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The Oxford Investigations #3.5, 3.6, 4.5, 4.6
Dolphin Junction
A collection of eleven short stories by Mick Herron, including four featuring Zoe Boehm and one featuring Jackson Lamb
266 pages, Hardcover
First published November 11, 2021
546 people are currently reading
2020 people want to read
About the author
Mick Herron
54 books5,378 followersMick 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
May 30, 2023
Although I often struggle with short stories, I love Mick Herron's writing and so decided to give these a try. I adore the Slough House series and one story, "The Last Dead Letter," features Jackson Lamb and the incomparable Molly Doran. Four of the stories feature the character from Herron's other series, Zoe Boehm. I must admit that, while I have read his stand alone novels, I haven't given his other series a try and must do so after reading this.
The others range from a story about a group of shopping centre Santas on Christmas Eve, to the novella length title story, "Dolphin Junction." "Dolphin Junction," was an excellent read, about a man whose wife has gone missing, while another of my personal faves was, "Remote Control," about a commuter who believes his wife is having an affair. Overall, an interesting collection, some light, but most full of Herron's trademark dark themes and humour. If the man wrote a shopping list, I would happily read it, but this is an excellent collection and I enjoyed it immensely.
The others range from a story about a group of shopping centre Santas on Christmas Eve, to the novella length title story, "Dolphin Junction." "Dolphin Junction," was an excellent read, about a man whose wife has gone missing, while another of my personal faves was, "Remote Control," about a commuter who believes his wife is having an affair. Overall, an interesting collection, some light, but most full of Herron's trademark dark themes and humour. If the man wrote a shopping list, I would happily read it, but this is an excellent collection and I enjoyed it immensely.
September 19, 2024
This set of short stories is outstanding! Mick Herron's writing is top notch as usual and kept me hooked, and sometimes guessing. Here's the list of stories with my thoughts:
1. Proof of Love – read by Julia Franklin. (one hour and 4 minutes) A complex tale of blackmail with a twist. A private detective team, Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm, have different values. Joe conducts his business based on the fictional character created by Raymond Chandler and before making decisions asks himself, “What would Marlowe do?” Zoe is less romantic, cannier of human nature and operates on survival instinct.
2. Remote Control – read by David Thorpe. (30 minutes) An interesting tale about keeping control of your emotions, or not. A telling quote from the protagonist: “Stay detached, remain in control, let go of the space around you. But everything inside that space is yours.”
I felt that there was a lot of conflicting information in this story. On the one hand the protagonist places “all [he] ever was and ever hoped to be in her hands,” which indicates full trust, yet he acts on complete lack of trust.
Standout quotes:
I liked the description of a crowded commuter train including describing the “origami skills commuters develop for reading newspapers upright in a crowd.”
I found this quote quite haunting: “Forever I wait in an alley opposite, ages of unrecorded time whose silence spools into nothingness.”
3. Lost Luggage – read by Emma Powell (13 minutes) The opening scene describes a victim of a kidnap. The scene changes to a couple sitting in a café on the motorway indulging in speculation of the background and lifestyle of one of the other diners. During their discussion they reference Sherlock Holmes: “couldn’t he always tell, I don’t know, that you had your haircut by a one-armed barber who plied his trade on the Strand every second Tuesday, that kind of cheating knowledge no real person could ever have.” Then, flash forward to the ending which made my stomach drop suddenly, as my brain made the connections and realization dawned.
4. Mirror Images – read by Julia Franklin (53 minutes) Mick Herron had my full attention at: “he had once strangled a bus conductor with the sloughed skin of a Boa Constrictor. He had calmed down since and now generally shot, stabbed or bludgeoned his victims to death without undue fuss.” This story features the detective team, Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm.
5. Dolphin Junction – read by David Thorpe (one hour 32 minutes) A husband is convinced his wife, a librarian, has been abducted. However, it appears that she left a note indicating she left of her own accord. The Police follow up but conclude it is a “departure” rather than a “disappearance.” The husband clings to his belief based on what the police consider is “flimsy” evidence. The truth is tantalizingly revealed, and I can truly say, I didn’t see that coming!
6. An American Fridge – read by David Thorpe (16 minutes) The American fridge in the kitchen, the “heartbeat” of the home, is described as “in pride of place, taller than a man and twice as reliable.”
7. The Other Half – read by Julia Franklin (33 minutes) Featuring the detective team Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm. A tale of revenge with twists.
8. All the Livelong Day – read by Emma Powell (one hour 9 minutes) A couple go hiking and things go awry. The tension builds and somebody dies.
9. The Last Dead Letter – read by Gerard Doyle (57 minutes) A Slough House story, #6.4 in the series.
10. The Usual Santas – read by David Thorpe (28 minutes) This was a fun imposter story.
11. What We Do – read by Emma Powell (53 minutes) Private Detective Zoë Boehm tells her story during a session with her therapist. Quote: "prisons were villages when it came to gossip."
1. Proof of Love – read by Julia Franklin. (one hour and 4 minutes) A complex tale of blackmail with a twist. A private detective team, Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm, have different values. Joe conducts his business based on the fictional character created by Raymond Chandler and before making decisions asks himself, “What would Marlowe do?” Zoe is less romantic, cannier of human nature and operates on survival instinct.
2. Remote Control – read by David Thorpe. (30 minutes) An interesting tale about keeping control of your emotions, or not. A telling quote from the protagonist: “Stay detached, remain in control, let go of the space around you. But everything inside that space is yours.”
I felt that there was a lot of conflicting information in this story. On the one hand the protagonist places “all [he] ever was and ever hoped to be in her hands,” which indicates full trust, yet he acts on complete lack of trust.
Standout quotes:
I liked the description of a crowded commuter train including describing the “origami skills commuters develop for reading newspapers upright in a crowd.”
I found this quote quite haunting: “Forever I wait in an alley opposite, ages of unrecorded time whose silence spools into nothingness.”
3. Lost Luggage – read by Emma Powell (13 minutes) The opening scene describes a victim of a kidnap. The scene changes to a couple sitting in a café on the motorway indulging in speculation of the background and lifestyle of one of the other diners. During their discussion they reference Sherlock Holmes: “couldn’t he always tell, I don’t know, that you had your haircut by a one-armed barber who plied his trade on the Strand every second Tuesday, that kind of cheating knowledge no real person could ever have.” Then, flash forward to the ending which made my stomach drop suddenly, as my brain made the connections and realization dawned.
4. Mirror Images – read by Julia Franklin (53 minutes) Mick Herron had my full attention at: “he had once strangled a bus conductor with the sloughed skin of a Boa Constrictor. He had calmed down since and now generally shot, stabbed or bludgeoned his victims to death without undue fuss.” This story features the detective team, Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm.
5. Dolphin Junction – read by David Thorpe (one hour 32 minutes) A husband is convinced his wife, a librarian, has been abducted. However, it appears that she left a note indicating she left of her own accord. The Police follow up but conclude it is a “departure” rather than a “disappearance.” The husband clings to his belief based on what the police consider is “flimsy” evidence. The truth is tantalizingly revealed, and I can truly say, I didn’t see that coming!
