This is my favorite type of book - clever humor (esp British) with a good story. It is easy to devour with a fabulous mix of humour, action, relevance to current times and a wonderfully ghastly villain resembling a well-known politician. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I listened to the audio version narrated by Andrew B Wehrlen and found it an utterly engaging tale. The wickedly funny character of Jackson Lamb is destined to be an icon in spy literature. Against a background of Brexit, Novichok poisonings and Yellow Vest protests, the remaining slow horses are dealing with the recent violent loss of two associates. It took a while for the world to catch up with him. Dead Lions is second in the series. On a whim, Jack Shepherd walked out of his Washington law practice and became a university professor in Bangkok. Slough House is a dumping ground for British intelligence agents who have screwed up a case in any number of ways. Now that the O. , in these post-You-Know-What times. . And not just one cliff either; each thread I wanted wrapped up just stops. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. This book was a much improved entry in this series. Taverner has her own problems to occupy her. The writing is so good, you feel every sentence has been worked on to get the best out of it. An Interview with Mick Herron | Mick Herron Books Horrified, but not surprised Seeing into the future with Slough House series author Mick Herron. That was a lot of history to sell. Against a background of Brexit, Novichok poisonings and Yellow Vest protests, the remaining slow horses are dealing with the recent violent loss of two associates. Slough House: Feb-2021: 5: 8: Bad Actors: May-2022: 5: Book Descriptions for series: Slough House. Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? Unfortunately, I read this book in just over day , one of the minor blessings of lockdown and a cold wet winter although I suspect it would have taken very little longer even without that. Not the property pages, but still.) London, England: Slough House is where washed-up MI5 spies go to while away whats left of their failed careers. Publisher: Soho Crime, 2021. A drop, in spook parlance, is the passing on of secret information. (LogOut/ , Publication date For us, the return of Lamb and his slow horses spies cast aside by MI6 is reason enough to spend a few hours in their company. Now, for the first time, Mick Herron's short ficti After all, what DOES happen to the detritus of the service? I love this series, but it does require starting at the beginning. How did you come up with this MI5 silo of castoffs and misfits? You feed a cat, it owns you ever after. This book, the last of the series, was the best. So she picked the pair that most impressed on the wall, which proved nothing but was a sensible starting point, and sat and tried them on. Tom and Chiara race against time to elude Vatican assassins in a murderous quest for a lost holy book and missing child. A character I usually find hilarious is curiously irritating in this latest outing for the ever changing Slough House crew. The spy writer most attuned to our delirious moment is Mick Herron, a British novelist whose funny, brilliantly-plotted Slough House books are currently being turned into an Apple TV+. The 7th in Mick Herron's SLOUGH HOUSE SERIES is another fast-paced, action packed spy thriller that adds biting satire to the temperature of the nation. This is a darker, scarier Herron. Sarah Shaffi. . Cant think of any current heavy actors. Unlike some, I enjoyed the political context, being no fan of said politician and his band of third rate sycophants. This entry was posted in Book Love and tagged books, MI5, Mick Herron, Slough House, spy thriller on February 12, 2021 by sandradan1. In his best and most ambitious novel yet, Mick Herron, the le Carr of the future (BBC), offers an unsparing look at the corrupt web of media, global finance, spycraft, and politics that power our modern world. : British author Herron's superb seventh Slough House novel (after 2019's Joe Country) opens with an unidentified woman's assassination whose significance gradually becomes clear in this darkly satiric update on the "slow horses," spies who have each made a colossal mistake and have been assigned to MI5's Slough House . I have really enjoyed Mick Herron's writing since discovering 'Slow Horses' back in August 2018. Slough House by Mick Herron. Jun-2010; I earn commission on any purchases made through these links. I've long been a fan of this series and Mick Herron's writing generally. Mick Herron is not kind to his characters. Please try your request again later. : Mick Herron is the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Slough House thrillers, which have won two CWA Daggers, been published in 20 languages, and are the basis of a major TV series starring Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb. The Sydner Morning Herald Best Books of 2021. This series is perfect for those that want their humor dark and smart. When one of their own is kidnapped and held for ransom, the agents of Slough House must defeat the odds, overturning all