Best Gabriel Allon novel for me so far

Well-paced, understandable (if you read/listen to spy novels, you'll know they can easily become convoluted) plot, and believable characters. Allon was his intense but in-control self, Chiara a bit more involved in this one. A few new characters were introduced, and I hope to see them again in future books. Interesting and for the most part, unpredictable. As usual, George Guidall's narration was perfect. He can read his grocery list to me and I'd probably be riveted.

13 people found this helpful

Gabriel's story takes huge strides

Gabriel Allon is finally aging, and finally realizing his human limitations. This story moves him around the board, and promises to change his career and family life. It is a great deal to accomplish in one book. The shows, as usual, an unwilling Gabriel called into action. But somehow he appears more human in this. By teaming up with former enemies who showed themselves to be as good as he was, he improves what the author tantalizingly alludes to as perhaps his last "secret" assassination assignment. All of Silva's books are excellent. It is interesting that he is allowing his protagonist to age and perhaps mellow. It will be interesting to see how far he carries that drift in subsequent books.

20 people found this helpful

Great story, Great narration but shame on Audible!

Another great story in the Gabriel Allon series. NOBODY but nobody reads a story better than George Guidall! Now, the bad news....
SHAME on Audible for releasing this recording which, like a dusty scratched old CD, does plenty of skipping and off-tracking throughout the book! How difficult is it to proof a recording before allowing hundreds of people to pay for a poor quality recording? Stick with it since its part of the Allon saga but don't be shy in requesting a refund credit for this one!

3 people found this helpful

Not for me!

While I am sure fans of Silva will enjoy this book, it is just not for me. I really don't want to read books about torture and trafficking in human beings. Just not to my taste at all. Perhaps such goes on in the world - I am not naive - but I choose fiction for entertainment and enlightenment. I do not choose to spend my leisure time with torture and violence. Just a personal preference, I am sure.

38 people found this helpful

Best Allon book to date

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. If you like spy adventures - Allon, and this book, are one of the best (thus far)

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?

Gabriel Allon, of course

Any additional comments?

If you like this series, you will most likely find this to be your favorite.

7 people found this helpful

Disappointing and slow

Any additional comments?

This was my first Daniel Silva book and probably my last. I've enjoyed the Mitch Rapp series written by Vince Flynn and also enjoyed David Baldacci novels as well so was looking for something similar from a new author. I found this to be a book that dragged on and was very slow in parts and with a constant deluge of me characters throughout, it became confusing. By the end it was a struggle to finish.

4 people found this helpful

A Positive Leap Back to Earlier Allon Novels!

I pre-ordered & finished reading/listening to this book not too long ago & was extremely happy with Silva's mew addition to the 'Gabriel Allon' series... Before I get into the review I want to send out my condolences & absolute shock at another's authors death in this similar writing genre... Vince Flynn will be missed & know after the next planned release of his last book before he died 'The Survivor' will be the last time we will truly read Rapp without another persons view, I just hope they don't turn it to absolute horrid ends similar to what happened to Jason Bourne, & all Robert Ludlums projects & legacy post death. Sorry for the tangent but the R.I.P. had to be written & I thought this would be a fitting place to put it in.

On to the book... The reason I enjoyed this book so thoroughly is because:

1. I felt the last few books (perhaps 3 out of 4) were not completely in line with the history of how Allon operates even though the books still ranged from pretty good to a great read. Too much Vatican, similar motives, etc... but it seems Silva is back to stories similar to 'Death in Vienna', 'Prince of Fire', etc... in my opinion a couple of his best novels. Part of the reason is because I read a more passionate, optimistic & wittier version of the Gabriel we know versus the one trapped in all the ghosts of past missions whether they were successful or not... I felt he was caught in a overall melancholy look on life & everything in it, not in this book!

2. A past character makes a major cameo in helping Allon, a person u would not think he would approach & what will happen when they interact & his 'partner' interacts within the country & his fellow countrymen he no longer acknowledges nor cares about?

3. The Allon series is not the same with many other series because Mossad or whoever is Allon is representing always involves a team... no entire 'lone rangers' compared to the 'one-man is an army' men-teal as Rapp (once again I cry for the series, Rapp is among the best if not my favorite counter-terrorism boogeyman). Allon & Mossad in general always has people that have purely one specific purpose, such as reconnaissance or target tracking, researchers that can be field operatives, triggerman or in Silva's description 'Allon without a conscience,' plus others that all work together to achieve the mission. Obviously Gabriel is the man moving the levers while in the field who always gives him the sense of team leader without ever having anyone even question this. I felt in the past few books their use was limited or called in after things happened to mop up. In this book u get to see all parts, Allon as a lone wolf & Allon within the constructs of his trusted team who Silva has done a great job creating in-depth backgrounds for by melding true history with some historical fiction.

4. The spy-craft we've come to love with Silva & Allon, there is a huge difference between the way a character like Gabriel Allon works & Mitch Rapp works (for anyone know doesn't know who Rapp is, read Flynn, Rapp is by far my favorite but that's because its almost like a recruiting book for readers who want to see how an operative can seriously 'bring the pain'). Rapp is similar but much more in ur face, systematically dismantling the opponent with extreme prejudice. Gabriel plays the espionage-counter espionage game, the 'cloak & dagger' fight with flair & a masters touch, just like the touch he uses when he restores art, the cover & work he could do at the top professional level even without any help from Mossad or any ABC agency.

I could go on about the subject of diff. characters from diff. authors for much longer but this is obv. about this particular book & not a discussion on Gabriel's specific prowess comparably speaking to other characters. I think it came to the surface mostly because of what happened to Flynn's untimely death & the noticeable change I saw between the last few books & how this book made a change that I felt was a positive movement. As the book starts all seems to be pointed on some type of hostage situation, but everything quickly disintegrates creating an iceberg like story, a small part of it on the surface but a huge portion under water, or in this case, the 'Russian/KGB' underbelly. There are many re-occurring characters friendly & deadly as Allon travels all over the world from England to Russia to find out who will feel his wrath but his character & team always ensures the reader knows that no well laid out plan ever survives 1st contact with the enemy. Its how they improvise, adapt, & finally overcome! The plot twits are done well & just like with all his books u feel the bruises he both gets & delivers... I couldn't put this book down or in this case I was always looking for a place to finish listening to the story, its just too bad the stories of many of these great authors are so quick when they are well written. Silva also ensures to involve a storyline with real world geo-political issues. Kudos to Silva for writing a superb book after a few above average ones that is almost re-creating Gabriel because his future is truly open to anything. Plus I don't need to mention Guidall is one of the best narrators... all of it equals a well written & entertaining espionage book.

11 people found this helpful

My favorite so far

Well crafted story with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the very end. I loved it. One of the best in the series.

6 people found this helpful

not their best

nicely written and engaging, certainly enjoyed Daniel Silva. no narrator can compare to Rene Auberjenios doing Pendergast

1 person found this helpful

Passable

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Enjoyed the expansion on Christopher Keller, but the story of Madeline was disjointed at best.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

George is the consummate professional. When listening to him you can believe that the characters are different people, unlike other narrators where it's obvious it's one man using dfferent inflections. I search books based on his narration more so than even the authors at this point; it's how I found Daniel Silva.

1 person found this helpful