The English Assassin by Daniel Silva Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The English Assassin
Book Review: Weaving a tale around historic fact...
Summary: 4 Stars
The English Assassin by Daniel Silva is the first in his Nazi trilogy featuring the art restorer and part-time Israeli spy, Gabriel Allon.
The Swiss banker, Augustus Rolfe, asks Allon to Switzerland to see about restoring one of his paintings. Allon arrives in Zurich, only to find Rolfe has been murdered only hours before his arrival. Allon then contacts Rolfe's estranged daughter, the famous violinist, Anna Rolfe. She tells Allon of a ridden room in her father's house that contained countless works of art that were confiscated from the Jews by the Nazis during World War II. The paintings seem to have been stolen at the time of the murder. Every time Allon finds a person who might shed some light in solving the murder and recovering the stolen paintings, that person is mysteriously murdered. Allon and Anna must break through a wall of secrecy that surrounds the Swiss bankers to discover the truth.
Silva's books are woven around true facts. In The English Assassin, he recounts how the Swiss helped to finance the Nazi government. Also, Switzerland acted as a "trade center" for art confiscated by the Nazis. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of these works remain hidden in Swiss vaults and in private homes. Swiss laws also make it very difficult for the rightful owners of these works to reclaim them. A professor tells Allon "Switzerland is not a real country. It's a business, and it's run like a business. It has been that way for 700 years."
Silva's books are always entertaining and fast-paced. But The English Assassin also has a surprise twist at the end.
Having already read the third book in this trilogy, A Death in Vienna, I've now started the second book, The Confessor. The Confessor details the role of the Roman Catholic Church in assisting the Nazis, and their lack of effort in protecting European Jews.
Book Review: Where's the spark?
Summary: 3 Stars
Funny how a book can be so well-constructed yet lack the emotional spark to truly involve a reader. Case in point: The English Assassin. The subject matter is compelling, the spycraft believable, the action and pacing fine, the descriptions of Switzerland and the Swiss sharply drawn. But two key relationships--between Gabriel and Anna and Gabriel and the title character--are glancing at best. The way Anna lets Gabriel into her life after being so aloof for so long is unbelievable, and there's precious little interaction to indicate the depth of their eventual relationship. I kept waiting for the pheromones to fly, but that just didn't happen.
Worse, I thought, was the lack of confrontation between Gabriel and the English assassin. Frankly, I felt cheated here. While not looking for a big shootout, I at least expected the two to match wits more directly, some moves and countermoves. My other impression: Gabriel was fortunate that he never had to face the other man, because based on shows of respective skills he was the inferior player.
Book Review: being a true proffesional
Summary: 4 Stars
When an Israeli reads a book about a Mossadnik written by a foreign author, s/he tends to be somewhat doubtful about the accuracy of details in that book; Daniel Silva's research leaves one amazed as well as admiring - the book "the English Assassin" is impeccable as far as creating a truly convincing background for Gabriel Allon the protagonist- the Mossad man as well as the art restorer. Silva even went so far as to use Hebrew terms relating to Mossad (the Israeli secret service) terminology, some of them familiar almost solely to Hebrew speakers, terms he clearly and accurately explains to his English readers, terms which add credibility and enriches the atmosphere he is so successfully creates in this book.When an art curator reads the book, again s/he can only admire, once again the minute details which add other layers of meaning and volume to this book.
The main characters: Allon, Shamron, Anna Rolf, Gerhardt Peterson and the Englishman (as this character is referred to through out most of the book) -
All of them are three-dimensional beings with goals, desires and above all acute professionalism! Each one of these people takes genuine pride in what they do for a living, even if their job is the kind usually frowned upon.
For various reasons the genre of the thriller has been considered (at times rightly so) to be beneath other literary genres, Daniel Silva's writing might help this genre gain back some of the respect it lost.
Book Review: could have been better
Summary: 3 Stars
i love Silva's novels but this one lacked something. First the title is wrong for this book..... dont understand why that tile was chosen. secondly after reading his other books you expect as a reader to be given a decent fast paced ending in my mind he missed the mark.
Lastly the realationships between Gabriel and Anna and gabriel and christopher were only lightly touched upon in the book. As a reader i wanted more depth.
overall the plot was good but the flaws in the novel bring it down to just and average read.