Reading the Detectives discussion

Sandy suggested a Buddy Read of Slow Horses, the first novel in Mick Herron's Slough House series, published in 2010. This Buddy Read will open in Mid-October. Feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

Shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award
The UK's new spy master' Sunday Times

You don't stop being a spook just because you're no longer in the game.

Banished to Slough House from the ranks of achievers at Regent's Park for various crimes of drugs and drunkenness, lechery and failure, politics and betrayal, Jackson Lamb's misfit crew of highly trained joes don't run ops, they push paper.

But not one of them joined the Intelligence Service to be a 'slow horse'.

A boy is kidnapped and held hostage. His beheading is scheduled for live broadcast on the net.

And whatever the instructions of the Service, the slow horses aren't going to just sit quiet and watch...

What an exciting ending and a great set up for the series: the 'slow horses' continue but they now have power!

My 'significant other' and I read this together (another benefit of ebooks) and it has generated more discussion than most of our reads. One of the longest: What was Lady Di thinking!

Hurrah! Tell me if you want to read on, Sandy?

I do remember, when I first read this, not falling in for a while that it was actually a far-right group that had kidnapped an Asian youth, when, actually, you were expecting the opposite. Very clever.

I definitely want to continue the series!

The number of twists in the book was amazing, and the plot still held together. Starting right from the prologue with the train station bomber. The reader knew something was 'wrong' as our hero had obviously survived, but the suspense was maintained.

London must live in fear of MI5 training exercises.

So pleased, Sandy. The series gets better and better and I am keen to re-read the second one one.

London is pretty calm, generally, I think. There have been a lot of incidents over the years, but things go on. Now was it a blue shirt, or a white one?!

I've finished this now and am wondering, are we supposed to take it that Peter Judd had Robert Hobden killed?!

To be honest, I struggled with this a bit, but I am glad to have given it a try. I found it quite entertaining as a one-off read, but wasn't a big enough fan to carry on with the series - then again that's probably just me, as I tend not to go for spy stories as much as for mysteries. Also a lot of the humour wasn't really to my taste, although I laughed at the odd one-liner. Anyway, I'm really glad you liked it so much, Sandy.

I think we are meant to believe that people are killed, by whom we are not told. As I mentioned before, this is a realistic spy series. People in the series are in danger, they do get killed. In that sense, Mick Herron is a brave writer, because it is always dangerous to kill characters that may be popular.

Sandy, do you read many spy novels? What are your other favourites, if so?

Yes, I agree that there's a real sense of danger about this series. To combine that with comedy is what makes this so special. I'm delighted to re-read as I gulped down the first three back-to-back so it's nice to savour them. There are some wonderfully outrageous developments and the divine Jackson Lamb gets sharper.

I am intending to re-read the next one soon - these are really addictive! However, if everyone else wants to read on, then it should be Sandy who sets the pace, as she suggested this buddy read.

I'm definitely interested in further buddy reads of the slow horses - no rush, happy to fit with Sandy's schedule.

Whenever Sandy says I'm in.

Had you read this before, Jill? So glad most of us are going to continue reading on.

No. I hadn't read it before, but so glad I have now. When you first mentioned it, over a year ago, I told my sister about it and she promptly went out and bought it. Loved it and bought the rest. Now passed to me.

I definitely will be reading on and propose a Dec 1st date: six weeks from now and before the real holiday rush starts. Then the third for mid-January, another six weeks and post-holiday rush.

I'm personally hoping for a quieter holiday as my family decided we would each supply one gift to be swapped amoung the adults. So much less shopping! So much less wrapping!

Susan, I have read a few, but not many, spy novels. I remember reading LeCarre's Smiley books years ago; wonderful books. Not a genre I seek out, but not one I avoid.

Great idea, Sandy. I will add them to the Buddy Read list.

