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Michael Osbourne #1
The Mark Of The Assassin
When a commercial airliner is blown out of the sky off the East Coast, the CIA scrambles to find the perpetrators. A body is discovered near the crash site with three bullets to the face: the calling card of a shadowy international assassin. Only agent Michael Osbourne has seen the markings before—on a woman he once loved.
Now, it's personal for Osbourne. Consumed by his dark obsession with the assassin, he's willing to risk his family, his career, and his life—to settle a score....
Now, it's personal for Osbourne. Consumed by his dark obsession with the assassin, he's willing to risk his family, his career, and his life—to settle a score....
436 pages, ebook
First published March 10, 1998
2628 people are currently reading
4859 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Silva
180 books9,405 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 670 reviews
May 24, 2018
This is an excellent book.
The interesting thing here is that when I began the book, the way it opened I "felt" sure that the book would get no more than a 3 star raring from me. BUT more and more I became (again) more involved in the plot. The characters were well formed without being overly detailed. We learn about each of them within the story's body and not in what would be called "dumps".
Of all the characters I found the female sub-protagonist...Michael's wife well, most annoying. That my friends is simply, "me". I'm sure that some of you will like her a great deal and simply see a lot of what got under my skin as simply a primary part of her character...
To each.
The story concerns the story of Michael Osbourne a CIA agent pulled from the field when his love had been killed by an assassin. Michael had over the years since tracked certain clues as to who the killer was and came to the conclusion that he (the assassin) was a master killer whom had killed all over the world.
We follow Michael and then we follow the assassin through the book to our inevitable climax...and I'd say it's well worth the trip.
5stars, recommended, enjoy.
The interesting thing here is that when I began the book, the way it opened I "felt" sure that the book would get no more than a 3 star raring from me. BUT more and more I became (again) more involved in the plot. The characters were well formed without being overly detailed. We learn about each of them within the story's body and not in what would be called "dumps".
Of all the characters I found the female sub-protagonist...Michael's wife well, most annoying. That my friends is simply, "me". I'm sure that some of you will like her a great deal and simply see a lot of what got under my skin as simply a primary part of her character...
To each.
The story concerns the story of Michael Osbourne a CIA agent pulled from the field when his love had been killed by an assassin. Michael had over the years since tracked certain clues as to who the killer was and came to the conclusion that he (the assassin) was a master killer whom had killed all over the world.
We follow Michael and then we follow the assassin through the book to our inevitable climax...and I'd say it's well worth the trip.
5stars, recommended, enjoy.
July 6, 2025
There was a time, believe it or not, when it was actually shocking to hear stories of corruption and wrongdoing perpetrated by elected officials. Likewise, there was a time when conspiracies involving government officials, multinational corporations, and foreign parties colluding to commit crimes was looked at as simply theories, and unbelievable ones at that.
We are definitely living in weird times.
****A Testimonial****
I remember once reading a book in which terrorists fly a passenger jet into the U.S. Capitol, instantly wiping out the President, the entire Congress, and the Supreme Court all in one fell swoop. I remember thinking how outrageous and silly that was at the time. The book was “Debt of Honor” by one of my all-time favorite authors at the time, Tom Clancy. It was published in 1994.
I remember once, perhaps as a young child and maybe even as late as high school, believing that, as imperfect and flawed as it sometimes was, our federal government was actually a pretty trustworthy institution. Our government (so I believed) actually had our best interests at heart, and it was looking out for us.
Then, somewhere around September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four passenger jets and launched them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and (thanks to many brave souls who took back the cockpit) an empty field in Pennsylvania, things started to change. Not for the better, obviously.
I can’t pinpoint my mistrust of the government and my dislike for most elected officials to that day. Clearly, those feelings had been building and growing gradually as I grew older and more knowledgable of the world. I can’t say that 9/11 was the reason that made me rethink the common decency of humanity and the belief that mankind is basically good. Again, those feelings had been creeping into my soul for some time before then.
I can say that, for myself, 9/11 represented a demarcation between innocence and innocence lost. Maybe it was for the country, too, but I’m pretty sure that the country wasn’t that innocent long before those planes hit.
****
My mention of Tom Clancy was not accidental or simply random. I was in middle school, I think, probably eighth grade, when I first read “The Hunt for Red October”, a book that I loved beyond words. I began to voraciously read every Clancy book after that: “Red Storm Rising”, “Patriot Games”, “Clear and Present Danger”, “The Sum of All Fears”.
I’m not sure why I loved them at the time, other than the fact that they were exciting, fast-paced thrillers. At the time, I think I loved the fact that the hero, Jack Ryan, was a patriot. He loved his country and his family in equal measure. Arguably, his country was his family. By that I mean that he believed in his country. He trusted it. He trusted his government. He trusted his president. He trusted the soldiers and law enforcement officers who enforced the laws of the land. He trusted that no one person or persons or corporation should have so much power, and he trusted that his government would ensure that no person, persons, or corporation would ever achieve such power.
I think I loved Clancy because he wrote fantasy stories. About a world that may have, at one point, actually existed in reality but more than likely simply existed in his imagination. I didn’t think they were fantasy stories at the time, obviously, which is why I think I loved them.
I haven’t read Clancy in years, probably decades. My love affair ended after reading a book called “Rainbow Six”. It was the last book I ever read by him. I’m not sure when I read it, although given the fact that it was published in 1998, I would have been in my late-20s.
I can’t even remember why I disliked it, although it may have had something to do with the ridiculousness of the plot, which, as far as I recall (and keep in mind, this is all from memory, so my recall may not adequately represent the truth), it was about a group of eco-terrorists who wanted to unleash a biological weapon during a highly public setting. I think it was the Olympics.
I remember having a vehemently angry reaction to the book, probably completely out of proportion to what it deserved, but I do remember thinking that Clancy didn’t seem to understand the point of eco-terrorism. He didn’t seem to understand environmentalism at all, really, and that’s when it kind of struck me: my political worldview had changed drastically from the time I had read “The Hunt for Red October” to the time I had read “Rainbow Six”. I remember thinking: it’s kind of weird how our political views shape us to the point that we can have such visceral negative reactions to something as silly as an action-adventure military thriller.
