The Cellist by Daniel Silva (Review by Lara Ferguson)

Daniel Silva has delivered yet another gripping tale of intrigue to his readers. Set in Europe, against the backdrop of COVID-19 and the January 6th attack on the Capitol building in Washington D.C., this novel weaves a modern tale of financial markets, spies, and the ever-tense relationship between Russia and the rest of Western world. When prominent Russian exile, Viktor Orlov, is found murdered in his London home, ostensibly by a Russian poison, by one of his employees, a chain reaction begins within the Israeli and British intelligence worlds. As they work to discover how it happened and to protect the innocent, a complex plan is constructed that, if successful, could disrupt the Russian financial machine permanently. Using familiar characters along with new ones, Silva furthers his creation of a complex and fascinating world of spies and spycraft, by deepening relationships, continuing and expanding on old rivalries, and setting the narrative in current events making it feel relevant and plausible. The story twists and turns are tighter with every page, making it difficult to put the book down for fear of missing one detail. The characters are unusual, diverse, and equally treated but could still be anyone’s next door neighbor. The author’s attention to detail and extensive research are readily apparent and contribute to the reader’s ability to suspend disbelief and wonder….is this what is truly going on behind the scenes? As always, with The Cellist, Daniel Silva, brings a well-told, intriguing story that leaves the reader longing for the next adventure.