6. An American Fridge – read by David Thorpe (16 minutes) The American fridge in the kitchen, the “heartbeat” of the home, is described as “in pride of place, taller than a man and twice as reliable.”
7. The Other Half – read by Julia Franklin (33 minutes) Featuring the detective team Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm. A tale of revenge with twists.
8. All the Livelong Day – read by Emma Powell (one hour 9 minutes) A couple go hiking and things go awry. The tension builds and somebody dies.
9. The Last Dead Letter – read by Gerard Doyle (57 minutes) A Slough House story, #6.4 in the series.
10. The Usual Santas – read by David Thorpe (28 minutes) This was a fun imposter story.
11. What We Do – read by Emma Powell (53 minutes) Private Detective Zoë Boehm tells her story during a session with her therapist. Quote: "prisons were villages when it came to gossip."
February 7, 2022
Dolphin Junction is a collection of eleven short stories of varying lengths by award-winning British author, Mick Herron. Published previously between 2006 and 2021 in Ellery Mystery Magazines, Women’s Weekly Fiction Specials, Best British Crime collections, as audio by Audio Go and BBC, and by Bookdealer and Soho Press, these are marvellous little bites of Mick Herron magic. The audio is narrated by David Thorpe, Emma Powell, Julia Franklin and Sean Barrett.
Proof of Love is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. Zoe’s husband and partner, Joe Silvermann takes on a case for one of Oxford’s richest men, promising to deliver a blackmail fee whilst also discovering the identity of the blackmailer. He’s going to need Zoe’s help: Joe is more of a “traditional” PI; this might need Zoe’s internet expertise. Joe delivers, as promised, but with an admonition for his client. Zoe’s solution comes from a different angle. Delightful!
In Remote Control, a casual remark (or two) from a perennially peeved fellow commuter leads a husband, who has previously proven a tendency to jealousy, to suspect his beautiful wife of infidelity. An excellent final twist!
Lost Luggage: On her way to work early one morning, Jane Carpenter is taken from a nearby park. Some hours later, at a motorway services café, Peter Mason and Jennifer Holmes, on their way to a party, indulge in some people watching. They make observations about a lone diner who sits where he can keep an eye on his car. A chilling twist to this one!
Mirror Images is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. A client comes to Joe Silvermann with an unusual problem: the man he shot dead sixteen years ago on the boathouse balcony has suddenly sprung back into his mind, and won’t leave. After first suggesting a therapist, Joe takes on the case. “His normal reaction to a new problem was to seek Zoe’s input, ideally without her noticing that he was unsure what to do next. The word ‘ideally’ was unavoidable here, as Zoe not noticing never actually occurred in practice.” Not wanting to attract her scorn (again) leaves “… Joe’s fallback position: What would Marlowe do?” Joe’s investigations include poling up the river on a punt (and falling in) to view the site of the since-burned -down boathouse. This one has a brilliant twist, and Zoe Boehm provides a tidy solution.
In the title story, Dolphin Junction, David Wallace returns home from a conference to find his wife has packed some of her things, quit her job, withdrawn half their savings from their bank account and left him a postcard saying it’s over between them. But one word on that card has him convinced that Michelle has been abducted. Unfortunately, no-one, not friends, not the police, agree, so David has to follow his instincts.
In An American Fridge, an engineer at a nuclear research lab learns that betrayal of one’s country and a new allegiance (for the perceived purpose of maintaining balance of power) comes with an American fridge.
The Other Half is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. PI Joe Silvermann agrees to tail a disgruntled ex whom a casual acquaintance claims has been stalking him, and vandalising his flat. The woman certainly seems to be acting a bit crazy, but Joe knows that his wife and partner, Zoe Boehm, is unlikely to approve, especially of the man’s next request. This one has a laugh-out-loud twist and sees justice neatly done.
All The Livelong Day, describes a married couple walking in Derbyshire on the third day of a five-day break. Missing waymarkers set them on the wrong course and, halfway down a hill with no mobile reception and ominous rainclouds approaching, Jon falls and fractures his ankle. Helen heads off to the farmhouse below where an enormous flock of birds swirls above the barnyard. It’s a tale that demonstrates how an ailing marriage that can just about survive the good times will fracture badly when under stress. A rather dark twist at the end.
The Last Dead Letter is a short story in the Jackson Lamb series. When Molly Doran demands Jackson Lamb’s attendance, he obeys: she is, after all the Queen of the Archives. Molly relates a story about a Berlin operative during the cold war who falls in love, and requires Jackson to fill in certain blanks. A crumb of insight into the enigmatic Jackson Lamb.
The Usual Santas is a perfect little Christmas tale in which eight rather disillusioned Retail Outlet Centre Santas find their number swollen by one at their usual Christmas Eve buffet. With their anonymity preserved, as always, by their costumes, they are unable to detect the imposter. A philosophical discussion ensues, the outcome of which is a mass action bringing great delight to those who really need Santa’s generosity.
What We Do is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. As unlikely as it is, Zoe Boehm is sharing personal stories with a therapist. She relates the tale of when a casual acquaintance with inside knowledge tried to recruit her to tail a young, soon-to-be-released-from-prison burglar whom she was convinced had the location of the unrecovered share of loot from a jewellery heist. Zoe was unconvinced: it was likely all smoke and whispers. But still, she was there, following the guy when he set out, spade in hand. This one ends with a delightful twist.
Herron is the master of clever twists and has a superb turn of phrase: “The sloth of others was best enjoyed in their presence.” and “… Joe had liked Italy, once he’d worked out that zebra crossings were designated accident spots, not safe places to cross.” Eleven excellent doses of Herron, that include a sample of Jackson Lamb and, for those not familiar with her, four tastes of Zoe Boehm. Quick but very enjoyable.
Proof of Love is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. Zoe’s husband and partner, Joe Silvermann takes on a case for one of Oxford’s richest men, promising to deliver a blackmail fee whilst also discovering the identity of the blackmailer. He’s going to need Zoe’s help: Joe is more of a “traditional” PI; this might need Zoe’s internet expertise. Joe delivers, as promised, but with an admonition for his client. Zoe’s solution comes from a different angle. Delightful!
In Remote Control, a casual remark (or two) from a perennially peeved fellow commuter leads a husband, who has previously proven a tendency to jealousy, to suspect his beautiful wife of infidelity. An excellent final twist!
Lost Luggage: On her way to work early one morning, Jane Carpenter is taken from a nearby park. Some hours later, at a motorway services café, Peter Mason and Jennifer Holmes, on their way to a party, indulge in some people watching. They make observations about a lone diner who sits where he can keep an eye on his car. A chilling twist to this one!
