Gabriel Allon is retired from the Israeli secret service, living in a small Cornish village, and restoring a Rembrandt. When he and Chiara (his drop-dead gorgeous wife, de rigeur for international spies) go up to London for a weekend to visit an art gallery, Gabriel sees a suicide bomber heading towards Covent Garden. He tries to intervene and is stopped by the British police. Haunted by his failure and the growing amounts of dead bodies after simultaneous bombs in Paris and Copenhagen, he allows himself to be drawn back into the game.
He and his colleagues from Israel, Britain and America hatch a daring plan—fund a terrorist network, and in so doing gain access to their masterminds and destroy them. But in order to do this, they need to find someone with impeccable jihadist credentials who is actually on their side. They have someone in mind—the only daughter of a multi-millionaire Saudi businessman. Unfortunately, Gabriel is the one who killed her father, in front of her, several years earlier. Why would she now risk her life for their scheme?
Portrait of a Spy is gripping stuff. As Gabriel and team race across continents, visiting desert strongholds in Dubai, safe houses on the shore of Lake Geneva, or CIA-owned apartments in Duluth, Virginia, the stakes ratchet up. There’s plenty of frustration between the different nationalities and their governments, plenty of interference from the “suits” who aren’t on the ground and don’t understand potential results. There’s definitely some bias, which may or may not bother you.
Portrait of a Spy is well-done for its genre. It’s the sort of book that is perfect for the beach or an airplane ride—good plot, keeps moving, characters fleshed out and interesting enough to make you care about them. This was my first book by Daniel Silva, but it’s the 11th in this series about Gabriel Allon. It stands alone.
I’m thrilled to announce that we have a copy to give away! Just leave a comment below to be entered to win. The winner will be announced on April 4th. This giveaway is now closed.
- The winner of Losing Clementine is #8 Cindy Brooks.
- The winner of the Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life DVD is #16 RiTa.
- The winner of the Vincent Shadow books is #4 RiTa (believe it or not!!)
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Elizabeth enjoys a wide variety of genres, from international spy thrillers to classic literature. Read more at her blog Planet Nomad.
Margaret says
This sounds like a great book! I’d love to read it!
Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
rica berg says
Sounds interesting! Would love a copy!
Barb says
Sounds perfect for an airplane ride!
Elizabeth says
Then I hope you’ve got an airplane ride coming up, because you won! Congrats! Please send us your mailing address.
Jenn says
This does sound like an interesting book, one my husband and I both would enjoy.
Marjorie says
Sounds like an interesting mystery and I would love to read it.
Beth C says
I’d really enjoy this book. Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Alison S. says
This looks like a fun book!
Dianne says
I really enjoy reading Mr. Silva’s books. Thanks for the giveaway.
Carol M says
This sounds like a book I would enjoy! Thank you for the giveaway!
paige says
Fun story. Count me in.
Joy says
Sounds good 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity.
Tammy Gordon says
sounds like a good book!
Liz says
Have read some of this series but not in order. Would like to read the latest.
Natalia says
Would like to win this book.
John says
Sounds interesting, count me in!
Cindi says
It sounds like a fast paced, action
plot…
Love it!
Many thanks, Cindi
Mary Preston says
PORTRAIT OF A SPY does look like a great read thank you.
Jeff says
Will read for sure.
Linda Kish says
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Dianne says
Really enjoy his books and would love to have this one to read.
Patricia says
Would love to win this one.
nan says
LOVE this series. Thanks for the giveaway!
Angela E. says
Please enter me, thanks