I’ve always enjoyed the way that Boyd takes historical events and builds a fictional story around them. In Sweet Caress, The New Confessions and Any Human Heart he focuses on the life of an individual who lived through, and often personally experienced, many of the great events of the 20th Century. In this novel, he introduces us to Gabriel Dax, a travel writer and journalist who happens to be in Léopoldville, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 1960. He’s invited to interview the country’s first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, courtesy of an old university chum who is a member of his cabinet. It’s a major coup, and he jumps at the opportunity. The interview is taped by Dax, using an old reel-to-reel device, and shortly after the interview, he returns home with the tapes.

The interview is to become something of significance some months later as Lumumba is first forced out of office and then a little later assassinated. He’d alluded to his fears of such an outcome during his interview. Might the tapes include information of some consequence? Dax is perturbed by the news but at this point he’s more preoccupied by minor troubles caused by a girlfriend who’s keen to move in and spoil his bachelor lifestyle and an idea he’s come up with for his next travel book. He’s a pretty laid-back fellow who drinks too much and sleeps little, but he enjoys his freedom; he's not keen to be tied down with a live-in partner on the scene.

Gabriel's sleeping issues stem from constant nightmares of raging fires. He’d escaped a house fire at an early age, a tragedy that claimed the life of his mother. In fact, he’s been persuaded to seek the help of a psychoanalyst who has suggested that he gather as many facts as he can surrounding the fire as this might lead to an unlocking of his memory block of the incident and in turn resolve his insomnia. To further complicate his life, he’s also been persuaded by an attractive older woman, Faith Green, to fit in a brief trip to Spain. His only task will be to purchase a drawing from an artist. He’ll be given precise instructions and rewarded handsomely. Enough, in fact, to finance some trips to places he’s chosen to feature in his next travel book. In this way he’s gradually drawn into the world of cold war spy craft, by the mysteriously alluring Faith, a woman he’s to become somewhat obsessed with.

The author does a great job of describing the places featured in this story, both at home in London and abroad during Gabriel’s various trips. I really felt that I was there with him, experiencing the sights and smells, and utterly aware of the emotions his adventures were invoking in him. This is a real skill that Boyd demonstrates time and again in his writing. Also, although there are plenty of strands to this tale, they are handled with skill to the extent that I never felt that I was lost in a puzzle that I simply couldn’t comprehend or resolve. I didn’t know how they fit together yet, but I always had a clear view of all the pieces.

It’s a somewhat lighter piece than some of Boyd’s earlier novels, but none the worse for that. Dax is an interesting and beguiling character, and I enjoyed my time with him. The story is also wrapped up well with a surprise or two along the way. But Boyd has consciously left a few loose ends, which leave the promise that we’ll no doubt meet up with Gabriel again. I, for one, will certainly be looking forward to that.

Step into the dazzling world of 1960s Europe with in this masterful blend of spy fiction and historical narrative, which kept me captivated. This stylish novel invites readers into the life of Gabriel Dax, a charming travel writer who finds himself at the heart of Cold War espionage.
Boyd's writing is as sharp as the tailored suits his characters wear, weaving a tale full of intrigue and deception. As Gabriel navigates this shadowy world, he encounters Faith Green, his mysterious handler. Their interactions are laced with romantic tension, adding depth to the already gripping storyline.
What makes this book truly shine, is its characters. I found Gabriel both likable and relatable, making his journey through a maze of secrets all the more engaging. The novel's pacing is impeccable, with unexpected twists that keep the reader on their toes.
For those who crave a thrilling and immersive espionage story, "Gabriel's Moon" is an exceptional choice and will not disappoint. It's an adventure through the intoxicating allure of the secret world, filled with love, loss, and the constant pull of danger. Whether you're a fan of spy fiction or historical tales, this book will deliver!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

I received an advanced reading copy of Gabriel's Moon in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin General UK, and the author William Boyd.
I enjoy all of this author's stories without fail and this one was no different. A gripping and enjoyable read with vivid characters and a good story arc.
It did feel as though there were quite a few loose threads upon finishing this one which is my main reason for 4 stars. A solid story nonetheless.

