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Gabriel Allon #15
The English Spy
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2015)First there was The English Assassin.
Then there was The English Girl.
Now comes The English Spy...
Master novelist Daniel Silva has thrilled readers with seventeen thoughtful and gripping spy novels featuring a diverse cast of compelling characters, and ingenious plots that have taken them around the globe and back—from the United States to Europe, Russia to the Middle East. His brilliant hero, Gabriel Allon - art restorer, assassin, spy - has joined the pantheon of great fictional secret agents, including George Smiley, Jack Ryan, Jason Bourne and Simon Templar.
Following the success of his smash hit The Heist, Daniel Silva returns with another powerhouse of a novel - one that showcases his outstanding skill and brilliant imagination, and which is sure to be a must-read for both his multitudes of fans and growing legions of converts.
Then there was The English Girl.
Now comes The English Spy...
Master novelist Daniel Silva has thrilled readers with seventeen thoughtful and gripping spy novels featuring a diverse cast of compelling characters, and ingenious plots that have taken them around the globe and back—from the United States to Europe, Russia to the Middle East. His brilliant hero, Gabriel Allon - art restorer, assassin, spy - has joined the pantheon of great fictional secret agents, including George Smiley, Jack Ryan, Jason Bourne and Simon Templar.
Following the success of his smash hit The Heist, Daniel Silva returns with another powerhouse of a novel - one that showcases his outstanding skill and brilliant imagination, and which is sure to be a must-read for both his multitudes of fans and growing legions of converts.
484 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2015
3037 people are currently reading
13071 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Silva
172 books9,329 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 1,916 reviews
October 26, 2021
In this 15th book in the 'Gabriel Allon' series, the Israeli spy is hunting the bombmaker Quinn, who is responsible for the death of his family and the bombing of a British royal entourage. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Israeli spy/art restorer Gabriel Allon is about to become the father of twins and the head of the Israeli spy agency when a British princess and her entourage are blown up.
The perpetrator is Quinn, the expert bomb-maker Gabriel deems ultimately responsible for the death of his first wife and child. So Gabriel goes back into the field with the goal of finding and killing Quinn.
Gabriel teams up with Keller, an AWOL British soldier and skilled assassin - soon to be an agent of MI6 - and they're off on a multi-country adventure. Before long Gabriel and Keller are lured to the site of a major bombing and Gabriel is 'killed' (wink wink) which might just lower the guard of the bad guys.
The story has a variety of interesting characters including a beautiful Russian agent who bedded the British Prime Minister - and was later sprung out of Russia by Gabriel;
Angry revenge-seeking Russians;
A cell of the Irish Republican Army (IRA);
A double-dealing Iranian;
A British mole; and so on.
There's an interesting rivalry between the heads of MI5 and MI6, who have to work together but willingly sabotage each other when things go awry.
During the course of the story the reader gets a seemingly authentic and fascinating peek into spycraft, running agents, exposing double agents, prying information out of people (Jack Bauer style) and more. This kind of thing is always fun to experience vicariously (well maybe not the torture).
This is a well-crafted, fast-paced story that kept my attention from the first page to the last. Highly recommended to fans of espionage thrillers.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
July 7, 2015
First impression: Damn, the man sure knows how to write a dynamite first chapter!
Last impression: Another outstanding book featuring my all-time favorite character, Israel's not-so-secret agent Gabriel Allon (the 15th in the series, I believe) - but it falls a wee bit short of 5 stars (for the record, I'd give it 4.5 if I could).
That said, Daniel Silva may be the only writer on the planet who can make me want to read stories involving Hezbollah, al-Qaeda or the IRA. This book takes off where the previous one ended, with Gabriel planning to take over as chief of "The Office" - a role that presumably with put the brakes on in-the-field action. He's also preparing for fatherhood once again; his younger, beautiful wife Chiara is close to delivering twins (Gabriel's young son from his first marriage was killed in a terrorist explosion).
But as one might expect in the world of espionage, nothing is a sure thing. An English princess (loosely based on the late Princess Diana, the author says) is killed while on a yacht by an assassin linked to the IRA. Against his will - Gabriel wants to finish restoration of a major painting and spend the final weeks with his wife before the twins arrive - he's coerced into joining forces with Christopher Keller, an Englishman who is being recruited as a spy for M16.
The trail leads to Eamon Quinn, who excels at making highly destructive bombs that kill lots of innocent people; apparently, he was hired to blow up that yacht, so the two men set out to learn who put up the money for the hit. The chase takes them to a variety of settings, most of which have appeared in previous books, where they go gun-to-knife with a variety of characters (ditto). The whole thing seems to be a wrap-up of everything that's happened before in a neat and tidy (well, sometimes, messy) bow, thus freeing up Gabriel to take over a desk job and, perhaps, paving the way for future books with new M16 agent Chris Keller in the lead role. That being the case, you bet I'll be reading them - but make no mistake: He'll never top Gabriel as my favorite character.
And that, I suppose, is why I couldn't quite muster up 5 stars; there were just too many characters and too much description of past situations (although, I admit, they were necessary to the tidying up process). Then too, the almost total absence of the Chiara was noticeable - I think I may have missed her even more than Gabriel does. I'll also note that there seems to be a bit more emphasis on politics than usual - on U.S.-Israel relations, for instance (for a while, I suspected that Silva was channeling another of my favorite writers, Brad Thor). But clearly, Silva has done extensive research on the subject, and for the most part, the political insights enhanced the story (and goodness knows, tensions between the US of A and Israel have been strained of late).
On the plus side, Silva's writing goes way beyond excellent (as usual), and I enjoyed the occasional touches of spy humor:
Chris to Gabriel as they abduct an errant bad guy: "I hope he'll fit in the trunk."
