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Gabriel Allon #6
A Mensageira
Gabriel Allon, restaurador de arte e espião, está prestes a enfrentar o maior desafio da sua vida. Um alegado simpatizante da Al-Qaeda é morto em Londres, e no seu computador são encontradas fotografias que levam os serviços secretos israelitas a desconfiar de que a organização terrorista prepara um dos mais arrojados atentados de sempre, no coração do Vaticano Allon avisa o seu velho amigo monsenhor Luigi Donati, secretário pessoal do Papa, e parte para Roma, a fim de ajudar na segurança. O que nem ele nem Donati sabem é que o inimigo já se infiltrou no Vaticano.
Nas semanas que se seguem, Allon irá travar um mortífero duelo de astúcia contra um dos homens mais perigosos do mundo que o levará de uma galeria londrina a uma ilha paradisíaca nas Caraíbas, a um isolado vale na Suíça e, por fim, de regresso ao Vaticano. A Allon resta montar uma armadilha e esperar não ser ele a cair nela.
Com a sua intriga intensa e imprevisível, A Mensageira consolida a reputação de Daniel Silva como o melhor autor de thrillers internacionais da sua geração.
Nas semanas que se seguem, Allon irá travar um mortífero duelo de astúcia contra um dos homens mais perigosos do mundo que o levará de uma galeria londrina a uma ilha paradisíaca nas Caraíbas, a um isolado vale na Suíça e, por fim, de regresso ao Vaticano. A Allon resta montar uma armadilha e esperar não ser ele a cair nela.
Com a sua intriga intensa e imprevisível, A Mensageira consolida a reputação de Daniel Silva como o melhor autor de thrillers internacionais da sua geração.
388 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2006
1973 people are currently reading
7329 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Silva
167 books9,588 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 1,090 reviews
November 17, 2018
“Sometimes it is better to give an opponent a small victory than suffer a devastating defeat yourself.”
“The Messenger” is # 6 in Mr. Silva’s Gabriel Allon series, out of 18 (currently) published. Although not as good as #s 4 & 5, it is still a good read and like most books in this series also raises some important issues. Within the first 60 pages Israeli spy (and art restorer) Gabriel Allon is at the Vatican to ward off a terrorist threat, and the novel, kicks into high gear from there.
One of the things that I appreciate about this series is that Mr. Silva usually gives us both sides of an issue. In this text a character (the Pope) goes on an anti-Iraq War bent. Just as the shots at George W. Bush are starting to get me annoyed (I hate when a character keeps beating a dead horse) another character speaks up with the counter point. Both sides! How awesome (and rare) is that?
One thing I greatly appreciated in “The Messenger” is that Silva turns an unflinching eye on Saudi Arabia’s state sponsorship of terrorism, which too often the West seems to turn a blind eye towards. When a character reminds us to “Seek justice, rather than vengeance” the reader really has to stop and think about what constitutes the differences in that in our modern world.
An issue I had with this text is that at times it came across as a little melodramatic, even for a spy thriller. Thus it took me out of the story occasionally. A small quibble I know, but it does detract from the novel and could have been avoided.
The journey continues, I will pick up # 7 soon.
“The Messenger” is # 6 in Mr. Silva’s Gabriel Allon series, out of 18 (currently) published. Although not as good as #s 4 & 5, it is still a good read and like most books in this series also raises some important issues. Within the first 60 pages Israeli spy (and art restorer) Gabriel Allon is at the Vatican to ward off a terrorist threat, and the novel, kicks into high gear from there.
One of the things that I appreciate about this series is that Mr. Silva usually gives us both sides of an issue. In this text a character (the Pope) goes on an anti-Iraq War bent. Just as the shots at George W. Bush are starting to get me annoyed (I hate when a character keeps beating a dead horse) another character speaks up with the counter point. Both sides! How awesome (and rare) is that?
One thing I greatly appreciated in “The Messenger” is that Silva turns an unflinching eye on Saudi Arabia’s state sponsorship of terrorism, which too often the West seems to turn a blind eye towards. When a character reminds us to “Seek justice, rather than vengeance” the reader really has to stop and think about what constitutes the differences in that in our modern world.
An issue I had with this text is that at times it came across as a little melodramatic, even for a spy thriller. Thus it took me out of the story occasionally. A small quibble I know, but it does detract from the novel and could have been avoided.
The journey continues, I will pick up # 7 soon.
January 22, 2016
This is book six of this series by Daniel Silva, and having read and enjoyed the previous five, I have to say that this is the best one yet.
For those of you who haven't read any of these, the main character is Gabriel Allon, master art restorer and Israeli assassin/spy. He has been at this for many years. In fact his first job was going after the Black September terrorists who carried out the Munich killings in 1972.
At the beginning of this book, Al-Qaeda terrorists, using suicide bombers and rocket propelled grenades, attempt to assassinate the Pope and destroy part of the Vatican. Shortly thereafter, the car carrying Gabriel's mentor and friend is blown up by a bomb. Needless to say, this puts Gabriel in a bad mood, and the rest of the book is mainly about him going after the perpetrators.
There is also a lot of suspense in the book, as there is a woman involved (of course) who is helping Gabriel, and for most of the book she is in a very dangerous situation, and I found it really nerve wracking wondering whether she was going to survive or not.
Needless to say, as this is a thriller, and Gabriel is an assassin, there is a fair bit of violence in the book and people die. However, it is handled in an almost matter of fact fashion, and isn't overly graphic.
In general, I thought this was a really great read, set in exotic locales and with almost non-stop action. If you are interested, I would strongly recommend you start with the first book The Kill Artist, and continue reading them in order. Events happen in the early books that are crucial to understanding Gabriel as a person, and he has relationships with people that develop over time. In any event, I cannot recommend these books highly enough.
And you get to learn some interesting facts about where the money comes from to fund Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
For those of you who haven't read any of these, the main character is Gabriel Allon, master art restorer and Israeli assassin/spy. He has been at this for many years. In fact his first job was going after the Black September terrorists who carried out the Munich killings in 1972.
