The List by Mick Herron

[Susan]

This novella is 2.5 in the Jackson Lamb/Slough House series.

Dieter Hess, an aged spy, is dead, and John Bachelor, his MI5 handler, is in deep, deep trouble. Death has revealed that the deceased had been keeping a secret second bank account - and there's only ever one reason a spy has a secret second bank account. The question of whether he was a double agent must be resolved, and its answer may undo an entire career's worth of spy secrets.

Currently listed as £1.49 on kindle in the UK and 112 pages.

Please refrain from posting spoilers in this thread - thank you.

[Susan]

The List is set between Dead Lions and Real Tigers, so, numerically, it is 2.5 in the series.

There is a further novella, featuring John Bachelor, The Drop: A Slough House Novella which is number 5.5.

John Bachelor doesn't appear in the 'normal' Jackson Lamb novels, so he is somewhat apart, but other, familiar characters do get a mention.

I live quite near St Albans, where our aged informant, Dieter Hess is found dead. I quite like the idea of old spooks put out to pasture near me. Obviously, the security services are fond of my area, as when I read the book , I found that Alexander Litvinenko shopped in my local Tesco's!

[Jill]

Read this today in one sitting. Would have liked it to be longer, but that is just me selfish I suppose, as I enjoy these books. It introduces some new characters, but we will just have to wait and see if they turn up in future books.

[Susan]

I know, Jill. Really, a novella just doesn't fill your Jackson Lamb craving, does it?!

[Sandy]

I'm going to be late to the discussion as my library hold has not yet appeared. I am unreasonably annoyed at the stranger who has the single copy: my request has been in since mid-December and it is a novella!! (Meanwhile I have two completed books that I have not returned as that library is not on my regular rounds - a bit inconsistent.)

[Susan]

Very annoying, Sandy! Hope it appears soon.

[Sandy]

I broke down and bought it (I swear the price went down $2) and returned my library books. I'll be starting soon.

[Susan]

Good to hear, Sandy. Still, let's hope the person hanging onto the library copy is actually reading it...

[Frances]

I just finished it-a fun and quick read, I'm really enjoying this series.

[Susan]

Good to hear, Frances. What do we think of John Bachelor himself, who also appears later in The Drop? Why do you think he doesn't appear in the main Jackson Lamb novels?

[Sandy]

I'll be starting this later today; really looking forward to it.

[Susan]

Look forward to hearing your thoughts, Sandy.

[Sandy]

Finished in a single sitting and really enjoyed it. I'm hoping to met these characters again. Off to the spoiler thread.

[Susan]

They do appear in The Drop, which we will get to. Glad you enjoyed it, Sandy.