Helpful Score: 2
This is another book in the series with Gabriel Allon as the protagonist. Although the books can stand alone (they have to since I am reading them out of order), there are characters which thread themselves through all of them â and back story that stays the same. His history is the same, his friends, family, job and boss are the same.
This series, with an Israeli âoperativeâ in the leading âroleâ always refers back to the Holocaust â what was taken, what was done, what was never âpaid backâ. It is Gabriel Allon's job, in one way or another to balance the scales.
I still like the series enough to try to obtain more books â there are at least five by nowâ¦
Throughout the book there are references made to a specific piece of music. Thanks to the Internet, we can actually hear that music. Granted it's not being played by the character in the book, but it is on youtube.com @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ798THmR5Y.
(It is NOT embeddable.)
This series, with an Israeli âoperativeâ in the leading âroleâ always refers back to the Holocaust â what was taken, what was done, what was never âpaid backâ. It is Gabriel Allon's job, in one way or another to balance the scales.
I still like the series enough to try to obtain more books â there are at least five by nowâ¦
Throughout the book there are references made to a specific piece of music. Thanks to the Internet, we can actually hear that music. Granted it's not being played by the character in the book, but it is on youtube.com @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ798THmR5Y.
(It is NOT embeddable.)
This a fast paced mystery about "stolen art, a decades-old suicide, and a dark bloody trail of killings".
Calmia Y. (underwriter) reviewed The English Assassin (Gabriel Allon, Bk 2) on + 219 more book reviews
A GREAT STORY KEEPS YOU TURNING PAGES WAY INTO THE NIGHT
Gabriel Allon is back in this fast moving thriller. The mystery of where did all the Jewish owned art go during WWII us the focal point of this work. I enjoyed the history, the mystery and of course the chase!
Michael H. (isbnlover) - , reviewed The English Assassin (Gabriel Allon, Bk 2) on + 12 more book reviews
Excellent! The characters and development of the story were all appropriate to realism and the location. There is an ongoing story line, but knowing the story from whence it came was not necessary as the author gave enough information to make sense.
Scott Gross (scottgross) -
This book impressed me enough to quickly order everything else Mr. Silva has written. It is written in the same vein as the Jason Bourne books and just as exciting and well written.
Excellent book. Love the series.
Interesting characters, fast-paced, excellent descriptions, a good read. Not as graphic as some spy novels; it didn't feel as "real" as others I've read. It somehow felt a little "light," a little "all too easy." Perhaps the fast pace didn't give me enough time to feel connected to a character before he/she got killed off. I will probably read more of them in hopes that they improve with the writer's experience. The protagonist is intriguing.
Great action mixed with WW2 history.
Sucked in from the first page. Silva is a master storyteller, with a sophisticated air, telling a story about people who, through circumstance, know more about good and evil than most people would even want to know. I read it in two hours long sessions. Couldn't put it down except for falling asleep. Like watching an edge of the seat movie. In books, this is like drinking a couple glasses of excellent Cabernet- not only do you get the flavor, but there's a high feeling too. Then it's over. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
Intrigue, fast moving plots and action keep it interesting. I enjoyed the flow and found it to be a very good read. I would recommend for those who like action thrillers.
Great, quick read. I'll definitely read more of his books.
Diane H. (auntbeebooks) reviewed The English Assassin (Gabriel Allon, Bk 2) on + 31 more book reviews
This was the first of Dan Silva's book that I have read. The fast pace thriller was very enjoyable and put me on the path of reading all of his novels. If you are a reader of suspense novels, don't miss the opportunity to read his books.
Yet another wonderful book by Daniel Silva!
I love this author.
A sometime Israeli spy by trade and an art restorer by preference, Gabriel Allon arrives in Zurick to clean the work of an old master for a millionaire banker, only to find himself standing in his client's blood and himself framed for the murder. Without warning,he's drawn into a spiraling chain of events involving Nazi art theft, a decades-old suicide and a bloody trail of killings -- some of them his own.
The spy world Allon had thought he'd put aside will envelop him once again and he will have to battle for his life against the assassin he helped train.
The spy world Allon had thought he'd put aside will envelop him once again and he will have to battle for his life against the assassin he helped train.
Clara G. (nativenewyorker) reviewed The English Assassin (Gabriel Allon, Bk 2) on + 63 more book reviews
A sometime Israeli spy by trade and an art restorer by preference, Gabriel Allon arrives in Zurich to clean the work of an Old Master for a millionaire banker--only to find himself standing in his client's blood and framed for the murder.
Without warning, Allon is drawn into a spiraling chain of events involving Nazi art theft, a decades-old suicide, and a bloody trail of killings--some of them his own. The spy world Allon thought he had put aside will envelope him once again. And he will have to battle for his life against the assassin he helped train.
Without warning, Allon is drawn into a spiraling chain of events involving Nazi art theft, a decades-old suicide, and a bloody trail of killings--some of them his own. The spy world Allon thought he had put aside will envelope him once again. And he will have to battle for his life against the assassin he helped train.