Gabriel: "We'll slam the lid on him a few times if we have to."
In the end, Silva has put forth yet another excellent work. Now I can't wait to see how Gabriel transitions to his new roles of team leader and dad to twins (a boy and a girl).
Last impression: Another outstanding book featuring my all-time favorite character, Israel's not-so-secret agent Gabriel Allon (the 15th in the series, I believe) - but it falls a wee bit short of 5 stars (for the record, I'd give it 4.5 if I could).
That said, Daniel Silva may be the only writer on the planet who can make me want to read stories involving Hezbollah, al-Qaeda or the IRA. This book takes off where the previous one ended, with Gabriel planning to take over as chief of "The Office" - a role that presumably with put the brakes on in-the-field action. He's also preparing for fatherhood once again; his younger, beautiful wife Chiara is close to delivering twins (Gabriel's young son from his first marriage was killed in a terrorist explosion).
But as one might expect in the world of espionage, nothing is a sure thing. An English princess (loosely based on the late Princess Diana, the author says) is killed while on a yacht by an assassin linked to the IRA. Against his will - Gabriel wants to finish restoration of a major painting and spend the final weeks with his wife before the twins arrive - he's coerced into joining forces with Christopher Keller, an Englishman who is being recruited as a spy for M16.
The trail leads to Eamon Quinn, who excels at making highly destructive bombs that kill lots of innocent people; apparently, he was hired to blow up that yacht, so the two men set out to learn who put up the money for the hit. The chase takes them to a variety of settings, most of which have appeared in previous books, where they go gun-to-knife with a variety of characters (ditto). The whole thing seems to be a wrap-up of everything that's happened before in a neat and tidy (well, sometimes, messy) bow, thus freeing up Gabriel to take over a desk job and, perhaps, paving the way for future books with new M16 agent Chris Keller in the lead role. That being the case, you bet I'll be reading them - but make no mistake: He'll never top Gabriel as my favorite character.
And that, I suppose, is why I couldn't quite muster up 5 stars; there were just too many characters and too much description of past situations (although, I admit, they were necessary to the tidying up process). Then too, the almost total absence of the Chiara was noticeable - I think I may have missed her even more than Gabriel does. I'll also note that there seems to be a bit more emphasis on politics than usual - on U.S.-Israel relations, for instance (for a while, I suspected that Silva was channeling another of my favorite writers, Brad Thor). But clearly, Silva has done extensive research on the subject, and for the most part, the political insights enhanced the story (and goodness knows, tensions between the US of A and Israel have been strained of late).
On the plus side, Silva's writing goes way beyond excellent (as usual), and I enjoyed the occasional touches of spy humor:
Chris to Gabriel as they abduct an errant bad guy: "I hope he'll fit in the trunk."
Gabriel: "We'll slam the lid on him a few times if we have to."
In the end, Silva has put forth yet another excellent work. Now I can't wait to see how Gabriel transitions to his new roles of team leader and dad to twins (a boy and a girl).
August 6, 2016
In his latest book, The English Spy, Daniel Silva combines a spellbinding narrative together with historical content, this global and thrilling adventure, makes the 15th novel in his Gabriel Allon Series another incredibly suspenseful and intriguing story.
From the riveting opening of chapter 1....
When the beautiful and beloved princess, who happens to be the ex-wife of England's future king is killed by a bomb placed on the yacht she's vacating on, Gabriel Allon, Israeli superspy, intelligence agent and world renowned art restorer, together Christopher Keller, ex British SAS veteran, now professional assassin, whom we met previously in The English Girl, are asked by British Intelligence to help them find the killer, Emon Quinn, who has a past history with both of them.
The author has created a realistic and complex world that begins in the beautiful and glamorous Saint Barthélemy island to the iconic places in London, to the dark and mean and dangerous streets of Belfast, Vienna, Lisbon and the place that holds a special place and that we first discovered the 1st book in the Series - the cottage atop the Cornwall cliffs, with the most thrilling end in Argentina.
One of the things I enjoy about this series is how each story feels so believable and plausible. The plot occurs over a period of time, showing both the exciting and the boring parts of the life of a spy....
From the riveting opening of chapter 1....
Stretched topless upon the foredeck, drink in hand, her flawless skin baking in the sun, was the most famous woman in the world. And one deck below, preparing an appetizer of tuna tartare, cucumber, and pineapple, was the man who was going to kill her. .- you will be kept glued to your seat whilst turning the pages, eagerly waiting for .....what happens next!!!!
When the beautiful and beloved princess, who happens to be the ex-wife of England's future king is killed by a bomb placed on the yacht she's vacating on, Gabriel Allon, Israeli superspy, intelligence agent and world renowned art restorer, together Christopher Keller, ex British SAS veteran, now professional assassin, whom we met previously in The English Girl, are asked by British Intelligence to help them find the killer, Emon Quinn, who has a past history with both of them.
The author has created a realistic and complex world that begins in the beautiful and glamorous Saint Barthélemy island to the iconic places in London, to the dark and mean and dangerous streets of Belfast, Vienna, Lisbon and the place that holds a special place and that we first discovered the 1st book in the Series - the cottage atop the Cornwall cliffs, with the most thrilling end in Argentina.
One of the things I enjoy about this series is how each story feels so believable and plausible. The plot occurs over a period of time, showing both the exciting and the boring parts of the life of a spy....
“life of a professional spy as one of constant travel and mind-numbing boredom broken by interludes of sheer terror.”A riveting story that you won't be able to put down.
didn-t-finish
July 17, 2015Well I have read some more (almost 100 pages in total) and I guess I've come to a decision about this book and series. I won't be finishing either. I can't escape the bad taste left by the opening premise and I think I'm tired of the need for revenge and the use of constant killing as payback even if those killed are very bad people. So, while the quality of the writing may be just as good as in past novels, it is the subject matter I am parting with, just as I did earlier in the case of the books of John Sandford.
