This is the third in William Boyd’s Gabriel Dax series of novels, and like the first two, it doesn’t disappoint. Dax is a travel writer-cum-accidental spy who was co-opted into Britain’s Special Intelligence Service by the enigmatic Faith Green. Along the way, Green has also become Dax’s on-off lover. This time we’re in 1964, and the Cambridge spy ring has been smashed, but, as ever, there are plenty of loose ends, and Dax is tasked with tying them up. He’s also been asked to visit Russia where the heat is being turned up on British triple agent Kit Caldwell. Can Dax spirit Caldwell out of the country? It’s enormous fun spending time with the globe-trotting Dax as he ponders his place in the world while getting through endless packs of Gitanes. Taut, thrilling, and fizzing with intrigue, ‘Cold Sunset’ is an absolute blast and, best of all, it seems there is more to come. RM

Published by Viking