Reading the Detectives discussion

The latest Slough House novel is much anticipated by many in this group. Welcome to our buddy read - mid July/mid-August, 2019.

'We're spies,' said Lamb. 'All kinds of outlandish shit goes on.'

Like the ringing of a dead man's phone, or an unwelcome guest at a funeral . . .

In Slough House memories are stirring, all of them bad. Catherine Standish is buying booze again, Louisa Guy is raking over the ashes of lost love, and new recruit Lech Wicinski, whose sins make him outcast even among the slow horses, is determined to discover who destroyed his career, even if he tears his life apart in the process.

And with winter taking its grip Jackson Lamb would sooner be left brooding in peace, but even he can't ignore the dried blood on his carpets. So when the man responsible breaks cover at last, Lamb sends the slow horses out to even the score.

This time, they're heading into joe country.

And they're not all coming home.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread.

Who has read/is reading the latest Jackson Lamb?

I am about to start listening to it - I thought I'd refresh my memory with a relisten to London Rules, and then got side-tracked with a very long Queens' Play, but as soon as I've finished that (in the next day or so) I will start!

Enjoy, Rosina.

I read it a couple of weeks ago so just have to hope I can still remember the details.

Susan wrote: "Enjoy, Rosina."

I think Jackson Lamb is going to come as a shock, a complete contrast to Francis Crawford of Lymond ...

Ha ha! Yes, a bit different. I also read this a while ago now.

I'm still quite far down the hold list at my library so I will add my comments later.

Good to hear it is popular, Frances, but hope you get a copy soon.

Just picked it up from the library but have a few more to finish before I can get to it.

Ah the pressure of being current in a series! I do better when I'm a couple of years behind. The next Three Pines, a series I love by Louise Penny, is due in September and I've been on the waiting list for a couple of months.

I've finally got my hands on a copy and am having some difficulty remembering how all the various Slow Horses came to be at Slough House.

But Roddy Ho is back in fine form, and...the Prime Minister, herself a needs-must choice, though she appeared to be the only person unaware of the fact... followed by It turned out that in the governance of a nation's security, many absurd situations had to be worked around: a toxic clown in the Foreign Office, a state visit by a narcissistic bed-wetter, the tendency of the electorate to jump off the occasional cliff. means I'm likely in for a great read.

I can't wait for the next one already, if only for the political commentary!

I worry that by the time I read the next one I will have forgotten all the back stories. Maybe the synopses in GR will help.

There is a new one due, but not until Feb 2021, according to Amazon. Perhaps he is hoping the country will sort itself out by then. Politics is moving pretty fast at the moment and is very unsettled.

Good news that there is another scheduled but I'm sure I will have forgotten most of the plot threads by 2021.

That's the problem with all series, isn't it, Sandy? I think it's the main reason why I give up on series, although I am sure I will be reading the next Jackson Lamb! However, when, like us, you have started so many series, it is difficult to keep up.

Just noticed a new Mick Herron novella out in early January:

The Catch: A Slough House Novella 2

If life in the Intelligence Service has taught John Bachelor anything, it's to keep his head down. Especially now, when he's living rent-free in a dead spook's flat.

So he's not delighted to be woken at dawn by a pair of Regent's Park's heavies, looking for a client he's not seen in years. John doesn't know what secrets Benny Manors has stolen, but they're attracting the wrong attention. And if he's to save his own skin, not to mention safeguard his living arrangements, John has to find Benny before those secrets see the light.

Benny could be anywhere, provided it serves alcohol. So John sets out on a reluctant trawl through the bars of the capital, all the while plagued by the age-old questions: Will he end up sleeping in his car? How many bottles of gin can he afford at London prices?

And just how far will Regent's Park go to prevent anyone rocking the Establishment's boat?

This is good news. I did find myself wondering what had happened to Batchelor, during the last read.

Susan wrote: "Just noticed a new Mick Herron novella out in early January:

The Catch: A Slough House Novella 2

If life in the Intelligen..."

Excellent! I worry about Batchelor , though expect I will still worry after the new novella.

He doesn't seem to be very lucky, does he?

Great news. I look forward to reading the next instalment.

It will have to keep us going, Tracey. No new novel until 2021 according to Amazon... Still, I do love the novellas and I like they are linked to Slough House, but also separate.

Joe Country is 99p on kindle today.

I think it is likely that we will see the TV adaption of the series before we get the next proper Slough House book. Apparently Gary Oldman has been cast as Jackson Lamb. I think he is a very talented actor, so hopefully will portray Lamb well. What do you think about this casting choice?

I always think of Lamb as been a big, fatish type. I think it remains to be seen what Oldman makes of him, but at least it would seem to be an apple production, and not a BBC one that people won't be able to hear

Interesting but I'm fearful that the TV version will interfere with my personal Slough House world.

Yes I have reservations about it.

I don't think I could watch it. I don't watch much television anyway, but I think Slough House is just too special to me and I can picture the characters a certain way.

Me too, I have my own vision of Slough House - I can't see Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb *at all*.

It always seems to be the same actors in everything. I think we only have about 3 actresses in the UK, according to casting directors...

Haha. I wonder if Oldman was chosen because he played Smiley?

I think Tomothy Spall, if very overweight, would be the closest fit to my mental picture of Jackson Lamb.

I see that the next installment of this series is due to be published in February 2021, entitled 'Slough house'. Something to look forward to!

Okay!

Yes, I was just approved on NetGalley to read it - can't wait!