At the beginning of this book, Al-Qaeda terrorists, using suicide bombers and rocket propelled grenades, attempt to assassinate the Pope and destroy part of the Vatican. Shortly thereafter, the car carrying Gabriel's mentor and friend is blown up by a bomb. Needless to say, this puts Gabriel in a bad mood, and the rest of the book is mainly about him going after the perpetrators.
There is also a lot of suspense in the book, as there is a woman involved (of course) who is helping Gabriel, and for most of the book she is in a very dangerous situation, and I found it really nerve wracking wondering whether she was going to survive or not.
Needless to say, as this is a thriller, and Gabriel is an assassin, there is a fair bit of violence in the book and people die. However, it is handled in an almost matter of fact fashion, and isn't overly graphic.
In general, I thought this was a really great read, set in exotic locales and with almost non-stop action. If you are interested, I would strongly recommend you start with the first book The Kill Artist, and continue reading them in order. Events happen in the early books that are crucial to understanding Gabriel as a person, and he has relationships with people that develop over time. In any event, I cannot recommend these books highly enough.
And you get to learn some interesting facts about where the money comes from to fund Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
April 5, 2014
Well, let's start by saying thank you to the members of my group " A Good Thriller".
Two weeks ago I asked them to pick my next read, I picked over twenty
authors many well known that I had not read.
So many recommendations from friends and members of the group.
When I started the book, I no it's a little too political for me, I like a good action thrillers, but is stared to build up into a really suspenseful thriller.
The pace built all the way though, with it become action packed,
gripping by the third of the book.
I began to like the main character Gabriel Allon and his team.
A different style of thriller from Lee Childs, David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, but more thinking in the plot of the story.
Now I do want to read more of this series and this author.
Sadly means I have to add more books to my collapsing book shelves.
Two weeks ago I asked them to pick my next read, I picked over twenty
authors many well known that I had not read.
So many recommendations from friends and members of the group.
When I started the book, I no it's a little too political for me, I like a good action thrillers, but is stared to build up into a really suspenseful thriller.
The pace built all the way though, with it become action packed,
gripping by the third of the book.
I began to like the main character Gabriel Allon and his team.
A different style of thriller from Lee Childs, David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, but more thinking in the plot of the story.
Now I do want to read more of this series and this author.
Sadly means I have to add more books to my collapsing book shelves.
July 25, 2012
Didn't read much at all, actually. Maybe if I'd tried the first book in the series it would have worked better? But this was for a book club and I just dove in.
The Cold War they're-out-to-kill-us-all mentality of the bad guys (all Muslim, of course) and good guys didn't do it for me. Maybe this makes me no different than the appeasement policy proponents during WWII and I'm horribly, horribly naive. But I really didn't care for all the scare-mongering about Islam. I'm sure that Muslim terrorists make for great bad guys. But the writing felt stilted, the hero seemed like he had a stick up his ass, and I didn't buy into the urgency. So black and white.
Everyone but one character with actual lines was ridiculously good looking, from the Al-Quaeda recruiter to our hero to the priest that he works with. Everyone was tall and slim, with either a cleft in the chin (seriously) or shocking emerald eyes. The Jewish prime minister-ish guy, on the other hand, was a caricature, even rudely and mercantile-ly (yes, it's a word now) asking our hero exactly how much money he was making for restoring a painting.
Our hero had hair salted with grey at the temples- prematurely? However, he was involved in the hunting down of the assassins of the Jewish athletes in 1974 so he has to be at least 50 in this 2006 book, right? Or is the book set back in time? Why can't this 50 year old hero keep his girlfriend? The author seems to have a real thing for Italian women.
I like novels like Le Carre's, that get into the ambiguity and moral compromises that go along with spying. There's betrayal of trust, there's boredom, there's doubt. Except this author doesn't do any of those interesting things. I never got into the hero's head at all. Everything was us-vs-them, and no shades of gray. That might make for a good popcorn read if I was in the right mood, and if the racism, bigotry and utter lack of attention to women in the first 30 pages of the book hadn't made it too unpleasant of a reading experience for even that much.
The Cold War they're-out-to-kill-us-all mentality of the bad guys (all Muslim, of course) and good guys didn't do it for me. Maybe this makes me no different than the appeasement policy proponents during WWII and I'm horribly, horribly naive. But I really didn't care for all the scare-mongering about Islam. I'm sure that Muslim terrorists make for great bad guys. But the writing felt stilted, the hero seemed like he had a stick up his ass, and I didn't buy into the urgency. So black and white.
Everyone but one character with actual lines was ridiculously good looking, from the Al-Quaeda recruiter to our hero to the priest that he works with. Everyone was tall and slim, with either a cleft in the chin (seriously) or shocking emerald eyes. The Jewish prime minister-ish guy, on the other hand, was a caricature, even rudely and mercantile-ly (yes, it's a word now) asking our hero exactly how much money he was making for restoring a painting.
Our hero had hair salted with grey at the temples- prematurely? However, he was involved in the hunting down of the assassins of the Jewish athletes in 1974 so he has to be at least 50 in this 2006 book, right? Or is the book set back in time? Why can't this 50 year old hero keep his girlfriend? The author seems to have a real thing for Italian women.
I like novels like Le Carre's, that get into the ambiguity and moral compromises that go along with spying. There's betrayal of trust, there's boredom, there's doubt. Except this author doesn't do any of those interesting things. I never got into the hero's head at all. Everything was us-vs-them, and no shades of gray. That might make for a good popcorn read if I was in the right mood, and if the racism, bigotry and utter lack of attention to women in the first 30 pages of the book hadn't made it too unpleasant of a reading experience for even that much.
February 27, 2018
More of the same, and that's OK (if not more than OK). I'm slowly making my way through the series ... I started at the beginning, and now I'm about a third of the way through. At the rate I'm going (returning every now and then), it'll be years until I catch up to the author.
