My annual Summer read has not disappointed-An Inside Job- featuring retired spy and art restorer, Gabriel Allon, was one of those books I couldn’t put down. This one featured a criminal conspiracy in the Vatican and a rediscovered stolen Leonardo. What can I say other than you must read it, whether on the beach or as in my case, on an extended road trip; this is a book that you will not want to miss- in fact the whole series is amazing and has ensured that Daniel Silva is one of my favourite authors! When Gabriel discovers a body in the Venice canal near his home he is determined to find out who the person is and why they have ended up dead in a Venetian waterway. This leads Gabriel to London and Rome. With the help of a few regular characters, both old and more recent - in fact thief and hacker, Ingrid who is a newer one is a great addition to Gabriel’s gang! When he retired as a spy , I wasn’t quite sure where the subsequent books would go but Mr Silva has succeeded in moving his legendary spy into a new career- carrying on his art restorations and helping the art squad find stolen paintings. The books are meticulously researched and there is a lot about restoration, art and especially in this one, Leonardo da Vinci. I was particularly interested as I recently visited the “Last Supper” in Milan although I had to book several months in advance unlike Gabriel who walked straight in! Anyway, I highly recommend this book and the whole series and am now eagerly awaiting Mr Allon’s next adventure in 2026! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

"An Inside Job" opens in Venice, where former spy Gabriel Allon and his family now live. Allon has been commissioned to restore another Venetian masterpiece, and in his usual style, is taking his own time to clean and repair it. On his way home one evening, he is asked to take a photograph of some tourists. In doing so, he notices a bundle in the canal behind them . It turns out to be a body and as is normal for Allon, he takes it upon himself to uncover her identity. And so, as the story unfolds Allon embarks on his self-appointed mission, discovering the woman was an apprentice art restorer who just happened to uncover an unknown da Vinci painting in the Vatican collection. Which is now missing. Before we know it, our intrepid hero is crossing the globe in search of answers, all the while avoiding the local authorities, the Vatican, and assorted criminal gangs. Along the way we meet the usual cast of regulars - the newly-appointed Pope (a personal friend), Julian Isherwood, Sarah Bancroft and others - so fans of the series will not be disappointed. There's the usual interludes featuring Chiara and their gifted twins (surely there's a novel in there) plus Allon's enviable longevity and his razor-sharp skills. There's not much more to say really. On the one hand, author Daniel Silva has proved there is life after the Office for Gabriel. He has successfully transformed the aging spy into a global trouble-shooter, and the books from spy novels into simple, albeit formulaic heist thrillers based in the art world. Fans will lap this up, and it is enjoyable, with keen observations of the corrupt world of art dealing and corruption, but I am left wondering just how much life is left in Gabriel Allon.

"An Inside Job" opens in Venice, where former spy Gabriel Allon and his family now live. Allon has been commissioned to restore another Venetian masterpiece, and in his usual style, is taking his own time to clean and repair it. On his way home one evening, he is asked to take a photograph of some tourists. In doing so, he notices a bundle in the canal behind them . It turns out to be a body and as is normal for Allon, he takes it upon himself to uncover her identity. And so, as the story unfolds Allon embarks on his self-appointed mission, discovering the woman was an apprentice art restorer who just happened to uncover an unknown da Vinci painting in the Vatican collection. Which is now missing. Before we know it, our intrepid hero is crossing the globe in search of answers, all the while avoiding the local authorities, the Vatican, and assorted criminal gangs. Along the way we meet the usual cast of regulars - the newly-appointed Pope (a personal friend), Julian Isherwood, Sarah Bancroft and others - so fans of the series will not be disappointed. There's the usual interludes featuring Chiara and their gifted twins (surely there's a novel in there) plus Allon's enviable longevity and his razor-sharp skills. There's not much more to say really. On the one hand, author Daniel Silva has proved there is life after the Office for Gabriel. He has successfully transformed the aging spy into a global trouble-shooter, and the books from spy novels into simple, albeit formulaic heist thrillers based in the art world. Fans will lap this up, and it is enjoyable, with keen observations of the corrupt world of art dealing and corruption, but I am left wondering just how much life is left in Gabriel Allon.