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Among the authors who construct tales of spies and terrorists on an international stage, Daniel Silva is establishing a presence as the next master for newcomers to emulate. Strong storylines and an ensemble of fascinating characters result in novels of more substance than most in the current market. THE ENGLISH ASSASSIN is the latest and perhaps the most complex, not only in the issues it explores but the characters that we come to know within its pages.
Gabriel Allon, who made his debut appearance in THE KILL ARTIST, is a complicated man torn between two opposing worlds --- one creative, the other destructive. Publicly, he is known as one of the world's top talents in art restoration. Privately, he moves in the shadowy circles of international espionage as an operative for an Israeli spymaster. As THE ENGLISH ASSASSIN gets underway, Allon is called upon to restore a painting for Augustus Rolfe, a wealthy Swiss banker, at his home in Zurich. But he arrives to find the banker murdered and the Swiss police knowing far more about Allon's covert activities than would seem accidental. After being released and warned never to return to Switzerland, his Israeli handler reveals the true reason Allon was chosen to make contact with the banker. Rolfe was a member of a highly secret organization that had collaborated with the Nazis years ago to steal millions in valuable artwork from their occupied countries. And for some reason, just prior to his murder, Rolfe had contacted the Israelis requesting a clandestine meeting.
As Allon begins his investigation to uncover the reason for Rolfe's phone call, the trail takes him to a remote villa where Rolfe's daughter, Anna, lives in seclusion. Anna Rolfe is a famous concert violinist but, despite her remarkable talent, she is driven by personal demons that took root in her disturbing childhood. She is both empathetic and mysterious, revealing herself in bits and pieces that portray the image of a woman who has been scarred by life but refuses to succumb completely. Estranged from her father, she was also privy to secrets --- secrets that will lead her and Allon on a chilling journey through Europe and ultimately back to Switzerland to unravel the truth behind her father's final legacy.
And what of the Englishman? A mercenary for hire, the English assassin is also drawn into the vortex of the past when he stalks his assigned targets, Anna Rolfe and Gabriel Allon. Crisscrossing Europe, the assassin uncovers the network of people who ally themselves with Allon to unravel the web of corruption and deceit. And everywhere he goes, he leaves death in his wake. Just as Allon is tormented by what he feels compelled to do for his country, so is the Englishman ravaged by the dark corners of his soul. Through these two men, we see the parallels and paradoxes that have brought them to this pivotal place in their lives. Silva lays bare these characters' souls and exposes the undeniable truth --- there are no sharply defined heroes and villains. Rather, each is an amalgam of good and evil, driven to act but remorseful for those actions. Their stories form a triangular drama with the fundamental plot, all three unfolding simultaneously in the brilliant imagination of the author.
It is worth noting that despite it's fictional format, THE ENGLISH ASSASSIN is grounded in the very real events of WWII --- in particular the looting of museums and private collections of artworks that were subsequently hidden in Swiss vaults, and remain so. Silva provides some tragic statistics on the continuing resistance by Swiss officials to cooperate in any real investigation. This historical backdrop suffused with churning suspense, and thought provoking viewpoints make THE ENGLISH ASSASSIN a worthy addition to your international thriller shelf.
--- Reviewed by Ann Bruns (BkPageWC@aol.com)
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