Mirror Images is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. A client comes to Joe Silvermann with an unusual problem: the man he shot dead sixteen years ago on the boathouse balcony has suddenly sprung back into his mind, and won’t leave. After first suggesting a therapist, Joe takes on the case. “His normal reaction to a new problem was to seek Zoe’s input, ideally without her noticing that he was unsure what to do next. The word ‘ideally’ was unavoidable here, as Zoe not noticing never actually occurred in practice.” Not wanting to attract her scorn (again) leaves “… Joe’s fallback position: What would Marlowe do?” Joe’s investigations include poling up the river on a punt (and falling in) to view the site of the since-burned -down boathouse. This one has a brilliant twist, and Zoe Boehm provides a tidy solution.
In the title story, Dolphin Junction, David Wallace returns home from a conference to find his wife has packed some of her things, quit her job, withdrawn half their savings from their bank account and left him a postcard saying it’s over between them. But one word on that card has him convinced that Michelle has been abducted. Unfortunately, no-one, not friends, not the police, agree, so David has to follow his instincts.
In An American Fridge, an engineer at a nuclear research lab learns that betrayal of one’s country and a new allegiance (for the perceived purpose of maintaining balance of power) comes with an American fridge.
The Other Half is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. PI Joe Silvermann agrees to tail a disgruntled ex whom a casual acquaintance claims has been stalking him, and vandalising his flat. The woman certainly seems to be acting a bit crazy, but Joe knows that his wife and partner, Zoe Boehm, is unlikely to approve, especially of the man’s next request. This one has a laugh-out-loud twist and sees justice neatly done.
All The Livelong Day, describes a married couple walking in Derbyshire on the third day of a five-day break. Missing waymarkers set them on the wrong course and, halfway down a hill with no mobile reception and ominous rainclouds approaching, Jon falls and fractures his ankle. Helen heads off to the farmhouse below where an enormous flock of birds swirls above the barnyard. It’s a tale that demonstrates how an ailing marriage that can just about survive the good times will fracture badly when under stress. A rather dark twist at the end.
The Last Dead Letter is a short story in the Jackson Lamb series. When Molly Doran demands Jackson Lamb’s attendance, he obeys: she is, after all the Queen of the Archives. Molly relates a story about a Berlin operative during the cold war who falls in love, and requires Jackson to fill in certain blanks. A crumb of insight into the enigmatic Jackson Lamb.
The Usual Santas is a perfect little Christmas tale in which eight rather disillusioned Retail Outlet Centre Santas find their number swollen by one at their usual Christmas Eve buffet. With their anonymity preserved, as always, by their costumes, they are unable to detect the imposter. A philosophical discussion ensues, the outcome of which is a mass action bringing great delight to those who really need Santa’s generosity.
What We Do is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. As unlikely as it is, Zoe Boehm is sharing personal stories with a therapist. She relates the tale of when a casual acquaintance with inside knowledge tried to recruit her to tail a young, soon-to-be-released-from-prison burglar whom she was convinced had the location of the unrecovered share of loot from a jewellery heist. Zoe was unconvinced: it was likely all smoke and whispers. But still, she was there, following the guy when he set out, spade in hand. This one ends with a delightful twist.
Herron is the master of clever twists and has a superb turn of phrase: “The sloth of others was best enjoyed in their presence.” and “… Joe had liked Italy, once he’d worked out that zebra crossings were designated accident spots, not safe places to cross.” Eleven excellent doses of Herron, that include a sample of Jackson Lamb and, for those not familiar with her, four tastes of Zoe Boehm. Quick but very enjoyable.
January 12, 2023
Herron writes so well. OK this is a short story collection and not every story was wonderful for me. However the good ones comfortably outweighed the ok ones (and none were worse than that). It's a varied collection in terms of characters - you get some Joe and Zoe stories from the Oxford Investigations series and some stand-alone crime/mystery ones. You also get a Jackson Lamb one!!!
The Joe and Zoe ones were all perfectly good. I guess I preferred the final story (just about Zoe) called What We Do - nicely inventive and very Herron. Of the other ordinary stories the title one stood out - Dolphin Junction - and was the best of those for me. However I did enjoy The Usual Santas - very tongue in cheek and amusing.
I loved the Jackson Lamb/Mollie Doran story (The Last Dead Letter). It's just the two of them and takes place at the Spooks Chapel. It is SO Lamb (though he says little) and I've always been a fan of them as a pairing. Indeed having watched the first 2 seasons of the Slough House ones on streaming I found I had an excellent picture of Lamb, Mollie and the setting. While initially the character of Lamb on the TV wasn't quite right it is now firmly fixed in my mind and just fine.
All in all a worthwhile read for any Herron fans but don't start with this one.
The Joe and Zoe ones were all perfectly good. I guess I preferred the final story (just about Zoe) called What We Do - nicely inventive and very Herron. Of the other ordinary stories the title one stood out - Dolphin Junction - and was the best of those for me. However I did enjoy The Usual Santas - very tongue in cheek and amusing.
I loved the Jackson Lamb/Mollie Doran story (The Last Dead Letter). It's just the two of them and takes place at the Spooks Chapel. It is SO Lamb (though he says little) and I've always been a fan of them as a pairing. Indeed having watched the first 2 seasons of the Slough House ones on streaming I found I had an excellent picture of Lamb, Mollie and the setting. While initially the character of Lamb on the TV wasn't quite right it is now firmly fixed in my mind and just fine.
All in all a worthwhile read for any Herron fans but don't start with this one.
November 16, 2021
A marvellous collection of beautifully written short stories, laced with Mick Herron's dark humour and each one with a sting in the tail.
Four of the stories feature Oxford private investigators, Zoë Boehm and her husband Joe Silvermann and one delves into the past of MI5's Jackson Lamb, one of the main characters in Herron's Slough House series. There's what could pass for a horror story reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's film "The Birds" as a married couple hike through the English countryside and the hilarious tale of 8 Santas in a soulless shopping mall. .
There's plenty of fun for fans of Mick Herron and this will tide me over until the next Slough House book in the New Year. Highly recommended.
Four of the stories feature Oxford private investigators, Zoë Boehm and her husband Joe Silvermann and one delves into the past of MI5's Jackson Lamb, one of the main characters in Herron's Slough House series. There's what could pass for a horror story reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's film "The Birds" as a married couple hike through the English countryside and the hilarious tale of 8 Santas in a soulless shopping mall. .
There's plenty of fun for fans of Mick Herron and this will tide me over until the next Slough House book in the New Year. Highly recommended.
January 24, 2024
3.5
Definitely not my favourite of Mick Herron's work. I've read a couple of other short stories that I liked much better.
Dolphin Junction was probably my favourite. I'd sort of guessed bits of the story but not the whole thing and it's always nice to have an "oh now I see it" moment. I also liked the ones that included Joe Silverman - Remote Control and Proof of Love. I certainly prefer him to Zoe Böehm who seems to spend her life being snarky and miserable. Lost Luggage is a bit predictable but its still well written and a good bit of black humour.
I wasn't carried away with The Last Dead Letter Drop, which surprised me because I like Molly and Lamb as a double act. There simply wasn't enough of them in it.
