RANSOM

4 stars out of 5

As far as I know, I’ve read all 25 in this series that preceded this one, though I can’t be positive because I’ve only recorded the 13 most recent in my book blog. That track record does give some idea of how invested I am in the series; still another one is that the main man, now former Israeli intelligence officer and art restoration expert Gabriel Allon, has held the No. 1 spot on my list of Top 10 All-Time Favorite book heroes ever since I started it.

He’s still there for sure, but I do have to say this isn’t close to my favorite book in the series. Somehow, it just feels, well, lackluster; Gabriel just seems to want to be anywhere except in the middle of another mess that’s really not near or dear to his heart (though readers will find he’s still got enough energy to get in the occasional political jab we all know will be in the book somewhere).

Actually, I don’t blame him a bit; he is retired, after all – living with his beautiful wife Chiara and their twin son and daughter and working for Chiara’s very successful Venice-based art restoration company. And obviously, he’s getting a bit long in the tooth, shall we say, at least when it comes to getting involved with life-threatening activities that used to be his norm. And of course, there are those kids…

This time out, the family is enjoying summer holidays at their home in Cornwall, where Gabriel has just acquired a new sailboat and is about to begin restoring a painting by Bernardo Bellotto. All that is going along swimmingly until he’s asked for help by rich-as-sin businessman Edward Knight, whose wife Alice has gone missing since her recent annual getaway with some female friends on the Ibiza coast of Spain. He begs Gabriel to go to Ibiza, where Alice was last seen with her group of friends.

Reluctantly, Gabriel and Cornwall Police detective Timothy Peel head there to meet with local police, who take them to the place where Alice’s car was found at the bottom of a ravine. It’s a strange scene with no blood, so the suspicion is that she’s been kidnapped, but there’s been no ransom demand – until suddenly there is. Speaking with the kidnappers, Gabriel puts his best negotiating skills to the test, whittling the original amount down to something a low-end billionaire can afford.

And it’s here I’ll stop, except to say of course there’s many a slip – and a twist – between cup and lip. The rest of the book focuses on efforts to determine if Alice is really alive and, if so, get the money to the kidnappers and Alice back to her husband. There’s a bit of intrigue, a bit of suspense and a surprise or two, but I never worried that Gabriel might not make it home to his wife and kids as I’ve done in most of the other books (well, there was that one incident…) Still, it’s well-written and held my attention – it just isn’t at the top of my favorites of the series.

Ransom by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2025); 416 pp.

AN INSIDE JOB

5 stars out of 5

I enjoyed this, the 25th installment of the series featuring my all-time favorite male character in a book series more, I believe, than any of the 24 that came before it - and as far as I know, I haven't missed a single one. I'll admit I read it following a book that had so many grammatical and content errors that I can't believe it got past publishing house editors, and perhaps that did influence my appreciation of this one a bit. In any event, the contrast really underscored how wonderful it is to read a story that's well-written, engrossing and entertaining. And for sure this one is all that and more.

Even though the star of the show, Gabriel Allon, no longer officially plies his trade as a well-known and successful Mossad spy, his legend continues. These days, he practices his unmatched talent as a restorer of art (not only does he "fix" damaged artwork by the old masters, he can copy their style so well that experts can't tell his painting isn't an original). As he and his beautiful wife Chiara and their twins Raphael and Irene live the good life, he's been working on the restoration of a very important one. That work gets rudely interrupted, however, with his discovery of a dead woman in the waters of the Venetian Lagoon. That, in turn, leads him inside the walls of the Vatican, where a painting thought to be a lost DaVinci - which could be worth many millions of dollars - somehow disappeared.

Soon it's clear that the painting could not have gone missing without help from the inside. Since Gabriel is good friends with the Pope (he played an instrumental role in his election, in fact), the two meet up quite often. Mind you, I'm not Catholic, but I loved the late Pope Francis and the current Pope Leo XIV). Gabriel's good buddy, though, turns out to be an absolute delight - every interaction between the two brought a smile to my face (despite concern that either or both will make it out of the book alive).