There are simply too many books of too many genres that are exciting, diverting, challenging for me to spend more time reading this one.
There are simply too many books of too many genres that are exciting, diverting, challenging for me to spend more time reading this one.
July 22, 2022
“Besides, to know how life ends would only ruin the story.” (3.5 stars)
I continue my adventures with Gabriel Allon with THE ENGLISH SPY, the 15th book in Mr. Silva’s always entertaining series. In this outing Silva does a pretty clever job of connecting some IRA terrorists with the Russian government, and it makes for a different angle in this series. I enjoyed it.
This is the fourth book in this series to feature Gabriel Allon’s one time nemesis, now ally, Christopher Keller. I like this character, a lot, and seeing what Silva is doing with him is interesting. This text makes it clear that Keller will be popping up again at some point in the future.
Some quotes:
• “He was a whisper in a half-lit chapel, a loose thread at the hem of a discarded garment.”
• “Our mistakes always come back to haunt us, and eventually all debts come due.”
Daniel Silva once again, and very presciently, attacks Vladimir Putin for the tin pot dictator he is. The fact that this book was written in 2015 and is eerily reminiscent of current events is a bit unnerving. That has happened more than a few times in the books in this series, where they seem to predict (in general terms) world events that follow.
15 books in, and I see no reason to stop. I will visit with Gabriel Allon again soon.
I continue my adventures with Gabriel Allon with THE ENGLISH SPY, the 15th book in Mr. Silva’s always entertaining series. In this outing Silva does a pretty clever job of connecting some IRA terrorists with the Russian government, and it makes for a different angle in this series. I enjoyed it.
This is the fourth book in this series to feature Gabriel Allon’s one time nemesis, now ally, Christopher Keller. I like this character, a lot, and seeing what Silva is doing with him is interesting. This text makes it clear that Keller will be popping up again at some point in the future.
Some quotes:
• “He was a whisper in a half-lit chapel, a loose thread at the hem of a discarded garment.”
• “Our mistakes always come back to haunt us, and eventually all debts come due.”
Daniel Silva once again, and very presciently, attacks Vladimir Putin for the tin pot dictator he is. The fact that this book was written in 2015 and is eerily reminiscent of current events is a bit unnerving. That has happened more than a few times in the books in this series, where they seem to predict (in general terms) world events that follow.
15 books in, and I see no reason to stop. I will visit with Gabriel Allon again soon.
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September 19, 2019
Review will follow shortly 😊
4Stars - I really liked it
Audiobook - 12:06 Hours - Narrator: George Guidall
(Previously listened to: #1, #3, #5-#11, #13, #14)
It is more than eighteen months since I listened to "#14, The Heist" and I think I was a little out of my "Gabriel Allon groove" when I tackled "#15, The English Spy". My early thoughts were about complicated plots, complicated characters, and I was unsure of whether I was going to enjoy this novel or not. I was distracted by the fact that pretty much the whole story is set in Ireland and Northern Ireland, whereas I had been used to European and Middle Eastern locations in previous Gabriel Allon novels.
George Guidall is a well-known narrator and I have listened to and enjoyed many of his audiobook readings in the past, but either my beautiful new Bose 700 headphones are faulty (they're not!) or George was not quite up to the task of producing even a small variety of Irish or English accents and characterisations for the narration of "The English Spy". Guidall's readings are not 'multi-dimensional' at the best of times, but he definitely misses the mark here.
However, Daniel Silva's writing about one of my favourite fictional characters saved the day and I gave the book a well-earned 4Stars.
4Stars - I really liked it
Audiobook - 12:06 Hours - Narrator: George Guidall
(Previously listened to: #1, #3, #5-#11, #13, #14)
It is more than eighteen months since I listened to "#14, The Heist" and I think I was a little out of my "Gabriel Allon groove" when I tackled "#15, The English Spy". My early thoughts were about complicated plots, complicated characters, and I was unsure of whether I was going to enjoy this novel or not. I was distracted by the fact that pretty much the whole story is set in Ireland and Northern Ireland, whereas I had been used to European and Middle Eastern locations in previous Gabriel Allon novels.
George Guidall is a well-known narrator and I have listened to and enjoyed many of his audiobook readings in the past, but either my beautiful new Bose 700 headphones are faulty (they're not!) or George was not quite up to the task of producing even a small variety of Irish or English accents and characterisations for the narration of "The English Spy". Guidall's readings are not 'multi-dimensional' at the best of times, but he definitely misses the mark here.
However, Daniel Silva's writing about one of my favourite fictional characters saved the day and I gave the book a well-earned 4Stars.
March 5, 2025
4 stars
shortish review for busy readers:
Excellent spy thriller featuring a Israeli special agent, a British former SAS officer, a defected Russian sleeper and the activities of a former IRA specialist turned terrorist-for-hire.
The characters, even the bad guys, are likeable (or at least understandable) and presented as realistic humans, not as stand-in superheroes or geniuses. They know their stuff and are not afraid to pull the trigger, but they also have loves and loyalties which they protect.
Northern Ireland is the primary setting with short excursions to other countries, which makes for a vibrant and exotic, quick changing background for the action.
The story itself is engaging and keeps you on your toes with unforeseen events and twists. I was pleasantly surprised also at the quality of plot and storytelling, which I really wasn't suspecting.
A very enjoyable novel!
shortish review for busy readers:
Excellent spy thriller featuring a Israeli special agent, a British former SAS officer, a defected Russian sleeper and the activities of a former IRA specialist turned terrorist-for-hire.