Hence the relatively low star rating. I need another Slough House book.
Definitely not my favourite of Mick Herron's work. I've read a couple of other short stories that I liked much better.
Dolphin Junction was probably my favourite. I'd sort of guessed bits of the story but not the whole thing and it's always nice to have an "oh now I see it" moment. I also liked the ones that included Joe Silverman - Remote Control and Proof of Love. I certainly prefer him to Zoe Böehm who seems to spend her life being snarky and miserable. Lost Luggage is a bit predictable but its still well written and a good bit of black humour.
I wasn't carried away with The Last Dead Letter Drop, which surprised me because I like Molly and Lamb as a double act. There simply wasn't enough of them in it.
Hence the relatively low star rating. I need another Slough House book.
June 26, 2022
Six Stand-Alones, Four Oxfords & One Slough House Short
Review of the Soho Crime hardcover (November 2021)
[4.0 average from the 11 separate ratings]
This was an excellent collection which mostly gathers Mick Herron's non-Slough House/Slow Horses short stories, especially 4 with the characters from his earlier Oxford Investigations (2003-2009) crime series which predated the currently ongoing Slough House espionage series (2010-2022 as of now). The Slough House story is somewhat of a prequel as it looks back at Jackson Lamb's early days in the field. Almost all of the stories had a twist element to them, sometimes in the very final sentence.
The numbering of the Oxford Investigations shorts reflect their date of publication, but not their chronological timeline in the series. Explaining that would be a spoiler though.
There was an earlier UK only release which collected 5 of these 11 stories as noted below.
Cover image of the UK only "All the Livelong Day and Other Stories" (2013). Image sourced from SpyWrite.
1. Proof of Love **** (Oxford Investigations #3.6, originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (EQ'sMM) 2008). The Oxford Investigators team of Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm deal with a case of a rich man paying blackmail to protect his wife's reputation.
2. Remote Control **** (Standalone, originally published in EQ'sMM 2007). A seemingly innocuous chance meeting on a commuter train is actually something far more diabolical.
3. Lost Luggage *** (Standalone, originally published in EQ'sMM 2006). A couple make observant comments about a fellow diner at a roadside restaurant. The title is explained in a final twist.
4. Mirror Images **** (Oxford Investigations #4.5, originally published in EQ'sMM 2010). An apparent 'murderer' comes to Oxford Investigations to ask Joe and Zoë to solve his haunting by one of his 'victims'. Again some great twists in this one.
5. Dolphin Junction ***** (Standalone, originally published in EQ'sMM 2009). A husband tracks down clues to his wife's apparent disappearance, although all indications are that she left him intentionally.
6. An American Fridge *** (Standalone, first broadcast by the BBC* 2016). Not really a mystery as such, more along the lines of Herron's spy fiction with an industrial espionage type of twist.
7. The Other Half *** (Oxford Investigations #3.5, originally published in EQ'sMM 2008). Oxford Investigators Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm are dragged into a feud between a separated couple which involves the trashing of an apartment.
8. All the Livelong Day **** (Standalone, originally published by AudioGo 2013). A couple are on a remote hike, when the man trips and breaks his ankle. The wife has to seek help at an apparently deserted farmhouse.
9. The Last Dead Letter **** (Slough House #6.4, originally published in Soho Crime's 10th anniversary edition of Slow Horses 2019). Somewhat of a prequel as MI5's archivist Molly Doran confronts Slough House's Jackson Lamb about his early days in the field when he was a "mirror-man" (Herron's spy-speak for a "handler") to a "Joe" (Herron's spy-speak for an agent in the field) in Berlin during the Cold War.
10. The Usual Santas *** (Standalone, originally published by Bookdealer 2007). More of a comic caper, as a group of 8 anonymous Santas at a giant shopping mall are joined at their seasonal after party by a ninth unknown Santa.
11. What We Do *** (Oxford Investigations #4.6, originally published in EQ'sMM 2013). Oxford Investigator Zoë Boehm tells a story to her therapist about her moral conflicts about aiding a thief with a scam.
Trivia and Links
* The audio performance on BBC4 is currently not available as of mid-2022. But if it is ever rebroadcast it would be available via this webpage here.
Review of the Soho Crime hardcover (November 2021)
[4.0 average from the 11 separate ratings]
This was an excellent collection which mostly gathers Mick Herron's non-Slough House/Slow Horses short stories, especially 4 with the characters from his earlier Oxford Investigations (2003-2009) crime series which predated the currently ongoing Slough House espionage series (2010-2022 as of now). The Slough House story is somewhat of a prequel as it looks back at Jackson Lamb's early days in the field. Almost all of the stories had a twist element to them, sometimes in the very final sentence.
The numbering of the Oxford Investigations shorts reflect their date of publication, but not their chronological timeline in the series. Explaining that would be a spoiler though.
There was an earlier UK only release which collected 5 of these 11 stories as noted below.
Cover image of the UK only "All the Livelong Day and Other Stories" (2013). Image sourced from SpyWrite.
1. Proof of Love **** (Oxford Investigations #3.6, originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (EQ'sMM) 2008). The Oxford Investigators team of Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm deal with a case of a rich man paying blackmail to protect his wife's reputation.
2. Remote Control **** (Standalone, originally published in EQ'sMM 2007). A seemingly innocuous chance meeting on a commuter train is actually something far more diabolical.
3. Lost Luggage *** (Standalone, originally published in EQ'sMM 2006). A couple make observant comments about a fellow diner at a roadside restaurant. The title is explained in a final twist.
4. Mirror Images **** (Oxford Investigations #4.5, originally published in EQ'sMM 2010). An apparent 'murderer' comes to Oxford Investigations to ask Joe and Zoë to solve his haunting by one of his 'victims'. Again some great twists in this one.
5. Dolphin Junction ***** (Standalone, originally published in EQ'sMM 2009). A husband tracks down clues to his wife's apparent disappearance, although all indications are that she left him intentionally.
6. An American Fridge *** (Standalone, first broadcast by the BBC* 2016). Not really a mystery as such, more along the lines of Herron's spy fiction with an industrial espionage type of twist.
7. The Other Half *** (Oxford Investigations #3.5, originally published in EQ'sMM 2008). Oxford Investigators Joe Silvermann and Zoë Boehm are dragged into a feud between a separated couple which involves the trashing of an apartment.
8. All the Livelong Day **** (Standalone, originally published by AudioGo 2013). A couple are on a remote hike, when the man trips and breaks his ankle. The wife has to seek help at an apparently deserted farmhouse.
9. The Last Dead Letter **** (Slough House #6.4, originally published in Soho Crime's 10th anniversary edition of Slow Horses 2019). Somewhat of a prequel as MI5's archivist Molly Doran confronts Slough House's Jackson Lamb about his early days in the field when he was a "mirror-man" (Herron's spy-speak for a "handler") to a "Joe" (Herron's spy-speak for an agent in the field) in Berlin during the Cold War.
