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Gabriel Allon #13
Cô Gái Người Anh
Madeline Hart là ngôi sao đang lên trong đảng cầm quyền ở Đảo quốc Anh: xinh đẹp, thông minh, đã vượt lên tuổi thơ khốn khó để có được chỗ đứng trong xã hội. Tuy nhiên Madeline đang mang một bí mật đen tối: cô là nhân tình của Thủ tướng Jonathan Lancaster. Biết chuyện, những kẻ bắt cóc cô quyết tâm buộc nhà lãnh đạo Anh phải trả giá đắt cho tội lỗi của mình. Lo sợ vụ bê bối sẽ làm tiêu tan sự nghiệp, Lancaster muốn giải quyết vấn đề này một cách âm thầm thay vì giao phó cho cảnh sát. Đúng là một nước bài đầy rủi ro, không chỉ đối với Thủ tướng mà còn cho những ai dấn thân vào nhiệm vụ này.
Bảy ngày – Một cô gái – Không có cơ hội thứ hai.
Gabriel Allon – sát thủ bậc thầy, nhà phục chế nghệ thuật trứ danh và là điệp viên kỳ cựu của Israel, không còn lạ lẫm gì với các nhiệm vụ hiểm nguy hay rắc rối chính trị – chấp nhận đương đầu với thử thách. Trong từng tiếng tích tắc của đồng hồ, Gabriel không ngừng tìm cách giải cứu Madeline. Nhiệm vụ đã đưa ông đi từ thế giới ngầm tội ác của Marseilles đến vùng thung lũng biệt lập của Provence, đến các hành lang sang trọng nhưng đã lu mờ của chốn quyền lực London – và cuối cùng, là đến nơi tột cùng kinh hoảng – Moscow, thành phố của bạo lực và gián điệp, nơi có cả một danh sách dài những kẻ muốn Gabriel phải chết.
Bảy ngày – Một cô gái – Không có cơ hội thứ hai.
Gabriel Allon – sát thủ bậc thầy, nhà phục chế nghệ thuật trứ danh và là điệp viên kỳ cựu của Israel, không còn lạ lẫm gì với các nhiệm vụ hiểm nguy hay rắc rối chính trị – chấp nhận đương đầu với thử thách. Trong từng tiếng tích tắc của đồng hồ, Gabriel không ngừng tìm cách giải cứu Madeline. Nhiệm vụ đã đưa ông đi từ thế giới ngầm tội ác của Marseilles đến vùng thung lũng biệt lập của Provence, đến các hành lang sang trọng nhưng đã lu mờ của chốn quyền lực London – và cuối cùng, là đến nơi tột cùng kinh hoảng – Moscow, thành phố của bạo lực và gián điệp, nơi có cả một danh sách dài những kẻ muốn Gabriel phải chết.
600 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2013
4714 people are currently reading
9609 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Silva
181 books9,428 followersDaniel Silva was born in Michigan in 1960 and raised in California where he received his BA from Fresno State. Silva began his writing career as a journalist for United Press International (UPI), traveling in the Middle East and covering the Iran-Iraq war, terrorism and political conflicts. From UPI he moved to CNN, where he eventually became executive producer of its Washington-based public policy programming. In 1994 he began work on his first novel, The Unlikely Spy, a surprise best seller that won critical acclaim. He turned to writing full time in 1997 and all of his books have been New York Times/national best sellers, translated into 25 languages and published across Europe and the world. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Series:
* Michael Osbourne
* Gabriel Allon
Series:
* Michael Osbourne
* Gabriel Allon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,583 reviews
May 9, 2014
Okay, this is it. I’m tired of reading bad fiction. I bought The English Girl at the Las Vegas airport because I wanted something fun and fast to read on the flight home. Wow, was I ever disappointed. This book runs an appalling 520 pages—about 200 pages too long and all of the pages are filled with clunky writing, uninspiring dialogue, woefully underdeveloped characters, and an incredibly convoluted holy-shit-can-this-book-just-stop-already?! plot. The further I traveled in this book, the less I liked it.
Madeline Hart, the English girl of the book’s title, is vacationing on the island of Corsica. She is a minor player in the British government but has the determination and intelligence to succeed. One night she is kidnapped and a ransom demand is sent to Jonathan Lancaster, the Prime Minister of England—the man she has been sleeping with. PM Lancaster, wishing to avoid a scandal, calls in a favor that eventually leads to Gabriel Allon, the legendary Israeli super spy and Man Who Can Do No Wrong. Even his work as an assassin is bathed in the glow of righteous goodness. Allon reluctantly agrees to save this woman and his quest turns into an international thriller of bombastic and depressingly easy-to-guess proportions. Five hundred twenty pages later, you basically want them all to die, but particularly the smug self-righteous Allon.
I’m not going to put spoiler alerts in this review so if you have any desire to read this book, stop reading. I mean, I’m not going to come right out and give it all away, but I may let a few things slide in my need to complain about the awfulness that is this book. You’ve been warned.
There are a lot of things I didn’t like about this book. Many, many things. Practically everything. What I liked (and it’s seriously the ONLY thing so I may as well mention it first) is the first chapter. Silva does an excellent job of setting the scene in Corsica and describing Madeline, the English girl. The descriptions are vivid, the friends Madeline is vacationing with come alive and are interesting people and the portrait painted of Madeline really grabs my attention. I was excited to keep reading because I liked this Madeline. I wanted her to be rescued and I couldn’t wait for the fun to start. Then I met Gabriel Allon, an assassin and professional prig. The book’s overall self-righteous attitude about characters deemed unworthy of living (thus doomed to be killed by Allon and his helper Christopher Keller) and the general attitude that Israel is the country of Good People…and everyone else sucks, irritated the snot out of me.
What I dislike the most about this book is the macho bullshit and “Marty Stu” (thanks, Ferdy) factor of Allon’s character. He is Invincible. He is Legendary. He is the Best Spy Ever. Oh, and the Best Killer of Bad People Ever. He’s the Smartest, the Bravest, the Spy Who Gets Shit Done. And be warned, bad guys: if you mess with him or any of his friends or any Jewish people in general, he will fuck you up. Badly. Pair this extreme macho awesomeness with Christopher Keller, a former British citizen and Extra Special Military Forces guy. He was supposedly killed in a FUBAR friendly-fire incident and has chosen to remain dead. He now works as an assassin for hire—the Best, Most Talented assassin for hire. He even tried to kill Allon, but his code of conduct wouldn’t let him complete the mission so Allon lives. These two Most Awesome Men work together to track down the bad guys who kidnapped Madeline and it’s often a non-stop dick dueling match: “I’m more manly!” “No, I am!” On page 152, these two idiots argue about who gets to shoot first, each of them trying to out-dick the other. Keller reminds Allon that he achieved the highest score ever recorded during a live-fire military exercise at a famed British training camp. Allon responds, “I once shot a Palestinian terrorist between the eyes from the back of a moving motorcycle.” When Keller basically says, oh, big whoop, Allon continues to brag: “The terrorist was sitting in the middle of a crowded café on the boulevard Saint-Germaine in Paris.” Keller took the shot, only because he won the coin toss. The whole book is like this: Allon the Big Man on Campus. He’s taking names and kicking asses. It’s so bad I’m embarrassed for the author. Allon either really is his Marty Stu or Silva created a character he could slavishly hero worship. Either way, it’s crap. When an author creates a character this fucking awesome, you pretty much know he’s going to succeed at everything. This takes away the tension of the novel. Allon has no interesting flaws or weaknesses. What he has instead is a sensitive soul tortured by personal misfortunes. This doesn’t make me like him any better or give his stunted personality more depth.
I did not like the repeated scenes of Keller and Allon (or Allon and another agent) torturing a bad guy or Russian spy to get information. Keller and Allon very neatly divide humans into “worth living” and “not worth living” and play god by torturing and then disposing of these people as easily as you or I may toss out an apple core. I have a lot of problems with the torture scenes in the book. Intellectually, I understand that it’s probably necessary to do it to get the information needed to find the girl. I mean, we can debate whether torturing a person will lead to helpful information (there is no conclusive evidence that it does but I have other moral and ethical reasons to not support it), but for the purposes of this crap ass novel, let’s assume it’s a necessary evil. It’s been difficult for me to pinpoint exactly why I dislike these scenes because I watch tv shows and read books that have violent interrogation scenes. I think the disconnect for me is how Allon is portrayed as the Righteous Avenger and he kills without mercy but he’s so incredibly self-righteous about Keller being an assassin for hire. Here’s a description of him as the Righteous Avenger: “For the next three years, Gabriel and the other Wrath of God operatives stalked their prey across Europe and the Middle East. Armed with a .22-caliber Beretta, a soft-spoken weapon suitable for killing at close range, Gabriel personally assassinated six members of Black September. Whenever possible he shot them eleven times, one bullet for each Israeli butchered in Munich” (27). Not only did Gabriel kill these men, he shot them eleven times each. Dead is dead. Overkill, thy name is Gabriel Allon. The author reveals his personal feelings by choosing the word “butchered.” That’s in the exposition; it’s not a word Allon chooses. I suspect Allon is a mouthpiece for the author’s own feelings and prejudices—not that this isn’t uncommon or even a bad thing, but if the other books in the series reflect the overall prejudices of this book (Isreal good, all other nations bad or incompetent), then it could become distracting and annoying. Allon makes flippant lame jokes when torturing the bad guys yet when Keller says “goddamned” in a Catholic church they’re using as a covert meeting place to discuss the operation (and for Keller to have a few chuckles about killing someone), Allon scolds Keller: “Remember where you are, Christopher.” Really? That’s the line we don’t cross? The last thirty pages or so of this book are completely unnecessary. They also contain a scene that pissed me off the most. Allon and his lovely wife Chiara are having a pleasant holiday at Corsica now that everything has been handled successfully and according to his plans. Allon is visiting with Keller, trying to convince him to change his career path. First, he tries to make Keller feel guilty for having completed a “business trip.” Allon asks him how many men he’s killed and Keller (understandably irritated) shoots back: “I don’t know. How many have you killed?” So Allon replies: “Mine are different. I’m a soldier. A secret soldier, but a soldier nonetheless” (512). He continues to tell Keller that if he joined forces with Allon, he could be a “soldier” too—as long as he becomes an Israeli citizen, learns Hebrew, and works for the Israeli spy service. Wow. I read this scene a few times, getting angrier every time until I think my eyes were on fire. What the fuck. Moral relativism, anyone? Allon also says to him: “I didn’t include you on the team because I needed your help. I wanted to show you that there’s more to life than killing people for money” (511). No, Allon, you did need his help. He found the house where the kidnappers were holding the girl. He guarded the ransom money while you were out running errands. Keller was actually a big help to you. In the course of this mission, he and Keller murdered at least six people. Granted, in Allon’s eyes their lives were meaningless, but enlisting the help of a ruthless killer on a mission in which people were tortured and murdered without a second thought seems like a screwy way of trying to prove that there’s “more to life than killing.” Plus Allon states several times in the book that he sought out Keller because he is a ruthless killer. So Allon is going to take the moral high ground and say, well, no because he, Allon, kills only people who deserve to be killed that makes him guiltless? I don’t think so. What makes a person’s life negotiable? This person is an enemy of your government? Well, maybe you are an enemy of his government. Allon has as much blood on his hands as does Keller. The difference is Keller knows it. He doesn’t try to excuse it. Allon is smug and self-righteous and excuses his murderous ways by claiming he is a soldier. His world is so very comfortingly black and white. Must be nice to be so sure that you are on the side of the angels.
