I found this book (set in June 1963) rather like a fin de siecle piece crossed with Mr Bean. Our protagonist Gabriel Dix appears to be an accidental spy, a double agent no less, yet is a travel writer. We travel with him through many vexing mind games and cold war games in London, Guatemala, New York and West Berlin These are the days when a writer finds a subject, tells his publisher and then submits. His ideas conveniently attach themselves to his pseudo missions where he seems to stumble from one political minefield to the next without sensing the huge dangers in which he insinuates himself. It is too well written to be farce and yet it edges very close. The hapless actions of this fall guy was enhanced by Boyd's fantastic characterisation. The book is rich with people who draw themselves from their actions, no long descriptions, even the cat is a three dimensional character. I found it page turningly good. Whilst I had reservations (which would doubtless make it good book group material) it was definitely a good read.

William Boyd is an autobuy writer for me. He understands masterfully to transport you back in time with his descriptive writing, interesting characters and intense storylines. In 'Predicament' we meet Gabriel Dax again, the writer and accidental spy. This is the second part of a planned trilogy which is set in 1963 and takes Gabriel from London to Guatemala and eventually Berlin, right in the middle of the Cold War. Gabriel has his hands full juggling the MI6, CIA, KGB and his love life which makes for compulsive reading. This is a very entertaining and beautifully written spy thriller, perfect for all fans of novels set during the Cold War.

This is the 2nd instalment of the Gabriel Dax spy trilogy. I haven’t read the first and although it works as a stand-alone, I can’t help but feel I’ve missed some explanatory details. Gabriel spends his time between London and a cottage in an East Sussex village; you feel he would really rather continue his quiet life writing travel books than have anything to do with the world of espionage – therein lies his charm. Also, he’s totally in love with his MI6 handler, Faith Green – who doesn’t seem to reciprocate these feelings. Contacted by Faith, he is tasked with going to Guatemala to interview the man predicted to be voted in as the next President: Padre Tiago. An interesting visit, but one from which he has to return abruptly. (No spoilers) Almost to his own bemusement he has found himself in the pay of the Russians, who think he is a double agent working for the KGB. His female Russian contact just seems to be another fly in the ointment for him, but this doesn’t seem to go anywhere – perhaps I’ve missed something from the previous book… As well as these irritating (albeit lucrative) approaches from his KGB handler, his ex-girlfriend Lorraine also appears back on the scene, wanting a reunion. He ‘escapes’ all this on his next mission - to West Berlin where a suspected assassination attempt of US President Kennedy’s life is to be thwarted – rather exciting, (even though we know the outcome!) A thoroughly enjoyable read. Not so much heart-pounding ‘high-energy’ espionage but an wonderful, imperfect, somewhat bemused character reluctantly yet diligently doing his best to ‘do his duty’. I must read the first instalment now.

William Boyd’s mellifluous writing is all but hypnotic. The daily life of a reluctant spy is gently and genteely woven with the threats and duplicity of events involving MI6, the CIA and the Russian secret service. Tap dancing around the demands of each of his handlers in the agencies, he navigates through Guatemala and then Berlin under the guise of travel writing. A sequel to ‘Gabriel’s Moon’, which I so enjoyed, ‘The Predicament’ is slightly less intriguing, slightly more predictable, but a thoroughly enjoyable read. Given the open-ended threads, I assume there will be another volume and very much look forward to it.

In this sequel to Gabriel’s Moon, Gabriel Dax has moved out of Chelsea to a cottage in the countryside seeking a calmer less complicated life after his brother’s suicide. Having almost finished writing his book on rivers, Dax is still at his happiest travelling but his double-life sees him unsettled, morose, drained and trapped. In his early thirties, Gabriel is still in thrall to the older enigmatic Faith Green and this draws him further into a complex double-life of writer and MI6 double agent. There is a more claustrophobic, paranoid atmosphere in this book which reaches its climax of sustained threat during JF Kennedy’s visit to West Berlin. Whilst I enjoyed this book enormously, it lacked the breadth and richness of character of Gabriel’s Moon. The period details were still immersive and it’s a pleasure to read such a beautifully written book.