The characters, even the bad guys, are likeable (or at least understandable) and presented as realistic humans, not as stand-in superheroes or geniuses. They know their stuff and are not afraid to pull the trigger, but they also have loves and loyalties which they protect.
Northern Ireland is the primary setting with short excursions to other countries, which makes for a vibrant and exotic, quick changing background for the action.
The story itself is engaging and keeps you on your toes with unforeseen events and twists. I was pleasantly surprised also at the quality of plot and storytelling, which I really wasn't suspecting.
A very enjoyable novel!
September 16, 2015
Silva never disappoints, but this is one of his finest as he revisits the England-Northern Ireland Troubles in current day.
He also has fairly blunt commentary on US-UK-Iran-Israeli-Russian geopolitics.
He also has fairly blunt commentary on US-UK-Iran-Israeli-Russian geopolitics.
July 5, 2015
It is with great sadness that I write this review as it means that once again I have finished my new Daniel Silva book and will need to wait an entire year to read another Gabriel Allon adventure.
The English Spy is 15th book in the Gabriel Allon series. Each book gets better than the last. Gabriel is suppose to be starting, just starting, a new painting restoration and then heading to Israel to be with Chiara for the birth of their twins. But as always.... duty calls. Graham, head of M16, with the permission of Mossad enlists Gabriel for one more mission before the birth of his children and becoming head of Mossad. The birth of his children he is looking forward to..... being chief of Mossad .... not so much.
Graham needs him to find and eliminate Eamon Quinn, an Irish bomb maker, who is responsible for killing many in Ireland and believed to be responsible for recent death of the English ex-princess whose boat was bombed. The Princess is never named but I saw shade of beloved Princess Diana in her backstory. Gabriel recruits Christopher Keller to help find Quinn. He also, with Graham's encouragement, gets Keller reconnected to England and M16. It was great seeing Christopher Keller back in action. Keller and Allon both have personal reasons to go after Quinn. Sometimes.... revenge is good for the soul... for closure.
The English Spy ends with the birth of the twins and Allon postponing for three months assuming control of the "Office". It will be interesting to see if Gabriel can put aside is adventures and remain in the "office". Only time will tell and book 16.
The English Spy is 15th book in the Gabriel Allon series. Each book gets better than the last. Gabriel is suppose to be starting, just starting, a new painting restoration and then heading to Israel to be with Chiara for the birth of their twins. But as always.... duty calls. Graham, head of M16, with the permission of Mossad enlists Gabriel for one more mission before the birth of his children and becoming head of Mossad. The birth of his children he is looking forward to..... being chief of Mossad .... not so much.
Graham needs him to find and eliminate Eamon Quinn, an Irish bomb maker, who is responsible for killing many in Ireland and believed to be responsible for recent death of the English ex-princess whose boat was bombed. The Princess is never named but I saw shade of beloved Princess Diana in her backstory. Gabriel recruits Christopher Keller to help find Quinn. He also, with Graham's encouragement, gets Keller reconnected to England and M16. It was great seeing Christopher Keller back in action. Keller and Allon both have personal reasons to go after Quinn. Sometimes.... revenge is good for the soul... for closure.
The English Spy ends with the birth of the twins and Allon postponing for three months assuming control of the "Office". It will be interesting to see if Gabriel can put aside is adventures and remain in the "office". Only time will tell and book 16.
January 23, 2022
The English Spy was the latest stunning thriller by Daniel Silva with Gabriel Allon, my favorite Israeli spy, assassin and a gifted art restorationist, and soon destined to take over as head of the legendary "Office" operating out of Tel Aviv. This is an exciting series as Silva takes his plots from the headlines as we see global conflicts throughout the world find a place in the plotting and espionage in these thrillers. The stage is set in the Epigraph:
--- GRAHAM GREENE, THE MINISTRY OF FEAR
In this book, Gabriel Allon is partnered with the notorious Christopher Keller, the infamous Don Anton Orsati's legendary assassin with this riveting book ending in the dangerous green hills of South Armagh where Keller's story began. This book is about the long and bloody war for the most dangerous regions of Northern Ireland often fueled by the illegal drug trade. One of the primary draws for my returning to this series again and again is the art restoration that is so part of the character of Gabriel Allon and thrusts one into the vivid art world and history. As Gabriel Allon and Christopher Keller forge a relationship on their latest mission, this is one of my favorite quotes:
It is brought out that in both intelligence and art restoration, Gabriel Allon's goal was to come and go without being seen and to leave no trace of himself.
"When a man rubs out a pencil mark, he should be careful
to see
that the line is quite obliterated. For if a secret is to be
kept,
no precautions are too great."
--- GRAHAM GREENE, THE MINISTRY OF FEAR
In this book, Gabriel Allon is partnered with the notorious Christopher Keller, the infamous Don Anton Orsati's legendary assassin with this riveting book ending in the dangerous green hills of South Armagh where Keller's story began. This book is about the long and bloody war for the most dangerous regions of Northern Ireland often fueled by the illegal drug trade. One of the primary draws for my returning to this series again and again is the art restoration that is so part of the character of Gabriel Allon and thrusts one into the vivid art world and history. As Gabriel Allon and Christopher Keller forge a relationship on their latest mission, this is one of my favorite quotes:
"Keller was Gabriel's last restoration. His dirty varnish had been removed, his canvas had been relined and retouched. He was no longer the English assassin. Soon he would be the English spy."
It is brought out that in both intelligence and art restoration, Gabriel Allon's goal was to come and go without being seen and to leave no trace of himself.
