Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva

It was supposed to be the start of a pleasant weekend in London for master art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon and his wife, Chiara. But a deadly pair of bombings in Paris and Copenhagen has already marred this lovely autumn day. Then, before he can stop a man he suspects is about to launch a third attack in Covent Garden, Gabriel is knocked to the pavement—and he can only watch helplessly as the nightmare unfolds.

The haunting memory of his failure to stop the massacre of innocents is still fresh when Gabriel is summoned to Washington—and plunged into a deadly confrontation with the new face of global terror. An elusive American- born cleric in Yemen—once a paid CIA asset whom Allah has granted "a beautiful and seductive tongue"—stands at the center of the explosive plague of death and destruction. And the worst is yet to come . . .

MY THOUGHTS
This is the eleventh book in the Gabriel Allon series.  It can be read as a stand-alone novel, but with the cast of characters, and Allon's backstory, I urge you to go back and read from the beginning.  I've skipped a few books before this one.  Although it was pretty easy to fill in the blanks and catch up, I'd prefer to have read them first.

Allon, spy/assassin and art restorer, has been trying to retire with his wife, the beautiful Chiara.  But it's not become reality yet.  Gabriel is drawn back into Washington in a war against a global terrorist who will stop at nothing to get his desires.

With political aspirations, intriguing characters, fast-paced and exciting, Portrait of a Spy is not to be missed by Silva fans.  Not only does he take us with his characters from Washington, to the Saudi Arabian desert to the luxurious auction houses in London, but he does it with flair and courage.  Global terrorism is real and Silva holds back nothing in this exciting and thrilling installment.  Definitely don't miss it!

 ABOUT DANIEL
He has been called his generation’s finest writer of international intrigue and one of the greatest American spy novelists ever. Compelling, passionate, haunting, brilliant: these are the words that have been used to describe the work of award-winning #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva.  http://danielsilvabooks.com




* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Wendy