Jack S. (jack1) reviewed on 2/15/2013 + 67 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Was exiting Office Max recently and saw a small box of books with a clearance sign, not your usual Office Max fare. I picked up The Rembrandt Affair for $5. Had not read anything by Daniel Silva before but was thoroughly entertained here. This is the tenth in the Gabriel Allon series, and though I had not read any previously, that was not a problem. The book is taut, not overly tense, and had action without the violence that is so extreme in thrillers these days. Nor was the language offensive. So this makes it an all around good book in my book.

As to the plot, Allon is a master oil restorer and a retired (or so he thought) Israeli secret service agent inveigled back to service to search for a stolen Rembrandt that was taken from a Jewish family during World War II and hidden for many years. The painting holds a mystery itself. The search takes Allon to Argentina, France, and Britain, where a joint project is mounted by the Brits, the CIA, and the Israelis. From there the action moves to Switzerland, whose individuals, banks and governments hold so many secrets.

If you have not read Silva, this is a great place to start. I suspect I will be looking for prior books in the series and/or others he may have written.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details