The Unlikely Spy

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Summary: Best book Ever printed (i am only 17)
Review: I am 17, and this book has to one of my favorite books of ALL time, it has everything I want in a book...I have read it numerous times and each time it sends chills down my spine.

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Summary: A new name to follow for WWII & espionage buffs
Review: Without being at all original, journalist-turned spy-writer Daniel Silva manages with The Unlikely Spy to concoct a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner. Early on, the plot brings vivid recollections of Follet's ' Eye of the Needle' to mind. The unlikely hero, Alfred Vicary, reads somewhat like a WWII precurssor to Le Carré's Smiley. The period characterization adds nothing new to the color --or lack of thereof-- of wartime London depicted in dozens of previous novels. And yet, even if these connections are transparent, Silva's crafty 'collage' gets away with it all. The book proves that many-a-story or theme can be nicely re-told and pleasantly re-read. One surmises that Silva has deliberately chosen for his 'opera prima' this safe path. And he trods it with rythm, style and impeccable wordsmanship. I have a feeling that Silva, like many more before him, will in due time carve-out his own litterary persona.The Unlikely Spy, and his next books, will surely entertain us while we wait for that to happen.

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Summary: THE BEST SPY NOVEL I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIME
Review: I am currently living in Central Asia where it hard for me toget my hands on a good book (time to start shopping on Amazon.com). Ienjoy a good spy novel but have been disappointed by most of these types of books that I have picked up in the past few years. Even some of the masters have let their fame permit themselves to slack off on the research and careful planning that are necessary for writing a successful piece in this genre. Therefore, I was pleasantly sur prised when someone passing through Tashkent left this book that I had not heard about. I took it on a business trip and had a hard time putting it down. This is a must read for those who love history and enjoy espionage thrillers. I look forward to reading Mr. Silva's newest novel.

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Summary: A great read but I do have one little criticism
Review: I just finished reading this wonderful book and I will gladly recommend it to any and everyone. This book had the one element that I love in good old spy novels. AS the book came to its conclusion, I found my heart racing. This is a very good sign. My one criticism is with the two story lines that involved Catherines sexual encounters with the spanish gentleman and with Peter Jordan. As I read both of these passages, it was almost as if the book morphed into one of those phony letters in Penthouse Forum. The scene with Catherine and Peter was so graphic it was laughable. It almost seemed that Mr. Silva was watching the Playboy Channel while writing this passage. Enough of that. An excellent book all the same

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Summary: Kudos for Silva's WW II Spy Thriller
Review: 6/98--THE UNLIKELY SPY, by Daniel Silva, a Fawcett Crest Book, the Ballantine Publishing Group, Random House, New York, 1996, ISBN 0-449-00264-0. This thick (531-page) paperback is the first novel published by Daniel Silva. It won't be the last, judging from the quality of this first effort, a fast-paced thriller about Nazi and British spies, American fighting forces, love, and intrigue during the pre-war and WW II years. Silva has done a creditable job of researching his subjects. Time tables, persona, events, and the details of war machines are carefully fit together for a suspenseful tale of considerable credibility. Al White gave me this book three days ago in Bedford, MA. I finished it on United's Flight #57 yesterday. It was one of those rare books I wished would go on and on.

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Summary: An outstanding debut novel
Review: The ultimate World War II novel is War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk followed closely by Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett.Although this is not in that class, it is aterrific read. The setting is terrific, particularly the constant London rain. The characters are 3-dimensional and fully fleshed out. There are Germans with a conscience and Brits without one. The story is extremely readable and intriguing. Acouple of ironic twists at the end are well worth the wait. Trust me. I have read countless World War II novels and this one is fresh and well worth the money and time. ENJOY!!!!!

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Summary: Wow. . .reminiscent of The Spy WHo Came in From the Cold
Review: Don't make a mistake, read this novel.

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Summary: A RARE MASTERPICE WRITTEN BY THE MASTER
Review: Daniel Silva is one of those rare writers out there that write such a powerful novel as this. It caught my attention here on amazon and I ended up reading it in one weekend. I've been looking for a novel of Double Crossing, Spying, and War Behind the Lines like this for almost forever. Finally Daniel Silva has done it! A true masterpiece!

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Summary: A must read!
Review: The book starts off a bit slow; introducing more than half a dozen main characters. After it settles down though the books moves quickly. This is a wonderful read.

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Summary: A book to compare with THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD
Review: This is a great debut, with good character development, a subtle plot (despite the fact that we all know the good guys will prevail), and lots of deception. There is more going on than meets the eye, and Mr. Silva does this as well as anyone since John Le Carre set the standard with THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD. I did not like Mr. Silva's second book (and said so in this forum on 5/2/98) because it lacked all of the quality that made THE UNLIKELY SPY so hard to put down.