10. The Usual Santas *** (Standalone, originally published by Bookdealer 2007). More of a comic caper, as a group of 8 anonymous Santas at a giant shopping mall are joined at their seasonal after party by a ninth unknown Santa.
11. What We Do *** (Oxford Investigations #4.6, originally published in EQ'sMM 2013). Oxford Investigator Zoë Boehm tells a story to her therapist about her moral conflicts about aiding a thief with a scam.
Trivia and Links
* The audio performance on BBC4 is currently not available as of mid-2022. But if it is ever rebroadcast it would be available via this webpage here.
November 27, 2025
In Dolphin Junction Mick Herron demonstrates he is also a master of short story writing. Whether stand alone, full length series, or short stories, Mr. Herron never ceases to deliver a grand slam.
And what a gift it was to listen to the audiobook with its full cast of superstar narrators: David Thorpe, Emma Powell, Gerard Doyle and Julia Franklin. Many, many thanks to all.
And what a gift it was to listen to the audiobook with its full cast of superstar narrators: David Thorpe, Emma Powell, Gerard Doyle and Julia Franklin. Many, many thanks to all.
January 15, 2022
Dolphin Junction is a collection of eleven short stories of varying lengths by award-winning British author, Mick Herron. Published previously between 2006 and 2021 in Ellery Mystery Magazines, Women’s Weekly Fiction Specials, Best British Crime collections, as audio by Audio Go and BBC, and by Bookdealer and Soho Press, these are marvellous little bites of Mick Herron magic.
Proof of Love is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. Zoe’s husband and partner, Joe Silvermann takes on a case for one of Oxford’s richest men, promising to deliver a blackmail fee whilst also discovering the identity of the blackmailer. He’s going to need Zoe’s help: Joe is more of a “traditional” PI; this might need Zoe’s internet expertise. Joe delivers, as promised, but with an admonition for his client. Zoe’s solution comes from a different angle. Delightful!
In Remote Control, a casual remark (or two) from a perennially peeved fellow commuter leads a husband, who has previously proven a tendency to jealousy, to suspect his beautiful wife of infidelity. An excellent final twist!
Lost Luggage: On her way to work early one morning, Jane Carpenter is taken from a nearby park. Some hours later, at a motorway services café, Peter Mason and Jennifer Holmes, on their way to a party, indulge in some people watching. They make observations about a lone diner who sits where he can keep an eye on his car. A chilling twist to this one!
Mirror Images is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. A client comes to Joe Silvermann with an unusual problem: the man he shot dead sixteen years ago on the boathouse balcony has suddenly sprung back into his mind, and won’t leave. After first suggesting a therapist, Joe takes on the case. “His normal reaction to a new problem was to seek Zoe’s input, ideally without her noticing that he was unsure what to do next. The word ‘ideally’ was unavoidable here, as Zoe not noticing never actually occurred in practice.” Not wanting to attract her scorn (again) leaves “… Joe’s fallback position: What would Marlowe do?” Joe’s investigations include poling up the river on a punt (and falling in) to view the site of the since-burned -down boathouse. This one has a brilliant twist, and Zoe Boehm provides a tidy solution.
In the title story, Dolphin Junction, David Wallace returns home from a conference to find his wife has packed some of her things, quit her job, withdrawn half their savings from their bank account and left him a postcard saying it’s over between them. But one word on that card has him convinced that Michelle has been abducted. Unfortunately, no-one, not friends, not the police, agree, so David has to follow his instincts.
In An American Fridge, an engineer at a nuclear research lab learns that betrayal of one’s country and a new allegiance (for the perceived purpose of maintaining balance of power) comes with an American fridge.
The Other Half is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. PI Joe Silvermann agrees to tail a disgruntled ex whom a casual acquaintance claims has been stalking him, and vandalising his flat. The woman certainly seems to be acting a bit crazy, but Joe knows that his wife and partner, Zoe Boehm, is unlikely to approve, especially of the man’s next request. This one has a laugh-out-loud twist and sees justice neatly done.
All The Livelong Day, describes a married couple walking in Derbyshire on the third day of a five-day break. Missing waymarkers set them on the wrong course and, halfway down a hill with no mobile reception and ominous rainclouds approaching, Jon falls and fractures his ankle. Helen heads off to the farmhouse below where an enormous flock of birds swirls above the barnyard. It’s a tale that demonstrates how an ailing marriage that can just about survive the good times will fracture badly when under stress. A rather dark twist at the end.
The Last Dead Letter is a short story in the Jackson Lamb series. When Molly Doran demands Jackson Lamb’s attendance, he obeys: she is, after all the Queen of the Archives. Molly relates a story about a Berlin operative during the cold war who falls in love, and requires Jackson to fill in certain blanks. A crumb of insight into the enigmatic Jackson Lamb.
The Usual Santas is a perfect little Christmas tale in which eight rather disillusioned Retail Outlet Centre Santas find their number swollen by one at their usual Christmas Eve buffet. With their anonymity preserved, as always, by their costumes, they are unable to detect the imposter. A philosophical discussion ensues, the outcome of which is a mass action bringing great delight to those who really need Santa’s generosity.
What We Do is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. As unlikely as it is, Zoe Boehm is sharing personal stories with a therapist. She relates the tale of when a casual acquaintance with inside knowledge tried to recruit her to tail a young, soon-to-be-released-from-prison burglar whom she was convinced had the location of the unrecovered share of loot from a jewellery heist. Zoe was unconvinced: it was likely all smoke and whispers. But still, she was there, following the guy when he set out, spade in hand. This one ends with a delightful twist.
Herron is the master of clever twists and has a superb turn of phrase: “The sloth of others was best enjoyed in their presence.” and “… Joe had liked Italy, once he’d worked out that zebra crossings were designated accident spots, not safe places to cross.” Eleven excellent doses of Herron, that include a sample of Jackson Lamb and, for those not familiar with her, four tastes of Zoe Boehm. Quick but very enjoyable.
Proof of Love is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. Zoe’s husband and partner, Joe Silvermann takes on a case for one of Oxford’s richest men, promising to deliver a blackmail fee whilst also discovering the identity of the blackmailer. He’s going to need Zoe’s help: Joe is more of a “traditional” PI; this might need Zoe’s internet expertise. Joe delivers, as promised, but with an admonition for his client. Zoe’s solution comes from a different angle. Delightful!
In Remote Control, a casual remark (or two) from a perennially peeved fellow commuter leads a husband, who has previously proven a tendency to jealousy, to suspect his beautiful wife of infidelity. An excellent final twist!
Lost Luggage: On her way to work early one morning, Jane Carpenter is taken from a nearby park. Some hours later, at a motorway services café, Peter Mason and Jennifer Holmes, on their way to a party, indulge in some people watching. They make observations about a lone diner who sits where he can keep an eye on his car. A chilling twist to this one!
