Mick Herron

[Nigeyb]

Susan wrote: "Nigeyb, if you like La Carre, you will also love (I promise!) Mick Herron. His first novel is Slow Horses and they are absolutely brilliant."

Thanks Susan - once again you're introduced me to a completely new name. I will add Mick Herron's Slow Horses to my list of books to read.

Susan wrote: "They are absolutely my favourite spy series. I really think you would enjoy them - I am often loathe to recommend books, but these have joined my three favourite series: Slow Horses, Bernie Gunther and Shardlake... "

Rosina wrote: "I've just read Slow Horses and really enjoyed it, so thank you. The next in series is lined up already."

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm a Mick Herron fan, too!"

From the acclaim above (taken from the John le Carré favourite author thread) it's clear we need a dedicated Mick Herron thread.

I will be reading Slow Horses before 2017 is out. Can't wait after all this Herron positivity.

[Nigeyb]

Slow Horses by Mick Herron

Slough House is a dumping ground for British intelligence agents who’ve screwed up a case in any number of ways—by leaving a secret file on a train or blowing a surveillance. River Cartwright, one such “slow horse,” is bitter about his failure and about his tedious assignment transcribing cell phone conversations.

When a young man is abducted and his kidnappers threaten to broadcast his beheading live on the Internet, River sees an opportunity to redeem himself.

Is the victim who he first appears to be? And what’s the kidnappers’ connection with a disgraced journalist? As the clock ticks on the execution, River finds that everyone has his own agenda.

[Roman Clodia]

I shall just say that Jackson Lamb leapt straight into my list of all-time favourite characters on reading this - and my adoration has never palled!

[Nigeyb]

Wowsa - high praise indeed Roman Clodia

[Susan]

My top 3 series are Slow Horses, Bernie Gunther and Shardlake. I am pretty sure you will LOVE Jackson Lamb, Nigeyb. Such a great concept, the dumping ground of MI5; complete with characters who will remind you of certain politicians, barely disguised from real life.

[Michael]

The concept sounds interesting. If your are in MI5 you ready have a high IQ and a certain emotional view of certain aspects of life etc.
To be put in 'administrative duties' is something I hadn't considered.
If you make mistakes a plausible denial can be found, but sometimes a mistake is not always what it seems, in the spy realm who do you or can you trust.
I'll look forward to reading this to see the author's take on the circus/farm or working for the firm etc.
As Sir Humphrey Appleby once said "When is a leak not a leak....when it is authorised".

[Susan]

They are all desperate to get back to the 'Circus,' but are miserably confined to endless, boring jobs - checking number plates, etc etc. Some are misfits, some have done something that sees them banished. It's very clever, very funny and often very moving.

[Michael]

This will be the 'spy' or would it more appropriate to say 'counter terrorism' novel set in the modern era. Where to honest most of the work these days would be cyber based so it going to be interesting to see have genre deals with the changing times.

[Susan]

You did feel that spy stories would be harder to write now, Michael. I think what Herron has done has understood that what we all find interesting are people. He has created a cast of characters who we are cheering for (well, most of them!) and he is not a comfortable writer. We lose characters along the way, so we are always reminded this is a serious business and dangerous too.

[Susan]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Here is a link to an interesting article I found about Mick Herron and his anti-hero, Jackson Lamb. Unhygienic, cruel and full of sarcastic witticisms. i.e.

"Anyway, to sum up. You’re a useless bunch of failures, and you’ll be given pointless tasks to do until you quit. Any questions?"

"If you wanted to be famous, maybe the secret service wasn’t the right path."

"They may be a bunch of losers, but they’re my losers".

“Lamb said, ‘If you had issues with him, I could have spoken to HR. Arranged an intervention.’ He tapped Moody’s shoulder with his foot. ‘Breaking his neck without going through your line manager, that shit stays on your record.”
― Mick Herron, Slow Horses

[Rosina]

Thank you for the article - which confirms something I had spotted - the inspiration of Fat Andy Dalziel, one of my favourite police superintendents.

I've just finished Dead Lions, and am saving Real Tigers (and any others) for later.

[Nigeyb]

Love those quotes Susan

[Susan]

There is a new one promised next year, Rosina. Looking forward to it.

London Rules: Jackson Lamb Thriller 5

Out Feb, 18

'Mick Herron is an incredible writer and if you haven't read him yet, you NEED to' Mark Billingham

London Rules might not be written down, but everyone knows rule one.

Cover your arse.

Regent's Park's First Desk, Claude Whelan, is learning this the hard way. Tasked with protecting a beleaguered prime minister, he's facing attack from all directions himself: from the showboating MP who orchestrated the Brexit vote, and now has his sights set on Number Ten; from the showboat's wife, a tabloid columnist, who's crucifying Whelan in print; and especially from his own deputy, Lady Di Taverner, who's alert for Claude's every stumble.

Meanwhile, the country's being rocked by an apparently random string of terror attacks, and someone's trying to kill Roddy Ho.

