The Defector
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Product Description
Product Description
Gabriel Allon took down the world's most dangerous man.
He made just one mistake. Leaving him alive . . .
Spy turned art restorer Gabriel Allon is in Umbria, when shocking news arrives from London. A Russian defector who saved his life has vanished without a trace. British Intelligence suspect he was a double agent, but Allon knows better. Soon he finds himself in a deadly duel of wits with a murderous Russian arms dealer as he bargains for his friend's life.
Criss-crossing Europe at breakneck pace and culminating in a heart-stopping climax in the freezing birch forests of Russia, The Defector is a searing and bloody tale of courage and vengeance . . .
About the Author
Daniel Silva is the bestselling author of The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Confessor, A Death in Vienna, Price of Fire, The Messenger, The Secret Servant and Moscow Rules. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, NBC News Today correspondent Jamie Gangel, and their two children, Lily and Nicholas.
www.danielsilvabooks.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have read all the Gabriel Allon series, and this one must rank as one of the best. In it, our hero, art restorer, Israeli agent and assassin locks horns once again with Ivan Kharkov, the arms-dealing Russian bad guy, from Allon's previous outing, Moscow Rules. Because the story-line follows on from that one, I'd definitely recommend reading that one first, although enough background is given here, if you do decide to jump straight in.
The disappearance of the defector of the title from a London street, triggers concern that Kharkov may be seeking revenge for his downfall in the previous book, and in particular for the safety of Gabriel Allon and his new wife Chiara who have been enjoying their honeymoon in a villa in Umbria. There is good old-fashioned spy-craft here, intricate plotting, much hopping between venues in the US and Europe, and a high body-count so maybe not for the squeamish. However, what makes this series of books stand out for me is the characters, Allon himself and Chiara, Ari Shamron and Gilah, Sarah Bancroft, Adrian Carter, and the rest of them. This is a thoroughly enjoyable series, and I do hope that Daniel Silva manages at least a few more outings for Gabriel and co, before he allows him to put down his gun for good.
The disappearance of the defector of the title from a London street, triggers concern that Kharkov may be seeking revenge for his downfall in the previous book, and in particular for the safety of Gabriel Allon and his new wife Chiara who have been enjoying their honeymoon in a villa in Umbria. There is good old-fashioned spy-craft here, intricate plotting, much hopping between venues in the US and Europe, and a high body-count so maybe not for the squeamish. However, what makes this series of books stand out for me is the characters, Allon himself and Chiara, Ari Shamron and Gilah, Sarah Bancroft, Adrian Carter, and the rest of them. This is a thoroughly enjoyable series, and I do hope that Daniel Silva manages at least a few more outings for Gabriel and co, before he allows him to put down his gun for good.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In Daniel Silva's latest thriller featuring art restorer/Israeli spy-assassin, Gabriel Allon, The Defector picks up where Moscow Rules left off (but be advised that while it would be beneficial, it is not critical that you read Moscow Rules first). Without going into detail, the plot involves Allon having to return to Moscow when he learns that the former Russian intelligence officer who saved his life in Moscow has vanished without a trace. In typical Silva fashion, The Defector's plot is one of slow-building but non-stop tension and suspense that will keep your eyes glued to its pages. Further, Silva provides new dimensions into his already multidimensional, interesting cast of characters, as well as some very thought-provoking insights into the New Russia. While some reviewers have criticized The Defector for being too formulaic, thus making it somewhat "same-old, same old," my opinion is that Silva's successful formula, which he's used now in most of his twelve books, is kept fresh and interesting through the topical events and settings on which his books are based -- and this certainly is the case with The Defector. As a matter of fact, Silva's ability to continue to successfully execute his winning formula is at the heart of what makes me consider him to the "gold standard" of thriller writers. For me, there has never been a risk involved in reading a Silva book, with the only unknown being whether the book will be very good or excellent; and The Defector is an excellent read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Many years ago Daniel Silva was a very promising new talent and his first half dozen books endorsed that. But since then his recent books are nothing more than the writing equivalent of painting by numbers.
I don't think I have ever come across more predictable plots than those of Mr Silva.
The books tend to start well with interesting settings this time it's a very accurate description of Maida Vale, London.
