Short description
A complex thriller of ancient and modern betrayal. Art restorer Gabriel Allon is trying to put his Secret Service past behind him, but when his friend Benjamin Stern is murdered in Munich, he's called into action once more.
Long description
This is a complex thriller of ancient and modern betrayal from the author of The English Assassin .
Review
Art restorer Gabriel Allon makes a welcome return in Silva's tense new thriller. Once again, Allon is driven to his past life as a member of the Israeli Secret Service, when his old comrade Professor Benjamin Stern is brutally murdered. Allon's pursuit of the truth unearths a complex web of murder and intrigue that threatens not only his life, but that of the newly elected Pope. In a race against time, Allon must protect the Pope from 'Leopard'; a cold-blooded hit man hired by underground society 'Crux Vera', whose chilling secrets threaten to destroy the very foundation of the church. As a cat and mouse journey across Europe ensues, the hunters become the hunted and everyone is a target. In a racy plot that unwittingly draws its reader into a world where the boundaries between fact and fiction become blurred, this compelling page-turner is certain to appeal to fans of hard-hitting, modern-day political thrillers. (Kirkus UK)