While my sense is that Silva is hitting (or has settled into) his stride with his protagonist, Gabriel Allon, I read this quickly because it was fun, the travelogue aspects continue to amuse me, and, most importantly, because I was intensely curious to see how it all played out.
To the extent this installment wasn't perfect, that's probably because there were more than a fair number of moments where I felt like I was stuck in the middle of a serial - reminders of what's happened before, flashbacks and re-introductions to familiar characters. On a more positive note, the art-related aspects continue to intrigue (no, we're not talking Tracy Chevalier here, but it's still interesting), and Silva's research - ladled out through the platform of "historical fiction" - is often informative enough to make you want to read more (e.g., non-fiction) on the related topics.
I know of at least one Silva consumer who doesn't read these in order. Frankly, I don't get it, but to each his or her own (and I fully acknowledge that I have been in any number of airport and mall bookstores - on various continents - where I've been disappointed they don't have the next installment on the shelf when I'm ready for it).
Looking back, I was more intrigued by the set-up, the plan, and the preparation. Things may have bogged down in the middle, but that's OK, all things considered. Good clean (albeit dark and violent and disturbing) fun.
While my sense is that Silva is hitting (or has settled into) his stride with his protagonist, Gabriel Allon, I read this quickly because it was fun, the travelogue aspects continue to amuse me, and, most importantly, because I was intensely curious to see how it all played out.
To the extent this installment wasn't perfect, that's probably because there were more than a fair number of moments where I felt like I was stuck in the middle of a serial - reminders of what's happened before, flashbacks and re-introductions to familiar characters. On a more positive note, the art-related aspects continue to intrigue (no, we're not talking Tracy Chevalier here, but it's still interesting), and Silva's research - ladled out through the platform of "historical fiction" - is often informative enough to make you want to read more (e.g., non-fiction) on the related topics.
I know of at least one Silva consumer who doesn't read these in order. Frankly, I don't get it, but to each his or her own (and I fully acknowledge that I have been in any number of airport and mall bookstores - on various continents - where I've been disappointed they don't have the next installment on the shelf when I'm ready for it).
Looking back, I was more intrigued by the set-up, the plan, and the preparation. Things may have bogged down in the middle, but that's OK, all things considered. Good clean (albeit dark and violent and disturbing) fun.
February 22, 2014
Gabriel Allon is, in my opinion, the most incredible secret agent since James Bond. He does it mostly without all the gimmicks that 007 has at his disposal, Allon and his colleagues at Israel's spy agency and the C.I.A. are faced with attacks on the Vatican and the Pope in THE MESSENGER by Daniel Silva (ISBN 978-0451221728, paperback, $9.99).
Allon, an art restorer of great repute (his cover occupation) and super spy, is called out of semi-retirement as an agent when a laptop computer belonging to a deceased al-Queda recruiter indicates a forthcoming attack on the Vatican and the Pope. Allon arrives in Rome shortly before the attack and warns the Pope and the Vatican security service about the attack. He is too late to save St. Peter's from damage. But does he save the Pope?
In this international thriller, a previously unknown Vincent Van Gogh painting is used for bait (Allon's art background helps) in a proposed scam. A young, talented and beautiful art curator at a Washington, D.C. museum is recruited to assist in this scam to draw out a couple of well-heeled Saudi financial supporters and assassins with strong ties to al-Queda. Travel to Israel, England, Switzerland, Italy, the Caribbean and the U.S. with the Team trying to thwart these schemes.
Daniel Silva may be the best current writer of spy thrillers. I have read several of Silva's books and enjoyed them all. You don't have to read the stories in order but it sure helps. I have bounced around in the sequence of stories as I try to catch up and it can be confusing. BUT DO READ THEM IF THIS IS YOUR GENRE.
GO! BUY! READ!
Allon, an art restorer of great repute (his cover occupation) and super spy, is called out of semi-retirement as an agent when a laptop computer belonging to a deceased al-Queda recruiter indicates a forthcoming attack on the Vatican and the Pope. Allon arrives in Rome shortly before the attack and warns the Pope and the Vatican security service about the attack. He is too late to save St. Peter's from damage. But does he save the Pope?
In this international thriller, a previously unknown Vincent Van Gogh painting is used for bait (Allon's art background helps) in a proposed scam. A young, talented and beautiful art curator at a Washington, D.C. museum is recruited to assist in this scam to draw out a couple of well-heeled Saudi financial supporters and assassins with strong ties to al-Queda. Travel to Israel, England, Switzerland, Italy, the Caribbean and the U.S. with the Team trying to thwart these schemes.
Daniel Silva may be the best current writer of spy thrillers. I have read several of Silva's books and enjoyed them all. You don't have to read the stories in order but it sure helps. I have bounced around in the sequence of stories as I try to catch up and it can be confusing. BUT DO READ THEM IF THIS IS YOUR GENRE.
GO! BUY! READ!
October 1, 2014
I own The Gabriel Allon series for two reasons 1) they are exciting, intricate, well written and sometime heart stopping action regarding the best spy and assasin Israel has (who also happens to be a masterful artist that has forgone painting to restoring great Master's originals) and 2) Daniel Silva EDUCATES me on what is actually going on in the middle east. In the beginning of the series, not so much on the political arena but it starts with the attack on the Israeli athletes in 1972, but as his books have progressed, so has his political acumen. I watched an interivew about 6 months ago on PBS and his research is impeccable, he has a massive understanding of what's happening, whether or not the Catholic Church and the United States will back Israel when it really counts and I think that time is coming soon.
I'll repeat this same review for all the Gabriel Allon series with the slight emphasis on how as the series progressses, the story lines become more real to what is really happening in the middle east. So if you've read this, you've got my perspective. Daniel Silva is easily my favorite author (competing with Ken Follett) but for an amazing series, do your self a favor and start with book 1 and omgosh, just ENJOY.
I'd read his grocery list if it were available, that's how much I admire this man - educate while entertaining. The sign of a real teacher.