June 30, 2015
3.5 stars for this one. Can't seem to give it more because there were too many dead-end twists and turns and too much history/back story. I got really tired of all the explanations given to Allon, that he should have already known...after all, he is the Master Assassin/Sleuth. Should he not know of all the major dealings with Israeli national security? This seems to be a typical "thing" with Silva...lots of historical background. At times, I just want them to shoot one another and ask questions later...ya know? I also got tired of all the dead-end chases and running around. Seemed just fluff to me.
January 26, 2024
RAZOR SHARP WRITING/PLOT
Gabriel Allon, master spy/art restorer, is teamed with professional assassin Christopher Keller in a race to annihilate the murderous bomb-maker Eamon Quinn.
There is a history between these three men. A history that will propel each man to unthinkable risks and inconceivable deeds. The risk is greatest for Allon who is looking towards fatherhood for the second time in his life. But debts must be paid and vengeance must be exacted.
The story is complex and the plot intricate with riveting twists and turns in true Daniel Silva style, at times enough to raise goose-bumps on your arms and a prickling at the nape of your neck.
The IRA and the ‘Troubles’ in Ireland between the 1960’s - 1990’s are a major part of this story line and a good portion of the book is devoted to those events. Because I have zero interest in these events it was a tad uninspiring for me, but this being my personal view it takes nothing away from the author, the writing or this book.
I was sorry that Gabriel’s legendary team was hardly featured at all, but again, it took nothing away from the story. It may not be my favourite Allon book but it is right up there with writing style, panache and razor sharp prose and was in no way a disappointment.
This is (I believe) #15 in the series and if you are new to the series I would strongly suggest you start with one of the earlier books to get a real feel for the characters.
READ: July 11/15
Gabriel Allon, master spy/art restorer, is teamed with professional assassin Christopher Keller in a race to annihilate the murderous bomb-maker Eamon Quinn.
There is a history between these three men. A history that will propel each man to unthinkable risks and inconceivable deeds. The risk is greatest for Allon who is looking towards fatherhood for the second time in his life. But debts must be paid and vengeance must be exacted.
The story is complex and the plot intricate with riveting twists and turns in true Daniel Silva style, at times enough to raise goose-bumps on your arms and a prickling at the nape of your neck.
The IRA and the ‘Troubles’ in Ireland between the 1960’s - 1990’s are a major part of this story line and a good portion of the book is devoted to those events. Because I have zero interest in these events it was a tad uninspiring for me, but this being my personal view it takes nothing away from the author, the writing or this book.
I was sorry that Gabriel’s legendary team was hardly featured at all, but again, it took nothing away from the story. It may not be my favourite Allon book but it is right up there with writing style, panache and razor sharp prose and was in no way a disappointment.
This is (I believe) #15 in the series and if you are new to the series I would strongly suggest you start with one of the earlier books to get a real feel for the characters.
READ: July 11/15
October 13, 2016
This novel is #15 in the Gabriel Allon series. It is a fast-paced, thrilling, and almost-believable story about a pair of spies. Gabriel Allon is in the Israeli secret service, who teams up with British commando/assassin Christopher Keller to hunt down an Irish mercenary-terrorist. They run around the world trying to piece together this puzzle of the terrorist's whereabouts. I enjoy novels with plots that are unpredictable, and this novel certainly fits that bill. There are plenty of twists and turns in the story-line, and the action is gripping. There is a lot of "need for revenge" in the story, but the reasons for this revenge are not fully explained until late in the book.
I didn't read this book; I listened to it as an audiobook. George Guidall is an excellent reader, and he brought the story to life for me. He applies a light touch to differentiate voices for the different characters, but it was always enough to help me distinguish who was speaking.
I didn't read this book; I listened to it as an audiobook. George Guidall is an excellent reader, and he brought the story to life for me. He applies a light touch to differentiate voices for the different characters, but it was always enough to help me distinguish who was speaking.
August 11, 2023
Featuring Christopher Keller, who may sound familiar if you've read the previous books. He was featured in The English Assassin, The English Girl, and The Heist. I seem to remember in two of the books, Gabriel had a run-in with a very stubborn mule that belonged to Keller's boss Don Orsati. It was pretty humorous.
Keller is a former British commando who was thought to have been killed by friendly fire, but actually survived the incident and hired out his services to Don Orsati and his Corsica-based team of assassins/olive oil sellers.
In this book, Graham Seymour, Head of Britain’s MI6, needs Gabriel for a high-priority job. Allon refuses to help unless he can have Keller for backup and further negotiates their deal to include Keller’s return home.
I liked the combination of Allon and Keller, although perhaps not as much as the old gang of Israeli agents from some previous books. I liked the very dry humor that's common to most of the books. It helps lighten the mood of some pretty violent scenes, which were surprising in that some of them came from Gabriel himself. I don't remember him using torture to get answers in the past, but perhaps I conveniently forgot. But at least the people were pretty deserving of their fate.
I thought the ending was a bit weak. It kind of drifted along with a bunch of feel-good stuff, then in a few sentences right at the end, we got the finale.
Keller is a former British commando who was thought to have been killed by friendly fire, but actually survived the incident and hired out his services to Don Orsati and his Corsica-based team of assassins/olive oil sellers.
In this book, Graham Seymour, Head of Britain’s MI6, needs Gabriel for a high-priority job. Allon refuses to help unless he can have Keller for backup and further negotiates their deal to include Keller’s return home.
I liked the combination of Allon and Keller, although perhaps not as much as the old gang of Israeli agents from some previous books. I liked the very dry humor that's common to most of the books. It helps lighten the mood of some pretty violent scenes, which were surprising in that some of them came from Gabriel himself. I don't remember him using torture to get answers in the past, but perhaps I conveniently forgot. But at least the people were pretty deserving of their fate.
I thought the ending was a bit weak. It kind of drifted along with a bunch of feel-good stuff, then in a few sentences right at the end, we got the finale.
