Book Review - The Other Woman

The Other Woman by Daniel Silva

(cover blurb) She was his best kept secret – a mysterious Frenchwoman begins work on a dangerous memoir. It is a story of a man she once loved in the Beirut of old, and a child taken from her in treason’s name. The woman is the keeper of the Kremlin’s most closely guarded secret. Long ago, the KGB inserted a mole into the heart of the West – a mole who stands on the doorstep of ultimate power.

And of course who shall come to the rescue of civilization?  Gabriel Allon -  art restorer, assassin, chief of Israel secret intelligence – is back to reluctantly join in a quest to thwart treason, restore global order, and of course, arrive home safe to the arms of his lovely Italian wife, Chiara, and their twins. Gabriel is getting older, more world weary, and yet those deep green eyes burn when there are wrongs to be righted.

Daniel Silva knows how to keep pages turning. Double crosses. Twists. World travel locations. Whirlwind espionage with the strongest cast of characters around. I’ve written plenty of Silva reviews on this blog. Add The Other Woman to my list of compelling reads. Silva is scary current with a pulse on our fragile world situation. Reading his work is like having the key to our future. Now, who’s our Gabriel Allon? He can conquer the bad guys…gotta love fiction. (or scary truth?)  Enjoy!

Book Review - House of Spies by Daniel Silva

Count on Daniel Silva to raise the summer alert to must read suspense thriller. House of Spies is his latest with our favorite reluctant hero, Gabriel Allon.  From the cover blurb – Allon is back and out for revenge, determined to hunt down the world’s most dangerous terrorist, a shadowy ISIS mastermind known only as Saladin.  There’s a trail of carnage in London’s West End. The attack is brilliant except for one loose thread: the French-Moroccan street criminal and ISIS operative who supplied the combat assault rifles.

Threads lead Allon and his team to Jean Luc Martel. From Saint-Tropez to Casablanca, a trail of money and connections are pieced together. Roles are played. British, American, and Israeli forces work together to fight the global war on terror. Our favorite heroine from the previous book, The Black Widow, is back. Altogether, Gabriel is the skilled hand with the vision to take the time to do it right.

From the cover blurb: House of Spies is more than just riveting entertainment: it is a dazzling tale of avarice and redemption, set against the backdrop of our times.

Daniel Silva obviously does his research. He has an awesome character with Allon and I enjoy our battle tested Israeli leader, art restorer, calm influence, and concerned world citizen. Good writing, interesting world settings, and well-paced tension will keep you turning pages. Silva has another winner.

Book Review - The Black Widow by Daniel Silva

Daniel Silva’s The Black Widow is one of the best, I think, in his Gabriel Allon series. From start to finish it will keep you turning pages and also marveling at the author’s skill in capturing our dangerous world today. It’s almost ripped from the headlines authentic or will be soon. Silva definitely does his research and must talk to folks in high places. Very impressive.

Gabriel Allon is an art restorer by trade, but also a legendary spy for “The Office”, Israel’s premier group. As Allon is about to become the new chief, he’s back into the field for an operation. ISIS detonated a bomb in Paris, and one man’s name keeps appearing – Saladin. How to find him? How to get into the network? Gabriel taps an extraordinary woman – a doctor, a Jew, and a woman willing to take the risk to don the clothes and persona of a “black widow” – females willing to work for the caliphate, willing to die for ISIS.

As the mission crosses borders into dangerous territory, Natalie must maintain her poise and conviction to fool Saladin and lead Allon and crew to a fateful night. This is tick-tock watch the clock on your bomb vest nerves on edge writing. Forget your nightly news. Delve into The Black Widow as an alternative. The world is scary. We have to root and support the good guys. Enjoy a gutsy read.

Book Review: The English Spy by Daniel Silva

A bomb explodes. Unfortunately it kills a very famous woman. British intelligence must turn to Gabriel Allon – legendary spy and assassin – to find Eamon Quinn. He’s a mercenary bomb maker and elusive lead to a higher power. Fortunately, Gabriel has the help of Christopher Keller, a British commando turned assassin. There’s a lot of killing ahead. Exotic locations. Elite spies. Only author Daniel Silva can thread the needle, pulling together a scattered set of clues, to tighten the noose. In The English Spy, he succeeds in looking to the past to find reasons for today’s incidents that help predict the future.  

