Daniel Silva (born 1960) is an American journalist and author of thriller and spy novels.

Gabriel Allon, an Israeli art restorer, spy and assassin, is the protagonist in all but three of Silva's titles.

[5][6] Thirteen of the series' titles hit number one on The New York Times list of best sellers (Bibliography, below).

Silva did not come into the Allon series with a significant understanding of the world of art restoration but was able to use a neighbor's expertise to help him turn a spy-assassin into an artist.

[2] In 2007, Universal Pictures made an offer to option the rights to Silva's Gabriel Allon series, starting with The Messenger (2005).