Crime

Somehow Daniel Silva manages to maintain a level of consistency with this series. The characters continue to evolve and while there is a formula to each installment, the formula works and there is enough variation to keep things interesting. Recurring characters fit with the story rather than being shoehorned in and new characters have unique personalities and attributes. This continues to be one of my favorite long-running series. ( )

I enjoyed this, but not as much as the most recent instalment (the only other one I have read). This was partly because I found it very similar to that book - many of the same characters appear and fulfil similar roles. This story starts off with Gabriel tasked to find a murderer and a missing Caravaggio altar piece, but morphs into a campaign against the brutal Syrian dictator. It became so focussed on that that I completely forgot about the artwork frame, which was something of a device for a story about the recent history of Syria. (It is depressing how little has changed in Syria and Ukraine since 2014).

The conclusion of the Syria plot was a little odd too -

SPOILERS

one minute the Israelis are so excited about confiscating billions of dollars of the dictator's ill-gotten gains, and then they are giving all the money back to save the life of their asset. I was really hoping she was going to turn out to be a double agent, but no such luck... ( )

Yet another Gabriel Allon wild ride. He's getting a little older. We've seen him getting beat up and we wonder, is he still up to it. Can he keep saving the world, or at avenging the wronged. He has a history with several countries which realize he's capable of dastardly things which they can't condone even if they approve of why he does it. He's also got a roster of people he can call on when he needs. And Silva never seems to disappoint. He takes us right up to the dramatic height only to pull the rug out at the last moment. At the critical moment the phone ceases to work, the phone call drops, the critical link turns up dead, a phone call arrives, always just in time for an immediate change of course, plan B, time to regroup, rethink, stand down.

At this point I have to issue a spoiler alert. If you like to be surprised then stop reading at this point and come back once you've read the book.

Chiara is pregnant with twins so Gabriel has to avoid things he might normally take on. He's also already slated to become Director of The Office at the end of Uzi's term, something he's not looking forward to. He'd rather be restoring masterpieces in his beloved Venice but others keep pulling at him in ways it's difficult to say no. It all starts when the head of Italy's Art Squad blackmails him to keep his old friend Julian Isherwood out of reputational damage. Of course Gabriel can't say no so the search begins for stolen art. The name of the book, The Heist, comes from Gabriel's plan to steal a masterpiece to entice the buyer of stolen art to reveal themselves and hopefully determine where a missing Caravaggio might be. So Gabriel arranges to steal Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Eventually we learn that Assad has been buying art to keep his assets from being frozen or confiscated. It's post the Arab Spring and everyone is dealing with the new realities, especially Assad and the Alawites. Now the plot gets into high gear once we know the Syrian's are behind all the murders and brutality. As each subplot gets to the critical point the story takes another dramatic turn. We go to Lake Como, to Paris, to Geneva, to Munich, to Linz, to Vienna, to London and of course to Israel, and back again. Lots of cars, plains and trains. Even a sailboat. At one point Gabriel has his hackers steal billions from banks around the world only to return most of it to rescue a girl who he lied to get his hands on the money in the first place. Gabriel always protects the innocents who help him.

And whenever we need to slow down a bit there's always interpersonal stuff going on. Shamron is on his last legs and concerned that Gabriel may be jeopardizing his lifelong plan to make sure his "son" becomes the Director. Bella is angry because she sees Gabriel as undermining Uzi's turn as Director. Everyone is nervous as the future Director walks in unexpectedly. And of course there's the CIA, MI6, the Swiss, the Austrians, the French, the Germans. And virtually no mention of the Palestinians, nor any Hassidim. More than enough to keep the soup swirling. ( )

Legendary Israil spy Gabriel Allon fabricates a missing masterpiece to conduct a daring mission to retrieve a Caravaggio painting from the leader of Iran who is diversifing his wealth in case of a revolution.
Well writen and an energetic plot. ( )