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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
.....it’s got...potential.... I didn’t really like the way relationships between people felt flat, shallow. Definitely old-fashioned.
But, good narrative, good plot. Will probably read more.
But, good narrative, good plot. Will probably read more.
A quick read and entry into the Gabriel Allon series. I was hoping for a book with a lot of depth, but this doesn't have it. Just typical stereotypes. The writing is interesting, with a quick flow & great descriptions. But it felt average.
Plus the main character really doesn't do much. Sarah is.
I like the premise of the Gabriel. I will try the next book to see if the author improves the depth.
Plus the main character really doesn't do much. Sarah is.
I like the premise of the Gabriel. I will try the next book to see if the author improves the depth.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Gabriel Allon has retired from The Office. He was an operative for too long and his wife and child were assassinated as a result. He lives in a remote part of Cornwall, restoring old paintings and avoiding people. However, his peace is coming to an end, Ari Shamron has returned as head of The Office and convinces Allon to come out of retirement to track down and kill Tariq, the PLO terrorist responsible for the murder of many Jews, including Allon's wife and child. Working outside the hierarchy of The Office, Allon reports directly to Shamron and begins tracking Tariq. Allon brings in another woman he was worked with before, a fashion model from Paris, who is actually another agent of The Office. But, Tariq is dying of a brain tumor and he wants to disrupt the peace accord being signed at the U.N. Who is his target, besides Allon? Tariq wants to kill Allon as much as Allon wants to kill him. The cat-and-mouse game is taut and adrenaline-filled. Which assassin will succeed? I have read a few of the more recent Allon books and decided to go back and start at the beginning. There are a lot to catch up!
So many folks have recommended Silva (and his instrument, Allon) to me over the years, that I feel badly I didn't try this series earlier. This was plenty good enough, and I expect I'll give the series another try.
Granted, I don't exactly need another series, but, maybe, since Joe Nesbo wrapped up his efforts with Harry Hole, this could fall into that rotation. At the same time, there was more than a taste of John Le Carre or, I dunno, Alan Furst's Night Soldiers in play here. My gut says there is more complexity potentially in play down the road than, for example, in Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Less literary than, say, James Lee Burke (which, of course, is cops/detective, not spies), but more artfully crafted than, say, Fleming's James Bond. Heavier, and more serious, and more modern than Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax, but still plenty of borders crossed. But, for airplane reading, why not?
On its face the premise is interesting - former Mossad (Israeli intelligence, covert operator) drawn back into the fold after having walked away and devoted himself to art restoration. And, for me, the set up was the best part. Even though many of the players fell into stereotype, I thought the foundation worked sufficiently well to suck me into the drama.
Alas, as much as I enjoyed meeting the characters, I was disappointed with the concluding sections, which seemed rushed and a little disjointed. (OK, I went back and read the last few chapters again, and I'm not sure that helped.)
Full disclosure - the protagonist (the hunter) is Israeli and the enemy (the hunted, the prey?) is Arab/Palestinian. While there is a surprising amount of effort devoted to balance, it is what it is. And plenty of energy goes into role reversal and questioning assumptions, but isn't that what's supposed to happen in this genre?
Granted, I don't exactly need another series, but, maybe, since Joe Nesbo wrapped up his efforts with Harry Hole, this could fall into that rotation. At the same time, there was more than a taste of John Le Carre or, I dunno, Alan Furst's Night Soldiers in play here. My gut says there is more complexity potentially in play down the road than, for example, in Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Less literary than, say, James Lee Burke (which, of course, is cops/detective, not spies), but more artfully crafted than, say, Fleming's James Bond. Heavier, and more serious, and more modern than Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax, but still plenty of borders crossed. But, for airplane reading, why not?
On its face the premise is interesting - former Mossad (Israeli intelligence, covert operator) drawn back into the fold after having walked away and devoted himself to art restoration. And, for me, the set up was the best part. Even though many of the players fell into stereotype, I thought the foundation worked sufficiently well to suck me into the drama.
Alas, as much as I enjoyed meeting the characters, I was disappointed with the concluding sections, which seemed rushed and a little disjointed. (OK, I went back and read the last few chapters again, and I'm not sure that helped.)
Full disclosure - the protagonist (the hunter) is Israeli and the enemy (the hunted, the prey?) is Arab/Palestinian. While there is a surprising amount of effort devoted to balance, it is what it is. And plenty of energy goes into role reversal and questioning assumptions, but isn't that what's supposed to happen in this genre?
A friend recommended this author and I enjoyed this first book in a lengthy series. It's somewhat Ludlum like - international spy for the Israeli government. I'm reading the 2nd in the series now :).
Just days after I had declared the Gabriel Allon series my favorite on Goodreads, I got The Order on my Kindle.
Boy was I disappointed. There are maybe 20 pages of action, and the first half of the book was mostly Catholic history, doctrine, and dogma.
My lead favorite in the series by miles.
Boy was I disappointed. There are maybe 20 pages of action, and the first half of the book was mostly Catholic history, doctrine, and dogma.
My lead favorite in the series by miles.
Oh, a poorly written Arab conspiracy against the West. How novel. And I would rather watch paint dry than read any more of the embarrassingly pretentious and vainglorious descriptions of art restoration. What utter rubbish.
I love Daniel Silva’s books, and it’s been a while since I’ve read them from the beginning. As such, I started over.
It’s fun to see how Silva has changed as an author, and Gabriel as a character. In his newer books, there is less language, and more nuanced scenarios.
It’s fun to see how Silva has changed as an author, and Gabriel as a character. In his newer books, there is less language, and more nuanced scenarios.
Super, super book. I’ve been listening to this in the car, and at first I was a bit concerned that I wasn’t going to like it. It took me a few hours to get through the set-up. However, once the “action” started, I was hooked. Gabriel is the moodiest spy you’ll ever fall in love with, and I hope there is more of Jacqueline later in this series. The information about the Israel/Palestine conflict is as timely as ever. If you like espionage, intrigue, and international politics, you must give this a try.