Gabriel Allon, art restorer and occasional spy, searches for a stolen masterpiece by Caravaggio in #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva’s latest action-packed tale of high stakes international intrigue.Sometimes the best way to find a stolen masterpiece is to steal another one . . . Master novelist Daniel Silva has thrilled readers with sixteen thoughtful and gripping spy novels … with sixteen thoughtful and gripping spy novels featuring a diverse cast of compelling characters and ingenious plots that have taken them around the globe and back—from the United States to Europe, Russia to the Middle East. His brilliant creation, Gabriel Allon—art restorer, assassin, spy—has joined the pantheon of great fictional secret agents, including George Smiley, Jack Ryan, Jason Bourne, and Simon Templar.
Following the success of his smash hit The English Girl, Daniel Silva returns with another powerhouse of a novel that showcases his outstanding skill and brilliant imagination, and is sure to be a must read for both his multitudes of fans and growing legions of converts.
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I really enjoyed this book! First of all, I’m crazy about Silva’s character/hero, Gabriel Allon, the Mossad spy/art restorer. The unlikely combination of killer/artist alone makes him one of the more interesting characters ever imagined. This is only my second Silva book, however, I’m completely hooked. I was an art history major in college and consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about the history of art. Silva never misses a beat on the subject, whether it be the actual procedure and science of restoration or the provenance of a work of art. His knowledge of art is only secondary to his expertise on the secret Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.
In this book, the mystery revolves around a murder and art theft. The painting in question is one of the most notable thefts ever, a Baroque masterpiece by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Needless to say, Silva takes us on a journey around the world as Gabriel is coerced into solving the crime. Mr. Silva should be following me as I too have written an art-thriller adventure about Caravaggio and the theft of the Nativity.
No need to worry about the success of this book or any other by Silva. Just sit back, read and enjoy!
This was my first Daniel Silva book and it won’t be my last. I have just ordered the first two of this Gabriel Allon series from my bookstore as I need to go back to the beginning. You know a book is good when book 14 of a series not only intrigues you, but compels you to start fresh.
Love, love Gabriel Allon!
I haven’t tried a secular book by a male author in a while because they typically contain offensive language and crude situations. But when this audiobook was among the few that were available while our local library is being remodeled, I was intrigued by the unusual mix of an artist and spy in the main character, and decided to try it. It was a fortunate choice! I was grateful to finally find a secular book I could recommend to my Christian friends.
This is my first Daniel Silva novel and my first introduction to Gabriel Allon, legendary spy, artist, and art restorer. As you might expect from such a unique personality, Gabriel is efficient and direct, yet has an insightful and tender side. The other characters in the novel are interesting and contribute unique qualities and skills that culminate in the largest Heist in history. From the beginning as the plot develops, it seems risky but focused. Then, it becomes complicated as a plan fails.
As a reader, I grew to love books with a large cast of characters and vast settings when I devoured Jane Austen novels, but some readers find this confusing and this is not a book for them. Readers must be willing to slow down and pay attention to this story. Also, as an author, I can appreciate Silva’s need to include a lot of background for Gabriel because some readers, like me, are picking up this novel without any experience with the rest of the series. However, I still think there were a lot of ways this story could have been shorter, to its benefit. Scenes and details that didn’t help the story bogged down the pace and spoiled the anticipation.
Overall, I enjoyed this unique story idea and it was satisfying. I deeply appreciate the author keeping it clean so I could experience the book and recommend it! (I have never understood why authors limit their audience by being offensive). The Heist by Daniel Silva should be a good novel for readers who like sophisticated plots, intellectual subject matter, intrigue and suspense, spy adventures, and the satisfaction of seeing wrongs set right.
I listened to this story via an unabridged audiobook version performed by George Guidall.
The Heist is a great book which is part of a great series. The characters are interesting, the espionage is amazing.
Great Read!
As usual, Daniel Silva has thrust Gabriel Allon, the Israeli super spy, and his team into an intricate plot involving stolen masterpieces, murder and a Syrian financier. If you enjoy well-written spy thrillers, Silva’s Gabriel Allon series are well worth your time.
Brilliant!
Action packed and keeps you guessing
Excellent book like all his others.
Daniel Silva is by far my favorite author. I highly recommend his riveting Gabriel Allon series. I do recommend that you read them in order in order to fully understand Gabriel and his impressive team’s stories.
Might contain spoilers.
Silva is never one to give the reader a break. He starts his novel The Heist with a scene that seems innocent enough (unless you’ve read some of his other works), but within a few paragraphs has you devouring each page while taking you on a wild ride through Europe, the Middle East and all the art museums in between.
The Heist opens with the brutal murder of an art thief, so naturally Israeli spy extraordinaire and master classic art restorer Gabriel Allon is taxed with finding out who killed him. And where are the paintings he stole?
The title refers to Allon staging a theft of a Van Gogh from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. He creates an exact replica of the painting and puts it on the black market to flesh out the murderer.
Of course, Silva doesn’t stick with a mere art thief and a couple of murders. Soon, Allon and his team uncover huge sums of money generated from the theft, trafficking and selling of priceless pieces of art. Billions of dollars are hidden in bank accounts all over the globe to keep a tyrannical regime in power, and rolling in the dough while keeping its citizens in poverty and oppressed by the military.
Although a great story, I felt it wasn’t as good as some of his previous works. The final solution is a little disappointing but I suppose we can’t become complacent. There is still an element of satisfaction that the little fish didn’t get away, even if the big fish does.
I enjoy Silva’s work even though he violates writers’ rules against adding data dumps, however, interesting and the intrusive narrator. He keeps his stories fast passed despite these sins(?).
Not his best…Gabriel Allon is getting to be a frayed character and I think it is time for Silva to think about retiring him and writing about some new, less shop worn character.
I always love the novels featuring this character and his adventures as a spy. I have listened to most as audiobooks– they are really well done.
I have read all of his books which I love!
Gabriel is one of the best characters around. I have read the whole series and can’t wait for the next book! I love running across Europe and learning about art. All characters are well developed and are the best!