expectations of their competence, to breach the top-notch security of MI5s intelligence headquarters, Regents Park, and steal valuable intel in exchange for their comrades safety. The story, in the early days of, This week sees the release of Trouble, the third book in the Hella Mauzer series by Katja Ivar. Like all series of this vintage, the characters tend to come and go so a good way to start this review is the same way Herron does and begin with an update on who is currently active. Mick Herron was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and now lives in Oxford. Something went wrong. Frontal aspect, first reaction: its not the best-looking property on the market. And yes, the book does end on a cliffhanger. It happened now, as he tucked his phone in his pocket. More of Mick Herron Read it, you'll see what I mean. Slow Horses (Deluxe Edition) (Slough House). . Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2023. Mick Herron could not be more different and all the better for it. And the Tube on the doorstep, with the popular Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan lines literally a minute away. Trainers were in the basement. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. The only downside is that I'm at the end of available books in the series (again). Herron uses the plot to make some biting comments about the use of private money in security operations and the importance of standing up to bullies. The privatization of a secret service op and the manipulation of news is relevant and horribly credible.Ann Cleeves, author of the Vera Stanhope series, By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's. But they have they actually been targeted? I also really wanted to see Rivers mum make an appearance and will feel cheated if its just at his funeral. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This is one of my favourite series although I have never before managed to read spy thrillers. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Mick Herrons six Slough House novels have been shortlisted for eight CWA Daggers, winning twice, and shortlisted for the Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year three times. Slough House is Mick Herrons seventh novel about his team of unloved, incompetent though often marvellously effective MI6 spies. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. You can buySLOUGH HOUSE by Mick Herron fromAmazon UK,WaterstonesorBookshop.org UK. . Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2022. The pace was much better and the focus was mostly on the slow horses and not so much on Diana and the politics which is how I prefer it. I found ( and I realise I am risking opprobrium upon my head) Le Carre somewhat pompous and boring - too much of the public schoolboy for me. Kill us? The first, Slow Horses, was picked as one of the best twenty spy novels of all time by the Daily Telegraph, while the most recent, Joe Country, was a Sunday Times top ten . Meanwhile, still reeling from recent losses, the slow horses are worried theyve been pushed further into the cold. Lie still. I didn't want it to end, but it did, where it had to. It has been a while since I read one but watching the first series on TV reminded me just how good these books are (and I do prefer them as books). Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2021, This, the seventh book in the Jackson Lamb series, does not disappoint. He is never without a drink or a smoke, even when the team goes dark, and remains as rude and offensive as ever. She thinks that there are two people trying to kill her and River doesnt know if its a real threat or something caused by the gunshot wound to the head that she took at the end of SLOW HORSES. They don't just go home, do they? There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Herron writes squeakingly well-plotted spy thrillers . This coupled with the biting satire and basic humanity of Herrons writing are what have kept me coming back. ', CrimeReads Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2021, I'll tell you what, to have been lucky enough to play Smiley in one's career; and now go and play Jackson Lamb in Mick Herron's novelsthe heir, in a way, to le Carris a terrific thing., Ann Cleeves, author of the Vera Stanhope series, Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus Novels, Herron has certainly devised the most completely realised espionage universe since that peopled by George Smiley., Mick Herron is one of the finest writers of his generation., Steve Cavanagh, author of the Eddie Flynn novels, the seventh installment of Mick Herrons ripping good series of spy novels. At Slough House, Brexit has taken a toll. Im skeptical. Mick Herron is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and short story writer, best known for his Slough House thrillers. I'm totally invested in the world of the slow horses of Slough House since starting the series in 2017. Maybe they botched an Op so badly they cant be trusted anymore. He currently lives in Oxford and writes full-time. not long ago. Bu the slow horses arent famed for making wise decisions. So she picked the pair