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Summary: The new master of the international spy thriller
Review: Gabriel Allon is an art restorer living in England. He is also a highly trained Israeli agent used by the Foreign Ministry headed by his boss Ariel Shamron. Allon is asked to restore a painting in the home of a prominent Swiss resident in Zurich. Unfortunately, upon arrival, Allon finds his host dead on the floor. As Allon looks into the death, he eventually begins to uncover a sinister plot involving prominent Swiss businessmen throughout the country. In an effort to discover the cause of her father's death, Allon is accompanied by Anna Rolphe, the victim's daughter and a world-class concert violinist. Always behind them is the English assassin who eventually sets his sites on Anna.
I have often said that Daniel Silva is one of the best thriller writers currently working. After having discovered his books several years ago, I have eagerly awaited each one as they are released in the spring. Silva has a prodigious way of drawing the reader immediately into the story by use of vivid characterizations, dangerous situations, and exotic locations. Some time is, of course, required to fill in details of the plot which can admittedly be a bit complex, however, never as complex as so many of Robert Ludlum's books. They are easy to grasp which is important considering these books are not meant to require a great deal of brain cells while being read. The story flows smoothly and the suspense never lets up. Again, I strongly urge the reader to check out the work of this new master of the international thriller sub genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Thrilling Read
Review: Daniel Silva is becoming an author who hooks fans with his intricate tales of non-stop suspense, historical detail and fascinating characters. Though violence plays a part, it never seems intrusive to the plot. "The English Assassin" is the third book of Silva's I've read, and now I must read his other two. In "The English Assassin," Israeli spy Gabriel Allon is once again caught in another predicament that forces him out of retirement. This time he is accused of murdering a Swiss banker, and while on the run, discovers stolen art the SS took from German Jews in World War II, a conspiracy that will rock the world and the banker's daughter, an renowned concert pianist with the terrible memory of her mother's suicide. Through twists and turns that keep the reader mesmerized to the very end, Silva proves he is a master of suspense.
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Summary: An Intelligent Spy Thriller
Review: I am now amazed at how Daniel Silva's book entrance me every time I pick them up to read. I love his WORK! It is like I am truly seeing life in whatever viewpoint/nationality/political group that he writes about. Very GOOD stuff! I would HATE to take his books to Aruba-I would be hard pressed to leave the hotel for reading or leave HIS books at home so that I could enjoy Aruba! (laughter) EXCELLENT WORK, Daniel!
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Summary: The English Assassin is another page turner from Silva
Review: The English Assassin is another fine novel. Daniel Silva provides the reader with his usual blend of action, excitement, intrigue, and plot twists -- all set within the historical context of the secret world of the Swiss banking system from WWII to the present. In a reprise of Gabriel Allon, the art restorer and sometimes Israeli spy from the Kill Artist, Silva spins a tale of a secret Swiss society, long-ago collaboration with Nazi Germany, and a quest to recover art treasures plundered by the Nazi's in WWII. Gabriel is drawn into the plot when he is sent to restore a painting belonging to an elderly Swiss banker. Finding the banker dead, Gabriel is quickly forced to match wits with the mysterious English Assassin and members of the clandestine Swiss organization that seeks to keep the past of Switzerland buried. This book is thoroughly entertaining. A must read for fans of Silva's previous works.
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Summary: Memorable Characters...Timid Ending
Review: First let me say that this book has one of the best opening chapters I have ever read! And for die-hard Silva fans, that should not surprise you. This author is tremendous with his "hook" and continues to leave you breathless throughout your entire reading. In The English Assassin, we meet up again with Gabriel Allon, the art restorer/secret Israeli assassin from The Kill Artist. Through unexpected events, Gabriel comes to the aid of Anna Rolfe, a world-class violinist whose father, Swedish banker Augustus Rolfe, has been found dead in his Swiss chalet. He soon finds that the Rolfe family secrets lead to a tangled web of deception that dates back to the Nazi plundering of World War II. As Gabriel digs deeper into the Rolfe family affairs, an unexpected course of events leads him on a frantic mission to save Anna Rolfe's life from an English assassin who is hired to keep the Rolfe family secrets...secret. Silva is known for his deep research and vivid description of global locales. I also love his characters; they are rich in personality and very well rounded. The good guys have a dark side that makes them tick and the bad guys have many redeeming qualities. In this book we come to know Gabriel, Ari and Julian on a much deeper level, a welcome surprise for those of us who have read the Kill Artist. As usual, I raced through the first two-thirds of this book in record time (Silva does that to you -- especially if you are a die hard international thriller fan like me), but I thought the last third of the book lacked the strength of his previous works, and the ending left me with more questions than answers. His other books were "beefy" from start to finish -- very thick plot with strong action...unrelenting in its presentation. This one seemed a bit...well, "timid" to say the least. It's as if the bottom fell out just as the time was approaching for a major showdown. I'm sure there's a reason for this...Silva is an extremely talented and thorough writer known for his exhaustive research and narration. I just wish he had given us a that strong last "lap" he is so well known for! 4 and 1/2 stars. "Where's the beef?"
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Summary: A Spy Novel With a Bit of History
Review: This is the second Silva book I have read, having read the Kill Artist last year. I have been impressed with Mr. Silva's ability to take a story, make it seem like a classic spy novel, but put a little more action in it so that it does not drag as some such novels do.
