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katebond's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD narrated by George Guidall
3***
From the book jacket: Former Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon is being called back into action and teamed with an agent as beautiful as she is deadly. Their target: a cunning Palestinian terrorist who played a dark part in Gabriel’s past.
My reactions
This is the first in a series starring Gabriel Allon, whose cover is that of an art restoration specialist. He’s paired with Jacqueline Delacroix, an international fashion model whose been groomed for just such assignments.
The action is fast and furious and sometimes confusing, as is to be expected in an espionage thriller. There are more twists and turns than a casual reader can keep track of. And a basic knowledge of of Israeli / Palestinian relationships and politics is necessary.
I’ll admit to losing interest in some of the more political scenes, but the basic intrigue and heart-stopping thriller scenes were very good. Silva definitely knows how to keep the reader turning pages, with virtually every chapter ending in a cliffhanger.
This is a long-running series, with over twenty books by now. But I doubt I’ll pick up another. Just not my cup of tea.
George Guidall does a reasonable job of performing the audio. He’s very good with different accents and does all the men very well, but his naturally deep and gravelly voice is not well-suited to voicing the women.
3***
From the book jacket: Former Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon is being called back into action and teamed with an agent as beautiful as she is deadly. Their target: a cunning Palestinian terrorist who played a dark part in Gabriel’s past.
My reactions
This is the first in a series starring Gabriel Allon, whose cover is that of an art restoration specialist. He’s paired with Jacqueline Delacroix, an international fashion model whose been groomed for just such assignments.
The action is fast and furious and sometimes confusing, as is to be expected in an espionage thriller. There are more twists and turns than a casual reader can keep track of. And a basic knowledge of of Israeli / Palestinian relationships and politics is necessary.
I’ll admit to losing interest in some of the more political scenes, but the basic intrigue and heart-stopping thriller scenes were very good. Silva definitely knows how to keep the reader turning pages, with virtually every chapter ending in a cliffhanger.
This is a long-running series, with over twenty books by now. But I doubt I’ll pick up another. Just not my cup of tea.
George Guidall does a reasonable job of performing the audio. He’s very good with different accents and does all the men very well, but his naturally deep and gravelly voice is not well-suited to voicing the women.
mjminkowich's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alidottie's review against another edition
3.0
This lived up to what I expected from other readers. I gave it fewer stars just because I personlally have aversion to reading of a woman put into the role of prostituting herself in order to accomplish the mission of the team. It may be reality, but it repulsed me.
gabmc's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first of the Gabriel Allon books and I have read it before, but years ago, and wanted to refresh myself before I read some of the latest books in the series. Gabriel Allon, like the Angel Gabriel, is an 'avenger' in the Biblical sense of the word. He is a highly trained assassin and also one of the world's foremost art restorers. He only wishes he could restore his wife, who is physically and mentally scarred in a bombing where she survived and their son didn't. This bombing was undertaken by Palestinian terrorist, Tariq. Gabriel now has the chance to seek revenge by killing Tariq in a top secret operation organised by his boss, Ari Shamron. I really enjoyed this book.
mary_elizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
icalyn_13's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up. It was a good first book in a series. Lots of room for growth and development of these characters and world, but this book started slowly and had a lot of back and forth that wasn't really necessary. Again: pet peeve are books that have multiple points of view that don't truly advance the story and this book is guilty of that...but I want to see what happens to Gabriel next.
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
After The Unlikely Spy, this was a disappointment. I was really in the mood for a great story dealing with terrorism and the Israel/Palestine conflict.
While this did have the right story setting, I found the characters, and the storyline flat. I flew through the last 100 pages just because I was ready to move on to something else.
Daniel Silva is a fine suspense writer, but The Unlikely Spy is a tough act to follow. I doubt I'll read any more of the Gabriel Allon series (of which this is the first).
While this did have the right story setting, I found the characters, and the storyline flat. I flew through the last 100 pages just because I was ready to move on to something else.
Daniel Silva is a fine suspense writer, but The Unlikely Spy is a tough act to follow. I doubt I'll read any more of the Gabriel Allon series (of which this is the first).
mikeyb111's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing story. The one that started the Gabriel Allon series. I've already read a couple books so decided I should go back and start at the beginning. :) Such an amazing story and characters. Excited to get through them all. Crazy twist at the end of this one!