Portrait of a Spy
-
-
4.2 • 2.4K Ratings
-
-
- $8.99
Publisher Description
“A bona fide thrill ride.”
—Miami Herald
“Silva builds tension with breathtaking double and triple turns of plot.”
—People
Portrait of a Spy is Silva’s eleventh thriller to feature art restorer and master spy Gabriel Allon as he races from Great Britain to Washington to New York to the Middle East on the trail of a deadly and elusive terrorist network responsible for massacres in Paris, Copenhagen, and at London’s Covent Garden.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this latest thriller to feature retired spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon, a new terrorist leader has surfaced in Yemen and it's up to Allon to neutralize him. To do so, he'll need the assistance of one of the richest women in the world, Nadia al-Bakari. The problem: years ago, Allon killed her terrorist father and she knows it. Simon Vance turns in a nuanced performance in this audio version. His narration is brisk and engaging, and his talent for creating different accents allows him to switch between Israeli, British, and American characters, almost in the same breath: Allon is cultured and thoughtful; his friend and mentor, Ari Shamron, has a pronounced accent and boisterous personality; London art dealer Julian Isherwood is blustery and British; and CIA chief Adrian Carter speaks with a deep American twang. And for Nadia, Vance provides a voice befitting a wealthy polyglot: refined and confident. Silva fans should be enraptured. A Harper hardcover.
Customer Reviews
Getting a little tired
Gabriel may not be getting too old, but I think Daniel Silva is getting a little tired of writing about him. To me, this book did not have the excitement of some of the previous books, especially the two dealing with the Russian arms dealer. Technically the work was still outstanding, but the book did not have the "I can not put it down" quality of previous ones.
Another grand slam for Daniel Silver.
Sadly, Gabriel Allon is getting old and Shamron is being portrayed as old and sickly. Can King Saul Boulevard survive without these two fantastic characters. Uzi Navot will never be a replacement for Shamron and who will ever take the place of Gabriel Allon. I don't think I could handle one more plot where the Office recruits a beautiful woman, puts her in harm's way and Allon once again turns himself over to the terrorists to try to save her. As wonderful as the series is and the books are, it's time for a new lot line.
Speaking of new, with Gabriel aging beyond the period of believable superhero status, please don't replace him with Sara Bancroft. As wonderful as her character has been, and as she Chiara are the only two exiting enough characters to even remotely qualify as potential protagonists, a female terrorist fighter in Islam is just too far out to succeed.
Silva needs a new Gabriel Allon to replace the current one. The series cannot end, but again, Gabriel cannot go on forever and remain believable. Maybe Allon becomes Shamron and the new protege become the new hero?? Just please keep the series going.
Portrait of a Spy
This is my favorite author and I wait all year for his new book. I don't feel that Gabriel is getting too old. Since I am 74 it's a matter of perspective. I like the fact that I know all the characters and feel like I am greeting old friends.