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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Israeli intelligence operative vs Palestinian terrorist
This is the first book in a series of 21 (and still counting!) books that features Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon. In this first book, it’s a cat and mouse game between Israeli agent Gabriel Allon and the Palestinian assassin Tariq. Each man is planning to kill the other, but only one man can prevail. Of course, as there is a series of Gabriel Allon books, you already know which man was successful. But nothing was easy. Tariq was appropriately ruthless, clever and elusive. And events would keep forcing Gabriel Allon’s plans to change.
The writing is very good. Locations are quite descriptive, so much so that you felt like you are right there with the characters. And the character themselves were well-drawn, so you felt like you got to know them as real people (rather than just as over-the-top superheroes or supervillains). And changing circumstances and plans-gone-awry kept the story exciting and suspenseful.
Bottom line: Simple kill-or-be-killed plot, but still a good spy drama with really good characters.
This is the first book in a series of 21 (and still counting!) books that features Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon. In this first book, it’s a cat and mouse game between Israeli agent Gabriel Allon and the Palestinian assassin Tariq. Each man is planning to kill the other, but only one man can prevail. Of course, as there is a series of Gabriel Allon books, you already know which man was successful. But nothing was easy. Tariq was appropriately ruthless, clever and elusive. And events would keep forcing Gabriel Allon’s plans to change.
The writing is very good. Locations are quite descriptive, so much so that you felt like you are right there with the characters. And the character themselves were well-drawn, so you felt like you got to know them as real people (rather than just as over-the-top superheroes or supervillains). And changing circumstances and plans-gone-awry kept the story exciting and suspenseful.
Bottom line: Simple kill-or-be-killed plot, but still a good spy drama with really good characters.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've said it before - I'm so fascinated by the whole spy thing. Not fascinated by the killing, I actually am becoming less and less keen on that, but by the whole hiding in plain sight kind part of it.
Gabriel Allon is a world-class art restorer. He's also a former Israeli spy. In this first title featuring Allon (there's so far 17 titles in Silva's series) an incident happens in Paris that only one person is suitable to bring resolution to. But that person, Gabriel Allon, is hiding in Cornwall restoring a painting and forgetting - or trying to - that he was part of the spy life and that he lost his family to the spy life. All it takes, however, is one name to be uttered and Gabriel is sucked back in for one last mission - a mission of vengeance.
This was a quick read - very quick. In fact, I surprised even myself at how fast I read it! Silva created a story and a character in Gabriel Allon that sucked this reader in and kept me reading to the last word and then added the second book in the series to my to-read list. Silva focuses on the terror of fanatical groups on a global scale - the most infamous conflict being between the Arabs and the Jews. This seems like a series my Dad might like, I'll have to recommend it to him.
Gabriel Allon is a world-class art restorer. He's also a former Israeli spy. In this first title featuring Allon (there's so far 17 titles in Silva's series) an incident happens in Paris that only one person is suitable to bring resolution to. But that person, Gabriel Allon, is hiding in Cornwall restoring a painting and forgetting - or trying to - that he was part of the spy life and that he lost his family to the spy life. All it takes, however, is one name to be uttered and Gabriel is sucked back in for one last mission - a mission of vengeance.
This was a quick read - very quick. In fact, I surprised even myself at how fast I read it! Silva created a story and a character in Gabriel Allon that sucked this reader in and kept me reading to the last word and then added the second book in the series to my to-read list. Silva focuses on the terror of fanatical groups on a global scale - the most infamous conflict being between the Arabs and the Jews. This seems like a series my Dad might like, I'll have to recommend it to him.
I found that I didn't care for any of the characters nor the plot. I'm sure Mr. Silva is one of the better spy thriller writers out there but this first introduction to his franchise is lukewarm.
I am starting at the beginning of this series, though I have read several already. I loved the art references!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
The first Gabriel Allon novel - and a great story. Dragged a bit in parts - but still gives you a good story. Silva even gets in some Palestinian history while Arafat and Tariq discuss Arafat's "dream" of honoring a former bodyguard (Tariq) as a hero of the Palestinian people - unless Tariq wants to be known as the man who killed Arafat - in which case he will no longer be a hero.
In the end - Allon carries out the mission - learns the truth of why he was recruited out of retirement - and - he returns to southern England to continue his work as an art restorer. . . . . . for now.
In the end - Allon carries out the mission - learns the truth of why he was recruited out of retirement - and - he returns to southern England to continue his work as an art restorer. . . . . . for now.
3.5 stars. After some initial bewilderment about the different characters in the book, I enjoyed the thrill and action. It is important for me to like a detective to continue reading the series, no matter how captivating the story is. I did like Gabriel Allon and although I would not rush to read more in this series, I will certainly be open to reading more of his ventures.
I decided to start reading this series after reading the last book.
Really enjoyed this first book. I like how the main character is an art restorer. The storyline developed well and the characters were well developed. Then again as I was reading this book I found that there were many areas where I guess I need to read on to fill in the missing gaps....like the story with his wife and also the different aspect of Israeli History.
Nevertheless, a good read.
Really enjoyed this first book. I like how the main character is an art restorer. The storyline developed well and the characters were well developed. Then again as I was reading this book I found that there were many areas where I guess I need to read on to fill in the missing gaps....like the story with his wife and also the different aspect of Israeli History.
Nevertheless, a good read.