The rest of the story, of course, serves up details on how they plan to get the painting back, what really happened to the dead woman and who the bad guys and gals are. It's the usual suspense and action, but also to my great delight it brings together several familiar characters from previous books and puts a bit brighter spotlight on Gabriel's delightful 9-year-olds.

All good things must come to an end, of course, and already I'm chomping at the bit for the next adventure. After all these years, Gabriel may be getting a little long in the tooth and tries his best to avoid the kind of dangerous cloak-and-dagger situations that earned him his stellar reputation as a spy. But he certainly hasn't lost his edge - if anything, he's become all the more interesting. 

An Inside Job by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2025); 415 pp.

A DEATH IN CORNWALL

4 stars out of 5

I guess by now I should be used to the fact that the No. 1 guy on my list of Top 10 all-time favorite book "heroes," Gabriel Allon, is retired and making an attempt at a normal life with his wife Chiara and their twins Irene and Raphael. But if I'm honest, I haven't fully acclimated (now that I think about it, neither has Gabriel), so as with the last couple of books in the series - this is the 24th - I really miss the characters from Israel's hush-hush intelligence agency for which he once was a super-spy. But like one of the lead characters in a popular mobster movie series, just when he thought he was out, he keeps getting pulled back in. Maybe it's not quite the same, but a few characters from Gabriel's past do show up and, as always, there's no shortage of action.

Not one to seek the limelight, Gabriel - an accomplished art restorer - comes to London for an art event and ends up embroiled in the murder of Charlotte Black, an art professor and artistic provenance research specialist (i.e., proving history and ownership) who's thought to be the latest victim of  the so-called Chopper." Gabriel learns she was trying to track down a priceless Picasso thought to have been among the countless works of art stolen from Jewish families during the Holocaust (well, actually, there is a price; it's believed to be worth in excess of $100 million). After some sleuthing, Gabriel concludes that in all likelihood, Dr. Blake was not a victim of the serial killer.

Mostly in hopes of finding the stolen Picasso and returning it to its rightful owner, Gabriel takes on the case and, as always, devises an intricate, well-coordinated plan to get it back (the details of the author's plots never fails to amaze me). The chase is fraught with danger (also as always) and means Gabriel must put his own painting skills to the test (a not infrequent occurrence) as well as travel as surrepitiously as possible among several locations including Cornwall. At the latter, he solicits professional assistance from a police detective sergeant he befriended many years earlier. 

There's not much more I can say without revealing too much, so all I can say is there's much more to be revealed by reading it for yourself. Another one well done, and already I'm looking forward to the next installment.

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2024); 428 pp.

THE COLLECTOR

4 stars out of 5

Mind you, I'm not offended when an author incorporates his or her personal opinions into a plot. But for the sake of potential readers, I must say that at times it felt as if the plot was written to showcase political viewpoints rather than a story that called for explanations of political implications now and again. That said, it's still an exciting, fast-paced story and I remain a dedicated fan of both the author and his multi-skilled, intriguing character, former Israeli spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon. This is, for the record, the 23rd book in the series, and I doubt I've missed a single one.

Now living out of the Office with his beautiful wife Ciara and their twins and working - essentially for Chiara - at the profession he loves, Gabriel is less than thrilled with an official "request" to go to Amalfi to authenticate a stolen Van Gogh painting that's been recovered. Turns out that was only the tip of the request iceberg; a wealthy man has been brutally murdered at his ostentatious home, where it seems what may be the world's most expensive painting has disappeared. The only clue is that he had dinner earlier in the evening with a beautiful woman - one believed to be the art thief and possibly the killer.

Gabriel enlists the help of a friend to help find the woman - one of the enjoyable aspects of this book is, in fact, that Gabriel gets to interact, albeit sometimes unwillingly, with some of the memorable characters from previous books. Anyway, the plan is that once the woman is found, Gabriel will get to return to his wife, kids and a relatively normal life. Well, cue Michael Corleone's famous line in The Godfather: Part III ("Just when I thought I was out...")

