I will admit that I’d not come across Daniel Silva’s books before, despite having ‘aquired’ a few along the way. I don’t know what his reputation is, if I’m supposed not to like his stuff, or if I’m supposed to think he’s the best in his field.So…I will admit that this gripped me from the off, only loosening its grip a couple of times along the way. It is, or at least started off being, right up my street - with an old, Jewish, veteran of World War II being killed and the killing made to look like it was the work of Neo-Nazis. There’s an art restorer in Venice, I think it was, who is contacted, re-activated I suppose it should be, and sent by Israeli security to find the killer(s).I find out later, that the main man, this art-restorer agent, is actually one of Silva’s heroes and that this is book three, featuring him. I didn’t know that at the time and it didn’t seem like I was made to feel like I was missing anything, by not having read the previous books - and that’s a good thing. He does go uncomfortably near Dan Brown territory sometimes, but I guess that’s almost unavoidable in this sort of thriller. Fortunately it wasnt too many times, but eyes do go - appropriately enough - heavenward, at the mention of secret Catholic, Italian, behind the scenes, secretly controlling everything Brotherhoods. They’re never sisterhoods, these things. Why is that? Maybe women writers have sisterhoods in their books, I don’t know.He’s a good writer, it was appropriately well woven. The grip did lessen somewhat, when I felt the novel moved from ‘The Arms Maker of Berlin' territory, to James Bond. With the assassin for hire, living as recluse in valley in Switzerland with expensive but 'perfect' taste, expert skier etc, etc, plastic surgeon altering his face periodically (!). It got a little predictable, falling neatly into the trap all American thriller writers fall into, by equating money with taste and expensive things showing sophistication, the more expensive the ’taste’ the more sophisticated the villain is. And of course, the more sophisticated a person is, the more evil they must be. However, it finally came back strongly, to go ‘Day of The Jackally.’ The good parts are the more believable sections, relating to WWII and the whole (possibly) centres around The Wannsee Conference of 20 January, 1942: “The most despicable luncheon in history” as he describes it here.Yes, it was sometimes a little formulaic, but it’s a formula I like, so that’s ok and it feels generally a cut-above the average. I think it would have succeeded better, especially in the believability stakes, if he had aimed a little lower and not at “the epicenter of the Roman Catholic Church” as Dan Brown et al, always feel they need to. I think, seen stepping back, it was my kind of espionage, thriller, one that will just about keep you guessing, keep you looking for possible clues to the end. Nothing world-shattering, but a decent enough waste of my time. I’ll have to get on to the previous ones in the series. So I suppose it’s done its job there.
I think it's interesting how each book treats one subject important to the world's (or Europe's) Jews and/or modern-day Israel. The last one was about the Swiss banks' role in and after the Holocaust and its plundering of Europe's Jews (along with the Nazis' physical elimination of them), this one about the Vatican and Pope Pius XII. I also liked the general plot of this one, although there are some parts I find a bit hard to believe in. They're details, but still annoying. Like, towards the end, when the two assassins get away on a motorcycle. Hard to believe they'd waste time on changing the driver only in order to have "less important character" ride on the back so that she could be killed instead of "more important character", who was made to drive the bike... of course, it serves the plot, but it makes no sense. And again, not enough detail in the final chapter, when "most important assassin" gets his due. How did Gabriel find him? Did I miss something? I want to know. Spy novels should be like good caper movies: lots of details, no unsolved "how did they do that" questions, they don't need to be realistic, but I need to believe in the story within its own fictional universe. Sometimes, Silva fails in the latter. Shame, because with a bit more working-out, making his novels perhaps 50 pages longer, he'd earn an extra star from me. It's still decent entertainment, and the characters are enjoyable, although the "yet another beautiful girl falls in love with Gabriel Allon" theme is getting a bit old now. He's not James Bond. I want to see HIM fall in love with a girl who doesn't want him. Or something. Just give me something I can't guess on first sight.