The book again "stars" Gabriel Allon, a painting restorer and reluctant Israeli spy. Gabriel is assigned to Switzerland to meet with a man who has a painting to be restored and also has requested a meeting with Israeli intelligence. When Gabriel arrives, he finds the client dead and finds himself knee deep in a 50 year old mystery involving Nazi art theft from World War II. The book builds in excitement and Gabriel is a fascinating and effective, if not reluctant, spy. My next stop in the Silva express is "The Confessor", the next Gabriel Allon book.
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Summary: A great spy thriller!
Review: This was my first read of a Daniel Silva novel, and won't be my last. The characters are damaged and fallible, which always makes for an interesting read. The plot was well constructed, with some interesting reversals. Definitely a a book to curl up in front of the fire with for a cold night's read!
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Summary: Spine chilling page turner
Review: This is the first Daniel Silva work that I have read and I am sure it will not be my last. His writing style pulls you in from one chapter to the next, with no blank spots. The book is historically well researched and it kept my attention to the very last page. Possibly the strongest point of this book is that the character of Gabriel Allon is shown to be fallible, and not like some of the espionage characters who have all of their ducks in a row. While not perhaps on the technically descriptive level of John LeCarre's characters, the espionage that Daniel Silva writes will keep you up all night. I look forward to next reading "The Confessor".
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Summary: being a true proffesional
Review: When an Israeli reads a book about a Mossadnik written by a foreign author, s/he tends to be somewhat doubtful about the accuracy of details in that book; Daniel Silva's research leaves one amazed as well as admiring - the book "the English Assassin" is impeccable as far as creating a truly convincing background for Gabriel Allon the protagonist- the Mossad man as well as the art restorer. Silva even went so far as to use Hebrew terms relating to Mossad (the Israeli secret service) terminology, some of them familiar almost solely to Hebrew speakers, terms he clearly and accurately explains to his English readers, terms which add credibility and enriches the atmosphere he is so successfully creates in this book.
When an art curator reads the book, again s/he can only admire, once again the minute details which add other layers of meaning and volume to this book.
The main characters: Allon, Shamron, Anna Rolf, Gerhardt Peterson and the Englishman (as this character is referred to through out most of the book) -
All of them are three-dimensional beings with goals, desires and above all acute professionalism! Each one of these people takes genuine pride in what they do for a living, even if their job is the kind usually frowned upon. For various reasons the genre of the thriller has been considered (at times rightly so) to be beneath other literary genres, Daniel Silva's writing might help this genre gain back some of the respect it lost.
Rating: 
Summary: An Average Read: The English Assassin by Daniel Silva
Review: Atonement for the past has always been, at the very least, a major secondary theme in Daniel Silva's novels. However, in this case, he has raised it to the front and center major theme of the novel. That theme, along with plenty of very detailed history lessons combine to make this novel at times an interesting, if overall very slow moving, read. Gabriel Allon is still doing occasional spy work for the unnamed Israeli Spy Agency as well as still restoring art works. He works for Julian Isherwood, an art dealer with a rather fatal affliction for an art dealer. Julian hates to sell any of the artwork that grace his walls and as such, if one is sold, falls into an incredible depression. He too seems to work at times for the unnamed Israeli Spy Agency but the lines are less clear than that with Gabriel. Julian tells Gabriel he has been contacted in a rather roundabout way, not unusual in the murky art world according to Julian, and has been asked to send Gabriel to Zurich, Switzerland to restore a painting. While restoring art is the one thing that gives Gabriel peace and allows him to live with himself, he is less that thrilled with the idea of going to Switzerland, especially under such strange circumstances. Gabriel eventually agrees and when he arrives at the home where he is to restore the painting, discovers a dead man on the floor. Gabriel has killed in the past on behalf of the Israeli Spy Agency and can't afford to report his finding to the Police. He flees the scene and attempts to flee the country, before being picked up by the Swiss Police. Gabriel learns from the Police that the dead man was a very wealthy Swiss banker (among other things), Augustus Rolfe and while the Police can't prove he did it, they know of another killing he most definitely committed on their soil. Soon, Shamron, Gabriel's spy boss, learns of the arrest and is forced to make a deal to have Gabriel released. Shamron arranges for Gabriel's release and freedom for him to leave the country contingent on his never returning to Switzerland and in exchange, wants and demands Gabriel's help. ''Listen to me, Gabriel!' Shamron slammed his fist onto the console. 'Augustus Rolfe, a Swiss banker, wanted to speak to us and for that he was murdered. I want to know what Rolfe was going to tell us, and I want to know who killed him for it!'' Shamron gets what he wants when Gabriel reluctantly agrees to help. This action brings him into the sights of an assassin only known as 'The Englishman.' The assassin works for a powerful group of Swiss businessman and financiers who want to keep secret the fact that the Swiss actively collaborated with and funded the Nazi war machine and have retained not only the monetary profits of such actions but the millions of pieces of artwork looted by the Nazi's has they rolled over Europe. Interspersed frequently with very detailed history lessons, 'The Englishman' and Gabriel Allon play a cat and mouse game across Europe with the stolen artwork just part of the problem. Between them, like a prize bird in a cage, is Anna Rolfe, a trouble woman who is also a brilliant concert violinist. While she knows nothing of her father's dark legacy she very well may lose her life because of it. While this is by no mans Daniel Silva's best work, it is better that most of the so-called thrillers on the market today which does not say much for the market today. The action is much more limited than in his previous works but at the same time fits the stereotypical characters as written. At the same time, this is the same kind of situation that has been beaten to death in the past and it is somewhat disappointing to read yet another book on the same subject. Instead of preaching lessons told better elsewhere, it would have behooved Mr. Silva to look for inspiration elsewhere and hopefully, now that this particular novel is out of his system, he will return to what made him worth reading in the first place.
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