As for Madeline…
I’d bitch in depth about all the other problems the book has, but I’d like to keep review under 2,500 words. So quickly:
This book is bad. Really, really bad. Nothing’s good about it, but what bothers me the most is how Silva, via his macho Marty Stu aka Gabriel Allon, metes out justice to Those Who Deserve It. Blech.
Madeline Hart, the English girl of the book’s title, is vacationing on the island of Corsica. She is a minor player in the British government but has the determination and intelligence to succeed. One night she is kidnapped and a ransom demand is sent to Jonathan Lancaster, the Prime Minister of England—the man she has been sleeping with. PM Lancaster, wishing to avoid a scandal, calls in a favor that eventually leads to Gabriel Allon, the legendary Israeli super spy and Man Who Can Do No Wrong. Even his work as an assassin is bathed in the glow of righteous goodness. Allon reluctantly agrees to save this woman and his quest turns into an international thriller of bombastic and depressingly easy-to-guess proportions. Five hundred twenty pages later, you basically want them all to die, but particularly the smug self-righteous Allon.
I’m not going to put spoiler alerts in this review so if you have any desire to read this book, stop reading. I mean, I’m not going to come right out and give it all away, but I may let a few things slide in my need to complain about the awfulness that is this book. You’ve been warned.
There are a lot of things I didn’t like about this book. Many, many things. Practically everything. What I liked (and it’s seriously the ONLY thing so I may as well mention it first) is the first chapter. Silva does an excellent job of setting the scene in Corsica and describing Madeline, the English girl. The descriptions are vivid, the friends Madeline is vacationing with come alive and are interesting people and the portrait painted of Madeline really grabs my attention. I was excited to keep reading because I liked this Madeline. I wanted her to be rescued and I couldn’t wait for the fun to start. Then I met Gabriel Allon, an assassin and professional prig. The book’s overall self-righteous attitude about characters deemed unworthy of living (thus doomed to be killed by Allon and his helper Christopher Keller) and the general attitude that Israel is the country of Good People…and everyone else sucks, irritated the snot out of me.
What I dislike the most about this book is the macho bullshit and “Marty Stu” (thanks, Ferdy) factor of Allon’s character. He is Invincible. He is Legendary. He is the Best Spy Ever. Oh, and the Best Killer of Bad People Ever. He’s the Smartest, the Bravest, the Spy Who Gets Shit Done. And be warned, bad guys: if you mess with him or any of his friends or any Jewish people in general, he will fuck you up. Badly. Pair this extreme macho awesomeness with Christopher Keller, a former British citizen and Extra Special Military Forces guy. He was supposedly killed in a FUBAR friendly-fire incident and has chosen to remain dead. He now works as an assassin for hire—the Best, Most Talented assassin for hire. He even tried to kill Allon, but his code of conduct wouldn’t let him complete the mission so Allon lives. These two Most Awesome Men work together to track down the bad guys who kidnapped Madeline and it’s often a non-stop dick dueling match: “I’m more manly!” “No, I am!” On page 152, these two idiots argue about who gets to shoot first, each of them trying to out-dick the other. Keller reminds Allon that he achieved the highest score ever recorded during a live-fire military exercise at a famed British training camp. Allon responds, “I once shot a Palestinian terrorist between the eyes from the back of a moving motorcycle.” When Keller basically says, oh, big whoop, Allon continues to brag: “The terrorist was sitting in the middle of a crowded café on the boulevard Saint-Germaine in Paris.” Keller took the shot, only because he won the coin toss. The whole book is like this: Allon the Big Man on Campus. He’s taking names and kicking asses. It’s so bad I’m embarrassed for the author. Allon either really is his Marty Stu or Silva created a character he could slavishly hero worship. Either way, it’s crap. When an author creates a character this fucking awesome, you pretty much know he’s going to succeed at everything. This takes away the tension of the novel. Allon has no interesting flaws or weaknesses. What he has instead is a sensitive soul tortured by personal misfortunes. This doesn’t make me like him any better or give his stunted personality more depth.
I did not like the repeated scenes of Keller and Allon (or Allon and another agent) torturing a bad guy or Russian spy to get information. Keller and Allon very neatly divide humans into “worth living” and “not worth living” and play god by torturing and then disposing of these people as easily as you or I may toss out an apple core. I have a lot of problems with the torture scenes in the book. Intellectually, I understand that it’s probably necessary to do it to get the information needed to find the girl. I mean, we can debate whether torturing a person will lead to helpful information (there is no conclusive evidence that it does but I have other moral and ethical reasons to not support it), but for the purposes of this crap ass novel, let’s assume it’s a necessary evil. It’s been difficult for me to pinpoint exactly why I dislike these scenes because I watch tv shows and read books that have violent interrogation scenes. I think the disconnect for me is how Allon is portrayed as the Righteous Avenger and he kills without mercy but he’s so incredibly self-righteous about Keller being an assassin for hire. Here’s a description of him as the Righteous Avenger: “For the next three years, Gabriel and the other Wrath of God operatives stalked their prey across Europe and the Middle East. Armed with a .22-caliber Beretta, a soft-spoken weapon suitable for killing at close range, Gabriel personally assassinated six members of Black September. Whenever possible he shot them eleven times, one bullet for each Israeli butchered in Munich” (27). Not only did Gabriel kill these men, he shot them eleven times each. Dead is dead. Overkill, thy name is Gabriel Allon. The author reveals his personal feelings by choosing the word “butchered.” That’s in the exposition; it’s not a word Allon chooses. I suspect Allon is a mouthpiece for the author’s own feelings and prejudices—not that this isn’t uncommon or even a bad thing, but if the other books in the series reflect the overall prejudices of this book (Isreal good, all other nations bad or incompetent), then it could become distracting and annoying. Allon makes flippant lame jokes when torturing the bad guys yet when Keller says “goddamned” in a Catholic church they’re using as a covert meeting place to discuss the operation (and for Keller to have a few chuckles about killing someone), Allon scolds Keller: “Remember where you are, Christopher.” Really? That’s the line we don’t cross? The last thirty pages or so of this book are completely unnecessary. They also contain a scene that pissed me off the most. Allon and his lovely wife Chiara are having a pleasant holiday at Corsica now that everything has been handled successfully and according to his plans. Allon is visiting with Keller, trying to convince him to change his career path. First, he tries to make Keller feel guilty for having completed a “business trip.” Allon asks him how many men he’s killed and Keller (understandably irritated) shoots back: “I don’t know. How many have you killed?” So Allon replies: “Mine are different. I’m a soldier. A secret soldier, but a soldier nonetheless” (512). He continues to tell Keller that if he joined forces with Allon, he could be a “soldier” too—as long as he becomes an Israeli citizen, learns Hebrew, and works for the Israeli spy service. Wow. I read this scene a few times, getting angrier every time until I think my eyes were on fire. What the fuck. Moral relativism, anyone? Allon also says to him: “I didn’t include you on the team because I needed your help. I wanted to show you that there’s more to life than killing people for money” (511). No, Allon, you did need his help. He found the house where the kidnappers were holding the girl. He guarded the ransom money while you were out running errands. Keller was actually a big help to you. In the course of this mission, he and Keller murdered at least six people. Granted, in Allon’s eyes their lives were meaningless, but enlisting the help of a ruthless killer on a mission in which people were tortured and murdered without a second thought seems like a screwy way of trying to prove that there’s “more to life than killing.” Plus Allon states several times in the book that he sought out Keller because he is a ruthless killer. So Allon is going to take the moral high ground and say, well, no because he, Allon, kills only people who deserve to be killed that makes him guiltless? I don’t think so. What makes a person’s life negotiable? This person is an enemy of your government? Well, maybe you are an enemy of his government. Allon has as much blood on his hands as does Keller. The difference is Keller knows it. He doesn’t try to excuse it. Allon is smug and self-righteous and excuses his murderous ways by claiming he is a soldier. His world is so very comfortingly black and white. Must be nice to be so sure that you are on the side of the angels.
