Another brilliant, interesting and well written adventure by this well respected author. I still consider "Any human heart" as one of my favourite books. This book commences in Oxfordshire in 1936. Gabriel Dax is six years old. He lives with his mother, his father is dead. He cannot sleep without his moon night light. A glass moon globe over a lighted candle. This particular night Gabriel is awoken and realises the house is on fire. He finds his mother dead and manages to escape. The house is destroyed. Was the fire started by his moon globe?
As he reaches adulthood Gabriel wakes every night to flames in his nightmare. He will eventually seek help with these nightmares. Gabriel is a travel writer. He has written several well received books.
In late 1960 he travels to Leopoldville in the Congo. A friend from University is a memeber of the new independent government. He has promised Gabriel an interview with prime minister Patrice Lumumba. He gets on well with Lumumba who tells him that America, UK and Belgium want him murdered. He tapes their conversation and so begins Gabriel's problems.
He has an elder brother Sefton who works in the Foreign Office. Gabriel was brought up by his uncle Aldous. Gabriel has an on/off relationship with Lorraine a waitress at a Wimpy bar, but younger than him and very exotic, wild and fascinating.
Gabriel is contacted by the sultry Faith Green ( who he remembers seeing on the flight back from the Congo and reading one of his books). She is an employee of MI6. She wants to recruit him as a courier. She asks him to go to Cadiz in Spain and purchase a drawing from a struggling artist. That is when the fun begins and Gabriel's life will never be the same again.
Very highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I could squeal with excitement about this book! I love William Boyd's work and this latest book has been on my wishlist ever since I heard about it and so I am thrilled to be able to read an early copy of it.

William's way of writing, his way of storytelling is second to none. I have read hundreds of books in my life, hundreds and hundreds, probably even thousands, from new authors to old authors, across genres. And there are some that I love, some that are brilliant, special books that I constantly recommend. But none come close to the way William depicts human feeling.

It really does start with a bang. The first chapter is set in 1936 and it's heartbreaking frrom the off and bodes well for the rest of the book.

It's not a thrill, it's not a crime, not romance, not fantasy - although it does have elements of all of them - it's very real literary fiction. And that can often mean difficult and a bit dry to read. But somehow he's managed to make it just as addictive as a fast paced thriller novel.

It is intense, I won't like. It's a heavy story, but it never feels like a slog. It's not for the faint of heart, it's not for someone looking for a light read, because that's not what you get. But it's worth it for William's expert writing.

Okay, bear with me on this point I'm trying to make. My most read genres are probably fantasy or thriller. And I'm not saying they're easy to write, obviously they're not. If they were, then everyone would be publishing one. So don't think I'm belittling them at all. I absolutely love them. But I imagine that having books with dragons or elves or murder in would immediately be gripping, just for the excitement of those elements. Whereas a book about "normal" things (although you probably wouldn't call espionage normal), can be difficult to make exciting as there aren't twists and turns or tense crime scenes or fantasy creatures etc. And so I admire William all the more for making the relatively everyday as exciting and gripping as if it was full of romance and battles and crime and fairies.

I've said before how much I love William's writing, but if it was just based on the plot I might have passed this by. Espionage, spies, MI5 etc. just aren't really my thing. But if you're like me, you need to ignore that. Otherwise you will miss out on reading a glorious story and a masterclass on human emotion.

William Boyd does not disappoint with this latest novel as Gabriel is unwillingly drawn into a life of espionage. It is fast paced with some interesting characters, many of whom, even those close to him, are not what they initially appear to be. But rather than Gabriel's clandestine assignments which often puzzle him, it is a trauma in Gabriel's early childhood that continues to haunt him. I was kept engaged and interested throughout.

This book is brilliant! I’m now bereft!
William Boyd is a great author, but I think he has excelled himself with Gabriel’s Moon. It really captured my imagination, it was intriguing and interesting.
My first impression of Gabriel was that he was a gullible travel writer, however, he soon became much more after he unwittingly became a spy for MI6.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come.

Gabriel's Moon is a brilliant, complex book about obsession, trust, lies, manipulation and secrets. The opening with 6 year old Gabriel escaping a house fire that kills his mother, destroys his home and separates him from his brother is a powerfully unsettling start. Although this is a spy novel set in the 1960s cold war era there are no clichés and the sense of period detail is immaculate and immersive. We travel with Gabriel to Brazzaville, Franco's Cadiz, Soviet era Warsaw and an escape through the Eastern bloc. There is a lot of misdirection which creates a quietly sustained menace and the characters are fascinating. There are quiet details, such as the enigmatic Faith Green who wears the same lavender scent as his mother. William Boyd's precise and beautiful use of language is a joy: Gabriel's uncle and guardian is economically described as wearing 'a nacreous silk suit and a pale blue shirt with a lemony tie.' I wanted to reread this book the moment I had finished because I know I will get even more out of this book if I do. Such skilled writing is rare and beautiful.

