The English girl by Daniel Silva

"The English girl" by Daniel Silva. This book is published by Harpercollins in 2013 and has 400 pages. This is Book 13 of Gabriel Allon series.        

Madeline works for a political party who's in power in England. She has a good career ahead and is destined to be an MP. She goes to Corsica, with her party co-workers, for a vacation and suddenly disappears. Kidnapped. The Prime Minister is target of blackmail. Gabriel Allon, the Israeli spy is pressed into action.

Who is the kidnapper? What are the demands? Does the conspiracy go deeper? What is the prophecy of lady from Corsica? Will it come true?

The story is divided into 3 sections. First is the story of kidnapping and rescue. Second is the story of a hostile operation in enemy territory and 3rd is the scandal and conclusion. Narration keeps you just about interested. It's neither great nor bad. 

Fallacies of Gabriel are evident still he is considered ultimate sleuth. He is also a good person at heart. He is liked by all and destined for a new responsibility by the end of the book. 

There is a big twist in this book. I could guess the twist, but could not guess why. This twist gives a new dimension to the world politics. 

I had read only one Gabriel Allon book earlier. This one is continuation of the series. 

Read if you have time or if you are following the series. 

 

The Marching season by Daniel Silva

"The Marching season" by Daniel Silva. This book is published by Signet in 2004 and has 512 pages. This is the second book of Michael Osborn series.

Catholics and Protestants are killing each other in Northern Ireland from 17th century. Three terrorist activities take place on the same day. A Sinn Féin leader is killed. Ireland library and London tube are bombed. A new organization has made its mark, one that does not like the ban on certain routes during marching season and opposes Good Friday agreement.

How does Michael Osborn come into picture? Who would be American ambassador to England? Why marching season? Is the old assassin back?

Narration is good. Story is decently places and takes place in USA, England and Northern Ireland. October, the assassin, makes a comeback and renews his old rivalry with Michael. Author shows logical tensions between Michael and his wife after the birth of their twins and when Michael does not really want to retire.

The reason why Tony Blair asks a career politician as ambassador to UK and why retired senator Douglas Canon, from opposition, is chosen by American president is not very clear. A secret society of powerful persons trying to control the world continues its activities and the assassin October reappears.

It's good to read a novel on Northern Ireland. It gives a different background for a change to the readers who have been reading thrillers on Middle East, Pakistan and China for too long.

It is ironic that America considers unrest in Northern Ireland to be more important and pressing than Middle East or Kashmir, despite substantially lower casualties and damages.

The title has reference to the Protestant march to celebrate victory over catholics, in short the tensions in Northern Ireland. But in reality it becomes the tale of Michael Osborn and October.

Though the novel is readable, it does not offer novelty. Change of heart and instantaneous friendship between sworn enemies is surprising. Is it possible in real life?

OK book. Read if you have time.

The Mark of the Assassin" by Daniel Silva

"The Mark of the Assassin" by Daniel Silva. This book is published by Signet in 2003 and has 528 pages.

A known Palestinian terrorist shoots down an American civilian airliner. 200 dead. The terrorist is also found dead, shot 3 times in the face. Michael from CIA is on the case. He has previously encountered an assassin who shoots his victims 3 times in the face. It's the mark of this assassin.

Who is behind the attack on airliner? Who is the assassin? Why does he have a mark? Can Michael catch him?

It's a classic tale of a high profile CIA operative and world's best assassin. Here both are hunting for each other. Author has also introduced a personal angle in the story that makes it more appealing.

Elaborate plot by the wealthy & powerful to become wealthier and more powerful, use of terrorists and assassins to achieve the goal, misleading, deception, campaign financing, espionage, love; the story contains everything.

Daniel has written a good story. It has a crisp pace. Doesn't slow down. Nails you to the book. Characterization is good. The book ends where the next book will start. It's not over yet, wait for the sequel.

Recommend reading.

Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva

"Unlikely Spy" by Daniel Silva. This book is published by  Penguin in 2003 and has 752 pages. As the name suggests, it's a spy thriller, but during World War II.

England thinks that they have rolled up the German spy network in England by either arresting or turning all known spies. Attack of allied forces on France is around the corner. But where will the forces land? Allied forces have chosen Normandy and are building large concrete structures that will be sunk at Normandy to create artificial harbor.

How to keep location of attack secret? Are there unknown German spies in England? Hitler is hell bent on finding location of attack. Can he? What can England do to salvage the plan? What is the contribution of a certain american engineer?

Although Daniel Silva is a well known name, I think this was his first book that I read. The story is set in the WW II era, about 75 years ago. Germany used an ingenious method to disguise spies. They sent spy posing as someone through regular transport. Then this spy murdered a lonely person, disfigured the body and left his passport near the corpse. The foreigner was presumed dead and the spy became one of the English citizens with no one looking for him.

Daniel has created the old English atmosphere very well. The functional bureaucracy, egoistic Churchill, academics working in war offices, rivalry between Hitler's generals etc is painted vividly.

Attack on Normandy on D-day turned the outcome of WW II in favor of allied forces and that secret is the crux of the story. In short success of this fiction was the tipping point of WW II.

Author has delivered a good thriller. The slowish pace is in line with the old times where means of instant communication were still to be invented.

A good book. Recommend reading.