THE GLOBETROTTER…: Daniel Silva is known for his spy thrillers featuring Gabriel Allon hopping around the world snuffing out danger. Silva says if the books have a sense of place, that’s because the former CNN producer has probably been there. “You can do a lot of your research without leaving home,” he tells dallasnews.com. “But I still prefer to do it the old-fashioned way. If I’m going to set a scene in caves and tunnels under the old city of Jerusalem, I go there and I see what it’s like down there. I think readers can tell the difference.” Silva’s newest book is The Fallen Angel; he will be in town Saturday to participate in Arts&Letters Live.

…AND HIS COUNTERPART: Silva’s most famous character is also known for being a master art restorer. And he actually has something in common with new Dallas Museum of Art chief conservator Mark Leonard – they’re both international spies! Actually, that’s not true – but they both have restored a Caravaggio. Leonard says his work on The Musicians at the Met was particularly challenging. “The Musicians was heavily damaged. It took about six to eight months to bring it back to life,” he tells the museum’s Uncrated Blog. “Restoring a painting could take as little as an afternoon to as long as several years.” Leonard will be at the museum on Saturday talking to guests about his upcoming restoration of Jean Baptiste Marie Pierre’s The Abduction of Europa.

MUSIC BITS: If your summer soundtrack could use some new energy, Preson Jones has some local suggestions. (dfw.com) … Fort Worth’s newly formed Jacob Furr and the Only Road makes for a new super group in town. (fwweekly.com) … Denton’s Eccotone makes a name for itself through relentless volume. (DC9 at Night)