Slow Horses

Genre: Thriller

Series: Slough House 1 of 8

Publisher: Baskerville

Date Published: 2015

Book Length: 336

Format: E book I purchased myself

Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommmend

About Book: Slough House is the outpost where disgraced spies are banished to see out the rest of their derailed careers. Known as the 'slow horses' these misfits have committed crimes of drugs and drunkenness, lechery and failure, politics and betrayal while on duty. In this drab and mildewed office these highly trained spies don't run ops, they push paper. Not one of them joined the Intelligence Service to be a slow horse and the one thing they have in common is they want to be back in the action.When a boy is kidnapped and held hostage, his beheading is scheduled for live broadcast on the net. And whatever the instructions of their masters at the Intelligence Service headquarters, the slow horses aren't going to just sit quiet and watch.

My Thoughts: Mick Herron's "Slow Horses" is a gripping dive into the murky world of British intelligence, where the outcasts and misfits of MI5 find themselves relegated to the dingy corridors of Slough House, away from the action and the limelight. Despite its sluggish start, "Slow Horses" soon gains momentum and takes you on an intriguing rollercoaster ride through the world of espionage. Herron's writing is sharp and witty, and his characters are complex and flawed in the most endearing ways. Jackson Lamb, the grizzled and unconventional leader of this motley crew, is a standout character, and his irreverent humour adds a layer of dark comedy to the narrative. As the team is reluctantly drawn into a high-stakes conspiracy, the tension steadily mounts, and the plot becomes a labyrinthine puzzle that keeps you guessing until the very end. While the slow burn may not appeal to readers seeking an immediate adrenaline rush, "Slow Horses" rewards patience with a meticulously crafted plot and a deep exploration of its characters' psyches. Herron's portrayal of the underbelly of espionage is both thought-provoking and entertaining. This novel is a promising start to a series that promises to deliver more intriguing tales of the misfit spies of Slough House. If you're a fan of intelligent, character-driven thrillers, "Slow Horses" should definitely be on your reading list.