Podcast appearances and mentions of Gabriel Allon

Bestselling novelist Daniel Silva — creator of the Gabriel Allon series — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a conversation that starts with the craft of spy fiction and quickly becomes something closer to a threat assessment. Silva's newest plot turns on drones, and he's blunt that this isn't speculative: he believes it's a matter of time before a drone carries out an assassination or a mass-casualty attack. He talks about the strange responsibility of writing a fictional event that could plausibly happen next month, why he deliberately withholds visual detail so readers build the scene themselves, and what he learned reporting out how modern kidnappings and ransom negotiations actually work. The darker current running underneath is his read on American intelligence: the FBI is no longer the same place, the U.S. is jettisoning allies and hollowing out its agencies, and Silva poses the question a novelist is uniquely positioned to ask — if you're the GRU right now, where would you most want an asset placed? He notes that the best assets often don't know they're assets, that NATO held a crisis meeting about Trump, and that this is precisely the moment to be putting the screws to a vulnerable Putin, since Ukraine has victory in sight and isn't desperate for any deal. The conversation turns personal when Chuck asks how Silva handles Israel's collapsing global reputation in a series built around an Israeli intelligence officer. Silva says the shift was entirely foreseeable, that he has no interest in writing about Gaza, and that what saddens him most is the "fortress Israel" mindset — a country founded on European-style socialist ideals now convinced it can go it alone, siloed from the world, while antisemitism surges globally in a way he warns only ever needs the right set of circumstances to reignite. He and Chuck range across the forces reshaping the century: giant corporations approaching the power of nation-states, a new generation of the ultra-wealthy who simply don't believe in philanthropy, AI's capacity to wipe out the knowledge economy, and Silva's conviction that the next great political crisis may be a climate-driven natural disaster — noting that the last major El Niño produced famines that killed millions, that today's migration patterns are already climate-driven, and that people are dying right now as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid. He's unsparing on writing and AI), amused and appalled that Trump has turned the National Mall into a mess with a reflecting pool gone "Kermit green," and closes on the question every prolific novelist gets asked and rarely answers honestly: does he ever actually rest? Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Daniel Silva joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Gabriel Allon is ageless 02:45 How much do you put yourself into Gabriel Allon? 03:30 Gabriel’s character allows Daniel to pursue things he’s interested in 05:15 Potentially creating a spin-off series 06:30 Vibe of the book series is European art 07:15 How did you learn about modern kidnappings and negotiations 09:15 Not writing with great visual detail to allow readers to imagine it 10:15 We are going to have a major incident triggered by drones 11:15 Ukraine has become the drone specialists of the world 12:00 Drones will eventually carry out an assassination or mass casualty event 13:15 Any trepidation creating a fictional event that could actually happen? 14:15 There was an emergency drone incident in Copenhagen 14:45 Europeans are already very nervous about impacts of drones 15:30 There are cameras everywhere in modern society 16:45 The level of criminality & corruption in the world is staggering 18:00 The current FBI is no longer the same place 18:45 We are jettising allies and destroying our intelligence agencies 19:30 If you are the GRU… where would you want an asset to be? 20:30 There are different types of intelligence assets 21:00 Some of the best assets don’t realize they are assets 22:15 Crisis meeting held at NATO headquarters about Trump 25:30 We should be putting the screws to Putin right now, he’s vulnerable 26:15 Ukraine has victory in sight, they aren’t desperate for a deal 27:00 How do you tackle Israel’s reputation in the world in the books? 29:30 The changes to Israel’s reputation were foreseeable 30:00 Don’t want to write about the war in Gaza 31:00 Is all hope for a two state solution gone? 33:45 There’s a “fortress Israel” mindset, they think they can do it alone 34:15 Is Gabriel Allon still a zionist? 35:00 Israel was founded with tenets of European style socialism 36:00 It’s sad seeing Israel becoming so siloed from the world 37:30 There’s been a major resurgence of antisemitism 39:15 It only takes the right set of circumstances to reignite antisemitism 40:30 Giant corporations are becoming as powerful as nation states 42:00 The new generation of ultra wealthy don’t believe in philanthropy 42:45 AI has the ability to wipe out the knowledge economy 44:00 The next great political crisis might be a climate driven natural disaster 44:45 The last great El Nino created massive famine, killing millions 45:30 The current migration patterns are climate driven 46:00 People are dying as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid 49:30 Trump has turned the national mall into a mess 50:15 The reflecting pool is now “Kermit green” 51:30 If you could write your next book about anything, what would it be? 52:30 Don’t think he could write non-fiction, too many novels to write 54:15 If you use AI to do your writing, then that isn’t writing 57:30 Anthropic CEO gave a reasoned answer to AI military applications 58:00 Could have an AI version of yourself that lives forever 59:15 Do you ever take a rest from writing?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a story that seems small and turns out to be a perfect miniature of everything wrong with this Pentagon: a Blue Angels flyover at Pensacola Beach came in too low, the pilot who made the honest mistake felt terrible about it — and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, without bothering to establish a single fact about what happened, seized the moment to gloat and own the libs. Chuck calls Hegseth an absolute clown and a fake soldier, argues the incident is a window into a Pentagon where the boss cares more about winning an online argument than about the safety of the people he commands, and where the entire "military testosterone" discourse — Hegseth's fixation on creating "supertrooper" fighting men is both dumb and genuinely dangerous. His verdict: a great American military culture is being actively degraded. He extends the same argument to ICE, where the violence has been entirely predictable — the officer involved in the latest shooting had enormous red flags in his background, and the agency appears to have no meaningful vetting process at all. He also explains why, contrary to much of the commentary, he wasn't alarmed by Trump's primetime election-denial address: it was a nothingburger. Trump has no evidence, which is why he keeps turning to cranks — his endorsement of Mike Lindell tells you everything — and there's no policy response attached to his own foreign-interference allegations, since China has faced no sanction whatsoever for what Trump claims it did. He argues American elections are extraordinarily hard to overturn precisely because the system is decentralized, that Trump is too lazy to become a Putin or a Mao… A more disciplined president would frighten Chuck far more. Chuck sees a forever war taking shape in Iran: the strategy amounts to throwing kinetic weight at the problem and hoping the regime collapses, while Iran fights the asymmetric war it always planned, targeting Gulf states and now civilian survival infrastructure — hitting desalination plants could trigger a crisis lasting years — and nobody in Washington actually knows how to win. He closes with a genuinely important profile of Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, the intellectual architect of the new right's foreign policy and a favorite of JD Vance, whose vision of American retreat from its allies would effectively be the policy of a President Vance: Colby has trashed Mark Carney's "middle power" strategy and declared that no country is entitled to the American defense industry — which, notes, misses that buying military hardware is a 30-year bet on trusting an ally, and middle powers who conclude they can be coerced by Washington will simply take their money somewhere else. Quick hits on a messy Wisconsin governor's race (Tony Evers built no infrastructure and left no obvious heir in one of the country's most misunderstood swing states) and Tuesday's Arizona primary round things out. Then, bestselling novelist Daniel Silva — creator of the Gabriel Allon series — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a conversation that starts with the craft of spy fiction and quickly becomes something closer to a threat assessment. Silva's newest plot turns on drones, and he's blunt that this isn't speculative: he believes it's a matter of time before a drone carries out an assassination or a mass-casualty attack. He talks about the strange responsibility of writing a fictional event that could plausibly happen next month, why he deliberately withholds visual detail so readers build the scene themselves, and what he learned reporting out how modern kidnappings and ransom negotiations actually work. The darker current running underneath is his read on American intelligence: the FBI is no longer the same place, the U.S. is jettisoning allies and hollowing out its agencies, and Silva poses the question a novelist is uniquely positioned to ask — if you're the GRU right now, where would you most want an asset placed? He notes that the best assets often don't know they're assets, that NATO held a crisis meeting about Trump, and that this is precisely the moment to be putting the screws to a vulnerable Putin, since Ukraine has victory in sight and isn't desperate for any deal. The conversation turns personal when Chuck asks how Silva handles Israel's collapsing global reputation in a series built around an Israeli intelligence officer. Silva says the shift was entirely foreseeable, that he has no interest in writing about Gaza, and that what saddens him most is the "fortress Israel" mindset — a country founded on European-style socialist ideals now convinced it can go it alone, siloed from the world, while antisemitism surges globally in a way he warns only ever needs the right set of circumstances to reignite. He and Chuck range across the forces reshaping the century: giant corporations approaching the power of nation-states, a new generation of the ultra-wealthy who simply don't believe in philanthropy, AI's capacity to wipe out the knowledge economy, and Silva's conviction that the next great political crisis may be a climate-driven natural disaster — noting that the last major El Niño produced famines that killed millions, that today's migration patterns are already climate-driven, and that people are dying right now as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid. He's unsparing on writing and AI), amused and appalled that Trump has turned the National Mall into a mess with a reflecting pool gone "Kermit green," and closes on the question every prolific novelist gets asked and rarely answers honestly: does he ever actually rest? Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between the arguments in modern American politics to the argument between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev in the infamous “kitchen debate” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Pensacola Beach is the home of the Blue Angels 03:15 Low flyover from Blue Angels generated massive controversy 03:45 Hegseth has allowed unsafe flyovers in the past 04:15 Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon has been awful 05:00 Hegseth used the flyover to try to “own the libs” 05:45 The low flyover at the beach was an honest mistake by the pilot 07:30 Online discourse about flyover was both sides trying to prove their point 08:30 Hegseth didn’t even bother to figure out the facts about the incident 09:00 The pilot felt terrible about the mistake, while Hegseth gloated 11:00 Why Chuck isn’t alarmed by Trump’s election denial primetime speech 11:45 Trump has tested constitutional boundaries unlike any other president 13:30 Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell says everything 14:00 Trump doesn’t have evidence of fraud, he turns to election denial cranks 15:15 Trump’s speech was a big fat nothingburger 16:30 Trump wanted government to interfere in the 2020 election 17:30 There’s no policy response to Trump’s allegations about foreign interference 18:30 China hasn’t received any sanction or response to allegations 20:00 Trump has lackeys cherry pick facts to try to sew mistrust in elections 22:00 It is extraordinarily difficult to overturn an American election 22:45 The electoral system is decentralized making it harder to meddle with 23:30 A president more disciplined than Trump would be a bigger worry 24:30 We need to repair structural weaknesses in the democracy 25:15 Trump is too lazy to become a dictator like Putin or Mao 26:00 Trump has his sycophants… but they all fear jail too 27:15 Trump wants other people to risk themselves to keep him in power 28:30 We’re on the road to a “forever war” in Iran 29:00 The plan is just to throw kinetic weight & hope the regime collapses 29:45 Iran’s whole strategy is asymmetric, targeting Gulf states 30:15 Iran is now targeting civilian survival infrastructure 30:45 Hitting desalination plants could create a yearslong crisis 31:30 Administration keeps doubling down on the same strategy 33:30 Nobody in Washington knows how to win the war 34:30 Pete Hegseth is an absolute clown… a fake soldier 35:00 The military testosterone discourse is both dumb and dangerous 36:00 Undersecretary Elbridge Colby has a big role in shaping policy 37:30 Colby wants America to retreat from the world & our allies 38:30 Colby has been embraced by JD Vance & the new right 39:15 Colby’s policies would be those of a President JD Vance 40:30 Allies realize they can be coerced by America 42:30 Colby trashed the “middle power” strategy of Mark Carney 43:00 Colby says nobody is entitled to the U.S. military industry 44:00 Buying military hardware is a 30 year bet on trusting an ally 45:00 Middle powers will look elsewhere to buy their military equipment 46:15 Hegseth wants to create testosterone driven “supertroopers” 47:00 Women aren’t being offered a similar screening 48:00 Jesse Watters comments on testosterone were beyond awful 48:30 Most watched cable host was making sexual assault jokes 49:15 Military has had a longstanding issue with sexual assault 50:00 Young men are marketed testosterone from influencers & now government 51:00 Taking outside testosterone shuts down natural production of it 51:45 Taking testosterone has major negative side effects 53:00 Our great military culture is being destroyed by Trump 53:30 The violence from ICE officers has been entirely predictable 54:15 DHS under Trump never deserves the benefit of the doubt 55:15 Officer involved in shooting had massive red flags in his background 56:00 ICE doesn’t appear to have any vetting process for recruits 1:00:00 Wisconsin governor’s race has become a political mess 1:01:00 Tony Evers didn’t build a strong infrastructure around him 1:01:30 Evers didn’t set up an obvious heir in the Democratic party 1:03:00 The party establishment hasn’t responded to all parts of the base 1:03:45 Wisconsin is one of the most misunderstood swing states 1:05:00 Democrats in Wisconsin have to make the political center comfortable 1:07:30 Arizona primary coming up on Tuesday 01:14:00 Daniel Silva joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15:00 Gabriel Allon is ageless 01:16:45 How much do you put yourself into Gabriel Allon? 01:17:30 Gabriel’s character allows Daniel to pursue things he’s interested in 01:19:15 Potentially creating a spin-off series 01:20:30 Vibe of the book series is European art 01:21:15 How did you learn about modern kidnappings and negotiations 01:23:15 Not writing with great visual detail to allow readers to imagine it 01:24:15 We are going to have a major incident triggered by drones 01:25:15 Ukraine has become the drone specialists of the world 01:26:00 Drones will eventually carry out an assassination or mass casualty event 01:27:15 Any trepidation creating a fictional event that could actually happen? 01:28:15 There was an emergency drone incident in Copenhagen 01:28:45 Europeans are already very nervous about impacts of drones 01:29:30 There are cameras everywhere in modern society 01:30:45 The level of criminality & corruption in the world is staggering 01:32:00 The current FBI is no longer the same place 01:32:45 We are jettising allies and destroying our intelligence agencies 01:33:30 If you are the GRU… where would you want an asset to be? 01:34:30 There are different types of intelligence assets 01:35:00 Some of the best assets don’t realize they are assets 01:36:15 Crisis meeting held at NATO headquarters about Trump 01:39:30 We should be putting the screws to Putin right now, he’s vulnerable 01:40:15 Ukraine has victory in sight, they aren’t desperate for a deal 01:41:00 How do you tackle Israel’s reputation in the world in the books? 01:43:30 The changes to Israel’s reputation were foreseeable 01:44:00 Don’t want to write about the war in Gaza 01:45:00 Is all hope for a two state solution gone? 01:47:45 There’s a “fortress Israel” mindset, they think they can do it alone 01:48:15 Is Gabriel Allon still a zionist? 01:49:00 Israel was founded with tenets of European style socialism 01:50:00 It’s sad seeing Israel becoming so siloed from the world 01:51:30 There’s been a major resurgence of antisemitism 01:53:15 It only takes the right set of circumstances to reignite antisemitism 01:54:30 Giant corporations are becoming as powerful as nation states 01:56:00 The new generation of ultra wealthy don’t believe in philanthropy 01:56:45 AI has the ability to wipe out the knowledge economy 01:58:00 The next great political crisis might be a climate driven natural disaster 01:58:45 The last great El Nino created massive famine, killing millions 01:59:30 The current migration patterns are climate driven 02:00:00 People are dying as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid 02:03:30 Trump has turned the national mall into a mess 02:04:15 The reflecting pool is now “Kermit green” 02:05:30 If you could write your next book about anything, what would it be? 02:06:30 Don’t think he could write non-fiction, too many novels to write 02:08:15 If you use AI to do your writing, then that isn’t writing 02:11:30 Anthropic CEO gave a reasoned answer to AI military applications 02:12:00 Could have an AI version of yourself that lives forever 02:13:15 Do you ever take a rest from writing? 02:16:30 ToddCast Time Machine July 24, 1959 02:17:00 Nixon and Krushchev host the “Kitchen Debate” 02:18:00 The countries were showing off their way of life - Capitalism vs Communism 02:18:45 Soviets set up a display in New York to show off their society 02:19:30 Khrushchev believed history would belong to the communists 02:20:00 The answer to the Soviet display was a model of an American home 02:20:45 The argument was that a middle class worker could afford that home 02:21:15 America showed it offered equality of opportunity, not outcome 02:22:00 Krushchev and Nixon debated knowing the world would hear it 02:23:00 Krushchev didn’t believe Americans actually lived that well 02:23:30 Nixon argued that competition inspired innovation and growth 02:25:00 Market capitalism proved to be the more dynamic economic system 02:25:30 There are echoes of the Kitchen Debate in modern American discourse 02:27:00 The Soviet Union disappeared, the debate hasn’t 02:27:15 Ask Chuck 02:27:30 Is MLB lockout avoidable? The state of baseball card collecting? 02:38:00 Is Trump’s erosion of norms a form of the incrementalism you champion? 02:41:30 What rights are D.C. & Puerto Rico residents still missing beside representation? 02:47:15 What goes into a decision to run for office? 02:50:45 MAGA just a rework of Reagan’s slogan? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel Silva has spent more than two decades proving that the international spy novel can be as elegant as it is suspenseful. The #1 'New York Times' bestselling author and former journalist returns with 'Ransom,' the latest adventure featuring legendary art restorer and Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon.This time, what appears to be the disappearance of a glamorous British socialite quickly unfolds into a dangerous web of wealth, deception, political intrigue, and long-buried secrets. As Gabriel searches for the missing Alice Winter, he discovers that nearly everyone involved has something to hide—and that an old enemy is waiting in the shadows.

