The Defector

June 30, 2009
Gabriel Allon, Israeli superagent and government-sanctioned assassin comes out of retirement in Italy to repay a debt of honor. A Russian defector who twice saved Allon's life has been kidnapped and returned to Russia by former KGB thug and illegal arms dealer, Ivan Kharkov, who also kidnaps Allon's new bride, Chiara. A gripping tale of bloody vengeance, spycraft, international finance, and politics ensues. Using the ensemble cast from previous novels, Silva (Moscow Rules) takes the reader on a hair-raising ride through London, Italy, and Moscow.A Verdict Once again, Silva has written a suspenseful novel of espionage, violence, and corruption. His aging Allon is an assassin with a soul. He is tiring of violence; could this be the last Allon novel? One hopes not. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09.]-Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2009
Silvas thrillers bring readers the best of all spy worlds. The action roars along, touching down in both glamorous settings and godforsaken outposts. However, unlike conventional spy novels, whichtend to throw so many locations at readers that the overall effect is like glancing at an airports postings of arrivals and departures, Silva keeps a steady center with his intriguing hero, Gabriel Allon. Allon, whose parents survived the Holocaust, is an artist and specialist in restoring Renaissance paintings. He is also a spy and trained assassin for Israels Special Operations Unit, distinguished for carrying out the most secretive, perilous, and exacting missions. Allon is conflicted over what he does but driven to do it nonetheless. This is the ninth in the series and the sequel to last years Moscow Rules, which explored the murky world of Russian arms dealing. This time Ivan Kharkov, an oligarch and arms dealer, seeks revenge for Allons costly discoveries. The first step in his revenge plan, according to Israeli intelligence, is the kidnapping of a Russian defector in London (which Silva cites as a Russian city). Silva juxtaposes scenes of great beauty, as when he details the Umbrian villa in which Allon does his restoration work, with shuddering scenes of violence. For readers who crave both deft characterization and old-fashioned, spy-novel action.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)