that most impressed on the wall, which proved nothing but was a sensible starting point, and sat and tried them on. In 2008, inspired by world events, Mick began writing the Slough House series, featuring MI5 agents who have been exiled from the mainstream for various offences. Slapstick. London Rules might not be written down, but everyo. I thought the entire cast was near perfect, and cant wait for the next season. Zo Boehm. I also think that Louisa has really stepped up to be MVP in terms of spy ability so it would be good to see her continue to move front and centre, especially as there will doubtless be some kind of additional call back to those diamonds and her affair with Min. Details: 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 1-30 and Monday, Oct. 31. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Lots to laugh about while being careful not to miss a word. So much of the story is the thoughts of the characters and I wonder how that will be conveyed. Paperback $16.95. Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2022. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2021. : River didn't know if he really believed that, but he knew for sure that he didn't know he didn't, and if River thought that way others might too, and act upon the possibility. With a new populist movement taking a grip on Londons streets, and the old order ensuring that everythings for sale to the highest bider, the worlds an uncomfortable place for those deemed surplus to requirements. Slough House by Mick Herron 2021 / 247 pages read by Gerard Doyle 10h 13m rating: A+ / crime (spy) . : Hope Herron writes many more. He is the author of the Slough House espionage series, four Oxford mysteries, and several standalone novels. All the usual ingredients are here, but the sneering political tone makes this outing of the Slow Horses rather unlikeable. When I receive the latest in this series, there is zero chance its going to sit there patiently waiting its turn. I would have liked to have got a bit more emotion in the scenes between her and River given the flirtation between them in SLOW HORSES but Herrons very restrained, showing touches of Rivers guilt over what happened to her at the same time as gently indicating there could be something more here as well. And given that the devil in question is arch-manipulator Peter Judd, she could be about to lose control of everything shes fought for. Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2023. The question of whether he was a double agent must be resolved, and its answer may undo an entire careers worth of spy secrets. Learn more. She is the sensible mother figure of the group. Im kinda curious to see if River makes it or not. So we wait, impatiently, for number 8 , Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2021. A deadly truth lies in wait. To qualify for Slough House an agent has to commit a screwup of sufficient magnitude that they are deported from MI5 headquarters at Regency Park. There is a lot going on in this book with two main plot lines why Slough House has been deleted from the Services records and the fallout from Lady Dis decision to sock it to Russias GRU. A bomb has detonated in the middle of a busy shopping center, killing forty innocent civiliansand that may only be the beginning of an escalating security situation. It happened now, as he tucked his phone in his pocket. But the trail leads straight back to the Park itself, with Diana Taverner as chief suspect. Mick Herrons six Slough House novels have been shortlisted for eight CWA Daggers, winning twice, and shortlisted for the Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year three times. Used Condition: Used; Good Soft cover. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Also interesting in this context are the continued allusions to Lambs poor health, which seems to be worsening, and does not bode well for future books, although we also see more of Lambs ruthless side here as well as his loyalty to his joes and to those who help his joes (one scene at the end where a side character who said something revolting to Molly gets his dues is particularly satisfying). I love this series. Trainers were in the basement. not long ago. . I was very disappointed in the ending of this novel. He was a connection to the O. The gags are still there but the satire's more biting. Their boss, Jackson Lamb is still keeping his team busy with pointless and unproductive assignments: following up social media absconders (#gonequiet), failures to pay fines or potential safe-houses for non-friendlies. Mick Herron has won the Theakston Old Peculier crime novel of the year award, after his fifth time being shortlisted in six years. In this outing, Slough House seems to have disappeared from the Service's records. And not just one cliff either; each thread I wanted wrapped up just stops. Addiction loves challenge, because challenge provides an excuse to fail. Something is brewing at the Park, and Diana Taverner, First Desk, and enemy of Lamb from way back, is probably behind it. I have really enjoyed Mick Herron's writing since discovering 'Slow Horses' back in August 2018. He is the author of six books in the Slough House series as well as a mystery series set in Oxford featuring Sarah Tucker and/or P.I. , Word Wise Frontal aspect, first reaction: its not the best-looking property on the market. Like a spy in the night, writer Mick Herron's success has been stealthy. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Save for Later. . Required fields are marked *. Do nothing.' , Hardcover There was a problem loading your book clubs. 'All kinds of outlandish, Now, for the first time, Mick Herrons short ficti, Set in the same world as the Slough House series, , A governmental think-tank, whose remit is to curb , Standing by the Wall: A Slough House Interlude, *A Slough House Christmas short story from the Sun, Standing by the Wall: The Collected Slough House Novellas, At last in one volume: the collected Slough House . Yet somehow, in book after book, Mick Herron finds highly plausible ways of putting these screwups in the cross-hairs of dangerous enemies. For there has been foreign agents spreading havoc, not least poisoning civilians, in a way that actually happened. : These are the paranoid concerns of David Cartwright, a Cold Warera operative and one-time head of MI5 who is sliding into dementia, and questions his grandson, River, must answer now that the spy who raised him has started to forget to wear pants. London, England: Slough House is where washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what's left of their failed careers. Does this item contain inappropriate content? The only slight nagging doubt is whether it will maintain the sky high quality standards. What happens when an old spook loses his mind? But this book also shows a side of Lamb we dont often get to see a man who despite all his insults and abuse of his staff is the most loyal and protective boss anyone could want. You will get an email reminder before your trial ends. Try again. . Does the Service have a home for spies who forget their secrets are a secret, or does someone take care of them for good? He is also the author of the Zoe Boehm series, and the standalone novels Reconstruction and This is What Happened. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. In his best and most ambitious novel yet, Mick Herron, "the le Carr of the future" (BBC), offers an unsparing look at the corrupt web of media, global finance, spycraft, and politics that power our modern world. Its refusal to budge suited River, for the moment. This time out, MI5s disgraced spies are being hunted by Russian assassins and theres no one they can trust to help them. Its clear that shes changed due to the shooting, a little slower and less bright, but theres an excellent set-piece towards the end that shows shes not out of the game. The slow horses have been pushed further into the cold, Slough House has been erased from official records, and its members are dying in unusual circumstances, at an unusual clip. The Slough House spy thrillers by Mick Herron feature the spies who, having messed up, have been consigned to a dead-end department [in London, not Slough, but that's the joke]. His books are fantastic, and, David Enyeart, Next Chapter Booksellers (St. Paul, MN), I think this might be the best Jackson Lamb outing yet., tremendously. : And while the main thing about trainers was they had to feel right, not look good, still: they had to look good. Slough House is Mick Herron's seventh novel about his team of unloved, incompetent though often marvellously effective MI6 spies. 1 title per month from Audible's entire catalog of best sellers, and new releases. The combination of humor and timeliness is great! Unable to add item to List. The ones that looked good were, anyway. Catherine Standish is buying booze again, Louisa Guy is raking over the ashes of lost love, and new recruit Lech Wicinski, whose sins make him an outcast even among the slow horses, is determined to discover who destroyed his career, even if he tears his life apart in the process. Praise for Slough House "I'll tell you what, to have been lucky enough to play Smiley in one's career; and now go and play Jackson Lamb in Mick Herron's novels--the heir, in a way, to le Carr--is a terrific thing."--Gary Oldman He is the author of the Slough House espionage series, four Oxford mysteries, and several standalone novels. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Hope Herron writes many more. When one of their own is kidnapped, the Slow Horses must outwit rogue agents at the highest levels of British Intelligence, and even to Downing Street itself. is a British novelist and short story writer who was born in Newcastle and studied English at Oxford. He never gifts them glory, barely grants them a tolerable existence and never hesitates to kill one or two of them off if the plot requires it. The book ends with what was for me, a truly devastating development and even though you know what no one in Slough House is safe, I wasnt expecting it to hit that character. After all, what DOES happen to the detritus of the service? | Try Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping. I always enjoy Mr. Herron and his superb stories and characters . Pick