The New Girl by Daniel Silva

Daniel Silva is a master of the art of storytelling. What is more amazing is that he is also a master of theart of prognostication. Originally begun in August, 2018, Silva comments in his forward that the novel was going to be about a young Arab prince who wanted to modernize Saudi Arabia. The model for the prince was Mohammed bin Salman who was implicated in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post. When the murder occurred Silva set aside his writing. It is clear from the resulting work that the influence of current events played a heavy hand in the plot development.  
The New Girl is one of Silva's most fast-paced novels as he employs his art-restorer/Israeli intelligence leader, Gabriel Allon, to find the abducted daughter, Jihan.  of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Khalid bin Mohammed. The princess is the "new girl" at her exclusive boarding school in Geneva. Throughout the novel the prince is referred to as KBM and he has been implicated in the brutal murder and dismemberment of Omar Nawwaf, a journalist who has been critical of the regime. KBM enlists the aid of former CIA operative, now art curator at The Metropolitan Museum, Sarah Bancroft, whom we have met in previous novels, because she had helped him in setting up a collection of precious art. She understands that there is only one person who can help her and KBM and that is Allon. When he doesn't answer her phone messages, she sets off for Tel Aviv to meet with him in person.  He agrees to help her and to meet with KBM. The abductors have issued a ransom demand that is not for money, but for the abdication of KBM. At this point Allon and the team from the Israel Intelligence Office that includes Graham Seymour, Christopher Keller,
Mikhail Abramov, and, of course, Ari Shamron. In a carry over from The Other Woman, Rebecca Manning also returns with a major role in the plot that goes far beyond the recovery of Jihan. As the daughter of the legendary spy, Kim Philby, Rebecca had a

 "long and successful career at MI6, and yet they did not quite trust her. At Moscow Center, where she reported for work each day, they derisively referred to her as novaya devushka: the new girl.

Silva's research into locality is one of the most captivating aspects of his books. Allon and the team travel from Tel Aviv to Geneva, to Berlin, to Paris, to London (10 Downing Street and Eaton Square), to Frinton-on-the-Sea, and to the Netherlands as they engage in a secret war to save the Middle East from the tyrannical rule of the man who would take KBM's place if he were to abdicate. The involvement of Russia and the cooperation of the United States hits very close to home of the current events of our day. 
As a reader would expect there are twists along the way, a budding romance, and a well-crafted and surprising ending. The New Girl is a compelling and gripping novel for anyone who enjoys the craft of spy thrillers. It is one of Silva's best.