These are the current Slough House novels:

Slough House
1. Slow Horses (2010)
2. Dead Lions (2013)
2.5. The List (2015)
3. Real Tigers (2016)
4. Spook Street (2017)
5. London Rules (2018)
5.5. The Drop (2018)
6. Joe Country (2019)

As you can see, there are two novellas: The List and The Drop (out 1st November). Do we want to add in The List as well, as an extra? It is short, and a little different, so I would suggest that, should we add it, we don't bother with a spoiler thread. It is more a short story than a long read, at 112 pages.

This is my review of The List, in case it helps you decide:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also good to see that the new Slough House novel has a title - Joe Country, according to Fantastic Fiction - although the title is not listed on Amazon or Goodreads, as far as I can see. .

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

I have added the novella in for December, but it can be an optional extra. The new novella comes out on the 1st November, so I will be re-reading it anyway.

I agree with all the above decisions. So both Dead Lions and The List: A Novella open on Dec 1, with the novella optional (not that any of our read are mandatory). If I remember correctly a deal on the second novella is what set me on this course, so lets hope I can find the first easily. Sometimes these extras disappear from Amazon and never appear in libraries.

Herron is fantastic at never losing the thread of his complicated plots: some spy/thriller writers seem to lose track of their own storylines but Herron, like le Carré, doesn't give himself get-out clauses.

I'd forgotten till re-reading this that we know how Jackson Lamb ended up in Slough House - I thought it was a revelation in the latest book so clearly read this far too fast!

Thanks for posting the title of the next book, Susan - hopefully this re-read will keep us going till it arrives.

Yes, I am also looking forward to the next novella.

Nov 9th - I finally got to finish this story. I have been displaced by hurricane michael (my house was destroyed and is currently unlivable, but is fixable) but have found snatches of time to read while we rebuild. I liked the plotline of this story and the character dynamics as they interacted at Slough House. However I will probably not continue the series. It is because of the rampant profanity. Being unaccustomed in my everyday life to rarely if ever to use or to hear proafanity among my family and circle of friends, it was jarring to me to read it in this story. It disappoints me since Herron writes a witty spy thriller. It seems from the above comments that many of you enjoyed reading it, and I am happy for you. Many of the comments were enlightening and insightful which helped to round out this 1st in a series for me. Thank you. But again I will pass on adding the series to my TBR list.

S Dizzy wrote: "Nov 9th - I finally got to finish this story. I have been displaced by hurricane michael (my house was destroyed and is currently unlivable, but is fixable) but have found snatches of time to read ..."

Oh Dizzy , how awful for you. Hope you soon get back to your home. I can't even imagine what that must be like.

So sorry to hear about Hurricane Michael, S Dizzy - that must have been terrible.

Thank you Jill and Judy. It truly is unlike anything my family and I have ever faced before. And pictures do NOT do justice to the utter devastation we see. It really looks like a war torn area. So very depressing, wretched and gloomy. Two good things - one, there was no reported loss of life of any of my family and friends; also how everyone has pulled together to help each other...the sense of community is amazing to see. Because that storm was certainly an equalizer...we're all suffering some sort of loss. It will take quite some time to rebuild. Many have already left the area for good. It's so vry sad. Thanks again for your kind words.

So sorry about Michael, Dizzy. Hope you can achieve some version of normalcy soon.

Also sorry you will not be continuing the series. I am pretty good at ignoring the language in books and several years of riding a bus with high school students harden me to bad language. At least in books it usually has some purpose or meaning, but there are too many good books out there to spend time on ones you don't like.

P.S. I wonder if I would have a harder time ignoring the language if I listened to the book? It might be a lot more jarring to actually hear it.

Sandy wrote: "So sorry about Michael, Dizzy. Hope you can achieve some version of normalcy soon...Also sorry you will not be continuing the series. I am pretty good at ignoring the language in books and several..."

Sandy, thank you. We are trying to see the good and not give into despair. I don't think I can ignore the bad language on audiobook but it's a good suggestion.

S Dizzy, very sorry to hear about your house :(

I honestly was not bothered by the bad language, but then I live in London, and people swear quite a lot generally, so I doubt it would do so. Mind you, I don't mind violence in books either and I know that bothers others. My tastes range from the gentlest of mysteries to the most violent Nordic Noir. However, I obviously understand that not all readers are the same and, if something bothers you, that is fair enough.

