Summary
Slow Horses by Mick Herron is a gripping espionage thriller and the first installment in the critically acclaimed Slough House series. Introducing readers to the world of Slough House, a dumping ground for disgraced MI5 agents, the novel follows River Cartwright and a group of intelligence operatives who've been relegated to mundane desk jobs due to past mistakes. Herron's witty writing and complex characters have earned the book widespread praise, with many critics hailing it as a fresh take on the spy genre. Published in 2010, Slow Horses was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award.
In 2022, Slow Horses was adapted into a successful television series for Apple TV+, starring Gary Oldman as the curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb and Jack Lowden as River Cartwright.
Plot
Slow Horses introduces us to Slough House, a dumping ground for MI5 agents who've made career-ending mistakes. River Cartwright, bitter about his failure during a training exercise, finds himself among these “slow horses,” relegated to tedious tasks like transcribing phone conversations. When a young man is kidnapped and his captors threaten to broadcast his beheading online, River sees an opportunity for redemption.
As the slow horses begin to investigate the kidnapping, they discover that the victim may not be who he appears to be. The team, comprised of agents with various disgraces in their past, starts to uncover connections between the kidnappers and a disgraced journalist. Meanwhile, River becomes increasingly involved in the case, determined to prove his worth and escape the monotony of Slough House.
The clock ticks down to the potential execution, and the slow horses find themselves racing against time to unravel the mystery. They must navigate complex motivations and hidden agendas, both within their own ranks and in the wider intelligence community. The team's efforts are complicated by their own internal conflicts and the skepticism of their superiors at MI5.
As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that everyone involved has their own agenda. The slow horses must overcome their past failures and work together to save the victim and uncover the truth behind the kidnapping. The story culminates in a tense race to prevent the execution and expose the real motives behind the abduction, with River and his colleagues fighting to redeem themselves and prove their worth as intelligence operatives.
Themes
Redemption and second chances
The nature of intelligence work and bureaucracy
Loyalty versus self-interest
Power dynamics and office politics
Ethics and moral ambiguity in espionage
Identity and self-worth in professional settings
Manipulation and deception in intelligence operations
Setting
Set in contemporary London, Slow Horses unfolds against the backdrop of modern-day espionage and counterterrorism. The story takes place in the post-9/11 era, where the threat of extremism looms large and intelligence agencies grapple with evolving security challenges.
The primary setting is Slough House, a dilapidated office building in a less-than-glamorous part of London. This rundown facility serves as a stark contrast to the sleek headquarters of MI5, symbolizing the fall from grace experienced by the “slow horses”—disgraced spies relegated to mundane tasks. The gritty, urban landscape of London plays a crucial role, with its mix of historic landmarks and modern developments providing a fitting stage for the unfolding drama.
While much of the action centers around Slough House and various London locations, the story also touches on broader geopolitical concerns. References to international tensions and the specter of domestic terrorism underscore the global context in which these intelligence operatives function, even as they're sidelined from the main action.
Characters
River Cartwright: A disgraced MI5 agent relegated to Slough House. Determined to redeem himself and prove his worth, River is intelligent and resourceful despite his past mistakes. He struggles with the tedium of his new position but seizes any opportunity to get back into real spy work. River's ambition and family legacy in espionage drive him to take risks and push boundaries.
Jackson Lamb: The acerbic and slovenly head of Slough House. A veteran spy from the Cold War era, Lamb is cynical, crude, and often deliberately offensive. Despite his outward appearance and behavior, he is highly intelligent and protective of his team. Lamb's experience and cunning make him a formidable opponent to those who underestimate him.
Diana Taverner: The ambitious second-in-command at MI5. Calculating and ruthless, Diana is always looking for ways to advance her career and increase her power within the organization. She is not above manipulating situations and people to achieve her goals, including using the Slow Horses when it suits her purposes.
Sidonie “Sid” Baker: A capable agent mysteriously assigned to Slough House. Sid's true purpose and loyalties are unclear, adding an element of intrigue to her character. Her skills and demeanor suggest she doesn't belong with the other “slow horses,” raising questions about her presence in the group.
Louisa Guy: A former field agent now working at Slough House. Louisa is competent and determined, frustrated by her current position but still dedicated to her work. She develops a romantic relationship with fellow agent Min Harper.
Roddy Ho: The arrogant and socially inept computer expert of Slough House. Roddy's technical skills are valuable to the team, but his personality often grates on his colleagues.
Catherine Standish: Jackson Lamb's long-suffering assistant. A recovering alcoholic with a tragic past, Catherine brings a sense of stability and professionalism to the chaotic Slough House.
Min Harper: A Slough House agent who was demoted for leaving classified information on a train. Min forms a relationship with Louisa Guy during the course of the story.
Hassan Ahmed: A British-Pakistani university student who becomes the kidnapping victim at the center of the plot. His abduction sets the main events of the story in motion.
Robert Hobden: A disgraced conservative journalist with connections to far-right groups. Hobden becomes entangled in the plot when he suspects MI5's involvement in the kidnapping case.
Quick facts
Mick Herron was inspired to shift from detective to spy fiction after experiencing the 2005 London Underground bombings.
Slow Horses was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for best thriller of the year.
Slow Horses gained mainstream success after Waterstones named it their “thriller of the month” in August 2017.
After a recommendation on NPR in 2017, the publisher sold 20,000 copies in a single month.
Herron cites Len Deighton and John le Carré as influences for his spy fiction writing.
Slow Horses is the first in the Slough House series, which now consists of eight books.
Herron wrote Slow Horses while working in the legal department of an employment-issues research firm.
The story features a fictional MI5 department called Slough House, where disgraced agents are sent to work.
A television adaptation starring Gary Oldman premiered on Apple TV+ in April 2022.
About the Author
Mick Herron (1963-) is an internationally acclaimed British author of crime and spy fiction. His work has been praised for its wit, complex characters, and incisive commentary on contemporary British politics and society. After earning an English degree from Balliol College, Oxford, Herron began his literary career in 2003 with the publication of Down Cemetery Road, the first in a four-book series featuring Oxford private detective Zoë Boehm. In 2010, he launched his successful Slough House series with Slow Horses, introducing readers to a group of disgraced MI5 agents exiled from the agency's mainstream.
Despite initial challenges in finding a UK publisher for the series, Herron persistence paid off. The series gained significant recognition, with the second installment, Dead Lions, winning the prestigious Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger in 2013. The Slough House novels have since been shortlisted for numerous awards and adapted into the successful television series Slow Horses, starring Gary Oldman. Herron's writing extends beyond the Slough House universe, encompassing standalone novels, short story collections, and novellas that often intersect with his main series.
Currently residing in Oxford, Herron continues to captivate readers with his unique blend of espionage, humor, and social commentary.
