The Marching Season

Against the backdrop of the "Troubles" between militant Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, ex-CIA agent Michael Osbourne pursues his nemesis, assassin par excellance Jean Paul Delaroche. Northern Ireland has exploded amidst a wave of terroristic violence perpetrated by the Ulster Freedom Brigade, a pro-Protestant militant group. Their goal is to upset the ongoing peace process authored by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.The Ulster Freedom Brigade is backed by a secretive group called the Society, a conglomerate of intelligence officers, arms merchants, businessmen and criminals who try to influence world events for their own profit. Delaroche, also known as October, is the Society's chief assassin. He has previously failed in an assassination attempt on Osbourne and his wife and been wounded in the process. Osbourne's wife Elizabeth is the daughter of retired New York senator Douglas Cannon. In an attempt to exert a strong American influence in the stalled peace talks, Cannon, at the request of Blair, is appointed U.S. ambassador to England.In order to safeguard his father in law, Osbourne re-ups with the CIA and is commissioned to be the liason in Northern Ireland. The Society wishing to potentiate the chaos in Ireland targets Cannon for assassination. A lethal cat and mouse game ensues between Osbourne and Delaroche.Silva has a wonderful knack for crafting fast moving, entertaining spy thrillers. The Marching Season is no exception, replete wih unexpected twists and a very satisfying conclusion

I went to college with Daniel Silva and had a big crush on him, so that's why I started reading his books. But now I'm kind of hooked just for the characters alone. This is my favorite one so far, because I liked the Douglas Cannon character. Now if only he could write female characters as well. Douglas's wife (Elizabeth?) is a potentially great character, and I would like to see him expand on her motivations if/when he revisits the Cannon family.

This is the third of Daniel Silva's books that I have read and all I can say is that THE MARCHING SEASON is perhaps the best sequel I have read in any of the genres I read in. At the very beginning of this book I did not think I would end up saying this, but here I am, saying it in spite of my initial reservations. To be sure, this book starts off more slowly than I would have expected or liked. However, that is where the skill that Daniel Silva possesses reveals itself. Without a doubt, here is a relatively new author who is already a master of pacing, tension, plot, scene, character development and everything that is needed to craft a finely wrought spy novel. Michael Osbourne is reprised from THE MARK OF THE ASSASSIN as are his wife, his liberal father-in-law, retired U.S. Senator Douglas Cannon and other members of the government and the CIA. Also returning for a not so welcome guest appearance is Jean-Paul Delaroche, aka October, the Assassin who unsuccessfully attempted to kill Michael Osbourne in the previous installment. The internal machinations of the U.S. and British governments, as well as the possible goings-on inside both the IRA and the various Irish Protestant paramilitaries are also revealed here and in fine detail. Another master stroke that Silva employs throughout this story is that he doesn't ever really get preachy. With some authors, their natural biases come out in their writing. Not so with Daniel Silva. He simply tells the story and writes about the people he populates the book with. Is there moral outrage on Silva's part? I would have to guess yes. No normal person could ever condone the terroristic acts that are carried out in the name of one misguided cause after another around the globe. If he shows that outrage, it is when he talks about how various splinter factions have risen out of the ashes of the fires of terrorism to scuttle the Irish peace process. He also writes damningly of THE SOCIETY, a super secret extra-national intelligence organization that continues to stir the pot around the globe for its own greedy interests. These are the folks you can tell Silva despises; the globalists with no loyalties to any nation or flag. They are only loyal to their own financial interests. Although Silva continues to be spare with his information on Jean Paul Delaroche, he provides just enough material to keep the reader plunging along in headlong pursuit of the final denouement. This is what makes October so interesting and ultimatley almost sympathetic. For throughout the international chases, October is a man who maintains his own sense of values and morality. Michael Osbourne may not agree with October's view of the world or himself, but ultimately, the respect, while grudging begins to grow. How Silva brings this all about is what makes this an exceptional spy novel. If you have not discovered Daniel Silva, you are in for a real treat. Start with THE UNLIKELY SPY and then read THE MAR

An excellent followup to "Mark of the Assasin".Our hired killer returns to the world scene doing a hit for the Chief of the Mossad. The secret committee is once again using October to cause big problems on the world scene. The ending of the book was also very unique. Revenge is gained on this Committee thanks to October. This was the perfect way to end this book. This is another must buy book.

The troubles of Northern Ireland spark the return of Michael Osbourne to the CIA and his nemesis, the assassin known as October to the killing fields. The Society is still up to its usual deadly mischief, double dealing in Washington DC is alive and well and it looks as though there is little that can be done to stop an assassination which will sabotage the peace process. How all of this plays out is what keeps this book humming from start to finish. Some scores are settled, but it is doubtful that we have seen the last of the characters that survive David Silva's sequel to The Mark of the Assassin. And that is very good news.