Slow Horses, by Mick Herron
December 6, 2019 3:20 PM - by Mick Herron - Subscribe
London, England: Slough House is where the washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what's left of their failed careers. The "slow horses," as they’re called, have all disgraced themselves in some way to get relegated here. Maybe they messed up an op badly and can't be trusted anymore. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. Maybe they just got too dependent on the bottle—not unusual in this line of work. One thing they all have in common, though, is they all want to be back in the action. And most of them would do anything to get there─even if it means having to collaborate with one another.
The first of the excellent Slough House series.
The first of the excellent Slough House series.
I love the whole series, too. I admit I don't remember exactly what happened in this book as opposed to, say, books two through five. But in general: oh my god Ho is such an oblivious monster. I love how well the office is described. I sometimes can't keep the characters straight at the main office, but that's more my fault than Herron's. So much tension, usually about things other than the main plot, but not too much.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:51 PM on December 6, 2019
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:51 PM on December 6, 2019
Gary Oldman to Star in Drama Series ‘Slow Horses’ on Apple TV+
Not who I would've picked for lamb...
"...That might explain today’s dipshit behaviour. And I thought he was one of your cleverer boys.”
“Mind like a razor,” Lamb agreed. “Disposable.”
posted by lalochezia at 6:04 PM on December 6, 2019 [3 favorites]
Not who I would've picked for lamb...
"...That might explain today’s dipshit behaviour. And I thought he was one of your cleverer boys.”
“Mind like a razor,” Lamb agreed. “Disposable.”
posted by lalochezia at 6:04 PM on December 6, 2019 [3 favorites]
Ooh, I can see Oldman as Lamb, so long as they give him enough bulk.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:05 AM on December 7, 2019
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:05 AM on December 7, 2019
I've read four of these (not the fifth one, London Rules, which I'm stuck on, probably a bit too close to home.) They're very moreish. I hadn't intended to buy the series when I started out but if there's seven now ... Gosh he must write quick.
posted by glasseyes at 4:17 PM on December 7, 2019
posted by glasseyes at 4:17 PM on December 7, 2019
I saw this thread earlier today, and on the strength of y'all's comments I went to the library and checked out Slow Horses. I'm looking forward to it!
Also, the Stale Beer Club sounds excellent. I don't read or watch a lot of spy stuff, but when I do, I dig it.
posted by heteronym at 8:19 PM on December 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also, the Stale Beer Club sounds excellent. I don't read or watch a lot of spy stuff, but when I do, I dig it.
posted by heteronym at 8:19 PM on December 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
I've read the first three and I love this series. After the team performed so well in the first book, I assumed they'd get their due recognition but no, they slumped back into torpor and that seemed depressingly real. I recommend reading them in quick succession because it's a continuing story and it's hard to keep track of who has the goods on whom. Bitterly funny, bleakly realistic, an excellent series.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:59 AM on December 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:59 AM on December 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
Gosh, this sounds entertaining. Must look into it.
posted by praemunire at 10:54 AM on December 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 10:54 AM on December 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I’ve been deep in covid reading and was trying to find a new fiction series to distract me. I’ve been poking at stuff for days and nothing was scratching the itch. THIS is what I’ve been looking for. Thank you!!!
posted by affectionateborg at 4:19 PM on March 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by affectionateborg at 4:19 PM on March 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
aaand the apple tv adaptation Comes out this week
posted by lalochezia at 10:58 AM on March 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by lalochezia at 10:58 AM on March 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by lalochezia at 5:39 PM on December 6, 2019 [3 favorites]