Mirror Images is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. A client comes to Joe Silvermann with an unusual problem: the man he shot dead sixteen years ago on the boathouse balcony has suddenly sprung back into his mind, and won’t leave. After first suggesting a therapist, Joe takes on the case. “His normal reaction to a new problem was to seek Zoe’s input, ideally without her noticing that he was unsure what to do next. The word ‘ideally’ was unavoidable here, as Zoe not noticing never actually occurred in practice.” Not wanting to attract her scorn (again) leaves “… Joe’s fallback position: What would Marlowe do?” Joe’s investigations include poling up the river on a punt (and falling in) to view the site of the since-burned -down boathouse. This one has a brilliant twist, and Zoe Boehm provides a tidy solution.
In the title story, Dolphin Junction, David Wallace returns home from a conference to find his wife has packed some of her things, quit her job, withdrawn half their savings from their bank account and left him a postcard saying it’s over between them. But one word on that card has him convinced that Michelle has been abducted. Unfortunately, no-one, not friends, not the police, agree, so David has to follow his instincts.
In An American Fridge, an engineer at a nuclear research lab learns that betrayal of one’s country and a new allegiance (for the perceived purpose of maintaining balance of power) comes with an American fridge.
The Other Half is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. PI Joe Silvermann agrees to tail a disgruntled ex whom a casual acquaintance claims has been stalking him, and vandalising his flat. The woman certainly seems to be acting a bit crazy, but Joe knows that his wife and partner, Zoe Boehm, is unlikely to approve, especially of the man’s next request. This one has a laugh-out-loud twist and sees justice neatly done.
All The Livelong Day, describes a married couple walking in Derbyshire on the third day of a five-day break. Missing waymarkers set them on the wrong course and, halfway down a hill with no mobile reception and ominous rainclouds approaching, Jon falls and fractures his ankle. Helen heads off to the farmhouse below where an enormous flock of birds swirls above the barnyard. It’s a tale that demonstrates how an ailing marriage that can just about survive the good times will fracture badly when under stress. A rather dark twist at the end.
The Last Dead Letter is a short story in the Jackson Lamb series. When Molly Doran demands Jackson Lamb’s attendance, he obeys: she is, after all the Queen of the Archives. Molly relates a story about a Berlin operative during the cold war who falls in love, and requires Jackson to fill in certain blanks. A crumb of insight into the enigmatic Jackson Lamb.
The Usual Santas is a perfect little Christmas tale in which eight rather disillusioned Retail Outlet Centre Santas find their number swollen by one at their usual Christmas Eve buffet. With their anonymity preserved, as always, by their costumes, they are unable to detect the imposter. A philosophical discussion ensues, the outcome of which is a mass action bringing great delight to those who really need Santa’s generosity.
What We Do is a Zoe Boehm PI (The Oxford Investigations) short story. As unlikely as it is, Zoe Boehm is sharing personal stories with a therapist. She relates the tale of when a casual acquaintance with inside knowledge tried to recruit her to tail a young, soon-to-be-released-from-prison burglar whom she was convinced had the location of the unrecovered share of loot from a jewellery heist. Zoe was unconvinced: it was likely all smoke and whispers. But still, she was there, following the guy when he set out, spade in hand. This one ends with a delightful twist.
Herron is the master of clever twists and has a superb turn of phrase: “The sloth of others was best enjoyed in their presence.” and “… Joe had liked Italy, once he’d worked out that zebra crossings were designated accident spots, not safe places to cross.” Eleven excellent doses of Herron, that include a sample of Jackson Lamb and, for those not familiar with her, four tastes of Zoe Boehm. Quick but very enjoyable.
April 26, 2022
Mick Herron does for the short story what he has done so successfully with a novel and that is to knock the reading ball out of the park.
Having thoroughly enjoyed his Slough House series, I was delighted to find this recently published gathering of some of his short stories. I was not disappointed.
Having thoroughly enjoyed his Slough House series, I was delighted to find this recently published gathering of some of his short stories. I was not disappointed.
January 21, 2022
Not quite up to the 5-star standards of his wonderful "Slough House" series, but still some great writing and clever, twisty plots. Of particular note (as cited by most reviewers) are the four stories featuring husband-and-wife detectives Joe and Zoë (who apparently star in a separate Herron series of which I was previously unaware, and are sort of a more tongue-in-cheek, Oxford version of Dennis Lehane's Kenzie & Gennaro), and the single Jackson Lamb story which provides some nice background on this loveable misanthrope.
Most of the other stories were also good, but suffered the same weakness that afflicts most short stories - clever as they may be, they just don't have the space to develop fully three-dimensional characters in which you can become fully invested - hence the overall preference for the Lamb/Oxford stories. But that's a general fault inherent in the short story format, so Herron can't be held to blame here. Still, I think I'll just dive deeper into the eight-book (and hopefully still running) "Slough House" series.
PERSONAL NOTE: In the midst of reading this book, I slipped on some black ice while shovelling snow and ended up in the ER (A&E* to you Brits) with a slightly-fractured pelvis. So what should I end up reading in the waiting room but Herron's story "All the Livelong Day," about an English couple hiking in the wilds of Derbyshire, well out of cellphone range and mildly lost. The husband falls and breaks his ankle; it starts to storm but there's a spooky-looking farmhouse in the distance...and of course everything spirals downhill from there. A nice, creepy story - but I could not have been more thankful that my own small accident happened at home, where I could simply call my wife to drive to our excellent hospital just 15 minutes away, and find myself being comforted and well-cared for within an hour on my dumb mishap.
So a reminder to all of you out there - be careful and be prepared! We are always much closer to disaster than we'd like to think; most often literally one step (or misstep) away. Or as my doctor put it, "you know that old song, 'I Fought the Law and the Law Won'? Well that law, my friend, is gravity."
* I learned this from the beautiful Goldfrapp song "A&E" - can watch the delightfully weird video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Pta... - much as I learned "wotcher" and "blues and twos" from Idris Elba's Luther . Who says TV isn't educational?
Most of the other stories were also good, but suffered the same weakness that afflicts most short stories - clever as they may be, they just don't have the space to develop fully three-dimensional characters in which you can become fully invested - hence the overall preference for the Lamb/Oxford stories. But that's a general fault inherent in the short story format, so Herron can't be held to blame here. Still, I think I'll just dive deeper into the eight-book (and hopefully still running) "Slough House" series.
PERSONAL NOTE: In the midst of reading this book, I slipped on some black ice while shovelling snow and ended up in the ER (A&E* to you Brits) with a slightly-fractured pelvis. So what should I end up reading in the waiting room but Herron's story "All the Livelong Day," about an English couple hiking in the wilds of Derbyshire, well out of cellphone range and mildly lost. The husband falls and breaks his ankle; it starts to storm but there's a spooky-looking farmhouse in the distance...and of course everything spirals downhill from there. A nice, creepy story - but I could not have been more thankful that my own small accident happened at home, where I could simply call my wife to drive to our excellent hospital just 15 minutes away, and find myself being comforted and well-cared for within an hour on my dumb mishap.
