Action & Adventure
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The Cellist: A Novel (Gabriel Allon, 21)
#1 New York Times Bestseller
"The pace of "The Cellist" never slackens as its action volleys from Zurich to Tel Aviv to Paris and beyond. Mr. Silva tells his story with zest, wit and superb timing, and he engineers enough surprises to startle even the most attentive reader."-Wall Street Journal
From Daniel Silva, the internationally acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author, comes a timely and explosive new thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon.
Viktor Orlov had a longstanding appointment with death. Once Russia's richest man, he now resides in splendid exile in London, where he has waged a tireless crusade against the authoritarian kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin. His mansion in Chelsea's exclusive Cheyne Walk is one of the most heavily protected private dwellings in London. Yet somehow, on a rainy summer evening, in the midst of a global pandemic, Russia's vengeful president finally manages to cross Orlov's name off his kill list.
Before him was the receiver from his landline telephone, a half-drunk glass of red wine, and a stack of documents.…
The documents are contaminated with a deadly nerve agent. The Metropolitan Police determine that they were delivered to Orlov's home by one of his employees, a prominent investigative reporter from the anti-Kremlin Moskovskaya Gazeta. And when the reporter slips from London hours after the killing, MI6 concludes she is a Moscow Center assassin who has cunningly penetrated Orlov's formidable defenses.
But Gabriel Allon, who owes his very life to Viktor Orlov, believes his friends in British intelligence are dangerously mistaken. His desperate search for the truth will take him from London to Amsterdam and eventually to Geneva, where a private intelligence service controlled by a childhood friend of the Russian president is using KGB-style "active measures" to undermine the West from within. Known as the Haydn Group, the unit is plotting an unspeakable act of violence that will plunge an already divided America into chaos and leave Russia unchallenged. Only Gabriel Allon, with the help of a brilliant young woman employed by the world's dirtiest bank, can stop it.
Elegant and sophisticated, provocative and daring, The Cellist explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West today-the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia. It is at once a novel of hope and a stark warning about the fragile state of democracy. And it proves once again why Daniel Silva is regarded as his generation's finest writer of suspense and international intrigue.
"The pace of "The Cellist" never slackens as its action volleys from Zurich to Tel Aviv to Paris and beyond. Mr. Silva tells his story with zest, wit and superb timing, and he engineers enough surprises to startle even the most attentive reader."-Wall Street Journal
From Daniel Silva, the internationally acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author, comes a timely and explosive new thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon.
Viktor Orlov had a longstanding appointment with death. Once Russia's richest man, he now resides in splendid exile in London, where he has waged a tireless crusade against the authoritarian kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin. His mansion in Chelsea's exclusive Cheyne Walk is one of the most heavily protected private dwellings in London. Yet somehow, on a rainy summer evening, in the midst of a global pandemic, Russia's vengeful president finally manages to cross Orlov's name off his kill list.
Before him was the receiver from his landline telephone, a half-drunk glass of red wine, and a stack of documents.…
The documents are contaminated with a deadly nerve agent. The Metropolitan Police determine that they were delivered to Orlov's home by one of his employees, a prominent investigative reporter from the anti-Kremlin Moskovskaya Gazeta. And when the reporter slips from London hours after the killing, MI6 concludes she is a Moscow Center assassin who has cunningly penetrated Orlov's formidable defenses.
But Gabriel Allon, who owes his very life to Viktor Orlov, believes his friends in British intelligence are dangerously mistaken. His desperate search for the truth will take him from London to Amsterdam and eventually to Geneva, where a private intelligence service controlled by a childhood friend of the Russian president is using KGB-style "active measures" to undermine the West from within. Known as the Haydn Group, the unit is plotting an unspeakable act of violence that will plunge an already divided America into chaos and leave Russia unchallenged. Only Gabriel Allon, with the help of a brilliant young woman employed by the world's dirtiest bank, can stop it.
Elegant and sophisticated, provocative and daring, The Cellist explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West today-the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia. It is at once a novel of hope and a stark warning about the fragile state of democracy. And it proves once again why Daniel Silva is regarded as his generation's finest writer of suspense and international intrigue.
