The Secret Hours By Mick Herron

Maureen

The heart pounding first chapter set the scene beautifully for this spy thriller, however it quietened down considerably after that, but was, nevertheless, a fascinating read.

The subsequent chapters took the reader right into the heart of The British Secret Service, where two years previously the ‘Monochrome’ inquiry was set up to investigate misconduct within the service, and it gave civil servants Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle unrestricted access to confidential information in the service archives.

This isn’t as simple as it sounds, as their progress has been blocked at every turn. That is until the OTIS file is given to Kyle by persons unknown.

Spies and politicians in the highest corridors of government, all these and more have day jobs, but what do they get up to in the secret hours?

A well plotted spy novel that includes lots of humorous dialogue to help lighten the mood. Herron gives his characters whip-crack dialogue that is both cruel and funny in the same sentence.
Dual timelines from the present back to 1994 Berlin, have been skilfully executed to produce a gripping and ultimately satisfying tale.

*Thank you to Netgalley and John Murray Press, Baskerville for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

Beata

I am a totally devoted fan of the Slow Horses series and although it seems at first glance that The Secret Hours is not continuation of the series, there are links to some characters who appear in the Slow Horses books, especially one is easily recognizable by the sounds they make.
The background of the plot is the fall of the Berlin Wall and the seemingly changing world of spooks and agents in the fields. Years after this historic event, there is an internal investigation into the tragedy that struck in 1994 and actions undertaken in order to take revenge.
Absolutely loved The Secret Hours, one of the best openings written by Mr Herron in my opinion. And Mr Doyle reads as masterfully as ever!
*A big thank-you to Mick Herron, RB Media, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*

Liz

The Secret Hours is billed as a stand-alone story. And it does work as a stand-alone, but those familiar with the Slough House series will appreciate it all the more.
The story takes its own sweet time getting set up. But given the snarky humor in almost every scene, I didn’t mind the meandering path it took. The premise is that two years prior, a prime minister set up the Monochrome internal inquiry, a look into “historical overreach” by MI5. But in typical government bureaucracy, the two individuals, Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle, tasked with leading the inquiry, have no power and are thwarted at every turn by MI5’s First Desk. Now, the PM has been ousted and Monochrome is on its last legs. And then…Malcolm receives a folder outlining a classified operation in 1994 Berlin that went horribly wrong. The story then goes back and forth between the present day and the time in Berlin. Oh, and there’s also a side story in the present day about an ex-joe who awakes to his house being broken into and is forced to go on the run.
All the characters are perfectly presented and fleshed out. And Herron makes no secrets of his thoughts about politics. The original PM is a thinly veiled portrait of Boris Johnson and Griselda’s career has gotten off track by attending one of the Covid parties. This is a book filled with dark, acerbic humor. It’s an intelligent, convoluted story designed to keep the listener on their toes. And the ending is bloody perfect!
I listened to this and Gerard Doyle is again the perfect narrator.
My thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for an advance copy of this audiobook.

Barbara

Amidst the ongoing jealousy and rivalry between the British government and the British Intelligence Service, the Prime Minister, who nurses a huge grudge against the spy service, institutes a program called Monochrome.

Monochrome is designed to sniff out wrongdoing in the secret service, but the Prime Minister is no match for MI-5's 'First Desk' - a formidable and intelligent woman who immediately (and hilariously) neuters Monochrome.

Thus the Monochrome panel, whose members are Griselda Fleet, Malcolm Kyle, and others, spends years interviewing people, to no avail.

The 'witnesses' blather on and on, but know nothing useful about the spy service, and their testimonies are never intended for the 'final report.'

Sadly, Malcolm - a young man with lofty ambitions - sees his career going down the drain while he languishes on the Monochrome panel.

Then one day, while Malcolm is ambling around the supermarket with a shopping cart, a young woman crashes into him, upending Malcolm's groceries.

Several people come over to help, and when everything is back in place, Malcolm finds a file under his food. The file turns out to contain information about a top secret intelligence operation called OTIS. The supermarket incident freaks Malcolm out, but - after much rationalizing - Malcolm and Griselda Fleet decide Monochrome will investigate OTIS.