Always an entertaining, exciting writer.
One of the bestr of Silva's books.
I love silva's art restoring agent.
Jack Q. (AlabamaJack) reviewed The English Assassin (Gabriel Allon, Bk 2) on + 170 more book reviews
THE ENGLISH ASSASSIN by Daniel Silva: Former Israeli agent and art restorer Gabriel Allon finds himself the apparent victim of a double cross. When he arrives in Switzerland to restore a Raphael owned by reclusive Swiss banker Augustus Rolfe, Allon not only discovers the banker dead but finds himself the number one suspect. The charge doesn't stick, however, and when he is released from custody, Allon vows to find out who tried to frame him. Allon catches the attention of Switzerland's secretive power structure, which intends to stymie any further investigation into Rolfe's murder and the theft of his suspiciously acquired art collection. A shadowy hit man, known only as the Englishman, is hired to eliminate Allon and anyone else who threatens to expose Switzerland's conduct during World War II. Silva just gets better and better.
Great read .... will look for more of his books.
An excellent read
A very good spy story involving Nazi art theft during world war 2.
Great book,great author,more plots twists than any book I have read.
A well written spy story that is very enjoyable to read. After reading his first book I went on to read more of his work. I highly recommend his books.
A Gabriel Allon spy story involving stolen art and murder, of course.
Kelly P. (KellyP) -
This is the first of Silva's "trilogy" exploring the "unfinished business of the Holocaust." His main character is Gabriel Allon, first introduced in The Killing Artist. My mother, husband & I all really enjoyed the entire series.
Fast-moving thriller!
Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
An exceptionally readable, sophisticated thriller.
I love all of the Gabriel Allon books I've read. (even though I'm reading them out of order, it's still worth going back)
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
Book Description
The Unlikely Spy, Daniel Silva's extraordinary debut novel, was applauded by critics as it rocketed onto national bestseller lists. Now Silva has outdone himself, with a taut, lightning-paced thriller rooted assuredly in fact: Switzerland's shameful WWII record of profiteering and collaboration with Nazi Germany.
When art restorer and occasional Israeli agent Gabriel Allon is sent to Zurich, Switzerland, to restore the painting of a reclusive millionaire banker, he arrives to find his would-be employer murdered at the foot of his Raphael. A secret collection of priceless, illicitly gained Impressionist masterpieces is missing. Gabriel's handlers step out of the shadows to admit the truth-the collector had been silenced-and Gabriel is put back in the high-stakes spy game, battling wits with the rogue assassin he helped to train.
Tense, taut, expertly crafted, and brimming with unexpected reversals, The English Assassin is Daniel Silva at his storytelling best.
My Review
Daniel Silva is an excellent writer and I found this book to have interesting characters, with a fast-moving plot and lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed traveling through countries with the characters and learning lots of history along the way. The book hooked me from the start and had lots of action all the way through. I look forward to reading the next installment and I highly recommend this series to those who love action-packed spy novels.
The Unlikely Spy, Daniel Silva's extraordinary debut novel, was applauded by critics as it rocketed onto national bestseller lists. Now Silva has outdone himself, with a taut, lightning-paced thriller rooted assuredly in fact: Switzerland's shameful WWII record of profiteering and collaboration with Nazi Germany.
When art restorer and occasional Israeli agent Gabriel Allon is sent to Zurich, Switzerland, to restore the painting of a reclusive millionaire banker, he arrives to find his would-be employer murdered at the foot of his Raphael. A secret collection of priceless, illicitly gained Impressionist masterpieces is missing. Gabriel's handlers step out of the shadows to admit the truth-the collector had been silenced-and Gabriel is put back in the high-stakes spy game, battling wits with the rogue assassin he helped to train.
Tense, taut, expertly crafted, and brimming with unexpected reversals, The English Assassin is Daniel Silva at his storytelling best.
My Review
Daniel Silva is an excellent writer and I found this book to have interesting characters, with a fast-moving plot and lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed traveling through countries with the characters and learning lots of history along the way. The book hooked me from the start and had lots of action all the way through. I look forward to reading the next installment and I highly recommend this series to those who love action-packed spy novels.
An Israeli spy by trade and art restorer by preference, Gabriel Allon arrives in Zurich to restore the work of an Old Master for a millionaire bankerâand finds himself standing in blood and framed for the man's murder.
While trying to clear his name, Allon is swept into a spiraling chain of events involving Nazi art theft, a decades-old suicide, and a dark and bloody trail of killingsâsome of them his own. The spy world Allon thought he had left behind has come back to haunt him. And he will have to fight for his lifeâagainst an assassin he himself helped train.
While trying to clear his name, Allon is swept into a spiraling chain of events involving Nazi art theft, a decades-old suicide, and a dark and bloody trail of killingsâsome of them his own. The spy world Allon thought he had left behind has come back to haunt him. And he will have to fight for his lifeâagainst an assassin he himself helped train.