Gabriel Dax (a name that could surely have come out of a James Bond novel) is a drifter who makes his living as a travel writer. It’s an occupation that suits his unwillingness to get tied down and it’s brought him moderate success, enough at least to keep him in Scotch. He’s also been able to combine it with doing small clandestine errands for his elder brother, Sefton, who does something connected with the security services, although Gabriel doesn’t know quite what.

There are three women in Gabriel’s life. The first is his girlfriend, Lorraine, whom he finds sexually exciting but is less keen for their relationship to become a long-term commitment than she is.

The second woman is his therapist, Dr Katrina Haas, whom he consults because of his insomnia and the nightmares about the fire that killed his mother when he was six years old. His memories of that night differ from the official verdict about the cause of the fire – a moon-shaped nightlight in his bedroom (the ‘Gabriel’s moon’ of the book’s title.) Dr Haas convinces him the key to curing his insomnia is to discover the truth of what happened that night which enables the author to introduce a secondary storyline.

The third and, as it turns out, the most influential woman in his life is the mysterious Faith Green who draws Gabriel deeper and deeper into a web of intrigue. She knows just how to play him, starting from their very first encounter. ‘Was it that she understood him better than he understood himself? Maybe.’ Gabriel finds her alluring but it’s only very much later he realises how deep he’s become immersed in a dangerous conspiracy through his attraction to her. ‘Perhaps that was how she managed to make him do her bidding, keeping him wandering in the special labyrinth she’d constructed, baffling and tormenting – and where there were no exits’. The author creates a brilliantly intriguing relationship between Gabriel and Faith. At one point, he describes her as ‘the sorceress, the puppet-mistress of his life’. Later she’s both ‘his tormentor and his solace’.

Gabriel may consider himself a good liar – the essential gift of a good spy – but it turns out he’s an amateur compared with those around him, even people he believed he could trust. And situations in which he considers himself safe are often fraught with hidden dangers.

For lovers of espionage thrillers there’s plenty of spycraft: counter-surveillence techniques, coded messages, safe houses and clandestine meetings. You really get a sense of the Cold War era, a time of global tension epitomised by the Cuban missile crisis. And the various locations to which Gabriel travels, such as pre-unification Germany, are skilfully evoked. I also loved the author gives us an opaque ending and the neat little conceit at the end.

Gabriel’s Moon is an absorbing and assured spy thriller, highly recommended if you’re a fan of the novels of John le Carre.

A great William Boyd novel - a bit of Africa, intended and unintended spies, families and the associated confused emotions as well a loveable lead character.

I very much enjoyed this book. There is a level of humour as the guileless Gabriel is sucked into the undercover world of international spying. There is also sadness as Gabriel faces the tragedy of his mother's death and his relationship with his brother.

Great read.

Gabriel's Moon shows William Boyd has lost none of his skill at writing a hugely enjoyable spy thriller - not edge-of-your-seat stuff, but literate, thoughtful and convincing. Stylistically, this is a satisfying tale of a man becoming a spy by accident, but then finding he has an aptitude for skulduggery that he had not anticipated. Gabriel is a likeable youngish man, in a relationship with a young woman who is not quite of his 'class', but he is haunted by a fire which destroyed his home and killed his mother, when he was a small boy. He has been told it was started by his nightlight, the 'Moon' of the title, and therefore has thought all his life that he was in some way responsible. Through his visits to a counsellor, he comes to believe this might not be the case, and goes searching for enlightenment. At the same time, he becomes embroiled with an enigmatic woman employed by MI6, who is persuasive in getting him to take on spying on her behalf. These two strands work well together, and the denouement is satisfying. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an intelligent, literary thriller.

Gabriel Dax is orphaned at the age of six in a house fire. Since then he is haunted by bad dreams and insomnia. Now an adult, Gabriel is a writer and, on a trip to the recently liberated Congo, he interviews the President - shortly afterwards there is a coup and the President is executed. Gabriel finds himself the unwitting participant in an espionage plot in which he does not know the game but he is learning fast.
What happens when an outstanding writer of very human fiction decides to try his hand at a spy thriller? The answer is this book! The plot is suitably twisty and very rooted in the early 1960s but what sets it apart as more than just a very good thriller is the quality of the writing - it's an all round great read.