Slow Horses Audible Deal of the Day today and brilliantly read by Sean Barrett.

Judy wrote: "I've finished this now and am wondering, are we supposed to take it that Peter Judd had Robert Hobden killed?!

To be honest, I struggled with this a bit, but I am glad to have given it a try. I fo..."

That's how I interpreted it!

Susan wrote: "I think we are meant to believe that people are killed, by whom we are not told. As I mentioned before, this is a realistic spy series. People in the series are in danger, they do get killed. In th..."

I was left under the impression that Sid might have survived-there was no trace left one way or another so she might have been "disappeared".

I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to joining you for the next ones in the series. I wouldn't mind spreading them out a bit as there are now quite a few series I'm trying to follow!

Frances wrote: "I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to joining you for the next ones in the series. I wouldn't mind spreading them out a bit as there are now quite a few series I'm trying to follow!"

I scheduled six weeks between books one and two and may have been overly optimistic. I will get to Dead Lions soon but only by ignoring library requests to pick up my requested book(s).

Shall we move Dead Lions to mid-December, rather than the 1st?

Susan wrote: "Shall we move Dead Lions to mid-December, rather than the 1st?"

Yes please! Especially good for me as one of our December buddy reads is not available in my libraries so I had a gap.

And then I would like to continue on an alternate month schedule. I propose the novella for mid-January and book 3 mid-February.

I'll post this in the non-spoiler thread as well and in our 'master list'.

Sounds good, Sandy.

Frances wrote: "I was left under the impression that Sid might have survived-there was no trace left one way or another so she might have been "disappeared"."

Good thinking Frances! I'd not considered that option. I do think that Judd (the Boris Johnson like politican) must have had something to with Robert's accident. He did seem quite furious that Robert had visited him at home disturbing his dinner party.

I picked up this book at the weekend at a second hand stall for a bargain price of 20 pence! Once I started I couldn't put it down, really enjoyed the quick pace of the action and will certainly join in for the next reads.

Thanks for confirming you also had suspicions of Judd having Robert murdered, Frances and Tracey.

Judy wrote: "Thanks for confirming you also had suspicions of Judd having Robert murdered, Frances and Tracey."

I also assumed Judd arranged the accident.

I agree, Judd was involved. I think the portrayal of Judd/Johnson was pitch perfect - the jovial mask and, undoubtedly, a very serious politician beneath.

I am currently listening to Book 2, having read it previously, and am loving Sean Barrett's portrayal. He does a wonderful Jackson Lamb.

It was a slow start for me, but I was seriously into it by the end. Loved it. The language didn't worry me - it would have felt less realistic without it.

I think I'm going to have to skim through Dead Lions before reading Real Tigers - which I can get from my local library.

Glad you enjoyed it, Carol. To be honest, I didn't notice the language, but then I live in London. Swearing is just punctuation!

Susan wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it, Carol. To be honest, I didn't notice the language, but then I live in London. Swearing is just punctuation!"

I used to clean at a High School. This was nothing compared to what a fifteen year old Kiwi boy can come out with! 😄

If they DO make a TV version of it, it will be more interesting to see how they could cope with the very un-PC language of Lamb...

Susan wrote: "If they DO make a TV version of it, it will be more interesting to see how they could cope with the very un-PC language of Lamb..."

Mmmm... would stll be a powerful story, even if they tone Lamb down a bit!

I don't see Lamb's language being a problem for TV given his character and his clear and knowing intention to be provocative and outrageous - if he were oblivious to the insults and blindly racist/misogynist etc it would be completely different.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I don't see Lamb's language being a problem for TV given his character and his clear and knowing intention to be provocative and outrageous - if he were oblivious to the insults and blindly racist/..."

I think the beheading would mean a later time slot over here.

Changing the topic, I loved how Hassan effectively rescued himself. I found myself worrying about his future mental health like he was a real person! 😄

I read today that the next book in the series, Bad Actors is released on 12/5/22.

No date on the TV series release as yet.