A Death in Vienna

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Joining the ranks of Graham Greene and John le Carre, the newest master of international suspense, Daniel Silva has crafted a novel of astonishing intricacy and intelligence.

Sent to Vienna to authenticate a painting, the art restorer and sometime spy Gabriel Allon is sidetracked by a photograph that throws his world upside-down. Could it really be the face of a man who during the last days of World War II had brutalized his mother on the Death March from Auschwitz?

Questions abound when Allon, driven by an intensity he had not felt in years, begins to investigate, discovering in the process that the hunt for one man is a hunt for many-and a network of unimaginable evil spanning sixty years.

©2004 Daniel Silva (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"John Lee gives a masterful performance.... All the accents, from Italian to German, sound perfect.... And his pacing is excellent, always in tune with the action. A riveting narration." (AudioFile)

"[A] world-class practitioner of spy fiction.... Silva writes with style, economy and a sure command of the historical record…a skillful novelist who does justice to the often heartbreaking material without exploiting it." (The Washington Post Book World)

"Superbly crafted narrative of espionage and foreign intrigue....Action and suspense abound, but this is serious fiction with a serious purpose." (Publishers Weekly)

"Daniel Silva has now indisputably joined the ranks of Graham Greene and John le Carre." (Chicago Tribune)

Israeli Spies

Daniel Silva writes a great story. His series about an Israeli spy rings true in today's political/news events climate. There are more clever twists and turns than I can remember--a good reason to read it again. And buy the next in the series. Maybe he will have a son to follow in his footsteps? :)

Awesome listen

This one hooked me from the first ten minutes. The Narrator is a perfect match for this book. Excellent job. The story told by Gabriel Allons' mother is an amazing bit of writing. I was a little confused of the names of the characters, but rewinding helped. Listen....you may learn something.

Excellent Listen

Not sure i've read all of the "Gabriel Allon" series, but several, and enjoyed them all. (This was my first on audio.) I think i liked this one the best; Gabriel seemed a little less distant, Shamron more involved, and the subject matter was intriging, with both personal and global interests. As to the narration, it was one of the best i've heard, with very real "feeling" accents over varied nationalities. An excellent listen all around.

a death in vienna

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it after I listened to it on audio. The reader is superb.

Great book. Terrible performance

I am a great fan of Daniel Silva and his books. This story is powerful and well written. In addition to possessing the plot and pace of a great spy thriller, the narrative of Nazi atrocities is detailed and haunting, and adds a realistic dimension to the book. John Lee’s performance, however, is very bad. All the accents are wrong, as if he has never heard any of the languages he’s trying to emulate. His performance ends up being distracting and doesn’t add value to the narrative. What a shame.

GOOD STORY TERRIBLE NARRATOR

Would you consider the audio edition of A Death in Vienna to be better than the print version?

YES BUT WITH A DIFFERENT NARRATOR

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

YES,BUT HARD TO LISTEN TO

What didn’t you like about John Lee’s performance?

NO ONE TALKS LIKE THAT

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NO, HARD TO LISTEN TO THAT VOICE

Any additional comments?

LOVE ALL OF SILVA'S BOOKS BUT WISH GEORGE GUIDALL WOULD NARRATE

Excellent Allon.

One of my favorite Silva novels so far. Passionate and painful events recalled, but so very significant. Great reader too.

Silva vs. Holocaust

Daniel Silva once again through his character Gabriel Allon tackles history and the Nazi's extermination of the Jews. It is one of the most touching and sensitive expositions of what happened to ordinary people.

Im loving Silva's writing style

Have known about Silva's books for a while but never got round to reading any. Started the Allon series recently and I cant pit them down. Now i know what all the fuss is about!! Also love the historical accuracy!!

Good potboiler.

What did you love best about A Death in Vienna?

Excellent narration by John Lee.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Sturmbanfuher seemed very real. That doesn't mean I like the guy, but people like that, and they do exist, are very fascinating.

What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pace, his voice, the characters voices, gravitas.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The mother's written testimony.