As for Madeline…
I’d bitch in depth about all the other problems the book has, but I’d like to keep review under 2,500 words. So quickly:
1.The action is interrupted numerous times to tell very long back stories of the characters. I simply didn’t care. Just get to the damn story.
2. Silva tucks lots of history lessons into the book. That’s great, but if you can’t do it without interrupting the flow of the story, then fucking don’t do it.
3. The characters are merely cardboard cut-outs of people. They barely make an impression on you and after 400 pages you really don’t give a damn about any of them.
4. Dialogue is HORRIBLE. Cringe-worthy. As is the one sex scene with Allon and Chiara. Yikes. Damn, man, read some bodice busters and take notes.
5. The characters don’t have personalities, they have tics. Shamron twisting his fucking Zippo lighter: “two turns to the right, two turns to the left.”
6. Silva also often repeats phrases. When he did it in the first chapter, I liked it. But then he did it so often that I became annoyed. Someone would ask Allon if he wanted champagne and he’d say no, it gives me a headache. Then at the end of the chapter, Silva would repeat the phrase: “Gabriel doesn’t drink champagne. It gives him headaches.” I’m guessing it’s supposed to be ominous, but it’s not.
7. Silva seems to think his readers are idiots because over-explains just about everything. And those last 30 pages or so are completely unnecessary. Why the hell his editor didn’t slash them is beyond me. I kept thinking, Christ, when will this shitty book end? What else can he possibly say?
8.The damn goat. Shut up about the fucking goat. And the old woman fortune teller and her damn olive oil. It’s for cooking, not scrying.
9. Really? Fallon killed himself? I don’t think so. He would have taken his Russian bribe money and snuck out of the country. What a bunch of shit.
This book is bad. Really, really bad. Nothing’s good about it, but what bothers me the most is how Silva, via his macho Marty Stu aka Gabriel Allon, metes out justice to Those Who Deserve It. Blech.
January 7, 2021
“Humans are more resilient than you realize, especially women.” (3.5 stars)
With “The English Girl”, Daniel Silva continues his unflinching criticisms of Russia and the authoritarian regime of Vladimir Putin. And I say, good on him!
This novel is the thirteenth in Silva’s Gabriel Allon series, and although it is formulaic, it seemed a little more upbeat than some of its predecessors. Gabriel is not beat to a pulp in this one, and for the most part he and his team get the job done without setbacks. I liked the change.
“The English Girl” gives us oil & gas intrigue, sleeper spies, politics, the return of a character from early in the Allon series, and sex. All the stuff for a rollicking story. I did suspect the big “surprise” about halfway thru the book, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of it.
I am again impressed with how Silva takes the real world and incorporates it into the fictional reality of Allon’s world. He does this quite smoothly.
I will move on to number fourteen soon.
With “The English Girl”, Daniel Silva continues his unflinching criticisms of Russia and the authoritarian regime of Vladimir Putin. And I say, good on him!
This novel is the thirteenth in Silva’s Gabriel Allon series, and although it is formulaic, it seemed a little more upbeat than some of its predecessors. Gabriel is not beat to a pulp in this one, and for the most part he and his team get the job done without setbacks. I liked the change.
“The English Girl” gives us oil & gas intrigue, sleeper spies, politics, the return of a character from early in the Allon series, and sex. All the stuff for a rollicking story. I did suspect the big “surprise” about halfway thru the book, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of it.
I am again impressed with how Silva takes the real world and incorporates it into the fictional reality of Allon’s world. He does this quite smoothly.
I will move on to number fourteen soon.
December 4, 2013
Damn it...I finished the book. Now I must wait for the next. I always enjoy reading about places I have been. It also references my favorite book/movie...A Room with a View. Overall a good read with the usual twists and turns, but lacking in the typical Allon antics, spyness, and restorations. I was really hoping for more in the English Girl. Overall I recommend, but if you have not read the Gabriel Allon series by Silva, do not make this your first read in the series. I began my obsession with The Defector and hen started from the beginning.
February 16, 2023
Mr. Silva delivers his stories in a most clipped & precise manner. Descriptions of people, places & things unfold as if it was a film playing before your eyes. There is not one wasted sentence or word in his novels & so it is with “The English Girl.”
The story races along at lightening speed but if I were to say this is an ‘easy’ read that would erroneously imply that the plot is lacking – which it is not - so let me just say it is a book you won’t want to put down. Every component required for a spy novel is evident & then some - in spades!
Having read all the previous Allon novels I keep waiting for the author to run out of steam just as other authors who write a recurring character do – but to date Gabriel Allon is as entertaining & exciting as ever.
“The English Girl” takes a different tack in that for at least the first half of the book Gabriel is primarily on his own with only the help of one other ‘associate’ & this ‘associate’ is not even one of his regular team. The recurring team appears at about Pg. 294. Unusual for Gabriel, but I do believe Gabriel has made a new ‘friend’.
“Gabriel reached out and ripped the stud from Lacroix’s right ear.” (Pg. 92) It is only Gabriel Allon – master assassin, art restorer & spy who could possibly have you cheering him on in such a violent act. Bravo Gabriel!
This is as close you’ll ever get to the perfect spy novel with a perfect protagonist & cast of characters. While real life does not produce perfection it is pure enjoyment to read. As for a real Gabriel Allon – well, we can all but hope & dream.
If you have read any of the previous Allon books this one will not disappoint. If you have not – start with this one at your own peril because if you do you will immediately want to go back to the very beginning & read them all. This is #13.
The story races along at lightening speed but if I were to say this is an ‘easy’ read that would erroneously imply that the plot is lacking – which it is not - so let me just say it is a book you won’t want to put down. Every component required for a spy novel is evident & then some - in spades!
Having read all the previous Allon novels I keep waiting for the author to run out of steam just as other authors who write a recurring character do – but to date Gabriel Allon is as entertaining & exciting as ever.
“The English Girl” takes a different tack in that for at least the first half of the book Gabriel is primarily on his own with only the help of one other ‘associate’ & this ‘associate’ is not even one of his regular team. The recurring team appears at about Pg. 294. Unusual for Gabriel, but I do believe Gabriel has made a new ‘friend’.
“Gabriel reached out and ripped the stud from Lacroix’s right ear.” (Pg. 92) It is only Gabriel Allon – master assassin, art restorer & spy who could possibly have you cheering him on in such a violent act. Bravo Gabriel!
This is as close you’ll ever get to the perfect spy novel with a perfect protagonist & cast of characters. While real life does not produce perfection it is pure enjoyment to read. As for a real Gabriel Allon – well, we can all but hope & dream.
If you have read any of the previous Allon books this one will not disappoint. If you have not – start with this one at your own peril because if you do you will immediately want to go back to the very beginning & read them all. This is #13.
September 14, 2016
An excellent story by an excellent author with an outstanding main character in Gabriel. 10 of 10 stars
July 31, 2013
Perhaps it's driven by nostalgia but I'm surprised at how well rated this book is by other reviewers. I feel a bit differently. It had to happen sometime: after 13 books with the same character, this is the FIRST in the series that seemed like a "paycheck book" to me.
The Gabriel Allon series is one of my favorites which is odd considering most of what I read is outside of this genre (I prefer scifi). Gabriel's character has aged in the previous 13 novels so you cannot expect the character to react to situations in the same fashion as when he was younger. Also, there are only so many times that a character can be brought back in "for one more job."
While I did find the character development to be interesting and the author does a pretty good job of explaining the backgrounders for other relevant characters that "pop-in" to this particular storyline, the story itself was pretty predictable -- a first IMO after reading this series.
Given how things end, I hope the author has the good sense to allow Gabriel Allon to retire soon. The overall body of work is quite good (Daniel Silva is said to have reinvented the "spy thriller" genre with this series and I wholeheartedly agree) so I hope he doesn't drag the series out in the name of paying off the author's pied-a-terre or country home (see also: the first three novels of the Dune series vs. the crap Frank Herbert's son puts out).
-g
The Gabriel Allon series is one of my favorites which is odd considering most of what I read is outside of this genre (I prefer scifi). Gabriel's character has aged in the previous 13 novels so you cannot expect the character to react to situations in the same fashion as when he was younger. Also, there are only so many times that a character can be brought back in "for one more job."
While I did find the character development to be interesting and the author does a pretty good job of explaining the backgrounders for other relevant characters that "pop-in" to this particular storyline, the story itself was pretty predictable -- a first IMO after reading this series.
Given how things end, I hope the author has the good sense to allow Gabriel Allon to retire soon. The overall body of work is quite good (Daniel Silva is said to have reinvented the "spy thriller" genre with this series and I wholeheartedly agree) so I hope he doesn't drag the series out in the name of paying off the author's pied-a-terre or country home (see also: the first three novels of the Dune series vs. the crap Frank Herbert's son puts out).
-g
August 7, 2013
While all the Silva books tend to blend together in my memory, he has a great formula and sticks to it. His formula as I see it follows these steps:
1. Semi-retired Israeli spy (Gabriel Allon) has sworn off spying and is engrossed in his 2nd career as art restorer.
2. Someone from Allon's past asks him a favor to solve some international crime/stop some international terrorist.
3. Allon hems and haws, but finally agrees to do the work.
4. Allon determines the source of the crime/terror and vows personally to destroy them.
5. Allon assembles a crack team to surveil, set-up and take-down criminals/terrorists.
6. Plan goes almost perfect, but there with a few hitches. Many, many, many bad guys die.
7. Wash, rinse and repeat.
The English Girl follows these steps again. For future novels, Silva has set up his character to take over as the director of the Israeli intelligence service. It should provide him fodder for many more "Gabriel Allon" novels.
