The Predicament: A Gabriel Dax Novel

Name: The Predicament: A Gabriel Dax Novel
Price: 1.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (4560 reviews)
Author: William Boyd

by William Boyd

Historical Fiction Thriller

4.3 (4,560)

4.3 stars from 4,560 reviews. Top 54% of Historical Fiction books we track.

Published by Penguin Random House NZ

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Last checked: Jun 10, 2026

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Perfect for you if...

You enjoy spy fiction grounded in real Cold War history and political intrigue rather than gadgets and car chases.
You appreciate character-driven narratives where the protagonist is morally ambiguous and constantly outmanoeuvred.
You're drawn to 1960s settings and the messy reality behind textbook accounts of American foreign policy.

Maybe not for you if...

You prefer plot-driven thrillers with clear heroes and straightforward action sequences.
You want escapist entertainment rather than a thoughtful examination of how ordinary people get tangled in larger geopolitical games.
You're looking for high-octane spy fiction in the vein of Jason Bourne or James Bond.

About this book

Gabriel Dax, a travel writer turned reluctant spy, becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy with global consequences in this novel by William Boyd. In 1963 Guatemala, a presidential election approaches amid political turmoil. A charismatic, left-wing ex-priest and trade union leader is predicted to win—a prospect that displeases both United Fruits, a major American corporation, and the CIA. MI6 handler Faith Green sends Dax to assess the election's fallout. Upon arrival, he meets Frank Sartorius, the local CIA agent, but senses something untrustworthy beneath Sartorius's friendly exterior. A political assassination with suspected Mafia involvement triggers riots, and Dax escapes to Europe, hoping to resume his travel writing career. However, Green forces him to investigate suspicious figures in West Berlin. As President Kennedy prepares for a state visit, Dax discovers that a far greater danger is unfolding. The novel combines politics and espionage with dramatic twists.

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Currently 4.3★ from 4,560 reviews

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