From thereon this is now what happens in all the Gabriel Allon books.
Some nasty event occurs, Gabriel Allon is persuaded to do one last job (yet again). He assembles his usual immortal, boring team who then instigate at least one abduction. All goes well initially until Gabriel gets captured and beaten up before escaping. He then miraculously recovers to kill all the bad guys.
Along the way we have to put up with full bios of the repetitive inane characters who appear in every book even though they have all been described several times before.
Just to add more ridicule to the now ludicrous books that Mr Silva writes all or some of The POPE, The President of the USA and the UK Prime Minister either help out or meet our super hero.
Getting back to this book having run out of ideas on Middle East Terroism Mr Silva has tried to do at least one thing differently and changed the nationality of the bad guys who are now Russians instead of Arabs for the 2nd book running.
This character has well and truly run out of steam and it's a shame Mr Silva doesn't have the courage or is it talent to write a non Gabriel Allon novel.
In hindsight his first 3 books are probably his best and from memory none featured the ludicrous Allon and his immortal mentor who despite retiring years ago still effectively runs Israeli intelligence at the tender age of 80+.
I don't think I have ever come across more predictable plots than those of Mr Silva.
The books tend to start well with interesting settings this time it's a very accurate description of Maida Vale, London.
From thereon this is now what happens in all the Gabriel Allon books.
Some nasty event occurs, Gabriel Allon is persuaded to do one last job (yet again). He assembles his usual immortal, boring team who then instigate at least one abduction. All goes well initially until Gabriel gets captured and beaten up before escaping. He then miraculously recovers to kill all the bad guys.
Along the way we have to put up with full bios of the repetitive inane characters who appear in every book even though they have all been described several times before.
Just to add more ridicule to the now ludicrous books that Mr Silva writes all or some of The POPE, The President of the USA and the UK Prime Minister either help out or meet our super hero.
Getting back to this book having run out of ideas on Middle East Terroism Mr Silva has tried to do at least one thing differently and changed the nationality of the bad guys who are now Russians instead of Arabs for the 2nd book running.
This character has well and truly run out of steam and it's a shame Mr Silva doesn't have the courage or is it talent to write a non Gabriel Allon novel.
In hindsight his first 3 books are probably his best and from memory none featured the ludicrous Allon and his immortal mentor who despite retiring years ago still effectively runs Israeli intelligence at the tender age of 80+.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Still good
I really enjoy Silva's writing so eagerly awaited reading this book. Whilst it was a good read, it really wasn't one of his best. Still, I'll keep reading such a good author.
Published 8 days ago by Yank Abroad
Great writer - gripping story.
This was the first Daniel Silva book I read and once I started it I found it impossible to put down. Read more
Published 8 months ago by G-Sud
Very disappointing
I'm starting to give up on amazon ratings. I read lots of crime fiction and am always looking for a new writer. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. S. Devlin
Yet another great read
loved this book. Silva is an exceptional writer, the detail, the plots really hold you to the last page. Cannot wait for the next to read. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Sunrise
Smart and ruthless - that's Allon and that's Silva
There's a kind of rage behind Daniel Silva's highly paced contemporary thrillers: rage against the enemies of Israel, who are mostly Palestinian and al-Qaeda terrorists plotting... Read more
Published 16 months ago by David Gee
Daniel Silva stars again
Yet another Daniel Silva edge of the seat spy thriller. This guy never disappoints. Best spy/thriller writer since La Carre and Forsyth.
Published 18 months ago by R. Sharp
Israeli propaganda
A decent thriller utterly spoilt by lashings of Israeli propaganda. The last Daniel Silva that I shall read.
Published 19 months ago by D Gouvieux
An Intelligent & Hard Nosed Thriller
My review of Daniel Silva's previous novel, Moscow Rules, criticised it for lacking a decent, satisfying ending. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2010 by C. Green
Excellent!
Unless I'd reviewed all the books one by one, it would be difficult to say anything different about the individual books - they're all brilliant! Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by McColl
The Defector - Daniel Silva
Having been a fan of Silva since book one I was concerned that he might just be drying up with Gabriel Allon but NO The Defector is as gripping and compulsive page turning as ever. Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2009 by STEP Edinburgh
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