I believe it might have been at that point that I realized I was one of those bleeding heart liberals.
****
I’m probably remembering that book wrongly. Or at least giving it an unfair negative read based on faulty memory. Maybe someday I’ll go back and re-read it. I have nothing against the late great Clancy due to that one book. I just simply stopped reading him.
In truth, Clancy still remains an important part of my literary history, helping me to shape my political worldviews as a teenager, in much the same way that Philip Roth helped to shape my views in college and beyond. Both authors remain a part of very specific times in my evolution.
Throughout the years, various authors have become an important part of my “self”. I learn from them like professors. I engage in conversations with them. I fall in love with them and I get vehemently angry with them. I take parts of their wisdom and incorporate them into my soul. Sometimes I reject them for newer views or beliefs that I believe are stronger and more profound.
Sometimes, when I discover a new author that I absolutely love, it’s better than sex.
****
Okay, that was an admittedly awkward statement, but I’m sure many readers will understand what I’m trying to say.
I’ve recently discovered one of those amazing new authors. His name is Daniel Silva, and I’m absolutely in love.
Besides being a great writer (the guy can write a paragraph the way some gourmet chefs prepare a meal), Silva also tells a great story. That’s one of those combos---great writing and great storytelling---that’s actually pretty hard to come by in literature.
Another thing about Silva is that I share similar political views with him. At least, for now, in my life.
In “Mark of the Assassin”, Silva’s hero is a Clancy-esque CIA spook. Michael Osborne hates when his wife refers to him as a “spy”. That evokes too many connotations and ridiculous images from movies and TV shows. He refers to himself as a “case officer”. He spends most of his time at a desk, behind a computer screen, analyzing data and files.
Osborne has been working a file for years, ever since his first girlfriend was murdered in Europe by an assassin with a signature kill: he shoots his victims three times in the face.
Recently, the body of a Palestinian terrorist was found with three bullet wounds to the face. Unfortunately, the terrorist was holding a rocket launcher that had just brought down a U.S. passenger jet.
Unbeknownst to Osborne, the President of the United States, James Beckwith, in an attempt to win re-election, gets into bed with a weapons manufacturer and a creepy Fundamentalist Christian, Mitchell Elliott, to coordinate the terrorist attack in order to build up public support for military action and to help Elliott’s company’s bottom line.
Elliott, it turns out, is part of a global criminal conspiracy simply called The Society. It is comprised of super-wealthy billionaires, many of whom are CEOs of well-known corporations, whose sole purpose is to incite international incidents or wars so that their companies will make a profit.
The Society utilizes the very same assassin that Osborne has secretly been hunting for years, a mysterious man named Delaroche. Now that Osborne is getting close to the truth of Beckwith’s secret, Delaroche is hired to kill Osborne.
“The Mark of the Assassin”, despite being published in 1998 (strangely enough, the same date “Rainbow Six” was published), resonates with current events so frighteningly and believably, one would almost think it was written a few months ago. Parallels to the weird world we live in aside, the novel is just a great espionage suspense thriller, one that will bring to mind the best of authors like Robert Ludlum, John le Carre, and, yes, even Clancy.
We are definitely living in weird times.
****A Testimonial****
I remember once reading a book in which terrorists fly a passenger jet into the U.S. Capitol, instantly wiping out the President, the entire Congress, and the Supreme Court all in one fell swoop. I remember thinking how outrageous and silly that was at the time. The book was “Debt of Honor” by one of my all-time favorite authors at the time, Tom Clancy. It was published in 1994.
I remember once, perhaps as a young child and maybe even as late as high school, believing that, as imperfect and flawed as it sometimes was, our federal government was actually a pretty trustworthy institution. Our government (so I believed) actually had our best interests at heart, and it was looking out for us.
Then, somewhere around September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four passenger jets and launched them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and (thanks to many brave souls who took back the cockpit) an empty field in Pennsylvania, things started to change. Not for the better, obviously.
I can’t pinpoint my mistrust of the government and my dislike for most elected officials to that day. Clearly, those feelings had been building and growing gradually as I grew older and more knowledgable of the world. I can’t say that 9/11 was the reason that made me rethink the common decency of humanity and the belief that mankind is basically good. Again, those feelings had been creeping into my soul for some time before then.
I can say that, for myself, 9/11 represented a demarcation between innocence and innocence lost. Maybe it was for the country, too, but I’m pretty sure that the country wasn’t that innocent long before those planes hit.
****
My mention of Tom Clancy was not accidental or simply random. I was in middle school, I think, probably eighth grade, when I first read “The Hunt for Red October”, a book that I loved beyond words. I began to voraciously read every Clancy book after that: “Red Storm Rising”, “Patriot Games”, “Clear and Present Danger”, “The Sum of All Fears”.
I’m not sure why I loved them at the time, other than the fact that they were exciting, fast-paced thrillers. At the time, I think I loved the fact that the hero, Jack Ryan, was a patriot. He loved his country and his family in equal measure. Arguably, his country was his family. By that I mean that he believed in his country. He trusted it. He trusted his government. He trusted his president. He trusted the soldiers and law enforcement officers who enforced the laws of the land. He trusted that no one person or persons or corporation should have so much power, and he trusted that his government would ensure that no person, persons, or corporation would ever achieve such power.
I think I loved Clancy because he wrote fantasy stories. About a world that may have, at one point, actually existed in reality but more than likely simply existed in his imagination. I didn’t think they were fantasy stories at the time, obviously, which is why I think I loved them.
I haven’t read Clancy in years, probably decades. My love affair ended after reading a book called “Rainbow Six”. It was the last book I ever read by him. I’m not sure when I read it, although given the fact that it was published in 1998, I would have been in my late-20s.