This was one of my most enjoyable and easy to read books of the last few months. It was exciting and packed with adventure, twists and turns. I love William Boyd’s writing style which is incredibly immersive and the opportunity it provides for the reader to travel alongside Gabriel Dax to Leopoldville, Southwold, Cadiz and more. I really really hope that this is not the last we will see of Gabriel Dax and that this will be continued in a series … the story just didn’t seem to be 100% over. Gabriel’s relationships with those around him, particularly with Faith, with his brother and with his therapist Katherina Haas, were fascinatingly dysfunctional and his character was complex and layered, with many layers of the onion hopefully yet to be unpacked. Overall, this is a fantastic book which I highly recommend.

An incredible novel, a story that begins with a small bereaved child confused by the terrible events which have orphaned him. As an adult, Gabriel is still struggling to come to terms with what happened on that fateful night as he travels through countries writing books about his experiences. He's asked to do a task for a friend of his Foreign Office brother and he is very gradually drawn into a net of subterfuge and double dealing. This is a great story which kept me on my toes trying to work out what might happen next. Weaving through the 1960s Cold War period, spies and warfare, this was an enthralling read. Gabriel's character is one you warm to, as you follow him through a maze of subterfuge, finding yourself wishing him on to success. A great read, I couldn't put the book down!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.

William Boyd is an author who never disappoints, so I was looking forward to reading this novel. In Gabriel he has created a fascinating central character, a perceptive yet moderately passive man, with a tragic backstory and fascinating present.

The complex plotting, with a host of equally complicated supporting characters and interesting settings, leads to an compelling narrative which leads the reader on.

There is, of course, an unfulfilled love interest, a manipulative woman who acts as a puppet master, using Gabriel's interest in her as a way to force his actions.

All in all this is an excellent novel, with a great sense of person and place, a complicated plot, well written and very enjoyable.

Gabriel's Moon is an enjoyable spy novel set in the cold war atmosphere of the early 1960's.
The central character is Gabriel Dax, a young British journalist who as the book starts is in Africa working, when he gets the opportunity to interview Patrice Lumumba, the leader of the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. On the return flight home it becomes apparent that there is more to his recent visit than meets the eye.
In my opinion this is William Boyd's best novel in several years and if it is the first in a new series as suggested, I look forward to reading more.

William Boyd never disappoints. This is a masterful novel, full of twists and turns. I love it! It also utterly broke me within the first few pages. A wonderful writer at the top of his game. Thank you so much for the ARC!

An absolutely fantastic character study of a Gabriel, a man who seemingly has everything, a comlex, alcohol loving travel writer journalist with absolute freedom, who becomes recruited to support a female MI6 agent 'Faith Green'.
On a deeper level is is the perfect candidate to be exploitated, given his vulnerables rooted in unresolved childhood trauma, relating to his feelings of guilt surrounding his mother's death in a family house fire. Did his childhood night light cause the fire? Does Faith and her power and influence take up this vacant role in his life? He is by chance (?) brought into the complex life of deception and intrigue. If only Gabriel, with the support of his therapist, could have forseen the impact of Faith on his life.
As usual Boyd's novel is immersively captivating.

An immensely entertaining tale with real depth. Packed with twists that keep you guessing until the very last line. Definitely worth a reread at some point.

Gabriel Dax lives a quiet satisfying life as a travel writer. He has a girlfriend whom he is attracted to, but has no real commitment or ties to her, a brother whom he sees semi-regularly although they are not close and has issues with insomnia and mice. Probably an issue with alcohol too!

Gabriel’s Moon has two main strands to the story; the protagonist’s desire to explore the root of his insomnia which originated in tragic events when he was six; his mother died and the family home was burnt to the ground. And his reluctant involvement with MI6…

During a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the country has gained independence, Gabriel is commissioned to record an interview with the country’s first prime minster Patrice Lumumba (who was a real life figure.) Gabriel becomes caught in a series of events and finds himself gradually drawn into the shadowy world of espionage by his alluring handler Faith.

His travels are richly described with Boyd’s trademark clarity of writing. You feel you can see and hear the ice cube clinking in the glass of whisky, the shadowy street or dismal hotel room; all the settings and characters are so clearly outlined.

