The Heist: A Novel

Gabriel Allon, art restorer and occasional spy, searches for a stolen masterpiece by Caravaggio in #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva’s latest action-packed tale of high stakes international intrigue.

Sometimes the best way to find a stolen masterpiece is to steal another one . . . 

Master novelist Daniel Silva has thrilled readers with sixteen thoughtful and gripping spy novels featuring a diverse cast of compelling characters and ingenious plots that have taken them around the globe and back—from the United States to Europe, Russia to the Middle East. His brilliant creation, Gabriel Allon—art restorer, assassin, spy—has joined the pantheon of great fictional secret agents, including George Smiley, Jack Ryan, Jason Bourne, and Simon Templar.

Following the success of his smash hit The English Girl, Daniel Silva returns with another powerhouse of a novel that showcases his outstanding skill and brilliant imagination, and is sure to be a must read for both his multitudes of fans and growing legions of converts.

A fallen spy
A missing masterpiece
A daring mission
The Heist

Legendary spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon is in Venice repairing an altarpiece by Veronese when he receives an urgent summons from the Italian police. The eccentric London art dealer Julian Isherwood has stumbled upon a chilling murder scene in Lake Como, and is being held as a suspect. To save his friend, Gabriel must track down the real killers and then perform one simple task: find the most famous missing painting in the world.

Sometimes the best way to find a stolen masterpiece is to steal another one. . . .

The dead man is a fallen British spy with a secret: he has been trafficking in stolen artworks and selling them to a mysterious collector. Among those paintings is the world's most iconic missing masterpiece: Caravaggio's glorious Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence.

Gabriel embarks on a daring gambit to recover the Caravaggio and learn the identity of the collector. His search will take him on an exhilarating hunt—from the shimmering boulevards of Paris and London to the gritty criminal underworlds of Marseilles and Corsica, and finally to a small private bank in Austria where a dangerous man stands guard over the ill-gotten wealth of a brutal dictator. At his side is a brave young woman who survived one of the worst massacres of the twentieth century. Now, with Gabriel's help, she will be given a chance to strike a blow against a dynasty that destroyed her family.

Elegant, sophisticated, and entertaining, The Heist is a must-read thriller—a page-turning tale of intrigue that demonstrates once again why Daniel Silva is called a "world-class practitioner of spy fiction" (Washington Post).

“Smart, unpredictable, and packed with bits of history, art, heart, and imagination, this is a page turner to be savored….When it comes to the vast club of practitioners of international spycraft, Silva is a cut above them all, and The English Girl is a masterwork.” - Neal Thompson, Amazon.com on The English Girl

“Allon is a great political operative, but Silva is an even greater writer. That is what makes THE ENGLISH GIRL a must read.” - Huffington Post on The English Girl

“Although Gabriel’s adventures are set in the real world of greedy politicians and grabs for control of a diminishing supply of natural resources, ‘Israel’s avenging angel’ has the superhuman abilities that make for a satisfying fantasy.” - Columbus Dispatch on The English Girl

“The Heist by Silva is nothing short of phenomenal. It is his best work to date. And that is a huge statement since each novel has been unique and marvelous.” - Naples Daily News

“The story is a twisting tale of moves and countermoves, and even if this is your introduction to Gabriel Allon, you’ll find the characters in the book come to life.” - Oklahoma City Oklahoman

“A fun read….In erudition, action and temperament, Silva has made Allon the modern-day covert warrior extraordinaire.” - Kirkus

“Ingenious.” - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Silva has weaved together a story with intrigue, insight, and suspense.” - Crimespree Magazine

“Magnificent….This book has all the elements you love about Silva’s writing—his way with a plot, his incomparable characters, and the range of emotions he piles into his pages.” - Huffington Post