BOOK REVIEW: THE NEW GIRL
By Daniel Silva
Reviewed by Robert Richer, Former Associate Deputy Director for Operations, CIA
Richer retired from the CIA in November 2005. Prior to his assignment as the ADDO in 2004, Richer was the Chief of the Near East and South Asia Division, responsible for Clandestine Service Operations throughout the Middle East and South Asia.
To say that Daniel Silva’s newest book, The New Girl weaves a masterful story, with complex geopolitical themes drawn from today’s headlines would be an understatement.
The book delivers and is authentic.
Silva’s descriptions of the geographical locations in which the story takes place are so descriptive that the reader can feel the oppressive heat of the Saudi desert, the bustle and character of the streets of London, imagine in the mind’s eye the roads of Switzerland, and feel the uniqueness of Israel.
Silva’s long-time hero, Gabriel Allon, returns in this suspenseful thriller as the chief of Israeli intelligence which he calls the “Office”. Loyal Silva readers already know that Allon is a hands-on leader who personally conducts some of the most sensitive operations in support of the State of Israel. Gabriel established his bona fides in Israeli Intelligence in the 70s and earlier in his career, was recruited to bring to justice (generally by assassination) terrorists involved in the massacre against Israeli athletes that is came to be known as ‘Black September’. Now, although he’s approaching the latter part of his operational life, Allon remains the heart and mind of a complex “Office” effort which starts with him being asked by the Saudi Crown Prince to help find and rescue his daughter who was kidnapped while attending a private school in Switzerland. Drawn into the effort are friends and contacts who include Sarah Bancroft, a former CIA operative and strong player in some of the earlier Allon narratives.
The actual kidnapping, however, is not the sum of the novel. While providing a starting point and theme throughout the novel, there is much, much more at play in this thriller, to include an “Office” effort to steal Iranian nuclear secrets, Russian intelligence and its killing of dissidents by way of radioactive methods, British Intelligence Service (MI6) operations, and so much more to include twists in the final chapters of the book which came as a surprise that was exceptionally well structured.
In Allon, Silva captures the spirit and commitment of the Israeli Intelligence services. In the voice of the novel’s Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, he captures the arrogance and design of the current Saudi Crown Prince. At one point, when Allon confronts the Crown Prince regarding the assassination and dismemberment of a Saudi Dissident in Turkey, the Crown Prince replies: “What’s done cannot be undone”. A chilling line from Macbeth and an indication of no remorse along the lines of what happened, tragically, in real life not so long ago. Silva delivers a short but spot on summary of Wahhabism and the foundation for so many past and current terrorist and extremist elements.
While a work of fiction, Silva, through Allon, acts as a just conscience when viewing so much at play in the Middle East and the world at large, be it in addressing Iran’s nuclear efforts, the perceived evil of the Saudi Crown Prince, and Russian interests and efforts to “quiet” dissident. Silva provides enough narrative to stimulate thought but at the same time, enough action to allow the reader to escape into a great summer adventure.
The New Girl is an exceptional novel that brings together threads from earlier iterations of Allon with today’s headlines. It is a book meant to savor. Take the time to focus on Silva’s descriptions of the locales described and the exchanges among the novel’s principals. Be prepared to be taken on a complex journey realizing that like many of Silva’s works, what appears to be, is sometimes not what you think.
This book earns a prestigious four out of four trench coats.
At the time of his retirement from the Central Intelligence Agency in 2005, Rob Richer, was the deputy chief of the Agency’s clandestine service. He spent most of CIA career in the Middle East. He has extensive knowledge of the region, its history and leaders and continues to frequent that region.
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