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jecamp86's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite in the series
This book is fine but lacks an exciting finish. The characters are still great and interesting but the story itself felt flat and missed in the end.
This book is fine but lacks an exciting finish. The characters are still great and interesting but the story itself felt flat and missed in the end.
ecari's review against another edition
3.0
There isn't really anything surprising about Silva's books, once you've read (or listened) to more than 2 of the Gabriel Allon series. However, they are a great read/listen; totally captivating, and no one tell my husband-to-be that I'm more than a little bit in love with Gabriel.
asteroidbuckle's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe I've read too many Gabriel Allon books in a row, but this one fell a teensy bit flat for me. It was good, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't great. I never reached the point of "I just can't put it down." It was a nice change of pace for the bad guy to be someone other than an Islamic extremist (this time, it's a Russian oligarch named Ivan Kharkov who's just selling weapons to the Islamic extremists), but the story felt a little contrived.
Gabriel's honeymoon gets interrupted by Shamron (who else?), who wants him to "run a little errand in Rome." Which, of course, turns into something with international implications and another in an endless line of threats to Israel.
Enter Ivan Kharkov. He's one of Russia's nouveau riche who makes his money legitimately and, more often than not, not-so-legitimately. He's got a handful of young, nubile mistresses and an army of bodyguards and more money than morals. It turns out, his wife (who's the one with the conscience) rats him out and that's how Gabriel and his team get involved. Good ol' Ivan is selling weapons to al-Qaeda and guess who they're gonna use 'em on? You got it: the Crusaders and the Jews.
The rest of the book is filled with clever schemes and perfectly planned maneuvers that, of course, go slightly awry. Nothing ever goes smoothly in these books, 'cause if it did, it would be dull. The single eye roll- and groan-inducing moment came towards the end when Gabriel finds himself the beneficiary of a very fortunate turn of events, thereby saving his life and the lives of the other protagnonists. A little too easy, even for Gabriel. Even for me.
There is one splendid section, though, where Gabriel and his team are recruiting Elena Kharkov (Ivan's traitorous wife). The whole thing is set up as a little "afternoon delight" between Elena and one of the Israeli agents. The way the whole ruse is carried out is very clever, exciting, and well done. It is almost a shame that the actual infidelity isn't real.
Ivan is appropriately evil and hateable. Elena is appropriately disgusted and strong-willed. And Gabriel is appropriately clever, brave, and beaten up.
All in all, an enjoyable read, but not Silva's best.
Gabriel's honeymoon gets interrupted by Shamron (who else?), who wants him to "run a little errand in Rome." Which, of course, turns into something with international implications and another in an endless line of threats to Israel.
Enter Ivan Kharkov. He's one of Russia's nouveau riche who makes his money legitimately and, more often than not, not-so-legitimately. He's got a handful of young, nubile mistresses and an army of bodyguards and more money than morals. It turns out, his wife (who's the one with the conscience) rats him out and that's how Gabriel and his team get involved. Good ol' Ivan is selling weapons to al-Qaeda and guess who they're gonna use 'em on? You got it: the Crusaders and the Jews.
The rest of the book is filled with clever schemes and perfectly planned maneuvers that, of course, go slightly awry. Nothing ever goes smoothly in these books, 'cause if it did, it would be dull. The single eye roll- and groan-inducing moment came towards the end when Gabriel finds himself the beneficiary of a very fortunate turn of events, thereby saving his life and the lives of the other protagnonists. A little too easy, even for Gabriel. Even for me.
There is one splendid section, though, where Gabriel and his team are recruiting Elena Kharkov (Ivan's traitorous wife). The whole thing is set up as a little "afternoon delight" between Elena and one of the Israeli agents. The way the whole ruse is carried out is very clever, exciting, and well done. It is almost a shame that the actual infidelity isn't real.
Ivan is appropriately evil and hateable. Elena is appropriately disgusted and strong-willed. And Gabriel is appropriately clever, brave, and beaten up.
All in all, an enjoyable read, but not Silva's best.
linsophie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Murder and Gun violence
Minor: Antisemitism and Suicide
lisaarnsdorf's review against another edition
4.0
The title is a little misleading - this book takes place in almost every country in Europe plus a few other continents to boot! Interesting Allon book that unravels the life of a Russian arms dealer. Fast paced to the very end!