"Daniel Silva has once again written an entrancing novel of international suspense and unexpected detours that is both educational and satisfying. Beautifully yet simply written, the book’s characters are memorable and their dialogue compelling…Gabriel Allon’s escapades remain as captivating as ever…" — The Cipher Brief, 4 out of 4 trench coats

"Prepare to be utterly captivated by Daniel Silva's latest masterpiece... A symphony of elegance, suspense, and relentless action, A Death in Cornwall is a dazzling, hypnotic tale of murder and mayhem that showcases Daniel Silva's unparalleled storytelling and highlights his prowess in the genre today... [T]his is Daniel Silva at his absolute finest." — The Real Book Spy

"Daniel Silva has delivered another stunning thriller in his action-packed tale of high-stakes international intrigue." — The Post and Courier

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini once again invites listeners into the lives of retired legendary spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon and a host of familiar characters. Allon is asked by an acquaintance to unofficially assist in the investigation of an art history professor's brutal murder in Cornwall. With the talented Ballerini as a guide, listeners follow the fast-paced plot from Venice to Cornwall, Paris, Monaco, and London. Ballerini masterfully differentiates the many characters from various countries, allowing listeners to fully engage with the story and spend time with some of the best written characters in thriller land. While fans might miss some of the old regulars from Allon's spy days, there are enough intriguing new characters to satisfy all. A nonstop listen. E.Q. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

2024-08-03
Silva takes his hero to where this bestselling series began.

Fans have gotten used to a new Gabriel Allon book every summer. Anyone wondering what the former head of Mossad might be doing during the war in Gaza will not find an answer here. This is bad news, maybe, for readers who appreciate Silva’s engagement with real-world politics, but it’s good news for those looking to this series for escape. This narrative is set in motion by the death of an art historian trying to reconnect a Picasso painting stolen by the Nazis with its rightful owner. Allon is drawn into this mystery by an old acquaintance from Cornwall, the place where he tried to escape his past and where readers first met him inThe Kill Artist (2000). As he did inThe Collector (2023), the author focuses on Allon’s connections to the art world, rather than his tenure as an assassin and intelligence operative. None of this is to say that Allon doesn’t make use of spycraft and his network of powerful international contacts. Although longtime fans may miss their favorite members of his old crew, there are plenty of familiar characters here. Allon enlists the help of hacker and master thief Ingrid Johansen and violin virtuoso Anna Rolfe. And it’s Timothy Peel—all grown up—who asks Allon for help investigating a seemingly simple case of murder that isn’t simple at all. All of this is fun enough, but it also feels a bit static. InPortrait of an Unknown Woman (2022), Allon whipped up passable forgeries of works by Renaissance masters like Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese in a matter of days. Here, his plan for recovering a Picasso requires him to produce convincing lost paintings by modernists and postmodernists with wildly different styles. The glimpses into Allon’s family life also feel rote. Silva’s fans know that Chiara can do much more than cook and smile while her husband goes off on his adventures.

A novel that delivers pretty much everything Silva’s fans want.