Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Putnam Adult
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 384
Printing Date: February 22, 2005
Publishing house: Putnam Adult
Sale Popularity Level: 10456
Studio: Putnam Adult
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Product Description:
Few recent thriller writers have excited the kind of critical praise that Daniel Silva has, with his novels featuring art restorer and sometime spy Gabriel Allon.
Now Allon is back in Venice, when a terrible explosion in Rome leads to a disturbing personal revelation: the existence of a dossier in the hands of terrorists that strips away his secrets, lays bare his history. Hastily recalled home to Israel, drawn once more into the heart of a service he had once forsaken, Gabriel Allon finds himself stalking an elusive master terrorist across a landscape drenched in generations of blood, along a trail that keeps turning in upon itself, until, finally, he can no longer be certain who is stalking whom. And when at last the inevitable showdown comes, it's not Gabriel alone who is threatened with destruction-for it is not his history alone that has been laid bare.
A knife-edged thriller of astonishing intricacy and feeling, filled with exhilarating prose, this is Daniel Silva's finest novel yet.
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Rated by buyers 
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A gripping tale with a likable hero, I recommend this book for travelers, insomniacs and vacationers. Daniel Silva has mastered the thriller style, knows how to keep his reader turning the pages, guessing and fearing and hoping.
Rated by buyers -
Silva can always be counted on to deliver a taut, fast-moving yet nuanced thriller and this is no exception. Hero Gabriel Allon sets out, somewhat reluctantly, to to avenge a massive, ugly bombing in Rome and in so doing, is forced to consider why he does what he does. In this book, as in his other Allon books, Silva ties the plot into the historic troubles between Israel and the Palestinians and ably reflects the complexities that motivate both sides. Allon is a believeable hero, now aging. Will Silva let him fade into the sunset? Doubtful, although Silva is quite capable of penning compelling novels that don't rely on this worthy hero. All in all, a good thriller. Your time won't be wasted on this one.
Rated by buyers 
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When you read a review saying that Daniel Silva can flat out write, believe the hype! Silva can really write, and "Prince of Fire" proves just that. Another reviewer said that he didn't think Silva would raise the bar with this one, and that he was wrong. That's accurate enough, because I felt the same way. If somebody were to tell me that Daniel Silva isn't up to snuff, I'd be laughing for a long time at you.
So, what kind of situation can Daniel Silva put Gabriel Allon into this time? Well, look no further then the likes of Ari Shamron and Lev. Lev says move, and Gabriel calls some critical shots in this lethal game of chess! And when check-mate seems so far away, you better check your king and queen, because Gabriel will find the move that you don't see coming. This is a whole new hunt, and the question is, who's being hunted? He also deals with issues concerning his wife, and coming to terms with it altogether. In some ways, he becomes more of a leader among men then he thought possible. And the stakes just get higher. If you ever thought of "Daniel and the Lion's Den," just think of the possibilities.
This is by far the best that Silva has offered up concerning Gabriel Allon! I mean, WOW!! And I still have "The Messenger," as well as a couple of others to go in this series. Does that mean I'll be looking forward to his subsequent offering? You bet! This was an explosion of Daniel Silva's very best, and it'll sure be a tough one to beat!
Rated by buyers 
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You've heard about the Israeli agent (or the Palestinian terrorist) who fell into a trap? No, I'm not referring to a two guys walk into a bar joke. I'm addressing the fact that the agent vs terrorist theme is getting so shop worn, that books like these seem to be novels that are churned out by some supercomputer hidden in a safe house south of Florence, Italy. The subsequent novel to be written should be how a group of agents interested in restoring novelty to spy thrillers break into this house and destroy the hack writing supercomputer.
As for me one of the earliest, and the best of terrorist vs agent novels is John le Carre's book The Little Drummer Girl novel, a book that deeply explores the motivations of men on both sides of the deadly fence of political enmity. All through this book I kept thinking, surely I've read this book before. I hadn't, but I have read ones that follow the same plot.
A Palestinian terrorist blows up a building. An Israeli agent goes after him. People get misled and fall into traps. They escape from traps and chase around some more. There are women in the book, all beautiful, and, of course some are destined to die. That's it folks. That's the whole book. Yes, I don't think that I've left anything out. And if that seems awfully familiar to you then you know on page one how the book will end.
In some ways I found it difficult to rate this book at only two stars, because Daniel Silva is a fairly decent writer. He occasionally throws in an adjective or an adverb, descriptive parts of speech that many writers of this ilk find extremely difficult to use.
My recommendation. If you like reading this sort of plot over and over again written in a competent style then by all means read the book. Otherwise spare yourself the deadly repetition of terrorist vs agent. And, certainly, if you have not read John le Carre's The Little Drummer Girl go read it first, or reread it if you've had the distinct pleasure of having already enjoyed it.
Rated by buyers -
I am now a die hard fan of Daniel Silva. The Prince of Fire was just as great a read as all of his others. I recently ordered all of his novels and look forward to reading each of them. These books are suspenseful page turners that I can hardly put down to sleep or do work. I passed one onto a friend and now he is hooked on Daniel Silva as well. If you like suspense thrillers, Daniel Silva is the man. I would suggest starting from his very first novel and working your way through. Although each novel has it's own storyline, his novels seem to build on one another; either way, don't pass up this and his other books.....they are all a must read!
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