In his new book, Boyd returns to the world of espionage and intrigue that was the hallmark of his wonderful novel, Restless. It is 1913 and English actor Lysander Rief has come to Vienna to seek treatment for an embarrassing condition. A close friend had suggested that psychoanalysis may be a solution to his problem and recommended an English psychoanalyst practicing in Vienna. Dr Bensimmon, a colleague of Freud, had developed a technique he called ‘parallelism’, which he believed might be very effective in Rief’s treatment.

Vienna in 1913 is a city of art, culture and political intrigue that sits on top of a river of sex. At least that’s what Lysander’s new friend, Lieutenant Wolfram Rozman, a lodger at his boarding house says. It doesn’t take long for Lysander to discover that river and the rest; he begins a passionate affair with another of Bensimmon’s patients. Wrongly accused of a crime, he flees Vienna, aided by two mysterious gentlemen from the British embassy. Shortly after his return, war breaks out and Lysander joins up; his embassy acquaintances from Vienna turn up and make a strange proposal to him. There is a mole in the High Command, passing on information to a spy in the German embassy in Switzerland. Rief must go to Geneva, find the spy and get the identity of the mole.

Boyd delivers an engrossing story with a host of wonderful characters against an erotically charged background. Certainly a wonderful diversion.

[[mark-rubbo]] Mark Rubbo is the Managing Director of Readings