William Boyd’s latest novel, *Cold Sunset*, continues the saga of Gabriel Dax, a travel writer turned reluctant spy, set against the backdrop of the 1960s. The story unfolds in 1964 California, where Dax is ostensibly researching his next book but is secretly on assignment for MI6. His mission involves meeting a poet who holds key intelligence concerning security breaches during World War II, in a period when British intelligence was still grappling with the fallout from the Cambridge Ring betrayal and the defection of Kim Philby to the Soviet Union.

*Cold Sunset* marks the third installment in Boyd’s Dax trilogy, following the novels *Gabriel’s Moon* (2024) and *The Predicament* (2025). The series has chronicled Dax’s gradual immersion into espionage, beginning with a chance encounter in the Democratic Republic of Congo and evolving into increasingly perilous assignments, including involvement in a plot to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In this latest volume, Dax starts to confront the reality that his spy activities have eclipsed his original identity as a writer, with significant personal and professional consequences.

Boyd’s portrayal of espionage intertwines with a critical examination of human relationships, a thematic approach he has described as an amplification of the lies and betrayals common in everyday life. Dax is a blend of an unwitting observer and participant within historic events, navigating a world where trust is tenuous and danger ever-present. The novel’s plot revolves around the hunt for a mole within MI6, code-named Coriolanus, which sends Dax on a fraught mission to Moscow, testing his survival and loyalties.

Stylistically, Boyd follows in the footsteps of authors such as Graham Greene and Kingsley Amis, combining elements of suspense with humor and irony. While the novel features a spy thriller narrative, it leans more toward comic and psychological storytelling than high-stakes tension. The protagonist’s habits and mannerisms, from his casual smoking despite emerging cancer warnings to his heavy drinking reminiscent of 1960s cultural icons, contribute to a nuanced, often wry depiction of the era.

Throughout the book, sessions with Dax’s psychoanalyst provide an introspective framework, revealing both his personal dilemmas and the clandestine workings of MI6 from an inside perspective. Although some plot threads in *Cold Sunset* remain unresolved, the novel offers a compelling, character-driven journey that balances intrigue with reflective commentary on identity and loyalty.

Marketed as the conclusion to the trilogy, the open-ended finale leaves room for the possibility that Gabriel Dax’s story—and his unexpected career as a spy—may yet continue.