Editorial Reviews
"The pace of The Cellist never slackens as its action volleys from Zurich to Tel Aviv to Paris and beyond. Mr. Silva tells his story with zest, wit and superb timing, and he engineers enough surprises to startle even the most attentive reader." -- Wall Street Journal
"Expertly crafted …. The best spy story of the year." -- Bob Woodward
"This book has a twist that is sure to give you chills." -- Today Show
"Few reading experiences bring me more joy than opening up the new Gabriel Allon novel every summer." -- CrimeReads
"Akin to a diabolical game of chess, The Cellist is a sophisticated voyage through the world of concert halls, art museums, lavish receptions and the occasional chase scene-all delivered with Silva's crafty dry wit and innuendo." -- Bookreporter.com
"Expertly crafted …. The best spy story of the year." -- Bob Woodward
"This book has a twist that is sure to give you chills." -- Today Show
"Few reading experiences bring me more joy than opening up the new Gabriel Allon novel every summer." -- CrimeReads
"Akin to a diabolical game of chess, The Cellist is a sophisticated voyage through the world of concert halls, art museums, lavish receptions and the occasional chase scene-all delivered with Silva's crafty dry wit and innuendo." -- Bookreporter.com
Readers Top Reviews
Tabula Rasa
I liked this book. It's well-written and keeps you interested. It also has an interesting coda with a small twist near the end. But the main plot thread is overly familiar, and it takes quite a long time to play itself out. Very little happens from the beginning of the con operation until it ends. And we've seen it before too many times. It's basically' The Sting', updated for a digital age and set in the world of international intelligence. And there's yet another repeat of the brilliant female professional recruited into Gabriel's world to help with a mission, and exposed to great danger, although curiously, this time Gabriel doesn't seem that agonized over the danger she is in. Still better than most such books, but a bit mundane in comparison to Silva's others. I have to say he ties hte plot to recent developments in US politics quite well and gives a very clear (and scary) summary of Russian involvement in it. Its heart is in the right place.
S. L. Van ScoyocIan
...but I guess that what happens you let your spouse write the story for you. He didn't really die, but he has in my library. Big letters on his file "DECEASED". Like many of the other reviewers I was abruptly interrupted throughout the story by grating, fingernail-on-chalkboard alerts that, as it turns out were virtue signalling by Silva et.al. Added to that, a story line that seemed lifted from the Guardian newspaper and I have to admit getting so lost I had to frequently check to see what book I was reading. Entire chapters seemed to slip by without even a glimpse of Gabriel. The 24 hour news feed was up and running telling me what to think. I got the feeling, as I waded this treacle, that it had been largely written by a Guardian columnist and, much to my surprise and, perhaps relief, the author gushed praise about the work of his wife who wrote entire chapters, making no effort to conceal her own profession as an opinion writer for CNN or, indeed, her opinions. At least, in the end, it was all explained to me. I needed to read some Ross Macdonald just regain my own sense of balance and what a novel is actually about. Shame about Gabriel. He hardly appeared in this one. In fact, I didn't come accross anyone I actually cared about in this one, including him. Now I'm really nervous about waiting for the 26th of October to see what Jack Reacher is up to and whether Lee Child has disappeared down the same slippery slope...
Lucie
*spoiler alert* Already the first sentence takes you to skilfully crafted world of Gabriel Allon masterfully created by Daniel Silva. Silva once again proves why he's nr. 1 New York Time Bestselling Author. He mastered the way to mix the fiction with facts in a such a way that will leave you thinking where the facts and the fiction starts. Mr. Silva is known for taking inspiration in todays events so it doesn’t come as a surprise the story is being affected by coronavirus or the riot that happened in the US on 6th January. The riot changed the ending of the book, which Silva mentioned, but it would surprise me if he didn’t add it to the book. It sits nicely with the mix of facts and fiction. Isabel was a lovely addition to the family. I like brave heroine who is capable of taking care of herself but also doesn’t hide her fear. Going against Russia is very brave. I enjoyed her storyline and hopefully we will see her again some time in the future. Plus, there is never enough of the cello. Also, it’s wonderful to see Gabriel restoring a painting. Restoration is a huge part of the series and although it is sometimes put in the background, it is still there. And as usual, restoration has been done in whirlwind, yet still nicely described. I’m glad Silva is brining back characters from the past books, this time especially Anna Rolfe. It’s been a long time since her first appearance and it’s been great to see her again. And St. Martin is getting more regular than I thought possible when I encountered him the first time. The one character I’ve missed was Adrian, though. I loved the last message Gabriel left behind as it’s obvious he’s becoming more and more like Ari. That was a nice touch. Both of them are eternal. Now, I’m back to the waiting. Always the waiting.
