by Daniel Silva
Part of Gabriel Allon, book 22
First published 2022
Gabriel Allon stares at a 17th century painting that should not exist. The art restorer turned Israeli intelligence operative has discovered what appears to be an authentic old master, but something feels wrong. The canvas has fooled leading experts and sold for millions, yet Allon suspects an elaborate deception lurks beneath the brushstrokes. His investigation pulls him into the shadowy world of international art forgery, where billion-dollar reputations hang on the authenticity of a single work. From auction houses to private collections, Allon follows a trail of lies that spans multiple countries. Each clue reveals another layer of fraud in a scheme more complex than he imagined. As Allon closes in on the truth, he realizes the forged painting connects to something far more dangerous than art crime. The people behind this deception will kill to protect their secret. Allon must use both his expertise in restoration and his skills as a spy to survive a hunt that threatens to destroy him.
Genres: art, historical-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, espionage
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation, secret-identity
Setting: Israel
Period: 21st Century
431 pages · Hardcover · Harper