred between the two Muslim sects, between the hardliners and reformists, and the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. A young girl is kidnapped from a private school in Switzerland, and the ransom demand is that the crown prince of Saud Arabia (Khalid bin Mohammed) abdicate his claim to the throne. As a known reformer, KBM has a legion of enemies, and not knowing whom he can trust, he reaches out to the head of the Office, Gabriel Allon via Sarah Bancroft, now a curator at MoMA in NY, who has appeared in a number of prior novels. Gabriel agrees to help because he thinks KBM is better than the alternatives and because Gabriel lost a child violently too. Things go badly wrong, and Gabriel, his trusted team (Mikhail Abramov, Christopher Keller, Eli Lavon), and his British allies embark on a clever plan to unveil and embarrass the hidden manipulators. Silva blends in fictionalized versions of actual recent events, such as the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in a foreign embassy and the use of plutonium as a means of assassination. Gabriel's painting is a nice touch. 4.5 stars, rounded down, probably unfairly.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am feeling a little blue. I just finished reading The New Girl by Daniel Silva ... the 19th book in the Gabriel Allon series. Another terrific story but now I will have to wait until next year for the next installment. The author consistently delivers fast paced, page turning thrillers, that seem to be right out of today's headlines. Fascinating characters, political intrigue, dark humor.

Saudi Crown prince Khalid bin Mohammed ("KBM") was once celebrated for his reforms but is now reviled for his part in the murder of a dissident journalist, Omar Nawwaf. It would seem apparent that the author was inspired by the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the direction of Saudi leader Mohammad bin Salman (MBS). When Khalid's daughter is kidnapped from a private school in Switzerland he turns to Gabriel Allon. KBM may be flawed but he has pledged to break the bond between the Kingdom and radical Islam and for that reason Gabriel considers him a valuable asset. Besides, the life a twelve year old girl hangs in the balance.

Some familiar, and favorite characters, including Sarah Bancroft; Mikhail Abramov; Christopher Keller; and Eli Lavon make an appearance in the race to save Khalid's daughter. The race takes the reader across Europe including stops in Switzerland, France, Germany and Holland. Of course Gabriel makes stops in London and Washington to keep the allies in the loop (as much as necessary). Iran and Russia of course are the bad guys with their nuclear ambitions and plots to destabilize the West. Again, these story lines appear to be ripped right from the headlines. The ending left me wondering but I guess I will have to wait until next year and the 20th installment for an answer. Can't wait.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the usual ingredients were there for another volume in this amazing series, however, I felt that it lacked something, and I couldn't engage with the characters. It was more like the experience of watching an action movie, rather than being absorbed into the story.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Mini review from the TBR pile: As with all series, you'll enjoy some instalments more than others. But I don't think Silva is capable of writing a bad book & for me, his novels are an annual must-read. He's a master story teller & this was one of the best of recent years.

The assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by order of Saudi King Mohammad bin Salman is central to the plot. His presence is keenly felt as we get Silva's take on the tragic event & a slightly more hopeful account of the political fallout.

The real time politics & thinly veiled versions of actual world figures make this a gripping & timely read. But at the bottom of it all is a poignant & personal story line that reminds us it's the innocent people that end up being collateral damage as presidents, kings & prime ministers play their games.

All the old gang is back as the plot unfolds across multiple countries. The author's extensive knowledge of the Middle East & spycraft is general provides the backdrop for a perfectly paced & absorbing read that not only entertains but shines a light on the state of current events.

[K.J. McGillick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Daniel Silva and can say this is one of his best! Page turner, politically relevant, such a great story.

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The New Girl is the latest Gabriel Allon espionage thriller that I have read where once again, although fictionalized, it seems to be torn from the world headlines. Daniel Silva once again manages to keep one on the edge as we hopscotch around the world. To give an idea of the complexity of this book, I will let the author tell you in his own words:

"In August 2018, I commenced work on a novel about a crusading Arab prince who wanted to modernize his religiously intolerant country and bring sweeping change to the Middle East and the broader Islamic world. I set aside that manuscript two months later, however, when the model for that character, Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, was implicated in the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and columnist for the 'Washington Post.' Elements of 'The New Girl' are quite obviously inspired by events surrounding Khasoggi's death. The rest only occur in the imaginary world inhabited by Gabriel Allon, his associates and his enemies."

