Search results for ""Mick Herron" "Real Tigers""

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE BOOK BEHIND THE THIRD SEASON OF SLOW HORSES, THE APPLE ORIGINAL SERIES STARRING GARY OLDMAN IN HIS EMMY-NOMINATED ROLE AS JACKSON LAMB. When one of their own is kidnapped, the washed-up MI5 operatives of Slough House—the Slow Horses, as they're known—outwit rogue agents at the very highest levels of British Intelligence, and even to Downing Street itself.London: Slough House is the MI5 branch where disgraced operatives are reassigned after they’ve messed up too badly to be trusted with real intelligence work. The “Slow Horses,” as the failed spies of Slough House are called, are doomed to spend the rest of their careers pushing paper, but they all want back in on the action.When one of their own is kidnapped and held for ransom, the agents of Slough House must defeat the odds, overturning all expectations of their competence, to breach the top-notch security of MI5’s intelligence headquarters, Regent’s Park, and steal valuable intel in exchange for their comrade’s safety. The kidnapping is only the tip of the iceberg, however—the agents uncover a larger web of intrigue that involves not only a group of private mercenaries but the highest authorities in the Secret Service. After years spent as the lowest on the totem pole, the Slow Horses suddenly find themselves caught in the midst of a conspiracy that threatens not only the future of Slough House, but of MI5 itself.

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Discover The Secret Hours, the gripping new thriller from Mick Herron and an unmissable read for Slough House fans**Now a major TV series starring Gary Oldman*''The finest British spy fiction of the past 20 years'' MetroSlough House is the Intelligence Service outpost for failed spies, former high-fliers now dubbed the ''slow horses''. Catherine Standish, one of their number, worked in Regent''s Park long enough to understand treachery, double-dealing and stabbing in the back, and she''s known Jackson Lamb long enough to have learned that old sins cast long shadows. And she also knows that chance encounters never happen to spooks, even recovering drunks whose careers have crashed and burned.What she doesn''t know is why anyone would target her.So whoever''s holding her hostage, it can''t be personal. It must be about Slough House. Most likely, it''s about Jackson Lamb. And say what you lTrade ReviewHerron's Slough House novels are the finest new crime series this Millennium . . . Funny and thrilling in equal measure, Real Tigers is an absolute joy * Mail on Sunday *Satire, verbal sparring and gunfights are deftly combined in an excellently written novel permeated by Herron's sly, dry and very English sense of humour - rather as if Philip Larkin or Alan Bennett had had a go at spy fiction * Sunday Times *Real Tigers has revitalised the spy thriller genre * Sunday Express *In the grand tradition of British espionage writing: no 007-style mayhem, but a narrative involving rogue agents and a kidnapped spy that is both sardonically funny and pleasingly complex * Independent *A pulsating spy thriller * Daily Express *The great spy novelists - Ambler, Greene, le Carré, Deighton - pull off the difficult double act of showing that the business of espionage is simultaneously deadly serious and highly risible: office politics on a grand scale. These writers, without downplaying the dangers of spying, refuse to take the spies as seriously as they take themselves. They have a kindred spirit in Mick Herron . . . There is a near-constant stream of crackling, scabrous dialogue . . . Herron's casual observations are beautifully phrased . . . With his poet's eye for detail, his comic timing and relish for violence, Herron fills a gap that has been yawning ever since Len Deighton retired * Daily Telegraph *A masterful third spy novel from the gifted Herron . . . He has been published only by an American firm until now, in spite of the fact that he is British and his stories are set in this country. Now, all three books appear here, and Herron will, at last, receive the recognition that his talent richly deserves . . . Deliciously tongue-in-cheek and with a striking serpentine construction, it is a thriller that moves Herron close to the class of Graham Greene * Daily Mail *The Slough House series of which Real Tigers is the third instalment, is surely among the finest British spy fiction of the past 20 years. Where Mick Herron's contemporaries stumble through thickets of cliché, his fiction feels fresh and real . . . a narrative of breathtaking ingenuity. Brilliant * Metro *Herron, like all good novelists, manufactures his own form of reality and persuades his readers to subscribe to it. The satire is streaked with violence, which itself has elements of visual comedy. The dialogue is sharp and the prose is dark and sardonic. Underlying everything is a sense of outrage about the corruption within the Establishment. This is not the sort of novel where you're likely to find positive portraits of Old Etonians. But if you read one spy novel this year, read Real Tigers. Better still, read the whole series * The Spectator *All the action you might want from an espionage thriller is to be found in Real Tigers, with betrayal, double-dealing and a fantastically violent climax in an underground facility but the true pleasures of Mick Herron's Gold Dagger-winning Slough House series lie elsewhere: in the sharp wit and dry irony and elegant grace of the prose, the razor-sharp characterisation; and above all, the authorial overview: sophisticated and intelligent, satirical but never tipping into pastiche . . . Think Le Carré with fewer posh people and