I'll repeat this same review for all the Gabriel Allon series with the slight emphasis on how as the series progressses, the story lines become more real to what is really happening in the middle east. So if you've read this, you've got my perspective. Daniel Silva is easily my favorite author (competing with Ken Follett) but for an amazing series, do your self a favor and start with book 1 and omgosh, just ENJOY.
I'd read his grocery list if it were available, that's how much I admire this man - educate while entertaining. The sign of a real teacher.
January 28, 2015
This is the 6th book in the series and I enjoy each one more than the previous book. Looking forward to reading more about Gabriel Allon.
February 6, 2016
Originally posted on Gone With The Books
When I started this thriller, I didn´t know that it was part of a series. And when I realized it, I was right in the middle of a tough but well written plot about agent Gabriel Allon, who has to do another dangerous job. The story starts right of with a deadly situation and the more I read, the more it felt kind of scary. Because almost everything that happened in this thriller is today – about ten years later – sad reality.
The setting goes from London and Tel Aviv to Rome, Paris, the Caribbean, Switzerland and back to Rome and a few other places. No question, Daniel Silva´s writing style is accurate and good to read. Fine, there are a few sections where the story is filled with details about the scenery or what a figure was doing and I had my little problems with that, but mostly I enjoyed reading it.
Told by an invisible narrator, the reader gets from the beginning a very complex and intense story told, where death, secrets and money rules. Daniel Silva has a clear writing style. No word is misplaced and he gives the reader a lot of information on one page and on the next he brings a scene in telegraphic style. By doing so he builds up a terrific tension which and keeps that tension right till the end. The pope is in danger and Gabriel is ordered to keep him save. But he can´t prevent the explosion and it becomes very clear to him, that the plan failed because of him and that he needs to eliminate the killer. But how to do that when that killer is secured by one of the richest man on the planet? And the US is the country that benefits the most from that wealth?
Gabriel Allon is a character who went through a lot. He is one of the best conservators in the world – only that the world doesn´t know that. He´s got many names, and only a few know that he is still alive and where he lives. He is one of the good, but for the world he is evil. And so it doesn´t wonder that he does everything to convince the world who the real evil is. But where money and power rule, it isn´t easy to pull the right strings to achieve the goal.
The Messenger is one powerful thriller, where you´ll find some good entertainment. Kind of in a James Bond way only that not England is behind the agent but Israel. For me this was the first Daniel Silva thriller I´ve ever read. And I recommend it with a good conscious though I would advise you to start reading this series with book one.
September 30, 2011
Spy novels are meant to explore the moral gray areas that exist when you have state actors performing extralegal deeds which may individually be unethical or inhumane yet, when done in the interest of the safety of one’s country, becomes pseudo-sanctified. The great heroes of these stories are usually flawed because the reader is never completely sure that their actions are just. To me, this crisis of conscience is what makes spy novels fun to read.
Apparently, Daniel Silva thinks differently. Gone are the complexities of motive and the psychological toll of good people behaving brutally; this is post 9/11, man! Terrorists are terrorists because they’re evil! No person whose responsibility it is to kill bad guys would ever have doubts because the bad guys are terrorists. And terrorists, as previously established, are evil! Oh, and I don’t even need to tell you who the terrorists are in this book: every single Arab or Muslim character mentioned. And who are the good guys? Every single American, Israeli, and Catholic character. Whew! That’s a relief because I’d hate to be surprised or conflicted over a character’s intentions…in a spy novel.
It’s this remarkably simplistic worldview that Silva injects into this novel that I’m sure is great for selling books at airports, but if you have any interest in complicated characters or even a basic understanding of the politics and history of the Middle East, it is infuriating. I don’t want to turn this into a political thing, but maybe we can all agree that Israel has not always acted ethically while Palestinians are not always ruthless bastards; the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is way more complicated than that. However, Silva practically portrays Israelis as innocently petting puppies on their front stoops minding their own business when all of the sudden rabid Palestinians descend and tear them to pieces. Because they hate their freedom, right? So in that light, our Israeli hero is always angelic in his intentions and never doubts his mission while the terrorist bad guys are simply spiteful pricks who do their best to kill innocent civilians. Easy-peasy.
So, since there is no depth, this is more of an adventure than a spy novel. I’m still giving it 2 stars because, if read as an action-packed story in the vein of most Jason Statham movies, then it’s actually a well-paced, fun book. But do not go into this book hoping for any intricacies as I did.
One last comment: I hate it when writers can’t stick with the simplest consistency of character description: “Chiara, fastidious in all other things, always left her breakfast dishes in the sink” then, one sentence later “he tossed his bag onto the unmade bed” in her apartment. Grr. Silva might as well just change her hair color mid scene.
Apparently, Daniel Silva thinks differently. Gone are the complexities of motive and the psychological toll of good people behaving brutally; this is post 9/11, man! Terrorists are terrorists because they’re evil! No person whose responsibility it is to kill bad guys would ever have doubts because the bad guys are terrorists. And terrorists, as previously established, are evil! Oh, and I don’t even need to tell you who the terrorists are in this book: every single Arab or Muslim character mentioned. And who are the good guys? Every single American, Israeli, and Catholic character. Whew! That’s a relief because I’d hate to be surprised or conflicted over a character’s intentions…in a spy novel.
It’s this remarkably simplistic worldview that Silva injects into this novel that I’m sure is great for selling books at airports, but if you have any interest in complicated characters or even a basic understanding of the politics and history of the Middle East, it is infuriating. I don’t want to turn this into a political thing, but maybe we can all agree that Israel has not always acted ethically while Palestinians are not always ruthless bastards; the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is way more complicated than that. However, Silva practically portrays Israelis as innocently petting puppies on their front stoops minding their own business when all of the sudden rabid Palestinians descend and tear them to pieces. Because they hate their freedom, right? So in that light, our Israeli hero is always angelic in his intentions and never doubts his mission while the terrorist bad guys are simply spiteful pricks who do their best to kill innocent civilians. Easy-peasy.
So, since there is no depth, this is more of an adventure than a spy novel. I’m still giving it 2 stars because, if read as an action-packed story in the vein of most Jason Statham movies, then it’s actually a well-paced, fun book. But do not go into this book hoping for any intricacies as I did.