Gabriel Allon, while now head of the legendary Israeli intelligence is once again called into the field by some old business involving Russia and the defector and traitor, MI6's Rebecca Manning, the daughter of the legendary traitor at the height of the Cold War, Kim Philby. There is also mystery as to the identity of a twelve-year old girl recently enrolled in an exclusive private school in Switzerland, arriving each day in a motorcade dressed in expensive wools and plaids carrying a leather book bag. And the fictional equivalent of Mohammed bin Salman is Crown Prince Khalid bin Mohammed once celebrated for his social and religious reforms in Saudi Arabia, now implicated in the disappearance and death of a journalist who dared to speak out against the crown prince. Again much of the story screaming from the headlines with added intrigue and mystery as Gabriel Allon gathers his team as they once again confront deception, betrayal and vengeance in this thriller. A side of Gabriel Allon that we haven't seen much of lately, is the artist but in this book, we get a taste of his incredible talent.

"As always, he prepared he own canvas--180 by 120 centimeters, oak stretcher, Italian linen. For his ground he used the formula he first learned in Venice from the master restorer Umberto Conti. His palette was Veronese', with a touch of Titian."

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers of Silva’s Gabriel Allon spy thriller series will recognize many of the characters that populate this 19th offering. Inspired by the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the direction of Saudi leader Mohammad bin Salman (MBS), Silva has his character Saudi Crown prince Khalid bin Mohammed (KBM) responsible for the death of journalist Omar Nawwaf. Silva also has KBM request the help of Israeli intelligence head Allon to recover his daughter from kidnappers (yeah—right; as if that would be likely). True to recent offerings, Silva bounces from one country’s intelligence agency to another as the fast-moving plot moves through Europe and the Mideast. Enjoy!

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
Clear your calendar and dig in. We are once again treated to the adventures of Gabriel Allon and his world of intrigue. This latest installment is another strong story. The daughter of the Saudi Crown Prince is kidnapped and Gabriel is persuaded to help save her and also help keep the Prince from having to relinquish his ascension as the next king of Saudi Arabia. A wide range of colorful characters help keep this "ripped from the headlines" story interesting and fast moving. Another blockbuster. Enjoy.

[Alex Cantone · Rating 4 out of 5]

19th in the Gabriel Allon series, author Daniel Silva brings a fictional slant on recent events surrounding the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, moving his country away from the strict religious dogma of Wahibism to a more secular regime, including allowing women to drive, and the assassination of a prominent Saudi journalist.

When the (fictitious) Crown Prince’s daughter is abducted from a private school in Geneva: held not for ransom but to force the Crown Prince to abdicate, he calls in a reluctant Gabriel Allon, head of the Israeli security service, to help secure her release. With the west prefering the erratic Crown Prince to the alternative, pro-Russia, half-brother of the King, he agrees, hoping to use the connection as leverage in the future. Throw in Russian interference in the ascendency to the crown, a daughter of Kim Philby exposed as a MI6 mole, and a Russian assassin at large in England killing off those critical of Putin and you have the makings of a first class thriller.

As always, there is an art connection: Gabriel as a restorer of old masters, and resurrecting a character from earlier books, American Sarah Bancroft, graduate of the Courtaulds Institute and Harvard, curator of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection of Modern and Impressionist works by the late Nadia al-Bakari, daughter of Saudi investor Zizi al-Bakari. Notably she is former CIA, and ex-fiancé of Russian-born Mikhail Abramov – hatchet man for “the Office”. In an inspired pairing, former Sayeret Matkal commando, Mikhail, bookends with former SAS Christopher Keller across Europe in search of the kidnappers.

And yet, this one seemed like an old mattress, firm and reliable; soft in the middle and lumpy in parts. The soft part: Sarah Bancroft. I admit not to have read the earlier books in the series in which she featured, and came away bemused as why the CIA recruited her, or why they would want her back. Why she is no longer engaged to Mikhail is more straightforward: his loyalty is to Israel (and Gabriel, who Sarah also had the hots for) when her loyalty is to herself.

On the plus side, I learned more in a few simple pages about the relationship between the al-Saud’s and Wahibism and enjoyed the usual surveillance tradecraft, where Sarah’s dismal performance endangers them all. One obvious flaw - if the radiation dose was so lethal, why was the Crown Prince and the flight crew on board the private aircraft unaffected?

Verdict: a satisfying read, but not his best.

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series is addictive. As usual, THE NEW GIRL is loosely based on recent events and moves into what could happen later on.

