Gabriel's Moon by William Boyd (2024): A Review
Author: William Boyd
Publication Year: 2024
Pages: 272
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Spy, Historical Fiction
Source: Audiobook @storytel.tr
Opening Sentence: Gabriel watched closely as his mother lit the night light beside his bed. This ritual was important to him, signifying order and calm.
William Boyd’s Gabriel’s Moon is the kind of historical spy novel that makes you want to snuggle under a blanket with snacks. It’s fun, fast, and honestly the perfect companion for lazy weekends or your daily commute. We start off with an ordinary travel writer (Gabriel of the title) who somehow manages to land himself right in the middle of Cold War chaos—first as a “useful idiot” for his brother, then for MI6 (yep, the real spies!). He’s supposed to be working through his childhood trauma, writing a book, and exploring the world, but come on, this is a spy novel—peace and quiet just aren’t on the menu. There’s no way he’s getting a moment’s peace. Before you know it, one (totally-not-random) twist later, he’s running secret missions, being informed of assassinations, crossing paths with double agents, and even helping MI6 ferret out their notorious mole (a.k.a. the termite). The story zips along, and there are a few “Wait, what just happened?” moments to keep you on your toes. Sure, the big twist isn’t impossible to spot, but honestly, I don’t read these for the guessing game: I’m here for the ride! And the foreshadowing? Boyd lays it on thick, which I actually missed seeing in books lately because I read literary fiction most of the time. My only real letdown? The explanation behind the fire that killed his mother didn’t wow me—I was hoping for something way more sinister. If you’re after a quick, entertaining spy adventure, Gabriel’s Moon could be your next pick. I’ll definitely check out more of Boyd’s books when I need something breezy and fun!
And why 4 stars and not 5 stars? Simply, it is not literary fiction.
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