January 31, 2023
Daniel Silva delivers another great book in the Gabriel Allon series. This story opens with a bombing aboard a yacht killing a member of Britain's royal family. MI6 turns to Gabriel and former SAS commando Christopher Keller to hunt down master Irish bomb maker Eamon Quinn. This story is more than the killing of a member of Britain's royal family though. As the story unfolds we learn who the real target is. There are about to be changes, both personal and professional, in Gabriel's life. He is about to be named chief of "The Office" and he is about to become the father of twins. Throughout the book we are told that men who are the chief of Israel's secret service and are about to become a father do not operate in the field. But it becomes clear that this is personal for both Gabriel and Christopher Keller. Fans who have read previous books in the series will remember that Christopher Keller went undercover to infiltrate the IRA. Big boy games, big boy rules. It will be interesting to see what the next book in the series has in store for Gabriel.
August 10, 2015
A well written thriller. Mr Silva, however, seems to view Israel as a nation beyond reproach and does not approve of the Iran Nuclear Arms Treaty. In discussing Israel he mentions the rocket attacks from Hamas into Israel but does not even mention the settlements that are encroaching on the Palestinian Territories, the conditions that people live in in Gaza and dismisses the bombing or a school filled with women and children in Gaza as untrue without mentioning any evidence. (This was reported to have happened during the most recent war in Gaza) He seems to view the world as split into good and evil. Israel is good, Palestinians, Iranians bad. This view strikes be as being overly simplistic. The novel seems to be a lobbying effort for congress to kill nuclear arms control treaty. Indeed, in his afterward, he states this view clearly. Mr. Silva may have valid concerns about this treaty, but if you read this, remember that it is a work of fiction.
January 25, 2016
Israeli spymaster Gabriel Allon is about to become a father again, with his wife Chiara carrying twins. And he is slated to succeed Uzi Navrot as head of "The Office," retiring as a field agent. However, he is drawn into a hunt for a master Irish bombmaker (Eamon Quinn), who is responsible for a contract killing of the former royal princess (basically Princess Diana), and many, many others. He recruits his brother-in-arms, Christopher Keller, and are led back to Ireland for the final showdown after a carefully orchestrated trail throughout Europe. Taught and well-written, Silva excels again. 4.5 stars.
May 6, 2016
Spy versus spy novelist Silva includes spies from the U.K., Israel, Iran and Russia in his 15th installment in the series featuring the Israeli operative, Gabriel Allon. The action begins with the assassination of the ex-wife of the future king of England and moves quickly on from there. Silva is the master of an intricate, fast-moving plot. Borrowing from current headlines, Silva includes the negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear weapon aspirations. Deserving of its best seller status.
December 28, 2017
Seymour watched as the car turned onto the M2 motorway and headed north. That’s the wonderful thing about our business, he thought. Our mistakes always come back to haunt us. And eventually all debts come due.
With a Gabriel Allon spy thriller there is no shortage of armchair frequent flyer points. “The English Spy” opens in the Caribbean, where (former) Real IRA operative Eamon Quinn puts a bomb under a (former) British royal, literally. But who hired the killer?
In Rome, spymaster Graham Seymour brings Gabriel Allon of Israeli intelligence’s “The Office” into the game. Years earlier the Israelis had offered to take Quinn out of the picture, and Seymour is keen to make amends while bringing former SAS turned assassin Christopher Keller, operating out of Corsica, into the MI6 fold. Keller has his own reasons to take down Quinn and this formidable pair arrives in Dublin to seek out republican heavy Liam Walsh, to track down the elusive bomb maker.
”They’re watching us,” said Keller.
“You noticed that too?”
“Hard not to.” … The traffic broke; they crossed the road and headed toward the entrance of the chip shop. “It might be better if you don’t speak,” said Keller. “This isn’t the sort of neighbourhood that gets a lot of visitors from exotic lands.”
“I speak perfect English.”
“That’s the problem.”
The hunt takes them to Belfast, where a former shifty/ informant during “the Troubles” Billy Conway, now a bar owner, leads them to Quinn’s former wife and daughter...
Aside from the Irish connection, an Israeli intelligence controller is in Vienna, monitoring his asset, an Iranian diplomat there for talks on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Vienna was Allon’s old stamping ground, where he lost his young son in an explosion that left his first wife a scarred and mental cripple.
Daniel Silva takes recent conflicts in the Middle East and Northern Ireland and makes them flesh. His use of international idioms over Americanisms only boosts his readership. Adversaries Keller and Quinn, loners stalking each other, are men who alter course to changes in circumstance. Allon, Sinclair and their Russian counterpart, are constrained by their allegiances to their respective agencies, using misdirection and disinformation to their advantage. As The English Spy is “unfinished business” there are references to earlier books, but it works well as a stand alone, enticing the reader into more.
With a Gabriel Allon spy thriller there is no shortage of armchair frequent flyer points. “The English Spy” opens in the Caribbean, where (former) Real IRA operative Eamon Quinn puts a bomb under a (former) British royal, literally. But who hired the killer?
In Rome, spymaster Graham Seymour brings Gabriel Allon of Israeli intelligence’s “The Office” into the game. Years earlier the Israelis had offered to take Quinn out of the picture, and Seymour is keen to make amends while bringing former SAS turned assassin Christopher Keller, operating out of Corsica, into the MI6 fold. Keller has his own reasons to take down Quinn and this formidable pair arrives in Dublin to seek out republican heavy Liam Walsh, to track down the elusive bomb maker.
”They’re watching us,” said Keller.
“You noticed that too?”
“Hard not to.” … The traffic broke; they crossed the road and headed toward the entrance of the chip shop. “It might be better if you don’t speak,” said Keller. “This isn’t the sort of neighbourhood that gets a lot of visitors from exotic lands.”