That's because learning who and where she is isn't an end, but rather the beginning of awareness of a top-secret plan that could mean nothing less than the end of the United States and a reordering of world dominance. Can Gabriel and his team save the day? Of course, I won't tell, but since most readers including me expect (hope for) another book with Gabriel in it down the road, figuring that he, at least, makes it out alive won't exactly be a surprise. But the devil is in the details - of which there is an abundance in this never-a-dull-moment book. Go get it. It's good.

The Collector by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2023); 414 pp.

PORTRAIT OF AN UNKNOWN WOMAN

5 stars out of 5

Sometimes, you just have to throw caution to the wind and go your own way, even if you have to override good judgment in the process. Such was the case with this book; the main character, art restorer and former Israeli intelligence chief Gabriel Allon sits at the top of my all-time favorite "hero" list. So when I got my hands on a copy of this latest book - No. 22 - I set aside my stack of for-review books despite their too-fast-approaching deadlines and went for it. And although Gabriel's journey isn't quite as nail-bitingly dangerous as many of the past installments with respect to his survival and that of his beautiful wife Ciara or any of the other characters I've come to know and love from previous books, the story was deliciously detailed as usual and solidified Gabriel's top-of-the-list standing.

As Gabriel and Ciara ready their home in Venice, where Gabriel will begin restoration work for his wife's company, his longtime friend and art dealer Julian Isherwood tells him a woman who sent him a letter asking to meet regarding an important painting never showed - with good reason; she's dead. More investigation suggests Julian may have bought and sold a fake painting; if true, it would discredit him and bring down his entire operation. Just for that reason alone, Gabriel wants to help; and he puts his monumental talents as a spy, art restorer and painter to work as he gathers those familiar friends to get down to business.

And for sure, the business that's going down isn't pretty; but it's quite lucrative for those who ply the forgery trade. In fact, the financial ramifications, particularly with regard to the provenance of a 17th-century masterpiece, runs into the millions. Getting to the truth means Gabriel and friends will need to insert themselves square in the middle of the action, weaving a net that's sure to snare the "bad guys" and save Julian's reputation. To be sure, it's a complex one, filled with knotholes and twists plus the usual rich and enticing descriptions of people, places and things that make this author's books a real treat to read. Of course, I can't reveal any of the fine points of the action (and fine points they are) without giving too much away, so I'll just say it's another one well done and I'm glad I made the time to read it. Kudos!

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2022); 446 pp.

THE CELLIST

5 stars out of 5

Every time I finish a book in this series - this is the 21st, and I don't think I've missed a single one - I'm in awe of the writing. How in the world can an author concoct such an intricate plot to begin with, let alone flesh it out in such a way that readers hang on every word? I've got no answer, so all I can say is that he's done it again.

The story begins with the death of exiled Russian Viktor Orlov, who's been hanging out in luxury in London while he rags against the current powers-that-be in his home country. The death catches the eye of Gabriel Allon, top-notch Israeli spy (now director general of the agency), who's also an art restoration expert. The Russian, you see, once saved the life of Gabriel and his wife, Chiara - so he's understandably interested in bringing the killer to justice (one way or another). When it's learned that one of Viktor's employees, a woman also known to Gabriel, is the one who delivered papers covered with a deadly nerve agent to Viktor and has since disappeared, the assumption all around is that she's responsible. Not, so, Gabriel argues - and he sets out to prove it.

What follows is carrying out a complicated plan to bring down an international "dirty" bank that's known for laundering Russian money, specifically that of the all-powerful Russian president and his also all-powerful childhood friend who's actually in control of an obscene amount of the president's personal stash. It brings together most of Gabriel's team - characters familiar to readers of the series - who must rise to what appears to be a nearly impossible challenge. While I won't provide details, I will say it also involves a woman who's quite an accomplished cellist (hence, I assume, the reason for the book's title) and another who used to be, shall I say, rather close to Gabriel.

I will caution, though, that while names aren't named, readers who are among those who continue to insist that the previous U.S. Presidential election was rigged and the wrong guy "won" may want to take a pass on this book. Also, Chiara and twins Irene and Raphael really aren't players in this scenario (more's the pity), but indications are that this might change in the next installment for a variety of reasons. Loved this one (no surprise here since I've loved them all), so I'll be waiting!

