The Slough House Thrillers Books 1-8
By: Mick Herron
*NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES STARING GARY OLDMAN* 'Herron is at the summit of a new golden age of spy fiction' Sunday Times Spooks are supposed to be stealthy . . . But those who make a noisy mess of their careers end up in Slough House. This is Jackson Lamb's kingdom: a dumping ground for spies who've screwed up. Once high fliers, they're now slow horses, condemned to a life of pushing paper as punishment for crimes of drugs and drunkenness, lechery and failure, politics and betrayal. In drab and mildewed offices, these highly trained spies moan and squabble, stare at the walls, and dream of better days - not one of them joined the Intelligence Service to be a slow horse, and the one thing they have in common is their desire to be back in the action. Includes Slow Horses, Dead Lions, Real Tigers, Spook Street, London Rules, Joe Country, Slough House and Bad Actors. 'The man is a genius' The Spectator 'Britain's finest contemporary thriller series' Daily Express
AI Overview
Comprehensive Overview of "The Slough House Thrillers" by Mick Herron
Series Overview
"The Slough House Thrillers" by Mick Herron is a series of espionage novels that follow the misadventures of MI5's most troubled agents, known as the "slow horses." These agents are relegated to Slough House, a dilapidated office building just around the corner from the Barbican Centre in London, after failing in their careers or making critical mistakes. The series is known for its witty humor, intricate plots, and memorable characters.
### Key Themes
- Espionage and Intrigue: The series delves into the world of espionage, exploring the inner workings of MI5 and the external threats it faces.
- Character Development: The novels focus on the personal struggles and relationships of the agents, often using their underdog status to create compelling underdog stories.
- Organizational Politics: The series critiques the bureaucratic and political aspects of MI5, highlighting the power struggles and moral dilemmas within the organization.
- Existential Crises: Many of the books explore existential crises within the characters and the organization, often tied to the agents' past mistakes and their desire to redeem themselves.
### Plot Summary
Book 1: Slow Horses
- The first book introduces the main characters and setting. It follows the agents at Slough House as they navigate their mundane tasks and personal struggles. The story takes a turn when they are called into action to protect a visiting Russian oligarch, leading to a deeper exploration of their past mistakes and the secrets they uncover.
Book 2: Dead Lions
- In this installment, the agents are tasked with babysitting a Russian oligarch, but their mission is complicated by the discovery of an old Cold War-era spy's death. As they dig deeper, they uncover a shadowy tangle of ancient Cold War secrets, leading to a deadly battle between MI5's past and future.
Subsequent Books
- Each subsequent book builds upon the characters and their world, introducing new threats and personal challenges. The series continues to explore the agents' underdog status as they face off against more powerful adversaries, both within and outside MI5.
### Critical Reception
- The Atlantic: "Herron writes squeakily well-plotted spy thrillers... He’s a world-bringer, the creator of a still-growing fictional universe with its own gravity, lingo, and surface tension."
- Crime Fiction Lover: "The central conceit of the books is that MI5, like any large organisation, needs somewhere to place its most hopeless employees, and this place is Slough House... Each novel is an underdog story – a group of individuals, under-qualified and under-resourced, who have to beat their better-off cousins at The Park to save the day."
- Goodreads: The series has an average rating of 4.12/5, indicating strong reader appreciation for the series' unique blend of humor and espionage.
Adaptation and Popularity
- The series has been adapted into a TV show, "Slow Horses," which features a star-studded cast including Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, and Sophie Okonedo. This adaptation has further increased the series' popularity and visibility.
In summary, "The Slough House Thrillers" by Mick Herron offers a unique blend of espionage, humor, and character-driven storytelling, making it a compelling read for fans of spy thrillers and character-driven fiction.