Portrait of a Spy

A Novel

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Haunted by his failure to stop a suicide bomber in London, Gabriel Allon is summoned to Washington and drawn into a confrontation with the new face of global terror. At the center of the threat is an American-born cleric in Yemen who was once a paid CIA asset.

Gabriel and his team devise a daring plan to destroy the network of death - from the inside - a gambit fraught with risk, both personal and professional. To succeed, Gabriel must reach into his violent past. A woman waits there, a reclusive heiress and art collector who can traverse the murky divide between Islam and the West. She is the daughter of an old enemy, and together they form an unlikely and dangerous bond.

Set against the disparate worlds of art and intelligence, Portrait of a Spy moves swiftly from the corridors of power in Washington to the glamorous auction houses of New York and London to the unforgiving landscape of the Saudi desert. Featuring a climax that will leave listeners haunted long after the final words, this deeply entertaining story is also a breathtaking portrait of courage in the face of unspeakable evil - and Daniel Silva's most extraordinary novel to date.

©2011 Daniel Silva (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

When did Gabriel become Russian?

Would you listen to Portrait of a Spy again? Why?

As always a great story about the issues of our times.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Portrait of a Spy?

Gabriel's efforts to stop the suicide bomber in Covent Gardens

How could the performance have been better?

i have been listening to these books in order. This narration has to be the worst! Gabriel sounds Russian! I do not think the new guy did his homework. Bring back Phil Gigante.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No but the theat of terrorism and ease with which they carry out their hateful tasks is frightening.

Predictable but well-narrated

The story is typical of the genre, with the crisis more-or-less predictable. The narration was quite good.

My favorite narrator and favorite author!

I’m listening to the series for a second time and love it just as much as the first time! Brilliant story and brilliant narration! From one narrator to another… fantastic performance Simon!

ALONZO

I'm very glad I didn't read many of the reviews here. I felt the book was a very good, entertaining, and well scoped, the plot was believable, perhaps a little over the top but then that's what thrillers are at times, certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of he book. I felt the narrator was excellent, well done Simon Vance. I found this book hard to put down.

Great book, average recording.

The narrative is wonderful as all Baldacci books are... but the recording is way too heavy on the sound effects which made certain parts seem trite. Dialling them down would have lead to a 5/5 review.

I Wish I Could Be Gabriel Allon

Big fan of Simon Vance, and enjoyed earlier Gabriel Allon stories, so I had to give this one a listen. While it's somewhat formulaic in its plot, the characters in this story are well-drawn, the politics are sufficiently nuanced, and the geographic detail realistic enough to allow even a cynic like me to suspend belief and just get caught up in the adventure and intrigue.

Highly enjoyable.

Great book, fair narration

Loved the book, as I do all Daniel Silva novels. The narration was disappointing. For instance, it makes the CIA analyst Adrian Carter sound like Eeyore on the old Winnie-the-Pooh books. And the narration for Gabriel Allon lacks the depth of pathos rightly brought to the character by Phil Gigante.

Terrific read

One of the best of the Gabriel Allon series. Fast moving and couldn't put it down. Fascinating view of politics in US and the intricacies of the Middle East.

Not The Best Book In The Gabriel Alon Series

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The plot has too many holes and departs too far from any realistic view of the world. Little about the book is believable.

What three words best describe Simon Vance’s voice?

Mature, weak on females

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

Simon Vance is an excellent reader, except his portrayal of Chiarra was misguided. He made her sound like she was an immature, innocent fool, something she is not.

Same Book

This is my last Daniel Silva book. They are all the same now. Basically something about a painting, Gabriel puts someone in harm's way (usually a woman), she gets kidnapped, he trades himself for her, gets beaten, and he survives at the last instant. If you've read any of the others you've read this one. Goodbye Gabriel.