The English Assassin

Rating:
Summary: another remarkable effort
Review: The English Assassin is terrific, surely Daniel Silva's best work. From start to finish, this is electrifying stuff: the murder of a prominent Swiss banker leads Israeli agent Gabriel Allon and the banker's daughter, a classical violinist troubled by the past, on a race through Europe to uncover a Nazi-Swiss conspiracy to loot Jewish-owned art masterpieces. Silva's never been in finer form. The pace never falters, the characters are brilliantly drawn, and Silva doesn't settle for timeworn subject matter, giving us instead a fascinating look at a piece of history that too many people would like to consign to the dustbin. Silva's previous novels have all been great reads, but The English Assassin is a truly remarkable effort by an extremely talented writer.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Spy Thriller Writer Around
Review: With apologies to Tom Clancy and the late Robert Ludlum, I must say that Daniel Silva has assumed throne among international thriller writers.

His latest novel, The English Assassin, centers around Gabriel Allon, the art-restorer-by-day, silent-killer-by-night from his previous work, The Kill Artist. The book begins with a flashback to the past centering around an unknown woman killing herself upon her discovery of one of her husband's dark secrets. The reader is then taken to the present day when Allon is sent to meet a client to restore a painting. He enters the client's home following a series of strange instructions and finds the man dead. The breakneck plot of the novel follows Gabriel on his quest to determine why the man was killed and how he himself is involved. At the same time, he must protect the man's estranged daughter while he and those with whom he comes in contact are being stalked by the shadowy figure known only as the Englishman.

Silva's writing is some of the most eloquent you will find in a book of this genre. His prose is clear and thoughtful and his characters take on dimensions that make the story all the more meaningful. Allon is a fine protagonist with many layers. The Englishman is a most worthy villian with both flaws and redeeming features that are capable of evoking sympathy from the reader. Silva's attention to detail for the settings of this book and the knowledge he possesses regarding the world of espionage make the reader feel totally enveloped in this book. This is a novel that can be read in a single sitting.

Highly recommended to anyone interested in international thrillers, spy or espionage related plots, or simply a well-written novel that will keep them interested.

Rating:
Summary: A Spy Novel With a Bit of History
Review: This is the second Silva book I have read, having read the Kill Artist last year. I have been impressed with Mr. Silva's ability to take a story, make it seem like a classic spy novel, but put a little more action in it so that it does not drag as some such novels do.
The book again "stars" Gabriel Allon, a painting restorer and reluctant Israeli spy. Gabriel is assigned to Switzerland to meet with a man who has a painting to be restored and also has requested a meeting with Israeli intelligence. When Gabriel arrives, he finds the client dead and finds himself knee deep in a 50 year old mystery involving Nazi art theft from World War II. The book builds in excitement and Gabriel is a fascinating and effective, if not reluctant, spy. My next stop in the Silva express is "The Confessor", the next Gabriel Allon book.

Rating:
Summary: The English Assassin is another page turner from Silva
Review: The English Assassin is another fine novel. Daniel Silva provides the reader with his usual blend of action, excitement, intrigue, and plot twists -- all set within the historical context of the secret world of the Swiss banking system from WWII to the present. In a reprise of Gabriel Allon, the art restorer and sometimes Israeli spy from the Kill Artist, Silva spins a tale of a secret Swiss society, long-ago collaboration with Nazi Germany, and a quest to recover art treasures plundered by the Nazi's in WWII. Gabriel is drawn into the plot when he is sent to restore a painting belonging to an elderly Swiss banker. Finding the banker dead, Gabriel is quickly forced to match wits with the mysterious English Assassin and members of the clandestine Swiss organization that seeks to keep the past of Switzerland buried. This book is thoroughly entertaining. A must read for fans of Silva's previous works.

Rating:
Summary: Memorable Characters...Timid Ending
Review: First let me say that this book has one of the best opening chapters I have ever read! And for die-hard Silva fans, that should not surprise you. This author is tremendous with his "hook" and continues to leave you breathless throughout your entire reading.

In The English Assassin, we meet up again with Gabriel Allon, the art restorer/secret Israeli assassin from The Kill Artist. Through unexpected events, Gabriel comes to the aid of Anna Rolfe, a world-class violinist whose father, Swedish banker Augustus Rolfe, has been found dead in his Swiss chalet. He soon finds that the Rolfe family secrets lead to a tangled web of deception that dates back to the Nazi plundering of World War II. As Gabriel digs deeper into the Rolfe family affairs, an unexpected course of events leads him on a frantic mission to save Anna Rolfe's life from an English assassin who is hired to keep the Rolfe family secrets...secret.

