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When a body is found beneath Michelangelo's dome, Gabriel Allon is summoned to secretly investigate the death that has been ruled a suicide--a case that brings about an unthinkable act of sabotage.Tags
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Any book featuring Gabriel Allon, former Israeli spy/assassin and current art restoration genius will have a complex plot. Gabriel is currently restoring a Caravaggio painting at the Vatican. After events in The Confessor, he has developed a close relationship with the Pope. When Dr. Claudia Andreatti falls to her death in St. Peter’s Basilica, Gabriel is asked by his friend and the Pope’s private secretary, Luigi Donati, to quietly investigate. At first, Claudia's death is assumed to be a suicide. Once Gabriel discovers she was documenting the provenance of some of the Vatican's precious art objects, another motive comes into play. The chain of events, starting with the murder in St. Paul's, involves many twists and turns. Gabriel show more and his team begin to follow a trail that leads them to art theft, terrorist explosions, a kidnapped Iranian diplomat and even a potential plot to kill the Pope on his upcoming visit to Israel and Palestine.
Gabriel has had a past life filled with anguish. His son and wife were blown up in an explosion targeting Gabriel and he is filled with a constant struggle to understand and accept his new love and life. The writing and research in this book is flawless. Gabriel's poignant back story and tender scenes with his wife, Chiara, provide moments of humanity to a man who knows he's killed many times before. The relationship between Donati and Gabriel is very vivid and humorous.
Daniel Silva takes a complex story and makes it a thriller. The author also puts in a note at the end of the book to tell you the true stories that the fictional novel is based on. I can't think of anyone whose books I look forward to so much. Over the years I've read each one as soon as it's published and am now making my way through them in audio. I enjoy them even more in audio, narrated by one of the true masters in audio narration, George Guidall. show less
Gabriel has had a past life filled with anguish. His son and wife were blown up in an explosion targeting Gabriel and he is filled with a constant struggle to understand and accept his new love and life. The writing and research in this book is flawless. Gabriel's poignant back story and tender scenes with his wife, Chiara, provide moments of humanity to a man who knows he's killed many times before. The relationship between Donati and Gabriel is very vivid and humorous.
Daniel Silva takes a complex story and makes it a thriller. The author also puts in a note at the end of the book to tell you the true stories that the fictional novel is based on. I can't think of anyone whose books I look forward to so much. Over the years I've read each one as soon as it's published and am now making my way through them in audio. I enjoy them even more in audio, narrated by one of the true masters in audio narration, George Guidall. show less
Any book featuring Gabriel Allon, former Israeli spy/assassin and current art restoration genius will have a complex plot. Gabriel is currently restoring a Caravaggio painting at the Vatican. After events in The Confessor, he has developed a close relationship with the Pope. When Dr. Claudia Andreatti falls to her death in St. Peter’s Basilica, Gabriel is asked by his friend and the Pope’s private secretary, Luigi Donati, to quietly investigate. At first, Claudia's death is assumed to be a suicide. Once Gabriel discovers she was documenting the provenance of some of the Vatican's precious art objects, another motive comes into play. The chain of events, starting with the murder in St. Paul's, involves many twists and turns. Gabriel show more and his team begin to follow a trail that leads them to art theft, terrorist explosions, a kidnapped Iranian diplomat and even a potential plot to kill the Pope on his upcoming visit to Israel and Palestine.
Gabriel has had a past life filled with anguish. His son and wife were blown up in an explosion targeting Gabriel and he is filled with a constant struggle to understand and accept his new love and life. The writing and research in this book is flawless. Gabriel's poignant back story and tender scenes with his wife, Chiara, provide moments of humanity to a man who knows he's killed many times before. The relationship between Donati and Gabriel is very vivid and humorous.