One last comment: I hate it when writers can’t stick with the simplest consistency of character description: “Chiara, fastidious in all other things, always left her breakfast dishes in the sink” then, one sentence later “he tossed his bag onto the unmade bed” in her apartment. Grr. Silva might as well just change her hair color mid scene.
April 3, 2020
Play it again Sam....
June 13, 2016
Even with the abrupt ending, this is an outstanding story. Especially intriguing is the fact the U.S. consorts with the Saudi regime to its detriment for the benefit of oil. 10 of 10 stars
Read
July 14, 2012The Messenger by Daniel Silva is the sixth novel in the Gabriel Allon series. Allon is an Israeli agent who is more interested in restoring works of art than the world of espionage.
When an al Qaeda operative is killed inLondon, some photographs are found on his computer and the Israeli intelligence suspects that the group is planning a big attack aimed directly at theVatican.
Israeli agent Gabriel Allon finds himself in a battle of wits against dangerous men which takes him on a hunt across Europe.
The Messenger by Daniel Silva is more of a thriller than the previous five books. The book is quite violent and Allon’s ruthlessness comes out in several highly charged scenes.
While I didn’t think The Messenger was the best in the series, it did fill in some missing gaps in the relationships between the characters. As in many book series this one also is a standalone, but it’s always nice to read them in order.
I was glad to read about the return of Chiara, Allon’s love interest which we lost in the previous book. I also loved the way Silva wrote the Pope (“the” Pope, not some mobster or terrorist with a nickname), he was approachable and seemed like a good leader.
Silva incorporated current events into this book (and several others), such as the tensions between Christianity and Islam and the concerns of the Pope who is trying to build relationships, yet stands to lose his life because of them.
As much as I love current events in books, what I dislike is current events like plot devices which never actually happened. Mixing up current events with the destruction of St. Peter’s basilica simply didn’t ring true for me.
Over the past two years, I have been introduced to Daniel Silva and have read most of his books. If you follow my blog you know that I am a fan and think that Silva is one of the best espionage authors working today. However, in this book his writing seemed to lack a little – not much mind you, but I could tell the difference from previous books.
That being said, this book is certainly is still highly recommended. Once Allon enters the page, the strengths of Silva in plotting and writing come to full power and fruition. The story becomes a gripping page turner and I could not put it down.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
When an al Qaeda operative is killed inLondon, some photographs are found on his computer and the Israeli intelligence suspects that the group is planning a big attack aimed directly at theVatican.
Israeli agent Gabriel Allon finds himself in a battle of wits against dangerous men which takes him on a hunt across Europe.
The Messenger by Daniel Silva is more of a thriller than the previous five books. The book is quite violent and Allon’s ruthlessness comes out in several highly charged scenes.
While I didn’t think The Messenger was the best in the series, it did fill in some missing gaps in the relationships between the characters. As in many book series this one also is a standalone, but it’s always nice to read them in order.
I was glad to read about the return of Chiara, Allon’s love interest which we lost in the previous book. I also loved the way Silva wrote the Pope (“the” Pope, not some mobster or terrorist with a nickname), he was approachable and seemed like a good leader.
Silva incorporated current events into this book (and several others), such as the tensions between Christianity and Islam and the concerns of the Pope who is trying to build relationships, yet stands to lose his life because of them.
As much as I love current events in books, what I dislike is current events like plot devices which never actually happened. Mixing up current events with the destruction of St. Peter’s basilica simply didn’t ring true for me.
Over the past two years, I have been introduced to Daniel Silva and have read most of his books. If you follow my blog you know that I am a fan and think that Silva is one of the best espionage authors working today. However, in this book his writing seemed to lack a little – not much mind you, but I could tell the difference from previous books.
That being said, this book is certainly is still highly recommended. Once Allon enters the page, the strengths of Silva in plotting and writing come to full power and fruition. The story becomes a gripping page turner and I could not put it down.
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September 3, 2017
4,5*
Foi prazeroso ler mais um volume desta série Allon, que venham mais!
February 19, 2009
Some reviewers compare Daniel Silva with John LeCarre. That is pure nonsense. In my mind only two currently producing authors can write a spy novel that is more than an adventure story: LeCarre and Alan Furst.
That said, "The Messenger" is a very good adventure tale. The story is well plotted, the characters familiar, the pace satisfying, the suspense binding, and the ending blindingly fast and exciting. I had a hard time putting the book down with about 100 pages to go.
On the down side, there is very little gray in the story. It's all black and white. The leading character, Gabriel Allon's story is wearing thin after seven re-tellings. Some of the other characters are cardboard, though a few, like Julian Isherwood and Monsignor Donati, are interesting.
I recommend the book, even if you haven't read any of the preceding novels in the Gabriel Allon series. In spite of my carping, I will read the next in the series, "The Secret Servant" but I'll wait for the mass market paperback edition.
That said, "The Messenger" is a very good adventure tale. The story is well plotted, the characters familiar, the pace satisfying, the suspense binding, and the ending blindingly fast and exciting. I had a hard time putting the book down with about 100 pages to go.
On the down side, there is very little gray in the story. It's all black and white. The leading character, Gabriel Allon's story is wearing thin after seven re-tellings. Some of the other characters are cardboard, though a few, like Julian Isherwood and Monsignor Donati, are interesting.
I recommend the book, even if you haven't read any of the preceding novels in the Gabriel Allon series. In spite of my carping, I will read the next in the series, "The Secret Servant" but I'll wait for the mass market paperback edition.
September 22, 2016
I especially liked this book: besides all the thrilling adventure and cunning ability of Gabriel and his team, there are in this book clear experiences of loyalty, faith and trust that made me like it better that the ones simply centered on "plot".
Loved it and I am continuing reading this saga!
maria Carmo,
Lisbon 22 September 2016.
Loved it and I am continuing reading this saga!
maria Carmo,
Lisbon 22 September 2016.