laugh-out-loud funny. Mick Herron is the real deal * Irish Times *This third Slough House novel proves Herron has the comedy and eye to rival Len Deighton * Sunday Telegraph *What a find! It is the third in a series of witty, cynical and immensely original books . . . The story, though good is not the main reason to read this book. Rather, it is its elegant style, original viewpoint, dry wit and spring-to-life characters, some recognisable. I think Herron's is the next big name in crime fiction * Literary Review *Probably the best literary spy fiction you'll read this year * Choice *Both sardonically funny and pleasingly complex * i *Authentic espionage thriller * Sun *I absolutely loved Real Tigers. It's a decidedly British spy novel written with distinctly American noir panache. Herron has a natural talent for creating and portraying characters that are instantly understandable, relatable, and more than occasionally despicable. A real treat -- Roger Hobbs, author of GHOSTMANBeautiful, wicked writing married to a wonderful black cynicism. You won't want to think the world works like this but Herron's version is horribly persuasive -- Harry Bingham, author of THIS THING OF DARKNESSDamn it, this man's good. This is the espionage game stripped of its posturing and played out without a James Bond or a Jason Bourne in sight, but with a keener wit, a telling conscience, and better jokes. I loved it -- Helen Giltrow, author of THE DISTANCEThis tale of rogue spies is brilliantly written, excellently plotted and darkly funny. One of the best crime novels of the year -- Martyn Waites, author of THE MERCY SEATSizzlingly stylish, ferociously funny and fiercely intelligent, Mick Herron has managed to breathe new life into the spy novel. With its deft, elaborate plotting and brilliantly flawed characters, Real Tigers is a one hell of a ride -- Stav Sherez, author of ELEVEN DAYSIn Real Tigers, Mick Herron has crafted a truly standout spy thriller. Witty, urbane, filled with acute observations, endlessly quotable lines and a cast of wonderfully jaded agents who I look forward to spending time with for many more books to come. An utter delight -- Chris Ewan, author of SAFE HOUSEThe disgraced spies at MI5's Slough House must try to save one of their own in CWA Gold Dagger Award-winner Herron's outstanding third thriller featuring uncouth Jackson Lamb and crew . . . Herron expertly juggles multiple plot lines and fully formed characters, injecting everything with a jolt of black humour * Publisher's Weekly *The latest instalment in the eventful days and sleepless nights of the denizens of Slough House is another sheer delight . . . Herron wonderfully blends the thriller element and the humane as he orchestrates a most complex but believable plot like a watchmaker. At times darkly hilarious, at others gripping and intense, this confirms Herron and his series as a future classic. Get onboard now * lovereading *[A] twisted tale of real intelligence . . . Herron's second Slough House book, Dead Lions was the Crime Writers' Association's Novel of the Year in 2013 but it, and he, remained under the radar. With this new work, the third in the series, he's unlikely to stay a secret for much longer * Esquire *CWA Goldsboro Gold Dagger Winner, Mick Herron employs a quick filmic cross-cutting method in the third of his Slough House series . . . If Herron could manipulate the Service the way he has constructed Real Tigers many of us might feel more secure about the future. In the meantime, quake * Shots *Herron has written another cracker. He won the CWA Goldsboro Gold Dagger in 2013 for Dead Lions, and it's not too much of a stretch of the imagination to think he might win it again. All the things that made the other books in the series such a success are present again. Machiavellian plotting, sly humour, characters so compromised but so well-drawn you won't be sure if he wants them to win or lose, and topical satire - this time the thorny issue of extraordinary rendition. All in all Real Tigers is another dazzling effort and I can't wait to read what Mick Herron writes next * Crime Fiction Lover *Simply loved love the writing style, particularly the narrator's occasional asides that are wry, humorous and more than once make you giggle with their sharp, dry wit. I will, however, say that in common with all the other Slough House novels, it's a genuine rollercoaster of a ride and best of all Heron has no qualms about body count and killing off established characters, so expect to squeal occasionally and gasp "No!!!" when a body turns up * crimewarp.co.uk *It is impossible not to be impressed by Herron's use of language. He is able to express himself so neatly and frequently presents the reader with epigrammatic comments . . . a thoroughly entertaining tale * Crime Review *Combines the spy thriller with farce in a manner befitting a country that puts Coco the Clown in charge of the Secret Intelligence Service * Evening Standard *Cleverly plotted and beautifully written * Daily Record *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Pre-order Clown Town, the ninth novel in Mick Herron''s Slough House series, now**Now an award-winning Apple TV+ series starring Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Jack Lowden*''The most exciting development in spy fiction since the Cold War'' The Times''To have been lucky enough to play Smiley in one''s career; and now go and play Jackson Lamb in Mick Herron''s novels - the heir, in a way, to le Carré - is a terrific thing'' Gary Oldman****Spooks are supposed to be stealthy . . . But those who make a noisy mess of their careers end up in Slough House.This is Jackson Lamb''s kingdom: a dumping ground for spies who''ve