The Secret Servant (Gabriel Allon Book 7)

The ending you always hope for. Silva tells the arab israeli story from both sides. Shines a much needed light on the conflict and the expanding worldwide threat.

Audio - Review of Secret ServantPlot - Quick, flowing, until the very end, the bit about the wedding could have been left out or confined to a quick five or ten minute, at the most a short chapter. It was nice to know they finally did get married but the details, I found to be unnecessary.The story was not only timely but also very realistic; the course of events could have easily been written in any newspaper. But we the reader or listener, get to hear or read all those little details that couldn't be released to the public. There's something tantalizing about knowing the details that the author stated that were not released in any official document. Pretend that only you and the characters are privy (along with the thousands of other people who read the book) to the book's `For Your Eyes Only' information.Characters - I will definitely read or listen to more books in the series. I loved the characters. I found the fact that the main character not only serves in an intelligence role but is able to maintain a separate and normal existence as an art restorer as a relief to all those other one dimensional James Bond types. Gabriel Allon, the main character is perfect for the simple reason he isn't. He has to do what he has to do. He is not without feelings but he knows when and where those feeling are appropriate. He's not some young stud that runs around bedding women without a second thought; he has an ex-wife with major problems, though I wasn't sure of details. But still it's wasn't dismal, sad but it didn't drown in self-pity. I plan to go back and read the rest of the books in the series after I read Moscow Rules. He's a man who's lost a child, a grown son, so you know he's not some young whippersnapper. He's intelligent, well organized, a man that you want to know, at least as an art restorer.The majority of the rest of the characters were well rounded, enjoyable and at times, scary. I wanted to know more about the characters and not just the good guys. It would be nice to learn what happened to them after the book ended which to me indicated an emotional investment that I developed for the characters. The use of characters were perfect, some had small but crucial roles.Settings - Wonderfully described, detailed without being boring or slowing the story down.Narrator - Excellent, I enjoyed the narrator's work a great deal, while the voices of the females character were not perfect, they within a tolerant range. It's not easy for a man to do a female voice without it sounding awful or laughable. Don't get me wrong it's no better for a female doing a male voice. It is truly an art when a narrator can nail the voice of a character of the opposite sex.Bottom line, a fantastic book with great characters and a terrific story.

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 continuing the restoration of fine artwork, mostly belonging to the Catholic church, which he regards as his major occupation. Once again, however, he is recalled from his private life to answer the call of the Israeli secret service, for which he is one of their best agents and most fearless assassins.Sent to the Netherlands to investigate the death of a Dutch terrorism expert, who also provided secret information to Israel, Allon finds himself once again drawn into the search for Islamic terrorists. When he inspects the agent's computer, he uncovers information suggesting a plot to set off bombs in the center of London, at which point he contacts British and American intelligence---too late to prevent the kidnapping of Elizabeth Halton, the physician-daughter of the American ambassador, who has been jogging with friends. Allon executes several of those involved in the abduction, most from "Londonistan," but others escape, taking Elizabeth with them.As Gabriel tries to rescue Elizabeth before she can be used as part of a dramatic "statement" which the terrorists plan for central London, Silva examines the security agencies throughout Europe, finding them dangerously wanting and ill-equipped to deal with home-grown terrorists, who keep Elizabeth moving in a car throughout Europe in an effort to avoid being located by satellite or cellphone. With the aid of a devout Muslim who had been helping the murdered Dutch expert, Gabriel tries to discover and capture the mastermind before it is too late.More traditional and a bit more predictable in its primary action than some of Silva's other thrillers, THE SECRET SERVANT winds up in a blockbuster scene, filled with fireworks, and then adds a final section in which the reader is allowed glimpses into Allon's personal life, complete with moments of humor (a rare commodity in this series). Silva's ten years as a journalist and his job as UPI's Middle East correspondent in the early 1990s hold him in good stead here as he tells his story with realistic details and credible motivations. As is always the case, Silva entertains the reader at the same time that he reveals the fragility of peace in the face of those who wish to conquer the world. n Mary Whipple The English Assassin The Marching Season A Death in Vienna The Confessor The Messenger

I did not particularly care for the ending.Some parts were tedious but still worth the read. Some are really not plausible.

I am on book ten. Need I say more. Ok. The books are so well written with a bit of non fiction thrown in which give a bit of insight into the Middle East. However, nothing political. Just good old super spy assassin thrillers.

The Secret Servant is no doubt a work of fiction, but unlike its predecessors it has become at least in part a fulfilled prophecy. One of the points in the story is the uneasy alliance between the Egyptian’s governments from the 1970s till this date with the radical factions of Islam. It was pointed out in the book that someday Mubarak’s regime would be removed and replaced by an Islamic republic and that became a reality not long ago. What is uncanny is that Silva spoke about the Muslim Brotherhood as potential successors for Mubarak, among many others no doubt, and that also became true.In The Secret Servant Gabriel becomes a hostage of jihadists and is brought to his knees by way of beatings and drugs. What makes Gabriel so different from other secret agents in literature is that Gabriel is not a superhero; he is utterly human, he makes mistakes, he gets into sticky situations way too often and has to be rescued by his team, he bleeds and he gets beaten so badly he needs months to recover. In this installment Gabriel questions the morality of the tactics he uses to extract information from his sources and his vulnerability becomes palpable.

In true Silva style this is another great read and once again had me staying up late as I got engrossed in the story.

Daniel Silva es un excelente escritor del género suspenso y aventura. Su lectura es sencilla y fluida. Te mantiene cautivo capítulo tras capítulo !

It was the first time that I read a book with Kindle. The Secret Servant is my ninth book by Daniel Silva. I enjoyed them all.Louise Beauchemin.

Excellent read but with a few too many twists. Ending could have been stronger. It needed more detail showing how Gabriel got the Sphinx.

Very enjoyable as always with Gabriel Allon.

Bewertet Silva mit toller Story und Einblicken in die welt der Geheimdienste .Fesselnde Figur mit allen Nuancen des menschlichen Seins