Every organisation has people who don’t fit in. Slough House is full of MI5 rejects, underachievers and the really talented who don’t fit in: they don’t have any career prospects.
Jackson Lamb is significantly superior to everyone else with a ‘dark’ history in MI5’s headquarters at Regent’s Park. He’s an analyst with field experience, which elevates him in MI5. Except! River Cartwright’s failure was in office politics. He was sabotaged in a surveillance task. This resulted in a theoretical slaughter on the London Underground system, which led to his immediate exile to Slough House. The rest of his staff in Slough House have been sent there to rot even though, or because, they’re talented. The Service hopes they’ll leave. Slow Horses has a great deal of black humour.
The rejects get their opportunity with the kidnapping of a young man who’s threatened with beheading. Jackson skilfully moulds his team together into a coherent problem solving group who drill down on the known-knowns. Personal scores are settled between Slough House and Regent’s Park with wonderful finesse and revenge is served very cold.
Slow Horses is full of humour and droll observation. It’s the first of a series.
Why you should read this book: It’s very well written, witty and a thriller
Why you shouldn’t read this book: You don’t like droll thrillers
Chris
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