The Marching Season

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Summary: The secret workings of the CIA
Review: Against the backdrop of the "Troubles" between militant Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, ex-CIA agent Michael Osbourne pursues his nemesis, assassin par excellance Jean Paul Delaroche. Northern Ireland has exploded amidst a wave of terroristic violence perpetrated by the Ulster Freedom Brigade, a pro-Protestant militant group. Their goal is to upset the ongoing peace process authored by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

The Ulster Freedom Brigade is backed by a secretive group called the Society, a conglomerate of intelligence officers, arms merchants, businessmen and criminals who try to influence world events for their own profit. Delaroche, also known as October, is the Society's chief assassin. He has previously failed in an assassination attempt on Osbourne and his wife and been wounded in the process. Osbourne's wife Elizabeth is the daughter of retired New York senator Douglas Cannon. In an attempt to exert a strong American influence in the stalled peace talks, Cannon, at the request of Blair, is appointed U.S. ambassador to England.

In order to safeguard his father in law, Osbourne re-ups with the CIA and is commissioned to be the liason in Northern Ireland. The Society wishing to potentiate the chaos in Ireland targets Cannon for assassination. A lethal cat and mouse game ensues between Osbourne and Delaroche.

Silva has a wonderful knack for crafting fast moving, entertaining spy thrillers. The Marching Season is no exception, replete wih unexpected twists and a very satisfying conclusion

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Summary: An Exciting Read
Review: I have surely found a new author that I enjoy. The story started a little slow with the Irish situation but corrected quickly and became a real page turner. This is the first of his books I have read, I will now begin to read all of them.

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Summary: Super Sequel
Review: Unlike many sequels, this was every bit as good, if not even better, than the original. The two protagonists, Osbourne and Delaroche, are such fascinating character studies. That alone made the book riveting. Also, I really loved the rather unconventional ending. I am now reading the later works by this author, but the absence of these characters makes them problematic.

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Summary: Daniel Silva Strikes Again!
Review: This book was an excellent followup to "Mark of the Assasin".
The Society,a group dedicated to making money from destabilization in the world is once again in the picture. They call upon October to do a contract killing on behalf of the Mossad Chief in the Middle East. October is given an assigment to
assasinate Senator Cannon, Osbourne's father in law. It is uo to Osbourne to stop him. The book has an excellent plot and plenty of action. There is never a dull moment in this book. Osbourne and October struggle all over the world. The ending of the book is also very good. This is another quality product from Daniel Silva. I am now waiting for "Kill Artist" to turn paperback. Do
not miss the "Marching Season".

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Summary: A SURPRISINGLY GOOD SEQUEL
Review: When a paramilitary group uses terrorist tactics to squash the Good Friday Peace Accords, the British prime Minister asks the US President to appoint an experienced politician to the post of US Ambassador to London. The unanimous choice is former US Senator Douglas Cannon, who publicly and vehemently vows to not give in to "thugs" who want to derail the peace process. Although the British politicians are encouraged by his remarks, his intrepidness makes him a target for assassination. Out of concern for the Ambassador's safety, Michael Osbourne, Cannon's son-in-law and retired CIA counter-terrorism expert, launches his own unofficial investigation. Osbourne is shocked when he discovers that his old nemesis, the painter-assassin Jean-Paul Delaroche, whom Osbourne thought was killed during their last encounter, is alive and is responsible for the execution-style killing of a Hamas leader in the Middle East. Osbourne returns to the CIA to stop Delaroche before he carries out his next assignment: The assassination of the US Ambassador to London.

4 and 1/2 Stars. THE MARCHING SEASON starts off slowly and but recovers as the narrative continues. Silva demonstrates why he is one of the best researchers in the genre. The reappearance of Delaroche and Osbourne make this sequel memorable, although their "reunion" was not what I anticipated. Nevertheless, Silva is a very talented writer who churns out an emotionally charged ending from a slow and steady storyline. Die-hard Silva fans like myself will want this book even if it is a bit more passive compared to his previous efforts.

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Summary: Great read
Review: I went to college with Daniel Silva and had a big crush on him, so that's why I started reading his books. But now I'm kind of hooked just for the characters alone. This is my favorite one so far, because I liked the Douglas Cannon character. Now if only he could write female characters as well. Douglas's wife (Elizabeth?) is a potentially great character, and I would like to see him expand on her motivations if/when he revisits the Cannon family.

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Summary: The Marching Season
Review: Another best seller written by Daniel Silva. The saga of October is as good as his first book. Fast, easy, suspenseful plot keep me wanting more ...

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Summary: Half a Loaf is Better Than None
Review: First of all, I like Daniel Silva's writing and I thoroughly enjoyed his first two novels. "The Unlikely Spy" was one of the best World War II espionage novels that I had read in a long time. "Mark of the Assassin", the prequel to this book, was also quite good. But, I guess I just missed the boat on this one.

The success of the Good Friday Agreement is being threatened by a new terrorist group and the current British Prime Minister requests that the U.S. President appoint a heavyweight to the Court of St. James to show U.S. support for this agreement. Senator Douglas Cannon, a political rival of the current administration, gets the appointment and since he is Michael Osbourne's father in law, we know that the former hero of "Mark of the Assassin" will be lured back into the web of dirty deeds and operatives. Even the "Assassin" from "Mark of the Assassin" returns. What more could one ask for.

Unlike many, I thought that the first half of the book was extremely well done. Especially where Silva lays the seeds for the problems in Northern Ireland and introduces his new paramilitary "bad guys" (and "bad gals"). But, with the introduction of a super-secret cabal known only as "The Society", whose directors are interested in world domination and control from an economic as well as a political/military level, I think he starts to lose it. First of all, the identity of the U.S. delegate to this group is a piece of cake to figure out. Then, "October", the assassin from the second book, performs a hit for the Mossad and Osbourne can recognize him from his hand (?). The Society itself - that world domination thing, again - is vintage Robert Ludlum. Even the three word title is downright Ludlumesque. And having Osbourne and Jean Paul Delarouche ("October") join forces to save the world.......well, let's say I double checked a couple of times just to make sure whose name was on the cover.

A number of authors of this genre have had their first couple of books be their best work and later novels become the literary equivalent of popcorn. I think that Silva is too good a writer to allow that to happen. But, I look forward to his next novel, just to make sure.

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Summary: Nonstop read
Review: This one flew as I finished it in only three sittings.

The action never stopped. The players were most realistic and it was easy to get involved with all of them.

Cat and mouse kept me on edge of my seat. The twists and turns and red herrings made it impossible to put down.

The characters were well drawn and I will go back and read his earlier books. The ending was spectacular and what a surprise. The resolution leaves plenty of room for continuation of these characters and I look forward to a follow up.

This is a thriller drama at its best.

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Summary: Daniel Silva Does it Again
Review: An excellent followup to "Mark of the Assasin".Our hired killer returns to the world scene doing a hit for the Chief of the Mossad. The secret committee is once again using October to cause big problems on the world scene. The ending of the book was also very unique. Revenge is gained on this Committee thanks to October. This was the perfect way to end this book. This is another must buy book.