This enjoyable, engrossing spy novel has the intriguing storyline of travel writer/spy, Gabriel Dax, who has a talent for survival, on an assignment to Russia to play a major part in the exfiltration of a double agent. This is the first book I have read of the series of three, so I had not met Gabriel or the enigmatic Faith before and knew little of their history together, but luckily this story works well as a stand alone. Boyd’s descriptive writing is pitch perfect as he paints the scenes in your mind and everything comes to life. As to place, I especially liked the episode on Corfu. Agents and double agents, I enjoyed the puzzle of trying to work out who, if anyone, was telling the truth and was who they claimed to be. I thought the ending somewhat unsatisfactory, leaving a huge question unanswered - although I think the pointers were there. I am aware that this is the last of the series but it is almost as if the way has been left open for another outing for Gabriel! Many thanks to William Boyd, Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy it is much appreciated.

Kim Philby, the third “Cambridge Spy” defected in 1963. A year later, Gabriel Dax is in LA meeting a contact who might identify the “Fourth Man”. Gabriel is a professional Travel writer and an occasional, reluctant, MI6 asset, i.e. he’s not an actual agent of MI6, but can do a bit of spying while travelling the world. Back in the UK, he is MI6’s link to Moscow based, deep penetration agent, Kit Caldwell, although the KGB believe that Kit is their spy and Gabriel is his source. At times he wonders how he got into this mess, while acknowledging that being in love with Faith Green the head of a covert MI6 unit may be the reason. It now looks like Kit’s role as a double agent is compromised, because there is a new spy on the block. Kit need to get out of the USSR before he is exposed and then killed. Gabriel, on the pretext of writing a chapter about Moscow, is sent to help him exfiltrate. This is the third book in what was flagged as a Trilogy. It works perfectly well on its own, although understanding Gabriel will benefit from reading the earlier books. It is well-written and plotted, although I did feel that the plot mechanics were a bit obvious. As usual, it is immersed in the real world of the time, its culture and its politics – Philby’s defection rocked the SIS. This is the world of the later Bond Books and the early Smiley Books, and it feel at home with these, though it is more Smiley than Bond. The last fifty pages or so seem to be setting up a different dynamic and presage a sequel, so perhaps it isn’t just a Trilogy after all. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.