The Defector

Gabriel Allon, Book 9

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: Phil Gigante

Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Over the course of a remarkable career, Daniel Silva has established himself as one of the world's finest writers of international intrigue, a craftsman worthy of comparison to John le Carré and Graham Greene. His latest bestseller, Moscow Rules, was not only superior entertainment, but a prescient cautionary tale about the emergence of the New Russia. Now he takes that tale to the next level.

Six months after the blood-soaked conclusion of Moscow Rules, Allon is in Umbria, trying to resume his honeymoon with his new wife, Chiara, when a colleague pays him a shocking visit. The man who saved Allon's life in Moscow and was then resettled in England has vanished without a trace. British intelligence is sure he was a double agent all along, and they blame Allon for planting him. To discover the truth and clear his name, Allon must go immediately to London - a decision that will prove to be the most fateful of his career.

In the British capital, he finds himself once more on the front lines of the secret war between East and West, where Russian spies and dissidents engage in the old game of cat and mouse. There, Allon uncovers a much greater conspiracy, a plot by an old enemy to resurrect a network of death, to bring the world to the precipice of a new confrontation, and in order to stop it, he must risk everything: his ties to an organization he has served since his youth, his new marriage . . . even his life.

©2009 Daniel Silva (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

The Defector is more than the most explosive thriller of the summer. It is a searing tale of love, vengeance, and courage created by the writer whom the critics call "the perfect guide to the dangerous forces shaping our world" ( Orlando Sentinel)

The Defector

Phil Gigante's pronunciation of Hebrew words was so inaccurate, I was astonished at the translation that followed. A reader must take the time to learn how to pronounce the foreign words in every book he reads. It makes the story telling much more satisfying.

Excellent book.

Typical book with the great character Alon.

Poor Narration

THE DEFECTOR is another excellent Silva and Allon story. Phil Gigante's narration, however, detracts from the quality of Silva's writing. His intonation and pronunciation both are less than desirable. Gigante's French usage is especially poor, but, even with English names like Grosvenor Square, Gigante pronounces the silent "s". Compare John Lee or George Guidall. Gigante comes across as an amateur.

Another winner!

I have always loved the candid, dry humor laced throughout these wonderful reads….and the visual details take you away to other places.

Mangling Hebrew pronunciation

The story is fun, and the narrator is good at doing different voices for each character, but he's absolutely butchering the Hebrew words. In a series about an Israeli main character who works for Israeli intelligence, the narrator should be able to pronounce Hebrew! I speak Hebrew, I taught Hebrew at two universities, and I find myself yelling at the narrator for mangling the Hebrew words. For example, "kachol ve-lavan," meaning "blue and white," is unrecognizable when he says it. (Hiint: "ch" in transliterated Hebrew is a guttural sound, not the same sound as is in the English word "church.")

A Maze of intrigue.

could not put it down. Thats how operates work. You never know what will happen or where it will take place. The countries involved. Thank you for another wonderful read. carolm20009

This Review Needs a Title...So, I

Pretty good book about Garbiel Allo, an IIsraeli "office" assassin. This book was an exciting and complex novel. I love a good spy story and Daniel Silva never disappoints.

The Light Triumphs

Very good follow up story to previous. Gabriel born again and the next level to come. Can't wait.

Another Hit by Daniel Silver!

Gabriel Alon and the team do it again. Please keep writing these books. You have a fan here.

Gabriel Alon at his coldest

As always, it builds slowly, and then quickly, and then resolves satisfactorily. We see sides of Gabriel that we may have suspected but very rarely viewed. A very good addition to the canon.