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jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
I'm working my way through the Gabriel Allon series. This is the 7th in the series and it feels very repetitive and formulaic, like a mash up of previous books. Once again we start with Gabriel Allon being sent to Europe to clean up after the death of an Israeli source. Once again he is identified almost immediately because he's possibly the most inept agent ever. Then it merges into a kidnap plot with elements of The Messenger and Allon proves useless at i) hostage negotiation and ii) rescue, but somehow emerges wth his reputation more enhanced than ever. The ending drags on and is underwhelming.
The book is also let down by the leaden dialogue - people speaking in explanations, saying things like: "you mean the covenant that forbids you from operating on European soil without first obtaining permission from the security service of the country involved" or "Islamic extremism is just the latest virus to thrive in Europe's nurturing environment" - people don't talk like that!
On the plus side, the pace is good, it feels topical and has a great sense of location.
The book is also let down by the leaden dialogue - people speaking in explanations, saying things like: "you mean the covenant that forbids you from operating on European soil without first obtaining permission from the security service of the country involved" or "Islamic extremism is just the latest virus to thrive in Europe's nurturing environment" - people don't talk like that!
On the plus side, the pace is good, it feels topical and has a great sense of location.
fotoshopguy52's review against another edition
5.0
The Secret Servant is a bit of a diversion from the previous novels in the Gabriel Allon series, as it is somewhat more an Action-Mystery story rather than a Spy novel. IMHO, this has it's plusses and minuses, as I found this story to be slightly more uneven than the previous novels of the Gabriel Allon series, as I was not fully invested at all times.
However, that being said, there was a strong finish, and overall, I did enjoy it very much. Also, more importantly, what I enjoy about the Gabriel Allon series is the ongoing development and growth of the characters. It is one thing to feel a personal interest in a book's characters, but quite another to feel as though you have come to know and love them, and to enjoy their banter as though they were real people.
On to Moscow Rules!
However, that being said, there was a strong finish, and overall, I did enjoy it very much. Also, more importantly, what I enjoy about the Gabriel Allon series is the ongoing development and growth of the characters. It is one thing to feel a personal interest in a book's characters, but quite another to feel as though you have come to know and love them, and to enjoy their banter as though they were real people.
On to Moscow Rules!
historybooksandtea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jannenemarie's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this book. It was a great novel. The characters were believable and convincing. The plot took many twists and turns. I just don't like Chira. I find her a needy, insecure woman which is surprising for the kind of job that she does.
cherircohen's review against another edition
4.0
I borrowed this from a friend and was skeptical but was pleasantly surprised. This was really entertaining - a page turner and a very quick, easy read. Lots of plot twists, easy to follow, engaging characters and tense. I really enjoyed it.
siggi_hrafn's review against another edition
4.0
More topical than most of his recent books. Mr. Silva takes on the rising islamism in Europe and the uneasy alliance/appeasement by European governments. Terrorists strike in London, again, and this time murder more than 300 citizens and kidnap one prominent USA woman. The focus of the book is then on the rescue of said woman, and somehow the greater atrocity of mass slaughter is glossed over, probably in order to keep the plot more humanized and personal. Gabriel is more cynical, pessimistic and cold in this novel - though still the epitome of the dangerous professional.
Great read and more emotionally charged than the recent books in the series.
Great read and more emotionally charged than the recent books in the series.
awaters99's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
susangiardina's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fantastic -- kept me enthralled from the start. I am reading in order all the Gabriel Allon books by Daniel Silva, having been hooked from the first one. They've all been great, but this one was outstanding. The pressure and tension builds, all the way to the end as Gabriel travels moves through Amsterdam, Copenhagen and London in search of the killers of a trusted Israeli informant and kidnappers of the daughter of the American ambassador to England. What was also compelling, besides Gabriel's usual incisive mind and amazing competence, was all the information about the Muslim extremist network in Europe and how they think and function. It will make most of us very nervous. I don't know if Silva is a Middle East strategic thinker extraordinaire, or if he used a crystal ball when he wrote in 2007 of the events that took place in Egypt and the middle east last year. It makes me shiver to wonder if true, many other things he has written about that would be catastrophic if they too come to pass. A tight, very exciting book. Read it!