Daniel Silva Books in Order

Silva was born in Michigan and moved to California with his family when he was seven years old. Raised in a Catholic family, he converted to Judaism as an adult.

Before his rise as a bestselling author, Silva had dreams of becoming a history professor, but destiny had other plans. He graduated from Fresno State University and also began a specialization course in international relations at San Francisco State University. However, he left it incomplete when he was offered a journalist position at UPI.

There, Silva began his writing career as a journalist in a temporary position at the United Press International in 1984. His position was then made permanent and he was transferred to the main office in Washington, DC. Silva’s foray into the world of journalism saw him covering significant events like the Democratic National Convention.

After two years, he was appointed as a Middle East correspondent and moved to Cairo, Egypt. Silva later returned to Washington and joined CNN. He worked as a producer for several of the network’s television programs, including Crossfire and Capital Gang.

In 1994, he began writing his first novel, The Unlikely Spy (1996), which made it to the New York Times bestseller list on January 26, 1997, staying there for five weeks and reaching the 13th position. In 1997, he left CNN to fully dedicate himself to writing spy fiction.

Since then, Silva has written 19 more spy novels, all of which became New York Times bestsellers. The main character who appears in almost all of his stories is Gabriel Allon, an Israeli art restorer, secret agent, and assassin. He is a key figure in 21 of Silva’s 24 titles.

Silva did not start the Allon series with specific knowledge about the art and restoration world. However, he was able to benefit from the expertise of a neighbor in the field, thus transforming an assassin spy into an artist.

This series has been a New York Times bestseller since its beginning in 2001. Seven titles in the series have reached the top position on the list. Some of the novels are set against the backdrop of Islamic terrorism, some in Russia against organized crime, and others refer to historical events of World War II and the Holocaust.

In 2007, Universal Pictures made an offer to purchase the rights to the Gabriel Allon series from Silva. In 2011, it was announced that Jeff Zucker would be the film producer, but the deal was never signed. Silva has stated that unless the right creative team is found, it’s better for Gabriel Allon to remain solely in the pages of his books.

Silva lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, NBC journalist Jamie Gangel, and their twin children Nicholas and Lily. Silva and Gangel met when they were both correspondents in the Middle East and often travel together with their children when Silva researches and sets the scene for his books.

The Unlikely Spy

Silva’s first book, a standalone novel titled The Unlikely Spy, is set during World War II. The story revolves around Alfred Vicary, a history professor, and Catherine Blake, a beautiful Nazi spy with a dark secret. It draws readers into a game of cat and mouse between British Intelligence and its adversaries. Winston Churchill and the Secret Intelligence Service rely on Vicary to unravel Catherine’s plan.

Michael Osbourne Series

After the success of his first novel, Silva introduced readers to CIA officer Michael Osbourne in the book The Mark of the Assassin. This series sheds light on issues like the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Northern Ireland. The sequel, The Marching Season, touches upon the conflicts of Northern Ireland. Michael discovers a terrible secret linking his own past to the terrorists he’s pursuing.

Order of Michael Osbourne Books

The Mark of the Assassin -1998 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Marching Season -1999 —– Buy Now From Amazon

Gabriel Allon Series

Arguably the pinnacle of Daniel Silva’s career is the Gabriel Allon series. One unique aspect of Silva’s books is the intricate blend of art, history, and espionage. Art restoration is often at the heart of these tales, as seen in the adventures of Gabriel Allon. Gabriel Allon is a character who leads a quiet life as a master art restorer but is also a legendary Israeli intelligence officer.

Order of Gabriel Allon Books

The Kill Artist -2001 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The English Assassin -2002 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Confessor -2002 —– Buy Now From Amazon

A Death in Vienna -2003 —– Buy Now From Amazon

Prince of Fire -2005 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Messenger -2006 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Secret Servant -2007 —– Buy Now From Amazon

Moscow Rules -2008 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Defector -2009 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Rembrandt Affair -2010 —– Buy Now From Amazon

Portrait of a Spy -2011 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Fallen Angel -2012 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The English Girl -2013 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Heist -2014 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The English Spy -2015 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Black Widow -2016 —– Buy Now From Amazon

House of Spies -2017 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Other Woman -2018 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The New Girl -2019 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Order -2020 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Cellist -2021 —– Buy Now From Amazon

Portrait of an Unknown Woman -2022 —– Buy Now From Amazon

The Collector -2023 —– Buy Now From Amazon

Order of Standalone Novels

The Unlikely Spy -1995 —– Buy Now From Amazon

Awards and Recognitions

For his exemplary contribution to the spy thriller genre, Silva was honored with the Barry Award for his book “The Black Widow”.

Whether you’re revisiting Silva’s works or diving in for the first time, it’s advisable to read them in order of publication to witness the chronological progression of events and character arcs. From the dark alleys of espionage in Europe to the intricate politics of the East Coast, Silva’s novels are a testament to his prowess as an author of international relations and intrigue.