“A year after a calamitous blunder by the Russian secret service left a British citizen dead from novichok poisoning, Diana Taverner is on the warpath. What seems a gutless response from the government has pushed the Service's First Desk into mounting her own counter-offensive—but she's had to make a deal with the devil first. And given that the devil in question is arch-manipulator Peter Judd, she could be about to lose control of everything she's fought for. Meanwhile, still reeling from recent losses, the slow horses are worried they've been pushed further into the cold. Slough House has been wiped from Service records, and fatal accidents keep happening. No wonder Jackson Lamb's crew are feeling paranoid. But have they actually been targeted? With a new populist movement taking a grip on London's streets, and the old order ensuring that everything's for sale to the highest bidder, the world's an uncomfortable place for those deemed surplus to requirements. The wise move would be to find a safe place and wait for the troubles to pass. But the slow horses aren't famed for making wise decisions. And with enemies on all sides, not even Jackson Lamb can keep his crew from harm.”
Set only months after the events Joe Country, our slow horses find themselves erased from the Park’s intelligence record database, being followed regularly, while River discovers one the earliest slow horses still alive and hiding in his late grandfather’s house. Meanwhile, Peter Judd (turning very much into a Bond villain) continues to move the pawns on his game board that could put him 10 Down Street. Meanwhile, First Desk arch-manipulator Diana "Lady Di" Taverner finds herself in a bind and makes a strategic mistake that could cost her much more than she’s willing to pay. Then there is Jackson Lamb, who continues to know more than everyone else, trying to figure out why past and present slow horses are being targeted by, what turns out to be, Russian assassins.
Slough House is another fast-paced tale playing out against the backdrop of British politics, much of it I don’t grasp, but I guess it sort of seemly plays out like our current political world in the US. The writing remains sharp, with witty and clever dialogue, and Lamb remains at his politically incorrect best. One thing I like, as I read this series, is how the team sort of hates each (well, all of them really hate Roddy Ho, who Herron makes more funny and weirdly icky at the same time) but there is an undeniable feeling of loyalty to each other as well.
Also while all the characters have continuing arcs, each book has sort of been self contained "episodes". But for the first time, Herron leaves us with a huge cliffhanger. While I have Bad Actors sitting on the shelf, along with another novella, I was going to read something else. Mostly because I reached a point where I’ve caught up with the series and that means waiting a year for book nine to released in paperback, or buy the hardcover when it’s released in September. I'm conflicted, but I think I need to start on that next.
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