Gabriel Allon, one of the world’s most famous spies, has quietly moved to Venice with his wife and two children. He worked with Israeli intelligence for decades before becoming its chief. But the time has come for him to enjoy a well-earned retirement from the spy business. He’s also a master art restorer, a pursuit he wishes to continue.

One morning, while taking his coffee at his favorite Venetian café, General Ferrari of the Art Squad approaches Gabriel with a problem. A priceless painting that has been missing resurfaced recently. At least they believe it is the real thing. Would Gabriel make a quick trip to Amalfi and authenticate it? Just a simple request; he’ll be home for dinner. Of course, Gabriel knows it will not be as straightforward as that. However, he does not know how complicated it will become. Nor how deadly.

"Of course, Daniel Silva would write a story with nothing less than spectacular drama that moves along with the speed of lightning."

General Ferrari may have misled Gabriel on more than one aspect. In Amalfi, the problem isn’t simply authenticating a work of art. It seems that a murder occurred two nights before, and a Vermeer called The Concert was stolen. This is where things begin to get complicated. The thief is a quite slippery, incredibly talented, very beautiful and brilliant woman. So that part of the puzzle is solved. Now for the receiver. After working hard to figure out who commissioned the theft, Gabriel and his team discover it’s a man who goes by the moniker “Collector.” The chase is on.

Pursuing The Concert uncovers a much larger issue than mere stolen art. It requires Gabriel to come out of retirement and dust off his skills. Since he still has ties to The Office, he recruits his team, the best of the best, considering the gravity of the situation. Plus he adds a surprise operative to the team: the thief. There’s no denying she’s the best person for the job. And she wants to help. There’s a big catch, though. If she fails, she dies. As does her partner. And possibly hundreds of thousands of people. Maybe millions.

Set during the late stages of the pandemic, everyone must follow certain extra protocols, some of which may be beneficial to the players at times. And dancing around the war in Ukraine, Gabriel and company have to watch every move they make, for the Russian president seems highly unstable. The country hasn’t been this dangerous in eons. Besides, Gabriel cannot, under any circumstances, step foot inside Russia. If he does, he’s a dead man. Working this operation from afar will be tough, but he has to trust that he has chosen the right people. Otherwise, the consequences for the world could be cataclysmic. Working this operation for those closest is heart-poundingly frightening. One wrong step, just one, and they don’t get out alive.

Even with the master spy retired, the thrills and tensions run high. What begins as an easy identification of a masterpiece leads him into the shady banking underworld of Switzerland (and elsewhere), then on to saving the world from a powerful madman. Of course, Daniel Silva would write a story with nothing less than spectacular drama that moves along with the speed of lightning. He has brought his protagonist out of retirement for the most important assignment yet. THE COLLECTOR is very timely and scary as the devil!