Daniel Silva takes a complex story and makes it a thriller. The author also puts in a note at the end of the book to tell you the true stories that the fictional novel is based on. I can't think of anyone whose books I look forward to so much. Over the years I've read each one as soon as it's published and am now making my way through them in audio. I enjoy them even more in audio, narrated by one of the true masters in audio narration, George Guidall. show less
Gabriel has had a past life filled with anguish. His son and wife were blown up in an explosion targeting Gabriel and he is filled with a constant struggle to understand and accept his new love and life. The writing and research in this book is flawless. Gabriel's poignant back story and tender scenes with his wife, Chiara, provide moments of humanity to a man who knows he's killed many times before. The relationship between Donati and Gabriel is very vivid and humorous.
Daniel Silva takes a complex story and makes it a thriller. The author also puts in a note at the end of the book to tell you the true stories that the fictional novel is based on. I can't think of anyone whose books I look forward to so much. Over the years I've read each one as soon as it's published and am now making my way through them in audio. I enjoy them even more in audio, narrated by one of the true masters in audio narration, George Guidall. show less
A solid addition to the Allon canon by Silva, who rarely disappoints. I liked the fact that there was a significant Catholic component to this one and enjoyed seeing those Catholics and the usual band of Israelis working so well together. Very much the same way that it is in the real world, in fact. Differences of opinion, sure, but lots of mutual respect. And lots of shared threats.
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The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva is the 12th book in the Gabriel Allon series, sending the master spy and art restorer extraordinaire from the Vatican to Jerusalem. Once again, Allon founds himself in the middle of geopolitical events.
Gabriel Allon, ex-Israeli Mossad agent and current art restorer for the Vatican is hired to restore a Caravaggio. However, Allon’s restoration plans go sideways when a woman, a Vatican curator, is found dead.
Monsignor Luigi Donati asked Allon to investigate the incident quietly, suspecting foul play. The investigation quickly spirals into a massive, international conspiracy that intents on sparking a global war.
I’m really surprised show more how good this book is, the characters continue to grow and expand, and the story is exciting. I especially enjoyed that Allon’s psyche parallels the painting he’s restoring. Maybe that was the way in the previous books and I didn’t notice.
I enjoyed the historical research, again, and narrative which kept me on my toes. As in every book, Mr. Silva’s notes at the end separate fact from fiction, which is appreciated as always.
This book is an excellent thriller. Especially since we know who’s going to do what, but how the sinister plot is going to be stopped.
The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva combines religion, geopolitics, history and of course, art to form a coherent and electrifying narrative. Allon’s personal life is put on the side of the book, but his relationship with Monsignor Donati is one of the highlights. These two powerful men, with different life experience, find themselves understanding each other and how the realpolitik mechanization of the world around them.
Silva’s books in 2026, reads prophetic in the ancient sense of the word (interpreting current events to guess the future). This is one of the best books in the series and is a must read for anyone thinking that the world has to accommodate extremists or craziness, or intellectual laziness. show less
The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva is the 12th book in the Gabriel Allon series, sending the master spy and art restorer extraordinaire from the Vatican to Jerusalem. Once again, Allon founds himself in the middle of geopolitical events.
Gabriel Allon, ex-Israeli Mossad agent and current art restorer for the Vatican is hired to restore a Caravaggio. However, Allon’s restoration plans go sideways when a woman, a Vatican curator, is found dead.
Monsignor Luigi Donati asked Allon to investigate the incident quietly, suspecting foul play. The investigation quickly spirals into a massive, international conspiracy that intents on sparking a global war.
I’m really surprised show more how good this book is, the characters continue to grow and expand, and the story is exciting. I especially enjoyed that Allon’s psyche parallels the painting he’s restoring. Maybe that was the way in the previous books and I didn’t notice.
I enjoyed the historical research, again, and narrative which kept me on my toes. As in every book, Mr. Silva’s notes at the end separate fact from fiction, which is appreciated as always.
This book is an excellent thriller. Especially since we know who’s going to do what, but how the sinister plot is going to be stopped.
The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva combines religion, geopolitics, history and of course, art to form a coherent and electrifying narrative. Allon’s personal life is put on the side of the book, but his relationship with Monsignor Donati is one of the highlights. These two powerful men, with different life experience, find themselves understanding each other and how the realpolitik mechanization of the world around them.
