This is one of the best book that I have read this year! It has lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged. The author has written this book with great attention to detail. I could not put it down and was very impressed with the story.

William Boyd has done it again. This is such an incredible spy thiller. Well written, great pacing and characterisation, exciting to read. All I can say is I can‘t wait for the next instalment of Gabriel Dax‘s story!

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.

Thank the Lord for William Boyd. Before I read The Predicament, I had read two less -than-exceptional novels so coming to the latest Boyd was a blessed relief.

If you compared The Predicament to Boyd’s great novels, such as Any Human Heart, The New Confessions or even Restless, it might come up a bit short, but I would argue that isn’t the point of this latest novel.

This is pastiche of a spy novel, but a pastiche of what all those over-written overly- masculine bro books should be. Boyd brings his humour and elegant prose to a genre that is often its own worst enemy.

He can characterise in a couple of sentences, keeps the plot on track and joyously lean, and somehow conjures up a whole era or a whole new city in as few words as needed. And, above and beyond everything else, he understands the importance of dialogue in building character, bringing humour, keeping the plot moving and giving the reader an enjoyable literary ride. Too often do young novelists avoid dialogue, instead “treating” us to pages of solid prose which is all tell and no show. I don’t know why this is and why agents and editors don’t call them out on it, but here we are…

All in all, The Predicament is what you would expect from William Boyd, and that is as big a recommendation as this novel needs.

One last thing, in case William is reading this – If there are more Gabriel Dax novels, please, please, PLEASE can we have more John Saxonbridge?! Thank you!

Did you like Gabriel's Moon? If so, then you will like this sequel.

I had no idea that Gabriel Dax would be the leading character in a new spy series, but here we are again. He is a 1960s travel writer, but he is also a small time (and extremely unwilling) spy, open to manipulation by the CIA, MI5 and whoever desires to make use of his skills. James Bond he is not, despite the early Sixties setting, but he possesses a lively intelligence and a good survival instinct. He is also bound up in some very dangerous events which cause him upset and injury short of death. In Guatemala a left-wing priest is likely to be elected president, much to the chagrin of the American owned banana cartel; and then he is assassinated by a sniper. In West Berlin president Kennedy is about to visit, and Gabriel discovers some suspicious Americans present whom he had previously encountered in Guatemala. Is another sniper assassination on the cards?

This is a well-written fast moving thriller. Gabriel himself is an interesting character, agonising about his relationships, with his KGB handler, with his Austrian psychiatrist, but especially with his boss, the enigmatic Faith Green. Who can he trust? Reading for pleasure!

Second in the Gabriel Dax trilogy sees him sent to Guatemala to interview the man most likely to be the next president - only for the politician to be assassinated shortly after the interview. After a bit of R&R back home he's off again to Berlin to work with some of the CIA crew he met in Guatemala to cover the visit of John F Kennedy. There is brilliant plotting which will excite the conspiracy theorists tense action and a thrilling finish. I can't wait for the next instalment..

Gabriel Dix is such an unlikely spy. This is his second outing and having enjoyed the first run, I’m equally delighted with this story, set in 1963. Dix is essentially a travel writer who becomes unwittingly involved in the espionage game. His handler, Faith Green, has allure and keeps his interest piqued. This is the time of the Cold War. Dix has moved from London to a quiet life in the country and is trying to complete a book about rivers. He’s asked to cover political unrest in Guatemala and soon becomes involved in a wider espionage game with President Kenned’ys visit to West Berlin a potential assassination opportunity. The plotting, at first sight seems wildly unlikely, but Boyd manages to keep it all together because it’s just on the right side of plausible and the characters are so engaging. There are times when the story verges on farce, because whilst Dix is not a bungler, he’s inept at the spying game, but still remains embroiled in finding information for MI6. Boyd writes so well and the captures the tensions of that era. For a handful of years, the world was on the brink of nuclear war and the East West conflict was a great threat. That sinister sense is a thread that strikes a chord with Dix and he does his bit. Skilful and clever, I really enjoyed this.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

An intriguing enough plot but it felt, as a reader, as though you were slightly swimming through soup, as the action was always one step removed and the emotions were happening to someone else. I do enjoy William Boyd's novels but both his most recent book 'The Predicament' and its forerunner 'Gabriel's Moon' were not quite on the mark.

Having read the previous novel featuring Gabriel Dax I was looking forward to this second book. I wasn't disappointed as again the storyline of Gabriel, who is a travel writer, being asked again by MI5 to carry out an assignment. An excellent read and definitely one to be recommended.

I was very impressed with this second story from William Boyd about his protagonist a writer who also works intermittently for MI6, generally on foreign assignments. The story takes place in 1963 Gabriel Dax, travel writer and accidental spy, is back in the shadows. Unable to resist the allure of his MI6 handler, Faith Green, he has returned to a life of secrets and subterfuge. Dax is sent to Guatemala under the guise of covering a tinderbox presidential election, where the ruthless decisions of the Mafia provoke pitch-black warfare in collusion with the CIA.

As political turmoil erupts, Gabriel's reluctant involvement deepens. His escape plan leads him to West Berlin, where he uncovers a chilling realisation: there is a plot to assassinate magnetic young President John F. Kennedy. In a race against time, Gabriel must navigate deceit and danger, knowing that the stakes have never been higher . . .

