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Review
It is an exciting and entertaining novel with a terrifying message (Literary Review )
Nerve-searing and painfully brilliant. (Patricia Cornwell )
In true Bauer fashion, shootouts, kidnappings and international terror plots follow him wherever he goes. (USA Today )
It reads like a prediction of continuing terrorism in Europe. (The Wall Street Journal )
The summer's best thriller and perhaps most important novel. (Military.com )
Nerve-searing and painfully brilliant. (Patricia Cornwell )
In true Bauer fashion, shootouts, kidnappings and international terror plots follow him wherever he goes. (USA Today )
It reads like a prediction of continuing terrorism in Europe. (The Wall Street Journal )
The summer's best thriller and perhaps most important novel. (Military.com )
Product Description
In Amsterdam, an Israeli terrorist analyst is murdered. The police believe the killer is a deranged Muslim extremist, but Israeli intelligence knows better. Art-restorer, assassin and spy Gabriel Allon is dispatched to investigate, uncovering a major terrorist operation in London.
Gabriel arrives too late to prevent the kidnapping of the daughter of the US ambassador. With time running out, Allon has no choice but to plunge into a desperate search, both for the woman and for those responsible, but the truth, when he finds it, is more terrible than he could expect. It will endanger his life and shake him to the core.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Secret Servant lacks the smoothness and tradecraft of The Messenger, but is a fine suspenseful antiterrorist novel.
The story's main theme is that Europe will become the center of Islamic terrorism. Targets will focus inside the UK, and the Islamic friendly policies of countries like the Netherlands will make that task easier. Many elements of the story are loosely based on factual reports. Mr. Silva has a lot of fun pointing out the hypocrisy employed by the politicians as they seek help from any source in private while denying involvement in public.
As the book opens, Professor Solomon Rossner, a low-profile agent for the Israelis in the Netherlands, is killed. Gabriel Allon, an Israeli assassin whose cover is as an art restorer for Italian Old Masters, is asked to clean out Rossner's files so that his agents can be located and kept active while any secrets remain that way. Gabriel is surprised to be approached by Ibrahim Fawaz, who claims to be the source who foiled a terrorist attack on a passenger plane. Fawaz warns that a terrorist cell has recently left for an unnamed target. Fawaz warns, "Find them . . . Otherwise I'm afraid buildings are going to fall."
Gabriel quickly locates a trail that leads him to London. Once there, his warnings fail to avoid the kidnapping of the American ambassador's daughter, Elizabeth Halton, a talented surgeon. Frustrated to lose her, Allon stays on the trail of the terrorists.
The implications of the kidnapping begin to reverberate throughout the Middle East and Europe.
In Gabriel's personal life, he finds too little time to be with his beloved, Chiara, who worries that Gabriel may not survive.
At the same time, the Israelis want Gabriel to pursue a new direction. Will he be willing to make a change?
The book has several weaknesses that keep it from being perfectly satisfying. The Islamic terrorists are stereotyped so much that they don't come across as real people. The plot is also quite predictable in places. The mismatch between the terrorists and the Israelis provides not much challenge to anticipate.
The plot moves along quite nicely though, so you won't be sitting there bored. You just won't get to experience enough suspense.
The story's main theme is that Europe will become the center of Islamic terrorism. Targets will focus inside the UK, and the Islamic friendly policies of countries like the Netherlands will make that task easier. Many elements of the story are loosely based on factual reports. Mr. Silva has a lot of fun pointing out the hypocrisy employed by the politicians as they seek help from any source in private while denying involvement in public.
As the book opens, Professor Solomon Rossner, a low-profile agent for the Israelis in the Netherlands, is killed. Gabriel Allon, an Israeli assassin whose cover is as an art restorer for Italian Old Masters, is asked to clean out Rossner's files so that his agents can be located and kept active while any secrets remain that way. Gabriel is surprised to be approached by Ibrahim Fawaz, who claims to be the source who foiled a terrorist attack on a passenger plane. Fawaz warns that a terrorist cell has recently left for an unnamed target. Fawaz warns, "Find them . . . Otherwise I'm afraid buildings are going to fall."
Gabriel quickly locates a trail that leads him to London. Once there, his warnings fail to avoid the kidnapping of the American ambassador's daughter, Elizabeth Halton, a talented surgeon. Frustrated to lose her, Allon stays on the trail of the terrorists.