The Cellist by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2021); 477 pp.

THE ORDER

5 stars out of 5

As a frequent reviewer of soon-to-be released books,

mostly from authors I've never heard of before, I'm always amazed at how good they are. It's rare, in fact, for me to give less than four stars out of the maximum five. Here and there, though, I try to work in something from a favorite author, usually one from a favorite series - like this one.

And it is then that I realized the difference between good and, well, as  perfect as a book can get. The writing is superb as always, and it doesn't hurt that it features Israeli spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon, who's held the No. 1 spot on my all-time book "hero" list ever since he was written into existence.

It starts off with a shocker: The Pope, a good friend of Gabriel, is found dead. The official line is that he died of natural causes, but another of Gabriel's long-time friends, an archbishop and personal secretary to the Pope, thinks otherwise and asks Gabriel to meet him in Rome to discuss the matter. Among the topics is a not-so-secret organization called the Order of St. Helena, which is comprised of ultra-conservative Catholics, including some who live and work as Vatican higher-ups. Also on the agenda is the presumed existence of a priceless historical book - one that could hold the power to bring the Catholic church to its knees. Needless to say, Gabriel is intrigued; despite his beautiful and talented wife Chiara's misgivings about his giving up hard-earned vacation time, he agrees to at least look into things.

Of course, nothing is ever as easy as it seems. Before long, Gabriel is up to his unusually green eyes in a dangerous endeavor, for which he asks for help from the crew from his Israeli agency (always happy to see their appearance together with more-than-usual involvement from Chiara). The action part seems a little slower and, to a degree, less physically dangerous than usual, but then let's face it: after 19 other books, Gabriel isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore and has the good sense to avoid potentially life-threatening confrontations when possible. 

Be advised, too, that the story has a political bent; if you believe the current U.S. leadership represents the Second Coming, or believe every word in the Bible is sacred truth that must be interpreted literally, you may take issue with parts of this book. Neither is an issue for me - and few topics intrigue me more than the history of Judaism and Christianity. Only hunger (my husband's, not mine) that forced me into the kitchen kept me from polishing off this one off nonstop.

The ending brings a bit of a surprise, plus a few hints about what the future might hold for Gabriel, Chiara and their young twins. I'm already chomping at the bit for the next one so I can find out how all that plays out. 

The Order by Daniel Silva (HarperCollins, July 2020); 455 pp.

THE NEW GIRL

5 stars out of 5

In the interest of full disclosure, this series (more specifically, art restorer and accomplished Israeli spy Gabriel Allon) has held the No. 1 spot on my Top 10 "heroes" list for quite a few years now. This is his 19th book; and I assure you he's in no danger of losing that lofty perch. The story is intricately woven with enough suspense to make me hold my breath here and there and the writing is, as always, exemplary. Add in the appearance of several familiar characters from previous books and the result is, well, another winner in my book.

Despite the singular title, there are two characters here who are bestowed with that moniker; the first is a young lady who has been enrolled in a fancy private school in Switzerland (you'll have to read the book to learn the identity of the other one). It is this young lady, though, who kicks off the story with an unhappy event: She's been kidnapped. Conventional wisdom says it's by enemies of her father Khalid bin Mohammed, the soon-to-be king of Saudi Arabia. When he takes the throne, it's believed he will lead dramatic reforms that would bring his country and its residents into the 21st Century - not a place many of those residents want to be. Other outsiders are less inclined to believe his motives are genuine - after all, he's thought to be behind the recent murder of a dissident journalist (hmmm, now where have we heard something like that before)?

Gabriel's reputation for fighting terrorists (and killing more than a few) are legendary, and Khalid wants him to find his daughter. To bring Gabriel into the fold, he turns to common acquaintance, art expert (and former CIA agent) Sarah Bancroft, with whom Khalid has a professional relationship. Gabriel isn't exactly a fan, but for the sake of the argument, he's willing to believe Khalid's claim that he'll turn his country away from radical Islam. Only one thing is certain: Both Gabriel and Khalid have a lot to lose should something go wrong (not the least of which is their lives).

