The Fallen Angel
After narrowly surviving his last operation, Gabriel Allon, the wayward son of Israeli intelligence, has taken refuge behind the walls of the Vatican, where he is restoring one of Caravaggio’s greatest masterpieces. But while working early one morning in the conservation lab, he is summoned to St. Peter’s Basilica by his friend and occasional ally Monsignor Luigi Donati, the all-powerful private secretary to his Holiness Pope Paul VII. The body of a beautiful woman, a curator from the antiquities department, lies smashed and broken beneath Michelangelo’s magnificent dome. The Vatican police suspect suicide, though Gabriel, with his restorer’s eye and flawless memory, believes otherwise. So, it seems, does Donati. But the monsignor is fearful that a public inquiry might inflict another scandal on the Church, and so he calls upon Gabriel to use his matchless talents and experience to quietly pursue the truth—with one important caveat.
“Rule number one at the Vatican,” Donati said. “Don’t ask too many questions.”
Gabriel soon learns that the dead woman had uncovered a dangerous secret—a secret that threatens a global criminal enterprise that is looting timeless treasures of antiquity and selling them to the highest bidder. But there is more to this network than just greed. A mysterious operative, an old enemy out for vengeance, is plotting an unthinkable act of sabotage that will plunge the world into a conflict of apocalyptic proportions. Once again, Gabriel must return to the ranks of his old intelligence service—and place himself, and those he holds dear, on the razor’s edge of danger.
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Daniel Silva
Daniel Silva is a name synonymous with gripping political thrillers and international espionage. With a background that merges the worlds of journalism and fiction, Silva’s writing seamlessly blends his sharp understanding of global politics with his knack for creating complex, captivating characters.
Born in Michigan and raised in California, Silva’s early career saw him writing for major publications, but it was the world of espionage fiction that eventually drew him in. His debut novel, The Unlikely Spy, was just the beginning of a series that would redefine the genre. Known for his masterful portrayal of Gabriel Allon, a multifaceted Israeli intelligence officer, Silva's books are as much about the inner workings of intelligence agencies as they are about exploring the human condition. The series continues to resonate with readers, offering an intricate mix of historical context, contemporary relevance, and high-stakes action.
Gabriel Allon
The Gabriel Allon series invites readers into a world where the lines between duty and morality blur, and the stakes are always higher than they first appear. At its heart is Gabriel Allon, an Israeli intelligence officer whose sharp mind and complex personal history make him both an asset and a liability in the world of international espionage. As a master art restorer turned operative, Allon’s expertise in both the restoration of priceless masterpieces and covert operations adds a unique depth to his character, drawing readers into a universe where every mission is an art in itself.
Gabriel Allon consists of twenty-five books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