While Allon is now older than 65 and heads Mossad, he still finds himself in the center of action. In THE NEW GIRL, he gets pulled in by the future king of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid, when Khalid’s twelve-year-old daughter, his only child, is kidnaped in Switzerland. Allon had great expectations for Khalid to modernize Saudi Arabia For example, women gained more rights. But then Khalid began getting rid of his opponents, sometimes by imprisonment, sometimes by murder, and appropriating their money and property. When a Saudi ex-pat journalist and dissident was lured to the Istanbul Saudi consulate and brutally murdered, Allon gave up on the Khalid.

But he found he could not refuse to help him try to locate his daughter and save her life.

Allon forms a team of agents with whom he has previously worked and also has to work with intelligence agencies of other countries. It’s no surprise that they are able to locate her after a lot of work. After that, the story continues to expand. Changes in the Saudi government and society continue, some going forward, some backward. Russia becomes a prime player as it tries to gain influence in the Middle East and assume America’s position as world leader.

Daniel Silva explains how Wahhabism became the dominate religion in a new country, Saudi Arabia, in the 1700s when Mohamed Abdul Wahhab believed that Moslems had lost their traditional beliefs and practices and adopted the ways of other nations. By the second decade in the twenty first century, the descendants of the founders of Saudi Arabia had become very wealthy. They continued to reap millions of dollars based on their relationship and splurged on their own over-the-top desires. Khalid realized that with the declining use of oil, the country would revert to its days as a desert occupied by warring nomads.

The future king knew that this country’s wealth was largely a mirage; the family had squandered a mountain of money on palaces and trinkets; that in 20 years, when the transformation from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy was complete, the oil beneath Saudi Arabia would be as worthless as the sand that covered it. Extremists felt that the US was losing its influence and the future lie in Russia and Eurasia, especially since Russia was sowing discord where ever it could.

Tidbit: While like the Jews, the Palestinians have been scattered, they have never been the target of an organized campaign of physical annihilation like the Shoah. That’s why the Jewish people must have a state of their own since they can not depend on anyone else to protect them.

THE NEW GIRL keeps moving. When one problem is resolved, another pops up. There are a lot of killings, which are not detailed. There are also too many unnecessarily short chapters. References are made to previous books in the series but it is not necessary to have read them first. The book is well written and edited. As always, I’m looking forward to next year’s story.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading Silva's Gabriel Allon series, in order,*** for some time. Despite a number of recommendations, I was hesitant at first, but eventually capitulated because, well, I travel (a lot), and, for example, I've lived or worked or visited (multiple times) seven of the countries featured in this book. So, the travelogue aspects tend to amuse me, because I'm familiar with many of the (larger, capital) cities where the action tends to play out. For many of the same reasons - and because I've found the books to be page turners (that don't overly tax the neurons) - the books are (and the series has been) in my rotating travel (long steel tube & hotel) reading cycle (with a number of other similar and wildly dissimilar serials).

I took my time getting to this point. (The one time I read two back-to-back, I regretted it.) So, I was almost caught up - almost current ... and then, with the global pandemic ... the music stopped. I haven't been homebound, stuck in one place without traveling since, um, ... yeah, it is what it is ... 1975 (which sure feels like a long time ago to me). So I was hesitant ... OK, I waited more than six months (of quarantine) ... to take the plunge ... and, for the first time, I read one of these in the comfort of my home.

The good news is that the pages still turn quickly. And it's familiar (alas, at points, bordering on repetitive), and that's OK. But, nearly 20 books into the the series, it was the first point that, on more than one occasion, I found myself thinking gee, that's just silly or at least in sci-fi and fantasy, it's not supposed to be realistic, but ...

Did that derail me? No. Did I put down the book and turn to something else? Nah. Did I plow right through and stay engaged until the end, curious to see how it turned out? Absolutely. So, what's not to like? Will I read the next one - the only one I haven't yet read? Is that a serious question? Do people really abandon a series after 19 books? If so, I'm probably not one of those people... At a pace of one-per-year, will I keep reading them for the foreseeable future? More likely than not.

And that about sums up the experience for me.

*** Closing riff:: Nope, I've never understood how some people - including some of my friends, people I actually respect - read them out of order. But I digress....