And go wrong it does, fairly early on with an unexpected and devastating event that changes the playing field and course of the story now focused on a Middle East power struggle. Along the way, Gabriel enlists help from colleagues old and new to work every angle he can to bring down political enemies old and new. The text is sprinkled with the author's political perspectives (I'm very interested with what's happening in that part of the world so that's fine with me, BTW). But I will carp a bit because Gabriel's beautiful wife Ciara and their young twins don't get enough mention to suit me.

Everything comes to a head at the end with a cliff-hanger that may well open the door for the next book. For that, I'm ready already: Bring it on!

The New Girl by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2019); 497 pp.

THE OTHER WOMAN

5 stars out of 5

How did I love thee? When I counted the ways, I ended up with way more than 5 reasons. But since 5 stars is as high as most ratings go, that number will have to suffice - but it certainly isn't enough to do this book justice.

In the interests of full disclosure, Israeli intelligence chief Gabriel Allon ranks No. 1 on my top 10 list of all-time favorite book "heroes" - a place he's held for quite a few years now. This is his 18th appearance, and I'll say with no hesitation that he's in no danger of being knocked off that lofty perch any time soon. Of course, he didn't get there all by himself; he had considerable help from the author, who created not only him, but a cast of other interesting characters and put them in the middle of intriguing stories that make me, at least, reluctant to put them down.

This one is no exception; in fact, I'd call it the best of the series I've read in recent years. Maybe that's because the story mirrors, at least to a certain extent, what's going on in the real world. Readers get more than a passing glimpse at the tenuous relationships among the intelligence communities of Israel, Great Britain and the United States as they all try to get the drop on the Russians and save their own reputations without stepping too hard on each other's toes. 

The book begins with Gabriel in Vienna, where he and his cohorts are directing the defection of a known spy. Just as they're about to reel him in, he's unceremoniously murdered - and initial evidence points to Gabriel as the killer. While the tabloids keep the incident in the news, Gabriel and his team realize there must be a leak within their own ranks (in which agency remains for them to determine). So it is that they set out to "out" the mole, prove Gabriel's innocence and restore order to what's become an embarrassing situation that threatens to ruin already shaky alliances.

From that point on, the story gets more complex with even more far-reaching implications (all the way back to the 1950s and 1960s). Admittedly, therein may be one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much; I'm old enough to remember the events that are such an integral part of this story. There's not much more I can reveal without giving too much away, though, except to say that the details are so intricately woven that as a whole it's totally mesmerizing. Oh, and one other thing: If you have but one book to read for the rest of this year, you won't go wrong if you make it this one.

The Other Woman by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2018); 497 pp.

HOUSE OF SPIES

5 stars out of 5

Can it really be true that this the 17th book featuring Israeli secret agent Gabriel Allon? Pretty much from the beginning he has held the No. 1 spot on my list of favorite mystery/thriller "heroes." Every spring I start salivating in anticipation of a new installment, so of course I was delighted to get my hands on this one. 

That many books over the years also brings anticipation of a different sort: How much longer can Gabriel - now chief of Israel's hush-hush intelligence agency, replacing the crusty Uzi Navot (who still holds court in an office across the hall from Gabriel) - keep going? Rumors of his in-print "death," in fact, have been swirling online ever since MGM Television announced adaptation rights to the series (with author Daniel Silva and his wife, CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel, as executive producers). Everything appears to be a go at this point and who will play the role of Gabriel is at the discussion stage. For the record, after cringing at the choice for the lead in Lee Child's Jack Reacher TV series, I'm trying my damndest to remain optimistic (yet relieved to know Tom Cruise is already taken).

But the fact is, despite being the late-in-life father of twins with his beautiful and much younger wife, Chiara, Gabriel's getting a bit long in the tooth. And as chief, he's really not supposed to be running around in a field that has become ever more dangerous with the onslaught of ISIS. But difficult times call for difficult decisions; and it is recent, devastating ISIS "suicide warrior" attacks in London's West End, instigated by one of Gabriel's arch-enemies, that pulls him away from his desk and onto dusty roads of countries like Morocco (where they stay in a safe house dubbed the "House of Spies"). Gabriel has a personal score to settle with the man, known only as Saladin - and despite advice (make that warnings) to oversee the chase to find him from a safe room on King Saul Boulevard in Tel Aviv, Gabriel vows that Book of Romans notwithstanding, vengeance will be his alone.