1. Semi-retired Israeli spy (Gabriel Allon) has sworn off spying and is engrossed in his 2nd career as art restorer.
2. Someone from Allon's past asks him a favor to solve some international crime/stop some international terrorist.
3. Allon hems and haws, but finally agrees to do the work.
4. Allon determines the source of the crime/terror and vows personally to destroy them.
5. Allon assembles a crack team to surveil, set-up and take-down criminals/terrorists.
6. Plan goes almost perfect, but there with a few hitches. Many, many, many bad guys die.
7. Wash, rinse and repeat.
The English Girl follows these steps again. For future novels, Silva has set up his character to take over as the director of the Israeli intelligence service. It should provide him fodder for many more "Gabriel Allon" novels.
April 28, 2018
Despite not really loving the previous Daniel Silva thriller I'd read (The Heist), I decided to give him another chance for two reasons: first, The English Girl seems to be one of Silva's most acclaimed thrillers, so it had the best chance of being good; and because when I was browsing audiobooks on my phone, this one popped up.
I was immediately at a disadvantage when I started this book, because The Heist takes place after the events of The English Girl. Even though there weren't any serious spoilers for The English Girl, there are plenty of references to the case in The Heist, so right from the beginning I had a vague idea of where the plot was headed. But Silva still manages to throw in some twists that I didn't see coming, so if you're reading the Gabriel Allon books out of sequence, you can still enjoy this one.
The plot here was definitely more coherent than The Heist, which started out as a fun art caper and then turned into a dreary political thriller two-thirds of the way in. The English Girl, luckily, has enough of a plot for Silva to stay focused for the book's considerable page count. The story starts when Madeline Hart, a minor-level employee in the British government, is kidnapped while on vacation in Corsica. A ransom video is delivered to the Prime Minister: "Seven days, then the girl dies." A possible justification for Madeline's kidnapping soon becomes clear: she and the Prime Minister were having an affair. Desperate to keep the kidnapping, and the reasons behind it, out of the news, the British government recruits Israeli intelligence agent Gabriel Allon to find Madeline and get her back. With the help of his Israeli team, a former British soldier turned assassin, and a Corsican mafia don, Allon has six days to find the missing English girl. And of course, finding her is only the beginning.
This was a fast-paced, well written thriller, with good characters and good twists. Overall, I liked it. I liked how Silva lets us enjoy the long, careful planning that goes into even the simplest operations, and it's a nice blend of exciting shoot-em-up action scenes and more subdued passages about the bureaucratic side of espionage. Also this book features more appearances from Allon's super cool wife, Chiara, who is probably my favorite character in the series. Because Chiara is also a spy, she and Gabriel get to talk about his work honestly, instead of doing the tiresome bit where the husband has to protect his sweet innocent wife from his dangerous work by never telling her the truth about anything. I do wish that Chiara had actually gotten to do something in this book - her job in The English Girl is mainly to act as a sounding board for Gabriel, and then cook dinner for everyone and have lots of sex with her husband. Also she really wants to have a baby, and has an eye-rolling line where she describes being on a flight with a crying baby and says that the mother was "the luckiest woman in the world." Ugh.
Another unfortunate thing I noticed in this book: Gabriel Allon is not as great as Silva thinks he is. Gabriel has a lot of conversations with the assassin Christopher Keller where Silva tries, desperately and repeatedly, to show the reader that Allon somehow has the moral high ground over Keller. Look, buddy - at the end of the day, they're both hired guns. It doesn't make much difference that one works for the Israeli government and one works for criminals. All cats are grey, etc.
(speaking of uncomfortable moments, Silva's politics are definitely showing in this book. First there are the subtle and frequent anti-Muslim lines that Silva has his characters recite, and then there's a bit at the end where Allon is trying to convince a defecting spy to come to Israel and work for him because "that's what we do in Israel. We give people a home." Cue me, yelling from the balcony: "Unless you're Palestinian!")
Also there's an oh-so-charming scene where Allon is searching a female criminal for weapons and uses the opportunity to grope her, and then makes a joke about it. Jesus, say what you will about James Bond, but at least he knows he's an amoral asshole. Allon's holier-than-thou attitude and characterization really started to grate on me by the end of this book.
But the most annoying aspect of the book is the title character. Madeline Hart is set up as this brilliant, ambitious, resourceful character (who is also smokin' hot, because we can't possibly be expected to care about the kidnapping of someone who is not young, thin, and beautiful), who has so much promise and potential that she's been tapped to be groomed as a future Prime Minister. And then, after that great introduction, Madeline gets kidnapped and disappears from the narrative. Characters spend a lot of time talking about Madeline; she herself has maybe two scenes where she gets actual dialogue.
(the rest of this review will discuss the ending of The English Girl, so click only if you're okay with major spoilers)
I was immediately at a disadvantage when I started this book, because The Heist takes place after the events of The English Girl. Even though there weren't any serious spoilers for The English Girl, there are plenty of references to the case in The Heist, so right from the beginning I had a vague idea of where the plot was headed. But Silva still manages to throw in some twists that I didn't see coming, so if you're reading the Gabriel Allon books out of sequence, you can still enjoy this one.
The plot here was definitely more coherent than The Heist, which started out as a fun art caper and then turned into a dreary political thriller two-thirds of the way in. The English Girl, luckily, has enough of a plot for Silva to stay focused for the book's considerable page count. The story starts when Madeline Hart, a minor-level employee in the British government, is kidnapped while on vacation in Corsica. A ransom video is delivered to the Prime Minister: "Seven days, then the girl dies." A possible justification for Madeline's kidnapping soon becomes clear: she and the Prime Minister were having an affair. Desperate to keep the kidnapping, and the reasons behind it, out of the news, the British government recruits Israeli intelligence agent Gabriel Allon to find Madeline and get her back. With the help of his Israeli team, a former British soldier turned assassin, and a Corsican mafia don, Allon has six days to find the missing English girl. And of course, finding her is only the beginning.
This was a fast-paced, well written thriller, with good characters and good twists. Overall, I liked it. I liked how Silva lets us enjoy the long, careful planning that goes into even the simplest operations, and it's a nice blend of exciting shoot-em-up action scenes and more subdued passages about the bureaucratic side of espionage. Also this book features more appearances from Allon's super cool wife, Chiara, who is probably my favorite character in the series. Because Chiara is also a spy, she and Gabriel get to talk about his work honestly, instead of doing the tiresome bit where the husband has to protect his sweet innocent wife from his dangerous work by never telling her the truth about anything. I do wish that Chiara had actually gotten to do something in this book - her job in The English Girl is mainly to act as a sounding board for Gabriel, and then cook dinner for everyone and have lots of sex with her husband. Also she really wants to have a baby, and has an eye-rolling line where she describes being on a flight with a crying baby and says that the mother was "the luckiest woman in the world." Ugh.
Another unfortunate thing I noticed in this book: Gabriel Allon is not as great as Silva thinks he is. Gabriel has a lot of conversations with the assassin Christopher Keller where Silva tries, desperately and repeatedly, to show the reader that Allon somehow has the moral high ground over Keller. Look, buddy - at the end of the day, they're both hired guns. It doesn't make much difference that one works for the Israeli government and one works for criminals. All cats are grey, etc.
(speaking of uncomfortable moments, Silva's politics are definitely showing in this book. First there are the subtle and frequent anti-Muslim lines that Silva has his characters recite, and then there's a bit at the end where Allon is trying to convince a defecting spy to come to Israel and work for him because "that's what we do in Israel. We give people a home." Cue me, yelling from the balcony: "Unless you're Palestinian!")
Also there's an oh-so-charming scene where Allon is searching a female criminal for weapons and uses the opportunity to grope her, and then makes a joke about it. Jesus, say what you will about James Bond, but at least he knows he's an amoral asshole. Allon's holier-than-thou attitude and characterization really started to grate on me by the end of this book.
But the most annoying aspect of the book is the title character. Madeline Hart is set up as this brilliant, ambitious, resourceful character (who is also smokin' hot, because we can't possibly be expected to care about the kidnapping of someone who is not young, thin, and beautiful), who has so much promise and potential that she's been tapped to be groomed as a future Prime Minister. And then, after that great introduction, Madeline gets kidnapped and disappears from the narrative. Characters spend a lot of time talking about Madeline; she herself has maybe two scenes where she gets actual dialogue.
(the rest of this review will discuss the ending of The English Girl, so click only if you're okay with major spoilers)
March 18, 2018
It’s hard for me to describe my feelings about Daniel Silva’s latest novel, The English Girl. It doesn’t really fit the mold of other Gabriel Allon novels. This one starts with Allon doing a favor for Graham Seymour of British MI-5, who is doing something for the British Prime Minister. It seems the Prime Minister’s mistress has been kidnapped.
The first thing Allon does is take on a partner, but not one of the members of “The Office” that he usually uses. This time it’s a professional assassin who once tried to kill Allon.
Silva also writes the Allon character a little different than in previous novels. Gabriel is a little more full of himself; “I’m Gabriel Allon, I only do big”.
He also gives Allon a bit of a sense of humor; “Jews don’t camp, Keller. The last time the Jews went camping they spent 40 years wandering in the desert.” That quote makes my list of all time favorite book lines.
Halfway through the book the real Allon comes out and he decides he needs to go back to Moscow to continue looking for the kidnappers. Those who are familiar with the series will know the danger with this decision. It also comes with a personal price. To get the sanction of the government of Israel for this mission, Gabriel has to promise Shamron that he will seriously consider becoming the head of The Office. Again, long time readers will recognize the significance of this. At this point all of Allon’s merry band join him and the rest of the story plays out.