[Jo Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read all the books in this series and I believe this is the first time I’ve given one less than 4 stars. This one was actually rather dull and Gabriel Allon, one of my favorite fictional characters for years, seemed so passive and not at all his usual self. As usual the story deals with some actual current political events including a gruesome murder of a journalist. But this time Silva seems more intent on making a statement about the kind of world we’re living in rather than writing a good spy thriller. I won’t give up on him but I hope the next one brings back the Gabriel I love and his crack team of spies and operatives.

[Jonathan K (Max Outlier) · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this installment of the Allon series, Silva 'borrows' from the Saudi murder of Kashhogi fictionalizing the Crown Prince and journalist names, while maintaining the factual connection between the Saudis, Russia and Iran.

Saudi Crown Prince Khalid bin Mohammad is typical of billionaires, due to his affluent upbringing and disregard for anyone who disagrees with him. When progressive Mideastern journalist Omar Nawaff is murdered, all fingers point in his direction. Soon after, Rheema, his 12 year old daughter is kidnapped from a private school in the Alps, the ransom far from typical.

Khalid had a professional relationship with Sarah Bancroft, curator for the Museum of Modern Art and was aware of her connection with the Director of Israeli intelligence, Gabriel Allon. Using Sarah as the go between, Allon agrees to help the Crown Prince in exchange for a 'shift' away from financing terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas and Iranians.

As typical, Allon assembles his team of colleagues and receives the go ahead from both Israeli and British prime ministers. Exposure of links between the kidnapping, Russians and Khalid's uncle require a 'mission impossible' style update to the scheme. When kidnappers throw a 'wrench' into the works, the team is forced to modify the plan due a demand Khalid abdicates his position for the thrown.

Silva slows the pace at the two thirds mark, then moves it into high gear when the team must move quickly to capture a Russian oligarch that played an important role in the abduction scheme.

As with all Allon stories, the unexpected are mainstays along with momentum building. The story brings to light the extreme wealth of the Russian president and oligarchs and how it impacts political ties. The darkness and deception is unrivaled as is the greed, lies and violence. When it appears plot twists are over, we get a final curve ball on the last page which differentiates this story from the others.

Fans of complex mysteries, spy dramas, politics and deception should add this and the other Allon stories to their list. Highly recommended.

[Ariannha · Rating 4 out of 5]

“—¿Sabes qué dicen de la venganza?
—¿Qué?
—Que si vives para buscarla, están cavando una tumba para dos?”

Libro #19 de la Serie Gabriel Allon… no se hasta donde llegará el autor con esta serie, pero yo le seguiré hasta que decida ponerle fin.
Como ya he comentado antes, a pesar de que los libros forman parte de una serie, cada uno de éstos, se pueden leer por separado. Si bien es cierto que hay personajes que van y vienen, el autor fácilmente lo inserta en la novela brindándonos el suficiente contexto para entender tramas anteriores, que puede que no hayamos leído.

En esta oportunidad, el autor toma como base hechos reales: el asesinato del periodista Jamal Khashoggi ocurrido en 2018 en el consulado saudí de Estambul, para dar vida a esta nueva trama que atrapa e intenta reflejar la realidad de la tensión actual entre Occidente, Oriente Medio y Rusia.
Gabriel Allon, nuestro muy singular espía israelí, es contactado por Jalid Bin Mohamed (príncipe heredero de Arabia Saudí) para que le ayude a encontrar a su hija de 12 años secuestrada; puesto que los secuestradores no le piden dinero, sino que le exigen que abdique y renuncie a su derecho al trono.
Y así, entre la ficción y la realidad, nos encontramos ante el nuevo reto de las agencias de inteligencia, que deben unir esfuerzos para la búsqueda de la niña secuestrada y evitar que se debiliten las relaciones diplomáticas y se acentúen conflictos internacionales.

El libro está dividido en cinco partes: Secuestro, Abdicación, Absolución, Asesinato y Venganza, cada uno compuesto por capítulos super cortos, de maravillosa narrativa (detallada y descriptiva a partes iguales) que lo hacen súper ágil, entretenido y completamente adictivo. Es una historia con muchos giros y algunas sorpresas.

Me ha gustado mucho por diversas razones: lo bien que siempre están definidos los personajes, la forma directa en que desarrolla la trama, el doble matiz que encierra su título (no explicaré más ara no entrar en spoilers), y por la actualidad política y social que impregna la historia, dotándola de credibilidad.

En definitiva, una vez más Daniel Silva, nos brinda un impresionante thriller de espías, donde el engaño, la traición, la venganza, el juego político y los conflictos internacionales, cobran más de un sentido.