Over at Slough House, the crew are struggling with personal problems: repressed grief, various addictions, retail paralysis, and the nagging suspicion that their newest colleague is a psychopath. But collectively, they're about to rediscover their greatest strength - that of making a bad situation much, much worse.

It's a good job Jackson Lamb knows the rules. Because those things aren't going to break themselves.

******

Praise for Mick Herron

'The new spy master' Evening Standard

'Herron is spy fiction's great humorist, mixing absurd situations with sparklingly funny dialogue and elegant, witty prose' The Times

'Herron draws his readers so fully into the world of Slough House that the incautious might find themselves slipping between the pages and transformed from reader to spook' Irish Times

I am, frankly, surprised that nobody tried to kill Roddy Ho earlier!

[Roman Clodia]

Oooh, this looks FAB - can't wait!

[Rosina]

Susan wrote: " from the showboating MP who orchestrated the Brexit vote, and now has his sights set on Number Ten; from the showboat's wife, a tabloid columnist, who's crucifying Whelan in print"

So Mr and Mrs Michael Gove, rather than Boris.

[Susan]

Probably, but Boris appears in other books, under another name.

[Nigeyb]

From the 'Welcome to The Midnight Bell' thread....


Susan wrote: "Just to quote from that article, Nigeyb:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

"The long and enduring power of Le Carré leaves British espionage fiction a cramped space for newcomers. Mick Herron has carved out his own distinctive territory by focusing on a squad of failed spooks whom Sir George would never tolerate. They are known as the “slow horses” of their HQ Slough House, which Herron imagines as an MI5 naughty step for alcoholics, incompetents and possible traitors. In Spook Street (John Murray), this stable of unstable spies deal with a terrorist attack plus the risk that a retired agent with dementia may forget what he shouldn’t know. Chief cowboy of the slow horses, Jackson Lamb, whose vulgar hedonism would be enough to make Falstaff look like Philip Hammond, is becoming one of crime fiction’s great characters."

I keep trying!

And now you've succeeded Susan, for today is the day that I embark on Mick Herron's 'Slow Horses'

[Susan]

Hurrah!!! I await your thoughts with anticipation, Nigeyb!

[Nigeyb]

I've romped through the first five chapters and....









...I love it!

Mick Herron's writing ability bears comparison with John Le Carré - intelligence and wit aligned to an increasingly engrossing plot. What more could anyone wish for?

[Susan]

I would be relieved but I was pretty certain you WOULD love it, Nigeyb. Hurrah and double Hurrah!!! :)

[Roman Clodia]

Hurrah, indeed! Funny, though, I tend to think of Herron as a kind of anti-le Carre, with his irreverance and snarky humour. Both brilliant at plotting, both superb writers with that ability to kick you in the gut - a shared milieu but different in tone, no?

[Nigeyb]

Interesting point Roman Clodia. You could well be right. It's early days for this Herronite but I shall keep you posted.

[Nigeyb]

I'm about a third of the way through Slow Horses by Mick Herron now.


Still very enjoyable fare.

A nice line from River Cartwright’s grandfather, which I appreciated - just because John Le Carré writes fiction doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

Mick Herron’s laconic style and deft characterisations work beautifully.

[Lynaia]

You've all made this sound too good. Just put a hold on it with my library. I need to start reading faster. Can't keep up with all the additions to my tbr list!

[Susan]

You won't regret it, Lynaia :) I think this group is giving us all an increased TBR list to be honest!

[Michael]

My to read shelf is getting larger.
Interesting take re Le Carre. When we write fiction, at school we wrote from our own experience as a fiction writer one would research your topic. Although it fiction it is not at the same moment.
I'll be reading this in the new year.

[Nigeyb]

I look forward to your reaction Lynaia


I'm now just over halfway. After some fairly extensive, but hugely enjoyable, scene setting and introductions, this has really ramped up about 3 or 4 gears. Very compelling now.

[Lynaia]

It may be a while before I get to read it. 8 people ahead of me on the wait list. Looking forward to it though.

[Susan]

Haven't listened to these yet, but there are a couple of podcasts about, or featuring, Mick Herron, that I came across:

http://spybrary.com/mick-herron/

https://soundcloud.com/isisaudio/inte...

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Susan - I'll check them out

[Nigeyb]

Back to Slow Horses. I'm about 60% through and there has just been the most insanely implausible plot development imaginable. If you've read the book you will probably know what I mean (the real group behind the kidnapping/beheading threat). There's conspiracy theories, and there's conspiracy theories, but that scenario is way beyond the bounds of plausibility. Right now, I feel the book's magic has been severely undermined....

....unless.....it's a curve ball, which it might be.

But, at this point, Slow Horses appears to have veered into the world of fantasy. The le Carré comparisons may well end here.

I'll keep you posted.

[Susan]

I await your thoughts, Nigeyb, but I hope, whatever your thoughts on the plot, you enjoy the ride!

[Michael]

Interesting Nigeyb, implausible or impossible? I've not read it but sometimes we are unnerved by the actions taken.
There are no playing with a straight bat, men on white horses coming to save the day but I am intrigued by the implausibility.

