- This novel, first published in 2024, is the first in the Gabriel Dax trilogy. (I reviewed the second a few weeks ago). It's a little more complex than the second, but it's just as good. In fact both books are superb.
- Gabriel Dax is a celebrated travel writer. In this novel he's in his early thirties and it's set in the early 1960's. This was a time when smoking indoors was common, and heavy drinking even more so. And there's also lots of sex. Gabriel is good-looking, fun to be around, and has a fair bit of money. What's not to like? His only problem is he can’t sleep well at all. His mother died in a fire in his home when he was a child, and he suffers from nightmares about it. He believes he caused the fire.
- We first meet Gabriel in the newly independent republic of the Congo. He's landed an interview with the Prime Minister which he records on tape. A few weeks later the PM is ousted in a coup and killed by firing squad.
- The other principal character is Faith Green. She's a senior agent in the British MI6. She approaches Gabriel and offers him small jobs involving spying. 'Do us a small service, a small favour'. He's sent to various countries for a few days each, and never disappoints.
- He feels he’s always being followed however. He's in possession of information that he doesn't realise is critically important, secret and dangerous. We're in the early 1960's after all. The Cold War was feverish and nuclear war deemed highly possible at any time. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 magnified the fear.
- The novel is loaded with intrigue, and many minor characters and subplots that enrich it on many levels. And its ending is very satisfactory.
- I particularly relished the details Boyd includes, on everything about villages, towns, cities, public transport, restaurants, food, drinks, clothes, shoes, cars, bikes - you name it. They enliven and add so much colour to the story. Boyd is a writer of exceptionable talent. His novels are a joy to read.
No comments:
Post a Comment