100% recomendado.

“Puede que te sorprendas. Y, además, la venganza puede adoptar múltiples formas.”

[Sahitya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was quite skeptical about reading this book because of its storyline and the real life person on whom it is based. But I’m also a huge fan of the series, so I decided to give it a try. I was very glad to read the author’s clarification in the foreword and that surely made me a little excited to read.

While this was a very fast paced read and I finished it in just a few hours, I won’t say this is one of his finer stories. It was quite engaging even if not realistic for almost the first half, but the latter half which features the main operation spearheaded by Gabriel was too unbelievable for even an entertaining spy thriller. I also hated that the “character” whom I don’t want to talk about was almost getting a redemption arc (because reality is much darker and messy). So I was prepared to end the book on a disappointing note but I did not see the last line coming. I don’t think I’ve ever waited for a next book so much before, but I just want to know what the hell happened.

I guess I just don’t have much to say about this book. If you’ve read the previous 18 books of Gabriel’s adventures, then you shouldn’t give this a miss. It doesn’t really work well as a stand-alone for new readers though - you definitely need to know the events that occur in the previous installment The Other Woman to understand this book better. I’m also not really convinced that the use of major horrifying events from around the world worked for the plot of this novel. I know I’ll be continuing the series but I won’t ever be revisiting this one.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always interesting to see how Gabriel gets pulled into the cases he works on. With this one starting out with a little girl you knew that Gabriel would help despite who her father was. I hated that they all didn't see who was behind things at first, mostly because I hoped with the knowledge the outcome could have been better.

Once everyone realized what was going on Gabriel played hard and fast with the truth. I feel like I should be bothered by that, but I wasn't. I thought a few people got what they deserved.

I really hated how this one ended, I wanted to know what happened, were they successful or not and honestly, I don't know if I wanted them to succeed or not.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The cruelty of the desert had influenced the faith.”

Daniel Silva's THE NEW GIRL delivers much of what fans of the Gabriel Allon series have come to expect: a tightly plotted, high-stakes geopolitical thriller with well-drawn characters and intricate storytelling. The novel opens with the kidnapping of a mysterious girl from a Swiss private school, revealing a complex web of international intrigue involving Saudi Arabia, intelligence agencies, and global power struggles. One character in the book remarks, “Because men who tell one lie usually tell others.” This text amply demonstrates that idea.

While engaging and well-written, THE NEW GIRL doesn’t stand out as a series highlight. Silva's knack for weaving timely geopolitical events into his fiction has been clearly evident in this series, but some of his 2019 predictions (this text’s publication) about global affairs feel off when viewed from the perspective of late 2024. For instance, certain political dynamics involving Middle Eastern diplomacy and shifts in power haven't aged as presciently as in previous books. This doesn’t detract entirely from the story but does make it feel slightly less impactful compared to other entries in the series.

For fans of Gabriel Allon, it’s an enjoyable, if not groundbreaking, read. I am starting to feel that the series is coming near to its conclusion. Or it should. But there are 5 other novels after this one! THE NEW GIRL has not given me a reason to walk away, so on to number 20 in the series soon.

[kartik narayanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit

Introduction

The New Girl is 19th book in the Gabriel Allon series, by Daniel Silva.

In case you are new to it, Gabriel Allon (the protagonist) is an Israeli assassin who also happens to be one of the best artists/restorers in the world. During the course of the series, he suffers from heart break, finds new love and matches wits with the 'enemy' of the month. This series is definitely written with the Western audience in mind though Daniel Silva tries to portray at least some of the antagonists as human beings in their own right - be it Palestinians, The Iranians, The Saudis or the rest of the Arab world as well as Russians. If there is one country that is blasted throughout, it is the Swiss.

There is a bit of a formula that these books follow. Somebody usually approaches Allon with a problem, he gets a team together, they encounter setbacks, then more effort is put in, a minor deus ex machine occurs and most of the situation is resolved. The New Girl follows this formula to the T.


Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit

[David Putnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came late to the Daniel Silva books and really loved The Widow and The Other Woman. These two books are the standard I hold all of his other books (future books to be read). I did not like this book to start out. There was too much back story and setting the plot that slowed the forward motion. After Silva got all of that out of the way he settled into his great story telling. I'm a third-close point of view or first person kind of reader, his third distant point of view, at times barely holds me in the story. Too much telling and not enough showing of the scene. Also not enough emotion is shown in the characters.
The story arc was off for me as well. I don't like to give away plot points but the big build up for the kidnap made me believe the kidnap was going to be the main focus of the story. When that part of the ended and the real story arc revealed I did feel a little cheated.
Don't get me wrong I liked this story a great and I will buy the hardcover of his next one as soon as it comes available. I do recommend this book.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.

[Barry who enjoys well-written thrillers, mysteries , & espionage & loathes romance, horror & supernat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review marks the first time that I have rated a book by Daniel Silva as anything but five stars. The New Girl is a very fine book and I truly enjoyed it but it just wasn't, in my not so humble opinion, up to his usual standard, that standard being near perfection.

The New Girl had many of the same characters that have populated Silva's earlier efforts and they were as interesting, deep and enjoyable as on previous occasions. He introduced a couple of new characters including the Saudi Crown Prince who was accused of being behind the murder of a reporter who had the temerity to criticize said prince. These characters were, as is often said, "ripped from the headlines" - hopefully the process of being ripped wasn't too painful for the journalist, screw the prince.

While the plot was very interesting and held my attention throughout, it was stretched a bit too far beyond tenability (or even nineability!) that I felt obligated to rate it at four stars. If you are a Silva fan, I have little doubt that you will find this book most enjoyable. If, on the other hand, you are one of the few wandering in a literary desert who has not read Silva, you might start much earlier in the series.

The End

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite Frederick Forsyth novel—The Negotiator—has a very unpleasant plot element that spoiled the experience for me. That same plot device has been used by Silva here. I still find it unpleasant.

There are other reasons why I was disappointed by The New Girl. Like Tom Clancy with Jack Ryan, Silva has continued to promote his characters beyond believability. He also has developed such a large cast of regulars that there are often too many players on the stage.

I didn’t hate it, but I was disappointed.

[Paula Fialho Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel Silva nunca me desilude 😊

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure, this series (more specifically, art restorer and accomplished Israeli spy Gabriel Allon) has held the No. 1 spot on my Top 10 "heroes" list for quite a few years now. This is his 19th book; and I assure you he's in no danger of losing that lofty perch. The story is intricately woven with enough suspense to make me hold my breath here and there and the writing is, as always, exemplary. Add in the appearance of several familiar characters from previous books and the result is, well, another winner in my book.

Despite the singular title, there are two characters here who are bestowed with that moniker; the first is a young lady who has been enrolled in a fancy private school in Switzerland (you'll have to read the book to learn the identity of the other one). It is this young lady, though, who kicks off the story with an unhappy event: She's been kidnapped. Conventional wisdom says it's by enemies of her father Khalid bin Mohammed, the soon-to-be king of Saudi Arabia. When he takes the throne, it's believed he will lead dramatic reforms that would bring his country and its residents into the 21st Century - not a place many of those residents want to be. Other outsiders are less inclined to believe his motives are genuine - after all, he's thought to be behind the recent murder of a dissident journalist (hmmm, now where have we heard something like that before)?

Gabriel's reputation for fighting terrorists (and killing more than a few) are legendary, and Khalid wants him to find his daughter. To bring Gabriel into the fold, he turns to common acquaintance, art expert (and former CIA agent) Sarah Bancroft, with whom Khalid has a professional relationship. Gabriel isn't exactly a fan, but for the sake of the argument, he's willing to believe Khalid's claim that he'll turn his country away from radical Islam. Only one thing is certain: Both Gabriel and Khalid have a lot to lose should something go wrong (not the least of which is their lives).

And go wrong it does, fairly early on with an unexpected and devastating event that changes the playing field and course of the story now focused on a Middle East power struggle. Along the way, Gabriel enlists help from colleagues old and new to work every angle he can to bring down political enemies old and new. The text is sprinkled with the author's political perspectives (I'm very interested with what's happening in that part of the world so that's fine with me, BTW). But I will carp a bit because Gabriel's beautiful wife Ciara and their young twins don't get enough mention to suit me.

Everything comes to a head at the end with a cliff-hanger that may well be the impetus for the next book. For that, I'm ready already: Bring it on!

[Julie Durnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was the best Allon yet in my opinion! Daniel Silva is a master of this genre and how he keeps writing one a year of this caliber is just amazing. The afterword is a chilling reminder of how this story mirrors certain current headlines; too bad it isn't just all fiction.