I had mentioned previously that Daniel Silva had reconciled me with the notion of the spy thriller in the twenty-first century, and with HOUSE OF SPIES, Mr. Silva has even surpassed last's years fantastic THE BLACK WIDOW. HOUSE OF SPIES is so meticulously researched and plotted, it's had to believe that it's fiction, although it chillingly mirrors reality. It's uncanny how Mr. Silva is able to create a feeling of intimacy while describing terrorism and mayhem; how some unsavoury characters become cogs in the machine for the right cause, willingly or not; where good and evil often depends on which side you're on, and every action is intended for the greater good and where sometimes very difficult and sometimes unethical choices must be made in the blink of an eye. The characters are so sharply defined, that their backstories are nearly as captivating as the story itself, and it also makes us aware of why and how some people choose the paths they took. I also find very interesting to see how the author deals with an aging spymaster, Gabriel Allon, whom one wishes were real. Or is he?

The author's vast knowledge of the various intelligence agencies -- British, French, American, and Israeli -- and his astute observations made me feel as if I were an insider, as if I were actually along for the mission, albeit in the comfort of my own home, and seeing how they operate was utterly captivating; in fact, for a book this size, there is not one unnecessary paragraph. Aside from the exceptional tightly and flawlessly plotted story, Daniel Silva's literary abilities contribute to make HOUSE OF SPIES an outstanding book: the flawless pacing; the lack of superfluous nonsense; the always elegant yet smooth writing; the superbly easy dialogues, with an occasional bon mot that shine like a shooting star in the blackest night.

Daniel Silva is God's gift to spy thrillers lovers, and for any other author, I might wonder how one could ever top such a fabulous book, but somehow, I am not worried at all for Mr. Silva, as I feel he still has many, many exciting stories to tell. HOUSE OF SPIES is the best post Cold War thriller I have ever read, and the best spy thriller in the last several decades.

Book Summary