I can’t even remember why I disliked it, although it may have had something to do with the ridiculousness of the plot, which, as far as I recall (and keep in mind, this is all from memory, so my recall may not adequately represent the truth), it was about a group of eco-terrorists who wanted to unleash a biological weapon during a highly public setting. I think it was the Olympics.
I remember having a vehemently angry reaction to the book, probably completely out of proportion to what it deserved, but I do remember thinking that Clancy didn’t seem to understand the point of eco-terrorism. He didn’t seem to understand environmentalism at all, really, and that’s when it kind of struck me: my political worldview had changed drastically from the time I had read “The Hunt for Red October” to the time I had read “Rainbow Six”. I remember thinking: it’s kind of weird how our political views shape us to the point that we can have such visceral negative reactions to something as silly as an action-adventure military thriller.
I believe it might have been at that point that I realized I was one of those bleeding heart liberals.
****
I’m probably remembering that book wrongly. Or at least giving it an unfair negative read based on faulty memory. Maybe someday I’ll go back and re-read it. I have nothing against the late great Clancy due to that one book. I just simply stopped reading him.
In truth, Clancy still remains an important part of my literary history, helping me to shape my political worldviews as a teenager, in much the same way that Philip Roth helped to shape my views in college and beyond. Both authors remain a part of very specific times in my evolution.
Throughout the years, various authors have become an important part of my “self”. I learn from them like professors. I engage in conversations with them. I fall in love with them and I get vehemently angry with them. I take parts of their wisdom and incorporate them into my soul. Sometimes I reject them for newer views or beliefs that I believe are stronger and more profound.
Sometimes, when I discover a new author that I absolutely love, it’s better than sex.
****
Okay, that was an admittedly awkward statement, but I’m sure many readers will understand what I’m trying to say.
I’ve recently discovered one of those amazing new authors. His name is Daniel Silva, and I’m absolutely in love.
Besides being a great writer (the guy can write a paragraph the way some gourmet chefs prepare a meal), Silva also tells a great story. That’s one of those combos---great writing and great storytelling---that’s actually pretty hard to come by in literature.
Another thing about Silva is that I share similar political views with him. At least, for now, in my life.
In “Mark of the Assassin”, Silva’s hero is a Clancy-esque CIA spook. Michael Osborne hates when his wife refers to him as a “spy”. That evokes too many connotations and ridiculous images from movies and TV shows. He refers to himself as a “case officer”. He spends most of his time at a desk, behind a computer screen, analyzing data and files.
Osborne has been working a file for years, ever since his first girlfriend was murdered in Europe by an assassin with a signature kill: he shoots his victims three times in the face.
Recently, the body of a Palestinian terrorist was found with three bullet wounds to the face. Unfortunately, the terrorist was holding a rocket launcher that had just brought down a U.S. passenger jet.
Unbeknownst to Osborne, the President of the United States, James Beckwith, in an attempt to win re-election, gets into bed with a weapons manufacturer and a creepy Fundamentalist Christian, Mitchell Elliott, to coordinate the terrorist attack in order to build up public support for military action and to help Elliott’s company’s bottom line.
Elliott, it turns out, is part of a global criminal conspiracy simply called The Society. It is comprised of super-wealthy billionaires, many of whom are CEOs of well-known corporations, whose sole purpose is to incite international incidents or wars so that their companies will make a profit.
The Society utilizes the very same assassin that Osborne has secretly been hunting for years, a mysterious man named Delaroche. Now that Osborne is getting close to the truth of Beckwith’s secret, Delaroche is hired to kill Osborne.
“The Mark of the Assassin”, despite being published in 1998 (strangely enough, the same date “Rainbow Six” was published), resonates with current events so frighteningly and believably, one would almost think it was written a few months ago. Parallels to the weird world we live in aside, the novel is just a great espionage suspense thriller, one that will bring to mind the best of authors like Robert Ludlum, John le Carre, and, yes, even Clancy.
January 11, 2013
This was a re-read for me, having first read this book when it was first published in paperback. Actually this was my first experience with Daniel Silva back then, written before he started his very popular Gabriel Allon series. There are a couple of characters in this book that Silva carried forward into the Allon series, Adrian Carter of the CIA and Ari Shamron of Israeli Intelligence (Mossad). Interestingly, Shamron is not a good guy in this novel, although he really only has a cameo.
For anyone who has read and enjoyed Silva's Gabriel Allon series, I strongly recommend taking the time to read this as well as The Marching Season, which also features the protagonist from this novel, Michael Osbourne.
For anyone who has read and enjoyed Silva's Gabriel Allon series, I strongly recommend taking the time to read this as well as The Marching Season, which also features the protagonist from this novel, Michael Osbourne.
March 13, 2020
As with all good books this one finished too soon which is why I am anxious to read book #2.
June 27, 2015
This was a pretty good spy thriller that is based around terrorism before 9/11, but after the fall of the USSR. I found that viewpoint rather refreshing, almost like the early Clancy novels, although the characters didn't pop as well for me. They were good characters. I liked the mix, both good & bad, but they didn't make me want to meet them. I think he did best with the settings. He described them very well, but didn't get flowery. The plot was good & twisty with a really good conspiracy. It was a little overblown at times
I didn't have too many WTF moments with the way guns were used, but there were a couple of hoary old problems. I hate it when people tuck pistols into their waistbands & then proceed with life as if the thing is glued on. A pistol is heavy, so if you jamb it in tight against bone it's irritating, to say the least, in a very short amount of time. Blisters & bleeding probably won't take too long. Soft spots tend to let it slide down into your pants though, so you have to constantly fiddle with it. If my CIA buddy handed me a pistol to carry, I'd expect some sort of clip on holster to come with it.