OTIS turns out to be a spy operation in Berlin, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Monochrome panel is beginning to interview the first OTIS witness when Monochrome is shut down hard, for good. It's clear the government does not want OTIS to become public knowledge. Nevertheless, Griselda and Malcolm fabricate a loophole so they can hear the witness's whole story, which is riveting.

Meanwhile, a sixtysomething former spy called Max Janacek is on the run after an attempted abduction in the middle of the night. Max, who has some skills, manages to evade his kidnappers, retrieve his flight kit, and embark on a quest to find out who's after him.

In case you ever need to make a fast getaway, here are the contents of a flight kit: a passport with a fake name; a grand in cash; two prepaid credit cards worth 5,000 Euros; one change of clothing; a basic toiletries kit that includes hair dye and tinted contact lenses; and a pair of insoles that will alter your gait enough to fool a computer. (You're welcome. 🙂)

All of the threads come together at the book's climax, and the ending made me smile. I just love that First Desk.

Good espionage thriller, highly recommended.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Gerard Doyle, who does an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Mick Herron, and RB Media for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at
http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

Daniel Shindler

Mick Herron’s latest novel returns to the realm of cryptic innuendo, jealously guarded information and serpentine intrigue.His secret world blurs the line between fiction and reality and is populated by sharply drawn characters that have a surfeit of political acumen and an abundance of waspish repartee.

The novel has been described as a standalone spy thriller but in fact is a companion piece that stands alongside his revered Slough House series, deepening the characters’ backstories without specifically calling their names.Herron has effectively provided an origin story for the Slow Horses,adding nuggets of character nuance to some of the players in the parent series.

The intrigue starts immediately.A retired academic, leading a quiet life in a remote North Devon village,is forced to shed his contemplative exterior in order to thwart an unexpected attempt to abduct him from his home. On the previous day in London, a file laden with damaging information mysteriously surfaces and gives new momentum to the Monochrome Inquiry that is investigating past missteps by the Secret Service.The file recounts events from a failed operation in 1994 Berlin that has been covered up for decades. The fallout from the file’s reappearance prompts a level of intrigue and internal defense that is as vigorous in repelling bureaucratic insiders as any response defending outside threats to the body politic. The unraveling of the newly discovered file provides the perfect medium for the rapier ripostes and observational acuity that have become signature elements of a Herron novel.He delivers scathing views of politics and bureaucratic foibles, highlighting corruption, surveillance and private incursions into the public sphere.

It has always been my opinion that plot, no matter how well done, is secondary to the emotional shadings that permeate Herron’s novels. A journey in this world is laden with the romance and seductiveness that courses through the human psyche. The machinations and “ legends” unleashed by these secret world characters fall within the range of human frailties recognizable to many readers. One begins to suspect that the deceptions and rationalizations in the clandestine world are eerily similar to the justifications and equivocations that ordinary people create to cope with the obstacles encountered in their everyday world.

Tracy

The Secret Hours is my first Mick Herron novel and it will most certainly not be by last. I already have the first two books in the Slough House series lined up.

I love it when a book is not only highly entertaining, but also teaches me new things about the world and its history. Even though this is fictional there are many historical references. The complexities and hardships which came with the process of reunification after the Berlin Wall fell. The city was in chaos as it tried to adjust to its new way of life. Berlin became known as the party city, where anything went while the politicos tried to dust themselves off and get reoriented.

Learning more than I ever knew about espionage and the people tapped to perform this occupation was eye-opening and left me in disbelief much of the time. No one trusted anyone and everyone had a back (or ten) they were stabbing. There was no limit to the lengths taken in the quest to settle old scores, enact revenge or weasel one's way into more prestigious positions of power.

On that note, I highly recommend the standalone for an exciting and very smart espionage/ historical thriller. Mick Herron most definitely has a new few in me.

Kate O'Shea

I am ashamed to say this is my first Mick Herron therefore obviously not one of the Slough House series. I am delighted to say that I absolutely loved it. And now I can get stuck into all the Slough House books knowing I've hours of joy to look forward to.

The book centres around The Park (aka secret service), the history of the Berlin Station, an enquiry named Monochrome looking into dodgy dealings at The Park and the secretive lives of various agents and "admin" staff. Suffice it to say that if I even attempt to describe the plot I will quickly lose you (and probably myself) so I won't - read the synopsis.

