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The Predicament

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

BRITAIN'S MOST BELOVED STORYTELLER RETURNS WITH A TWISTING ADVENTURE OF OBSESSIVE LOVE AND ELEGANT ESPIONAGE . . .

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 . . .

In The Predicament, the second novel starring accidental spy Gabriel Dax, William Boyd weaves yet another masterful tale of suspense, loyalty, love and the dark temptations of spy craft.

‘Extravagantly enjoyable' THE TIMES

‘William Boyd once again brings to the spy novel his particular storytelling genius’ MICK HERRON

‘Boyd is one of my favourite authors – he never disappoints’ KATE ATKINSON


© William Boyd 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Espionage Genre Fiction Historical International Mystery & Crime Mystery Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Exciting

Critic reviews

A swinging 60s espionage thriller
Boyd raises the stakes with his second Cold War novel featuring reluctant spy Gabriel Dax . . . a deft mix of espionage, desire, and moral compromise
Stylish stuff
A faultless evocation of 1960s England, masterful, old-fashioned storytelling. The second novel in a trilogy that’ll leave you wanting more
One of our most thrilling writers
Beautifully crafted, with echoes of le Carré, Greene and Forsyth, this is a superb evocation of a vanished world, seen through the eyes of a relatably hapless accidental hero
Boyd writes elegant prose and tells a convincing story, as he has been doing now for nearly 45 years
All stars
Most relevant
Yet another superb book by William Boyd. I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for his next one. More Gabriel Dax please.

Brilliant storyline, wonderfully narrated.

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All the great characterisation and wonderful plotting you expect from William Boyd. Gabriel Dax is a reluctant hero who you are completely rooting for

another winner from William Boyd

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Boyd always manages to keep my interest. Great story telling and narration. Will look for another of his.

Great story telling

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William Boyd is usually a wonderful story teller & I’ve loved many of his earlier novels, but this one seems like writing by numbers - a bit of sex & romance, a sudden burst of spying, lots of unnecessarily detailed descriptions of food & clothes that slow down an already clunky plot, hardly any tension or excitement. The narrator sometimes starts a sentence without seeming to know where it’s going, leading to weird inappropriate emphases. Some reviewers have liked it but it’s not for me.

Disappointing & a bit dreary

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Most of the book was a well constructed layered plot that engaged you as a reader with the characters and the events. However at the end it seemed to go from George Smiley (Le Carre) pace to James Bond which for me spoiled it a bit. Having said that I'd listen to the next one in the series Dax is a great reluctant spy

Excellent Spy Story

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