The implications of the kidnapping begin to reverberate throughout the Middle East and Europe.
In Gabriel's personal life, he finds too little time to be with his beloved, Chiara, who worries that Gabriel may not survive.
At the same time, the Israelis want Gabriel to pursue a new direction. Will he be willing to make a change?
The book has several weaknesses that keep it from being perfectly satisfying. The Islamic terrorists are stereotyped so much that they don't come across as real people. The plot is also quite predictable in places. The mismatch between the terrorists and the Israelis provides not much challenge to anticipate.
The plot moves along quite nicely though, so you won't be sitting there bored. You just won't get to experience enough suspense.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent read, well written with a good plot and pace. Certainly made me want to read other titles by this author, who I had not come across before. The plot was believable and the characters were not unreal. Obviously well researched and put together. Very exciting and very much a contender to take the crown from the late Alister Maclean.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read the previous Allon novels and I think has to be by far the best.
Originally intrigued by the idea of an Israeli art restorer turned assassin and the problems Jews face abroad, Silva's Allon novels began to be a bit predictable. However, this one is enough of a variation on previous outings to make it that much more enjoyable (a new story with a favourite character is always a pleasure, especially when they take a few unexpected turns).
Personally I found it never let up from start to finish, dealing with the kidnap of a US amabassador's daughter in London to the break neck close.
I give it five stars but I share the disappointment with other reviewers in the stereotype Arab portrayal. To read a thriller from a Palestinian point of view, try Matt Rees's Omar Yussef novels.
Originally intrigued by the idea of an Israeli art restorer turned assassin and the problems Jews face abroad, Silva's Allon novels began to be a bit predictable. However, this one is enough of a variation on previous outings to make it that much more enjoyable (a new story with a favourite character is always a pleasure, especially when they take a few unexpected turns).
Personally I found it never let up from start to finish, dealing with the kidnap of a US amabassador's daughter in London to the break neck close.
I give it five stars but I share the disappointment with other reviewers in the stereotype Arab portrayal. To read a thriller from a Palestinian point of view, try Matt Rees's Omar Yussef novels.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gripping and topical spy fiction
Daniel Silva as ever uses his journalistic knowledge to keep the reader gripped, while educating the reader on aspects of the political problems the world faces. Read more
Published 22 months ago by K. Clark
Perhaps the best Gabriel Allon book so far
This book is quite simply brilliant. It really does give you the feeling that the heor is never quite in control of proceedings, and I did actually wonder about the ending, as... Read more
Published 22 months ago by M. Robinson
Not so secret anymore.
With only a few more in the Allon series to read, I'm still wondering if Silva's storylines will move away from the Israeli's fight to defeat the Islamic forces of terror before... Read more
Published on 5 May 2010 by Michael Watson
A thriller that thrills - and chills
As well as providing another cracking terrorist plot with nerve-shredding pace and suspense, Daniel Silva once again takes his readers inside the mind of those who threaten our... Read more
Published on 8 April 2010 by David Gee
False Advertising!!!
I thought I was buying a book but what I got was a "Free Extract" which was just a precised version of the book. Sent an email off to the vendor but got no response. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by G. Wright
"When we take out our weapons, we do so for one reason. We start...
Having tracked down Saudi-financed terrorists in THE MESSENGER, Silva's previous novel, Gabriel Allon is looking forward to taking some time off with Chiara, his love, and to... Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2009 by Mary Whipple
Gabriel Allon rules!
A brilliant, faced-paced and edgy book which i couldn't put down! Loved it from start to finish!
Published on 14 Nov 2008 by M. J. Lardner
4 1/2 Stars -- Another Well-Written, Well-Researched, Engrossing...
There is never a risk involved with reading a Daniel Silva book -- the only unknown is whether it will be a very good book or an excellent book! Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2008 by bobbewig
Not exactly a thriller
This is not a bad novel by any means, but readers expecting a fast paced and suspenseful thriller - as I was - may be left feeling disappointed. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2007 by Julia Flyte
The wolf is through the front door
The plot of THE SECRET SERVANT is simple enough. The daughter of the American ambassador to the Court of St. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2007 by Joseph Haschka
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