All in all it was a very enjoyable weekend for me, spent with Gabriel, Chiara and other familiar characters as well as what may turn out to be a new regular in Allon’s adventures, Keller the assassin.
The first thing Allon does is take on a partner, but not one of the members of “The Office” that he usually uses. This time it’s a professional assassin who once tried to kill Allon.
Silva also writes the Allon character a little different than in previous novels. Gabriel is a little more full of himself; “I’m Gabriel Allon, I only do big”.
He also gives Allon a bit of a sense of humor; “Jews don’t camp, Keller. The last time the Jews went camping they spent 40 years wandering in the desert.” That quote makes my list of all time favorite book lines.
Halfway through the book the real Allon comes out and he decides he needs to go back to Moscow to continue looking for the kidnappers. Those who are familiar with the series will know the danger with this decision. It also comes with a personal price. To get the sanction of the government of Israel for this mission, Gabriel has to promise Shamron that he will seriously consider becoming the head of The Office. Again, long time readers will recognize the significance of this. At this point all of Allon’s merry band join him and the rest of the story plays out.
All in all it was a very enjoyable weekend for me, spent with Gabriel, Chiara and other familiar characters as well as what may turn out to be a new regular in Allon’s adventures, Keller the assassin.
June 4, 2019
The English Girl is fun for the most part but the ending let me down.
On the plus side, it has Keller returning. And its written in the usual Daniel Silva style.
On the negative side, it has a predictable plot and a poorly crafted ending.
On the plus side, it has Keller returning. And its written in the usual Daniel Silva style.
On the negative side, it has a predictable plot and a poorly crafted ending.
September 7, 2016
Daniel Silva is a rock star. He's an intelligent writer, he has both intriguing plot development and engaging characters, his main characters grow and evolve (and age!), and he always leaves me ready for the next book.
To me, one of his core strengths is that even though his characters are set in the world of espionage, they don't succeed because of the latest gadget or technological wonder. They use their brains, experience, wiles--and then the gadgets. They are good at what they do because of carefully honed skills, and that sets him apart from other writers who rely on superhuman heroes with rippled abs and talking watches.
I also like that his plots are well crafted, with enough detail to support the story but not so much that it appears he's trying to impress with his latest research - those paragraphs that cause me to flip to the next page. He seems to understand his readers' interest in knowing just enough but not too much.
If I were starting to read Silva for the first time, I'd go back to the beginning of Gabriel Allon's story rather than starting here. Even though there is backstory in each book, the real depth of his writing skill becomes apparent across the series.
To me, one of his core strengths is that even though his characters are set in the world of espionage, they don't succeed because of the latest gadget or technological wonder. They use their brains, experience, wiles--and then the gadgets. They are good at what they do because of carefully honed skills, and that sets him apart from other writers who rely on superhuman heroes with rippled abs and talking watches.
I also like that his plots are well crafted, with enough detail to support the story but not so much that it appears he's trying to impress with his latest research - those paragraphs that cause me to flip to the next page. He seems to understand his readers' interest in knowing just enough but not too much.
If I were starting to read Silva for the first time, I'd go back to the beginning of Gabriel Allon's story rather than starting here. Even though there is backstory in each book, the real depth of his writing skill becomes apparent across the series.
December 14, 2018
As I began to read about Madeline Hart, the girl who managed to rise above a troubled childhood to succeed in her career in Daniel Silva’s “The English Girl,” I couldn’t help recalling the story of the South African – American actress and film producer Charlize Theron.
Charlize grew up on her parent’s farm near Johannesburg. Her father was a violent alcoholic who physically abused and terrorized teenage Charlize and her mother. Eventually things got so bad that Charlize’s mother was forced to shoot and kill her husband to escape the attacks.
A few years later, determined to overcome the tragedies of her childhood, while fueled by a passion for dance, Charlize moved from home to seek work as a dancer. She persevered and eventually landed a modelling contract which lead to film work. She was a survivor who’d overcome great personal challenges in order to live out her dreams of being in show business.
“The English Girl,” Madeline Hart also grew up amidst troubled circumstances, including what Silva describes as a, dreary council house in Essex, a father who left when she was so young she could scarcely recall what he looked like and a brother, a perennially out of work alcoholic.
Despite these early hardships, Madeline was accepted to, and graduated from University of Edinburgh. Armed with degrees in economics and social policy, she walked through the doors of her chosen political party’s Millbank headquarters, landed an entry level job and quickly rose through the clerical ranks, eventually promoted to Director of Community Outreach. By this point, everyone knew she was on her way to bigger things, her career having the nickname, “solar flare bright.”
By this point, Madeline Hart had seized control of her career, possessed telegenic good looks, keen intellect and seemingly boundless energy. To some of the party insiders it seemed as though she was destined for her own seat in parliament, even a prominent government ministry of her own.
But suddenly, and without any warning, all of these aspirations came to an end. Madeline was only twenty-seven years old.
It happened while she was on a vacation in Piana, Corsica, along with three other girls and two boys, all party members, vacationing together. On one particular evening plans were made to dine in the nearby town of Porto. Madeline made the arrangements, but asked her friends to go ahead without her, and that she would meet them in the restaurant after a quick stop for a drink with a friend in Piana. No one in the party thought it odd when she failed to appear for dinner, or when they woke up to find her bed unoccupied.
“It had been that kind of summer, and Madeline had been that kind of girl,” Silva tells us.
It was only after she was not seen for three days that the French National Police officially declared Madeline Hart missing. Eerily, there was no evidence, except for her red scooter, discovered in an isolated ravine near Monte Cinto. The scooter itself was intact except for a broken headlight.
Under any conditions, a mysteriously missing foreign young lady, successful and photogenic, would quickly catch the attention of the press and public. But Daniel Silva lets us in on a little secret that would turn this story from “big” to “massive.”
Madeline Hart is the secret lover of British Prime Minister Jonathan Lancaster.
Her kidnapping is first brought to the attention of Lancaster’s director of communications, Simon Hewitt by way of a package delivered to his front door containing a DVD, a single sheet of A4 paper, and a photograph. The video, once played, quickly raises the priority from “high” to “critical” when Hewitt hears Madeline’s voice say:
“I made love to Prime Minister Jonathan Lancaster for the first time at the Party conference in Manchester in October 2012…”
The note reads:
“You have seven days, or the girl dies.”
Predictably, the news of Madeline’s kidnapping become priority one for the Lancaster government, more specifically demanding the attentions of the three men, “The Holy Trinity” of British politics: Hewitt, Jeremy Fallon the chief of staff and the prime minister himself. Less predictably, a highly questionable decision is made by the three to forego reporting Madeline’s kidnapping in favor of charging MI5 deputy director Graham Seymour with the task of putting together a plan to rescue Madeline while keeping the whole affair quiet.
Upon receiving the clandestine assignment, Seymour knows immediately who the man for the job is. None other than master assassin, art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon.
Gabriel proves to be a complex and intriguing character. He’s an Israeli Secret Agent who’d lost his son in a car bombing orchestrated by Palestinian master terrorist Tariq al-Hourani, and ordered by Yasir Arafat himself. His wife survived the bombing and was left lying disfigured and in an unsound mental condition in a psychiatric hospital. In a lucid moment she granted her husband to remarry, “Look at me Gabriel. There’s nothing left of me. Nothing but a memory.”
Sometime later, Gabriel was assigned a mission to take down a Russian arms dealer named Ivan Kharkov. As a result of the mission, Kharkov loses his wife, children, money and business. The arms dealer seeks revenge by taking a girl he loves, named Chiara. Gabriel set out to rescue Chiara and in doing so, engages in one of the bloodiest missions in his long career, killing eleven of Kharkov’s operatives and eventually killing Kharkov himself.
Chiara is rescued, she and Gabriel marry, but the emotional and physical scars remain.
Chiara is unable to become pregnant, a direct result of the ketamine injections that Kharkov’s men injected into her while she was in captivity. Mrs. Allon is now a curator at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Gabriel and Chiara discuss the mission to rescue Madeline Hart, causing painful memories of their own history to surface.
“I wish it could be someone else” she says.
“There is no one else” he replies.
A statement they both know to be true, and quietly accept.
Gabriel collects the assignment dossier, the note, the DVD of Madeline’s confession, her Party personnel file, a money belt containing two hundred thousand dollars and a ticket for a 4:00 p.m. flight to Paris.
He sets off on a mission to locate and rescue the lover of a prime minister – in less than a week.
Daniel Silva takes the reader on a fantastic Eurasian tour of spy networks, clandestine operations, shady business deals and Machiavellian politicians. But at the same time the story features some of the finest attributes of human nature: loyalty, friendship, teamwork, love of country, family and best of all, just how resilient the love between two people can be when it’s real.
“The English Girl” is a splendid example of storytelling excellence.
Charlize grew up on her parent’s farm near Johannesburg. Her father was a violent alcoholic who physically abused and terrorized teenage Charlize and her mother. Eventually things got so bad that Charlize’s mother was forced to shoot and kill her husband to escape the attacks.
A few years later, determined to overcome the tragedies of her childhood, while fueled by a passion for dance, Charlize moved from home to seek work as a dancer. She persevered and eventually landed a modelling contract which lead to film work. She was a survivor who’d overcome great personal challenges in order to live out her dreams of being in show business.
“The English Girl,” Madeline Hart also grew up amidst troubled circumstances, including what Silva describes as a, dreary council house in Essex, a father who left when she was so young she could scarcely recall what he looked like and a brother, a perennially out of work alcoholic.
Despite these early hardships, Madeline was accepted to, and graduated from University of Edinburgh. Armed with degrees in economics and social policy, she walked through the doors of her chosen political party’s Millbank headquarters, landed an entry level job and quickly rose through the clerical ranks, eventually promoted to Director of Community Outreach. By this point, everyone knew she was on her way to bigger things, her career having the nickname, “solar flare bright.”