Silva’s books in 2026, reads prophetic in the ancient sense of the word (interpreting current events to guess the future). This is one of the best books in the series and is a must read for anyone thinking that the world has to accommodate extremists or craziness, or intellectual laziness. show less
I'm just getting hold of this author's pattern - using a similar formula for all his novels - the some time spy Gabriel Allon is sent to investigate a intriguing murder which leads him uncover a big terrorist attack and the protagonist is left with but saving the world from apocalypse... Though this book had the elements to keep it's pages turning... starting with death of a curator at Vatican, to the illicit trading of antiquities, to the kidnapping of a diplomatic passport holder (this part was racy), to the killing of terrorists and finally the big threat of destruction the holy land...
Until this author can keep the readers glued to his works, I'm OK with Allon returning from retirement yet again to save the world from ending :)
Until this author can keep the readers glued to his works, I'm OK with Allon returning from retirement yet again to save the world from ending :)
Phew, a lot of action and tension in this book. Sadly, it was written in 2012 and fast forward to 2025 and the same conflicts are still pressing.
In this book, Antiquities are being stolen and smuggled tying Hamas, Hezbollah, the mafia, and the Vatican all together, and Gabrieal is in the thick of it. While he's in the Vatican restoring a painting, he doesn't get to do much when he is once again thrust into saving the world. You can sense some weariness in him, as he had wanted to walk away from that life, but he can't, too much is at stake.
Fast paced with lots of action. Good book.
In this book, Antiquities are being stolen and smuggled tying Hamas, Hezbollah, the mafia, and the Vatican all together, and Gabrieal is in the thick of it. While he's in the Vatican restoring a painting, he doesn't get to do much when he is once again thrust into saving the world. You can sense some weariness in him, as he had wanted to walk away from that life, but he can't, too much is at stake.
Fast paced with lots of action. Good book.
I love Gabriel Allon and the "Office" (the Israeli spy organization). Daniel Silva's books are well-written with interesting characters and plots. How many spies are world-renowned art restorers on the side? This one is very clean, just one objectionable word. I love that the author doesn't rely on obscenities to evoke emotion, just an intelligent plot and well-written dialogue.
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Author Information
45+ Works 44,319 Members
Daniel Silva was born in Michigan in 1960. While pursuing a master's degree in international relations, he received a temporary job with United Press International to help cover the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Soon after, he left his graduate program to work full-time for United Press International. He worked in San Francisco and show more Washington, D. C. and as a Middle East correspondent in Cairo and the Persian Gulf. He was working at CNN when his first novel, The Unlikely Spy, was published. In 1997. He then left CNN to become a full-time author. His novels include The Fallen Angel, The English Girl, The Other Woman, and other titles in the Gabriel Allon series. He won the Barry Award for Best Thriller for The Messenger in 2006. In 2014 he made The New York Times Best Seller List with The Heist and The English Spy made the list in 2015. The Black Widow is his latest bestseller. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Fallen Angel
- Original title
- The Fallen Angel
- Original publication date
- 2012-07-01
- People/Characters
- Gabriel Allon; Luigi Donati (Monsignor); Eli Lavon; Uzi Navot; Ari Shamron; Chiara Zolli (show all 8); Adrian Carter; Massud Rahimi
- Important places
- Vatican City; St. Moritz, Graubünden, Switzerland; Jerusalem; Vienna, Austria; Berlin, Germany
- Epigraph
- I warn against shedding blood,
indulging in it and making a habit of it,
for blood never sleeps.
SALADIN - Dedication
- For Louis Toscano, who has been there from the beginning. And, as always, for my wife, Jamie, and my children, Lily and Nicholas.
- First words
- It was Niccolò Moretti, caretaker of St. Peter's Basilica, who made the discovery that started it all.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And Gabriel Allon, renowned restorer of Old Master paintings, retired Israeli spy and assasin, and savior of the Holy Father, had vanished without a trace.
- Publisher's editor
- Ottewell, Miranda
- Blurbers
- Cheuse, Alan
- Original language
- English
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- Reviews
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- Rating
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- Languages
- 10 — Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 59
- ASINs
- 12