Putin's Russia and the possible start of a new cold war is being discussed increasingly in the news. As usual, Daniel Silva is current in international politics and incorporates the headlines into the plot of Moscow Rules.

The opening finds Gabriel Allon enjoying his honeymoon. As usual, he is interrupted by Shamron who calls him away for an errand that is supposed to last a few hours, but winds up taking days and results in a close brush with death for Gabriel and his fellow operatives.

I found the first half of this book slow, perhaps because Silva spends more time than usual introducing Gabriel (and the reader) to Russia and its issues. During the second half the action ramps up and there are elaborate schemes, beatings, shootouts, and other typical (yet very welcome) Silva plot elements. Moscow Rules is not the best of the series, but it is a nice change of scenery.

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