Moscow Rules, by Daniel Silva

Review by W. J. Rayment / ConservativeBookstore -- Gabriel Allon is one of the most remarkable characters in the modern Spy/Thriller genre. He is a painter, a restorer, and a trained spy. He is cranky and aging, but still tough and principled. His powers of deduction and his commando training are just barely enough to rescue him from the trouble that seems to follow him about (or does he seek it?). In spite of his skills and eccentricities, he remains a sympathetic character. The average reader will applaud Allon's instincts even as they cringe at the consequences of his occasional mistakes.

"Moscow Rules" is the 10th book in a series of Spy/Thrillers. It is an exciting series because it breaks with some of the recent tendency to infuse the modern novel with moral equivalence. For Silva there is an obvious dichotomy between good and evil. Bad characters are bad, even though they may have some feelings and characteristics that make them human (Ivan Kharkov's intense love for his children). Good characters fight for a cause, and make the reader realize that the spy world is a subterranean war. The good guys must occasionally kill to save the lives of thousands of others.

Silva's work is dead-on, depicting a reborn, thugish, totalitarian Soviet Union in the guise of Federal Russia. The portrait rings true as we see the demise of one Russian journalist after another, killed by vicarious means. But the murderers are not merely political actors. They represent an ex-KGB agaent making a concerted effort to cover up an arms deal that could mean the destruction of thousands. The title "Moscow Rules" is a euphemism for the vicious and violent tactics used by the Russian intelligence service. Everyone is watched, and one mistake, a mere question of loyalty can mean instant death - a bullet to the back of the neck.

The writing in "Moscow Rules" is crisp and literary. We are treated to a well-structured, flowing plot, that does not leave loose ends. Just as the main character, Gabriel Allon, is able to handle details, Silva is adroit in making the mundane details of spywork interesting. Humor seeps in, with word play and characterization. The opening sequence is a fun look inside a snooty French Hotel, where the staff executes their own surreptitious operations to deal with unwanted guests.

The perspective of Allon is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the book. We get to see an Israeli intelligence agent operating in the complex web of spy organizations which includes the CIA, MI6 and the French. Coordinating these efforts takes a man who is flexible, yet has a strong will. The interworkings of these people feels real, and their dawning realization that the cold war is not over, at least as far as the resurgent Russians is concerned, may be disconcerting, but they handle it like the professionals they are.

"Moscow Rules" is a fun, adventurous read. It deals with current day issues in a timeless manner. The Gabriel Allon series which began with "The Secret Servant" is sure to be a classic of the Spy/Thriller genre. Read and enjoy, and learn something about spy craft and politics along the way.

Moscow Rules, by Daniel Silva is available at Amazon.