The Mark of the Assassin (Michael Osbourne Book 1)

I’ve read all of this author’s Gabriel Allon novels and enjoyed them. This book has new characters and is equally enjoyable. There is a suspenseful and fast moving plot.

Shallow characters detract from excellent adventure. Overall a good read but not at the scintillating level generated by the man from Mossad.

This was a really enjoyable and easy to read book. The characters all had depth and the story had many twists and turns.

After the obligatory WWII thriller, Daniel Silva tried to make a protagonist that would last 20 years. Michael Osbourne would last only 2 novels, this one in 1998 and one more the following year. After 2000, Gabriel Allon would surface, a formidable spy and assassin who would last over 20 years. In my opinion, Osbourne was a strong, resourceful, and intelligent protagonist, but he wasn’t interesting. His back story, and his present situation were just okay, not something that would last through many novels. I’m glad Silva junked Osbourne when he did. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be getting rid of Allon as quickly. Yes, I have really enjoyed the first 15 or so novels, but the last several have not been up to the same standard. As a 75 year old man, I cannot suspend my disbelief as a 75 year old Allon goes tearing through the countryside beating up professional killers so easily. I realize Allon is Silva’s life’s work, but he needs to start anew or retire. Michael Connelly and John Sanford, two authors in the same class, have both spawned new younger heroes. I sincerely wish Silva would do the same.

If you have not read the rest of the series, consider going back to the beginning. I have been reading this Gabriel Allon series for many many years, and I always can’t wait for the next book to come to my door from Amazon. Excellent.

While I am new to this writer, I am not new to his genre. I had read only one other book by this writer, "The Black Widow". I did a review of that book and headlined it as "scary". At that time I wasn't sure I wanted to read him any further. But...here I am. This was without question one of the best books, by any author, I have read. The plot line is superb. The rising action builds, subtly, to the anti climax, which explodes in your face. The characters, both protagonist and antagonist, are believable and well defined. The best mark I can give a book is to say that it grabbed me from page one and did not let me go until page last. This book fit that level of captivity to the tenth degree. Daniel Silva does his research so thoroughly that the story line comes out as a fact based read rather than as a work of fiction. I read a lot of counter terrorism and covert ops. This is some to the best stuff I've ever found. I expect to be reading this writer for some time. That he is so prolific only makes me more a fan.

This book held my attention, but barely. For me it hasn't been much of a page turner. In fact, I went for days at a time without picking it up. As someone else mentioned, there are too many whiny, distracting conversations between the protagonist, Michael Osbourne, and his wife, Elizabeth, who is a needy, self-centered harpy. Good grief, did Silva really intend for her to be such an emasculating bitch? The only other book character I've disliked as intensely was Nelson DeMille's idiotic John Corey. The plot itself is decent but the writing isn't up to that of the Gabriel Allon series. It lacks cohesiveness and dithers too much over inconsequential things like food and Elizabeth's all-consuming desire to become pregnant and an unreasoning jealousy involving her husband's dead former girlfriend. A little of that sort of thing is good; it rounds out and adds depth to the story, but throw in too much of it and all the wheels grind to a halt. There was too much concentration on bit-part characters for my taste. It ended up being difficult to keep track of who is who, and who is supposed to be the main character. Also, having read the Allon books first, I found the shapeshifting of Ari Shamron and a few other stock characters to be a bit confusing. Actually, I had a hard time caring about any of the characters. The only truly interesting one is "October", the assassin.

I was so distraught when I finished all the Gabriel Allon series and delighted to find some more Silva. He is such a great writer, and especially during these fraught times I need guilt-free distractions. I get great page turning mysteries and learn so much as well, with all of Silva's books. In the Mark of the Assassin we meet a new quite likeable and not really flawed at all protagonist, Michael Osbourne. He works for the CIA. His wife is a DC lawyer and daughter of a powerful former Senator. I almost didn't read the book because the prologue was so extremely violent, but my curiosity prevailed and I am so glad I continued. Typical Silva, great writing, great rounded characters, great mysteries, rampant and frightening corruption and evil in the government. Loved it. TID BITS: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free: The creed of the CIA taken from John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall piss you off. The staff version She was Huntsville rich. Her family made money from horses and from cotton, some of which was stuffed inside her head, masquerading as a brain: Alatron Defense Systems voluntarily withdrew from the national missile defense project after Sterling, chairman of the Armed Service Committee, promised to "conduct the congressional equivalent of a rectal exam."

Daniel Silva nos traz uma nova série, sobre um agente da Cia, muito suspense desde o início. Alguns personagens da série Gabriel Allon estão presentes.

One of Silva’s pre Allon books. Some chapters baffled me like the Israeli Chief mentioned attending a meeting but no mention of him after. Connection to the plot unclear. More sex than his Allon series. Ending left one high and dry. Recommended.

Great characters and interesting plot. I hope the author will some day create a new series of novels with these characters.

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Another of his Fantastic works!!!!