I was at school during this time and I remember it well. The story is told in an episodic fashion as Gabriel has to be involved with Faith Green his MI6 superior but also the Russians and is in the pay of the them. He is travelling all over the place which is helpful from the point of view of the book that he is writing about world rivers but he also has to cover the assignments that MI6 and the Russians want which he finds difficult to balance but he is getting paid by both which finances the purchase of house outside London and his book researches.
The first book about Gabriel Dax I was very impressed by and this one even more so. Please keep them coming Mr Boyd. In the meantime I must read the James Bond book that he wrote in 2013 for the Ian Fleming Estate. I strongly recommend the book. I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AN ADVANCE READING COPY IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

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.

With thanks to #NetGalley and #PenguinBooksUK for the opportunity to read and review

A most unlikely spy! Gabriel Dax has managed to get caught up with MI6, although, all he wants is to continue being a travel writer and have a relationship with Faith Green.
I can’t help but like Gabriel and smile at his adventures. I hope this isn’t the end of his capers in espionage.

William Boyd returns with The Predicament, the second outing for his accidental spy Gabriel Dax — and it’s another stylish, slightly off-kilter espionage tale that delivers both charm and intrigue.

Boyd has a knack for creating characters who stumble into danger rather than run toward it, and Gabriel Dax fits this mold perfectly. A travel writer by trade and spy by circumstance, Dax isn’t your typical intelligence agent — and that’s part of the appeal. His reluctance makes him relatable, even as he’s swept into increasingly dangerous and unlikely situations. If the plot at times strains credibility, it does so knowingly, with a wink rather than a flaw.

This time, Boyd plants Dax in a politically volatile Guatemala, where mafia muscle and CIA manipulations erupt in chaos. From there, the plot sweeps him to West Berlin and London, all while uncovering an ominous plot that links to the Kennedy presidency. Boyd captures the atmosphere of the 1960s vividly — you can feel the tension in the air, whether it’s in the humid backstreets of Guatemala City or the foggy paranoia of Cold War Berlin.

Faith Green, Dax’s enigmatic MI6 handler, adds a nice thread of tension and emotional conflict, keeping Dax tethered to the shadow world he’s not entirely sure he belongs in. While some twists are easy to spot, the ride remains enjoyable, and the novel ends in a way that suggests more tangled adventures to come.

Overall, The Predicament is a satisfying, if slightly predictable, espionage novel. With its blend of stylish writing, rich settings, and idiosyncratic characters, it may not redefine the genre — but it knows exactly what it’s doing and does it well. Boyd fans and spy fiction lovers will find much to enjoy.

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.

The second book featuring Gabriel Dax finds him again asked by MI6 to undertake a mission, this time to Guatemala to interview a revolutionary figure. There’s also a second mission, to Berlin, and both times his cover is research for his travel books. Interspersed with his spying activities are some romantic interludes with his former girlfriend and also with his MI6 boss, Faith Green.
Gabriel is a likeable character who doesn’t seem to know what he wants and finds himself reluctantly involved in espionage.
I don’t think the plot works as well as the first book but it’s still very enjoyable and kept me hooked. The role of the Russians in particular seemed superfluous.
I look forward to reading more of Gabriel’s adventures in forthcoming books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Viking/Penguin Random House for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Having really enjoyed Gabriel’s Moon, I was keen to read The Predicament and see how Gabriel’s story carried on. This one definitely amps things up — it’s darker and more intense, which kept me engaged throughout. Gabriel’s personal struggles and relationships felt more layered and believable this time, which I liked.

The pacing drags a bit in places, but it didn’t spoil things for me; it actually gave the story a bit more weight and made the twists hit harder. You could probably jump straight in here, but it’s best to read Gabriel’s Moon first to get the full picture. All in all, it’s a solid sequel that offers a good mix of suspense and character depth. Worth a read if you’re after a thriller that’s more than just action.

The Predicament is the second instalment in the Gabriel Dax literary thriller series. Gabriel, a sometime travel writer gets sent to Guatemala and then Berlin on missions for MI5 and the CIA.
The literary aspect with the essential bon mots and somwhat stretched descriptions can get tiring and the plot is rather far-fetched but it is an entertaining read and I enjoyed the book.

Took me a while to review this as i had to read the first book of the series.
I love William Boyd, but for some reason, haven't read any of his books in a few years. This series reminded me of why he's brilliant.
For fans of his, fans of slow horses yet to discover William Boyd, this is right up there with his classics. I loved Armadillo and this is so much like Armadillo. The story is pacy, the writing is excellent. Great lead character with interesting cast around him. This is certainly going to be made into a television series, the writing jumps off the page visually.

A second instalment of Gabriel Dax the reluctant spy. There isn’t too much backstory from the first book, so it’s possible to read this as a standalone novel.

Travel writing in Guatemala and Berlin provide the backdrop to the plot of CIA malfeasance, while Gabriel moons after his handler Faith and keeps his Russian contact at bay.

Plenty of threads are left undone to allow for boook three…

Our man from Gabriel’s Moon is back for a further adventure. This time Dax’s adventures start in Guatemala and progress through to Berlin. No spoilers here about the plot. Suffice to say that William Boyd has again produced an excellent story that holds you through to the end – not quite as tightly as Gabriel’s Moon which I found “un-put-downable”, but pretty close. Dax continues his double life as a writer and spy, with an extension to the romantic interest. Only four stars as some parts I found a little slow – would have been 4 ½ had I been able to do so. Strongly recommend the book to anyone who enjoyed Gabriel’s Moon – and I look forward to the next novel about Gabriel Dax, which surely must come.