The Messenger

Gabriel Allon, Book 6

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Gabriel Allon, art restorer and spy, is about to face the greatest challenge of his life.

Allon is recovering from his grueling showdown with a Palestinian master terrorist, when terrorism comes to find him once again. An al-Qaeda suspect is killed in London, and photographs are found on his computer - photographs that lead Israeli intelligence to suspect that al-Qaeda is planning one of its most audacious attacks ever, straight at the heart of the Vatican.

Allon warns his old friend, Monsignor Luigi Donati, the pope's private secretary, and rushes to Rome to assist in security. But what neither he nor Donati knows is that the Vatican has been thoroughly penetrated. An extraordinary enemy walks among them...and he's just getting started.

In the days and weeks to come, Allon and his colleagues will find themselves in a deadly duel of wits against one of the most dangerous men in the world - and a hunt that will take them across Europe to the Caribbean and back.

But for them, there may simply not be enough of anything: enough time, enough facts, enough luck. All Allon can do is set his trap - and hope that he is not the one caught in it.

Take another thrill ride with Gabriel Allon.

©2006 Daniel Silva (P)2006 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Gabriel Allon remains one of the most intriguing heroes of any thriller series." ( Philadelphia Inquirer)
"The way Silva resolves his plot will keep readers right where he wants them: on the edges of their seats." ( Publishers Weekly)

The best I've read so far by Daniel Silva

I've read a number of the Daniel Silva books and at time I've found them somewhat formulaic (same elements etc.) but this one had more - and really held my attention. Perhaps it was the inclusion of a recruited American highly educated woman into the Israeli service, her training, and her level headedness, the "newly discovered" Van Gogh and it's owner's (also a woman) eventually decision to loan it to Gabriel - anyway - a good story, well constructed, well narrated, with characters I really cared about, and bits of jewish history (art stolen or hidden during WWII from or by Jewish families in Germany) that added a drama and a context.

Easy to follow plot, mindless read, but enjoyable

In the world of spy thrillers, sometimes I find the plots and characters to be bland and added into the story to add unneeded complexity. Authors mistake more characters to equal better story. I think all it does is add more identities to an already bland and tired genre.

This book does the opposite. Each character was well established with enough differentiation that it was easy for me to identify why they were in the story. I mean how many chiefs of xyz devisions in thrillers do we need today! the messenger was full of memorable characters, straight forward yet interesting plot and an easy to follow time progression that was just spicy enough to keep interest.


There was something about Silva's writing and this boom that kept me intrigued the whole way through. allon books are always intertwining, but I particularly enjoyed this one. Sarah and Chiara were great. I also enjoyed that there wasn't a love triangle formed between allom amd Sarah. it is refreshing that the story didn't go there. Gabriel cared about Sarah professionally and personally, but as a mentor or protector, not a lover.

nice story, nice book, enjoyable, quick read.

Cant get enough of Gabriel

Any additional comments?

Will be down loading the next in the series as soon as I am in WiFi

would make a good movie!

narrator was good! story was very interesting. only hard part was trying to keep all the players straight!

again hits all the boxes

great story, great background, edge of my seat page truner. Gabriel Allon hesitant spy art restorer

The worst narrator of all Silva’s books

George Guidall is obviously the best and, in fairness, he might be the best ever narrator. But this guy? He’s worse than any of them.

Hold On!

I’m so addicted to this series! What a fun and exciting ride! On to the next!!!

One of the best...

This was one of the best books I have downloaded to date. Good plot, great characterization, fantastic narration - well worth the time.

Gabriel and His Team Battle Saudi Ties To Worldwide Terrorism

The author has done extensive research into financial and physical assistance to worldwide terrorism by sovereign Muslim governmental entities and carefully illustrates how his theories are backed by historical evidence of Saudi collusion with known international terrorists. A great read for anyone who enjoys action, action, and more action.

Another one to keep you thinking

I'm a big fan of stories such as these. Always have been. This series is about a real threat in the world that many would rather ignore and that may be to their and our undoing. Much to think about.