Mick Herron’s spy series Slow Horses has become a minor addiction of mine. A fresh and cynical take on classic spy thrillers, with an ever present confusion of motivation, intention, and action.
I was recommended Slow Horses and happily received a copy as a birthday gift. The first book is a great balance of intrigue, twists and action with nicely observed inner dialogues. The main character Jackson Lamb heads up a cast of misfits who have all made some major error in their secret service careers – hence their transfer from spook central to the backwater that is Slough House.
It’s a great premise and gradually we learn about each characters problems and histories, while the main plot line barrels along at a merry old pace.
Book two, Dead Lions, is another quality spy thriller, although the plot is a little too far fetched… if you can maintain your suspension of disbelief it’s a page turner all right, but I admit I was distracted by the slightly absurd storyline.
Next up is Real Tigers. Better plot, with characters deepening, and more great observational detail. Very quaffable. The political players are very recognisable and barely fictitious – and as an aside some of the thoughts on future political direction are very prescient when looking back in the real world.
I’ve since read Spook Street and London Rules, with the next couple in the series waiting on the shelf. I’d say that each book in turn is a little better than the last, building on the back stories and offering new angles and nuances, which is quite an achievement in a series this long.
If you enjoy spy thrillers you should definitely give Mick Herron’s motley crew a chance.