screwed up. Once high fliers, they''re now slow horses, condemned to a life of pushing paper as punishment for crimes of drugs and drunkenness, lechery and failure, politics and betrayal. In drab and mildewed offices, these highly trained spies moan and squabble, stare at the walls, and dream of better days - not one of them joined the Intelligence Service to be a slow horse, and the one thing they have in common is their desire to be back in the action.So when a young man is kidnapped and held hostage, his beheading scheduled for live broadcast on the net, the slow horses aren''t going to just sit quietly and watch. And unless they can prove they''re not as useless as they''re thought to be, a public execution is going to echo round the world.''The most enjoyable British spy novel in years'' Mail on Sunday''The new spy master'' Evening StandardTrade ReviewPraise for Mick Herron's Jackson Lamb series: * . *The new spy master * Evening Standard *Jackson Lamb - the most fascinating and irresistible thriller series hero to emerge since Jack Reacher * Sunday Times *As a master of wit, satire, insight . . . Herron is difficult to overpraise * Daily Telegraph *The finest new crime series this Millennium * Mail on Sunday *The best modern British spy series * Daily Express *The John le Carré of our generation * Val McDermid *Mick Herron is the real deal * Irish Times *If you read one spy novel this year, read Real Tigers. Better still, read the whole series * Andrew Taylor, The Spectator *Surely among the finest British spy fiction of the past 20 years * Metro *With his poet's eye for detail, his comic timing and relish for violence, Herron fills a gap that has been yawning ever since Len Deighton retired * Daily Telegraph *The most enjoyable spy novel in years * Mail on Sunday *A funny, stylish, satirical, gripping story * Guardian *I was delighted to discover that this is merely the first in a captivating series * Herald *The first of his series about MI5 and a character called Jackson Lamb, one of the great monsters of modern fiction. He's a wonderfully cynical writer and there's a lot of dark humour in it. I'm not clever enough to write this sort of thing * Daily Express *I was delighted to discover Mick Herron's riotous Slow Horses series about the black sheep of MI5 * Big Issue *For something really gripping, head for Mick Herron's Jackson Lamb series, in which a sidelined spook and his cohorts battle their way back to the centre of a life of espionage. Begin with Slow Horses and enjoy * Observer *Mick Herron's Slow Horses series has all the thrills of John Le Carre or Len Deighton with a black humour * Daily Mail (Scotland) *One of the most consistently enjoyable literary achievements of the past decade * The Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Discover The Secret Hours, the gripping new thriller from Mick Herron and an unmissable read for Slough House fans**Now a major TV series starring Gary Oldman*'To have been lucky enough to play Smiley in one's career; and now go and play Jackson Lamb in Mick Herron's novels - the heir, in a way, to le Carré - is a terrific thing' Gary OldmanSlough House is the outpost where disgraced spies are banished to see out the rest of their derailed careers. Known as the 'slow horses' these misfits have committed crimes of drugs and drunkenness, lechery and failure, politics and betrayal while on duty.In this drab and mildewed office these highly trained spies don't run ops, they push paper. Not one of them joined the Intelligence Service to be a slow horse and the one thing they have in common is they want to be back in the action.'The most exciting development in spy fiction since the Cold War' The Times 'The most enjoyable British spy novel in years' Mail on Sunday'The new spy master' Evening StandardTrade ReviewPraise for Mick Herron's Jackson Lamb series: * . *The new spy master * Evening Standard *Jackson Lamb - the most fascinating and irresistible thriller series hero to emerge since Jack Reacher * Sunday Times *As a master of wit, satire, insight . . . Herron is difficult to overpraise * Daily Telegraph *The finest new crime series this Millennium * Mail on Sunday *The best modern British spy series * Daily Express *The John le Carré of our generation * Val McDermid *Mick Herron is the real deal * Irish Times *If you read one spy novel this year, read Real Tigers. Better still, read the whole series * Andrew Taylor, The Spectator *Surely among the finest British spy fiction of the past 20 years * Metro *With his poet's eye for detail, his comic timing and relish for violence, Herron fills a gap that has been yawning ever since Len Deighton retired * Daily Telegraph *The most enjoyable spy novel in years * Mail on Sunday *A funny, stylish, satirical, gripping story * Guardian *I was delighted to discover that this is merely the first in a captivating series * Herald *The first of his series about MI5 and a character called Jackson Lamb, one of the great monsters of modern fiction. He's a wonderfully cynical writer and there's a lot of dark humour in it. I'm not clever enough to write this sort of thing * Daily Express *I was delighted to discover Mick Herron's riotous Slow Horses series about the black sheep of MI5 * Big Issue *For something really gripping, head for Mick Herron's Jackson Lamb series, in which a sidelined spook and his cohorts battle their way back to the centre of a life of espionage. Begin with Slow Horses and enjoy * Observer *Mick Herron's Slow Horses series has all the thrills of John Le Carre or Len Deighton with a black humour * Daily Mail (Scotland) *One of the most consistently enjoyable literary achievements of the past decade * The Times *

Read more less