The English Girl

Gabriel Allon, Book 13

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Daniel Silva delivers another spectacular thriller starring Gabriel Allon, The English Girl. When a beautiful young British woman vanishes on the island of Corsica, a prime minister’s career is threatened with destruction. Allon, the wayward son of Israeli intelligence, is thrust into a game of shadows where nothing is what it seems...and where the only thing more dangerous than his enemies might be the truth.…

Silva’s work has captured the imagination of millions worldwide; his number-one New York Times best-selling series, which chronicles the adventures of art-restorer and master spy Gabriel Allon, has earned the praise of listeners and reviewers everywhere. This captivating new pause-resister from the undisputed master of spy fiction is sure to thrill new and old fans alike.

©2013 Daniel Silva (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

A Positive Leap Back to Earlier Allon Novels!

I pre-ordered & finished reading/listening to this book not too long ago & was extremely happy with Silva's mew addition to the 'Gabriel Allon' series... Before I get into the review I want to send out my condolences & absolute shock at another's authors death in this similar writing genre... Vince Flynn will be missed & know after the next planned release of his last book before he died 'The Survivor' will be the last time we will truly read Rapp without another persons view, I just hope they don't turn it to absolute horrid ends similar to what happened to Jason Bourne, & all Robert Ludlums projects & legacy post death. Sorry for the tangent but the R.I.P. had to be written & I thought this would be a fitting place to put it in.

On to the book... The reason I enjoyed this book so thoroughly is because:

1. I felt the last few books (perhaps 3 out of 4) were not completely in line with the history of how Allon operates even though the books still ranged from pretty good to a great read. Too much Vatican, similar motives, etc... but it seems Silva is back to stories similar to 'Death in Vienna', 'Prince of Fire', etc... in my opinion a couple of his best novels. Part of the reason is because I read a more passionate, optimistic & wittier version of the Gabriel we know versus the one trapped in all the ghosts of past missions whether they were successful or not... I felt he was caught in a overall melancholy look on life & everything in it, not in this book!

2. A past character makes a major cameo in helping Allon, a person u would not think he would approach & what will happen when they interact & his 'partner' interacts within the country & his fellow countrymen he no longer acknowledges nor cares about?

3. The Allon series is not the same with many other series because Mossad or whoever is Allon is representing always involves a team... no entire 'lone rangers' compared to the 'one-man is an army' men-teal as Rapp (once again I cry for the series, Rapp is among the best if not my favorite counter-terrorism boogeyman). Allon & Mossad in general always has people that have purely one specific purpose, such as reconnaissance or target tracking, researchers that can be field operatives, triggerman or in Silva's description 'Allon without a conscience,' plus others that all work together to achieve the mission. Obviously Gabriel is the man moving the levers while in the field who always gives him the sense of team leader without ever having anyone even question this. I felt in the past few books their use was limited or called in after things happened to mop up. In this book u get to see all parts, Allon as a lone wolf & Allon within the constructs of his trusted team who Silva has done a great job creating in-depth backgrounds for by melding true history with some historical fiction.

4. The spy-craft we've come to love with Silva & Allon, there is a huge difference between the way a character like Gabriel Allon works & Mitch Rapp works (for anyone know doesn't know who Rapp is, read Flynn, Rapp is by far my favorite but that's because its almost like a recruiting book for readers who want to see how an operative can seriously 'bring the pain'). Rapp is similar but much more in ur face, systematically dismantling the opponent with extreme prejudice. Gabriel plays the espionage-counter espionage game, the 'cloak & dagger' fight with flair & a masters touch, just like the touch he uses when he restores art, the cover & work he could do at the top professional level even without any help from Mossad or any ABC agency.