October 19, 2018
3.5ish stars. Not as explosive as others but exciting all the same.
May 25, 2018
I seem to have summer fever. Instead of reading nonfiction with serious content, I have wandered back to lighter fare. Since I am of the firm conviction that even fiction that entertains is not necessarily cheerful and may even encompass some social commentary, my idea of a frivolous summer book may not be the same as yours. I often click on lists of summer reading suggestions that other people love to post online and their choices almost never conform with mine.
I had previously read two books by Daniel Silva in the Gabriel Allon series. I decided to try to finish up that series this summer. What I discovered is that there are 17 books in this series so far. Silva has written one a year since 2000, only missing 2001 and 2012. It was my idea to read them in order but I am finding that that is difficult if I want to use the library, so out-of-order it is. I will include a list of all 17 books at the end of this post, however. The Messenger was first on my summer agenda. A few words about Gabriel Allon. Mr. Allon may be a stone killer when necessary but he never kills without good reason. He is a good guy, a rescuer, a green-eyed weapon trained by the Israeli Secret Service at King Saul Boulevard and he is at the peak of his talents. He might have been a world class painter if he had not been recruited by his mentor Shamron. Instead he is a first class restorer of famous paintings when he is not following up on intel about some criminal who intends to wreak havoc on whatever part of the world that the miscreant perceives as an enemy.
The villain in The Messenger is a terrorist behind the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and a man who has managed to stay hidden in plain sight by changing his appearance (which has rarely been glimpsed and almost never photographed) and by being under the protection of the very rich Zizi al-Bakari, who funds terrorists but has never been caught at it. Gabriel hates terrorists and, even when he promises his wife he will not get involved he cannot help himself. Gabriel has a whole team of operatives who we also get to know, although not in any great detail. In this particular book we meet Sarah, an American girl who lost her fiancé on 9/11. Sarah has a degree in art and she is no trained operative but she agrees to take part in this plan to catch Zizi and the terrorist he hides. Gabriel's team is not on board with using Sarah in this dangerous op.
Gabriel’s plans are often quite audacious because the people he is after are so good at evading capture. His plans often center around what he knows best, famous works of art. And Gabriel’s plans almost never go smoothly. They go awry in often spectacular fashion and people get hurt and they die. Gabriel takes a beating in every one of these adventures in keeping the world safe from really bad guys that I have read so far. Sometimes he is not even completely recovered from the last op before it is time for a new one, but he is no bruiser. He is a thin guy approaching middle age who strikes people he meets as very sincere and serious, and who relies on guns more often than his fists. He’s likable but it’s hard to pin down why. When each plan goes off the rails and Gabriel is roughed-up or nearly killed once again I get angry at him for being unable to plan and execute a perfect op. However it is good to see someone who is human in scale beat some of the super bad actors that Gabriel pursues and he always wins in the end, although he never gets much credit. Governments are happy with his results but not with the chaos and mayhem that precedes the rough justice. Gabriel is not a rule follower and that is why he is always in trouble.
2000 The Kill Artist
2002 The English Assassin
2003 The Confessor
2004 A Death in Venice
2005 Prince of Fire
2006 The Messenger
2007 The Secret Servant
2008 Moscow Rules
2009 The Defector
2010 The Rembrandt Affair
2011 The Fallen Angel
2013. The English Girl
2014 The Heist
2015 The English Spy
2016 The Black Widow
2017 House of Spies
2018 The Other Woman
I had previously read two books by Daniel Silva in the Gabriel Allon series. I decided to try to finish up that series this summer. What I discovered is that there are 17 books in this series so far. Silva has written one a year since 2000, only missing 2001 and 2012. It was my idea to read them in order but I am finding that that is difficult if I want to use the library, so out-of-order it is. I will include a list of all 17 books at the end of this post, however. The Messenger was first on my summer agenda. A few words about Gabriel Allon. Mr. Allon may be a stone killer when necessary but he never kills without good reason. He is a good guy, a rescuer, a green-eyed weapon trained by the Israeli Secret Service at King Saul Boulevard and he is at the peak of his talents. He might have been a world class painter if he had not been recruited by his mentor Shamron. Instead he is a first class restorer of famous paintings when he is not following up on intel about some criminal who intends to wreak havoc on whatever part of the world that the miscreant perceives as an enemy.
The villain in The Messenger is a terrorist behind the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and a man who has managed to stay hidden in plain sight by changing his appearance (which has rarely been glimpsed and almost never photographed) and by being under the protection of the very rich Zizi al-Bakari, who funds terrorists but has never been caught at it. Gabriel hates terrorists and, even when he promises his wife he will not get involved he cannot help himself. Gabriel has a whole team of operatives who we also get to know, although not in any great detail. In this particular book we meet Sarah, an American girl who lost her fiancé on 9/11. Sarah has a degree in art and she is no trained operative but she agrees to take part in this plan to catch Zizi and the terrorist he hides. Gabriel's team is not on board with using Sarah in this dangerous op.
Gabriel’s plans are often quite audacious because the people he is after are so good at evading capture. His plans often center around what he knows best, famous works of art. And Gabriel’s plans almost never go smoothly. They go awry in often spectacular fashion and people get hurt and they die. Gabriel takes a beating in every one of these adventures in keeping the world safe from really bad guys that I have read so far. Sometimes he is not even completely recovered from the last op before it is time for a new one, but he is no bruiser. He is a thin guy approaching middle age who strikes people he meets as very sincere and serious, and who relies on guns more often than his fists. He’s likable but it’s hard to pin down why. When each plan goes off the rails and Gabriel is roughed-up or nearly killed once again I get angry at him for being unable to plan and execute a perfect op. However it is good to see someone who is human in scale beat some of the super bad actors that Gabriel pursues and he always wins in the end, although he never gets much credit. Governments are happy with his results but not with the chaos and mayhem that precedes the rough justice. Gabriel is not a rule follower and that is why he is always in trouble.
