Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to London Rules, the fifth Jackson Lamb thriller, published in 2018.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AND IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER

'The UK's new spy master' Sunday Times

London Rules might not be written down, but everyone knows rule one.

Cover your arse.

Regent's Park's First Desk, Claude Whelan, is learning this the hard way. Tasked with protecting a beleaguered prime minister, he's facing attack from all directions himself: from the showboating MP who orchestrated the Brexit vote, and now has his sights set on Number Ten; from the showboat's wife, a tabloid columnist, who's crucifying Whelan in print; and especially from his own deputy, Lady Di Taverner, who's alert for Claude's every stumble.

Meanwhile, the country's being rocked by an apparently random string of terror attacks, and someone's trying to kill Roddy Ho.

Over at Slough House, the crew are struggling with personal problems: repressed grief, various addictions, retail paralysis, and the nagging suspicion that their newest colleague is a psychopath. But collectively, they're about to rediscover their greatest strength - that of making a bad situation much, much worse.

It's a good job Jackson Lamb knows the rules. Because those things aren't going to break themselves.

Feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

Well, what I can say? The paint scene is sublime, as is the 'Rodsters' delightfully unaware behaviour due most of this novel. I thought this was brilliantly done and I loved the way the team endeavoured to protect Ho, but were also ambivalent about doing so!

I haven't read anything as funny as that paint scene in a very long time. Had me laughing uncontrollably ! I've also found myself saying "yellow car" as I've been driving around.
Poor Roddy really is on another planet, but like any family, the others pull together to protect him, and he still has no idea what is going on.

The paint scene will stay with me forever :)

Me too - absolutely classic Herron!

Regarding "yellow car", I really enjoyed the comment, in the epilogue I think, that the game would drive someone in New York crazy (where the cabs are yellow and numerous). Herron stated it much better of course.

At the end Lamb's loyalty to his people and those he values is made very clear but I fear he is dealing with the devil. I am also frightened by his cough and by Lady Di's disclosure to Catherine. I spend a lot of time worrying about Catherine. I give a little sigh of relief each time she rejects Lamb's liquor.

Sandy, I too worry about Catherine. I was really sad when it looked like she had left Slough House. And Lady Di is too petty a character too be a great villain.

I've just finished this and really enjoyed it. I also loved the paint scene, and Ho's complete lack of self-awareness is really funny. I felt the dynamics between the group worked well here - different pairings, and then the scenes with them all together with Flyte and Devon. I think Herron is very clever in that he doesn't spend too long with any one character so the banter and jokes stay fresh.

I don't worry about Catherine but I like her contributions. I'm still trusting that Lamb knows what he's doing and is gradually allowing the truth to be revealed as she gets stronger.

Pamela wrote: "I don't worry about Catherine but I like her contributions. I'm still trusting that Lamb knows what he's doing and is gradually allowing the truth to be revealed as she gets stronger. ..."

However, Lady Di intentionally subverted Lamb's gradual reveal. So I worry.

I think it is worth worrying. Despite the fact that some of them are in Slough House thought the actions of others, they are all there for a reason. Lamb is aware of their faults, even if he feels some guilt about Catherine - or enough to take her with him.

He also feels responsibility for Molly Doran and that is a nice scene, where his protection covers her, but not Emma Flyte. He has his own sense of what he has to do - I can imagine Lady Di not liking Molly Doran, who would, undoubtedly, not be intimidated by her.

I loved this book as well, I think my favourite part was hearing Roddy Ho's thought processes while he was supposed to be sweating in solitary detention in the basement. His supreme lack of self-awareness and insight was brilliant-will we ever find out why he ended up a Slow Horse, and how he ever made it into the service in the first place?

I'm moving sideways to read "Nobody Walks" next.

I think he is the only member of Slough House who got there presumably because nobody else could bear him :) He does have his uses though and I also loved his delusion of being protected, rather than interrogated, which was brilliantly done. Catherine worried about him, if nobody else did.