[Nigeyb]

You'll have to read it Michael. I'm a spoiler-free zone. I've got over the shock now and am willing to overlook it as, implausibility aside, the book is a heck of a lot of fun, and in every other regard, especially the characterisations, it's wonderful. That said, I defy anyone not to exclaim in annoyance at such a far fetched idea.

Susan wrote: "I await your thoughts, Nigeyb, but I hope, whatever your thoughts on the plot, you enjoy the ride!"

Thanks Susan. I am really enjoying the ride. The Jackson Lamb character is superb. And I also love the various other "slow horses" and hope many of them recur in future books in the series.

[Susan]

I listened to the spybrary podcast yesterday (definitely a podcast to investigate I think and made me wish I had nominated a spy novel in the 1950's theme, as I have never read James Bond or the Ipcress File, both of which were suggested as great reads by the interviewee). It was good to see Mick Herron so lauded though. I think he has actually done something new with spy stories, rather than just copying Le Carre (who is brilliant), but taking an original take on things. I love the Britishness of them too, and the humour, but the fact they are also very serious. Yes, characters recur, but people die along the way and he is not afraid to kill off big characters, which is upsetting, but realistic. I was also interested to hear that Herron used to be a poet, before turning to novels, and I think you can see that in the way he writes. So descriptive, so sharp and brutally intelligent.

[Nigeyb]

Back to Slow Horses. I'm now about 70% though and Roderick Ho’s revenge on Simon Dean, the person who nearly ran him over on a pedestrian crossing, is classic. Absolutely brilliant. A very minor thing in the overall scope of the book, but still delicious. Roderick Ho is the stereotypical computer geek with no social skills but can do virtually anything with a computer and an internet connection.

[Susan]

Roderick Ho is brilliant as a character. He is, possibly, the only Slow Horse who is happy at Slough House. He probably thinks it is an elite unit :)

[Michael]

Been to a well known large bookstore in Mcr. Only two of his novels are in stock and not the one I want.
I don't want to use the library as I intend to have it as my holiday read in Feb, four days at sea should cover it.
Order it from the high street shop or buy on line? erm

[Susan]

They have nice new covers now, Michael. I must admit I rarely get to a bookshop, so it is always Amazon for me. I know, I know, but they are super fast. I once ordered something at work and it arrived within a couple of hours!

[Michael]

I do order online, with a little pang of guilt', I started to buy from 'The Wordery'.

[Nigeyb]

I'm listening to the Audible version of Slow Horses which I can heartily recommend.

Top notch narration by Sean Barrett....

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Th...

I've only got about one hour left to go - I'm addicted to it now. Superb finale (so far)

[Nigeyb]

Hurrah. I've just finished Mick Herron's Slow Horses.....


Click here to read my review

4/5

Thanks Susan - I'm pressing straight on with Dead Lions (Jackson Lamb 2)

[Susan]

Glad you enjoyed it, Nigeyb :) I think we need to read some classic spy books next year...

[Nigeyb]

I most certainly did Susan - thanks once again for highlighting Mick's work.


And, quoting from my review, I just want to heap yet more praise on the wonderful Jackson Lamb. What a character.

Jackson Lamb, who runs Slough House, is superb - a modern day Falstaff who hides his razor sharp mind and limitless resourcefulness behind the appearance and manners of an uncouth slob - and was once a very senior intelligence operative who knows every trick in the book. The supporting cast are all, to varying degrees, interesting and compelling, and it is no surprise that Mick Herron has written more books about these characters.

Click here to read my full review

[Michael]

Slow Horses on Order, intending it for my holiday read in Feb, but who knows I may read it sooner!

[Susan]

Michael wrote: "Slow Horses on Order, intending it for my holiday read in Feb, but who knows I may read it sooner!"

Hurrah!

I was listening to the spybrary podcast and I am now very intrigued with reading some other authors, which I haven't read before. I have read several books about the history of crime novels - does anyone know of a similar book about the history of the spy genre?

[Michael]

I have a Folio Society books of spies, essentially extracts from spy novels, hence my interest ithe novels of Willian Tufnel le Queux.
I'll dig it later and so if it's helps.

[Susan]

Thanks, Michael. I found Beyond Bond: Spies in Fiction and Film, but it's hideously expensive.

[Susan]

I found this too Secret Agents In Fiction: Ian Fleming, John Le Carré, Len Deighton but it's even more expensive...

[Nigeyb]

Nigeyb wrote: "I've just finished Mick Herron's Slow Horses....."


...and now I've started Dead Lions (Slough House, #2).

An old Cold War-era spy is found dead on a bus outside Oxford, far from his usual haunts. The despicable, irascible Jackson Lamb is convinced Dickie Bow was murdered. As the agents dig into their fallen comrade's circumstances, they uncover a shadowy tangle of ancient Cold War secrets that seem to lead back to a man named Alexander Popov, who is either a Soviet bogeyman or the most dangerous man in the world. How many more people will have to die to keep those secrets buried?

#addictive