As per the cover blurb: And though he does not realize it, Gabriel Allon is stalking an old enemy – a cabal of evil that wants nothing more than to see him dead. Gabriel will find it necessary to oblige them, for when a man is out for vengeance, death has its distinct advantages.  

And to heighten the tension timetable, Gabriel’s beloved wife, Chiara, is expecting twins. 

Twists and turns abound. I thought the book started a tad slow, but it soon ratcheted to a new level and I was enthralled. Silva knows how to spin a tale and make the pages turn. The English Spy is not one of his bests, but it’s worthy of a read. In these politically fraught days, Silva has his pulse on the world and has developed a very fine hero to save the day.

 

Book Review: The Heist

Daniel Silva knows how to write a thriller and The Heist does not disappoint. If you are a fan of Gabriel Allon – super Israeli spy/art restorer – then get set for quite a ride. Our favorite art dealer, Julian Isherwood, stumbled upon a dead body in Lake Como. He thought he was working an art deal, but the dead man is a fallen British spy. Uh-oh – he’s been trafficking stolen art for a collector. The most famous “lost” piece is Caravaggio’s Nativity with St.Francis and St.Lawrence.  

Gabriel tries to recover the Nativity. His forays to Paris, London, Corsica, and Austria dig deep into the underworld. The wealth of a brutal dictator (Syria) lead him and his crew (the best spies ever from Israeli intelligence) give him a chance to amass millions from this evil dynasty. But there’s a young woman’s life at stake. She works for the banker who moves the big bucks. She helps Gabriel, but through no fault of her own, is put in jeopardy. What is the resolution?  

The Heist is a page turner – art history guide, current events commentary, and just plain exciting. Gabriel’s wife, Chiara, is pregnant with twins so he has so many reasons to live. Daniel Silva’s writing is smooth, exciting, and exhilarating. You can pick up with Gabriel Allon on The Heist or start at the beginning. No matter what, you’ll be rooting for the good guys to win in a crazy world.

 

Book Review: The English Girl

The English Girl by Daniel Silva is another in the Gabriel Allon series. The brooding Israeli spy, who's master skill is art restoration, is reluctantly pulled back into service when an up and coming English girl is kidnapped. She's not just any young lady - she's the mistress of the Prime Minister. That throws a monkey wrench into the proceedings, not to mention other complications from Russian oil contracts. The story appears convoluted, but Silva leads us from the Corsican criminal underworld to the mountains of Provence, and then to Moscow with masterful writing, strong characters, and foreign intrigue.

What were the true motives behind Madeline Hart's disappearance? As per the cover blurb - "It is a timely reminder that, in today's world, money often matters more than ideology."

Author Talk: Daniel Silva

 Saturday July 21st, the Dallas Museum of Art hosted a special Arts & Letters Live event with author Daniel Silva. I have not read his new novel The Fallen Angel yet, but I'm a follower of lead character Gabriel Allon's adventures and I look forward to an exciting thriller. However, the talk delved much deeper - Silva's research, travels, world economic and political chat, and his view of publishing today were all on the evening's menu. We enjoyed appetizing plot teasers as well as deep dish opinions.

Mr. Silva began writing as a Middle East correspondent. After returning to Washington and working for CNN, he began his first novel, The Unlikely Spy. It wasn't until his fourth, The Kill Artist, that he created Gabriel Allon - an art restorer and Israeli secret agent. Now with his fifteenth book, Silva still doesn't bore us. He blends art, smuggling, danger, and world threatening secrets. Espionage, intrigue, and fascinating characters are the hallmarks of Silva's novels.

When asked, "Which is harder - writing the book or doing the book tour?" Mr. Silva laughed, paused, and said, "Well......I like meeting the readers, but the actual travel is a beating." He proceeded to tell some funny travel horror stories from his current tour. It's not glamorous.

Because the publishing industry is demanding, he'll return after Labor Day and hunker down to work on the next novel with the expectation that it will be completed by March 2013. He writes seven days a week, full work hours. His research is thorough and his editing precise.

He personally is not keen on social network expectations and prefers paper to e-books.  He works alone and doesn't "understand the idea of writer critique groups. I'm not reading my work to a bunch of people." Silva does run words by his wife, but otherwise, he relies on his own ability as a writer to produce product.

Daniel Silva was a delightful interview. His sense of humor and his obvious intelligence gave the audience a well-rounded sense of a quiet talented man. If you haven't read any of Silva's books, seek one out now and you'll be hooked.