What I can tell you is that Mick Herron has created some exceptionally likeable (though murderous, foul-mouthed and inherently broken) characters whose names are quite frequently not their real names or their code names. Every single one of them has an acerbic wit but "Brinsley", "Otis" and "Alison" have to be favourites. The one-liners are to die for and I'm not sure there have been many spy novels I've snorted with laughter at. Mick Herron certainly has a unique voice.

I listened to the audio version of this book which was masterfully read by Gérard Doyle. I was utterly glued to it and frequently went back and forth just to enjoy it a second or third time.

Funny, smart, great ploy, immensely satisfying end. What more do you wish for in a book.
Very highly recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and RB Media for the advance review copy.

Roman Clodia

How we act in the light of day is largely for other people's benefit, but what we do in the secret hours reveals who we really are.

What a clever book this is! Herron has done a masterful job of creating something that devoted fans will see as a continuation, if from a slightly oblique - and long anticipated - angle, of the ongoing story (especially the Christmas teaser,
Standing by the Wall), but which can also be read productively by Herron newbies without feeling lost. I'm the former and loved this!

The publishers have been pretty taciturn in the blurb so I don't want to give away anything that will be even a hint of a spoiler for other readers. I'll say though that the political commentary is at its harshest (loaded public enquiries that are stymied from the start for political reasons, the continued Tory ideological privatisation i.e. sell-off of public services for money to cronies, the legacy of the PJ/BJ premiership), and there is none of the slapstick antics that mediate the seriousness of the usual plots.

I'm assuming that the gesture to
A Legacy of Spies by
John le Carré is self-conscious and deliberate (another enquiry into past Cold War operations hampered by the mole uncovered in
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and I suspect some people might be upset by the dark showing of a previous character , though those of us who've always have our reservations will be vindicated.

One of the smart moves is to conceal names: so 'First Desk' and cover/field names are used throughout, though Herron aficionados will spot our people immediately.

Overall, then, a sharp and elegant insertion into a long-running series that doesn't rest on its laurels and keeps things fresh and biting - one of my reads of the summer!

Huge thanks to Baskerville/John Murray Press for an ARC I was desperate to receive :))

(On Film Festival Hiatus) Alan Teder

Slow Horses Prequel
Review of the Recorded Books audiobook edition (September 12, 2023) narrated by
Gerard Doyle, released simultaneously with the Soho Crime hardcover.

"I had a leather jacket once," he said. "Made me look like Van Morrison."
"Well, that’s not so – "
"Now. Like Van Morrison looks like now."
"Oh. I’m sorry."

Although The Secret Hours is being marketed as a standalone and not as a
Slough House aka Slow Horses novel, it acts as both a prequel and a parallel to the main series. The pleasure of each reader's discovery of which series characters make cameo appearances in the new book precludes discussing spoilerish details. All I can say is that regular Slow Horses fans will not be disappointed. In fact they will be sometimes even shocked by the revelations (at least I certainly was in one case). Most of the character names are actually disguised under their old tradecraft names for the longest time, as the book contains flashbacks to when they were in "Joe Country" (i.e. Herron's name for being in the field and not at head office) back in Berlin in 1994.

Cover image of the Baskerville (UK) edition released September 14, 2023. Image sourced from
Goodreads.

By now I have become especially addicted to hearing series regular Gerard Doyle's narration of the Slough House books, so I couldn't resist picking up the audiobook edition. Doyle's narration in all voices is excellent as always. His voicing of a certain Slough House character will even give SH audiobook veteran listeners an early heads-up as to that person's identity 😉 .

Other Reviews
Review at The Guardian
Secrets and Spies by Nicholas Wroe, September 8, 2023.

Trivia and Links
Author Mick Herron is interviewed about the book by fellow author John Sandford (the Lucas Davenport "Prey" series & others) on the Poisoned Pen Bookstore
YouTube channel,
in early September, 2023.

Manda Scott

sheer, undiluted genius

It’s immensely good to be back at the Park, and to explore some of the back history of people we’d got to know at Slough House. To tell you anything at all about the narrative would be to blow huge spoiler-shaped holes in your fun; suffice to say that the writing is as slickly, brilliantly beautiful as ever, the political edge as sharp and the overall effect is glorious. It’s times like this I wish we had 10 stars. Totally essential reading.

