From the Publisher
“The Heist by Silva is nothing short of phenomenal. It is his best work to date. And that is a huge statement since each novel has been unique and marvelous.” — Naples Daily News
“Ingenious.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“The story is a twisting tale of moves and countermoves, and even if this is your introduction to Gabriel Allon, you’ll find the characters in the book come to life.” — Oklahoma City Oklahoman
“Silva has weaved together a story with intrigue, insight, and suspense.” — Crimespree Magazine
“A fun read….In erudition, action and temperament, Silva has made Allon the modern-day covert warrior extraordinaire.” — Kirkus
“Magnificent….This book has all the elements you love about Silva’s writing—his way with a plot, his incomparable characters, and the range of emotions he piles into his pages.” — Huffington Post
“Smart, unpredictable, and packed with bits of history, art, heart, and imagination, this is a page turner to be savored….When it comes to the vast club of practitioners of international spycraft, Silva is a cut above them all, and The English Girl is a masterwork.” — Neal Thompson, Amazon.com on The English Girl
“Although Gabriel’s adventures are set in the real world of greedy politicians and grabs for control of a diminishing supply of natural resources, ‘Israel’s avenging angel’ has the superhuman abilities that make for a satisfying fantasy.” — Columbus Dispatch on The English Girl
“Allon is a great political operative, but Silva is an even greater writer. That is what makes THE ENGLISH GIRL a must read.” — Huffington Post on The English Girl
Kirkus Reviews
2014-07-10
Stalwart Israeli agent Gabriel Allon goes in pursuit of stolen art and uncovers billions of dollars purloined by the Butcher of Damascus in this latest by master spycrafter Silva (The English Girl, 2013, etc.). Allon—part-time art restorer, full-time agent for "the Office," Israel's supersecret spy shop—is working on a Venice restoration project and awaiting the birth of twins with his wife, Chiara. Silva's setup won't confuse new readers. As a bonus, he incorporates a precis on classic art, particularly Caravaggio. Soon appears Gen. Ferrari, a policeman tracking art thefts. Ferrari's a solidly Silva character, not above extorting Allon. A former English diplomat named Bradshaw has been murdered at his Lake Como villa. Ferrari threatens to pin the killing on Allon's friend Isherwood, the art dealer who discovered the body, unless Allon finds the real killer. Rumor has it that Bradshaw, actually a cashiered spy, may have been in possession of Caravaggio's priceless "Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence," missing for decades. Sketching complicated logistics and technical details about nefarious art dealings, Silva finagles the left-turn plot twist that makes him a best-seller: Allon discovers stolen art is being used to hide money for Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator. Allon steals Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" to lure the Butcher's buyer. Next, Allon heads home to Israel, where Office teammates join the fray, complicated by a few "internecine battles." There's growing resentment over Allon being slotted as the next Office chief. With stolen art spotted and the source of the buying spree laid to the Alawite rulers, art geeks take a back seat to computer nerds as the team descends on a private bank in Linz, Austria, to pry loose the Butcher's billions. In erudition, action and temperament, Silva has made Allon the modern-day covert warrior extraordinaire. With "a fallen British spy, a one-eyed Italian policeman, a master art thief, [and] a professional assassin from the island of Corsica," Allon's 14th caper is a fun read.