Silencers. Sigh. They're not. Rant alert. I'm no expert, but I do know that someone isn't going to shoot without everyone in the area noticing immediately. Generally the best they do is knock the sound down from 150db (Your ears are now damaged & will ring for 15 minutes.) to 100+ db or so, about like a firecracker, IF it's a subsonic round, slower than 1100 fps. If not, the additional sonic boom ups the ante again. Anyway, I just hate it when they're magic & Silva does this a couple of times. Yuck. At least he didn't put any on a revolver.
I really wish authors would do a bit of research & use suppressors for what they're good at. For instance, since it shoves the gases to the side, it makes locating them much more difficult especially if there is a lot of background noise & reflections like in a city. If a shooter really wants quiet, there are some that are better, but that requires both fussing with more equipment & a small, slow bullet. Probably better off whacking the guy over the head with a stick or shooting him with Well done.
This is fine as a standalone, IMO. Yes, there are loose ends, but I kind of like that. Rings more true than a tidy bow. I'll definitely look for more books by this author.
I didn't have too many WTF moments with the way guns were used, but there were a couple of hoary old problems. I hate it when people tuck pistols into their waistbands & then proceed with life as if the thing is glued on. A pistol is heavy, so if you jamb it in tight against bone it's irritating, to say the least, in a very short amount of time. Blisters & bleeding probably won't take too long. Soft spots tend to let it slide down into your pants though, so you have to constantly fiddle with it. If my CIA buddy handed me a pistol to carry, I'd expect some sort of clip on holster to come with it.
Silencers. Sigh. They're not. Rant alert. I'm no expert, but I do know that someone isn't going to shoot without everyone in the area noticing immediately. Generally the best they do is knock the sound down from 150db (Your ears are now damaged & will ring for 15 minutes.) to 100+ db or so, about like a firecracker, IF it's a subsonic round, slower than 1100 fps. If not, the additional sonic boom ups the ante again. Anyway, I just hate it when they're magic & Silva does this a couple of times. Yuck. At least he didn't put any on a revolver.
I really wish authors would do a bit of research & use suppressors for what they're good at. For instance, since it shoves the gases to the side, it makes locating them much more difficult especially if there is a lot of background noise & reflections like in a city. If a shooter really wants quiet, there are some that are better, but that requires both fussing with more equipment & a small, slow bullet. Probably better off whacking the guy over the head with a stick or shooting him with Well done.
This is fine as a standalone, IMO. Yes, there are loose ends, but I kind of like that. Rings more true than a tidy bow. I'll definitely look for more books by this author.
June 18, 2020
I got to Silva late but this was worth the wait. Michael is a very good character and it’s interesting to me that Silva only gives him one more book. I’ll definitely read it.
October is a great bad guy. While he lost this battle I wonder if we will see him again. There are too many open ends left that I hope get wrapped up in the next one.
Gabriel Allon must be a heck of a character. I’ll get to him eventually.
October is a great bad guy. While he lost this battle I wonder if we will see him again. There are too many open ends left that I hope get wrapped up in the next one.
Gabriel Allon must be a heck of a character. I’ll get to him eventually.
June 17, 2023
Here’s reason #9,243,105 why I love my daughter Rosie: She took one look at the back cover of this book (which I got for free) and said, “It’s Michael Scarn!”
Scarn, of course, is the protagonist from the spy thriller, “Threat Level Midnight,” the lost film of longtime Dunder-Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott, who gained fame from the NBC mockumentary, “The Office.” Scarn, the world’s greatest FBI agent, foils Goldenface’s plot to blow up the NHL All-Star Game, simultaneously avenging the death of his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones (spoiler alert). If you haven’t seen that episode, just pop Comedy Central on the screen for a few hours, because it’s sure to show up. Freaking HILARIOUS.
So, when the President shows up on page 25 or so, I burst out laughing. Because that’s when Daryl, the warehouse manager playing the President, shows up in TLM. And the back-cover declaration of “this makes it personal” nearly matches what Scarn mumble at the film’s onset. The ending, too: “I love being retired,” but…dun dun dun! He’s back in action! So, while there’s shooting and violence and terrorism in this book, I’m reading and dying, just DYING, thinking of what my ten-year-old said to me. Midway, I turned to her and said, “Clean up on aisle five!”
Tongue removed from cheek, let’s assess this work for what it is: a research- and journalism-fueled spy novel written before 9/11. Published in 1998, the technology is different, as is the Cold War-esque style: the phrases and language seem dated. It starts just like a good spy novel should, but gets a little mired in exposition and character development, both done with narrator description and not action or dialogue.
But it does what a thriller should: puts the characters in mortal peril, weaves the plot through serpentine intrigue, gives us those sexy moments we want. When it cooks, it really cooks: the action sequences will pump the blood. Quite a bit of fun there. After a third of the way through, the pace really picks up with murder, spy movements, backroom dealings, clever evasions, and even a cool car chase. The cast of characters is pretty long, and even though I thought the villains were just a little cartoonish, I was impressed on how life-like and complex they all seemed. They all had real lives, and even though Osbourne and “October” are brilliant, they aren’t infallible superheroes. I had a moment or two of disbelief, questioning whether the Agency would really leave an agent as exposed as he was at the end, but the dramatic resolution and gunfights made up for it.
And WOW, the research! Silva must have dug deep to get all the detail (even though I thought the big scandal never really got explained). The attention to the inner workings evoked John le Carré: such a masterful understanding of how things work.
Of course, this is one of Silva’s much earlier works. I hesitate to judge it too harshly given the long gap between then and now. In fact, I remember devouring The Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising as a kid, as I developed what I never thought would become a lifelong commitment, and dare I say passion, for reading. If a book can have the same effect a roller-coaster can, why not climb aboard?
Scarn, of course, is the protagonist from the spy thriller, “Threat Level Midnight,” the lost film of longtime Dunder-Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott, who gained fame from the NBC mockumentary, “The Office.” Scarn, the world’s greatest FBI agent, foils Goldenface’s plot to blow up the NHL All-Star Game, simultaneously avenging the death of his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones (spoiler alert). If you haven’t seen that episode, just pop Comedy Central on the screen for a few hours, because it’s sure to show up. Freaking HILARIOUS.
