Review - Gabriel’s Moon by William Boyd

 

 

 

 Title: Gabriel's Moon

Author: William Boyd

Pages: 263

Publisher: Viking

Release Date: 5th September 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 In his most exhilarating novel yet, Britain’s greatest storyteller transports you from the vibrant streets of sixties London to the sun-soaked cobbles of Cadiz and the frosty squares of Warsaw, as an accidental spy is drawn into the shadows of espionage and obsession.

Gabriel Dax is a young man haunted by the memories of a every night, when sleep finally comes, he dreams about his childhood home in flames. His days are spent on the move as an acclaimed travel writer, capturing the changing landscapes in the grip of the Cold War. When he’s offered the chance to interview a political figure, his ambition leads him unwittingly into a web of duplicities and betrayals.

As Gabriel’s reluctant initiation takes hold, he is drawn deeper into the shadows. Falling under the spell of Faith Green, an enigmatic and ruthless MI6 handler, he becomes ‘her spy’, unable to resist her demands. But amid the peril, paranoia and passion consuming Gabriel’s new covert life, it will be the revelations closer to home that change the rest of his story. . .

  

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My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest. My thanks to Penguin General UK and NetGalley*

Travel writer Gabriel Moon is haunted by the fire that destroyed his childhood home and left his mother dead.

When Gabriel is offered the chance to interview a divisive political figure he accepts, not knowing that his life will never be the same again.

Drawn into a complicated web of international politics and spy agencies, Gabriel will have to do everything he can to come out alive.

I had never read any of the author's previous novels, but I'd been meaning to for a long time. So, when I heard that the author's latest release was about spies in the sixties, I was immediately intrigued.

Gabriel was a protagonist that I never warmed to. From the beginning, I found him to be quite naive and immature at times. My opinion of him only worsened as the book went on, when his behaviour became obsessive and extremely creepy.

The setting of the 1960's was interesting, especially as Gabriel travelled to several different places in Europe and historical events were mentioned.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, and I liked the concept of an average normal person (though it's arguable that Gabriel was that) becoming embroiled in MI6 schemes. However, as the story went on, I found myself enjoying it less and less, mostly due to Gabriel's behaviour. However, I was also never fully absorbed or gripped, and there were some other elements of the book that didn't quite sit right with me as they seemed a bit off.

I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but I will give another of the author's books a try in the future.

Overall, this was a mixed read.