2000 The Kill Artist
2002 The English Assassin
2003 The Confessor
2004 A Death in Venice
2005 Prince of Fire
2006 The Messenger
2007 The Secret Servant
2008 Moscow Rules
2009 The Defector
2010 The Rembrandt Affair
2011 The Fallen Angel
2013. The English Girl
2014 The Heist
2015 The English Spy
2016 The Black Widow
2017 House of Spies
2018 The Other Woman
December 24, 2022
One of the least bad so far in the series but I don’t think it’s enough to me want to read another. I’ve given Gabriel Allon a fair crack of the whip and he’s proven himself incompetent over and again. This one goes completely Little Drummer Girl as Allon brilliantly inserts a beautiful art dealer into a terrorist organization. Then he blows the whole operation on a Caribbean island by having too small a team be easily recognizable by far better prepared and more ruthless terrorists. Again. Did I mention that he also fails to stop an assassination attempt on the Pope AND the US President all in the space of 400 pages while getting credit for the sheer fluke of each target surviving? He is laughably bad at his job constantly running one step behind his enemies.
Of course the end of the book wraps up all loose ends with Allon killing all the bad guys with absolute ease rendering the previous pages utterly redundant. Hopeless.
Of course the end of the book wraps up all loose ends with Allon killing all the bad guys with absolute ease rendering the previous pages utterly redundant. Hopeless.
June 25, 2018
The plot for this fast paced thriller takes the reader from an attempted assassination of the pope by Al-Qaeda terrorists to Washington, London, Paris, and Jerusalem, the last being the home of Israeli agent Gabriel Allon. Recognizing the global threat of such terrorism, the American president enlists the help of Israel to achieve a just revenge.
Allon, knowing with almost total certainty who the wealthy power brokers are, devises an intricate plan to lure the the wealthy masterminds from hiding. The plan involves marketing a Van Gogh painting that was thought to have been destroyed and coupling this painting with an attractive American expert named Sarah Bancroft. Sarah has an ulterior motive: revenge against the architects of 9/11 who are responsible for the death of her sweetheart.
I’ve read a number of books by Daniel Silva and this is his best so far. His characters are interesting and well-defined and the plot moves along quickly and smoothly. He is also adept at describing the details of various geographic locations throughout the world, something the well-traveled reader will greatly appreciate. Silva was raised Catholic but converted to Judaism when he married so he is well qualified to write about activities at the Vatican as well as Allon’s headquarters on Tel Aviv’s King Saul Boulevard.
It was an enjoyable and satisfying read. I have several more books by Silva on my “to read” list.
Allon, knowing with almost total certainty who the wealthy power brokers are, devises an intricate plan to lure the the wealthy masterminds from hiding. The plan involves marketing a Van Gogh painting that was thought to have been destroyed and coupling this painting with an attractive American expert named Sarah Bancroft. Sarah has an ulterior motive: revenge against the architects of 9/11 who are responsible for the death of her sweetheart.
I’ve read a number of books by Daniel Silva and this is his best so far. His characters are interesting and well-defined and the plot moves along quickly and smoothly. He is also adept at describing the details of various geographic locations throughout the world, something the well-traveled reader will greatly appreciate. Silva was raised Catholic but converted to Judaism when he married so he is well qualified to write about activities at the Vatican as well as Allon’s headquarters on Tel Aviv’s King Saul Boulevard.
It was an enjoyable and satisfying read. I have several more books by Silva on my “to read” list.
February 16, 2018
I'd read The Black Widow before this book, but it actually follows the Messenger. That wasn't a problem because the story stands well on its own and some of the names are familiar adding more to the story.
Gabriel Allon is supposed to be the Israeli intelligence officer who assassinated the terrorists known as Black September for their killing of Jewish Olympians during the Munich Olympics. The character is also a world renown art restorer.
The story is a good old fashioned spy thriller where the good guys chase the bad guys through various exotic locations around the world.
I'm now a Daniel Silva convert.
Gabriel Allon is supposed to be the Israeli intelligence officer who assassinated the terrorists known as Black September for their killing of Jewish Olympians during the Munich Olympics. The character is also a world renown art restorer.
The story is a good old fashioned spy thriller where the good guys chase the bad guys through various exotic locations around the world.
I'm now a Daniel Silva convert.
Read
July 16, 2021The Vatican is attacked, and the Israeli secret service develops a very complex plan to track down the terrorist mastermind. Training a young American female to cozy up with the financier of horrible plots to change power in the world took up a good chunk of this book, and I bought into it very easily. It was a great summer read, but unfortunately there are probably horrible people in the world who want to rewrite history for their own stupid desires. Oh - and the Vatican is scheduled to be attacked AGAIN, but this time the American President is visiting the Pope! What a great book.
March 13, 2019
Having read the first five books in the series, I can say this is the best one yet.
After the suicide bombing in the Vatican city which kills more than 700 people and attempts on Ari Sharon life, Allon along with CIA carry out a special operation to infiltrate vast netwrok of Jihad Incorporate, a terrorist financier linked to both bombing and attack on Shamron life.
Enjoyed it immensely.
After the suicide bombing in the Vatican city which kills more than 700 people and attempts on Ari Sharon life, Allon along with CIA carry out a special operation to infiltrate vast netwrok of Jihad Incorporate, a terrorist financier linked to both bombing and attack on Shamron life.
Enjoyed it immensely.
July 26, 2024
Another great Gabriel Allon books, where see how Sarah comes into the series
June 17, 2021
Denna bok tar bort stödhjulen, och går mot det mer brutala och kanske mindre verklighetstrogna. Jag kommer fortfarande att läsa vidare, och det är på många sätt skönt att läsa en bokserie som inte ser döden som någonting att moralisera kring, utan som ett verktyg bland andra. Samtidigt är vissa scener bortom förvånande. Författarens besvikelse över vad han ser som europeisk naivitet är synlig, liksom de konsekvenser som han oroar sig för.
