The Cellist

A Novel

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

From Daniel Silva, the internationally acclaimed number one New York Times best-selling author, comes a timely and explosive new thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon.

Viktor Orlov had a longstanding appointment with death. Once Russia’s richest man, he now resides in splendid exile in London, where he has waged a tireless crusade against the authoritarian kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin. His mansion in Chelsea’s exclusive Cheyne Walk is one of the most heavily protected private dwellings in London. Yet somehow, on a rainy summer evening, in the midst of a global pandemic, Russia’s vengeful president finally manages to cross Orlov’s name off his kill list.

Before him was the receiver from his landline telephone, a half-drunk glass of red wine, and a stack of documents....

The documents are contaminated with a deadly nerve agent. The Metropolitan Police determine that they were delivered to Orlov’s home by one of his employees, a prominent investigative reporter from the anti-Kremlin Moskovskaya Gazeta. And when the reporter slips from London hours after the killing, MI6 concludes she is a Moscow Center assassin who has cunningly penetrated Orlov’s formidable defenses.

But Gabriel Allon, who owes his very life to Viktor Orlov, believes his friends in British intelligence are dangerously mistaken. His desperate search for the truth will take him from London to Amsterdam and eventually to Geneva, where a private intelligence service controlled by a childhood friend of the Russian president is using KGB-style “active measures” to undermine the West from within. Known as the Haydn Group, the unit is plotting an unspeakable act of violence that will plunge an already divided America into chaos and leave Russia unchallenged. Only Gabriel Allon, with the help of a brilliant young woman employed by the world’s dirtiest bank, can stop it.

Elegant and sophisticated, provocative and daring, The Cellist explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West today - the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia. It is at once a novel of hope and a stark warning about the fragile state of democracy. And it proves once again why Daniel Silva is regarded as his generation’s finest writer of suspense and international intrigue.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Daniel Silva (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Mr. Silva is back in top form.

One of his best works, after the odd ball that was The Order. He's returned to his top form. Excellent alternate narrator for the audio book narrator, excellent with accents and inflections. Covers current events extremely well. Ten out of ten.

A winner from Daniel Silva and Edoardo Ballerini!

This is the first book that Edoardo Ballerini is narrating for the Gabriel Allon series, by Daniel Silva. To us fans, who were used to George Guidall's voice, the task might seem to be daunting. But, Edoardo Ballerini, with his velvety voice and extensive experience as a narrator, took to the Gabriel Allon series like a duck to the water. After a few moments you forget that you're listening to a new narrator. His voice pulls you into the story, and the characters, and then that's all you hear. Welcome to the Gabriel Allon family, Edoardo Ballerini. Looking forward to listening to you for many years to come! Bravo!
The Cellist brings back our hero, Gabriel Allon, who now is the head of the Israeli Intelligence Service, to investigate the assassination by poisoning of one of his closest friends, a man who saved his and his wife's lives years ago in Russia.
Through Gabriel's investigation, The Cellist gives you a crash course on Russia's money laundering, the Kleptocracy, and the Russian mafia mentality. It covers the manipulation of the American elections and social media campaigns leading up to the disgraceful attack on our Capitol, on January 6th 2021.
For fans of Daniel Silva and Gabriel Allon, this book will be a joy, revisiting old friends and some of the places we've been with Gabriel before; once again confirming Daniel is a master in his craft.
To new readers, it’s a great adventure! It’s a privilege to enter the mind of Daniel Silva. His vast knowledge of world history and geopolitics has garnished him with the nickname “Prophet”. But most of all, you will have the pleasure and fun of entering the world of Gabriel Allon, art restorer turned Mossad agent, and all his friends. And enemies.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the book, so I already finished reading. Now I'm also listening to it. I've been a huge fan of Daniel Silva's and look forward to July every year, knowing that another one of his books will come out, and I'll be thoroughly entertained.
One of my favorite moments when reading Daniel Silva's books is reading his author's notes at the end. Not only does it give us some background from his research for the book, but also his mindset while writing it.
Either reading or listening to it you're sure to be entertained and, very probably, learn a thing or two in the process.

The ending!

Excellent book. The ending is scary and I hope for better. Maybe we will wake up.

Sometimes a narrator can ruin a story.

While somewhat predictable, I enjoyed this book. However, the dreary monotone performance of the narrator plainly diminished the experience.

I did appreciate the reflection on the current state of our political climate and the risk therein.

Gabriel Allon Died in this book

Great series until this book. Liberal operative if I have heard one. Goodbye Gabriel Allon

Ignore the naysayers

Great latest entry into the pantheon of Allon’s world. Timely in light of recent world events involving Russia. A few facts about recent US elections are mentioned that should not be remotely controversial for those paying attention to facts instead of propaganda.

grand story

Typical to Dan Silva, the story was excellent. Dan has a fantastic way of twisting reality into his story to lead you through events. While fiction, many events are not too far from fact. Wonderful!

One of Silva’s best

Slowish start builds up to a tense and breathtaking conclusion in this up to the minute geo-political thriller. The author’s viewpoint is more blatant than in earlier novels, but it’s hard to argue with his conclusions. The narration is as excellent as the plot and character development.

Really good

I enjoyed this one. Always a fan, but this is a stellar story about Russia.

Politically Up to Date... International Intrigue...

A detailed story that can only be told by Daniel Silva! Intrigue. Suspense. Beautiful music. It's mixed together for you!