In his ninth novel, the sixth Gabriel Allon thriller, Silva (Prince of Fire ) focuses on the threat of Saudi-funded terrorism. Allon, art restorer extraordinaire by cover, Israeli assassin by profession, faces a daunting task. The Brotherhood of Allah, a group sponsored by a Saudi billionaire and headed by a reclusive terrorist living in the West, is preparing an attack on the Vatican. When the terrorists succeed in damaging St. Peter’s Basilica and its cupola, in the process slaughtering more than 700 tourists and nearly killing the pope, Allon accepts a mission sanctioned by the U.S. president and the Israelis. He must track down the terrorists, infiltrate their organization, and assassinate their leaders. Silva, a master craftsman, offers a perfect blend of all that matters most in fictionâ€"a significant theme, believable and engaging characters, authentic settings, and an engrossing plotâ€"detailed in precise prose that flows with seductive ease. Unlike other thriller writers who rely on tricks and seemingly endless (and ultimately unrealistic) twists for effect, Silva builds suspense through realistic threats, harrowing situations, and gripping action. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/06.]â€"Ron Terpening, Univ. of Arizona

Bestseller Silva continues to warrant comparisons to John le Carré, as shown by his latest thriller starring Israeli art restorer and spymaster Gabriel Allon. Ahmed bin Shafiq, a former chief of a clandestine Saudi intelligence unit, targets the Vatican for attack, in particular Pope Paul VII and his top aide, Monsignor Luigi Donati, who both appeared in Silva's previous novel, Prince of Fire . Shafiq, who now heads his own terrorist network, is allied with a militant Islamic Saudi businessman known as Zizi, a true believer committed to the destruction of all infidels. Gabriel's challenge is to infiltrate Zizi's organization, a task he assigns to a beautiful American art expert, Sarah Bancroft. Gabriel promises he'll protect her, but plans go awry, and by the end Sarah faces torture and death. While Sarah's fate is never in doubt, the way Silva resolves his plot will keep readers right where he wants them: on the edges of their seats. Author tour.(Aug.)