A dark, mysterious, and at some point depressing story of the MI5 agents who are suffering disgrace in this Slough House and are burning with the desire to get out of this place. They spent their entire lives training to be elite agents and now have to live in shame. Spook Street is one of the darker novels and what little comic relief there is, is provided by Roddy Ho getting a girlfriend, a plot thread which is pulled in the follow up novel, London Rules. It also lays the ground for the events of Joe Country, and at the same time introduces a series villain, ex-CIA operative Frank Harkness. This novel is a series highlight for me, and went on to win the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award as well as being shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award, The British Book Awards and The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. With it being familiar territory for him, it’s the ideal novel to see a master of his craft at the top of his game, with its expert use of both style and tone. Working at a meat processing plant in France, Tom Bettany is living and working quietly when his life is suddenly turned upside down by a phone-call out of the blue. The story follows the lives of the agents who are in the Slough House and how eager they are to prove their worth. Many psychological and emotional aspects of the story work under the hood and give this series the drive and the “standout” factor. This is just the first story. There are four more stories, each with a unique twist and an excellent horror theme. A great story (along with other short stories) is about a couple who, by mistake, get into the wrong house and then go through a robbery attempt.

Mick Herron (Author of Slow Horses) - Goodreads Mick Herron (Author of Slow Horses) - Goodreads

Slough House is about the place where failed MI5 agents are sent as a “punishment.” Any agent that fails to deliver the mission or comes out as unreliable in any situation is sent to the Slough House. These agents are called “slow horses” in a derogatory manner. It is pretty shameful for an agent of the elite MI5 to end up in the Slough house. Herron's short stories have been regularly published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and some are collected in the book All the Livelong Day, published in 2013. Known for his unique take on the thriller novel, he’s managed to carve himself a niche within the field of crime literature, providing his work with a sense of humor that manages to lighten the narrative somewhat. That’s not to say it detracts from the darker elements though, as he’s definitely not averse to showing the grim realities of crime, as he’s well known for suspense and intrigues too. Sarah’s adventure and the things she finds are what give this series the soul. The unfolding of mysteries and revelations of astonishing facts will keep the readers hooked. Excellent character development and a well-contrived plot make this book a gripping read. Shirley Dander and Marcus Longridge are the odd couple, though they’re not even a couple. She was in comms at The Park before she laid out a co-worker, and also has addiction issues. He used to break down doors and carry a gun before his gambling problems compromised him.

Publication Order of Anthologies

Catherine Standish is Lamb’s assistant, and a recovering alcoholic. She used to assist Charles Partner, who was First Desk at Regents Park until his suicide – something it’s rumoured Lamb might have had a hand in arranging. Partner had been selling secrets to the Russians.

Mick Herron’s Slough House series The complete guide to Mick Herron’s Slough House series

With many of his earlier novels being crime and spy thrillers set in Oxford, he’s always kept himself grounded by using his real-life experience and knowledge. This was then broadened in scope though, as he began to feel more and more comfortable and confident with the genre. A video circulates on the internet where terrorists claim to behead a boy live. The “slow horses” take the investigation into their hands unofficially. The book gets fascinating as it shows the struggle of this dysfunctional team trying to execute the mission successfully. Taking his time over his novels, he takes his craft seriously and, with more books set to be released soon, this is something that will continue on into the foreseeable future. Herron was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he earned a degree in English. [1] [2] [3] Career [ edit ] Location of the fictional Slough House (Aldersgate Street, London)In the dilapidated offices of Slough House, these files spooks spend their time on various pointless tasks, designed to break their will and bring about their resignations, avoiding the hassle, expense and bad publicity of employment tribunals. One of the first things to appreciate is that each novel is an underdog story – a group of individuals, under-qualified and under-resourced, who have to beat their better-off cousins at The Park to save the day.