I could go on about the subject of diff. characters from diff. authors for much longer but this is obv. about this particular book & not a discussion on Gabriel's specific prowess comparably speaking to other characters. I think it came to the surface mostly because of what happened to Flynn's untimely death & the noticeable change I saw between the last few books & how this book made a change that I felt was a positive movement. As the book starts all seems to be pointed on some type of hostage situation, but everything quickly disintegrates creating an iceberg like story, a small part of it on the surface but a huge portion under water, or in this case, the 'Russian/KGB' underbelly. There are many re-occurring characters friendly & deadly as Allon travels all over the world from England to Russia to find out who will feel his wrath but his character & team always ensures the reader knows that no well laid out plan ever survives 1st contact with the enemy. Its how they improvise, adapt, & finally overcome! The plot twits are done well & just like with all his books u feel the bruises he both gets & delivers... I couldn't put this book down or in this case I was always looking for a place to finish listening to the story, its just too bad the stories of many of these great authors are so quick when they are well written. Silva also ensures to involve a storyline with real world geo-political issues. Kudos to Silva for writing a superb book after a few above average ones that is almost re-creating Gabriel because his future is truly open to anything. Plus I don't need to mention Guidall is one of the best narrators... all of it equals a well written & entertaining espionage book.

A great step in the Allon saga

13 times I've walked beside Gabriel Allon. Never perfect, never indestructible, always honourable and consistently brilliant. Allon is a hero for an adult. He falls, he fails and he strives and he wins.

Considering the history, there are two long anticipated outcomes pending, not yet delivered. This is one of my very favourite Gabriel Allon stories. It's written in three parts, the first two stand alone, and the final is the way a wrap up should be done.

Daniel Silva's characters are real, they're believable, and his insight into how the professional service agent's mind works is very compelling. We are so accustomed to western heroes being American or British, the slight Israeli provides a nice balance and his humanity makes him a joy to read and encourages anticipation for the next story.

Daniel Silva's Allon is not James Bond, he is not any of the Seal/Ranger/Force Recon/SAS/SBS/Delta warriors. He is an artist, and art restorer, who also happens to be the best that Mossad fields. If you've never read Silva, you're missing a great deal, but start at #1 and work through the series. You'll be very glad you did.

That God for Guidall

The writing is very good and since the publisher got wise and brought back George Guidall I can highly recommend this book.
My advice: skip the books in the series that don't use Guidall as the narrator.

Intriguing story.

It has a rather slow start and there are so many names and characters introduced that it's hard to keep track of whose who. However, the story itself is compelling and a very good one to listen to.

Daniel Silva at his best !

Mr Silva has written many wonderful books and I'm happy to say I've enjoyed them all. The English Girl is one of his best.

One of the best

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. it ranks with the best of the series.

Best of the series so far!

Loved it. I can't get enough of Gabriel Allon. excellent narration as assual. thank you.

This should be a movie

Vivid characterizations and action move this story along. It makes me want to know the characters better and see how they get along in their lives. I highly recommend this audiobook. It is even better the second time around.

Thriller of the year!

Daniel Silver really excels with this book, I think it's the best book I have heard this year. The narration helps, George is like honey to the ears. A beautifully balanced story full of intrigue, twists and turns. A must for thriller / spy fans.

Absolutely Great Listen

The English Girl was well worth the wait. I can't seem to get enough of Daniel Silva's writing and the excellent narration of George Guidall.

Gabriel Allon needs help from the man who lives on the island of Corsica. Allon realizes that the Prime Minister of England wants no scandal. He has been having an affair with The English Girl and if she is not found and tells her story, will he lose the confidence of the voters? If she were to be found dead, as her captor's have been instructed, wouldn't that make all things easier? But who has hired these thugs and why? Gabriel will find answers.

Gabriel Allon has gotten older in mind and spirit but he does continue to enjoy the thrill of being a master spy and the art restorer. Although he says he is done with working for the Office, when called he cannot turn away from knowing his destination in life. He will always want to know the story behind the crime. Allon is a gentle man at heart but cannot quell his need to make that which is wrong to be made right and consequences be dammed.

The characters are very well developed. George Guidall has given life to the character's. The reader will know who is talking. The feeling's of that person will be well understood. Would I recommend this book to other's, absolutely.