The Slough House Series by Mick Herron

[Greg]

Slow Horses Book #1

I couldn't read this book fast enough. I desperately needed to find out what was going on. And just when they explained what was going on, another twist was throw in.

At it's heart is the traditional British Spy Story. This one deals with MI-5 more than MI-6. But there is still that corruption that oozes through everything. Everyone back stabs to get to the top. Some people are on the way up. Others are on the way down in the organization.

The main ballpark, where all the action happens for MI-5 is Regency House. If you've screwed up and the powers that be want you gone without getting firing you, you go to Slough House. Everyone in this rundown building next to a disreputable Chinese Take-away has messed up along the way. Slough House is the place for Slow Horses.

But a mystery rears it's ugly head that tangentially hits Slough House and it all comes into more focus because of a kidnapping by an alt-right group of a Pakistani college student. Lots of moving parts. Lots of betrayal. The best character of all is Jackson Lamb who oversees Slough House and is much more than what he seems.

I can't wait to read the next books.

[Greg]

I read the second and third books in the series, Dead Lions and Real Tigers. Both still working at a high pace. The mysteries continue to be tricky but it's the interactions between all the characters that really drives these books. So much manipulation and back stabbing. And rather than there being an external enemy it's a lot of infighting in MI5 that keeps the books hopping.

I've just put an order in for the next three books. Then I'm going to track down the novellas.

[Greg]

Spook Street and London Rules

I love these books. I had to wait a while. The library sent me books five and six and I had to wait two weeks for book four to read them.

Spook Street is a good back story on River Cartwright's life and deals with his grandfather, also a spy, slipping into dementia.

London Rules deals with a terror plot aimed at the UK. But as usual London's past sins come back to haunt her.

Producers at Apple are turning this into a series with Gary Oldman set to lead. Now when I see Jackson Lamb written, I picture Gary Oldman. it's going to be awesome. Jackson Lamb is the odious leader of the Slough House.

[Greg]

London Rules

River Cartright's father appears at River's Grandfather's funeral. Things spiral out of control from there. Everyone has to go to Wales. Two more major characters die. Mr. Herron is a character killer so don't get too attached to anyone.

I think I'm going to need an endgame soon because there is starting to be a certain sameness about things. Still funny and enjoyable.

[Greg]

Nobody Walks

It's not in the Slough Series but it is in that same world. Plus one of the characters moves from this book into Slough House, JK Cole. I really should have read this book before his appearance in the Slough House series.

Tom Bettany returns to England from France when he learns that his son has died. It is ruled an accident but Bettany has questions. Thus begins the tale with lots of twists, the biggest being Bettany's past. As usual, MI5 pops up and their motivations are still twisted. It was a fun read. The book wasn't as funny as the Slough house but good spy fiction none the less.