“I speak perfect English.”
“That’s the problem.”
The hunt takes them to Belfast, where a former shifty/ informant during “the Troubles” Billy Conway, now a bar owner, leads them to Quinn’s former wife and daughter...
Aside from the Irish connection, an Israeli intelligence controller is in Vienna, monitoring his asset, an Iranian diplomat there for talks on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Vienna was Allon’s old stamping ground, where he lost his young son in an explosion that left his first wife a scarred and mental cripple.
Daniel Silva takes recent conflicts in the Middle East and Northern Ireland and makes them flesh. His use of international idioms over Americanisms only boosts his readership. Adversaries Keller and Quinn, loners stalking each other, are men who alter course to changes in circumstance. Allon, Sinclair and their Russian counterpart, are constrained by their allegiances to their respective agencies, using misdirection and disinformation to their advantage. As The English Spy is “unfinished business” there are references to earlier books, but it works well as a stand alone, enticing the reader into more.
March 26, 2019
Another road trip, another series of flights, a couple more nights in a hotel, and another return to what has become a now largely familiar, but nonetheless satisfying installment in one of my most reliable (which must mean, at some level, favorite, even if I don't really love them), yet increasingly predictable, primarily-when-I'm travelling serial fiction series.
Quirky reviewer's random, unhelpful perspective: My perspective on this was likely skewed because, unlike many of the Israel-centric installments, this one (not surprisingly, given the title), is very much UK focused, with more than a healthy dose of Ireland animating the story line. Reading these in order - and just starting the next one in the queue - I hadn't expected that, and was somewhat amused because I'd just finished another installment in Tana French's (always satisfying) Dublin Murder Squad novels; while ... on the literary fiction side of things ... I'm about to finish Anna Burns' Booker Prize winning Milkman.... And all this within striking distance of, and overlapping, St. Patrick's day... Go figure.
This book was more of the same in most ways - and that's perfectly OK - with a few basic twists (none of which I found uniquely compelling). To the extent that the story focused less on the Israel-Middle East history or current tensions (other than to rehash and refresh previously tilled soil), it felt ever-so-slightly out of character, but, of course, it built upon - and went far towards humanizing - one of the series' later-coming, non-conventional, alternative protagonist, more-than-a-sidekick players. It wasn't my favorite, by any means, but nor was it one of the more disappointing ones, either.
It is what it is... I'm now well past a dozen books into the series, and I'm confident I'll eventually get through to the end (or until the author gives up).
Repetitive non-spoiler warning: I understand that plenty of readers consume these out of order - or even randomly - based, for example upon which can be found on the library or airport book store shelf, but I can't imagine starting with this book - for me, it makes sense to consume them in order, particularly to the extent that most of the cast returns (even if only for cameos), and, like the story line, evolves from book to book. But, particularly in light of the the protagonist's evolving family and professional status, well, it just seems like a lot of the self-referential stuff wouldn't resonate without prior investment in Allon's past, community, and orbit.
Quirky reviewer's random, unhelpful perspective: My perspective on this was likely skewed because, unlike many of the Israel-centric installments, this one (not surprisingly, given the title), is very much UK focused, with more than a healthy dose of Ireland animating the story line. Reading these in order - and just starting the next one in the queue - I hadn't expected that, and was somewhat amused because I'd just finished another installment in Tana French's (always satisfying) Dublin Murder Squad novels; while ... on the literary fiction side of things ... I'm about to finish Anna Burns' Booker Prize winning Milkman.... And all this within striking distance of, and overlapping, St. Patrick's day... Go figure.
This book was more of the same in most ways - and that's perfectly OK - with a few basic twists (none of which I found uniquely compelling). To the extent that the story focused less on the Israel-Middle East history or current tensions (other than to rehash and refresh previously tilled soil), it felt ever-so-slightly out of character, but, of course, it built upon - and went far towards humanizing - one of the series' later-coming, non-conventional, alternative protagonist, more-than-a-sidekick players. It wasn't my favorite, by any means, but nor was it one of the more disappointing ones, either.
It is what it is... I'm now well past a dozen books into the series, and I'm confident I'll eventually get through to the end (or until the author gives up).
Repetitive non-spoiler warning: I understand that plenty of readers consume these out of order - or even randomly - based, for example upon which can be found on the library or airport book store shelf, but I can't imagine starting with this book - for me, it makes sense to consume them in order, particularly to the extent that most of the cast returns (even if only for cameos), and, like the story line, evolves from book to book. But, particularly in light of the the protagonist's evolving family and professional status, well, it just seems like a lot of the self-referential stuff wouldn't resonate without prior investment in Allon's past, community, and orbit.
September 10, 2015
Included in each book in the series is this quote from Gabriel Allon: "A spy's life, he thought. Mind-numbing boredom broken by interludes of sheer terror." Enough said.
June 14, 2018
Silva writes good books, but I need a break. It's not overly political, however, it is there and assumes nothing will ever change, while I desperately want to believe that is not the case. I want to be the optimist and see hope where few do.
June 25, 2015
DISCLAIMER*********I RECEIVED THIS ADVANCE COPY BECAUSE I ENTERED A CONTEST
However, a free book is not a guarantee of a good review with someone who is brutally honest and passionate about books. That being said I’ve read all of Daniel Silva’s books and have enjoyed them all but some of them hold a special place in my heart because they’ve touched a personal chord. This will most likely be one of them.