up a copy of. Old habits, lost loves, and new blood have the Slow Horses struggling to stay focused, but an old enemy, now out of hiding, may bring them close for a common purposevengeance. , Publisher Of course the author still has a bad case of TDS and continues to drop more attacks on Trump but at least this time the plot is moving forward so well his obsession with American politics over his own country is less as jarring. I would pine for it. And while the main thing about trainers was they had to feel right, not look good, still: they had to look good. He is the author of the Slough House series, early novels of which have been adapted for the Slow Horses television series. , ISBN-10 So we wait, impatiently, for number 8 , Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2021. I'm *beyond excited* to have received an ARC from those lovely people at John Murray (thank you!) She took an elevator again; she was always going up or down, it seemed. Herron also makes some sharp digs about the role of the media in shaping the political agenda courtesy of newcomer Damien Cantor whose only loyalty is to his own power and wealth. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Standing by the Wall: The collected Slough House novellas, Traditional Detective Mysteries (Kindle Store), International Mystery & Crime (Kindle Store), Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, includes free international wireless delivery via. EXCERPT: The study remained like a showroom in a vacant property - books, chairs, curtains; the shelf with its odd collection of trophies: a glass globe, a hunk of concrete, a lump of metal that had been a Luger; the desk with its sheet of blotting paper, like something out of Dickens, and the letter opener, which was an actual stiletto, and had once belonged to Beria - and if David Cartwright had left secrets in his wake they'd be somewhere in that room, on those shelves, among a billion other words. Thanks for the review. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. There are hysterical episodes, ridiculous circumstances hard to accept and poignant moments for good measure. This team of MI5 agents at Londons Slough House is united by a common bond: They've screwed up royally and will do anything to redeem themselves. Slow Horses. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! What seems a gutless response from the government has pushed the Services First Desk into mounting her own counter-offensive but shes had to make a deal with the devil fist. From the latest Scandinavian serial killer to Golden Age detective stories, we love our crime novels! A much improved book in this series but very high stakes for the Horses. I think MHs politics are clear enough, as with so many authors, and why not? Mick Herron could not be more different and all the better for it. . When a Russian operative is killed, they think the slow horses who now appear to be off-the-books were responsible. Quantity: 1. Slough House is the seventh book in the Slough House/Jackson Lamb series by award-winning British author, Mick Herron. (LogOut/ Hed grown up in his grandparents house, having been abandoned there by a mother whose horizons hadnt, at the time, included future property rights. There are yellow-vest protestors on the street, and former Home Secretary Peter Judd, an . Always up or down. But if you've read any others, and liked them, you'll like this one. Learn more. Hear No Evil (Large Print) (Hidden Norfolk), Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. Spook secrets were dangerous to friends and foes alike, and the old man had made plenty of both down the years. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! In fact, listening to this has made me even more curious to see the tv series. But in relaying his suspicions to John Bachelor, who babysits retired spies like Solly for MI5, he sets in motion a train of events that will alter lives. A magical look into the Secret Service and a fictional but likely scenario. Herron grounds his novels around notable real-life events for satirical purposes, and this time he concocts a story around Brexit, the Yellow Vest protests and the Russian Novichok assassinations. "This is a darker, scarier Herron. He could see one of either breed breaking a lock, finessing a window; could see them working round the study, looking for clues. However, when two Britons came across the perfume bottle in which the nerve agent had been carried, one of them died. Great spy read! : : Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Their boss, Jackson Lamb is still keeping his team busy with pointless and unproductive assignments: following up social media absconders (#gonequiet), failures to pay fines or potential safe-houses for non-friendlies. What seems a gutless response from the government has pushed the Service's First Desk into mounting her own counter-offensive - but she's had to make a deal . Unable to add item to List. Post navigation #BookReview 'A Prince and a Spy' by Rory Clements #thriller #war #WW2 A Special Offer for you #contemporary #womensfiction #bargain They don't just go home, do they? Learn more about the program.