I found this compelling writing and enjoyed travelling with Gabriel. I am pleased to read that this is to be the start of a series of books. I feel we will meet the edgy Liverpudlian journalist again too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This is the first t William Boyd novel that I’ve read and I was attracted by the blurb notes and I wasn’t disappointed. Gabriel is a travel writer and sometime journalist who travels the world, returning periodically to his girlfriend and his mouse-infested flat. When he lands an interview with Patrice Lumumba, the leader of the Congo, he is told something that hardly registers with him at the time. On returning home, however, his newspaper does not publish his interview and he learns from a mysterious contact that Lumumba has been murdered. Inadvertently, Gabriel slowly becomes sucked into a story that that he can’t control and only understands in fragments.

As in other books, Boyd draws on a raft of events in the early sixties and builds a compelling story around them. The action moves from London, to Cadiz, Suffolk and also a cross-channel ferry and the story gains pace as he gets sucked in to something - but what? Who can he trust? What part is he playing in the story that is unfolding? The story seems to drift and one wonders what the author ultimately intends?

The main character is an former-public school boy, so there’s also a back story of childhood trauma, a difficult and distant brother, and old fashioned sexual/classist attitudes, as well as all the elements of a traditional spy story. A good read and somewhat old fashioned. But there are indications that it may be the first of a series of books with this character featured!
I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AN ADVANCE READING COPY IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

I don't usually read spy/espionage novels but this book gripped me from the opening flashback where the main character is a child in a burning house. I loved how the author weaved in such clever surprises and twists to the plot. It had me completely hooked and turning the pages to find out how things would end.

Another masterful novel from William Boyd. The compelling and intricate story of Gabriel Dax will keep the reader gripped throughout. Gabriel’s story is skilfully weaved around real time events and we are drawn in by a character who often seems to be buffeted along from all angles. He has drifted into a world of espionage and intrigue but unlike other spy figures he lacks curiosity and battles with his own low opinion of himself and his inability to say no to more dominant characters like his brother or Faith.

William Boyd’s writing is, as always, deft and engaging with perfectly drawn characters and an ability to make the reader feel like they are experiencing both the events and the inner turmoil of the main protagonist.

I would strongly recommend this book to any reader. I am delighted that this is only the beginning of our enjoyment of Gabriel and his world and eagerly await the next instalment!

A spy thriller set in the early 1960s, the Cold War chilling the western world. Talented travel writer Gabriel Dax unwittingly becomes a courier for an MI6 offshoot only to discover during his journeys across Europe he has been manipulated by the higher powers. I am not a fan of Cold War thrillers but the characters, period setting and sublime storytelling gripped me to the end.

"He had reached a point in his life from which there was no turning back, even if he should wish to. What had just happened had changed him in a profound way, he saw, a crucial way, and everything about him was different now."

Gabriel Dax is a travel writer who's inadvertently drawn into writing a political piece on Patrice Lumumba, a free Democratic Republic of Congo's first post-liberation leader, when he's offered a face-to-face interview with the man. The piece is never published as Lumumba is first deposed and then later, killed.

It's the early 1960s, and amid the Cold War, Gabriel is inadvertently drawn into a dark and covert world. Lumumba had foreseen his own death and now there are several parties who are looking for the tapes of Gabriel's interviews. At the same time, he's approached by MI6 to do some small jobs for them. Enamoured by the enigmatic operative Faith Green, Gabriel agrees, even as he realises that he's a cog in a wheel, though he doesn't know which way the gears are turning.

'Gabriel's Moon' is part spy thriller, part romance, part literary fiction. Gabriel is a mysterious character. Plagued by insomnia since he survived a fire as a six-year-old that killed his mother, he's looking for something ineffable to complete his life. He fixates on Faith Green, even as he's frustrated at being used by her and MI6. He's also resourceful and will eventually put all the pieces together, resulting in a shocking reveal that leaves him reeling.

William Boyd is masterful at creating a sense of pervasive, unsettled unease in the book. Gabriel is a fascinating, 'meaty' character whose self-analysis and therapy sessions draw the reader into his world. He's frustrating at times, going off the rails every now and then, but he keeps his wits about him.

A highly enjoyable novel full of machinations and suspense.