Superb 1960s espionage novel, melded with a the slow unpicking of the long term psychological effects of losing a mother in a house fire at age four. Gabriel, a travel writer, gets embroiled in a complex web of international relations, alternating with his therapy sessions. Beautifully written with a real sense of the time period, you can almost smell the cigarettes and whisky. Excellent read.

I've adored Boyd's writing since I read Restless a few years ago. Gabriel's Moon did not disappoint - masterfully written and full of suspense, the perfect Autumn read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review

William Boyd’s “Gabriel’s Moon” is a masterpiece of espionage fiction that blends the thrilling world of Cold War intrigue with a touch of the delightfully absurd. Our protagonist, Gabriel Dax, is a travel writer haunted by a mysterious past. He’s drawn into the shadowy realm of international espionage through a seemingly simple errand, only to find himself entangled in a web of duplicity that stretches across continents.

Boyd’s genius lies in his ability to weave moments of genuine hilarity into the heart of a tense spy narrative. One minute you’re on the edge of your seat, heart pounding as Gabriel navigates a dangerous situation, the next you’re chuckling at the absurdity of it all. This unexpected blend keeps the story fresh and constantly engaging.

Fans of Le Carre will find themselves right at home with the intricate plot and the constant sense of paranoia that permeates Gabriel’s world. Boyd captures the atmosphere of the Cold War, transporting you to the vibrant streets of London, the sun-drenched squares of Cadiz, and the frosty Warsaw twilight.

But “Gabriel’s Moon” is more than just a spy story. It’s a meditation on identity, loyalty, and the lingering shadows of the past. As Gabriel delves deeper into the mission, he uncovers secrets that force him to confront his own history and redefine his place in the world.

If you’re looking for a captivating read that will keep you guessing until the very end, then “Gabriel’s Moon” is a must-read. It’s a tale of espionage with a touch of the unexpected, William Boyd’s at his best.

A 'hidden' spy novel.
A terrible fire leaves two children as orphans. This is the story of how they survived and how they lived their lives.
Such an awful event is not going to leave the children unscathed.
The stories are intertwined but there is little chopping and changing, thus making the book very readable.
There are a number of locations throughout the book, as you would expect with one of the main characters being a travel writer.
The espionage content is well handled, in what is probably a pretty accurate manner, but is definitely entertaining.
The book could be read in one sitting, but I didn't manage it.
A very good book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Successful travel writer, Gabriel Dax, finds himself an unwitting pawn in the hands of MI6 agent, Faith Green. Set in the early 1960s the story follows Gabriel's increasing involvement in the murky world of agents and double agents. As the story progresses, so does Gabriel' self-awareness and confidence. Paralleling the main story is Gabriel's need to solve his insomnia which is linked to the death of his mother in a house fire when he was a child.
This is a fast paced, easy to read book with a very engaging main character. A superb plot that twists and turns and keeps you guessing right up to the final sentence. Highly recommended.

Having read most of William Boyd's book I am interested in the way his last two books both have a male protagonist and the way their biews reflect the time in which they are set. The way the author plays with ideas of masculinity and the context in which his hero or, in this case should it be an antihero, is fascinating.

He writes like a dream. The beginning really ratches up the tension and is brought to a clever resolution right at the end of the book.

In this novel you follow Gabriel (who is possibly an unreliable witness and a narcissist) in a journey of betrayal, counter betrayal and double cross. Even the thinly fictionalised newspaper knows it is doublecrossing its readers.

His sense of place and time is wonderful and created a sense of emotional emapthy with the 60's that I had not had before. The Cuban Missile Crisis, London, Warsaw, class, attitudes to women and a great deal of lighting of cigarettes.

There is a mouse in the novel who leads a charmed life in that Gabriel catches it and then lets it go. Unlike many of the people in the novel who are trapped in the glue of deception.

Personally I thought ab out three quarters of the way through where is this going to go.? Then all of a sudden ther ewas another shift in pace and I was re-engrossed.

I love cold War spy thrillers so this to me was an excellent read - a real pleasure turner. William Boyd is one of my favourite authors and this didn't disappoint.