The beginning is totally unexpected; I mean, you kill a princess the world loves? Really? Now that will keep me interested from page one for sure! I was certainly expecting something else! No art theft, no dictator doing something repulsive? Well, not yet at least (unless you count the murder of a Princess) and now there’s a totally new story and I’m not going to be able to read three chapters and put the book down to run errands and come back later. This book takes us to a part of the world that Gabriel has not been in before so of course he needs someone who knows the lay of the land. So the English Spy is not SPOILER ALERT Timothy Peel as long time Silva readers were thinking; it is the man Gabriel has had to use in his role of a an Assassin in several of his other books. See how I just mix Daniel/Gabriel, ah, in my mind sometimes they are one and the same. The man that Gabriel wants back in The Family both figuratively and literally. The man who is Gabriel’s last restoration.
The suspense would have me attached to the book like it was a lifeline and then I would put it down and pretend to do something else because I am that passionate about his writing and do read every word and look for every clue it contains so I had to give my brain a rest. But I had to return to it because I HAD to know what happened next because that’s how well written this was. There was not one page or one chapter that left you saying, “I can come back to this tomorrow”. The writing left you saying “I need to know now what is going to happen” because this story is unlike any of the others. I needed to know who planted the spy in MI6, I needed to know who killed Jonathan’s girlfriend in Ireland and how in God’s name did this tie in to Gabriel. This was written in a way that I absolutely NEEDED to know these things. This story ties up so many loose ends from the other books and the other parts of Gabriel’s life – Leah – and Jonathan Keller’s life.
In the end it also shows the very human and personal side of Gabriel, but it doesn’t end the series, it just leaves us wanting to know where Gabriel and Chiara and the State of Israel go from here.
Daniel Silva is the best of his genre to say the least and this book takes us into the next phase of Gabriel and Chiara’s life.
However, a free book is not a guarantee of a good review with someone who is brutally honest and passionate about books. That being said I’ve read all of Daniel Silva’s books and have enjoyed them all but some of them hold a special place in my heart because they’ve touched a personal chord. This will most likely be one of them.
The beginning is totally unexpected; I mean, you kill a princess the world loves? Really? Now that will keep me interested from page one for sure! I was certainly expecting something else! No art theft, no dictator doing something repulsive? Well, not yet at least (unless you count the murder of a Princess) and now there’s a totally new story and I’m not going to be able to read three chapters and put the book down to run errands and come back later. This book takes us to a part of the world that Gabriel has not been in before so of course he needs someone who knows the lay of the land. So the English Spy is not SPOILER ALERT Timothy Peel as long time Silva readers were thinking; it is the man Gabriel has had to use in his role of a an Assassin in several of his other books. See how I just mix Daniel/Gabriel, ah, in my mind sometimes they are one and the same. The man that Gabriel wants back in The Family both figuratively and literally. The man who is Gabriel’s last restoration.
The suspense would have me attached to the book like it was a lifeline and then I would put it down and pretend to do something else because I am that passionate about his writing and do read every word and look for every clue it contains so I had to give my brain a rest. But I had to return to it because I HAD to know what happened next because that’s how well written this was. There was not one page or one chapter that left you saying, “I can come back to this tomorrow”. The writing left you saying “I need to know now what is going to happen” because this story is unlike any of the others. I needed to know who planted the spy in MI6, I needed to know who killed Jonathan’s girlfriend in Ireland and how in God’s name did this tie in to Gabriel. This was written in a way that I absolutely NEEDED to know these things. This story ties up so many loose ends from the other books and the other parts of Gabriel’s life – Leah – and Jonathan Keller’s life.
In the end it also shows the very human and personal side of Gabriel, but it doesn’t end the series, it just leaves us wanting to know where Gabriel and Chiara and the State of Israel go from here.
Daniel Silva is the best of his genre to say the least and this book takes us into the next phase of Gabriel and Chiara’s life.
July 2, 2015
I'll just say it up front and get it over with. The English Spy is excellent. Fast moving, great characters, Silva's Israeli assassin Gabriel Allon has a counter-part Englishman who is just as deadly and just as capable. Thank goodness the two have a working relationship with each other.
The English Spy is like, I think, number 16 in the series (but don't quote me on that; numbers and things like that are alien to me). We've met the Englishmen in a few previous adventures with Allon. If I were you, I'd say go find the lot of'em and start from the beginning. They are that good.
The English Spy is like, I think, number 16 in the series (but don't quote me on that; numbers and things like that are alien to me). We've met the Englishmen in a few previous adventures with Allon. If I were you, I'd say go find the lot of'em and start from the beginning. They are that good.
July 4, 2015
Every year I'm amazed by the power of Daniel Silva's words. Once again he has reminded me of my love for literature. Any Gabriel Allon novel is great but the last three have really shown the power of Silva. I cannot wait for next year and to see what Gabriel Allon will do next.
April 3, 2017
An excellent thriller with all the ingredients of a Gabriel Allon adventure!
A bit rougher than the previous volume, where violence had been (mostly) absent, but a very credible plot, as usually full of clever twists.
maria Carmo,
Lisbon 3 April 2017
A bit rougher than the previous volume, where violence had been (mostly) absent, but a very credible plot, as usually full of clever twists.
maria Carmo,
Lisbon 3 April 2017
December 7, 2015
Silva is a great writer, who can weave interesting plots. In the past, I've put up with his insistence on incorporating politics into his novels, using the excuse of "this is how Allon would think". However, there's a few moments in this book that I just couldn't stomach, and which in my opinion turn it from a novel to a work of propaganda, such as offhandedly claiming that reports of Israeli bombs killing innocents are simply made up. Very disappointed
December 29, 2015
I enjoyed this book and I think that it is my favorite in the series. I enjoyed the characters and I enjoy the action. The author always does a good job of including historical background in his story so that you can put things into context.
July 7, 2015
Love all of his books...He is a character that is always interesting.
July 4, 2015
No one does it better than Daniel Silva. Another winner! Enjoy.
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