By this point, Madeline Hart had seized control of her career, possessed telegenic good looks, keen intellect and seemingly boundless energy. To some of the party insiders it seemed as though she was destined for her own seat in parliament, even a prominent government ministry of her own.
But suddenly, and without any warning, all of these aspirations came to an end. Madeline was only twenty-seven years old.
It happened while she was on a vacation in Piana, Corsica, along with three other girls and two boys, all party members, vacationing together. On one particular evening plans were made to dine in the nearby town of Porto. Madeline made the arrangements, but asked her friends to go ahead without her, and that she would meet them in the restaurant after a quick stop for a drink with a friend in Piana. No one in the party thought it odd when she failed to appear for dinner, or when they woke up to find her bed unoccupied.
“It had been that kind of summer, and Madeline had been that kind of girl,” Silva tells us.
It was only after she was not seen for three days that the French National Police officially declared Madeline Hart missing. Eerily, there was no evidence, except for her red scooter, discovered in an isolated ravine near Monte Cinto. The scooter itself was intact except for a broken headlight.
Under any conditions, a mysteriously missing foreign young lady, successful and photogenic, would quickly catch the attention of the press and public. But Daniel Silva lets us in on a little secret that would turn this story from “big” to “massive.”
Madeline Hart is the secret lover of British Prime Minister Jonathan Lancaster.
Her kidnapping is first brought to the attention of Lancaster’s director of communications, Simon Hewitt by way of a package delivered to his front door containing a DVD, a single sheet of A4 paper, and a photograph. The video, once played, quickly raises the priority from “high” to “critical” when Hewitt hears Madeline’s voice say:
“I made love to Prime Minister Jonathan Lancaster for the first time at the Party conference in Manchester in October 2012…”
The note reads:
“You have seven days, or the girl dies.”
Predictably, the news of Madeline’s kidnapping become priority one for the Lancaster government, more specifically demanding the attentions of the three men, “The Holy Trinity” of British politics: Hewitt, Jeremy Fallon the chief of staff and the prime minister himself. Less predictably, a highly questionable decision is made by the three to forego reporting Madeline’s kidnapping in favor of charging MI5 deputy director Graham Seymour with the task of putting together a plan to rescue Madeline while keeping the whole affair quiet.
Upon receiving the clandestine assignment, Seymour knows immediately who the man for the job is. None other than master assassin, art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon.
Gabriel proves to be a complex and intriguing character. He’s an Israeli Secret Agent who’d lost his son in a car bombing orchestrated by Palestinian master terrorist Tariq al-Hourani, and ordered by Yasir Arafat himself. His wife survived the bombing and was left lying disfigured and in an unsound mental condition in a psychiatric hospital. In a lucid moment she granted her husband to remarry, “Look at me Gabriel. There’s nothing left of me. Nothing but a memory.”
Sometime later, Gabriel was assigned a mission to take down a Russian arms dealer named Ivan Kharkov. As a result of the mission, Kharkov loses his wife, children, money and business. The arms dealer seeks revenge by taking a girl he loves, named Chiara. Gabriel set out to rescue Chiara and in doing so, engages in one of the bloodiest missions in his long career, killing eleven of Kharkov’s operatives and eventually killing Kharkov himself.
Chiara is rescued, she and Gabriel marry, but the emotional and physical scars remain.
Chiara is unable to become pregnant, a direct result of the ketamine injections that Kharkov’s men injected into her while she was in captivity. Mrs. Allon is now a curator at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Gabriel and Chiara discuss the mission to rescue Madeline Hart, causing painful memories of their own history to surface.
“I wish it could be someone else” she says.
“There is no one else” he replies.
A statement they both know to be true, and quietly accept.
Gabriel collects the assignment dossier, the note, the DVD of Madeline’s confession, her Party personnel file, a money belt containing two hundred thousand dollars and a ticket for a 4:00 p.m. flight to Paris.
He sets off on a mission to locate and rescue the lover of a prime minister – in less than a week.
Daniel Silva takes the reader on a fantastic Eurasian tour of spy networks, clandestine operations, shady business deals and Machiavellian politicians. But at the same time the story features some of the finest attributes of human nature: loyalty, friendship, teamwork, love of country, family and best of all, just how resilient the love between two people can be when it’s real.
“The English Girl” is a splendid example of storytelling excellence.
August 5, 2013
I waited til the right time and place presented itself before settling in with my yearly Daniel Silva book ... This annual treat needs to be savored, knowing I won't get another update to Gabriel Allon's story until the following summer. But once started, I can never stop ... I read this book yesterday - all 496 pages. Last year, I enjoyed Silva's The Fallen Angel, but was reminded with every page that it was the TWELFTH in the series and it was feeling very formulaic and predictable. I don't know if Silva felt it, too, but The English Girl was injected with some freshness, as well as a little more humor and witty repartee than in his other books. I was really glad that someone "new" played such a big role - I know Keller made an appearance in a previous book, but his large part in this one was a welcome addition to me. I enjoy the team Gabriel assembles in each book, but it was nice to expand on the storyline of some fresh characters. I don't mind that Silva's stories are biased towards Israel, but I was glad to take a break from that theme with The English Girl. Fans of Gabriel Allon should enjoy this book - and friends, if you've never read one of Daniel Silva's books, feel free to start with this one. I'm not a fan of "spy" stories - but Silva's series starring Gabriel Allon, an Israeli spy, are SO much more than books of intrigue and secrets. A lot of art history, in addition to timely plots and detailed research, I've never been bored with any of them.
February 12, 2019
My mystery book club is reading this book and I thought it was a really good mystery/thriller. I was not familiar with the main character but I see there are others books and I want to read more. Really liked the main character. The reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is that I thought the story got really bogged down when the characters were in Russia with all the oil company stuff. But it was still a very good read.
August 11, 2020
A good thriller. Interesting touch on how the Russian Energy Industry plays into modern geopolitics.
August 11, 2013
It is hard to give less than five stars to any Gabriel Allon book. If I were rating this against any other writer, it would be a five. Unfortunately Silva himself has placed the bar so high that a five would be phenomenal. This is not the best of the Gabriel Allon books, but it does not miss the mark by much. I find myself waxing nostalgic for the melancholy art restorer persona of the early works or the damaged Gabriel hiding out in Cornwall until Chiara comes to save him from his ghosts. I miss Julien Usherwood, yet going home to Israel opens a while new set of possibilities for a Gabriel who is no longer young or quite so intense. Since I am not longer young or intense that works fine for me and it obviously works for Silva. So what is missing in this fine new addition to the saga? For me, it is the element of suspense, because I had the basic plot mapped after about 40 pages into the story, certainly not with such certainty that I was ready to put the book aside. And in any case, I read Silva's books for the sheer joy of reading Silva. There are some characters I found tedious. I am not turned on by Corsican thugs--Napoleone Bonaparte finished that off for me when he shelled the Sphinx. Nor do I expect Gabriel to be perfect. After all, the man is an assassin. I do not blame him for sitting down with Ari Shamron and putting his own future on the table in order to get support for his plan, but I like it less when he barters with the Corsican don for the lease of his favorite henchman. On the positive side, I was ever so grateful to Silva for not subject the character Mikael (Michael) to the endless tortures he usually endures or letting the poor guy wallow in his quasi romance with the American CIA agent. The absence of more than a token appearance by some of the characters we usually see was actually welcome. I like the fact that almost everybody gets almost all of what they want when the plot resolves and that the ending neither foretells or forecloses the next appearance of an older but every bit as interesting Gabriel Allon. I rarely shell out 11.99 for an ebook, but this is the exception, and I do not feel the least bit cheated.
August 9, 2013
Brilliant and well-researched as always. If anything the English-Russian ties are deeper than the fictional case here, though they are well-known and publicly-negotiated.
The scope is a bit off. 100,000 barrels per day is a lot of oil, but not government-shaking. And in the real world, the Chinese are the ones who acquire oil/gas overseas, not the Russians.
Silva has wonderful action and cadence. His books are always a pleasure to read and this fits his tradition.
The scope is a bit off. 100,000 barrels per day is a lot of oil, but not government-shaking. And in the real world, the Chinese are the ones who acquire oil/gas overseas, not the Russians.
Silva has wonderful action and cadence. His books are always a pleasure to read and this fits his tradition.
December 1, 2016
"Levaram-na no final de agosto, na ilha da Córsega. Nunca ficaria estabelecida a hora precisa - algures entre o pôr do sol e o meio -dia do dia seguinte foi o melhor que os amigos que dividiam a casa com ela conseguiram fazer."
E assim começa mais uma aventura de Gabriel Allon que o transporta para diversos países, procurando descobrir a relação entre esta jovem mulher, o primeiro-ministro inglês e uma empresa petrolífera russa gerida pelo sucessor do KGB.
E assim começa mais uma aventura de Gabriel Allon que o transporta para diversos países, procurando descobrir a relação entre esta jovem mulher, o primeiro-ministro inglês e uma empresa petrolífera russa gerida pelo sucessor do KGB.
January 23, 2021
The 13th book in Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series is a political thriller. Allon is an art restorer in his public life but also works as an assassin and spy for Israeli intelligence. He is a master at all three roles.
Over the course of the series, Allon has forged relationships with both British and American intelligence. In The English Girl, he is called in via MI6 to find the missing mistress of the (fictional) current Prime Minister of Britain. The criminals behind the kidnapping of Madeline Hart figure the British governing party will pay a huge ransom to protect their guy at 10 Downing Street from scandal.
When Allon penetrates the operation, he finds himself once more at the potential mercy of some ruthless enemies he has made over the years, Russian enemies that is.