So, when the President shows up on page 25 or so, I burst out laughing. Because that’s when Daryl, the warehouse manager playing the President, shows up in TLM. And the back-cover declaration of “this makes it personal” nearly matches what Scarn mumble at the film’s onset. The ending, too: “I love being retired,” but…dun dun dun! He’s back in action! So, while there’s shooting and violence and terrorism in this book, I’m reading and dying, just DYING, thinking of what my ten-year-old said to me. Midway, I turned to her and said, “Clean up on aisle five!”
Tongue removed from cheek, let’s assess this work for what it is: a research- and journalism-fueled spy novel written before 9/11. Published in 1998, the technology is different, as is the Cold War-esque style: the phrases and language seem dated. It starts just like a good spy novel should, but gets a little mired in exposition and character development, both done with narrator description and not action or dialogue.
But it does what a thriller should: puts the characters in mortal peril, weaves the plot through serpentine intrigue, gives us those sexy moments we want. When it cooks, it really cooks: the action sequences will pump the blood. Quite a bit of fun there. After a third of the way through, the pace really picks up with murder, spy movements, backroom dealings, clever evasions, and even a cool car chase. The cast of characters is pretty long, and even though I thought the villains were just a little cartoonish, I was impressed on how life-like and complex they all seemed. They all had real lives, and even though Osbourne and “October” are brilliant, they aren’t infallible superheroes. I had a moment or two of disbelief, questioning whether the Agency would really leave an agent as exposed as he was at the end, but the dramatic resolution and gunfights made up for it.
And WOW, the research! Silva must have dug deep to get all the detail (even though I thought the big scandal never really got explained). The attention to the inner workings evoked John le Carré: such a masterful understanding of how things work.
Of course, this is one of Silva’s much earlier works. I hesitate to judge it too harshly given the long gap between then and now. In fact, I remember devouring The Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising as a kid, as I developed what I never thought would become a lifelong commitment, and dare I say passion, for reading. If a book can have the same effect a roller-coaster can, why not climb aboard?
August 8, 2017
Filled with a lot of satisfying action and political intrigue, but lacking in scope and background. The entire book is surface action with very little of the narrative dedicated to plot and character development. The latter of which was pretty lazy, as the image of every character is limited to a routine, half-paged personality rundown. Too many named characters appearing in only 1-3 pages. It was still a fun read.
September 2, 2023
Pretty exciting thriller when you’re in the mood for such stuff.
February 10, 2012
If you don't mind cliches then you'll probably enjoy this book. But if scandinavian blondes with vivid blue eyes, cia agents who are as good as good, kgb baddies who are as bad as bad and have psychological problems aren't your thing then seriously don't bother. the plot is predictable. the characters are obvious and without interest and all in all the story is one that has been told a billion times before. Frankly, I was bored.
June 12, 2022
The Mark Of The Assassin by Daniel Silva is my first attempt at a Daniel Silva thriller and it was worth the effort; a very exciting, tense spy thriller. It is the first book in his Michael Osbourne duology. He has written 20+ books in his Gabriel Allon series.
Michael Osbourne is a CIA desk operator working out of CIA HQ in DC. He was taken from the field a few years previously when his lover was murdered by an assassin. He has since remarried to Elizabeth, a Washington DC lawyer, but Michael continues to try to find the man who killed Sarah. It turns out that this man is now an assassin for hire and is about to set in motion an event that will bring him back in to touch with Michael Osbourne and endanger both Michael's and Elizabeth's lives. The story starts with the bringing down of an American civilian airliner in US air space.
This event will result in a number of murders by 'October' and a race against time to find him and discover who was behind the aircraft disaster. It becomes a complex, intriguing story. Michael Osbourne is an interesting character and has a core of intelligent, reliable, faithful friends. The espionage intrigue is well-crafted from both Michael's and October's PoV's. The assassin is a threatening, competent killer but is he a match for Osbourne? You'll have to read the story which goes from DC to New York to England, France, Holland, even Egypt. It's exciting and fast-paced and even involves an international organization that is trying to control the world.
All in all, well-written, entertaining, tense and exciting. Well worth trying. (4.0 stars)
Michael Osbourne is a CIA desk operator working out of CIA HQ in DC. He was taken from the field a few years previously when his lover was murdered by an assassin. He has since remarried to Elizabeth, a Washington DC lawyer, but Michael continues to try to find the man who killed Sarah. It turns out that this man is now an assassin for hire and is about to set in motion an event that will bring him back in to touch with Michael Osbourne and endanger both Michael's and Elizabeth's lives. The story starts with the bringing down of an American civilian airliner in US air space.
This event will result in a number of murders by 'October' and a race against time to find him and discover who was behind the aircraft disaster. It becomes a complex, intriguing story. Michael Osbourne is an interesting character and has a core of intelligent, reliable, faithful friends. The espionage intrigue is well-crafted from both Michael's and October's PoV's. The assassin is a threatening, competent killer but is he a match for Osbourne? You'll have to read the story which goes from DC to New York to England, France, Holland, even Egypt. It's exciting and fast-paced and even involves an international organization that is trying to control the world.
All in all, well-written, entertaining, tense and exciting. Well worth trying. (4.0 stars)
December 21, 2024
This is Silva's second published novel and the first in the Michael Osbourne series. Although I enjoyed, knowing Silva's writing as I do, it is obvious this book was written early in his career.
Michael Osborne is a CIA field agent. He saw the love of life shot and killed, many years before. Since that time he has hunted the elusive assassin, code-named October. Michael is now married and the murder of his first love haunts him.
The story was a bit repetitive for me and some of the characters just never grew on me. A decent read, but I will most likely round it down
Michael Osborne is a CIA field agent. He saw the love of life shot and killed, many years before. Since that time he has hunted the elusive assassin, code-named October. Michael is now married and the murder of his first love haunts him.
