The premiere writer of the terrorist thriller is Daniel Silva. His latest novel, The Messenger is a "hard-to-put-down" book that takes the reader around the globe, from Tel Aviv to Washington, from the Vatican to Switzerland, and from London to the Caribbean island of St. Barths.
The novel's tight plot has been compared to le Carre's intricate tales of spycraft and "behind-the-scenes" dealings -- and it's an apt comparison.
The story unfolds when a presumably peace-promoting Palestinian professor is accidentally killed and his papers reveal a very different agenda.
The action involves the world art community, the Israeli secret service, the Pope, and the President of the United States. The Messenger is a fast-paced race to stop a terrorist plot before it can develop. In the process, top Israeli agent, Gabriel Allon's nerve and skill will be severely tested -- as will his commitment to peace. The bait in the spy game is a supposedly newly uncovered van Gogh painting, one that he finished in the last days of his life and that has been hidden away by private owners for generations. Alas, the painting is fiction just like the drama.
Unlike the good vs. evil scenarios in the cold war novels, this thriller leaves us with the realization that although one battle may be won or lost, the war is likely to continue.
The Messenger, published in July, is an enthralling late summer thriller. Well-written prose, interesting and believable characters, and lightening fast action combine for an enjoyable read.
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