Silva is known for his deep research and vivid description of global locales. I also love his characters; they are rich in personality and very well rounded. The good guys have a dark side that makes them tick and the bad guys have many redeeming qualities. In this book we come to know Gabriel, Ari and Julian on a much deeper level, a welcome surprise for those of us who have read the Kill Artist. As usual, I raced through the first two-thirds of this book in record time (Silva does that to you -- especially if you are a die hard international thriller fan like me), but I thought the last third of the book lacked the strength of his previous works, and the ending left me with more questions than answers. His other books were "beefy" from start to finish -- very thick plot with strong action...unrelenting in its presentation. This one seemed a bit...well, "timid" to say the least. It's as if the bottom fell out just as the time was approaching for a major showdown. I'm sure there's a reason for this...Silva is an extremely talented and thorough writer known for his exhaustive research and narration. I just wish he had given us a that strong last "lap" he is so well known for!

4 and 1/2 stars. "Where's the beef?"

Rating:
Summary: An Intelligent Spy Thriller
Review: I am now amazed at how Daniel Silva's book entrance me every time I pick them up to read. I love his WORK! It is like I am truly seeing life in whatever viewpoint/nationality/political group that he writes about. Very GOOD stuff! I would HATE to take his books to Aruba-I would be hard pressed to leave the hotel for reading or leave HIS books at home so that I could enjoy Aruba! (laughter) EXCELLENT WORK, Daniel!

Rating:
Summary: A great spy thriller!
Review: This was my first read of a Daniel Silva novel, and won't be my last. The characters are damaged and fallible, which always makes for an interesting read. The plot was well constructed, with some interesting reversals. Definitely a a book to curl up in front of the fire with for a cold night's read!

Rating:
Summary: Spine chilling page turner
Review: This is the first Daniel Silva work that I have read and I am sure it will not be my last. His writing style pulls you in from one chapter to the next, with no blank spots. The book is historically well researched and it kept my attention to the very last page. Possibly the strongest point of this book is that the character of Gabriel Allon is shown to be fallible, and not like some of the espionage characters who have all of their ducks in a row. While not perhaps on the technically descriptive level of John LeCarre's characters, the espionage that Daniel Silva writes will keep you up all night. I look forward to next reading "The Confessor".

Rating:
Summary: The new master of the international spy thriller
Review: Gabriel Allon is an art restorer living in England. He is also a highly trained Israeli agent used by the Foreign Ministry headed by his boss Ariel Shamron. Allon is asked to restore a painting in the home of a prominent Swiss resident in Zurich. Unfortunately, upon arrival, Allon finds his host dead on the floor. As Allon looks into the death, he eventually begins to uncover a sinister plot involving prominent Swiss businessmen throughout the country. In an effort to discover the cause of her father's death, Allon is accompanied by Anna Rolphe, the victim's daughter and a world-class concert violinist. Always behind them is the English assassin who eventually sets his sites on Anna.
I have often said that Daniel Silva is one of the best thriller writers currently working. After having discovered his books several years ago, I have eagerly awaited each one as they are released in the spring. Silva has a prodigious way of drawing the reader immediately into the story by use of vivid characterizations, dangerous situations, and exotic locations. Some time is, of course, required to fill in details of the plot which can admittedly be a bit complex, however, never as complex as so many of Robert Ludlum's books. They are easy to grasp which is important considering these books are not meant to require a great deal of brain cells while being read. The story flows smoothly and the suspense never lets up. Again, I strongly urge the reader to check out the work of this new master of the international thriller sub genre.

Rating:
Summary: being a true proffesional
Review: When an Israeli reads a book about a Mossadnik written by a foreign author, s/he tends to be somewhat doubtful about the accuracy of details in that book; Daniel Silva's research leaves one amazed as well as admiring - the book "the English Assassin" is impeccable as far as creating a truly convincing background for Gabriel Allon the protagonist- the Mossad man as well as the art restorer. Silva even went so far as to use Hebrew terms relating to Mossad (the Israeli secret service) terminology, some of them familiar almost solely to Hebrew speakers, terms he clearly and accurately explains to his English readers, terms which add credibility and enriches the atmosphere he is so successfully creates in this book.
When an art curator reads the book, again s/he can only admire, once again the minute details which add other layers of meaning and volume to this book.
The main characters: Allon, Shamron, Anna Rolf, Gerhardt Peterson and the Englishman (as this character is referred to through out most of the book) -
All of them are three-dimensional beings with goals, desires and above all acute professionalism! Each one of these people takes genuine pride in what they do for a living, even if their job is the kind usually frowned upon.

For various reasons the genre of the thriller has been considered (at times rightly so) to be beneath other literary genres, Daniel Silva's writing might help this genre gain back some of the respect it lost.