Even after 12 books this author managed to raise my heart rate while he began to set up a possible new future for his hero. Also intriguing was how deeply the story penetrated into Putin's true intentions for his country and the rest of the world, intentions that nearly destroyed our democracy over the past four years, intentions he has had since he became Russia's leader in 2012.
Over the course of the series, Allon has forged relationships with both British and American intelligence. In The English Girl, he is called in via MI6 to find the missing mistress of the (fictional) current Prime Minister of Britain. The criminals behind the kidnapping of Madeline Hart figure the British governing party will pay a huge ransom to protect their guy at 10 Downing Street from scandal.
When Allon penetrates the operation, he finds himself once more at the potential mercy of some ruthless enemies he has made over the years, Russian enemies that is.
Even after 12 books this author managed to raise my heart rate while he began to set up a possible new future for his hero. Also intriguing was how deeply the story penetrated into Putin's true intentions for his country and the rest of the world, intentions that nearly destroyed our democracy over the past four years, intentions he has had since he became Russia's leader in 2012.
February 8, 2014
I’m something of a fan of Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon books, even if, as often happens with an ongoing series, the structure of each novel is pretty standard: Allon, an art restorer and Israeli agent, is pulled reluctantly into some case of international terrorism; bad things happen; he gets his gang together; and vengeance is meted out. Actually, leaving out the international terrorism element, that could describe most mystery novels, my own included. In Silva’s case, this is all accomplished with a considerable measure of style, and no small amount of tension. He’s very good.
Here’s the thing: I don’t believe in the concept of guilty pleasures. If you like something, and it doesn’t do anyone else any harm — or, indeed, yourself — then it’s fine to like it. If anything about the Allon books makes me slightly uneasy, it’s a general tendency to paint the Israelis entirely as a force for good, and the Arabs or Russians as pretty much uniformly bad. Now I’m no expert, but I suspect the geopolitical situation is slightly more complex than that. End of note.
Here’s the thing: I don’t believe in the concept of guilty pleasures. If you like something, and it doesn’t do anyone else any harm — or, indeed, yourself — then it’s fine to like it. If anything about the Allon books makes me slightly uneasy, it’s a general tendency to paint the Israelis entirely as a force for good, and the Arabs or Russians as pretty much uniformly bad. Now I’m no expert, but I suspect the geopolitical situation is slightly more complex than that. End of note.
April 15, 2015
So now I've read a Silva.
I called this "genre literature." For me that means literature I typically don't read, for if I read it, it would be "cross-over" literature. It means looking down my nose at it. What I read is literature; what you read is "genre lit."
I'm teasing. And owning up--a little.
The purpose of this book is to give the reader thrills of suspense. The character development serves the plot, and sometimes the action serves to ratchet up another few seconds of suspense, whether it serves the plot or not.
That suspense is supposed to keep the reader turning the pages. I may or may not have, except that I got the book on audio from the library and listened to most of it during a car trip, with the book there, too, for clarifying a name or plot point as needed. A good friend and Silva fan had given this book to me for my last birthday (a year ago!). That made me want to read it--now a fait accompli.
And it made the miles roll by. That it did.
What's the good of genre lit? First of all, it's better to read than not to read. Suspense thrillers could be the entry drug that makes someone into a hardcore reader.
Probably you learn a little something about Russia in this book. It is a matter of some importance to the author that post-USSR Russia not be romanticized, and if anyone was doing that, the events of the last year or so would have set him or her straight and ratified the author's vision.
This LA Times article on Russia was reprinted in my paper just as I was finishing up The English Girl.
The author also paints the dilemmas and struggles of the country of Israel in more sympathetic colors than the left would like. In fact, they wouldn't particularly care for his picture of world politics in general; say, of Western countries being friendly with Israel.
Is Daniel Silva a "neo-con?" Only in the sense that, as one moves further toward the political left, there is no "liberal" or "center-left" position behind one, only neo-con territory, so that everything to the rightward of whatever one's own political position is, is called that.
Still, it could be more effective to ban Silva than Sodastream or hummus. Daniel Silva's books prove Israel's problem is not the result of a lack of PR.
This book suffers from being two books stuck together. One part of the plot ran out before readers could be given their money's worth of thrills, necessitating something new for the second half of the book.
To be fair, some reviewers say this isn't the best Silva and that he subsequently returned to form.
He has a verbal tic of, having come up with a witticism, repeating it multiple times. I doubt if that's limited to the present book.
For example, a bug-free room in which the spies could speak freely in the Israeli embassy in London is the "holy of holies." It hits home the first time.
Or another character asks the hero if he doesn't drink champagne. He says, no, it gives him a headache. The other party says, "Me, too," all the while pouring a glass.
Stop while you're ahead!
For the easily confused late-comer, shilling for former books in the guise of references to past adventures clutters up the plot line and makes it harder to remember the characters.
Why does the author have his hero ask another character, "Since when do you eat shellfish," when that character has not evidenced a shred of religious observance otherwise?
And yet those attempting to meet with a superstar oil magnate are said, with a jarring authenticity, to be waiting to "sit at his feet."
Still and all, now I've read a Silva!
Although my tone in this review has at points been dismissive, Silva's thrillers were best-sellers from the very first one, enabling him to resign from journalism and producing CNN talk-shows. When one of his new books comes out, library queues of several hundred people form. He's considered the preeminent writer of international thrillers. And for the sake of authenticity for his hero, who's an art restorer as well as a spy and assassin, he gets input from an art expert in the know.
For more information:
http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/d...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta...
September 7, 2013
Okay, so this is another spy novel with lots of assassin killings; not my favorite things. But the difference between this one and the Mitch Rapp series is that the main Office of CIA types is not American but from Israel. I take it Silva is Jewish. And certainly, we do feel much more confidence in the Israeli intelligence group than our own CIA/FBI or even the British MI5/MI6 folks. Why? Because they do what they say they are going to do, and they act out of intense self preservation (think Holocaust), and leave the shackling Political Correctness OUT.
The other thing I like about this novel is that the true "evil-doers" in the world are unmasked and denuded, i.e. the Russians. Are they not at the heart of every evil we face today? They weaponize the Iranians, who weaponize the Syrians, who kill anyone resisting them, or if it suits the Rushkie's purposes, they supply the Al-Qaeda nut-cakes, or anyone else who seems intent on destroying their fellowmen. It feels really, really good to see someone, even if that someone is fictional, kick their bad butts! These are the true super-heroes of the day.
Also interesting, although author disclaimed, is to try and figure out who in the political scene today is being brush-stroked as a fictional character in the story. I think Putin is clearly painted. Current British Prime Minister - who knows? It is very notable that Silva has none, NO, not-a, even a hint of American intelligence involved here. (Maybe there isn't any, J/K) This could very well indicate the current feeling Israelis have against our current administration which is weak and feckless, and therefore the intelligence is weak and feckless, and continually embarrassed by leaks from traitors who go unpunished. I don't consider myself a bellicose per person, but enough is enough, already! Long live the Israelis! Go get em.
The other thing I like about this novel is that the true "evil-doers" in the world are unmasked and denuded, i.e. the Russians. Are they not at the heart of every evil we face today? They weaponize the Iranians, who weaponize the Syrians, who kill anyone resisting them, or if it suits the Rushkie's purposes, they supply the Al-Qaeda nut-cakes, or anyone else who seems intent on destroying their fellowmen. It feels really, really good to see someone, even if that someone is fictional, kick their bad butts! These are the true super-heroes of the day.
Also interesting, although author disclaimed, is to try and figure out who in the political scene today is being brush-stroked as a fictional character in the story. I think Putin is clearly painted. Current British Prime Minister - who knows? It is very notable that Silva has none, NO, not-a, even a hint of American intelligence involved here. (Maybe there isn't any, J/K) This could very well indicate the current feeling Israelis have against our current administration which is weak and feckless, and therefore the intelligence is weak and feckless, and continually embarrassed by leaks from traitors who go unpunished. I don't consider myself a bellicose per person, but enough is enough, already! Long live the Israelis! Go get em.
June 6, 2016
Style 10; plot 2. For the first 100 pages, I couldn't determine why I didn't care about a novel in the thriller/spy genre and then I figured it out. Silva never made me care about the subject of the book - the missing English girl. I didn't care if she lived or died, or if our main character found her prior to any unpleasantness. The odd thing is that this novel is divided into two parts - the before and after, so to speak. Once we got to the "after" period, the pacing picked up and I had no difficulty finishing it. I still didn't care about how things played out, but at least in the second half of the book, I cared about the safety of the various spies. Hence, the 3 rating. Silva's very gifted in terms of writing style, and his characters grew on me. If the English Girl represents his ability to drive a thriller from beginning to end, however, I'll pass on reading additional works.
May 21, 2023
The latest Gabriel Allon book.
This is a very good book and still a wonderful series.
Be aware that you really should read this series in order as there is ongoing character development.
This is a very good book and still a wonderful series.
Be aware that you really should read this series in order as there is ongoing character development.
August 1, 2013
When it comes to books, not much thrills me as much as learning Daniel Silva has produced another one featuring art restoration expert and Israeli super-spy Gabriel Allon. No surprise, then when I couldn't wait to get my Kindle stylus tapping on the latest adventure. That said, I always open them with a sense of hesitation; I'm always fearful (make that scared to death) that something awful will happen to him and/or his beautiful wife Chiara.
So, as each chapter opens and Gabriel's always complex, always dangerous adventures unfold, I take a deep breath in anticipation of reading something I hope I never have to read. That is, I think, a complement to Silva, who has managed to tap into my emotions like few authors have done and, simply put, make me care enormously about all of his characters.