What do You think about The Confessor (2004)?
The Catholic Church is the background for this 3rd installment of Israeli Operative/Art Restorer Gabriel Allon's latest assignment. It reminded me heavily of the movie version of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code; a book I have not read. Sophisticated, elegant and wisely written Silva unravels the story through his practice of titling chapters in locations. As in most good spy novels there's gun play and chases through historic streets and The Vatican figures prominently in this fictionalized story. Allon is called to investigate the murder of a friend/professor who is on leave and writing a book on the church's relationship with the Holocaust. Silva produces believable characters and this is why I have become an instant fan!
—LA Carlson
O terceiro livro da série do charmoso Grabriel Allon, tal como os anteriores, leva-nos numa viagem pelo mundo. Desde Veneza até Roma, de Munique até um palacete de luxo na Suíça, de um convento ao pé do lago até Londres e França, o livro tem um ritmo extraordinário e a leitura decorre com naturalidade. E pronto, aqui terminam as minhas observações positivas.Em relação às personagens, Daniel Silva não as apresenta com sucesso. Limita-se a bombardear o leitor com nomes e cargos profissionais e afins, com descrições superficiais e desprovidas de conteúdo interessante, tornando difícil sentir empatia por quem quer que seja, tendo me sido indiferente a linha de ação de cada uma delas. Afinal de contas, não as conhecia de lado nenhum! O Gabriel Allon é bastante atraente e sedutor, já percebemos que é hábil com o sexo oposto, seria desnecessário, na minha modesta opinião, ter uma nova mulher em cada nova missão. Afinal de conta, a sua esposa encontra-se internada e mesmo não se lembrando dele acho que aos seus casos amorosos se chama "traição". De qualquer forma, Daniel Silva poupa-nos a descrições exageradas de cenas de sexo. Quem diria! Mais um aspeto positivo (estava camuflado este!).Todas as personagens já mataram e vão voltar a matar se for preciso. Estão bem uns para os outros, é só o que tenho a dizer. O que os difere são os motivos que os movem e no final do livro chegamos à conclusão que nenhum deles é verdadeiramente puro e bom. Só o Papa. A sério, o livro guia-nos mesmo até à bondade sem segunda intenções do Papa.Quanto ao enredo, a história é bastante simples, sem grandes surpresas ou credibilidade. Gabriel Allon é novamente arrastado por Ari Shamron do seu trabalho como cidadão comum - pintor. Mais uma vez, contra a sua vontade, o talentoso pintor e espião (um homem muito dotado!) envolve-se numa missão de vingança. Outro dos agentes de Shamron, e o seu antigo colega foi assassinado, enquanto investigava a colaboração do Vaticano com os Nazis. Muito drama, muito exagero e as conclusões são as seguintes: os judeus são uns coitadinhos, pobrezinhos e sempre o serão e a igreja é, fundamentalmente, má, apesar de toda a gente pensar que é boazinha e que ajuda toda a gente, só pensam no poder e nos benefícios que ele lhes trás.Um livro que começou por ser interessante, agradável e misterioso e que se revelou, aos poucos, muito repetitivo em relação aos primeiros dois livros da série. As acusações à igreja não me incomodaram, o surrealismo em volta dos assassinos também não, mas já tive a minha dose de Gabriel Allon.
—Maria João Fernandes
Daniel Silva’s book The Confessor, like most of his books, was an easy enjoyable political suspense story.The main character Gabriel Allon, an Israeli assasin/spy/art restorer, who for me is always the big attraction. Allon was assigned to investigate the murder of Benjamin Stern in Munich with virtually no clues. A second story line involves the death of a pope and conspiracy to hide secrets surrounding how the church handled the Holocaust. Crux Vera, a secret church organization, further complicates Allon’s homicide investigation.Trying to avoid spoiler alerts I would just add that if you are looking for a suspenseful action filled book this one would meet your needs.
—Dina