The story was a bit repetitive for me and some of the characters just never grew on me. A decent read, but I will most likely round it down
June 28, 2013
Again, my husband recommended this book. He said it was the second in the "Gabriel Allon" series, however it was actually the first of the "Michael Osbourne" series. This confusion made reading the book quite amusing.
I kept waiting for the Gabriel Allon character to be introduced into the story. The only remotely close character, who the author took pains to keep a mystery, was the "bad" guy who helped the terrorists shoot down an American jet. I was outraged that the Israelis would do such a thing, but figured that somehow it would be justified (to encourage the U.S. to go after the terrorists, thereby helping Israel). However, the bad guy really was a bad guy (not Gabriel Allon, even though the description fit him pretty well). Eventually I realized that the real protagonist was Michael Osborne.
At this point I have grown weary of "spy" novels, having finished two Vince Flynn books and then two Daniel Silva books. I may read the "real" second Gabriel Allon book at some point, but need to take a break because they do get pretty repetitive (evasive maneuvers to see if they are being followed, fake passports, flawless in multiple languages).
Note: Much of the writing is not very interesting. He gives too much description of the clothes people are wearing (even when it has no bearing on the story) and the roads they are driving on. If all that "fluff" was deleted, I guessed the story would have been about half as long. ;-)
Spoiler Alert: The stupidest plot point was when Michael Osborne and his pregnant wife flee to Shelter Island where her well-known father has an estate. Of all the places in the United States to go to, they go to the one place that the bad guy might know about. They could have gone around the corner to the Red Roof Inn and the spy would never have known where to find them. Michael Osborne, the "brilliant" spy made an incredibly bad decision, yet the author never even tried to explain why.
I kept waiting for the Gabriel Allon character to be introduced into the story. The only remotely close character, who the author took pains to keep a mystery, was the "bad" guy who helped the terrorists shoot down an American jet. I was outraged that the Israelis would do such a thing, but figured that somehow it would be justified (to encourage the U.S. to go after the terrorists, thereby helping Israel). However, the bad guy really was a bad guy (not Gabriel Allon, even though the description fit him pretty well). Eventually I realized that the real protagonist was Michael Osborne.
At this point I have grown weary of "spy" novels, having finished two Vince Flynn books and then two Daniel Silva books. I may read the "real" second Gabriel Allon book at some point, but need to take a break because they do get pretty repetitive (evasive maneuvers to see if they are being followed, fake passports, flawless in multiple languages).
Note: Much of the writing is not very interesting. He gives too much description of the clothes people are wearing (even when it has no bearing on the story) and the roads they are driving on. If all that "fluff" was deleted, I guessed the story would have been about half as long. ;-)
Spoiler Alert: The stupidest plot point was when Michael Osborne and his pregnant wife flee to Shelter Island where her well-known father has an estate. Of all the places in the United States to go to, they go to the one place that the bad guy might know about. They could have gone around the corner to the Red Roof Inn and the spy would never have known where to find them. Michael Osborne, the "brilliant" spy made an incredibly bad decision, yet the author never even tried to explain why.
April 23, 2010
The Mark of the Assassin is billed as part of the Gabriel Allon series, and as a prequel, I suppose there’s some truth in that. But Allon makes no appearances here, although familiar characters such as Adrian Carter do have roles. The eponymous assassin is Jean-Paul Delaroche, whose “mark” is his killing style, always three shots to the face. He’s a pretty effective antagonist. As for the protagonist, Michael Osborne, he’s no Gabriel Allon, personality wise. Most of the characters, in fact, good or bad, have few redeeming qualities. Such a bunch of self absorbed connivers are rarely found in a single book.
The first half of Mark is the setup for the final showdown in the second half. It seems that terrorism can be manipulated to serve the purposes of any government, and the U.S. President’s men are experts at getting their way. The action takes place in various glamorous locations across the Atlantic, with the climax set in Washington D.C. Back home, Elizabeth Osborne, has found her best friend Susannah’s slaughtered corpse, and knows that her murder is connected to some potentially explosive investigative journalism Susannah was doing. What could be more natural than that Elizabeth, newly pregnant via in-vitro, would pick up the cause that Susannah was forced to drop?!
Mark of the Assassin is way too long, especially the first half, and some judicious editing would yield a tauter story. As it stands, it’s a typical spy thriller with little to differentiate it from all the others.
The first half of Mark is the setup for the final showdown in the second half. It seems that terrorism can be manipulated to serve the purposes of any government, and the U.S. President’s men are experts at getting their way. The action takes place in various glamorous locations across the Atlantic, with the climax set in Washington D.C. Back home, Elizabeth Osborne, has found her best friend Susannah’s slaughtered corpse, and knows that her murder is connected to some potentially explosive investigative journalism Susannah was doing. What could be more natural than that Elizabeth, newly pregnant via in-vitro, would pick up the cause that Susannah was forced to drop?!
Mark of the Assassin is way too long, especially the first half, and some judicious editing would yield a tauter story. As it stands, it’s a typical spy thriller with little to differentiate it from all the others.
September 17, 2018
This is one early Silva before he chose to write his famous Gabriel Allon series. You can somehow feel that Silva is still trying the water with his novel about an conspiracy that starts with shooting down of a commercial airliner with a stinger. This has consequences and changes the dynamic in the upcoming presidential elections.
It is a satisfying read in which you find out about the various involved people in this thriller about an unknown assassin who has to clear up the lose threads of the terror attack and at the same time the politics of Washington make waves too that kill people.
The Michael Osborne in this book is somehow a very bland figure that is not really interesting enough to root for, which is murder when the assassin is supposed to be the baddie.
Nice to read but never again as there are far better books even by this writer.
It is a satisfying read in which you find out about the various involved people in this thriller about an unknown assassin who has to clear up the lose threads of the terror attack and at the same time the politics of Washington make waves too that kill people.
The Michael Osborne in this book is somehow a very bland figure that is not really interesting enough to root for, which is murder when the assassin is supposed to be the baddie.
