Portrait of a Spy

I have read and enjoyed all of the Gabriel Allon books and each year, I eagerly await Daniel Silva's latest offering. Allon is an Israeli agent, and at the start of the book, we find him in seclusion in Cornwall, with his wife and a valuable painting to be restored. On a visit to London, he finds himself drawn once more into action against a terrorist threat, as suicide bombers lurk on the streets of Europe's cities. He is soon lured back into operational duties, working the old American and Israeli friends, to find the person who is financing the attacks. Some of the characters will be familiar if you've read the previous books, although it is perfectly possible to follow the plot and personalities without having done so. These books are exciting and intelligent 21st century thrillers, satisfyingly complex without being overly complicated. Allon has a moral side and wrestles with the demons he has acquired over a lifetime of service of the Israeli security services.This is another very satisfying outing for Gabriel and co. If you like well-written spy fiction and you haven't yet discovered this excellent series, then I envy you. You are in for a treat!

Portrait of a Spy takes on and off again Mossad Agent Gabriel Allon; witness to a coordinated terrorist attack in London back into service of his agency; at the request of the CIA. Brought in from the cold of Cornwall to fix a terrible mistake from their past.Daniel Silva's book is more of a classic spy novel focussed on the characters rather than the technology and battles; it tells the story in a linear fashion with few plot twists the need for a cast of hundreds. Its a study of people and how they live in this world; how a man manages his mission with challenges from friends and foes with a singlehanded determination to put right what once went wrong rather than a pitched build up to constant action that other spy novels bring you. That constant determination to get to the end of the mission carries the reader on to the end.Portrait of a spy was the first Gabriel Allon book I had read and it was good enough that there are a couple queued on my kindle now.

Not read it yet. But its one of the last books in series for me. I love the all spy stories. Daniel Silva tells them well using current and historical events. Totally believeable!Daniel's an american journalist with a background in the middle east. He writes with both sides viewpoint in mind. I think Daniel secretly like his book characters believes that the spy world can heal the past to give us a brighter future. But it won't be easy!!!It's one of the few collections I've read that when I start a book I struggle to put it down. Enjoy.

As always you know what your getting, good page turner, good plot and good characters.Like putting on comfy slippers, it's like coming home. When I need to regain my interest in reading this is where I go they never let me down.

I have read and enjoyed all the Gabriel Allon books, but this one has lain unfinished for over a month. It must be increasingly difficult to inject new life each time into the formula, and maybe it's starting to show. Even so, I was never convinced by the central character and the actions she is persuaded to take.Maybe I need to finish the book to make a fair judgement. I am also puzzled by the lack of reference to a Peace Envoy in the form of an heroic ex-British Prime Minister, who must surely play a central part in solving problems in the Middle East. But I suppose even Daniel Silva couldn't make him up.