The Fallen Angel: Gabriel Allon, Book 12

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

After narrowly surviving his last operation, Gabriel Allon, the wayward son of Israeli intelligence, has taken refuge behind the walls of the Vatican, where he is restoring one of Caravaggio's greatest masterpieces. But early one morning, he is summoned to St. Peter's Basilica by Monsignor Luigi Donati, the all-powerful private secretary to his Holiness Pope Paul VII. The body of a beautiful woman lies broken beneath Michelangelo's magnificent dome.

The Vatican police suspect suicide, though Gabriel believes otherwise. So, it seems, does Donati. But the monsignor is fearful that a public inquiry might inflict another scandal on the Church, and so he calls upon Gabriel to quietly pursue the truth - with one caveat.

"Rule number one at the Vatican," Donati said. "Don't ask too many questions."

Gabriel learns that the dead woman had uncovered a dangerous secret - a secret that threatens a global criminal enterprise that is looting timeless treasures of antiquity and selling them to the highest bidder. But there is more to this network than just greed. A mysterious operative is plotting an act of sabotage that will plunge the world into a conflict of apocalyptic proportions....

©2012 Daniel Silva (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

best of series

The most complex plot encorporating actual happenings. And culminating with punishing th he trsnsgre$ors.

Might just be my favorite in the series

If you are twelve books into a series it is not much of a stretch to say you like the premise of the stories. And I do. I hope there are people just like Gabriel who are willing and able to dispatch some particularly bad characters to their just rewards. What set this apart was the way the author demonstrated how the attitudes that led to the death camps of the 1930's and 1940's still exist.
I really enjoyed every aspect of the story. George did another great job. My favorite by a wide margin.

George G is the Best!

I love his narrations. He’s the reason I found this series originally. Glad we have him back on the campaign

Simplification of Palestinian viewpoint

Palestinians are both Muslim and Christian, a point which eludes Mr Silva, particularly in this novel.

So realistic

The Gabriel Allon series at its finest. I love the blending of storylines. I also appreciate the author’s notes.

I was hesitant to listen because George Guidall sometimes slurs his words. But this was was pretty good.

Truly Great Read

A slow start then this book just builds and builds and grows in to a great listen.

Hezbollah Meets the Mob

As with all of Daniel Silva's novels, "The Fallen Angel" tells a fascinating story skillfully. However, this twelfth entry in the Gabriel Allon series differs a bit from its predecessors in a few ways. For one thing, Allon -- now in his 60's, although still fit -- has officially retired from his job as assassin for Israel's Mossad. This time, he serves the story more as a detective than a killer, unearthing a sinister connection between Italy's Mafia and Iran's Hezbollah. Secondly, this episode does not arise from -- nor revolve around -- works of art, as do most of the other Gabriel Allon stories. Rather, it generates two intriguing sub-plots: a deadly financial alliance and an archeological secret. Rest assured, Allon is still working as an art restorer -- which he considers his true occupation -- but this time, when he is called away from his current project to dispatch the bad guys, he does so less with bullets than with brain-power. (I think that you will enjoy his cleverly-orchestrated, perfectly-executed plot to kidnap the Iranian ambassador to Germany.) The title of this novel -- "The Fallen Angel" -- has a dual meaning, referring both to the murder-by-falling that initiates Allon's investigation, and to Allon himself -- named after an arch-angel, but reduced to taking out the trash (of the human variety).

I particularly enjoy Gabriel Allon's perhaps unlikely, but still heart-warming relationship with the Catholic pope in many of Silva's novels, including "The Fallen Angel." Daniel Silva, having converted from Catholicism to Judaism, knows whereof he speaks. He writes with great compassion for both religions, demonstrating his deep knowledge of the history and geo-politics of both worlds. In previous novels he has even shown surprising compassion for the Palestinians, and fair-minded understanding of the Palestine/Israel dilemma. In "The Fallen Angel," the bad guys are definitely the Iranian terrorists, aided and abetted by the Mafia.

Female listeners may notice that, with "The Fallen Angel," Silva's previously semi-mysogynist portrayal of his female characters has begun to evolve toward a more feminist awareness. Yes, he is still calling women "girls," but, in fairness, he frequently calls young men "boys," so I guess that kind of balances the scales, right? With each successive novel, now, Silva's female characters are growing more likable and more admirable. Yay!

George Guidall, as always, does a very good job narrating "The Fallen Angel." He has an engaging, mature voice that he modulates with the skill of a good actor. Despite the fact that he is beginning to develop a slightly choppy style of phrasing, I think that he still deserves five stars. I would recommend "The Fallen Angel" to most thriller-lovers, with the proviso that you should first read its predecessors in sequence, for the greatest enjoyment of this audiobook.

Highs and Lows

This is the first book in the series I have listened to narrated by George Guidall. So there was no sensation of meeting an old friend because the voice is different. I loved the description of the art work and the underground temple. Those details were enough for me to enjoy the book. The basic story is good. The problem seems to be Daniel Silva tried to write a stand alone book, catching new readers up with flashbacks which turn into confusing rambles.

Daniel Does It Again

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

Yes. Gabriel is a hero.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gabriel. He is a hero

What three words best describe George Guidall’s voice?

Guidall's voice is weak.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Hollywood would make a mess of this story.

Any additional comments?

Get Grover Gardner to perform all new books. He is the best.

Another Great Book by Daniel Silva

If you could sum up The Fallen Angel in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing action thriller

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

Yes, multiple suspenseful action sequences.

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

George uses great voices and inflections making every spy thriller he reads more enjoyable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Israeli spy thriller combined with interesting insights on Middle East.