January 30, 2021
รอบนี้เกเบรียลได้รับหน้าที่ให้วางแผนเข้าไปจัดการกับกลุ่มผู้มีเงิน และอำนาจ ที่เป็นผู้สนับสนุนเงินทุนให้แก่ผู้ก่อการร้าย
ซึ่งเกเบรียลได้ใช้รูปภาพของแวนโก๊ะ และผู้หญิงชื่อซาราห์เป็นแผนแทรกซึมเข้าไป
สำหรับเรา พาร์ทที่อยู่บนเรือ ที่ซาราห์แฝงตัวเข้าไปในกลุ่มผู้สนับสนุนเงินทุนให้แก่ผู้ก่อการร้ายโดยมีทีมเกเบรียลคอยเฝ้าแฝงอยู่รอบๆตัวซาราห์ เป็นพาร์ทที่สนุกที่สุด ลุ้น และตื่นเต้นมากๆ
ซึ่งเกเบรียลได้ใช้รูปภาพของแวนโก๊ะ และผู้หญิงชื่อซาราห์เป็นแผนแทรกซึมเข้าไป
สำหรับเรา พาร์ทที่อยู่บนเรือ ที่ซาราห์แฝงตัวเข้าไปในกลุ่มผู้สนับสนุนเงินทุนให้แก่ผู้ก่อการร้ายโดยมีทีมเกเบรียลคอยเฝ้าแฝงอยู่รอบๆตัวซาราห์ เป็นพาร์ทที่สนุกที่สุด ลุ้น และตื่นเต้นมากๆ
October 14, 2020
as the story began I thought Silva was going to take a step back and return to a lower-quality Dan Brown novel, but the action quickly left the Vatican and became a tight thriller. this is a good series and I'm enjoying being in the middle of it. 4/5
May 15, 2014
My 4th Gabriel Allon/ Daniel Silva novel and 6th in the Allon series, this is just relentless creation and sustenance of suspense in this genre of spy thriller by Daniel Silva. Each book I finish, I keep thinking "how can he better this book". And every time I pick up the next Allon series, I am mesmerised , hooked and completely possessed by the book till I complete it! Hats off to Silva, he is just a master craftsman who can repeat the magic book after book.
You have to accept a few authors shenanigans though. For Silva, Israeli intelligence is the best in the world of intelligence. Even the American counterparts come to them for help! Next, Allon would always be pulled into the thick of all the action reluctantly, as he is a part time spy and full time art restorer, both jobs which he is probably the best in the world! For the last 2 novels, the topic has been the Arab or Saudi or Palestinian muslim terrorists who are fanatical about blowing up,wait her the pope or Jews. In both these novels, silva first makes his spy cum assassin Allon make brilliant and elaborate plans to kill the bad guys for almost 80% of the book which turns out to be a wrong move. (But the elaborate plans and nature of steps and detailing is the exciting and interesting part of the book). The last 20%, the damage control mode kicks in, Allon somehow finds the real targets and kills them. I am an optimistic reader who would like to get more elaboration of how he rectifies the first failure of his plan and how he finds his enemies, in other words, the actual killing of the bad people should have at least 40% of the book without a quick end. My thoughts only, though I would not complain, as I get enough adrenalin reading through these novels.
in this book, Gabriel goes after a billionaire Saudi, who is finances all terrorist activities with their oil money through a terrorist who is his right hand man and executioner of terror! Gabriel gets involved when they try to take out the Pope who shares a close friendship with Allon. Rest of the story deals with how Allon tracks down the terrorist who is almost a ghost and eventually kills him. The plot does look similar but Silva's prose if fast, so you are totally hooked.
Great read and I have now the next 3 Silva/Allon in my hands.
You have to accept a few authors shenanigans though. For Silva, Israeli intelligence is the best in the world of intelligence. Even the American counterparts come to them for help! Next, Allon would always be pulled into the thick of all the action reluctantly, as he is a part time spy and full time art restorer, both jobs which he is probably the best in the world! For the last 2 novels, the topic has been the Arab or Saudi or Palestinian muslim terrorists who are fanatical about blowing up,wait her the pope or Jews. In both these novels, silva first makes his spy cum assassin Allon make brilliant and elaborate plans to kill the bad guys for almost 80% of the book which turns out to be a wrong move. (But the elaborate plans and nature of steps and detailing is the exciting and interesting part of the book). The last 20%, the damage control mode kicks in, Allon somehow finds the real targets and kills them. I am an optimistic reader who would like to get more elaboration of how he rectifies the first failure of his plan and how he finds his enemies, in other words, the actual killing of the bad people should have at least 40% of the book without a quick end. My thoughts only, though I would not complain, as I get enough adrenalin reading through these novels.
in this book, Gabriel goes after a billionaire Saudi, who is finances all terrorist activities with their oil money through a terrorist who is his right hand man and executioner of terror! Gabriel gets involved when they try to take out the Pope who shares a close friendship with Allon. Rest of the story deals with how Allon tracks down the terrorist who is almost a ghost and eventually kills him. The plot does look similar but Silva's prose if fast, so you are totally hooked.
Great read and I have now the next 3 Silva/Allon in my hands.
January 31, 2024
It's been awhile since I read my last Gabriel Allon novel and so far, this one has been my favorite.
In previous books, sometimes it was hard to follow part of the plot and keep things straight but I had no issues with this one. It was easy to follow and I enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, it didn't fit a reading prompt that I thought it was going to but that is neither here nor there. I hope all the Allon novels left to come in this series (of which there are many), are as engaging as this one.
In previous books, sometimes it was hard to follow part of the plot and keep things straight but I had no issues with this one. It was easy to follow and I enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, it didn't fit a reading prompt that I thought it was going to but that is neither here nor there. I hope all the Allon novels left to come in this series (of which there are many), are as engaging as this one.
July 25, 2016
Felizmente descobri tarde a série Allon e tenho a possibilidade de ter sempre um novo livro para ler! Acho que este foi o que foi livro em menor espaço de tempo. E agora, segue-se uma nova "experiência", os volumes 7 e 8 em inglês / eBook, que ambos estão esgotadíssimos em Portugal...
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