Nice to read but never again as there are far better books even by this writer.
June 24, 2020
A bit more than 3 stars. A thrilling spy novel with at least as many dead and dying as a Shakespearean play. First in the series of Michael Osbourne and set us up nicely for more. Seriously, all spy novels are about the same thing—national secrets are at stake and there’s a guy out killing people willy nilly. In this one, the bad guy paints.There is a LOT of cigarette smoking in this which dates it pretty badly.
Names Issue: there are both a Carson and a Carter. One’s a dog. Why have ancillary characters with such similar names? C’mon. You’re an author! Even if someone paid to have their name mentioned, there should be another way of keeping it from being too much the same.
Names Issue: there are both a Carson and a Carter. One’s a dog. Why have ancillary characters with such similar names? C’mon. You’re an author! Even if someone paid to have their name mentioned, there should be another way of keeping it from being too much the same.
December 2, 2020
Um livro que se lê bastante bem, com capítulos curtos e que, como é costume do autor, nos vão contando a história através de diversas perspetivas. Embora peque um pouco por alguns detalhes clichê, é uma boa obra que nos vai conquistando página a página e nos faz querer saber mais sobre as personagens e o seu destino. Um livro cheio de ação e intriga.
December 9, 2022
Não fez o meu género de leitura, mas para quem gosta de thriller de espionagem, política e acção não é um mau livro.
August 20, 2023
This was a very exciting read.
The main character, Michael Osbourne, is CIA and is trying to unravel a terrorist attack and assassinations around the world, and how they might connect.
Michael becomes a target himself and needs to protect both him and his wife.
Set mostly in Washington DC, with adventures in Europe and the Middle-East.
As the story moves along, the reader is given a behind the scenes peak of the masters pulling all the strings, which makes the story more thrilling when unknowing characters cross their path.
I look forward to reading other Daniel Silva and Michael Osbourne stories
The main character, Michael Osbourne, is CIA and is trying to unravel a terrorist attack and assassinations around the world, and how they might connect.
Michael becomes a target himself and needs to protect both him and his wife.
Set mostly in Washington DC, with adventures in Europe and the Middle-East.
As the story moves along, the reader is given a behind the scenes peak of the masters pulling all the strings, which makes the story more thrilling when unknowing characters cross their path.
I look forward to reading other Daniel Silva and Michael Osbourne stories
August 13, 2016
I’ve long anticipated dipping my toe into the works of popular author Daniel Silva and now that I’ve made that first effort, I fully anticipate diving all the way in. Silva, of course, is most famous for his long running Gabriel Allon series. However, I happened to have both of his early Michael Osbourne books on my TBR shelves so I chose to start with them. This particular book is actually his second published novel, after the stand-alone The Unlikely Spy.
This novel did its job: it held my interest, and kept me entertained very well, despite some rather severe health-related distractions occurring in my personal life. The plot was not quite as tightly woven as I had hoped but I think that is largely because Silva spends some nice quality time exploring his characters’ lives outside of the main terrorist/assassin plot.
I’ve found that thrillers tend to fall into two main timeframes: post 9/11 and Cold War era. Those that take place between those two times (1989-2001) seem to be a little lost in their purpose. This novel is an exception. Taking place a couple of years prior to 9/11, it manages to capture the intensity of potential terror attacks with a realism in which other novels, in hindsight, fail.
Good characters, well written prose and page-turning action result in a good well-rounded reading experience. The book does end with many unresolved plot elements, including the primary plot involving the assassin so make sure you have book #2 ready to go.
This novel did its job: it held my interest, and kept me entertained very well, despite some rather severe health-related distractions occurring in my personal life. The plot was not quite as tightly woven as I had hoped but I think that is largely because Silva spends some nice quality time exploring his characters’ lives outside of the main terrorist/assassin plot.
I’ve found that thrillers tend to fall into two main timeframes: post 9/11 and Cold War era. Those that take place between those two times (1989-2001) seem to be a little lost in their purpose. This novel is an exception. Taking place a couple of years prior to 9/11, it manages to capture the intensity of potential terror attacks with a realism in which other novels, in hindsight, fail.
Good characters, well written prose and page-turning action result in a good well-rounded reading experience. The book does end with many unresolved plot elements, including the primary plot involving the assassin so make sure you have book #2 ready to go.
January 1, 2010
Another reviewer could not put this book down. I could - and did after about a hundred pages. Granted the subject is topical, but the plot is unbelievable and so are the mechanics necessary to make it work. To take but one example, the fact that the wife of the CIA agent happens to be a close friend of the investigative journalist is a coincidence too far.
As for the writing: "... surrounded by the élite of Washington's Republican establishment," a waiter hands Elizabeth "a glass of cold Chardonnay." How sophisticated; good to know the élite don't drink it luke warm.
Or take Senator Douglas Cannon. On page 105 we are told of his "sprawling Fifth Avenue apartment." In the next paragraph we find "the sprawling family mansion overlooking Dering Harbor." This is either sloppy writing or sloppy editing, or both.
As for the writing: "... surrounded by the élite of Washington's Republican establishment," a waiter hands Elizabeth "a glass of cold Chardonnay." How sophisticated; good to know the élite don't drink it luke warm.
Or take Senator Douglas Cannon. On page 105 we are told of his "sprawling Fifth Avenue apartment." In the next paragraph we find "the sprawling family mansion overlooking Dering Harbor." This is either sloppy writing or sloppy editing, or both.
September 28, 2012
Na realidade são 3,5*
Espionagem, conspiração, parentes e afins... tudo aquilo a que Daniel Silva nos tem vindo a habituar.
E, ao contrário do que pensava, porque tenho um "carinho" especial pelo Gabriel Allon, gostei. Conseguiu mesmo, prender-me desde o início. Acção bem desenvolvida, sem momentos mortos e apesar de não sentir pelo Osbourne a mesma empatia que sinto pelo Allon, achei-o uma personagem interessante!
