Slow Horses

Slough House, Book 1

By: Mick Herron

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Slough House is Jackson Lamb’s kingdom; a dumping ground for members of the intelligence service who’ve screwed up: left a secret file on a train, blown surveillance, or become drunkenly unreliable. They’re the service’s poor relations – the slow horses – and bitterest among them is River Cartwright, whose days are spent transcribing mobile phone conversations. But when a young man is abducted, and it’s threatened that he’ll be beheaded live on the Internet, River sees an opportunity to redeem him.

Is the victim who he first appears to be? And what’s the kidnappers’ connection with a disgraced journalist? As the clock ticks on the execution, River finds that everyone involved has their own agenda….

©2010 Mick Herron (P)2010 Isis Publishing Ltd

a pleasure to listen to

First work of Mick Herron I have found. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Entertainingly written and Sean Barret's performance was spot on.

Great spy thriller!

A clever, well plotted story with wonderful comlicated filling drawn characters. If you are fond of British spy thrillers gave this book a try.

Intelligent, plausible and restrained.

What did you love best about Slow Horses?

Perhaps it is the combination of an interesting plot development without " boy's own" shenanigans. Just as there is an audience for the representations of mega brutality and endless car chase-like scenes, there is also an audience for intelligent, persuasive story with talented, well written character development. This novel excels in the latter category. There is no sidestepping of a truth..it is quietly alluded to and left to a listener's intelligence.

What did you like best about this story?

The lack of over explanation and mindless minutiae. Instead of limiting the listener's imagination, the writer encourages the listener to imagine their own version. This very clever enabling works magnificently to draw a person into the story's machinery.

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

Ah Sean. One never tires of listening to his vocal range and restrained but emotive characterisations. But why didn't you try " doing" Joanna Lumley's voice Mr Barrett? I know. Because this actor is an exemplar when it comes to doing justice to any audiobook.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Have to admit I was hooked in when the rag tag collection of " losers" galvanise themselves into action. It is a well known device, I know, but somehow it felt better written than many others we have seen or read.even if an IT " geek" is once again the background star of the event. Here is an idea for a novel. A handsome, urbane, well dressed IT specialist, with loads of real friends, teaches everyone in the office how to hack into...whatever...and goes home to an amazing life leaving the others to tap away on their computers and save the situation. Never seen that character.

Any additional comments?

Perhaps this story has been told before. Misfits making good is not an original idea. Nor is the idea that " those higher up" made it there through no skill of their own and on the shoulders of others. What makes this novel for me is the clean, concise writing.

* MARVELLOUS HUMOUR * * VERY ENJOYABLE *

Yes, it takes a while to get going, but that's because we are being introduced to the characters. This is not a boring introduction to them because of the subtle humour. Keep with it, as the others say. Great story.

I would say that the humour is brought out by the clever Sean Barrett. My favourite, favourite narrator. If someone else had read it, they may not have given due justice to the humour Mick Herron was intending.

I will definitely follow this up with the next in the Slough House series. I'm on to it right now.

Most Enjoyable

Great interesting novel and the narrator was very good to listen to.
Highly recommend for John Le Carre fans or spy thrillers

great procedural novel

slow horses was a no brainer as far as interesting stories go - who can resist the underdog. I usually go to sleep with english narrators, but this one kept me listening without a break.

Slough House series

I have now listened to 5 of the books in this series. I have thouroughly enjoyed them all. The stories are griping the twists interesting and well executed and the narration is superb.

Reject spies win the day

Wonderfully written and beautifully performed. A clever, gripping and very funny story of sidelined spies.

Slow Horses = Slow Story

I read the reviews recommending this series, forewarned that it was slow at first. Well, it was thoroughly slow....just kept plodding along. I found it difficult to root for any of the characters. I decided not to continue the series.

One of the best!

Wonderful writing, vivid characters, arresting descriptions!
And the PLOT!!! I've listen to a lot of books, but this plot was new to me and I loved it.
Perfect narration, too