Gabriel is now retired and living in Cornwall under the name of Giovanni Rossi and engaged in restoring a Rembrandt when he is called to Isherwood Fine Arts in London by his friend and colleague Julian Isherwood. Julian has been a sayan (volunteer) for Israel since 1970 and a confidante of Allon.

Bombings in Paris and Copenhagen occur the day Gabriel arrives in London to consider restoring a painting he believes is a Tiziano Vecellio (Titian). While contemplating, Gabriel and his wife Chiara, who is also a former Israeli operative, walk thru Covent Garden. Gabriel observes a man who appears to be a suicide bomber and as he attempts to shoot him, Gabriel is pulled to the ground by British policemen allowing the bomb to explode killing 18 and injuring dozens more.

Subsequently, Gabriel is taken to Scotland Yard, interrogated and released into the hands of his friend Graham Seymour, the deputy director of MI5. While in London, Gabriel also meets with Uzi Navot the head of Israel's intelligence service who encourages Gabriel to accept an invitation to visit another old friend, Adrian Carter, the director of the CIA National Clandestine Services.  

Guilt-ridden that he was unable to thwart the bombing, Gabriel accepts and learns about the "new Bin-Laden," Rashid al-Husseini the son of a Yemeni government minister who was born in America. Rashid was recruited by the CIA and for several years apparently provided good information all the while starting his own terrorist network which was presumably behind the three bombings. Together with his accomplice Malik, an attack on the United States is in the offing.  

Gabriel assembles a team with familiar figures Dina, Eli, Rimon, Yossi, and Mikhail among others. Sarah Bancroft, the art historian turned CIA agent and Ari Shamron, Gabriel's mentor, also provide assistance on a plan using financial intelligence (follow the money) to locate Rashid and Malik. From this point on, the action and suspense level build to an excellent conclusion.  

Daniel Silva has provided yet another entertaining and education novel with only a minimum of political preaching. He has skillfully incorporated current events and certainly continues as one of the foremost authors in the spy thriller genre.

--Jerry Solot