É um livro que se lê bastante bem.
Espionagem, conspiração, parentes e afins... tudo aquilo a que Daniel Silva nos tem vindo a habituar.
E, ao contrário do que pensava, porque tenho um "carinho" especial pelo Gabriel Allon, gostei. Conseguiu mesmo, prender-me desde o início. Acção bem desenvolvida, sem momentos mortos e apesar de não sentir pelo Osbourne a mesma empatia que sinto pelo Allon, achei-o uma personagem interessante!
É um livro que se lê bastante bem.
March 24, 2020
“He painted the scenes around the villa—the seascapes, the clusters of whitewashed cottages, the flowers on the hillsides, the old men taking wine and olives at the taverna. The villa reflected the changing colors of each passing day: a dusty pink at dawn, a filtered raw sienna at dusk...”
I love everything about Silva’s novels. Not great literature. Not deeply thought-provoking. Simply a magical escape in the form of a perfectly written spy thriller. A fast-paced, can’t put it down plot coupled with geo-political intrigue. Not as lovable as his series with the Israeli spy and artist, Gabriel Allon - but pretty close and still a smart and beautiful binge-worthy book. Perfect, evocative descriptions of places and characters that draw you into the story while reality evaporates around you...
I love everything about Silva’s novels. Not great literature. Not deeply thought-provoking. Simply a magical escape in the form of a perfectly written spy thriller. A fast-paced, can’t put it down plot coupled with geo-political intrigue. Not as lovable as his series with the Israeli spy and artist, Gabriel Allon - but pretty close and still a smart and beautiful binge-worthy book. Perfect, evocative descriptions of places and characters that draw you into the story while reality evaporates around you...
June 20, 2019
This was Silva's second novel, published in 1998. It and his third novel (published in 1999) had Michael Osbourne as the main character. Then Silva started the Gabriel Allon series and the Osbourne stopped. The 19th Gabriel Allon book is due out in July 2019 - one a year since 2000. While Silva's style is apparent in this book, it is not refined and the book, while decent, is not as good as the Allon series. There are a couple of characters in this book who are in the Allon series. Ari Shamron makes a brief appearance in a role that is completely inconsistent with his role in the Allon series, while Adrian Carter has a role that is similar to that he has in the Allon series.
Osbourne's wife Elizabeth has a key role in this tale, but she and her actions are not particularly realistic. Osbourne works for the CIA. He used to be in the field but had been pulled into Langley when it became clear that his cover was blown when his then girlfriend was murdered. He's been looking for her killer (without official sanction) for years. Suddenly, her killer seems to be the same one somehow involved with the blowing of an American airliner out of the sky with a stinger missle. Osbourne is soon on the list of people that an international group (comprised of intellience officials, billionaires, and others) with a whole lot of money wants killed. An ex-Russian assassin, operating independently since the fall of communism in the USSR, named October is being paid a million dollars a hit to take out those on the list. Osbourne, unlike everyone else on the list, keeps surviving. As in all of Silva's books, lots of people die and there is a lot of tension and politics.
Osbourne's wife Elizabeth has a key role in this tale, but she and her actions are not particularly realistic. Osbourne works for the CIA. He used to be in the field but had been pulled into Langley when it became clear that his cover was blown when his then girlfriend was murdered. He's been looking for her killer (without official sanction) for years. Suddenly, her killer seems to be the same one somehow involved with the blowing of an American airliner out of the sky with a stinger missle. Osbourne is soon on the list of people that an international group (comprised of intellience officials, billionaires, and others) with a whole lot of money wants killed. An ex-Russian assassin, operating independently since the fall of communism in the USSR, named October is being paid a million dollars a hit to take out those on the list. Osbourne, unlike everyone else on the list, keeps surviving. As in all of Silva's books, lots of people die and there is a lot of tension and politics.
March 18, 2018
I’m rounding down on this one. It’s a compelling story with multiple layers of intrigue, a ruthless assassin, and a CIA agent who has to be coy around his wife, who wants nothing but stability and to start a family. There are passages full of action and suspense, and others I glazed over. This was not a book that I “had” to keep reading. In fact, I digested it over six nights in pretty equal chunks. And yet it’s the kind of book that could easily be turned into a Hollywood movie that would net $100 million at the box office.
April 18, 2023
It took me a couple of weeks to finish The Mark of the Assassin by Daniel Silva but I faithfully returned to it and pleased that I did. As one advances in the reading, the pace picks up, and the reader becomes entangled it the storyline. At times I thought it would come up on the news, or I would read the continuation in the newspaper. It thrills, scares, intrigues. I will look for the second book of the series for I enjoy well written spy novels that span several continents.
May 22, 2017
I'm going to give this series a shot. I liked book one, though I hate having to start with a story that has floppy discs in it (everything is so dated), but it really didn't affect the story much. This book is a spy thriller. Not bad. I listened to the audio book in a day. I'll probably read the next one
January 14, 2018
This is more 4.5/5 Stars. I really wanted this to be as good as the Gabriel Allon series, but it wasn’t. Maybe because the CIA doesn’t let its operatives go full archangel on someone like Israel does. Or maybe Michael just doesn’t have that beautiful personality and unrelenting drive to avenge his people like Gabriel does. Either way, it was a good book and I recommend it.
October 20, 2019
A profoundly suspenseful and entertaining book. The story draws in the reader with constant anticipation on what will happen next. The plot is a mystery that unfolds and gets the reader thinking about scenarios for the characters which activates the imagination. A great book when you're taking a break from non-fiction and just want to read an interesting story.
July 23, 2025
Ebenso spannend wie all seine anderen Bücher die ich bis jetzt gelesen habe. Diesmal ist die Darstellung der weiblichen Charaktere eher ein bisschen im Hintergrund, aber dennoch positiv. dies könnte daran liegen, dass dieses Buch wirklich schon etwas älter ist. Die Sprache und der Stil sind super entspannt zu lesen.
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