So a reminder to all of you out there - be careful and be prepared! We are always much closer to disaster than we'd like to think; most often literally one step (or misstep) away. Or as my doctor put it, "you know that old song, 'I Fought the Law and the Law Won'? Well that law, my friend, is gravity."
* I learned this from the beautiful Goldfrapp song "A&E" - can watch the delightfully weird video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Pta... - much as I learned "wotcher" and "blues and twos" from Idris Elba's Luther . Who says TV isn't educational?
November 22, 2021
This book was a real delight. 11 stories, previously published in magazines, brought together in one delicious book. Admittedly, I’m a Mick Herron addict. I own all of his books and once bought another book of short stories just because one of his was in it. That story (the one centered around Christmas) is the only one included in this book that I’ve read before, but happily read again here.
While they are all excellent as standalone stories, a few of them are also related to two series he’s written, the Slough House books being my favorites, and the ones that got me hooked on anything else he writes. I love his wit, his humor, his characters.....I’ll stop. Nearly all the stories presented here have a brilliant twist, and possibly my favorite, altho that’s a hard choice to make, is the shortest one, which had a laugh-out-loud twist when you turn to the last page.
I had forgotten this book was due out, because he also has another Slough House book due out in May, that I can’t wait for. So I was in a bookstore the other day, and always check the section he would be in (even tho, as I said, I own them all), altho this store usually only has one copy of a single one of his books--shame! But this time, besides that lone copy, stood two copies of this new book, and I couldn’t snatch it off the shelf fast enough! I had most of the money to pay for it left on a gift card, altho not having that probably wouldn’t have really stopped me--and in moments of seeing it (and it had just come out), it was mine! Its been a while since I’ve owned a brand new book that had just come out that same week, and just holding this wonderful thing--so fresh, so clean, so full of the promise of several deeply contented hours of reading ahead--made me so happy! I hurriedly finished the book I was reading at the time, and dove right in. So good, so worth it, no disappointments here. Now there’s the wait until May.
While they are all excellent as standalone stories, a few of them are also related to two series he’s written, the Slough House books being my favorites, and the ones that got me hooked on anything else he writes. I love his wit, his humor, his characters.....I’ll stop. Nearly all the stories presented here have a brilliant twist, and possibly my favorite, altho that’s a hard choice to make, is the shortest one, which had a laugh-out-loud twist when you turn to the last page.
I had forgotten this book was due out, because he also has another Slough House book due out in May, that I can’t wait for. So I was in a bookstore the other day, and always check the section he would be in (even tho, as I said, I own them all), altho this store usually only has one copy of a single one of his books--shame! But this time, besides that lone copy, stood two copies of this new book, and I couldn’t snatch it off the shelf fast enough! I had most of the money to pay for it left on a gift card, altho not having that probably wouldn’t have really stopped me--and in moments of seeing it (and it had just come out), it was mine! Its been a while since I’ve owned a brand new book that had just come out that same week, and just holding this wonderful thing--so fresh, so clean, so full of the promise of several deeply contented hours of reading ahead--made me so happy! I hurriedly finished the book I was reading at the time, and dove right in. So good, so worth it, no disappointments here. Now there’s the wait until May.
December 10, 2024
A series of fabulous short stories each ending with a scintillating twist. The stories include some characters from previous works by the author (including Jackson Lamb and Molly Doran from the Slow Horses series and Zoe Boehm from Oxford Investigations) but also some new with their own tales to tell.
The stories are very imaginative, though remain rooted in real life and bring together crooks and investigators in unexpected scenarios, sometimes in unison, sometimes not. Some of the stories are quite chilling
The writing is, as expected, as good as in the author's novels, and I found each ending a total surprise even after reading the first few and getting a feel for them. This is short story writing at its best.
The stories are very imaginative, though remain rooted in real life and bring together crooks and investigators in unexpected scenarios, sometimes in unison, sometimes not. Some of the stories are quite chilling
The writing is, as expected, as good as in the author's novels, and I found each ending a total surprise even after reading the first few and getting a feel for them. This is short story writing at its best.
November 20, 2021
Some pretty good,some so so.As in all short stories collections.
January 15, 2024
Frightfully clever. But darker and less funny than the author's Slow Horses series. Not my cup of tea. Made me think of the old Alfred Hitchcock TV show, but I don't know if that makes any sense.
on-hold
December 1, 20211. Proof of Love - 4 1/2 stars
This was a mystery featuring the Oxford wife-and-husband detective team of Zoë Boehm and Joe Silvermann. I haven't read any of this series yet, but I plan to. It seems to have that well-known mix of Herron's wit and creativity that makes him so good.
This one was mostly Joe, who seems to be a bit too nice to be a detective. He seemed to be a bit slow, but redeemed himself in the end, if not financially, at least in solving the mystery without anyone getting hurt.
This was a mystery featuring the Oxford wife-and-husband detective team of Zoë Boehm and Joe Silvermann. I haven't read any of this series yet, but I plan to. It seems to have that well-known mix of Herron's wit and creativity that makes him so good.
This one was mostly Joe, who seems to be a bit too nice to be a detective. He seemed to be a bit slow, but redeemed himself in the end, if not financially, at least in solving the mystery without anyone getting hurt.
July 20, 2025
Rating: 4 stars
I originally picked this up to read the Slough House short story (The Last Dead Letter). I decided to delay reading the other stories until I had read more of The Oxford Investigations (Zoë Boehm) novels.
So, now I've read (and/or reread) all eleven stories.
SUMMARY: Now, for the first time, Herron’s short fiction has been collected into one volume. In Dolphin Junction, devoted fans and future converts alike will find much to amuse, delight, and terrify them. Five standalone nerve-rackingly thrilling crime fiction stories are complemented by four mystery stories featuring the Oxford wife-and-husband detective team of shrewd Zoë Boehm and hapless Joe Silvermann. The collection also includes a peek into the past of Jackson Lamb, irascible top agent at Slough House.
I originally picked this up to read the Slough House short story (The Last Dead Letter). I decided to delay reading the other stories until I had read more of The Oxford Investigations (Zoë Boehm) novels.
So, now I've read (and/or reread) all eleven stories.
SUMMARY: Now, for the first time, Herron’s short fiction has been collected into one volume. In Dolphin Junction, devoted fans and future converts alike will find much to amuse, delight, and terrify them. Five standalone nerve-rackingly thrilling crime fiction stories are complemented by four mystery stories featuring the Oxford wife-and-husband detective team of shrewd Zoë Boehm and hapless Joe Silvermann. The collection also includes a peek into the past of Jackson Lamb, irascible top agent at Slough House.
