Spooks are supposed to be stealthy . . . But those who make a noisy mess of their careers end up in Slough House.
This is Jackson Lamb's kingdom: a dumping ground for spies who've screwed up. Once high fliers, they're now slow horses, condemned to a life of pushing paper as punishment for crimes of drugs and drunkenness, lechery and failure, politics and betrayal. In drab and mildewed offices, these highly trained spies moan and squabble, stare at the walls, and dream of better days - not one of them joined the Intelligence Service to be a slow horse, and the one thing they have in common is their desire to be back in the action.
Includes Slow Horses, Dead Lions, and Real Tigers.
Mick Herron was born in Newcastle and has a degree in English from Balliol College, Oxford. He is the author of six books in the Slough House series as well as a mystery series set in Oxford featuring Sarah Tucker and/or P.I. Zoë Boehm. He now lives in Oxford and works in London.
I watched the TV series first and came to the books as the wait between series proved too much for me. So glad I did as the books are excellent, great characters, storytelling and humour. Would recommend, whether you have watched the series yet or not but if you can do both.
A great collection of the first three Slough House novels. Although I have watched the tv adaptations, the novels are really worth reading even when you know what's going to happen.
If you’re looking for a gripping, razor-sharp espionage series that blends tension, the darkest humour, and unforgettable characters, Mick Herron’s Slough House trilogy—Slow Horses, Dead Lions, and Real Tigers—is an absolute must-read. These books delivered everything I had hoped for and so much more!
Herron masterfully redefines the spy genre with his ensemble of misfit intelligence officers, each banished to the dreary and unforgiving Slough House for various supposed career-ending blunders. What sets this series apart is Herron’s brilliant balance of plot and character; he crafts suspenseful, intricate storylines filled with twists, while also digging deep into the complexities of his flawed yet fascinating characters. Jackson Lamb, the slovenly, sharp-tongued head of Slough House, is a standout—equal parts repulsive and riveting, he’s a character you love to hate but can’t help rooting for.
Each book raises the stakes, but what remains constant is Herron’s biting wit and a narrative style that keeps you turning the pages long after you intended to stop. Slow Horses introduces the world of disgraced spies, Dead Lions ups the intrigue with an old-school Cold War vibe, and Real Tigers unleashes a heart-pounding siege, revealing just how dangerous these “rejects” can be.
If you’re ready for a deep dive into loyalty, betrayal, and redemption, all wrapped up in an immensely entertaining package - then this is the set for you - I couldn’t recommend them more highly!