The Defector

by Daniel Silva

Book Overview

In Moscow Rules Gabriel Allon went up against the sadisitc Ivan Kharkov. Now he must outsmart him once and for all in this #1 New York Times bestseller from Daniel Silva. Grigori Bulganov once saved Gabriel Allon's life in Moscow--and Allon always repays his debts. So when the former Russian intelligence officer vanishes, Allon gathers his team of operatives to go after those responsible. But, in a running battle that rages across the globe, Allon...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451230663
• ISBN13: 9780451230669
• Release Date: July 2010
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.4" x 7.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A great read!

After reading all of the Gabriel Allon series, I must say that I enjoyed this one the most. It was well thought out, has a lot of twists and turns, and ended with a nice gentle conclusion. In general, the books seem to be well researched and have a fictional/documentary type feel about them. Looking forward to the continuation of the series!

Thrills abound in latest, darkest Gabriel Allon thriller

Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series continues to grow in unexpected was with the ninth book in the series, "The Defector." Allon, "retired" Israeli assassin who wants nothing more to retire to his beloved paintings, keeps getting thrust into Europe's most sinister crimes. This is bad news for Allon's friends and family, but great news for us, the reader. Silva has long used Allon and his adventures to explore the unpleasant history of Europe's treatment of the dispossessed in the 20th century - the crimes committed against the gypsies, the peasants, the dissidents, and most particularly the Jews. Silva clearly believes that today's Europe has many crimes against humanity that remain unsettled, and that those currently in power will do virtually anything to keep those crimes buried. When it comes to the elite of Europe, those who summer on megayachts in St. Tropez and winter in the chalets of St. Moritz, they will do just about anything to maintain the status quo. "The Defector" spins out of the grim "Moscow Rules," that brought Allon face-to-face with Russia, perhaps the most bleak and corrupt land in all of Europe. Through his operations in that book, Allon made some powerful enemies . . . enemies that know how to strike back. Hard. And so it is that the apparent "re-defection" of a Russian intelligence operative from the streets of London becomes the first overt step in a complex game of revenge against Allon and those closest to him. What transpires is dark stuff - Silva makes it clear that the "operations" these spies undertake leave scars even if successful. Unlike James Bond, who can send an evil henchman to his death and spin off a bon mot seconds later, Gabriel Allon feels the human cost of killing. That's not to say that he won't do it. Indeed, "The Defector" is one of the bloodiest, most gruesome novels in the series. There are several gut-wrenching scenes as torture is brought to bear - including some tactics that make waterboarding look like a walk in the park. Given the level of violence and the extremely dark themes of the book, I highly recommend against starting with this book if you haven't read the other novels in the series. Silva does a commendable job of conveying each character's back story, but given the high degree of violence it helps to understand the characters involved - you can see how far they are pushed in this book in order for them to take the actions they do. Yet another "thriller" that has a lot of good stuff to say about our world and our heritage of violence, "The Defector" is a smash.

Gabriel Allon Lives On

THE DEFECTOR is another thriller from Daniel Silva. Though the stories about Allon are similar, each one is exciting and unique. If you have yet to read one of Daniel Silva's books, this would be a good start.

Daniel Silva Continues his Brilliant Character Study in THE DEFECTOR

In the follow-up to his 2008 New York Time's Best Seller, MOSCOW RULES, author Daniel Silva picks up exactly where the action last left off, and THE DEFECTOR is a brilliantly crafted novel that is unparalleled in its genre. What makes THE DEFECTOR so unique is found within its main character, Gabriel Allon, one of the world's premiere art restorers who just happens to be an Israeli intelligence officer and assassin. Allon is one of the most incredibly complex and dynamic characters to be found in modern literature, and Silva's newest novel further builds and expands upon the Allon mythology, creating a fascinating character who must deal with the dichotomous nature of the two worlds in which he exists. In fact, it is here where Silva's greatest strength as an author is found, for he is able to blend seamlessly elements of both intense page turning action with subtle examinations of character. The result is a book that is simply brilliant. Having a main character who is an assassin, and one who can kill easily and without remorse, seems an unlikely choice for an audience to become invested in, but with Gabriel Allon, Silva is able to craft a character who is so well realized that the reader becomes hungry to learn more about him. This is the ninth novel to feature the Gabriel Allon character, and in this outing, Silva examines the relationships between Allon and those he is closest too, including those relationships both professional as well as private. Allowing the reader to see this side of the character, including moments of absolute tenderness showing how much Allon cares for his wife Chiara and how deeply he loves her, is what transforms him from that of the seemingly invincible spy character that is so prevalent in the genre into something that is more human, and in turn, much more accessible to the reader. When asked if he had in fact created a love story, Silva states, "It's true. A heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat, and sometimes extremely violent love story, but a love story nonetheless. I feel as if I've developed a real bond with my readers, and I've learned something extremely valuable from them. While they're captivated by Gabriel's adventures, they also follow his personal trials and misfortunes very carefully-especially my female readers." This broad appeal to all readers, and the willingness to show a side of a main character that most other authors would shy away from is what makes THE DEFECTOR so intriguing. Knowing what is at stake for Allon, and knowing that he is simply not just an emotionless killer bound by duty to his country, is what helps build the tension of the novel. The love story actually then punctuates the action that unfolds while underscoring it with anxiety for the reader. You want Allon to succeed because you know what he will lose if he does not. It is important to note though that having a love story in an intensely action orientated spy novel does not mean that the female characters in the book, such as C