Wanda Pedersen

This isn't part of the Slough House series, but is entwined with it nonetheless. The beginning was gripping, with unknown thugs pursuing a older, retired intelligence asset. I liked Max immediately and wanted to know WTF? just as much as he did.

Multiple strands of this complex story were carried throughout the novel, present and past timelines. The espionage practice of taking job names allowed Herron to muddy the waters enough to keep me in the dark about who was who until the last pages. Only one stood out clearly, with his prestidigitation of cigarettes and matches plus one well placed fart, just in case you weren't catching on quickly enough.

I now have a whole new perspective on River's grandfather, David Cartwright, the Old Bastard. Not a term of endearment, although that's how River interprets it. But the moral of the story (at least from my vantage point) is this: do not fuck with an archivist.

Anmiryam

You can depend on Mick Herron to supply a lot of things: bleak humor, skulduggery in the corridors of power, oddball sad-sack characters, taut plotting. This newest thriller has all of these in more than sufficient quantities, but it has something else: something resembling, dare I say it, a beating heart.

This heart won't be apparent to readers new to the "Slow Horses" universe. They will have to content themselves with relishing a supremely funny, well written, culturally knowing, and expertly plotted novel that weaves together a long retired spook forced on the run, a plodding government inquiry into the spy service, and an op gone wrong in the newly unified Berlin of the 1990s. Those of us steeped in the lore of Slough House will quickly discern how that piece of history reverberates through the lives of characters we know well, despite only ever being referred to by code names here. Easter eggs abound and provide hours upon hours amusement -- the enjoyment is deeply satisfying.

Never fear, any faint aroma sentimentality never congeals into an odor sickly sweetness. Herron hasn't gone soft, his elbows and his wit are as sharp as they've ever been. How he connects the betrayals in Berlin in the 1990s to the government's assault on Regent Park's autonomy is brilliant; cynical enough to insure that even diehard misanthropes will have to reassess their worldviews downwards.

It's all tied up into a nice neat little box, but rest assured, there will be reverberations and, I expect, characters, that will be oozing into Slough House operations in the near future.

Marianne

The Secret Hours is a stand-alone novel by award-winning, best-selling British author, Mick Herron. This audio version is brilliantly narrated by Sean Barrett. When the government initiates its inquiry into historical overreaching by the intelligence services, First Desk is dismissive with her PA about its impact, but is nonetheless making contingency plans. One of the civil service staff seconded as secretary to the inquiry believes it will be a launchpad for his career; the other is under no such illusion. First Desk leaves them in no doubt that access to files will be extremely challenging.

Two years on, by day 371 and after 136 witnesses, secretary second chair, Malcolm Kyle is fully resigned to the knowledge that Monochrome, fed only volunteered information from the public, is “a toothless committee, which has wasted all these months chewing empty mouthfuls”, when a highly classified file appears in his shopping trolley, a file concerning something that happened in Berlin in 1994. The right thing to do is to send it back to Regents Park, but he and Griselda Fleet, secretary first chair, are just disgruntled enough to put the file before the committee. On whose behalf they are poking this sleeping tiger remains a guessing game.

After two decades in his cottage in North Devon, Max Janacek is almost exactly what he pretends to be, a retired academic. When he disarms the woman breaking into his kitchen, and narrowly escapes her associates, he knows his cover has been blown, but by whom, and why? Certainly not the Park, and the inept effort rules out other intelligence services. And living under the radar all this time means the why must relate to his past.

In early 1994, a smart young civil service officer going under the name of Alison North was sent to Berlin, supposedly a routine secondment, but tasked by David Cartwright with covertly observing the activities of the 2IC in the Berlin Station house, Brinsley Miles. With barely nine months’ experience at the Park, Alison was unlikely to uncover anything that might taint a seasoned former joe like Miles. And yet…

While not a Slough House book, fans of the series must read this one, it has important back story on several key characters and will surely be relevant in the next book of the series. The story behind a certain photograph that features in Herron's short story, Standing By The Wall is revealed, and the transcripts of Monochrome sessions, all boring and irrelevant, demonstrate that Herron has a firm grasp on how British government bureaucracy really works.

