Reviews: The Predicament (41)
“Another masterclass in Cold War espionage”
(Hardback)
Unlikely spy, Gabriel Dax, is back again, now firmly embroiled in the world of espionage; his job as a travel writer, ideal as cover. Gabriel travels between Guatemala, the US and Germany to prevent another political, worldwide disaster. Alongside him, in the cast of characters, is Gabriel’s handler, the enigmatic MI6 agent, Faith Green, and his psychologist, Dr Haas.
I think I may have enjoyed this book more than the first. I feel like Boyd has really settled into the style. I found the book had a good mix of slower, context-building home scenes, and faster-paced action scenes abroad. I enjoyed seeing the continuation of Gabriel’s character and the development of his relationships with Faith and Dr Haas. I particularly enjoyed the addition of Parker Baumgartner. I really recommend for lovers of espionage and action based thrillers, and loosely historical fiction.
“Great book, interesting characters”
(Hardback)
This is the second outing for Gabriel Dax, the travel writer and unwilling spy, who works for the UK security services, and is a double agent for Russia.
Set in the early sixties with a background of swinging London, the peace movement, and cold war, the atmosphere of the time is beautifully evoked.
He has decamped from London and bought a cottage in the country, and is living a comfortable life, with the income from his books, and the occasional wodge of cash from the Russians.
Gabriel is still having issues with the women in his life, Faith Green, his UK handler, his new Russian handler, his psychotherapist, and an American agent, not to mention his ex-girlfriend, and her brother.
However he is sent to Guatemala to interview the leader of an underground organisation, and gets involved with some dubious Americans. This goes horribly wrong, and when he then goes to Berlin to cover a visit by Kennedy, and some of the same Americans appear, the scene is set for a brutal climax.
In all, a very good laconic spy story with a host of interesting characters, great plot, and already set up for book three.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read this book.
“An excellent historical spy thriller”
(Hardback)
After finishing last year’s Gabriel’s Moon, I was pleased to learn that William Boyd was writing a second book about Gabriel Dax. I’ve now read it and enjoyed it even more than the first.
The Predicament begins in March 1963 with travel writer Gabriel trying to lead a peaceful life in a small East Sussex village. However, his parallel life in the world of espionage just won’t leave him alone. His Russian contact, Natalia Arkadina of the KGB, still believes he is a double agent working on behalf of Russia and has requested a meeting with him to give him his latest assignment. Meanwhile, Faith Green of MI6 has also approached him with a new mission: to go to Guatemala and interview Padre Tiago, the man expected to win the upcoming presidential election there.
Gabriel is not thrilled about getting involved in spying again, but agrees to the Guatemala plan as he’ll be able to combine the trip with some research for his new book on the world’s rivers. Unfortunately, things go badly wrong and he leaves the country in a hurry, having made himself the target of some unscrupulous people. It’s not long before he is given a new task, though – this time he must go to Germany and try to prevent an assassination attempt on President Kennedy, who is visiting West Berlin.
I don’t often choose to read spy thrillers, but one of the things I find compelling about this series is that Gabriel is such a reluctant and accidental spy. He never intended to get mixed up in international espionage and is really not very good at it! We do see him adding to his skill set in this book, though, being trained on how to lose someone who is trying to follow him and how to use everyday items as weapons. And although his Guatemala mission is disastrous, he does play a part in foiling the conspiracy to kill JFK in Berlin (I’m sure it’s not a spoiler to say that it was foiled as everyone knows that he wasn’t assassinated in Germany). Boyd does a good job of creating tension in the Berlin sections, despite it already being obvious what the outcome is going to be!
Gabriel’s Moon probably had slightly more depth, as it also featured a storyline about a childhood trauma that affected Gabriel’s mental health, but I preferred this book overall – possibly because when I read the first one I was comparing it unfavourably with Boyd’s previous and very different novel, The Romantic, which I loved. And although the mental health storyline is pushed into the background in this book, Gabriel does find himself facing some other personal predicaments: he is being accused of plagiarism by another travel author, who is not pleased that Gabriel has written about the same group of islands; his ex-girlfriend Lorraine is trying to rekindle their relationship; and Gabriel himself is continuing to struggle with his feelings for his MI6 handler, Faith Green. Faith is an enigmatic character – is she really romantically interested in Gabriel or is she just stringing him along for her own purposes?
