Ransom
The 26th Gabriel Allon novel opens as a kidnapping thriller and escalates into a geopolitical confrontation involving Russian operatives, drone warfare, cyber espionage, and a plot against European leaders. Violence is present but not gratuitous, consistent with Silva's established series tone.
Chapters to know about
A car is found at the bottom of a ravine and a woman's sandal is recovered from a beach, establishing an abduction scenario with implied threat of violence.
Kidnappers send a proof-of-life photograph showing the captive visibly bruised and frightened; a Russian operative threatens both a husband and wife with physical harm.
A character is assassinated via a nerve agent delivered by a mosquito-sized drone; the method is described rather than shown graphically.