Still, Gabriel isn't quite as physically active as usual; and much to my disappointment, Chiara doesn't play much of a role here. Other women from Gabriel's past do feature prominently, though including the doctor who nursed Saladin back to near-perfect health in the previous book. Also front and center here is Olivia Watson, a former fashion model and live-in lover of uber-wealthy Jean-Luc Martel, whose money is derived mostly from the drug market. Once it is determined he and his JLM empire are linked to Saladin, Gabriel - together with corresponding agencies in France, Great Britain and the United States join forces (headed up, after heated debate, by the Israelis) to turn the businessman and his lover against the man behind it all. Also recruited to the team because of his tracking and assassination skills is Gabriel's friend from past adventures Christopher Keller, who, as usual, excels at his trade and is quite an interesting character in and of himself.

Needless to say, it's a complex plot that takes a weary Gabriel practically all over the world and back, putting his life is in danger more than once. From start to finish, everything is described in Silva's matter-of-fact, almost understated fashion, but make no mistake - there's plenty of action here. There's also an abundance of history, which is another of the reasons I love this series. Much of those insights come from the author's extensive research which, together with his talent for creating intricate, intriguing stories, makes an unbeatable combination. 

House of Spies by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2017); 549 pp.

THE BLACK WIDOW

5 stars out of 5

It's hard to believe this is the 16th book in the series featuring Gabriel Allon, perhaps my all-time favorite "hero." He's a sought-after restorer of priceless paintings, a spy, soon-to-be chief of Israel's secret intelligence service (albeit reluctantly) and, with his beautiful wife Chiara, the recent father of twins Raphael and Irene. So much do I love the books that I didn't even break a sweat at the thought of 544 pages - much longer than most books I read these days - and once I started, I admit to getting testy when something or someone interrupted my progress. By the end of the first few chapters, I knew this would be a 5-star-plus read for me.

That doesn't mean, however, that a few things weren't a bit bothersome - the first of which is that the emphasis is far more on politics and history than on the characters. Chiara barely plays a role, and even Gabriel doesn't seem to be at the forefront as much as in previous books. There is almost tedious detail about the relationships (pro and con) among various countries like Israel, France and Syria, and the author makes it abundantly clear what side of the political fence he's on. That's not all bad, mind you; even though I've crabbed about other authors' crossing the line of putting their personal political agendas ahead of the story - and this one comes close to doing just that - Silva manages to write around it all in such an interesting, totally engaging way that in the end it didn't matter a whit to me (the historical parts, in fact, I thoroughly enjoyed).

As the book begins, Gabriel hasn't yet assumed the mantle of intelligence chief; in fact, he's officially dead (not really, of course, but for all intents and purposes beyond the Israeli agency, he was killed off a while back). Just as he's about to be resurrected to take on his new responsibilities, ISIS sets off a bomb in Paris. With so many dead and wounded and the entire country in shock, the French government seeks help from Gabriel and his agency in finding out who was behind the dirty deed.

It's an offer Gabriel can't refuse, and he sets off on what could be his final mission before "retiring" behind a desk (assuming he survives, of course). Early on, he recruits and trains a multi-national Jewish female doctor named Natalie who will infiltrate the ranks of ISIS in the hope of getting close enough to the caliphate to learn what the next target(s) will be. In fact, the book is more her story than Gabriel's; she is to be transformed into a Muslim "Black Widow," - a woman who lost a husband at the hands of non-Muslim terrorism and wants nothing more than revenge (and the glory that will come when she dies as a martyr).

The story follows all that happens to her as well as the interaction among the government agencies that are involved. In between are chases that lead to blind alleys, shady characters doing their thing and horrific strikes, and threats of even more strikes, by ISIS terrorists. Can Gabriel and his team (with the help of the good doctor) bring whoever is running the ISIS show to his knees in time to prevent an even more horrendous disaster? I know the answer, and if you read this terrific book, so will you.