William Boyd’s writing is extraordinary in that his subjects, plots, times and settings cover such a huge range, yet every book he writes is beautifully crafted and characterised, with a strong sense of place and time. Gabriel’s Moon centres on Gabriel Dax, a reasonably successful travel writer with a great tragedy in his past. His home was destroyed by fire when he was six, and his mother also perished in the inferno. Investigations at the time gave Gabriel’s night light, his ‘moon’ as the cause of the fire, leaving him with unbearable guilt as he grew older. Reasonably happy in his life and travels, Gabriel is asked to carry out an errand by his brother, which is the unwitting start of his career in espionage and leading to all sorts of dramas, murders, and sticky situations - along with an increasing passion for his ‘handler’. William Boyd writes with flow, wonderful characterisation and use of language, and is a master of drawing the reader into the story

Gabriel’s Moon is a well written and engaging read although it is a somewhat routine Cold War spy story with all the narrative elements one expects from the genre. Not my favourite William Boyd novel.

A truly excellent read! The book starts off with Gabriel as a youngster and we hear the event which later haunts him.
Gradually and seamlessly, he is (and we are) drawn into a fairly complex world of espionage with twists and turns you cannot imagine, yet eminently plausible and clearly set out to understand. Loved the book – it’s up with the best of Boyd (not quite to Any Human Heart, but close!) and left it wanting to read the next chapter/instalment – it need not have ended there! Highly recommended and un-put-down-able!!

A plot set in the 1960’s but also written in the style of that time. Gabriel, a fairly successful author, decides to find out the reasons for his insomnia. When asked to perform a favour he is slowly enticed into the world of espionage, falling in love with his handler as the plot unfolds.
An intriguing spy story.

I find William Boyd’s books Marmite – some I can engage with, others do nothing at all.
I’m pleased to say that I loved this one.
Gabriel Dax is a travel writer, his youth blighted by a childhood trauma, but living a settled life in 1960s London.
While in the Congo he is drawn into the local politics when offered an interview with the country’s president.
On his return to the UK, life feels unsettled, his flat has been searched, unfamiliar people take an interest in him. His brother, who is some sort of government official wants him to do a little job.
Add to this a girl friend who works in a Wimpy Bar, an analyst who is addressing the childhood trauma, and a very attractive woman who may be a spy.
The book is a slow burn, in the same way that Gabriel is drawn in to world of espionage without really realising what is happening, and finds himself trapped, rather like the mice he is battling with in his flat.
Beautifully written and totally enjoyable, I hope Gabriel flourishes in his new world!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the opportunity to read this book.

Set in the early 1960s. Gabriel Dax, a travel writer, finds his life turned upside down when he unwittingly finds himself drawn into the world of espionage after an interview with the Congo leader, Patrice Lumumba. He is then recruited by Faith Green from MI6. The plot follows Gabriel as he tries to figure out who he can trust and what his role is in the spy world.
"Gabriel's Moon" is a 5⭐️ must-read for lovers of the classic spy novels.

Gabriel Dix has mice in his home but otherwise has a pleasant enough life. Admittedly, he has some tragedy in his background - his mother died in a terrible house fire when he was a young boy- but now it's 1961, he's about thirty, he has a sexy, working-class girlfriend girlfriend and a good job as a travel writer. But a mysterious woman, a seemingly straightforward overseas job and Gabriel's mysterious brother are about to make his life a lot more complicated as he finds himself inextricably drawn into a network of Cold War espionage. A top notch thriller from one of Britain's best novelists.

I was totally bewitched by Any Human Heart and Gabriel’s Moon is right up there as a complex and compelling story told with elegance. Boyd’s writing is simply superb; he hooks immediately and the narrative builds layer upon layer. There’s a lot of fact woven into the tale. I remember the uprising in the Congo and the death of Lumumba, which is the springboard for this story. It’s rich in detail and gives a fascinating and interesting perspective of events.

Gabriel has a back story; a devastating trauma in childhood, a brother who’s a bit of an enigma. He’s a travel writer but seizes an opportunity to interview Lumumba and files a story which is never published. On the back of that, he’s drawn into working for MI6 and his life becomes increasingly complex. His handler, Faith, persuades him to undertake covert assignments which, along with past events, change him and his life. Every character has depth. The locations are so well depicted and there’s a real flavour of the 60’s and the social change that was underway. This book is a triumph in every way and will surely find its way to screen. Boyd’s a genius and this doesn’t disappoint.