It takes but a few lines to conclude that First Desk is still Diana Taverner. It is eventually clear just who Alison North is, and even if he is never mentioned by that name, the guy with the mysteriously appearing cigarette who punctuates his speech with farts and tells off colour jokes could be none other than Jackson Lamb, a deduction reinforced by “This monster hasn’t the manners of a zoo-bred warthog. Though he does have the looks and the charm, as you’ve doubtless discovered already” and “Miles can be abrasive. A bit of a foul-mouthed pig. He was trying this identity on for a joke once, and the wind changed, so he stayed like that.”

Herron’s tightly-plotted tale features political machinations around privatisation, a Regent’s Park mole, an executed asset, betrayals, blackmail and a trap to catch a murderer. As always, he gives the reader plenty of dark humour, some marvellous turns of phrase and a very satisfying conclusion. Topical, funny and very clever.

Peter Fleming

The narration was excellent with a nice mixture of gravitas, this is an espionage novel, but also managing to deliver the funny dialogue and humour with some comic flair. At times I though he sounded a little bit like Alec Guinness in his George Smiley role. A first-rate performance.

The beginning is memorable for the part played by a dead badger, that retired spook Max Janáček almost stumbles over as he flees for his life. This sort of sets the tone for the novel, a mixture of espionage, slightly bizarre incidents and plenty of laughs on the way.

The storyline is split between two distinct timelines, the current being the last couple of years and past being what happened in Berlin during 1994. The current strand is dominated by the Monochrome Enquiry, which is intended as a political sleight of hand, a cover up, a whitewash intended to come up with nothing, except a figure from the past thinks differently. The Berlin section covers an unofficial operation that profoundly changes the lives of those involved. The two eventually coalesce and reveal a myriad of surprises.

The activity in Berlin is during the period when Charles Partner was in charge and betraying secrets to the Russians. His righthand man was of course David Cartwright, River Cartwright’s worshipped grandfather, the true power behind the throne and more devious than Machiavelli. There are schemes within schemes and though not quite a prequel it answers some of the questions that may have been nagging readers of the Slough House series. It is beautifully summed up by Brinsley Miles, in espionage eventually everyone is betrayed.

The plot has complexity, is skilfully crafted and beautifully executed as all the disparate parts come together in the final quarter. The final set-piece is cleverly conceived and coldly executed, despite all the wonderful humour there is a spine of steel running through these stories.

The characters are beautifully formed, often a little larger than life but certainly never boring. They are put into entertaining situations and even the ‘crap’ fights scenes that proved the action possesses a charm all their own. The unnamed Prime Minister is mendacious, feckless and reckless, so there are no prizes for guess who he is modelled on. The businessmen who are trying to skim off profits from the security services are disturbingly realistic, hopefully the real life ‘first desk’ will be their match. Whilst over in Berlin the men (and women) at the sharp end of intelligence work are a wonderful combination of secrets, deceit and sleaze. There are the dodgy sellers of secrets, like Dickie Bow and ex Stasi men with ears to the ground. The station chief Robin Bruce is mid breakdown following affairs of the heart, which is convenient for Brinsley Miles a former Joe who by night trawls the strip clubs for secrets and daytime makes dubious expense claims.

The Secret Hours is simply a sublime amalgam of espionage writing of the highest quality and bawdy comedy that is beautifully balanced between the two.

Mark

The writer of ‘Slow Horses’, although didn’t know this when bought this book, comes with a great rep alongside a big reccomendation from my friend Simon who is a spy thriller book expert,so it had a lot to live up to
The authors knows how to use words, the writing is a constant good babble of info, humour, description and self examination and it was a thrill to read, for me faultless writing and ingenious in its delivery
Interestingly Simon enjoyed the second half more whereas I preferred the first but the first bit led to the 2nd well and tbh the story was never far from intriguing
The complex world of spys and how they view their world is thoroughly delved into and I would have expected on finishing I had read a 600 page book not 400 but no word is wasted, it all means something or is a part of a vital feeling or action so am guessing that’s why
Am going to watch ‘Slow Horses’ and without doubt read this authors other works, of course there is much to catch up on….😎
A good investment of time spent on this novel novel ( ahhh well sorry about that )

Marty Fried

This story will certainly appeal to all the Slough House fans, of which I am most definitely one of. It's one of my favorites, one of the few I want to reread.

