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)

Another excellent thriller

So excited for the next book! The author and narrator are fantastic. Keep up the great work!

The best in the series so far

As a Jew, I found the testimony of the Holocaust by ’ Allon’s mother deeply moving. The plot revolved around the testimony, for Radek’s punishment was to tell the truth about the Holocaust, an insistence for which he had killed two of Allon’s mother’s dear friends on the Death March.

Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva

Truly enjoyable read, Silver takes on a very suspenseful journey. A very good read what I really recommend it if you like intrigue and suspense. It took me all of three days to read it. I couldn’t put it down.

Never forget!

German atrocities during WWII are never a pleasant subject to deal with. This novel makes a salient point. You can destroy a people but you will never destroy their need to seek revenge against those that committed these deeds. Silva handles this in a fast paced exciting manner that hits all the right buttons. Gabriel Alon is an agent for Israel whose family was wiped out during the Holocaust. Over fifty years later a friend is murdered in Vienna under suspicious circumstances. This sets into motion an exciting investigation that turns up all of the old hatred.

If you enjoy a vast pace action novel, this should be your cup of tea.

Great book

Great plot, well narrated-this is my second time listening and still enjoyed it very much

couldn't stop listening

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

absolutely would recommend the book. All of my children have listened to it and loved it as well

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

there is certain amount of predictablity in all mystery stories some one always gets in trouble and then has to be rescued. it is the rescue and plots that make it fun. It is nice to read a book that has no graphic sex an no profanity but is still a good read or in my case listen. i look for Desilva's books because I know I will enjoy them and they will not be offensive.

Which scene was your favorite?

I love his art descriptions it is obvious that the author loves art as well

Gabriel Allon at His Best

This is an excellent story. Death in Vienna is one of the earlier books in the Gabriel Allon series. The story of multifaceted with some surprises. A very enjoyable listen.

Another great story

This one touched a special place for me. The horrible, unimaginable things that happened to the Jews were captured by Silva. It was so personal to Gabriel and gives the reader a deeper understanding of him. As always the narrator is fantastic. His ability to be so many characters is outstanding. The writing & the narration are a winning pair.

Great Series!!

I'm totally hooked. It's great to find a series that I haven't read or heard. I enjoy the stories and the narration - even when John Lee's voice of American characters sounds just like Gus Dewer from Ken Follet's The Century Trilogy.
BTW if you have heard or read those - don't miss out.

The background briefs make the book

Learning about Gabriel's mom's experience and her moving first person description of Nazi horrific programs was worth the price of the book. I learned facts I did not know. And understand why Allon is how he is.