April 29, 2022
A great set of short stories from Mick Herron, the author of the Slough House/Slow Horses series of novels featuring Jackson Lamb (who makes an appearance in one of these stories, about an agent in Berlin). It's a strong mix of espionage, crime, private investigators (several of the stories feature Herron's other series characters, Zoë Boehm and Joe Silvermann from his Oxford Investigations series), and one story that I considered true horror. I can't say there's a story here that I didn't like; I'd read "The Usual Santas" in a Christmas-themed collection of crime stories of the same title (The Usual Santas: A Collection of Soho Crime Christmas Capers), but the others were new to me. His sense of humor is exceptional, but I thought the best stories were the horror one, with its sense of creeping menace ("All the Livelong Day") and the two with delicious twists that were equally frightening ("Lost Luggage" and the title story). I've read all the books in the Slow Horses series thus far, and Herron is one of my favorite novelists, but his short stories are equally well-written, taut and funny and full of interesting characters.
August 16, 2023
I came for the Jackson Lamb short story, but left with another favorite Mick Herron character, private investigator Zoe Boehm. Herron delivers clever and original stories. And the story of the department store Santas was so amusing.
October 9, 2022
Mick Herron has more strings to his bow than the best selling Slough House spy thrillers. As a big fan of that series, I’m surprised that I haven’t explored some of his other work before. Dolphin Junction, a collection of short stories published between 2006 and 2021, is an excellent tasting menu, featuring a single Slough House story (in which Molly Doran sheds some light on Jackson Lamb’s murky Cold War past), four tales about Zoe Boehm and Joe Silvermann, the Oxford private investigators (I loved these and have already ordered the first in the series of ‘Oxford Investigations’ novels), and a sprinkling of stand alone stories. The quality is excellent throughout and Herron’s knack for taut plotting, plot turns that leave the reader open-mouthed with surprise and his trademark dark humour are all as present in these stories as they are in his novels. In a clutch of excellent stories, one in particular, ‘All the Livelong Day’, about a walking holiday in Derbyshire that goes horribly wrong is a masterclass of heart-in-mouth tension that ratchets up to almost unbearable levels. Classy stuff.
July 21, 2025
This collection shows that Mick Herron can write short stories as capably as novels and novellas. However, I did not like it as well as his writing set in the Slough House universe (only one of the stories, the best one, is located there). I never warmed up to estranged married detectives Zoe Boehm and Joe Silvermann, who feature in four tales. These stories, like much of Herron’s writing, are grim, but they aren’t as well leavened with the dark humor that often accompanies the losers and misfits of Slough House. They are well crafted, with some good twists, but they are closer to W. Somerset Maugham’s depressed and depressing short stories.
January 8, 2022
A truly great short story writer. Loved this collection.
March 17, 2022
This is a collection of 11 short stories by Mick Herron. I gobbled down his "Slough House" novels and I am looking forward to the next one.
Only one of these stories is a Slough House story. It was my favorite. It is a great tale of cold war Berlin.
The first story begins, "Some while ago-a few years before he died- Joe Silverman choose a slow mid-week morning to do some heavy shifting round the office..." I enjoyed the story, but I was disappointed that I did not learn how he died. It was never mentioned again. Joe, a private detective, and Zoe, his wife and smarter partner, star in several other stories. One of the stories has additional mentions of his death, but no explanation. A little Googling told me that Joe and Zoe where characters who appeared in a couple of Herron's novels. Joe died in one of those books.
"The Usual Santas" is an excellent Christmas story which is not sappy but has a good Christmas message. The two longest stories, "Dolphin Junction" and "All The Live Long Day" are both twisty thrillers about marriage gone wrong. A few of the other shorter stories are trick stories with twists right at the end.
This is a good solid collection, but I still eagerly await the next 'Slough House".
Only one of these stories is a Slough House story. It was my favorite. It is a great tale of cold war Berlin.
The first story begins, "Some while ago-a few years before he died- Joe Silverman choose a slow mid-week morning to do some heavy shifting round the office..." I enjoyed the story, but I was disappointed that I did not learn how he died. It was never mentioned again. Joe, a private detective, and Zoe, his wife and smarter partner, star in several other stories. One of the stories has additional mentions of his death, but no explanation. A little Googling told me that Joe and Zoe where characters who appeared in a couple of Herron's novels. Joe died in one of those books.
"The Usual Santas" is an excellent Christmas story which is not sappy but has a good Christmas message. The two longest stories, "Dolphin Junction" and "All The Live Long Day" are both twisty thrillers about marriage gone wrong. A few of the other shorter stories are trick stories with twists right at the end.
This is a good solid collection, but I still eagerly await the next 'Slough House".
January 3, 2022
An interesting collection. Some of these are clearly early works and it shows a little and perhaps they are a little samey in going for the twist in the tale. However there are some that really work and fans will enjoy this including a Jackson Lamb episode. It whets the appetite until the next Slough House novel
January 2, 2022
Excellent bunch of stories from Mick Herron, some featuring familiar characters from his other books, all beautifully written. I'm not a huge fan of short stories but each of these is very satisfying.
December 16, 2021
I really do need to read more by Mick Herron. I'm behind with his series and reading this collection of short stories has confirmed to me what a superb writer he is. Eleven short stories in total, ranging from over 40 pages to just 10, these are an absolute joy to read. His writing is sharp and precise, with that touch of dry humour that always runs through his work. It must be very difficult to create a full story in such a short page span, but he's done it here and these really do work.
Four of the stories feature Zoe and Joe from his Oxford series and Jackson Lamb from the Slough House series features in one of the others. It's always great to find characters that the reader already knows, however, even if you've not read any of his novels, you can't help but be entertained by these fleeting glimpses into the characters from them.
My favourite of the collection is 'The Usual Santas', maybe because it is that time of the year, but oh, how I loved this stinging and funny tale of a collection of shopping mall Santas.
There's everything in here, including a nod to the horror genre, all have a fabulous twist and as would be expected, they can all be classed as crime fiction.
I enjoyed this collection and would heartily recommend these stories to anyone who appreciates well written fiction with dark humour. This is an exceptional book, perfect for dipping in and out of, but beware, once you start, you may not be able to stop!
Four of the stories feature Zoe and Joe from his Oxford series and Jackson Lamb from the Slough House series features in one of the others. It's always great to find characters that the reader already knows, however, even if you've not read any of his novels, you can't help but be entertained by these fleeting glimpses into the characters from them.
My favourite of the collection is 'The Usual Santas', maybe because it is that time of the year, but oh, how I loved this stinging and funny tale of a collection of shopping mall Santas.
There's everything in here, including a nod to the horror genre, all have a fabulous twist and as would be expected, they can all be classed as crime fiction.
I enjoyed this collection and would heartily recommend these stories to anyone who appreciates well written fiction with dark humour. This is an exceptional book, perfect for dipping in and out of, but beware, once you start, you may not be able to stop!
October 2, 2022
Book of short stories by an author I had never heard of. Some were better than others. An interesting reading nevertheless, I might read the novels by him.
September 12, 2023
Doesn't really add to Slow Horses
March 27, 2024
Read the first story. It was so-so; therefore, I returned it to the library.
June 6, 2024
Great short stories, every one with a twist in the tale.
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