The Rembrandt Affair

Gabriel Allon, Book 10

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: Phil Gigante

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Determined to sever his ties with the Office, Gabriel Allon has retreated to the windswept cliffs of Cornwall with his beautiful Venetian-born wife, Chiara. But once again his seclusion is interrupted by a visitor from his tangled past: the endearingly eccentric London art dealer Julian Isherwood. As usual, Isherwood has a problem. And it is one only Gabriel can solve.

In the ancient English city of Glastonbury, an art restorer has been brutally murdered and a long-lost portrait by Rembrandt mysteriously stolen. Despite his reluctance, Gabriel is persuaded to use his unique skills to search for the painting and those responsible for the crime. But as he painstakingly follows a trail of clues leading from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires and, finally, to a villa on the graceful shores of Lake Geneva, Gabriel discovers there are deadly secrets connected to the painting. And evil men behind them.

Before he is done, Gabriel will once again be drawn into a world he thought he had left behind forever, and will come face-to-face with a remarkable cast of characters: a glamorous London journalist who is determined to undo the worst mistake of her career, an elusive master art thief who is burdened by a conscience, and a powerful Swiss billionaire who is known for his good deeds but may just be behind one of the greatest threats facing the world.

Filled with remarkable twists and turns of plot, and told with seductive prose, The Rembrandt Affair is more than just summer entertainment of the highest order. It is a timely reminder that there are men in the world who will do anything for money.

©2010 Daniel Silva (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Silva-Allon Formula Works In This Affair

Gabriel Allon has once again attempted to retire from his position as Israel's foremost spy, but every time he tries to get out, they pull him back in. As in the past ("The Heist"), a stolen painting is the lure, but the plot pivots to Middle Eastern politics (Iran's nuclear ambitions). As in other Allon affairs, he has to send a woman in to do the inside work, then he has to go in and save her.

I've only read three Silva-Allon titles, but this is a recurring formula. The first two didn't work -- in The Heist, Allon proved to be the worst spy ever and Silva proved to be a lazy writer, his poorly constructed plot full of more holes than the Albert Hall. But this affair works. Allon accomplishes his mission(s) this time, though not in the predictable manner of cookie cutter espionage thrillers, and Silva does some good work as a writer.

Most satisfyingly, Silva incorporates research into interesting real life history -- Nazi looting of art, Dutch collaboration, a personal story similar to Anne Frank (diverging in important ways), Nazis hiding in South America, collaboration of Swiss bankers with Nazis, and present-day collaboration of European financiers and industrialists with Iran in their pursuit of nuclear weapons.

There is also an examination of how the sins of the father may be visited upon the son (or vice versa) and how people of different character react differently to learning about the flaws of their forebears. No coincidence that a character invokes that well-known biblical aphorism, and that the book concludes with Allon reverentially invoking the term "Abba", the Hebrew word for father.

A Masterpiece of a Novel

Daniel Silva novels amaze me. Actually, they captivate me, hold me in their clutches, never fail to deliver on a literary promise and leave me waiting for another great Silva story.

The Rembrandt Affair is an excellent book, particularly If you like art mixed in with your mystery. This is also a very touching, sad book, in parts (no plot spoilers), so much so that I had tears ready to spill onto my face. These sections are genuinely tender and how the author manages to write so lovingly, respectfully and - at times - brutally is beyond me.

Even if you don't know Daniel Silva from Dan Brown, this is a Silva book you can pick up and get enough backstory to understand the characters, circumstances and conditions.

A masterful read indeed!

Even more amazing And audible form

I thought this was a wonderfully engaging and intriguing book when I read it. But when we had by this narrator it was riveting!

Well written, doesn't disappoint

This series is so good! Captivating from start to finish...couldn't stop listening. Silva is the best, I always enjoy his books.

Loved the focus on Art

I like the emphasis on the role of art: it’s theft, it’s restoration, it’s clues in solving the mystery. The holocaust is now described in Amsterdam where the Dutch were thought to protect Jews. The story moved to Iran & nuclear warfare more an issue of today. The characters of the office maintain their appeal. Definitely one of my favorites in the series!

ahhh. gabriel is back!

i love this series. silva writes with such a sure tone. the characters have gotten richer with each successive book. the plots have gotten more complex and the revenge is sweeter than ever. thank you dan silva.

Terrible accents

I can’t really comment on the story as I was distracted by the narration. His terrible accents were massively annoying. Returned the book

Not as good as other books in this series

This story has a very interesting part about stolen Nazi art. It also has a big fat violent part that isn't believable.
The narrator is melodramatic in his delivery and does very bad English accents.

his very best work

loved the whole thing. I'm not going to give it away. if you are Gabriel allon fan and have been following the series, this is a giant leap for work that has been extraordinary even before.

Intense !

if u love spy thrillers with history, art and climactic action then u will love this story and then proceed to gobble up any other Silva books out there and then you won't be able to wait for the next one to drop! Don't worry, you will be in good company 😎