Portrait of an Unknown Woman
Legendary spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon has at long last severed ties with Israeli intelligence and settled quietly in Venice, the only place he has ever truly known peace. His beautiful wife, Chiara, has taken over day-to-day management of the Tiepolo Restoration Company, and their two young children are clandestinely enrolled in a neighborhood scuola elementare. For his part, Gabriel spends his days wandering the streets and canals of the watery city, parting company with the demons of his tragic, violent past.
But when the eccentric London art dealer Julian Isherwood asks Gabriel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the rediscovery and lucrative sale of a centuries-old painting, he is drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse where nothing is as it seems.
Gabriel soon discovers that the work in question, a portrait of an unidentified woman attributed to Sir Anthony van Dyck, is almost certainly a fiendishly clever fake. To find the mysterious figure who painted it—and uncover a multibillion-dollar fraud at the pinnacle of the art world—Gabriel conceives one of the most elaborate deceptions of his career. If it is to succeed, he must become the very mirror image of the man he seeks: the greatest art forger the world has ever known.
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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-six 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.