The Predicament is an entertaining read with some fascinating settings – Guatemala on the brink of a political revolution and post-war Berlin shortly after the construction of the Berlin Wall. Throughout the book, Gabriel’s Russian contacts, Natalia and Varvara, keep pushing for him to also visit Moscow, so maybe that will finally happen in the next book! This is apparently intended to be a trilogy, so hopefully we’ll get answers to some of the other questions in the final novel too. Something to look forward to.
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
“Reluctant spy Gabriel Dax is back with a vengeance.”
(Hardback)
"The Predicament" is the second story about reluctant spy, Gabriel Dax. It opens in March 1963, some months after the events of "Gabriel's Moon". Gabriel has retreated to a cottage in East Sussex and is working on his latest book. However, he is still a man caught in a messy net - as well as working for MI6, he is also a double agent, working for Russia. When his contact asks him to provide information on Faith Green, he knows life is about to get even more complicated.
Quickly, Gabriel is drawn into another series of adventures, most of which are outside of his control. He is despatched to Guatemala by MI6, to interview a rising revolutionary, but when he is assassinated, resulting in a coup, it becomes clear that Gabriel is again a pawn in a larger game. Furthermore, his contacts in both MI6 and the CIA cannot be trusted, so he's on his own. What follows is a fast-moving and beautifully written adventure, set against the events of 1963 and JFK's efforts to promote his Presidency. If the ease by which Gabriel travels from Guatemala to New York, to Berlin seem unlikely, this is overshadowed by the many traps and pitfalls he experiences along the way. My only criticism is that the format follows very closely, that of the previous book (interview assassination chased by baddies / betrayed by friends) but it still makes for a fine read.
Fans will be pleased to know that Gabriel's therapist, Katerina Hass is still on the scene, as is his ex-girlfriend and her brother, while his relationship with Faith forms a nice sub-plot.
Readers of Gabriel's first adventure will enjoy his second outing. Once again, our sometimes naïve, sometimes highly astute and capable agent navigates his way through life, whilst knowing he is being manipulated by those behind the scenes. Unable to help himself, he moves from one situation to another, sometimes in control, often not. Gabriel is clearly a well-travelled man, at ease with the rigours of 1960's international travel. Once again real-life events are nicely woven into the story, with vivid depictions of revolutionary central America, and Cold War Europe. And there's a very nice thread concerning the CIA's attempts to shape history which I enjoyed.
While it's not necessary to have read the previous book, enjoying this second outing will be enhanced if you have. Thoroughly recommended
“Gabriel reluctant spy”
(Hardback)
Gabriel, reluctant spy.
This novel begins in 1963 with Gabriel being contacted by MI6 to help out with a situation in Guatemala, he is also contacted by the Russian's to spy on a MI6 colleague Faith, a woman he is infatuated with. Really Gabriel just wants a quiet life writing travel books. He goes Guatemala as this trip may help him with some travel book facts. He is asked to interview a charismatic union leader and would be president, the interview goes badly wrong and he is thrown out and left stranded. when he finally manages to contact MI6, he realises he was actually set up. Whilst in Guatemala a coup takes place and the airport is closed so he has an enforced stay, it gives him the chance to get to know some suspicious characters. When he finally manages to leave he goes to New York to study the Hudson River, while there he is attacked and stabbed and ends up in hospital badly wounded, Faith visits him there.
Gabriel returns to his home, Faith calls and asks to stay with him for a few days as she is in hiding, they have an idyllic time together until Gabriel returns home to find her gone. Berlin is Gabriel's next destination, he is sent to track down a would be assassin who he has helped to identify. The assassination attempt is JF Kennedy, will Gabriel manage to avert the disaster.
Beautifully written, engaging with an innocence and charm.
Thank you William for this second novel about Gabriel, NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC
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The Predicament
Fiction & Poetry, Modern & Contemporary Fiction
William Boyd (author)
Hardback Published on: 04/09/2025
Price: £20.00