In this book, there's some overlap with the Slough House series. In one story, David Cartwright appears (aka O.B., he's River Cartwright's grandfather, and was apparently a legend in the secret service. He seems to get a message from a woman named Diana, who may be The Lady Di of the Slough House series).

And I just came across, under a different name, Jackson Lamb, or a clone. They don't mention the name Jackson Lamb in the book, but if you're a fan of that series, I think it will be obvious which one he is.

I've finished the book now. I liked it a lot, but then, I expected to; Mick Herron is one of my favorites and this book was very similar to his Slough House series. Gerard Doyle did an excellent job narrating the audiobook, but having the ebook available helps a lot because some of the names got a bit confusing at times to me. For one thing, some characters had more than one name, depending on time and place. It was interesting, though temporarily disconcerting, when a character from the past turned out to be a character in the present. But that's to be expected from this author. He keeps you on your toes. This is why I will probably reread at least the first two or three of the Slough House series, to catch all the parts I probably missed.

Tania

Some of my friends with similar taste have been raving about this author. Earlier this year I read
Slow Horses but wasn't blown away - I though maybe this was because it was the first book in a series and most of the book was just an introduction to the cast of characters.

When I heard that Mick Herron is releasing a stand alone novel I hoped that I would enjoy this one more. But although the writing is good, the characters are interesting and the story full of twists and turns, I've just come to the realisation that I really do not enjoy spy novels at all.

Perri

Even though billed as a stand-alone, I think only those who have read his previous books can wholly appreciate it. After a thrilling opening, the pace slowed waaay down and even a devotee like me, wasn’t sure where Herron was heading. But I knew enough to trust Herron and keep reading for the pay- off. This one is his gift to his fans.

Cecil

Okay, so they are marketing this book as a stand-alone, and a good “introduction” to the Slow Horses universe. But, and this is a big BUT, parts of it will only make sense if you’ve read the Slow Horses series AND it contains multiple spoilers for some of the best reveals over the course of the Slow Horses series. SO - if you haven’t read the SH series, do yourself a favor and read them first. And if you HAVE read the SH series, have a rollicking good time picking up the meta-fictional bread crumbs Herron strews so promiscuously along the path he lays here.

What my stars mean:

5 — Loved it and will unfriend you if you didn’t at least enjoy it.

4 — Quite enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend.

3 — Didn’t like it myself, but can understand why other readers might.

2 — Didn’t like it, and can’t imagine anyone I know who would.

1 — Would rather stick a fork in my eye than read anything else by this author

Lynn

There are political machinations behind an inquiry into MI5's alleged transgressions in Berlin in 1994. The inquiry is sparked in no small part by the rancorous relationship the British prime Minister and First Desk have. Two civil servants are assigned to lead the inquiry dubbed Monochrome. It will be an endless task of meaningless work for Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle as First Desk will thwart any attempts at obtaining useful information.

Technically, this is not a Slough House book and can be read as a standalone espionage novel; however, there is additional context and enjoyment for readers who are fans of that series. Mick Herron's intricate plotting is the star of this book as the pieces slowly fall togther. And even then you won't know until you know.

Another fantastic book by Mick Herron, an auto-read author for me now.

Dan Banana

If you enjoy books about paperwork and mundane activities and work issues and tedious activities of soul destroying proportions then here it is and then 68% in some action. Well written and painful.

Michael crage

This one of those few books that I disliked in so many ways that I gave it one star even though I read it to where it quit (Not end, it had no decent ending). I did not enjoy the authors writing, his plot (?) was horrible. I did not like any of the characters. I am not going to tell you anything about them, I am just going to suggest you don't waste your time reading it.

Clbplym

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the Slough House series. It is a clever prequel but took too long to get going, I thought.

Kasa Cotugno

I do love the way this guy writes, and this standalone has elements familiar to readers of his Slow Horses series, with even a standin for Lamb.

