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

Alonzo

Perhaps I have read to many of the authors books, I found this one only mildly entertaining. I suggest the main character is getting on (age related) to be doing the things he does, indeed I feel the author is getting a little tired of him. Perhaps my last Silva book

Alion wins again

The plots are winding together and some fresh characters are needed. Alion has to be getting tired between restoring the paints, trying to get his wife pregnant, and saving the world.

Too derivative

I've loved all of the Gabriel Allon books, including this one, primarily because of the characters and the accuracy of the surrounding facts. My only problem with Fallen Angel is I knew what was coming all the time. Previous references to Allon's history were throughout the book (if you haven't read the previous books, too bad for you, but it gets tedious for loyal readers). It almost feels like Fallen Angel was written by formula, brilliant in earlier books, but repetitive here.

Love the book and the reader... will get more

I wished I had known it as a series before i picked up this as the first - but a joy to listen to, the reader was great and the book wonderful.. I will be getting more in the series.

Good as usual

Would you listen to The Fallen Angel again? Why?

Daniel Silva is one of my favorite authors, however sometimes I feel there is a little too much repition of Gabriel's background and personality. Other than that the story was good as usuual. I did like it and as with all Mr. Silva's books will listen to it many times.

I could not stop listing.

George Guidall did a great job narrating this book. The story line was well developed and kept me interested.

Good Story

This broke the rut that the author had fallen into. Different plot from the last few. The narration was fine but I've been listening to these since the beginning of the series and this is the third voice for Gabriel. It will just take some getting used to.

Gabriel has a sense of humor...

I love all of this series, this one is a bit different with several storylines and interesting characters and best of all, Gabriel is joking and laughing, emotional at times as well as his usual assassin self. I enjoyed seeing these different sides of Gabriel.

One of my favorite Silva/Gallon novels

After reading the first 11 books in this series I was becoming disheartened with the cookie cutter story lines, even though the history and thought- provoking information kept me coming back. This 12th book has a story line that is unique and gripping, while keeping the history of Israel at the forefront.

Fans of Gabriel Alon will enjoy this installment

Where does The Fallen Angel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Fallen Angel ranks in the top 50%

What other book might you compare The Fallen Angel to and why?

Story complexity falls between a Brad Thor and a Dan Brown novel. The darkness of Gabriel reminds me a bit of David Baldacci's Oliver Stone, in the Camel Club series. Both characters have secrets, and pain that will never be extinguished.

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

Accents really make the story come alive. I appreciated his subtle changes between characters. It was almost a readers' theatre!

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

Some conspiracy theories aren't just theories.

Any additional comments?

My first novel of the series that I read was The Rembrandt Affair. What drew me to this series was the detailed descriptions of fine art pieces, their historical importance and the rich complexity of Mr. Alon, who is someone who kills, and someone who also restores and brings life to artworks.
While the story was good, if not a bit stretched on the conspiracy theory assumptions, I missed the art restorer. I never got to visualize the Caravaggio.