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to introduce the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Daniel Silva, with his latest book, RANSOM. Daniel's novels include the beloved Gabriel Allon series, The Cellist and A Death in Cornwall, among others. His books are critically acclaimed bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than thirty languages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Silva is back for the 4th appearance on Open Book, with a new must-read book, Ransom, and once again, he's writing tomorrow's headlines before they even happen, from Russia's shadow war on Europe to the drones nobody wants to admit are already changing everything. Gabriel Allon gets pulled out of retirement one more time, and honestly, so did I, from the first page. Daniel Silva is the award-winning #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight previous novels. His books are critically acclaimed bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than thirty languages. No idea how he keeps doing this, but each book is better than the last. Get yourself a copy of this brilliant new book, Ransom: A Novel. Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. Pre-order my next book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump, out on the 17th of September in the UK and the 22nd of September in the US: ⁠https://www.scaramucci.net/allthewrongmoves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Israeli art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon is as real as George Smiley or Hercule Poirot. He even has his own Wikipedia page. The CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel describes herself on X as a friend of Gabriel Allon before she gets around to mentioning her husband, the best-selling thriller writer Daniel Silva who, of course, is the creator of Allon. As with all successful literary inventions, of course, Silva is as much Allon as Allon is Silva. Silva-Allon. Amongst the most lucrative partnerships in contemporary fiction. Unsurprisingly, Silva still hasn't managed to kill off Allon. Twenty-six books into the series, the retired Mossad legend turned Venice art restorer is the truest fake spy in the business — a character so real that Silva, who seems to revel in his insularity, has to lock himself away from imagining how readers receive him. Or perhaps he's locking himself away from Allon. In Ransom, out today, a billionaire real estate baron asks Allon to find his vanished wife, the dazzling socialite Alice Winter — who has, of course, a darker life. Behind Silva's latest summer best-seller looms Russia's shadow war on Europe. That's the post-cold war cold war politics of Ransom. Unit 29155, the GRU's sabotage specialists, are hitting pipelines and flying drones over Copenhagen, an MI6 officer describes the Russians as feral animals, and Ransom's climax unfolds at an emergency Downing Street summit with Zelensky without the United States in the room. It's a terrifying narrative as real as Gabriel Allon. Five Takeaways •       An Art Restorer Who Used to Be a Spy. Gabriel Allon was invented for one book — a 1999 novel inspired by the Camp David peace process, written like a demon in a cottage near Land's End — and was never meant to continue. Twenty-six books later, Silva has flipped the character's formula: once an operative whose cover was art restoration, Allon is now an art restorer who used to be a spy, formally retired and living in Venice. As for his age, Silva freezes time the way Christie froze Poirot: Allon is aging in reverse, quite intentionally, and Silva will write him for as long as people want to read him. •       Russia's Shadow War on Europe. The serious spine of Ransom is the campaign of sabotage and subversion that Russia is waging against all of Western Europe — the GRU's Unit 29155 hitting pipelines, running hacking operations, and flying the drones that shut down Copenhagen Airport and pushed Denmark toward its highest state of alert. One MI6 officer tells Silva the Russians are acting like feral animals, and the worse the battlefield goes, the more aggressive the sabotage becomes. Silva has been here before: Moscow Rules put him ahead of the curve on Putin in 2008, and Allon's personal war with Putinism enters its latest round. •       Writing an Israeli Hero After October 7. Allon is the old Israeli liberal establishment made flesh — secular, social-democratic, the Ashkenazi security elite whose surviving members now oppose the conduct of the war. Silva, an avowed two-stater, saw the change coming years before October 7: quoting his friend Richard Haass, this is not your parents' or grandparents' Israel. Allon, he insists, would never serve in a cabinet alongside far-right extremists like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich — and they wouldn't have him. What happened on October 7 was barbaric, Silva says, but this war has gone on far too long. •       The Super Rich, With a Judgmental Eye. It's fun to write about the rich — the jets, the expensive toys, the glamour of Venice, Knightsbridge, and Ibiza — but Silva does it for a specific reason: to draw the contrast between how they live and how the rest of us live. A new global super elite is checking out from everyone else, he argues — unwilling to pay taxes, to educate the young, or to care for the sick — so Ransom balances the socialite's world against an encampment of homeless seasonal workers on Ibiza. Britain itself gets the same treatment: austerity, seven prime ministers in a decade, and shires where nobody is doing very well. •       Pencils on the Floor. Silva calls himself a literary novelist masquerading as a thriller writer, and his working methods match the self-description: he lies on the floor and writes with pencils, keeping technology as far from the work as possible. AI appears in Ransom only because the plot demanded it — a proof-of-life photograph that has to be checked for deepfakery, in a world where even presidents fake pictures. The thought of asking AI to write for him prompts a simple question: what would be the point? A book a year since 1997, and book 27 began the day after this one was finished. About the Guest Daniel Silva is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-six Gabriel Allon novels, including The Kill Artist, Moscow Rules, Portrait of an Unknown Woman, A Death in Cornwall, and An Inside Job. His books are published in more than thirty countries. He lives in Florida with his wife, CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel — who describes herself on X as a friend of Gabriel Allon before mentioning her husband. His new novel is Ransom (HarperCollins, July 14, 2026). References: •       Ransom by Daniel Silva (HarperCollins, July 14, 2026) — book 26 of the Gabriel Allon series. James Patterson: “Silva can really write, the bastard.” •       Moscow Rules (2008) — the novel Silva is proudest of, which put him ahead of the curve on Putin and began Allon's personal war with the Russian secret services. •       The Kill Artist (2001) — Allon's first appearance, inspired by the Camp David peace process and written in a rented cottage near Land's End. •       Unit 29155 — the real GRU sabotage unit behind the pipeline attacks, hacking operations, and drone incursions that drive the novel's plot, including the 2025 shutdown of Copenhagen Airport. •       John le Carré — whose George Smiley, Silva concedes, needs no advice from Gabriel Allon, though the two would have got on had they met on Bywater Street. •       Richard Haass — the foreign policy analyst and friend of Silva's whose line frames the Israel discussion: this is not your parents' or your grandparents' Israel any longer. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 3,000 episodes since the show launched on...

The Jack Carr Book Club August 2025 selection is AN INSIDE JOB by #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva.Sometimes the only way to recover a stolen masterpiece is to steal it back . . .In his latest thriller, Silva brings back legendary art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon for an electrifying tale of murder, stolen treasures, and high-stakes intrigue. What begins with the discovery of a woman's body in the Venetian Lagoon unfolds into a chase for a lost Leonardo da Vinci portrait, a web of greed and corruption stretching from London's auction houses to the French Riviera, and explosive secrets buried deep within the Vatican. At the heart of the story is a shocking conspiracy that culminates in St. Peter's Square, where the fate of the pope himself hangs in the balance.Daniel Silva is the award-winning author of 28 novels translated into more than thirty languages.  Widely regarded as the master of international intrigue and suspense, Silva has captivated readers worldwide with his elegant storytelling and razor-sharp plotting. This conversation dives into Silva's inspirations for AN INSIDE JOB, the enduring appeal of Gabriel Allon, and the fascinating intersection of art, espionage, and faith.FOLLOW DANIELInstagram - @danielsilvabooksFacebook - @danielsilvabooksX - @danielsilvabookWebsite - https://danielsilvabooks.com/ FOLLOW JACKInstagram - @JackCarrUSA X - @JackCarrUSAFacebook - @JackCarr YouTube - @JackCarrUSA SPONSORSCRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/Bravo Company Manufacturing - BCM Stock MOD3:https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-stock-mod-3-black/  and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSATHE SIGs of Jack Carr:Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear

Chuck Todd begins by addressing the “two shiny objects” in media this week: Epstein and Hunter Biden. He compares Donald Trump's defensive, suspicious response to the Epstein files to his response to the Russia investigation in his first term, and explains why Trump's denials won't appease the conspiracists in his base. He comments on Hunter Biden's recent appearances in media and explains why he wouldn't book him for the ToddCast. He also examines the field of candidates that could succeed Trump for the Republican nomination in 2028.Then, best-selling novelist Daniel Silva joins Chuck for a wide-ranging conversation about his acclaimed Gabriel Allon spy thriller series and the craft of writing. Silva discusses how real-world events and changing global perceptions, particularly around Israel, inform his fictional narratives, while sharing behind-the-scenes insights into his research process—from Vatican experiences to staying current with evolving spycraft and art restoration techniques. The conversation reveals how Silva has attracted high-profile fans like Presidents Clinton and Bush, and explores his concerns about populist movements and antisemitic elements within contemporary politics.The discussion also delves into Silva's creative process, his passion for art and restoration, and his thoughts on the future of publishing in an AI-dominated world. Silva reflects on the challenges facing the next generation of writers, the evolution of independent bookstores, and whether artificial intelligence poses a threat to novelists who dream of building long-running series like his 25-book Gabriel Allon collection. The episode concludes with Silva's summer reading recommendations and a playful question about whether he ever dreams as his famous protagonist.Finally, he reflects on the life of Ozzy Ozborne and the impact Ozborne made on him growing up, and answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction01:30 Resurrecting and revitalizing local news02:30 The best journalism is done in service of local audiences05:00 Michigan gubernatorial race has three viable candidates08:00 The two shiny objects this week are Epstein and Hunter Biden09:30 Mike Johnson shut down the house out of fear of Epstein vote12:00 There are enough facts in the Epstein case to validate the conspiracists14:30 Crazy is rewarded in Republican primaries16:30 Trump's behavior creates suspicion, like he did with Russia18:00 Trump doesn't own the conspiracist base, he borrowed it20:00 Trump is trying all kinds of distractions21:15 Obama allegations are pure distraction and propaganda23:30 Hunter Biden doesn't offer any value as a guest in media24:30 Hunter's media appearances don't do Joe Biden or Dems any good26:00 Running for president can do major damage to a candidate's family27:30 A president has to put the country over their family30:15 There's no “invisible primary” on the Republican side31:30 The runner up usually becomes the next Republican nominee33:30 Will the front runner be someone Trump anoints?35:00 If Trump tanks the economy, it could open up the primary36:00 The different archetypes of potential Trump successors42:15 The primary will be a campaign for the affection of Trump42:45 Daniel Silva joins the Chuck ToddCast! 44:00 Do you know the title of a book before writing it? 45:15 Do you get to know Daniel by reading his books? 46:45 The real world informs the imagined world of his books 49:45 How have changing perceptions of Israel informed his book? 51:15 No desire to write about the Israel/Palestine conflict 52:45 Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are both fans of the books 55:00 The books reflect the importance of institutions 56:45 Populists on both sides don't care about the post cold war order 57:30 The MAGA movement is dripping with antisemetic elements 59:00 Daniel's journey into Vatican themed fiction 1:01:15 Daniel's personal experiences at the Vatican 1:02:15 Where did his passion for art come from? 1:03:45 How does he keep up with changing trends in spycraft and art? 1:06:45 When does art go from restoration to completely remodeled? 1:09:30 What defines a "fraudulent restoration"? 1:10:45 How much are actual intelligence agents part of your source material? 1:11:45 Gabriel Allon wouldn't have pulled the trigger on the Israeli "beeper" op 1:13:15 Cell phones are the greatest surveillance tool ever created 1:15:00 Will you pivot to China as the boogeyman in the books? 1:15:45 How many more Gabriel Allon books are left to be written? 1:18:15 Does Daniel's family see their own stories in his books? 1:19:15 The evolution of the publishing/printing industry 1:21:45 Independent bookstores need to host events to sell books 1:25:00 The ability of AI to write in your voice 1:26:00 More worried about societal disruptions caused by AI 1:27:00 Skills you can pass to a child might not be relevant in 15 years 1:28:15 Will a 30 year old novelist be able to make a 25 book series in the future? 1:29:00 The Daniel Silva summer reading list 1:31:15 Do you ever dream as Gabriel Allon?1:37:00 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Daniel Silva 1:37:30 RIP to Ozzy Osborne 1:42:15 Ask Chuck 1:42:30 Talking politics and current events with kids? 1:46:15 How will the Department of Education changes affect small districts? 1:48:30 Why don't you start a "get to know your district" show with Colbert?

#1 New York Times and International bestselling author Daniel Silva joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss An Inside Job!  Since there's a lost DaVinci at the heart of this story, we talk all about the rarified world of fine art, including the luxury, money laundering, and the mafioso-like organizations that you should never cross! Daniels' beloved protagonist Gabriel Allon might be the only person who dares to challenge them. Daniel takes us behind the scenes at the Vatican and dives deep into systemic changes to a venerable institution ... is that the real inside job? Could a sermon radically change the world as we know it? Tune in - you'll be so glad you did!You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

Newt talks with Daniel Silva, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist known for his Gabriel Allon series. Silva discusses his latest novel, "An Inside Job," the 25th installment in the series, which features the intriguing character Gabriel Allon, an art restorer and legendary spy. Silva shares the inspiration behind Allon's character, including influences from real-life art restorers and historical events like Munich massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in September 1972. Their conversation explores the novel's plot, which involves a mysterious death in Venice and a scandal at the Vatican, drawing parallels to real-world events. Silva also discusses his writing process, which includes crafting his novels in longhand on yellow legal pads, and his unique approach to storytelling without a predefined outline. Silva describes his knowledge of art, history, and the intricacies of Vatican politics, which makes this latest novel very engaging.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Anthony interviews bestselling author and returning Open Book guest Daniel Silva about his latest novel, 'An Inside Job,' featuring the beloved character Gabriel Allon. They discuss the evolution of Allon, and the intricate relationship between the Vatican and historical events. Silva shares insights into the art world, the mysteries surrounding lost masterpieces, and the complexities of power and corruption within the Vatican. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Ellen Quint discuss the fun of gifting mysterious listens during the holidays. Ellen's been writing about mystery audiobooks for AudioFile for years, and we're delighted to have her on to discuss Edoardo Ballerini's narration of A DEATH IN CORNWALL. Daniel Silva's latest starts in Venice, where Gabriel Allon and his wife get a call to investigate a death in Cornwall, England. Ellen talks about Silva's compelling spy thrillers and her love for Ballerini's narration on this series that takes listeners racing around Europe. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website. Today's episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Election Day but we won't know the outcome for many hours, or even days. After we voted, there's not much more we can do. So today we're offering an alternative to politics, an interview with one of the most prolific spy novelists in history. He was Bill's producer at CNN and now Daniel Silva is the internationally acclaimed novelist whose main character Gabriel Allon, has captured the imagination of people all over the world. This episode is for you to relax and enjoy and get your mind off politics for just 1/2 an hour. Here is a link to Daniel Silva's page on Amazon which has all of his 27 best sellers. We'll be back on Friday with our Reporters Roundtable to figure out just what happened today.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the workers we meet in our daily lives at our supermarkets drug stores and even cannabis dispensaries. More information at UFCW.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After listening to her Buried Secrets on Audible, I couldn't wait to chat with S.F. Baumgartner about her latest book in the Mirror Estate series, Hidden Secrets. Listen in and see what we'll see in this next thriller in the series! Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.   If you love suspense and thrillers without all the romance, this is the series for you! While there are romantic elements to some of the books, Baumgartner leaves it minimal, focusing on the suspense primarily. Also, don't forget her audiobooks on Audible! Hidden Secrets by S.F. Baumgartner  Abducted. Trapped. Hunted. Grace Benson must find a way out… or die trying. After her harrowing escape from a kill order, Grace thought she'd return to a normal life, only to be abducted from her home. Meanwhile, FBI investigations into the murders of a congressman and his staff uncover a shocking link to Grace's abduction, threatening international stability. Desperate to survive, Grace allies with an unlikely partner—a child who knows the bunker's secrets—but as they navigate the treacherous tunnel system, a misplaced step echoes through the corridors, alerting a deranged captor who now closes in, gun in hand. If you like Alex Cross, Gabriel Allon, you will like this unpredictable, fast-paced suspense thriller. Learn more about Sylvia on her  WEBSITE and follow her  on GoodReads and BookBub. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple  Castbox  Google Play Libsyn  RSS Spotify Amazon and more!

Internationally acclaimed number one “New York Times” bestselling author Daniel Silva returns with a brutal murder, a missing masterpiece, and a mystery only Gabriel Allon can solve in his latest page-turner “A Death in Cornwall.”

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Kevin Tumlinson, and Jena Brown as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including: Hugo awards organizers reveal thousands were spent on fraudulent votes to help one writer win; Orbit, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced the launch of Run for It; and HarperAlley, the graphic novel imprint at HarperCollins, expands into Adult Graphic Novels. Then, stick around for a chat with Daniel Silva! Daniel Silva has been called his generation's finest writer of international intrigue and one of the greatest American spy novelists ever. Compelling, passionate, haunting, brilliant: these are the words that have been used to describe the work of award-winning #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva. Silva burst onto the scene in 1997 with his electrifying bestselling debut, The Unlikely Spy, a novel of love and deception set around the Allied invasion of France in World War II. His second and third novels, The Mark of the Assassin and The Marching Season, were also instant New York Times bestsellers and starred two of Silva's most memorable characters: CIA officer Michael Osbourne and international hit man Jean-Paul Delaroche. But it was Silva's fourth novel, The Kill Artist, which would alter the course of his career. The novel featured a character described as one of the most memorable and compelling in contemporary fiction, the art restorer and sometime Israeli secret agent Gabriel Allon, and though Silva did not realize it at the time, Gabriel's adventures had only just begun. Gabriel Allon appears in Silva's next twenty-one novels, each one more successful than the last. Silva knew from a very early age that he wanted to become a writer, but his first profession would be journalism. Born in Michigan, raised and educated in California, he was pursuing a master's degree in international relations when he received a temporary job offer from United Press International to help cover the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. Later that year Silva abandoned his studies and joined UPI fulltime, working first in San Francisco, then on the foreign desk in Washington, and finally as Middle East correspondent in Cairo and the Persian Gulf. In 1987, while covering the Iran-Iraq war, he met NBC Today National Correspondent Jamie Gangel and they were married later that year. Silva returned to Washington and went to work for CNN and became Executive Producer of its talk show unit including shows like Crossfire, Capital Gang and Reliable Sources. In 1995 he confessed to Jamie that his true ambition was to be a novelist. With her support and encouragement he secretly began work on the manuscript that would eventually become the instant bestseller The Unlikely Spy. He left CNN in 1997 after the book's successful publication and began writing full time. Since then all of Silva's books have been New York Times and international bestsellers. His books have been translated in to more than 30 languages and are published around the world. He is currently at work on a new novel and warmly thanks all those friends and loyal readers who have helped to make his books such an amazing success. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/writersink/support

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva  Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into London to attend a reception at the Courtauld Gallery celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. But when an old friend from the Devon and Cornwall Police seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary.  The victim is Charlotte Blake, a celebrated professor of art history from Oxford who spends her weekends in the same seaside village where Gabriel once lived under an assumed identity. Her murder appears to be the work of a diabolical serial killer who has been terrorizing the Cornish countryside. But there are a number of telltale inconsistencies, including a missing mobile phone. And then there is the mysterious three-letter cypher she left behind on a notepad in her study.  Gabriel soon discovers that Professor Blake was searching for a looted Picasso worth more than a $100 million, and he takes up the chase for the painting as only he can—with six Impressionist canvases forged by his own hand and an unlikely team of operatives that includes a world-famous violinist, a beautiful master thief, and a lethal contract killer turned British spy. The result is a stylish and wildly entertaining mystery that moves at lightning speed from the cliffs of Cornwall to the enchanted island of Corsica and, finally, to a breathtaking climax on the very doorstep of 10 Downing Street.    After Annie by Anna Quindlen  When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie's best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie's support. It is Annie's daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.  Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spy novelists often make excellent moralists and the American writer Daniel Silva, author of the Gabriel Allon series of best-selling thrillers, is a particularly sharp critic of contemporary morals. His new Allon thriller, A Death in Cornwall, focuses on money laundering, murder and mayhem in the art world. The novel is set in the contemporary United Kingdom of the (once) ruling Tory party where international criminals use expensive art to feed their vanity and launder their ill gotten cash. This conversation with Silva is part one of our focus this week on the fetid underbelly of the international art scene. Tomorrow, we'll feature a conversation with the Scottish writer Andrew O'Hagan, author of Caledonian Road, about the moral corruption of not just the UK's politics and its cultural economy, but also of art critics themselves. Daniel Silva is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Confessor, A Death in Vienna, Prince of Fire, The Messenger, The Secret Servant, Moscow Rules, The Defector, The Rembrandt Affair, Portrait of a Spy, The Fallen Angel, The English Girl, The Heist, and The English Spy. His books are published in more than thirty countries and are bestsellers around the world. He serves on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and lives in Florida with his wife, CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel, and their two children, Lily and Nicholas.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Anthony is joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Daniel Silva.What do murder, scandal and insatiable greed have in common? Daniel's brand-new thriller, A Death in Cornwall. As the beloved Gabriel Allon begins a desperate search for a stolen Picasso, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and incredibly dangerous new adversary, one that hits close to home with out current political environment…Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Joan Hamburg interviews Daniel Silva discussing his newest spy novel, 'A Death in Cornwall,' which delves into political scandals, art forgery, and money laundering within the global super-rich. Daniel shares insights into his writing process, the character development of Gabriel Allon, and the real-world issues that his book addresses, including lax financial regulations in London and the manipulation of art for concealment and laundering of money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris and Mike cover the second half of The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva and give their final ratings on the ThrillerPod ScoreCard! We apologize for the poor audio quality on this one! Please subscribe, rate & review using ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or your favorite podcasting platform. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ThrillerPod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThrillerPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This episode is made possible thanks to our fantastic Patrons! For less than the price of a novel a month, you can help us keep the show going and get access to exclusive content and signed book giveaways! Become a Patron today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThrillerPod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thrillerpod/support

Chris and Mike break down the first half of The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva and have lots of thoughts on what might happen in the rest of the book! Please subscribe, rate & review using ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or your favorite podcasting platform. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ThrillerPod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThrillerPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This episode is made possible thanks to our fantastic Patrons! For less than the price of a novel a month, you can help us keep the show going and get access to exclusive content and signed book giveaways! Become a Patron today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThrillerPod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thrillerpod/support

The Collector - Daniel Silvia  The Collector is a 2023 novel by Daniel Silva in the author's Gabriel Allon series. The book debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. The book's premise is the current location of Vermeer's The Concert, which has been missing since the painting was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.    After I Do - Taylor Jenkins Reid  From the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, comes a breath-taking novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johannes Vermeer's 1664 masterpiece "The Concert" was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. That real - still unsolved - case is at the heart of Daniel Silva's new thriller, The Collector. Despite his initial reluctance, art restorer and former Israeli intelligence officer Gabriel Allon is enlisted to hunt down the painting, along with an unexpected collaborator. In today's episode, Silva speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about his distaste for art theft and his reasons for turning villains into protagonists.

New York Times best-selling author Daniel Silva has released the latest book in his Gabriel Allon series of international intrigue. Ahead of Silva's visit to Charlotte this week, he talks to guest host Erik Spanberg about “The Collector” and writing for the spy genre.

In "The Collector," a new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva, Gabriel Allon undertakes a search for a stolen Vermeer masterpiece and uncovers a conspiracy that could bring the world to the brink of nuclear Armageddon.

You asked for it, you got it! This listener-requested genre has our hearts racing. We talk about what a thriller IS (is it even a real genre?), why we like it, and recommendations for every taste. Dive in! Books Mentioned in this Episode: The Firm by John Grisham The Black Widow by Daniel Silva (also Gabriel Allon 5-9) Run, Rose, Run; A Novel by Dolly Parton and James Patterson BA Paris Novels Winter Work by Dan Fesperman Colleen Coble's Thrillers Beguiled by Deeanne Gist, J. Mark Bertrand And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie The Moonstone and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins  Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde by RL Stevenson Rebecca by Daphne duMarier Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Sherlock Holmes Books Murder Must Advertise by D Sayers The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson The 39 Steps by John Buchan Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury The War of the Worlds and The Island of Dr Moreau by HG Wells I Must Betray You by Ruth Septys Bel Canto by Ann Patchett Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini returns to perform the 22nd addition to the Gabriel Allon series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Robin Whitten discuss Daniel Silva's newest mystery novel. Former Israeli spymaster Gabriel Allon is now retired in Venice, but when his friend needs his help, his newest escapade begins. Ballerini demonstrates his skill with multiple accents and languages, including Italian, and draws listeners into a globe-trotting tale of art forgery. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Listen to AudioFile's fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Between 1821 and 1826, the prolific writer and journalist William Cobbett travelled the countryside of the South of England on foot and horseback. Rural Rides is a fascinating account of his journeys, and depicts a way of life in transition, juxtaposing lyrical descriptions of the countryside with criticism of the poverty of agricultural workers. Above all, Rural Rides celebrates agrarian England. It is read by Peter Wickham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Silva, the prolific #1 New York Times bestselling spy novelist, continues his long-running thriller series starring spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon with Portrait of an Unknown Woman, a spellbinding account of a high-stakes search for the greatest art forger who ever lived. In conversation with Wolf Blitzer, the anchor of “The Situation Room” on CNN. This program was held on July 19, 2022 in partnership with Politics and Prose. 

Joan catches up with famed art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon who was created by author Daniel Silva. He provides an exclusive look into the ongoing, best-selling series featuring his most beloved character. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Joan Hamburg Show: Reading is Fundamental! The First Lady of New York Radio sits down with author Ken Auletta to talk about his new book Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence where he provides a crucial insight at the toxic culture created by the disgraced producer. In addition, Joan catches up with famed art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon who was created by author Daniel Silva. He provides an exclusive look into the ongoing, best-selling series featuring his most beloved character. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Shane Harris talks with international best-selling novelist Daniel Silva, the creator of the long-running Gabriel Allon series. His latest installment in the adventures of the spy/art restorer is out now. Before he became a full-time fiction writer, Silva was a journalist. He produced successful shows at CNN and was a reporter overseas. Those early experiences informed his current career. Silva is known for crafting stories with a meticulous eye to factual detail. In this wide-ranging discussion, Silva talks about his decision to leave journalism and make writing novels his full-time job; his writing process; how he created the beloved spy Allon; and why Silva has decided to make Washington, DC, his home. He also gives us a preview of his latest book and explains how a long-running fascination with art forgery sent his hero on one of his most challenging missions yet. Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad. Works mentioned in this episode include: Daniel Silva's latest novel, Portrait of an Unknown Woman https://danielsilvabooks.com/books/portrait-of-an-unknown-woman/ The complete list of Silva's books https://danielsilvabooks.com/the-books/a-complete-listing/ Silva on Twitter https://twitter.com/danielsilvabook?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Silva is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author known for his long-running thriller series starring spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon. His latest book, Portrait of an Unknown Woman, once again follows Allon as he undertakes a high-stakes search for the greatest art forger who ever lived. In this interview, Silva discusses his latest novel, the widespread problem of art forgeries, and the role of marketing in art valuations. Then, he talks about the arc of his beloved central character Gabriel Allon, how he thinks about the state of politics and the world, and what it would take to heal the partisan divide in the United States. ——————————————————————Watch this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SALTTube/videosFor podcast transcripts and show notes, visit https://www.salt.org/Moderated by Anthony Scaramucci. Developed, created and produced by SALT Venture Group, LLC.

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now.In this episode, Andrew is joined by Daniel Silva, author of Portrait of an Unknown Woman.Daniel Silva is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Confessor, A Death in Vienna, Prince of Fire, The Messenger, The Secret Servant, Moscow Rules, The Defector, The Rembrandt Affair, Portrait of a Spy, The Fallen Angel, The English Girl, The Heist, The English Spy, The Black Widow, House of Spies, The Other Woman, The New Girl, and The Order. He is best known for his long-running thriller series starring spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon. Silva's books are critically acclaimed bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 30 languages. He resides in Florida with his wife, television journalist Jamie Gangel, and their twins, Lily and Nicholas.

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Daniel Silva, author of Portrait of an Unknown Woman. Daniel Silva is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Confessor, A Death in Vienna, Prince of Fire, The Messenger, The Secret Servant, Moscow Rules, The Defector, The Rembrandt Affair, Portrait of a Spy, The Fallen Angel, The English Girl, The Heist, The English Spy, The Black Widow, House of Spies, The Other Woman, The New Girl, and The Order. He is best known for his long-running thriller series starring spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon. Silva's books are critically acclaimed bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 30 languages. He resides in Florida with his wife, television journalist Jamie Gangel, and their twins, Lily and Nicholas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This information is classified* Espionage is not a new thing in the world. It has been going on since the Neanderthals, when one caveman was spying on another to see what their cave had. But espionage has evolved into so much more. From the use of secret compartments, and gadgets, to weapons and cars that are able to do more than you could ever imagine, the use of espionage has changed the information game. But who are some of our most popular operatives? Jason Bourne, Gabriel Allon, Ethan Hunt, Jack Ryan, and of course, James Bond. We discuss all things spy, and then really hone in on the cinematic history of James Bond. We get into the music that defined the Bond franchise, and discuss what we think falls into the category of being a worthy Bond song. But be warned! This episode is not for those that have not seen "No Time to Die", the end of this podcast is very heavily spoiler filled, so if you don't want the movie to be ruined for you, you should probably just go back and listen to another one of our WOTR episodes. So strap into your ejector seat, reload your PPK, check your EMP watch, and eavesdrop on todays newest episode of WAY OFF THE RAILS. *This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds* --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/this-is-off-the-rails/support

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini steps into big shoes to narrate Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Robin Whitten talk about Ballerini's takeover from the previous series narrator, George Guidall, and how Ballerini has found his own voices for the many characters. In the midst of the pandemic, Allon takes on the evil Russian empire, which is undermining democracy while blatantly robbing its own people. It's a compelling spy story performed by a talented narrator, making for a totally engaging listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode is sponsored by Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of Comics like ARCHIE, DARK HORSE, VAULT, DYNAMITE and more. Save 55% Off your first order with coupon 55LISTEN only at GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Principal Product Manager, Kindle Vella Interview starts at 13:45 and ends at 49:18 Note: I will be discussing my Virginia Milner interview Tuesday July 27th, 2021, at 1 pm EDT on Clubhouse. (Please note: audio in the podcast incorrectly states the Clubhouse meeting will be on Monday) Whether you are a current member of Clubhouse or want to join in order to participate in the discussion, click here. I've also created a club named The Reading Edge. Use this link to join! Links Virginia Milner, principal product manager for Kindle Vella.  Amazon Launches Kindle Vella - press release July 13, 2021 Kindle Direct Publishing including Kindle Vella Death and Life: A Biography by Hugh Howey - on Kindle Vella Other Vellas to check out: WOLF (Stope Packs #1) by Rebecca Zanetti Bug by Callie Chase The Marriage Auction by Audrey Carlan Readwise read.Amazon.com Gabriel Allon (21-book series) by Daniel Silva Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right by Jamie Glowack Note: This episode concludes Season 1 of The Kindle Chronicles, which lasted 13 years. Season 2 will start on Friday, September 10, 2021. Thanks for listening! If you'd like brief daily updates on technology, books, marriage, and puppies, you can follow along with my Morning Journal flash briefing. From your Echo device, just say, “Alexa, enable Morning Journal.” Then each morning say, “Alexa, what's my flash briefing?” I post a five-minute audio journal each weekday except usually by 8 a.m. Eastern Time.  The Kindle Chronicles is now available at Audible Podcasts. The only thing missing are ratings! If you have time, please consider leaving one in order to help others learn about the show.  Right-click here and then click "Save Link As..." to download the audio to your computer, phone, or MP3 player.

The Cellist: A Novel (Gabriel Allon, 21) by Daniel Silva From Daniel Silva, the internationally acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author, comes a timely and explosive new thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon. Viktor Orlov had a longstanding appointment with death. Once Russia's richest man, he now resides in splendid exile in London, where he has waged a tireless crusade against the authoritarian kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin. His mansion in Chelsea's exclusive Cheyne Walk is one of the most heavily protected private dwellings in London. Yet somehow, on a rainy summer evening, in the midst of a global pandemic, Russia's vengeful president finally manages to cross Orlov's name off his kill list. Before him was the receiver from his landline telephone, a half-drunk glass of red wine, and a stack of documents.… The documents are contaminated with a deadly nerve agent. The Metropolitan Police determine that they were delivered to Orlov's home by one of his employees, a prominent investigative reporter from the anti-Kremlin Moskovskaya Gazeta. And when the reporter slips from London hours after the killing, MI6 concludes she is a Moscow Center assassin who has cunningly penetrated Orlov's formidable defenses. But Gabriel Allon, who owes his very life to Viktor Orlov, believes his friends in British intelligence are dangerously mistaken. His desperate search for the truth will take him from London to Amsterdam and eventually to Geneva, where a private intelligence service controlled by a childhood friend of the Russian president is using KGB-style “active measures” to undermine the West from within. Known as the Haydn Group, the unit is plotting an unspeakable act of violence that will plunge an already divided America into chaos and leave Russia unchallenged. Only Gabriel Allon, with the help of a brilliant young woman employed by the world's dirtiest bank, can stop it. Elegant and sophisticated, provocative and daring, The Cellist explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West today—the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia. It is at once a novel of hope and a stark warning about the fragile state of democracy. And it proves once again why Daniel Silva is regarded as his generation's finest writer of suspense and international intrigue.

In this episode, Anthony talks with Felix Marquardt, author and columnist to discuss the genesis behind his latest book ‘The New Nomads: How the Migration Revolution is Making the World a Better Place' which looks at why our view of migration needs to be re-evaluated.  Anthony is joined by No.1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva, to discuss his new thriller ‘The Cellist' which features legendary spy Gabriel Allon, and explores the preeminent threats facing the West today - “the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia.” Finally, Hugh Campbell is co-founder and managing partner of tech advisory and investment firm GP Bullhound, and joins Anthony to reminisce on his time at Goldman Sachs - and why great businesses are built in adversity. Follow our guests on Twitter:https://twitter.com/Feleaks https://twitter.com/danielsilvabook ​​https://twitter.com/hugh_gpb Follow us:https://twitter.com/moochfm  https://twitter.com/scaramucci  Sign up for our newsletter at:www.mooch.fm Created & produced by Podcast Partners:www.podcastpartners.com 

The Order by Daniel SilvaIt was nearly one a.m. by the time he crawled into bed. Chiara was reading a novel, oblivious to the television, which was muted. On the screen was a live shot of St. Peter’s Basilica. Gabriel raised the volume and learned that an old friend had died …Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into Venice for a much-needed holiday with his wife and two young children. But when Pope Paul VII dies suddenly, Gabriel is summoned to Rome by the Holy Father’s loyal private secretary, Archbishop Luigi Donati. A billion Catholic faithful have been told that the pope died of a heart attack. Donati, however, has two good reasons to suspect his master was murdered. The Swiss Guard who was standing watch outside the papal apartments the night of the pope’s death is missing. So, too, is the letter the Holy Father was writing during the final hours of his life. A letter that was addressed to Gabriel.While researching in the Vatican Secret Archives, I came upon a most remarkable book …The book is a long-suppressed gospel that calls into question the accuracy of the New Testament’s depiction of one of the most portentous events in human history. For that reason alone, the Order of St. Helena will stop at nothing to keep it out of Gabriel’s hands. A shadowy Catholic society with ties to the European far right, the Order is plotting to seize control of the papacy. And it is only the beginning.As the cardinals gather in Rome for the start of the conclave, Gabriel sets out on a desperate search for proof of the Order’s conspiracy, and for a long-lost gospel with the power to put an end to two thousand years of murderous hatred. His quest will take him from the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, to a monastery in Assisi, to the hidden depths of the Secret Archives, and finally to the Sistine Chapel, where he will witness an event no outsider has ever before seen—the sacred passing of the Keys of St. Peter to a newly elected pope.Swiftly paced and elegantly rendered, The Order will hold readers spellbound, from its opening passages to its breathtaking final twist of plot. It is a novel of friendship and faith in a perilous and uncertain world. And it is still more proof that Daniel Silva is his generation’s finest writer of suspense and international intrigue. A Knock at the Door by TW Ellis.They ask for your husband. They just want to talk. THEY'RE LYING.Your husband isn't who he says he is, say the people at your door. Come with us.Don't trust them, says a voice on the phone. Run.Who would you believe?

Fans of Daniel Silva have been eagerly awaiting the release of his twentieth Gabriel Allon thriller. “The Order” is a spellbinding novel of friendship and faith in a perilous and uncertain world. And it is still more proof that Daniel Silva is his generation’s finest writer of suspense and international intrigue.

The Order is a stunning new action-packed thriller of high stakes international intrigue featuring the enigmatic art restorer and master spy Gabriel Allon. The Order is the 20th novel in the Gabriel Allon series. Newt’s guest is Daniel Silva, the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author.

This week, Catherine Raynes reviews two new exciting books for you to read.The New Girl - Daniel SilvaAt an exclusive private school in Switzerland, mystery surrounds the identity of the beautiful girl who arrives each morning and leaves each afternoon in a heavily protected motorcade fit for a head of state. She is said to be the daughter of a wealthy international businessman. She is not. And when she is brutally kidnapped across the border in the Haute-Savoie region of France, Gabriel Allon, the legendary chief of Israeli intelligence, is thrust into a deadly secret war with an old enemy that will determine the future of the Middle East—and perhaps the world Driven - Hayden PaddonThe explosive autobiography from New Zealand’s most successful rally driver, Hayden Paddon.Hayden Paddon was just a boy growing up in Geraldine – in love with racing and dreaming big. Starting with nothing, and wholly determined to beat the odds, he set out on a remarkable 20-year pathway to the World Rally Championship, where he footed it with the best rally drivers on the planet.But it didn’t come easy. In Driven, Paddon details the many highs and lows along the road to the top. He opens up about his struggles with bullying, depression and loss as a young man, and goes on public record for the first time about the 2017 accident in which a spectator was killed and his controversial dismissing from the Hyundai Motorsport team in 2018.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE  

The New Girl by Daniel Silva takes us to Saudi Arabia and across Europe as superspy Gabriel Allon is on a mission to ensure that the Saudi crown prince becomes king. It asks the question, "What if Mohammad Bin Salman had his reasons for killing Jamal Khashoggi?" Would you be interested in reading a book about that? Sounds strange, right? It is. It's a surreal book that exists in an alternate reality made possible by tight publishing deadlines and a crown prince who didn't do what he was supposed to. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

#1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva is “quite simply the best” (Kansas City Star) writer of foreign intrigue and suspense at work today—and his iconic creation Gabriel Allon is “one of fiction’s greatest spies” (Kirkus Reviews). Silva’s twenty-second novel, THE NEW GIRL (published by HarperCollins) finds Allon, the legendary chief of Israeli intelligence, in the most unlikely of alliances, helping the controversial, much-maligned crown prince of Saudi Arabia recover his kidnapped daughter. What Gabriel encounters is a deadly secret war for control of the Middle East—with not only the life of a child but also one of the world’s most powerful, wealthiest thrones hanging in the balance. About THE NEW GIRL It begins at an exclusive private school in Geneva, where a beautiful student of mysterious origins disappears one day after being picked up by her security detail. She is the daughter of Khalid bin Mohammed, the much-maligned crown prince of Saudi Arabia. KBM, as he is known to much of the world, turns to an unlikely person to help him get the girl back alive: Gabriel Allon, now the head of Israeli intelligence and no ally to oppressive Islamic states. Despite his excesses and the rumors of his brutality, KBM has pledged to finally break the bond between the Kingdom and radical Islam. For that reason alone, Gabriel considers him a valuable if flawed partner. Together these strange bedfellows will face a deadly secret war not only for the Saudi throne, but for control of the Middle East. BIO: Daniel Silva is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Confessor, A Death in Vienna, Prince of Fire, The Messenger, The Secret Servant, Moscow Rules, The Defector, The Rembrandt Affair, Portrait of a Spy, The Fallen Angel, The English Girl, The Heist, The English Spy, The Black Widow, House of Spies, and The Other Woman. Silva’s books have been translated into more than thirty languages and are bestsellers around the world. He has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and television programs, including NBC, CBS, ABC, NPR, CNN, Fox, and MSNBC, to discuss his books as well as politics, terrorism, and the Middle East. He resides in Florida with his wife, television journalist Jamie Gangel, and their twins, Lily and Nicholas. Photo Credit: Marco Grob. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/steve-richards/support

#1 Bestselling spy novelist Daniel Silva's books closely mirror world events, and he reveals how the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi led him to toss out 250 pages of his latest novel and start over.  The New Girl is the 19th book in his wildly successful Gabriel Allon series, and he says he never imagined that his most popular character would last more than one book.  Daniel discusses the similarities and differences between his fictional Saudi Prince and the brutal Mohammed bin Salman and why he believes that Russia may have had something to do with President Trump’s decision to give bin Salman a pass on the Khashoggi murder.  Daniel recalls his start as a journalist working at CNN in the early days of 24-hour news, being there the night when the network brought Operation Desert Storm into America’s living rooms, and meeting his wife and fellow journalist Jamie Gangel during the Iran-Iraq War.  Plus Daniel talks about his unique writing process, his fascination with art restoration, and more.  Order Daniel Silva's latest thrilling novel The New Girl on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Visit his website at www.danielsilvabooks.com and follow him on Twitter at @DanielSilvaBook.  This episode is sponsored by TruGreen Mosquito Defense.

The author, Daniel Silva, tonight at air conditioned Bowsher HS at 7p. Great book about Gabriel Allon the head of Israeli Intelligence dealing with Saudi princes, kidnapping, and murder.

This long-running thriller series by Daniel Silva features spymaster Gabriel Allon. And the audiobook features master narrator George Guidall. One of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, he rips through German, Russian, and Israeli names with ease and keeps the tension high. THE OTHER WOMAN does not disappoint. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. Hosted by: Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine founder and editor Robin Whitten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Silva’s eighteen bestselling thrillers featuring art restorer and Israeli spymaster Gabriel Allon share DNA with the works of classic espionage writers like Grahame Green, Eric Ambler and John Le Carre. His latest novel The Other Woman begins when a carefully planned operation involving a Russian courier goes fatally awry on the streets of Vienna.  In the aftermath of disaster, Allon begins to unravel a plot that intersects with the real-world case of an infamous spy, and spans generations.  Daniel Silva joined us in the podcast studio to talk about his long obsession with the story behind The Other Woman.

We speak with Sun Yung Shin and David Grant about A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota. Sun Yung Shin is the author of Unbearable Splendor and the poetry collections Rough, and Savage and Skirt Full of Black. David Grant has written drama for the stage, film and television – and has written on racial bias in the justice system and racial disparities in the health care system for the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Legislature. We also speak with Daniel Silva about his newest Gabriel Allon bestseller The Black Widow. He is the author of 18 other books, including The English Spy, The Kill Artist, A Death in Vienna, Portrait of a Spy and The English Assassin. His books are published in 30 countries and he serves on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

  The Satellite Sisters Word Write Festival continues with an interview with Daniel Silva, of The English Spy. The English Spy is the 15th novel in the Gabriel Allon series. It's set in Northern Ireland and brings together charters from many of the series characters from the past.    Thanks to Audible for supporting the Satellite Sisters Word Write Festival. To download one free audiobook, use the special Satellite Sisters URL. audiblepodcast.com/sisters

El Mosad siempre ha sonreído por lo bajo ante los escrúpulos de una parte de la opinión pública estadounidense que debían superar sus colegas de la CIA en materia de “asesinatos selectivos”. Ahora mismo, el espionaje exterior israelí libra una “guerra secreta” contra científicos y militares relacionados con el programa nuclear de Irán. Varios de ellos han sido abatidos en el mismísimo Teherán, con frecuencia por el procedimiento de una bomba adosada a su vehículo por unos esquivos motoristas. Es probable que, dadas las dificultades de los israelíes para moverse en Irán, esos motoristas sean opositores iraníes, gente de las minorías kurda o suní. Y también es probable que fueran reclutados bajo una “falsa bandera” (false flag). Los del Mossad, según informó la revista Foreing Policy, se habrían hecho pasar por agentes de la CIA para embarcarlos en su campaña de asesinatos. Es un secreto a voces que el Mosad dispone de una unidad especial dedicada a liquidar físicamente en el extranjero a individuos considerados un “peligro existencial” para el Estado judío, palestinos con frecuencia y, últimamente, iraníes. Se llama Kidon (bayoneta, en hebreo), inicialmente fue conocida como Cesárea y aplica la sentencia del profeta Ezequiel: “Y los enemigos sabrán que soy el Señor cuando haga caer mi venganza sobre ellos”. Esta unidad consiguió fama mundial tras los Juegos Olímpicos de Múnich de 1972, cuando se dedicó a ir localizando y abatiendo a los miembros del grupo terrorista palestino Septiembre Negro que habían causado la matanza de una docena de atletas israelíes, asunto sobre el que Spielberg terminó haciendo una película. En los últimos lustros, sus éxitos (asesinato en 1996 de Yahia Ayach, El Ingeniero de Hamás, con un teléfono móvil bomba) y sus fracasos (intento de envenenamiento en Ammán de Jaled Meshal en 1997) han sido tan novelescos como las hazañas del sicario israelí Gabriel Allon en los thrillers de Daniel Silva. Lo de Meshal fue sonado: un comando del Mossad, que usaba pasaportes canadienses, roció con veneno el oído del dirigente de Hamás en pleno centro de la capital jordana. Mientras éste quedaba paralizado instantáneamente, su guardaespaldas se lanzó en pos de los sicarios, dos de los cuales fueron capturados. A cambio de su liberación, un indignado rey Hussein exigió a Israel la entrega del antídoto para el veneno, lo que salvó la vida de Meshal, y la liberación del fundador de Hamás, el jeque Yasín. En 2008 el Mosad recuperó su prestigio al abatir al libanés Imad Muhniyeh cuando salía de la embajada iraní en Damasco. La CIA no había logrado echarle el guante a este activista de Hezbolá al que siempre se le atribuyeron los atentados que en la primera mitad de los años ochenta destruyeron en Beirut la embajada norteamericana y el cuartel general de los marines. Pero el Mosad logró colocar un explosivo en el reposacabezas de su automóvil. Dos años después, el descubrimiento de que los agentes israelíes que asesinaron en Dubai a Mahmud al Mabhuh, activista de Hamás, habían usado documentos de identidad de países europeos como Reino Unido,

Lunapic Photo Editing Phil Gigante is a hidden treasure, you may not know it, but you've probably heard his golden voice if you've ever listened to an audio book. Phil is well known for his Scottish brogue in Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series. He gives Adam Black and each of the MacKeltar brothers a signature sound, each one able to melt the panties off unsuspecting lasses at a meer whisper. In Karen's Fever series, he is the mysterious and incredibly sexy Jericho Barrons... still again melting the readers into submission. And finally, to my delight he is also Gabriel Allon, always undercover fine art restorer and assassin to Israel's government....ummmm still sexy. Well, Candi Fox & Kelly "DemonLover" Oakes have cornered him for the show and are keeping him captive to delight you. I wonder if he'll wear his kilt?