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rosemariew's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
jecamp86's review against another edition
4.0
One of the best series
This book is another terrific addition to this great series. It's so fast paced and interesting one you're done with the book you're ready for the next one.
This book is another terrific addition to this great series. It's so fast paced and interesting one you're done with the book you're ready for the next one.
mpetruce's review against another edition
2.0
Not too bad. A lot of the usual setup, and the book really gets going once the op that ends each book gets going.
This particular book suffers a little bit from previously established hyper-competency. If the the Israeli secret services knew about all these bad guys as bad guys, I'm not sure they needed the catastrophe that starts the book as a catalyst.
One big problem I had: a big reveal that just ... happens. Also, there was a small loose end that never got tied up.
But still a fun series that I will continue with.
This particular book suffers a little bit from previously established hyper-competency. If the the Israeli secret services knew about all these bad guys as bad guys, I'm not sure they needed the catastrophe that starts the book as a catalyst.
One big problem I had: a big reveal that just ... happens.
Spoiler
So, when the bad guys discover that there is a spy in their midst, they reveal themselves to the spy (by monologuing, of course) but neither the spy, nor the leader, learns how they knew in such great detail. They just did. And then closer to the end, there's yet another "Suddenly! This guy was revealed to be a bad guy!"But still a fun series that I will continue with.
asteroidbuckle's review against another edition
4.0
Another great installment in this terrific series.
Gabriel Allon, super spy and world-reknown art restorer, is back, this time on the trail of a major Saudi terrorist who has been staging major attacks all over the world and who has something nefarious planned for the Vatican.
Having been exposed to the world in the last book, Prince of Fire, it has become increasingly difficult for Gabriel to go anywhere in Europe without being recognized. This, of course, makes it challenging to trail a man who has more layers of security than the president of the United States (and more money, too).
Gabriel isn't without help, though. Shamron, his mentor and father-figure, is out of commission after a terrorist attack, but the team he used in the last book is still intact. Also in play are two Americans: a CIA agent and a woman named Sarah who is recruited to be the "man inside" the bad guy's inner circle.
We also get to see Luigi Donati and Pope Paul VII again, two characters central to the plots of two previous books, The Confessor and A Death in Vienna. I love that Silva revisits old friends, who supply a vast and powerful support system for Gabriel.
Needless to say, things go south. But like the Mounties, Gabriel & company always get their man. And Gabriel's master plan on how to get Sarah into al-Bakari's (the bad guy) inner sanctum is ingenious and (of course) revolves around art.
Gabriel also finally tells Leah that he wants to marry Chiara. I personally haven't warmed to Chiara, but Gabriel deserves a little happiness, so hey...who am I to argue? Next stop: reproduction, no doubt.
I'm looking forward to the next two books, which are ready and waiting for me. Now that Gabriel is known worldwide, it should be interesting to see what Silva does to him next.
This series, six books in, is still riveting and fun. I consider Gabriel Allon a friend.
Gabriel Allon, super spy and world-reknown art restorer, is back, this time on the trail of a major Saudi terrorist who has been staging major attacks all over the world and who has something nefarious planned for the Vatican.
Having been exposed to the world in the last book, Prince of Fire, it has become increasingly difficult for Gabriel to go anywhere in Europe without being recognized. This, of course, makes it challenging to trail a man who has more layers of security than the president of the United States (and more money, too).
Gabriel isn't without help, though. Shamron, his mentor and father-figure, is out of commission after a terrorist attack, but the team he used in the last book is still intact. Also in play are two Americans: a CIA agent and a woman named Sarah who is recruited to be the "man inside" the bad guy's inner circle.
We also get to see Luigi Donati and Pope Paul VII again, two characters central to the plots of two previous books, The Confessor and A Death in Vienna. I love that Silva revisits old friends, who supply a vast and powerful support system for Gabriel.
Needless to say, things go south. But like the Mounties, Gabriel & company always get their man. And Gabriel's master plan on how to get Sarah into al-Bakari's (the bad guy) inner sanctum is ingenious and (of course) revolves around art.
Gabriel also finally tells Leah that he wants to marry Chiara. I personally haven't warmed to Chiara, but Gabriel deserves a little happiness, so hey...who am I to argue? Next stop: reproduction, no doubt.
I'm looking forward to the next two books, which are ready and waiting for me. Now that Gabriel is known worldwide, it should be interesting to see what Silva does to him next.
This series, six books in, is still riveting and fun. I consider Gabriel Allon a friend.
hjh's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe more like a 2.5. Was perfectly fine, but nothing special.
m3l89's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely the best book read in 2021 so far, and my personal favourite out of the first 6 books in the Gabriel Allon series. I'm always amazed at how expertly and quickly Daniel Silva manages to convey information, by 15 pages in I was surprised at how much information had been provided and that I was so few pages into the book. I'm always intrigued by the mixture of fact and fiction and how they seamlessly fit together. The facts and history of the conflict is obviously factual (or based in) but the art references etc could be another matter.
lmcneil's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Still a good read and I was interested in the story, but it seemed to be a lot more setting up the operation than the action of his previous books, so the ending seemed very rushed. I would have liked less lead up to the climax and more details in Part Four of the book.
jackie_shimkus's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
vaderbird's review against another edition
4.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish