Call number
MYST SIL
Collection
Series
Publication
Harper (2020), 464 pages
Description
Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML: From Daniel Silva, the internationally acclaimed #1 New York Times�??bestselling author, comes a riveting new thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon. It 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… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member labdaddy4
Another excellent book in this series- fast paced and easily read. The author weaves a tale of murder, history, and conspiracy within the backdrop of the Catholic Church and the rise of neo-fascism. Some of the normal “support cast” was missing from this novel.
LibraryThing member diana.hauser
THE ORDER by Daniel Silva.
From one of my favorite authors, Daniel Silva’s newest book does not disappoint.
It is a tense thriller with one of my favorite literary characters, Gabriel Allon.
Gabriel, Chiara and the children are spending a few days in Venice - a rest and relaxation getaway (planned
The tense plot; the very disturbing portrayals of prominent Roman Catholic Church dignitaries; locations in Venice, Rome, Switzerland and Bavaria; the ‘team’ in action; the power, always the power of money; WW II Nazi atrocities; pandemics; the rise of xenophobic, intolerant ultra right-wing figures with no patience or tolerance for the rule of law or democracy - THE ORDER is a breathless read.
I liked the inclusion of a map of Vatican City. The author’s notes and acknowledgements were very interesting and informative. I know and understand that this is a work of fiction, but many of the plots or incidents are based on historical manuscripts, current(and ancient) biographies and non-fiction works. The inclusion of these references helps the reader to find more information about the topics., if they choose. I did read Reza Aslan’s biography of Jesus, ZEALOT: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS OF NAZARETH. I also liked the discussion of the ancient Christian charge of deicide that “is universally regarded by scholars as the foundation of anti-Semitism.”
A Five Star read. *****
From one of my favorite authors, Daniel Silva’s newest book does not disappoint.
It is a tense thriller with one of my favorite literary characters, Gabriel Allon.
Gabriel, Chiara and the children are spending a few days in Venice - a rest and relaxation getaway (planned
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by Chiara) away from the pressures of King Saul Blvd. Gabriel’s ‘rest’ is cut short by a request from old friend, Luigi Donati (private secretary to the current pope) to help in a crisis situation.The tense plot; the very disturbing portrayals of prominent Roman Catholic Church dignitaries; locations in Venice, Rome, Switzerland and Bavaria; the ‘team’ in action; the power, always the power of money; WW II Nazi atrocities; pandemics; the rise of xenophobic, intolerant ultra right-wing figures with no patience or tolerance for the rule of law or democracy - THE ORDER is a breathless read.
I liked the inclusion of a map of Vatican City. The author’s notes and acknowledgements were very interesting and informative. I know and understand that this is a work of fiction, but many of the plots or incidents are based on historical manuscripts, current(and ancient) biographies and non-fiction works. The inclusion of these references helps the reader to find more information about the topics., if they choose. I did read Reza Aslan’s biography of Jesus, ZEALOT: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS OF NAZARETH. I also liked the discussion of the ancient Christian charge of deicide that “is universally regarded by scholars as the foundation of anti-Semitism.”
A Five Star read. *****
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LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
Gabriel Allon is one of my favorite characters, and in this book he outdoes himself. As usual, Silva has created a murder mystery that is both entertaining and interesting. His writing style is creative and leaves the reader waiting for more. There is subtle humor and a slow buildup of tension as
Allon has friends in high places because of the nature of his job as head of security in Israel. When he receives a request to come to the Vatican, from his friend, the personal secretary to the Pope, he answers his call. The Pope had recently died, and he wonders why he has been summoned. Since his wife had already made arrangements for a vacation in Italy, it coincided well with her plan. However, his vacation did not turn out as planned.
There are several questions surrounding the death of the Pope. The Pope had recently discovered a book in the Papal archives. What secrets did it reveal that might impact the church profoundly? Why has the Swiss Guard who was stationed outside the Pope’s apartments disappeared? Why was the Pope writing a letter to Gabriel Allon, which seems to have disappeared, as well? Did the Pope die of natural causes? Is there a secret group plotting to change the very structure of the church? Who is actually endangering the church, the powerful order of St. Helena, or the Pope with the information he was trying to send to Allon. Gabriel is intrigued by the questions raised, but doubts foul play.
In the solving of the mystery, the reader is immersed into the history of the Jews and their supposed involvement in the death of Christ. The history of anti-Semitism and its origins is explored. Corruption in ancient Rome and the attitude of the Pope during WWII is examined also, both in the body of the novel and in the notes of the author, at the end, in which he explains a good deal of the subject matter covered in the book concerning the history. He admirably attempts to answer any questions that might have arisen about several of the events in the book, about some of the characters, and about the historic influence of certain acts with regard to the behavior of the church and the Jewish people.
I recommend the book especially to those that love this series or to those students of history that question the source of anti-Semitism and the church’s involvement, and to those who question some of the recent revelations about the church, as well. They will find the theories put forth very thought provoking.
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the threads of the mystery are revealed, unraveled and solved.Allon has friends in high places because of the nature of his job as head of security in Israel. When he receives a request to come to the Vatican, from his friend, the personal secretary to the Pope, he answers his call. The Pope had recently died, and he wonders why he has been summoned. Since his wife had already made arrangements for a vacation in Italy, it coincided well with her plan. However, his vacation did not turn out as planned.
There are several questions surrounding the death of the Pope. The Pope had recently discovered a book in the Papal archives. What secrets did it reveal that might impact the church profoundly? Why has the Swiss Guard who was stationed outside the Pope’s apartments disappeared? Why was the Pope writing a letter to Gabriel Allon, which seems to have disappeared, as well? Did the Pope die of natural causes? Is there a secret group plotting to change the very structure of the church? Who is actually endangering the church, the powerful order of St. Helena, or the Pope with the information he was trying to send to Allon. Gabriel is intrigued by the questions raised, but doubts foul play.
In the solving of the mystery, the reader is immersed into the history of the Jews and their supposed involvement in the death of Christ. The history of anti-Semitism and its origins is explored. Corruption in ancient Rome and the attitude of the Pope during WWII is examined also, both in the body of the novel and in the notes of the author, at the end, in which he explains a good deal of the subject matter covered in the book concerning the history. He admirably attempts to answer any questions that might have arisen about several of the events in the book, about some of the characters, and about the historic influence of certain acts with regard to the behavior of the church and the Jewish people.
I recommend the book especially to those that love this series or to those students of history that question the source of anti-Semitism and the church’s involvement, and to those who question some of the recent revelations about the church, as well. They will find the theories put forth very thought provoking.
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LibraryThing member jmoncton
This has all the elements of a best selling spy thriller -- political intrigue, international espionage and the death of a pope -- what more could you want? But somehow this book felt like there was an agenda about politics and religion. Unlike some other reviewers, I actually like that he pulled
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in some of today's current events -- a racist president and the rise of neo-Naziism in Germany -- but when the preaching becomes obviously preaching instead of a subtlety of plot or character, then I feel like I'm reading a blog post. So still entertaining, but not his best. Show Less
LibraryThing member Judiex
When I see the name Daniel Silva as the author and Gabriel Allon as the main character, I know I am in for a wonderful read. Silva’s latest book, THE ORDER, definitely met my expectations.
For those who haven’t read the previous books in the series, Allon trained to be an artist and art
In THE ORDER, Gabriel, his wife, and their children decided to take a vacation in Venice. While there, he is called by Archbishop Luigi Donati, the Pope’s private secretary, to come to Rome. The Pope has died very suddenly, during the couple of hours that Donati was away from the Vatican. For various reasons, including the disappearance of the Swiss Guard on duty outside the apartment and a missing letter to Gabriel, Donati does not believe the death was of natural causes.
Gabriel calls in help from Mossad to try to determine what really happened. They discover a secret group, called The Order, that was begun in the 1930s in Germany. The founder , Father Schiller, was anti-Semitic and friendly to Hitler. He and his followers became very wealthy by promising to rescue Jews from the Nazis by giving them fake certificates in return for money and valuables. Most of the Jews ended up dead. Today, the members of the group were concerned about the Arab immigrants coming into Germany and changing the society. Many cardinals, were part of the group. They were the ones who would select the new pope.
Part of the story is about writing regarding Jesus’s life and early Christianity. It discusses contradictions among the four primary gospels and suggests other writing from that time, written by contemporaries, that have disappeared. It talks about Pontius Pilate and It explains how the meeting of the Sanhedrin before Jesus’s death could not have happened. It details how anti-Semitism was built into the Catholic religion by nine words and the results of those words, which reverberate today.
While many of Gabriel’s previous involvements are mentioned in THE ORDER, it is not necessary to have read them first, but do go back and catch up.
Silva’s characters are realistic. Living in the US during the Trump administration proves that what seems excessive can actually occur.
Silva’s THE ORDER is a must-read.
For those who haven’t read the previous books in the series, Allon trained to be an artist and art
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restorer. Life got in the way and he became a Mossad agent. Over the years, his artistic talent has introduced him to a wide assortment of people. One of them was Pope Paul VII, with whom he developed a very warm relationship. In THE ORDER, Gabriel, his wife, and their children decided to take a vacation in Venice. While there, he is called by Archbishop Luigi Donati, the Pope’s private secretary, to come to Rome. The Pope has died very suddenly, during the couple of hours that Donati was away from the Vatican. For various reasons, including the disappearance of the Swiss Guard on duty outside the apartment and a missing letter to Gabriel, Donati does not believe the death was of natural causes.
Gabriel calls in help from Mossad to try to determine what really happened. They discover a secret group, called The Order, that was begun in the 1930s in Germany. The founder , Father Schiller, was anti-Semitic and friendly to Hitler. He and his followers became very wealthy by promising to rescue Jews from the Nazis by giving them fake certificates in return for money and valuables. Most of the Jews ended up dead. Today, the members of the group were concerned about the Arab immigrants coming into Germany and changing the society. Many cardinals, were part of the group. They were the ones who would select the new pope.
Part of the story is about writing regarding Jesus’s life and early Christianity. It discusses contradictions among the four primary gospels and suggests other writing from that time, written by contemporaries, that have disappeared. It talks about Pontius Pilate and It explains how the meeting of the Sanhedrin before Jesus’s death could not have happened. It details how anti-Semitism was built into the Catholic religion by nine words and the results of those words, which reverberate today.
While many of Gabriel’s previous involvements are mentioned in THE ORDER, it is not necessary to have read them first, but do go back and catch up.
Silva’s characters are realistic. Living in the US during the Trump administration proves that what seems excessive can actually occur.
Silva’s THE ORDER is a must-read.
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LibraryThing member norinrad10
I really like this book, until I really didn't. And once ai started to dislike it, I really hated it.
In his latest adventure protagonist Gabriel Allon, Israel's chief spy is on forced vacation in Venice with wifie Chiara and their children. Unfortunately, dastardly deeds are afoot at the Vatican
Silva spends a great deal of time focused on the history of the Catholic church and the Jewish people. Fascinating reading and this is the part of the book that I really became engrossed in. But, Silva isn't a historical writer, he's a spy novelist, so it was time to get on with the adventure.
Simple math tells you that Allon is now a man nearing 70. His first adventure came in the wake of the Munich killings in 1972, he was 21. Surprisingly despite having been oft-injured and having lived a life fraught with stress, the elderly Allallon has shown little wear and tear. He's as physically adept as a much younger man.
Events involving the Vatican wrap up fairly quickly, as the current batch of villains are little match for the Israeli spymaster. Unfortunately, they prove to be about as interesting as they are adept. Equally unfortunate is that Allon dispatching them doesn't signify the end of the book. This one goes on for another 100 pages after things by all indications are wrapped up.
Silva is one of my favorite writers and Gabriel one of my favorite characters. But if this book is any indication, it may be time to put the legend to bed. Perhaps Silva could create a younger protagonist, who is mentored by his aged protagonist in the way he was mentored by the equally legendary Ari Shamron. Now that would be some interesting reading.
In his latest adventure protagonist Gabriel Allon, Israel's chief spy is on forced vacation in Venice with wifie Chiara and their children. Unfortunately, dastardly deeds are afoot at the Vatican
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and his services are quickly employed. Silva spends a great deal of time focused on the history of the Catholic church and the Jewish people. Fascinating reading and this is the part of the book that I really became engrossed in. But, Silva isn't a historical writer, he's a spy novelist, so it was time to get on with the adventure.
Simple math tells you that Allon is now a man nearing 70. His first adventure came in the wake of the Munich killings in 1972, he was 21. Surprisingly despite having been oft-injured and having lived a life fraught with stress, the elderly Allallon has shown little wear and tear. He's as physically adept as a much younger man.
Events involving the Vatican wrap up fairly quickly, as the current batch of villains are little match for the Israeli spymaster. Unfortunately, they prove to be about as interesting as they are adept. Equally unfortunate is that Allon dispatching them doesn't signify the end of the book. This one goes on for another 100 pages after things by all indications are wrapped up.
Silva is one of my favorite writers and Gabriel one of my favorite characters. But if this book is any indication, it may be time to put the legend to bed. Perhaps Silva could create a younger protagonist, who is mentored by his aged protagonist in the way he was mentored by the equally legendary Ari Shamron. Now that would be some interesting reading.
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LibraryThing member shazjhb
Excellent book. Not sure if there are any more Allon books worth writing. I don’t want to read about the characters I like dying.
LibraryThing member buffalogr
Allon has friends in high places because of the nature of his job as head of security in Israel. When he receives a request to come to the Vatican, from his friend, the personal secretary to the Pope, he answers his call. One wonders how the chief Israeli spy can take two weeks off in Italy? Silva
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spends a great deal of time focused on the history of the Catholic church and the Jewish people--not a little bible study. There are characters--mostly Vatican characters--some villains, some heroes....not too many. Good read...wondering if there's a #21 Show Less
LibraryThing member JosephKing6602
Gospel of pontius pilate is a clever storyline; but too many characters made the story too complicated
LibraryThing member RonWelton
Pietro Lucchesi, Pope Paul VII, a character introduced by Daniel Silva in The Confessor and appearing also in The Messenger and The Fallen Angel dies in The Order. His death is believed suspicious by his private secretary, Archbishop Luigi Donati. Shortly after Donati calls Gabriel Allon out of his
Shortly after the assassination, we, but not Allon or Donati, learn the identity of the assassins: The Order of St. Helena "awash with cash," led by Bishop Hans Richter an associate of Giuseppe Saviano, Italy's new prime minister "... xenophobic, intolerant, distrustful of the free press, and (with) little patience for niceties such as parliamentary democracy or the rule of law."
If Allon is to save the world from the danger of a pope installed through bribes by The Order of St. Helena, he must, according to Donati "bring me proof that the Order murdered my master. And the book, of course." The book Donati refers to is The Gospel of Pilate, "A book that contradicted the accounts of Jesus' death contained in the canonical Gospels, accounts that were the seedbed of two thousand years of sometimes murderous anti-Semitism." And he must do this under the pressure of the release of damning evidence against Donati by journalist, Alessandro Ricci.
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vacation to investigate the unusual circumstances of the death, they suspect the worse when Niklaus Janson, the Swiss guard on duty outside the papal apartments the night of the Pope's death was assassinated in front of their eyes. Allon had been able to use the almost magical technology of Israeli Intelligence to track down Janson. The opposition demonstrates the same near magic in shutting down and making inaccessible the iPhone Allon retrieved from Janson's body.Shortly after the assassination, we, but not Allon or Donati, learn the identity of the assassins: The Order of St. Helena "awash with cash," led by Bishop Hans Richter an associate of Giuseppe Saviano, Italy's new prime minister "... xenophobic, intolerant, distrustful of the free press, and (with) little patience for niceties such as parliamentary democracy or the rule of law."
If Allon is to save the world from the danger of a pope installed through bribes by The Order of St. Helena, he must, according to Donati "bring me proof that the Order murdered my master. And the book, of course." The book Donati refers to is The Gospel of Pilate, "A book that contradicted the accounts of Jesus' death contained in the canonical Gospels, accounts that were the seedbed of two thousand years of sometimes murderous anti-Semitism." And he must do this under the pressure of the release of damning evidence against Donati by journalist, Alessandro Ricci.
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LibraryThing member bblum
Israeli intelligence director and art restorer now married with children in this 20th book of a popular series once again uses his skills to stop the fascist leaning catholic organization from taking over the papacy in Rome. There are not so subtle bits about Trump and right leaning democracies in
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Western Europe and the long hatred of Jews attributed to Pontius Pilot. Great plot, lots of twists and I do like the more senior Gabriel Allon. Show Less
LibraryThing member raizel
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Father Joshua has appeared to Allon and the man who becomes Pope and given them a page from what is, according to the author's note at the end of the book, a nonexistent codex. Nonetheless, the book engaged my interest and felt less formulaic than some of the previous ones. Gabriel is in Venice with his family on vacation when an old friend asks for his help. This requires many trips to many western European locations, Venice, Rome, Florence, Germany, Switzerland and many brief history lessons about the Catholic church's actions regarding the Holocaust (lack thereof), European right-wing politicians, secretive Catholic religious orders, and the religious history and causes of antisemitism. No paintings are restored, but there is a lightness to the story that is refreshing. Show Less
LibraryThing member JudyGibson
I was conflicted as I gobbled this book down: frantically turning pages while fighting "shades of Da Vinci Code" complaints of a plot driven by a shadowy Catholic secret society/Vatican conspiracy to suppress an inconvenient historical truth. Well, the story and the characters won out and I stayed
This was the first I have read of Silva's works and clearly I should have started sooner. The main character, an operative in Israel's secret service and incidentally a professional art restorer, is approaching retirement and a happy family life. I wonder how he got there, and plan to find out.
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up past my bedtime to finish the book. This was the first I have read of Silva's works and clearly I should have started sooner. The main character, an operative in Israel's secret service and incidentally a professional art restorer, is approaching retirement and a happy family life. I wonder how he got there, and plan to find out.
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LibraryThing member robeik
Another enjoyable bit of escapism.
ISBN
0062834843 / 9780062834843