Militant Islamists Foiled by Angel - A Review
Daniel Silva's Tale of International Terrorism and Arms Dealing
Ivan Kharkov, Russian Oligarch, arms dealer, ex-KGB agent and child of KGB wealth and status, has made millions selling arms to third world countries. In the world of modern commercial ethics, he is a respected businessman, admired and feared, but never prosecuted. The plight of individuals in the third world is not of much concern for Western governments, even though much has been written and filmed and many millions have been slaughtered.
Things change when the Israeli security services become aware of email messages containing the words, ‘the swords of Allah’. An attack is imminent, threatening the safety of the West and Israel, but until the details are discovered, every avenue must be approached. While Israel is generally shunned by all, when it comes to controlling Islamist terrorist plots, the Americans, Brits and French are quick to ally themselves with Israel.
Gabriel Allon is living quietly in a villa in Umbria, Italy, restoring a Vatican-owned painting by Nicholas Poussin, The Martyrdom of St. Erasmus, when he is ordered by the Old Man of Special Ops, Ari Shamron, to meet with Boris Ostrovsky, editor in chief of Moscow’s Gazeta. Though on his honeymoon, Gabriel agrees to the meeting when he finds that Ostrovsky will only deliver his information, information considered vital to the safety of the world, to Gabriel.
Before Ostrovsky can deliver his message to Gabriel, he is killed by the siloviki, ex KGB men who are still running things in Russia, men who do not take kindly to dissent and will kill to silence it, inside and outside of Russia. Forced to go to Russia itself, where Jews are not welcome, Gabriel contacts the now acting Editor in chief of Gazeta, Olga Sukhova, where he learns the deadly truth behind Ivan Karkhov’s arms sales. Thanks to Karkhov, hundreds of deadly iglas, the most sophisticated and deadly missiles made by the Russians, are in the hands of al Qaeda, ready to be rained down on sensitive targets in all the major European, American and Israeli cities. The destruction and loss of life would be untenable.
Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva, is one of many in the series concerning Gabriel Allon, one of the most appealing characters in the world of espionage fiction. Like the others preceding it, Moscow Rules is masterfully crafted, with the action racing from Italy, home of the Vatican and so many of the Old Masters; to France, playground of the rich and pampered; to Britain and America, Russia’s ancient enemies; and finally to Israel, home to Gabriel and his wife, Chiara. It shows a world where the Cold War has never finished, with Russia trying to re-assert itself as a major power, intent on toppling its arch-enemy and the only remaining superpower, America. It is also a grim reminder of the chaos and destruction caused by those motivated by hate and greed.
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-399-15501-7
What do you think about this article?
More in Reading & Literature
Latest Articles