Moscow Rules (Gabriel Allon) by Daniel Silva
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Book Reviews of Moscow Rules (Gabriel Allon)
Book Review: Russian Tales
Summary: 4 Stars
In this volume of Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series, Allon finds himself opposing a vicious Russian arms dealer, Ivan Kharkov, who has moved up to a level of lethalness in the weapons he sells to terrorist groups, including Al Queda. However, Al Queda and other terrorist groups do not make an appearance in Moscow Rules. Instead the growing threat from a resurgent Russia is the focus. The deaths of journalists attempting to expose Kharkov bring the Israeli Allon into the picture and away from the honeymoon that was about to begin in the last installment. The story takes place across Europe and Russia as Allon becomes determined to take Kharkov down, but save the innocent around him. Kharkov is not a rogue force and Allon also has to contend a Russian government that has become increasingly authoritarian, brutal, and allied with criminals. For those who have read Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series, "Moscow Rules" can be formulaic and predictable at times. However, Silva is a terrific writer with appealing characters and interesting settings. This book, while similar to others in the Gabriel Allon, has enough spark, new material, and tense scenes to keep the storyline fresh and riveting. While not at the top of Silva's story-telling skills, Moscow Rules is an excellent read for anybody who enjoys spy thillers.
Book Review: Allon Continues
Summary: 4 Stars
Daniel Silva is a fine storyteller, and the Gabriel Allon franchise is first rate. This book carries the flag well. It is a fast paced story that illuminates yet another corner of the terrorist world. This time it is the new Russian oligarch thugs whose activities include trafficking weapons to African warlords and radical Islamists.
The story is fast paced and interesting. Allon and his Israeli team call in their counterparts from around the western world, and the story builds on relationships developed in earlier installments of the Allon series. Silva does a particularly good job of simultaneously reminding regular readers of past adventures while providing background so that new readers do not feel lost. Regular readers by now know Allon, his team and his international counterparts pretty well.
While an excellent read, this is not the best of the Allon series. The two best are "Prince of Fire" and "The Secret Servant." The first reaches back to the Israeli retribution for the Black September Munich massacres where Allon got his start. Both spend serious time exploring the backgrounds of Arab/Israeli relations and of radical Islamic terrorism. These background studies separate the great from the merely very good.
Book Review: Moscow Rules
Summary: 4 Stars
The Russians are coming. And murder follows close behind. Journalist Alex Lubin stops at a hotel in Courchevel that does not welcome him. He is found murdered in his room.
His editor then tries to get word to a special agent from Israel of what he knows and why the journalist was murdered. A meeting is arranged.
From there things take unexpected twists and turns in a riveting story by talented author Daniel Silva. Written in a style that will please the most finicky reader, this tale combines all the elements of a book worthy of being called a book. It is not a story written just to expose the reader to gore or murder for its own sake.
This tale contains messages and warnings as well as a great story, but the characters are better drawn than most thrillers. You don't expect to find warm and cozy feelings mingled in a tale about an arms dealer, but they are there. This very able author has crafted a cast of characters who could stand alone so well developed are they.
The author shows us the new Russia is merely the old Russia with a new leadership. I'm pleased to highly recommend this book by an excellent author and I'll be looking for others of his books to read. Enjoy. I sure did.
Book Review: It is good fiction, but........
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the first novel I read for Daniel Silva. He is defintely a great fiction writer, who researches his work to death. I started reading the book yesterday and I am half way through. However, I found myself a little turned off by his political views, which he does not make any effort to hide. He openly glorifies the Israeli Intelligence and any system or country that helps them. At the same time he puts down a lot of regimes in the Middle East and any system or country that helps them. I hope that in his next novel he tries to incorporate all other points of view and could understand that not everyone reading his novels will be cheering for the Mossad. After I finish Moscow Rules, I will be reading another one about WWII hoping that he will stay away from be so supportive of Israel.Book Review: Good, But Formulaic
Summary: 4 Stars
You can count on Silva to write a good spy thriller, but it's the same old Gabriel Allon formula over and over. I'm beginning to think Silva's starting to get tired, if not wealthy, and is not willing to put into his books the same amount of effort that made him so successful. But if you like the Allon character and have a pretty good talent suspending disbelief, you'll enjoy Moscow Rules.