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 is definitely worth the listen

I'm a pretty big Daniel Silva fan but, as with all authors, some books are better than others. The Defector has been one of the better ones. It's an enjoyable read/listen. If you've never tried Daniel Silva before, I would recommend reading/listening to The Moscow Rules first as it provides the backstory for The Defector. It will be more enjoyable if you do.

Great storyline!

Really enjoyed this book and can't wait to listen to the next one. I am enjoying this entire series

Historically significant; dramatically over done

The details of operations and their successes are worth the time spent listening; however, they are a bit overblown. The story reveals some realities that are worth considering. The readers ability to speak and render various languages is remarkably poor.

my first audio book

This is my first audio book, and I believe I picked a good one to start with! I really liked the narration-it seemed to help me keep track of the characters and plot. This is a fun espionage type of book that moves to exotic places around the world. This is also the first book by Silva that I have read and again I did well. I recommend it.

GREAT read

Silva is a really great writer, and Phil Gigante does a nice job (better than John Lee, I think).

You do not have to have read the last novel, "The Moscow Rules," to enjoy this.

I wish there were more unabridged Silva novels - I've already gone through them all.

Great Book with great reader

Daniel Silva and Phil Gigante together combined to make a a great listen.

Revenge is sweet...

Nice conclusion to Moscow Rules, love this series and it's characters, I'm 14 out of 20 and feel like I know them all very well.

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.