The latest Daniel Silva thriller kicks off with the murder of Viktor Orlov, a Russian living in exile in the United Kingdom. Some years ago, Orlov saved the life of Israel’s head of Secret Service, Gabrielle Allon, who is now on a mission to avenge Orlov’s death.

We soon learn that Nina Antonova, an investigative reporter for the Moskovskaya Gazeta in which Orlov had controlling interest, visited him at his London home shortly before his death. When Allon learns of this he embarks on finding her and ascertaining whether she played a role in his death.

One revelation follows another, and we are introduced to a cast of thousands, two of whom I realised I needed to pay particular attention to: cellist Isabel Brenner and Russian billionaire Arkady Akimov.

The President of the Russian Federation makes an appearance as does Martin Landesmann, a wealthy entrepreneur whose apparent all-consuming passion is the urgent expansion of a carbon-neutral economy that spares the planet further damage. With the help of courageous Isabel Brenner (beautiful, desirable, intelligent and resourceful) Allon sets up a carefully planned operation that involves a great deal of travel, many fabulous parties, extravagant couture and named expensive accessories. Thuggery simmers below the surface ready to explode at any moment.

A few favourite characters appear from previous books in the ‘Gabriel Allon’ series. They include Ari Shamron (former head of the Israel Secret Intelligence Service and the person who originally recruited Allon into the Service) and Sarah Bancroft (a former member of the CIA and now an art dealer in London).

The plot of The Cellist is straightforward but the pace is compromised by unnecessary padding.

Reviewed by Clive Hodges