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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
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.
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).
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
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!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a slow start and sort of anti-climactic but I am curious about the main protagonist, Gabriel Allon and will continue the series. Overall, it was ok; not great, but not terrible.
This is the first time I have ever decided to DNF a book club selection. The fact that it is a book club selection is the only thing that convinced me to go past chapter 1. But there is a good chance this is the worst book I have ever read in my life. First of all the whole thing is one big trope with not an ounce of originality in it. Also, the main character is a retired Mossad agent who restores paintings. Then Mossad decides to bring him in for one final kill. First of all, are you trying to tell me that in all of Mossad you don't have a single agent willing and able to hunt down your terrorist? Seriously? Mossad is probably the best secret service in the world. Surely someone there can hunt down the terrorist and kill him without bothering this poor guy who just wants to paint and float around on his boat. Really, why are you bothering him? Stop it! Leave the guy alone! The fact that you're dragging him back is just one big plot hole and doesn't make any sense and it just made me too angry. Every time I pick up this book I'm angry about the fact that the book exists. Anyway, also his wife and kid were killed by the terrorist years ago so now its personal, which seems like a really bad idea to let an agent for whom this terrorist is personal be your guy because he's going to be emotional and wreckless about it instead of cold and calculating. Which just makes the fact that they are dragging in this retired guy who is emotionally connected to the case instead of getting literally any random current Mossad agent to do the kill. Seriously. This is so stupid. It is so stupid that I find myself trying to find things to do besides reading because I know if I sit down to read I have to read a chapter of this book. So basically, I'm not going to read any more of this book. I'm sorry Jayne.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's been quite a while since I've read a spy thriller type book like this. It was a good entry in the genre and I'm excited to continue the series at some point. I landed here due to a podcast recommending this series to a caller that was looking to curb their spending. The podcast mentioned this series could be read out of order if the library didn't have the specific book they were on. I cannot imagine doing that. I don't think my brain would allow it. But more power to you if you can!
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a fun one. Good international spy thriller. Has potential to be one of my favorites, excited to get into more and see where it goes.