The Fallen Angel

by Daniel Silva
(Gabriel Allon series #12)

One of the measures of a good author is consistency, and by that standard, Daniel Silva is fantastic. The Fallen Angel is another excellent book in Silva's series featuring Gabriel Allon.

I've mentioned before how a series of books featuring the same characters will oftentimes get old and stale for me. Silva's Allon books have definitely not suffered that same trend. Even though each one tends to start the same--with Gabriel beginning the process of restoring some priceless painting by an Italian master, and getting pulled back into his former life as an Israeli intelligence officer, the field operation that he ends up leading is original and captivating.

This time it's a painting by Caravaggio that he's restoring for the Vatican when he's summoned to St. Peter's Basilica by the secretary to the Pope to examine the body of a woman lying dead from an apparent suicide jump from high up inside the dome. It's clear to Gabriel that the woman has been murdered, and his investigation into her death places him in the crosshairs of terrorists who have been stealing masterpieces to finance their operations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