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

Daniel Silva's best!

What did you love best about The Fallen Angel?

The interwoven discussions of the black market trading of the ancient arts and a murder plot.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gabriel Allon, of course, as he is the hero of each of the series.

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?

Gabriel Allon

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

They should have known that he wouldn't let them get away with it!

History lessons ...

I'm loving these books. I've learned so much and cannot thank the author enough. The narrator doubles the enjoyment of these books.
The writing and building of characters gets better with every book.

90% superb

gets bogged down near the end at crucial moments with "historical " narratives that takes away from the excitement. it makes a major portion if the plot fizzle into a few sentences.

Play, Play , Repeat

This is one of my favorites I have listened allot and it always entertains. I think I will listen again right now

Excellent read!

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

Interesting, informative, pleasurable

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elan

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?

Elan

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

Silva is a great story-teller mixing history with engaging characters and a suspenseful story line.

Another great hit!

Gabriel & his crew are back for another action packed mission. Daniel Silva has once again created a masterpiece entwining current events in an international thriller worth the title “The Fallen Angel.”

Just as great the second time around!

I love the story, narration and lessons in geography and history! I’m listening to the entire series for a second time!

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.