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This book, The Messenger, by Daniel Silva, opens in London wherein a professor of Middle Eastern studies is suspected to have ties with Al-Qaeda. The Israel Secret Service is following him when he is killed in an accident. He was carrying a computer laptop which proves that not only was he a recruiter of the Al-Qaeda group, but that he was also involved in a complicated and sophisticated plot against the Vatican.
Gabriel Allon, an Israeli agent, is once again sent out to try to avert a tragedy in Rome. Simultaneously, the agency decides to find the source of terrorist funding through Saudi sources. The Israelis and the Central Intelligence Agency devised and constructed a labyrinthine plot to discover the location of a Saudi terrorist financier. This plot involves a beautiful American art curator and a Van Gogh painting unbeknownst to everyone.
The Messenger is indeed a good book because the author connects so many things that are happening in the present time, such as Al-Qaeda is planning terrorist acts, Saudis are financing the terrorists and cannot be touched by the Americans, and the Americans are involved in secret and sometimes illegal operations. The plot of this book is fast-paced and very exciting, and it is one of Daniel Silva’s strongest efforts yet.