The Black Widow by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2016); 544 pp.

THE ENGLISH SPY

4.5 stars out of 5

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.

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 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 (SPOILER ALERT!!) Irene and Raphael.

The English Spy by Daniel Silva (Harper, June 2015); 496 pp.

THE HEIST

4 stars out of 5

I love a great hero; from Tarzan to Perry Mason to Harry Potter, the good guy - especially if there's a titch of bad guy under the edges - gets my attention every time.  Over many years of reading, favorites have emerged - characters whose personalities are so appealing that I look forward to reading about them again and again and, were it possible, with whom I'd love to share a beer (or two) and what I have no doubt would be interesting conversation for a couple of hours.

These guys have been on my Top 10 list for quite some time now (in case any are unfamiliar to other readers who might want to give them a try):

10. Forest ranger Joe Pickett (author C.J. Box) 

9. Manhattan bookstore owner and part-time burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr (Lawrence Block)

8. Prison chaplain and former police officer John Jordan (Michael Lister) 

7. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers (John Sandford)  

6. Psychologist and police consultant Dr. Alex Delaware (Jonathan Kellerman)

5. Cleveland private eye Milan Jacovich (Les Roberts) 

4. The mysterious Roarke, husband of police lieutenant Eve Dallas (J.D. Robb, a.k.a. Nora Roberts) 

3. British 007 agent James Bond (Ian Fleming)

2. Boston private investigator Spenser (Robert B. Parker) 

And in the No. 1 spot? None other than art restorer and accomplished Israeli spy Gabriel Allon, who's the star of this book. In it - the 14th in the series - his beautiful (and younger) wife, Chiara, is pregnant with twins; they've been living in Vienna, where Gabriel is helping restore a major work of art. When a friend discovers the torture and murder of a former British diplomat who apparently has turned to trafficking stolen art, Gabriel begins to investigate - learning that the works of art may be a cover for a Syrian dictator to hide scandalous amounts of money. The chase, as usual, takes Gabriel to several countries where he dons different disguises as he and his team put together an involved operation to bring the dictator to his knees and, hopefully, locate the stolen art (in particular, a Caravaggio that's been missing for decades).

Many characters from previous books return in this one, and perhaps a little too much space is given up to explanations of who they are for the benefit, I suppose, of making sure new readers know the background rather than simply trying to fill up pages. Also, the ending is predictable and a bit abrupt - reasons that prompted me to give this one 4 stars rather than 5.

But in the end, it's a great adventure and a pleasure to read. I always enjoy the historical information that's sprinkled liberally throughout (even if it's not always factual). I honestly can't say this book is the best of the bunch, but it sure held my attention throughout.


The Heist by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2014); 497 pp.

Addendum posted Aug. 25, 2019: A friend on Goodreads.com asked for more possibilities - I'd said I could come up with another 10 at a minute's notice - so I did just that. This list is in no particular order, but here you go:

FBI agent A.X.L. Pendergast (Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child)

U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport (John Sandford)

Detective Peter Decker (Faye Kellerman)

Detective Amos Decker (David Baldacci)

Jesse Stone (former Robert B. Parker, now Reed Farrel Coleman)

Forensic Detective Lincoln Rhyme (Jeffery Deaver)

Game Warden Mike Bowditch (Paul Doiron)

Detective Alex Cross (James Patterson)

Attorney Dismas Hardy (John Lescroat)

Private Investigator Hieronymous "Harry" Bosch  (Michael Connelly)

FBI Brit Nicholas Drummond (Catherine Coulter)


Debut book looks promising: Private eye Colter Shaw (new from Jeffery Deaver)

THE ENGLISH GIRL

5 stars (out of 5)

When it comes to books, not much thrills me as much as learning Daniel Silva has produced another 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 begins 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. 

The English Girl: A Novel (Gabriel Allon) by Daniel Silva (HarperCollins Publishers July 2013); 490 pp.