This one begins as a young British woman with links to the Prime Minister disappears on the island of Corsica and, in part to avoid a scandal that threatens to topple the English government, Gabriel is called upon to handle negotiations with what is assumed to be a kidnapping. Of course, nothing in the world of espionage is ever as it seems, and just when you think a situation has been resolved, a new and even more potentially dangerous twist appears on the horizon. Along the way are Silva's wonderful insights into his characters -- not many authors do a better job, IMHO -- as well as interesting and informative looks into the history of the countries in which the action takes place (most notably Israel, a country that has long fascinated me).
Much more than that I can't say without revealing too much of the plot, although I will add that the ending brings into question exactly what Gabriel's role will be in future books. But I enjoyed this one from beginning to end and think it's one of Silva's best - were it possible, in fact, I'd have given this one 6 stars.
So, as each chapter opens and Gabriel's always complex, always dangerous adventures unfold, I take a deep breath in anticipation of reading something I hope I never have to read. That is, I think, a complement to Silva, who has managed to tap into my emotions like few authors have done and, simply put, make me care enormously about all of his characters.
This one begins as a young British woman with links to the Prime Minister disappears on the island of Corsica and, in part to avoid a scandal that threatens to topple the English government, Gabriel is called upon to handle negotiations with what is assumed to be a kidnapping. Of course, nothing in the world of espionage is ever as it seems, and just when you think a situation has been resolved, a new and even more potentially dangerous twist appears on the horizon. Along the way are Silva's wonderful insights into his characters -- not many authors do a better job, IMHO -- as well as interesting and informative looks into the history of the countries in which the action takes place (most notably Israel, a country that has long fascinated me).
Much more than that I can't say without revealing too much of the plot, although I will add that the ending brings into question exactly what Gabriel's role will be in future books. But I enjoyed this one from beginning to end and think it's one of Silva's best - were it possible, in fact, I'd have given this one 6 stars.
October 17, 2016
An seemingly ordinary English girl gets kidnapped during her holiday in Corsica. What the general public do not know that this lovely English Rose is the secret lover of their Prime-minister of Great Britain. In order to keep this hidden a favor is asked and Gabriel Allon spy extra-ordinary gets to track down the girl and her kidnapper. During the exchange of the ransom everything goes wrong and Allon ends up empty handed.
The Israeli does not handle defeat very well and start looking into the matter, who was behind the kidnapping and what was the reason for the kidnapping to begin with.
And so a great thriller starts that does not involve any middle eastern plot for a change which is a nice difference for a change. We do get some slight office politics but they have a one sided character and leave this reader with the idea that nothing will come of it anyhow.
The change from middle eastern baddies for a more geopolitical and economic plot is far more satisfying and fairly well doen. Being a faithful reader of this genre I did find myself guessing some of the plot surprises and that never sits well with me, as I like to be surprised like the next person. Which is the reason I opt for a 3 star score instead of a four star score.
As always well written and easy to read and lay away to pick up later without losing the plot.
A good series that keeps up its quality even after 13 books.
The Israeli does not handle defeat very well and start looking into the matter, who was behind the kidnapping and what was the reason for the kidnapping to begin with.
And so a great thriller starts that does not involve any middle eastern plot for a change which is a nice difference for a change. We do get some slight office politics but they have a one sided character and leave this reader with the idea that nothing will come of it anyhow.
The change from middle eastern baddies for a more geopolitical and economic plot is far more satisfying and fairly well doen. Being a faithful reader of this genre I did find myself guessing some of the plot surprises and that never sits well with me, as I like to be surprised like the next person. Which is the reason I opt for a 3 star score instead of a four star score.
As always well written and easy to read and lay away to pick up later without losing the plot.
A good series that keeps up its quality even after 13 books.
July 30, 2013
Mr. Silva finally takes a turn away from his usual plot of Muslim terrorists and deals with a different story. The prime minister of Great Britain is being blackmailed for his involvement in an extramarital affair. Gabriel is asked to investigate and try to rescue the prime minister's girlfriend.
The book is divided in two parts. The first part deals with the rescue and it is quite light and humorous. The second part deals with the heavy and serious action of finding the actual kidnappers. I enjoyed this book in part because it is fast moving, humorous, full of action and has a well developed plot. The part that I liked the best is the departure from the usual story of the saving of Israel. I personally was getting bored with the usual stories and in my review of the previous book, stated so.
The book is divided in two parts. The first part deals with the rescue and it is quite light and humorous. The second part deals with the heavy and serious action of finding the actual kidnappers. I enjoyed this book in part because it is fast moving, humorous, full of action and has a well developed plot. The part that I liked the best is the departure from the usual story of the saving of Israel. I personally was getting bored with the usual stories and in my review of the previous book, stated so.
March 29, 2019
The first few chapters were compelling and exciting to read. After that, it was the same as previous books, when they find out who snatched the girl, Gabriel and his team try to infiltrate an organization. A fun read with some twist and turn in the end.
September 9, 2013
I recently retreated to a beach in the company of my wife and two books. The weather was excellent, the beach was composed of fine-grained sand, and the waves advanced and rolled back in a peaceable manner. In short, the lark was on his wing, the snail on his thorn, and God was in Heaven.
The second of the two books was Daniel Silva's new story in the Gabriel Allon series. I read The English Girl quickly, as I don't think Silva ever intended his books to be read slowly. It was an enjoyable read, par for the course for Silva. His Allon stories are shot through with a certain amount of sadness which, I think, makes them stand out from the regular crowd of thrillers. The sadness comes from the combination of Gabriel Allon's life--the life of a frustrated artist and art restorer who must work, instead, at killing and destroying instead of creating beauty--and the larger setting of modern Israeli practicality, the practicality of a small country always forced to make dreadful choices in order to stay alive.
The first half of the book was excellent, laying out the story of the kidnapped Madeline Hart, the involvement of Allon to find her, and her startling death. The second half of the story, Allon's revenge against her killers, felt slightly cookie-cutter to me. However, this is typical of Silva's books. The second halves tend to follow the same routine: the involvement of the Mossad, Allon pulling his team together (always the same cast of characters--though, in this book, we at least had the welcome addition of Christopher Keller, the ex-SAS soldier), summary judgment and execution.
Still, The English Girl is a very satisfying read and I recommend it unreservedly for those who appreciate thrillers. The addition of Corsica as one of the plot setting was a very nice touch. I can almost smell the sage and heather of the macchia countryside from here.
One last comment. I appreciate Silva's thrillers for many reasons, but chief among them is that he writes from a moral perspective. Right and wrong, good and evil, however they are complicated by issues of nationalism, etc., are respected in his stories. That, for me, is important and refreshing.
The second of the two books was Daniel Silva's new story in the Gabriel Allon series. I read The English Girl quickly, as I don't think Silva ever intended his books to be read slowly. It was an enjoyable read, par for the course for Silva. His Allon stories are shot through with a certain amount of sadness which, I think, makes them stand out from the regular crowd of thrillers. The sadness comes from the combination of Gabriel Allon's life--the life of a frustrated artist and art restorer who must work, instead, at killing and destroying instead of creating beauty--and the larger setting of modern Israeli practicality, the practicality of a small country always forced to make dreadful choices in order to stay alive.
The first half of the book was excellent, laying out the story of the kidnapped Madeline Hart, the involvement of Allon to find her, and her startling death. The second half of the story, Allon's revenge against her killers, felt slightly cookie-cutter to me. However, this is typical of Silva's books. The second halves tend to follow the same routine: the involvement of the Mossad, Allon pulling his team together (always the same cast of characters--though, in this book, we at least had the welcome addition of Christopher Keller, the ex-SAS soldier), summary judgment and execution.
Still, The English Girl is a very satisfying read and I recommend it unreservedly for those who appreciate thrillers. The addition of Corsica as one of the plot setting was a very nice touch. I can almost smell the sage and heather of the macchia countryside from here.
One last comment. I appreciate Silva's thrillers for many reasons, but chief among them is that he writes from a moral perspective. Right and wrong, good and evil, however they are complicated by issues of nationalism, etc., are respected in his stories. That, for me, is important and refreshing.
August 8, 2013
Do you like spy thrillers, but feel they lack culture? Do you ever wish your spy characters were skilled in music and art as well as clandestine intrigue and killing? It's time to start reading Daniel Silva's spy thrillers starring Gabriel Allon, master art restorer/forger and Israeli assassin/spy! The English Girl is the 16th Gabriel Allon now, but Silva does a good job filling in key elements of the backstory in a few lines. This novel starts with a kidnapping for ransom, gets tangled up with the Corsican mafia, spends a while with a complicated secret identity scheme, and ends with a massive twist! The Russians get to be the "bad guys" in this one, giving it a very classic spy novel feel.The "spy" aspect of Daniel Silva's writing- the classic tradecraft, political wrangling and double-crosses- brings to mind LeCarre, but with a little more killing and fewer tedious descriptions of blind drops and old men talking. The "thriller" side of his writing- the car chases, assassins, and twists- reminds me of Ludlum, with more reliance on fellow spies and more finessed kills. Gabriel Allon is a character of depth and experience. The recurring supporting cast in the stories is well drawn, especially Allon's mentor Ari Shamron. After years of coaxing and scheming, it seems like Shamron might finally have talked Allon into becoming chief of "The Office." Allon is getting older, and there are developments in his personal life that might keep him closer to home, so I can imagine that Silva might finally write him in to that role. However, I'm sure circumstances would require his presence on the field of operations often enough to keep things interesting.It doesn't really matter if you've always wanted to read about an art restorer spy assassin or not. If you want to read a spy novel at all, you should be reading Daniel Silva's books. He is one of the best- if not the best- out there.
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Read my other book reviews: www.justtoomanybooks.wordpress.com
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