Ransom by Daniel Silva
I have long been a fan of Daniel Silva’s espionage books.
Unlike the more fantastical plots spun by Dan Brown, his work usually mirrors
real-life international intrigue closely enough to retain a sense of
plausibility. His main character, Gabriel
Allon, is a retired Israeli spy chief and renowned art restoration guru. Ransom begins with the kidnapping of
Alice Winter, who is married to billionaire real estate mogul Edward Knight. Allon
is drawn from his Cornwall retirement to help find her and negotiate a price for
her release. Needless to say, the right price turns out to be very wrong and
the attention shifts toward a complicated Russian-based plot to target multiple
armed drones on NATO airports and the city of London itself. Given the increasing
use of drones in the Russia/Ukraine war, this is no longer an improbable piece
of futurism. Allon must turn to some of
his most trusted friends in the United States and European intelligence
services to solve the challenge. The final pages will keep your heart rate
elevated right up to the last syllable.
Silva’s London and European locations are depicted in delicious
detail. Financial and political intrigue abound at every turn. And there are enough
close shaves to make a professional barber proud. Some might find Silva’s plots
too melodramatic, but I think this one meets all the requirements of a first-class
thriller.
I give it a 4.5 out
of 5
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