Tony da Napoli

I pretty much never give five stars but having read the entire Slow Horses (Slough House) series in order, this prequel-sequel is the best of the lot. This is not a Slow Horses story per se.
Disclaimer: I don't review well and leave details to those with the skill. Just share my take.
Herron is an excellent writer. If you have been a fan/reader, you would have to agree. Having been a while since the last Slough House series book, I had forgotten his keen cutting wit and gallows humor, and it was a treat to be immersed in it again. He makes me laugh out loud... bear in mind it is Brit wit.
This book closes loopholes and gaps that were in the series but not really noticeable. Without risking spoiling, knowing it is a prequel and a sequel should tell you enough about where it is taking you.
Extremely well done, moving forward and backward in time but smoothly keeping the connections between both.
I am pretty sure I will be doing a reread of this one.
It could stand alone, but you would miss so very much rewarding story telling without the background. I would add that you may want to read this in one go. If you leave it and come back it will take a while to "rethread" it.
Can't recommend this enough. Best of the year-to-date for me.

Paula

Superb, Herron surpasses himself with this one. Impossible to review without spoilers.
I've so missed ultra clever authors since Reginald Hill passed.

Bridget

Another brilliant novel from Mick Herron. It’s not Slow Horses, but it’s Slow Horses adjacent, being the back story of one of the characters in the series. He duped me though, I was convinced I was reading one person’s story but I easily wrong, it was revealed towards the end that it was another story. I had a big ahhhh moment.
You’ll want to read this book if you’re hooked on Slough House and its inhabitants. I really enjoyed it.

Chip

Mick Herron can’t get any better. And yet, then he does. Again, and again.

Rosemary Standeven

I had thought that this would be a prequel to the Slough House series, but that wasn’t quite right. Yes, it does (eventually) give some background to some of the Slough House characters, but at least half of the book takes place in the present, and it is a while before any recognisable characters appear, except a probable sighting of Lady Di (the personality fits).
The book starts with a narrow escape from assassins by Max Janaček, who is woken in the night as they try to break into his house in the countryside. Who he is, and why he has been targeted, you need to wait until near the end to find out, though given the series, the odds are that he is a former spy (but whose?).
An investigation into the workings of MI5 has been instigated by the Machiavellian Sparrow – the Monochrome Investigation alluded to in ‘Standing by the Wall’ – in the hope something illegal will turn up, allowing Sparrow (and Judd) to dismantle MI5, and to create a new private enterprise that is directly answerable to the Prime Minister. Malcolm Kyle and Griselda Fleet are the two main civil servants tasked with carrying this unenviable task out. Of course, Lady Di is dead against it, and makes sure they have almost no access to anything of import.
That all changes when a file is dropped into Malcolm’s shopping trolley, a new ‘witness’ is called – and the real story we want starts.
We are transported back to Berlin 1994, to a British Intelligence house (Spook House), where a neophyte spook, Alison North, has been sent by David Cartwright (River’s grandfather, the OB) to report on the operations and finances of the post.
It soon gets interesting, as we are introduced to the scruffy, rude, whisky-drinking Brinsley Miles (sound familiar?), and follow him, Alison, and Miles’ friend Otis as they work their way through strip clubs and seedy bars.
Two minor characters from previous books - John Bachelor and Dickie Bow – make short appearances.
It all comes together at the end, and we find out what the significance of the photo in ‘Standing by the Wall’ was, and learn something new about the history of some old friends (and enemies).
Brilliant as always and highly recommended.

Nick Brett

This is not a “Slough House” story, but it is set in the same world but mainly in Berlin after the collapse of the wall. It’s a game of “Joes” and shadows as a new recruit is sent over to do an audit, and with a side mission to report back on concerns that the spooks over there have gone a bit native. And, of course, there might be a leak somewhere too.
The story is told through a modern day commission tasked with reviewing some allegations but in reality expected to find nothing and just suck up time. The whole review is set up by a vindictive PM and his chief advisor (with very close similarity to real people) but a shock photo is discovered that might be crucial and changes everything.

It’s a story of a time in history with the author’s great ability in terms of character and dialogue. His clever plotting and sense of place and sly humour is here as usual and, while this is not a Slough House novel, it is essential reading for fans of that series.

Title	:	The Secret Hours
Author	:	Mick Herron
Rating	:
ISBN	:	164129521X
ISBN-10	:	9781641295215
Language	:	English
Format Type	:	Hardcover
Number of Pages	:	384
Publication	:	First published September 14, 2023

The Secret Hours by Mick Herron

The Secret Hours Reviews

The Secret Hours Reviews

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