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jeanetterenee's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good story. I was due for a little espionage and international intrigue. Silva includes a lot of stuff that is close to reality, which makes the story a little more edgy and also disturbing. It's sad to know that the Russian people are not really much better off or more "free" since the fall of communism. (Except that they are allowed to leave the country now.)
I'd heard things about the Russian "mafia" and the oligarchy that presides since capitalism swept in, and also about the underground arms trading. Maybe more than we want to know if we want to sleep at night.
I'd heard things about the Russian "mafia" and the oligarchy that presides since capitalism swept in, and also about the underground arms trading. Maybe more than we want to know if we want to sleep at night.
bmwpalmer's review against another edition
4.0
The thinking man's Dan Brown. This one was all the more interesting for having lived there.
pussreboots's review against another edition
2.0
Moscow Rules is the eighth book in the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva. Allon is a art restorer and former Israeli Mossad agent. In this book Allon's attention moves from historical crimes to a present day case involving arms sales to al-Quaeda.
The choice of topic is an interesting follow-up to last week's Booking Through Thursday question. As I stated in my answer, I haven't shied away from books involving modern day terrorists. Nonetheless, Deb's question did sit in the back of my mind as I read Moscow Rules.
Coming into a series eight books in and with a change of direction, it's difficult to gauge the success of the book. The first hundred pages or is so focused on establishing the segue with the last book and setting up the change of direction. The actual plot involving a forged Mary Cassatt and a wife's betrayal of her arms dealing husband doesn't come into play until the halfway point of the novel. A four hundred page mystery shouldn't be one hundred pages of "in the last episode" followed by another hundred pages of teaser for the current plot.
Moscow Rules is a run of the mill international thriller. The second half is tighter and faster paced than the first half. It reminds me at times of a novelization of a James Bond film by someone who had never read the Ian Fleming novels.
The entire list of books in the series is:
1. The Kill Artist (2000)
2. The English Assassin (2002)
3. The Confessor (2003)
4. A Death in Vienna (2004)
5. Prince of Fire (2005)
6. The Messenger (2006)
7. The Secret Servant (2007)
8. Moscow Rules (2008)
The choice of topic is an interesting follow-up to last week's Booking Through Thursday question. As I stated in my answer, I haven't shied away from books involving modern day terrorists. Nonetheless, Deb's question did sit in the back of my mind as I read Moscow Rules.
Coming into a series eight books in and with a change of direction, it's difficult to gauge the success of the book. The first hundred pages or is so focused on establishing the segue with the last book and setting up the change of direction. The actual plot involving a forged Mary Cassatt and a wife's betrayal of her arms dealing husband doesn't come into play until the halfway point of the novel. A four hundred page mystery shouldn't be one hundred pages of "in the last episode" followed by another hundred pages of teaser for the current plot.
Moscow Rules is a run of the mill international thriller. The second half is tighter and faster paced than the first half. It reminds me at times of a novelization of a James Bond film by someone who had never read the Ian Fleming novels.
The entire list of books in the series is:
1. The Kill Artist (2000)
2. The English Assassin (2002)
3. The Confessor (2003)
4. A Death in Vienna (2004)
5. Prince of Fire (2005)
6. The Messenger (2006)
7. The Secret Servant (2007)
8. Moscow Rules (2008)
shannonmcewen's review against another edition
5.0
This one was really fun too. Is it bad that I think these kinds of books are fun? Whatever. They're totally fun.
texasreadergirl's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Daniel Silva/Gabriel Allon; I thought I was actually reading THE first GA book in the series. Oh well! I thoroughly enjoyed it and am a new fan. I plan to go back and start at the beginning.
bkbarons's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps it is because I haven't read the Allon series in a while, but I really thought this addition was great. Loved the action and pacing of the book and the interactions with Elena. Slightly disappointed with the intro of a newish 'save the day' character at the end of the book, but other than that, this was a great addition to a great spy/thriller series.
kartiknarayanan's review against another edition
5.0
Moscow Rules, rules!
I liked this book due to two reasons. The first is the presence of everybody's second favourite villain - the FSB (KGB). And the second is how pragmatic the story is as well as its ending.
The FSB ends up being a pretty menacing villain but Daniel Silva does a hatchet job on the organisation, Russia and everyone associated with the country - which seems to be par for the course for Western writers these days.
But still, the book is great, the action excellent, the story gripping and Gabriel ends up kicking ass.
I liked this book due to two reasons. The first is the presence of everybody's second favourite villain - the FSB (KGB). And the second is how pragmatic the story is as well as its ending.
The FSB ends up being a pretty menacing villain but Daniel Silva does a hatchet job on the organisation, Russia and everyone associated with the country - which seems to be par for the course for Western writers these days.
But still, the book is great, the action excellent, the story gripping and Gabriel ends up kicking ass.
coolhand773's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable. Nothing ground-breaking, but nice to have a book in the series explore some of the history outside of the ME. Good read.
dylancampbell's review against another edition
3.0
Another fine installment in Silva's Gabriel Allon series. More international intrigue and suspense featuring the characters you know and love.