Slow Horses -> Slough House

Several months ago I decided to check out Slow Horses. This is a drama on Apple TV that has gotten solid attention. It has won several awards and since it is a “spy” story, it intrigued me. It also has Gary Oldman, who I tend to enjoy, but the first few episodes didn’t grab my attention and I dropped it for other things.

Then I learned that it was based on a book series called Slough House. I saw one of Mitch Herron’s books on a table at Barnes and Nobels with a promo sticker referring to the show. I was curious, especially when a few reviews mentioned John le Carré as a comparison.

It turns out the books are great. They are a perfect blend of dry humor, spy craft, mystery, and suspense. Nearly every character is deeply flawed, yet you can’t help but root for them to get through whatever bizarre circumstance this ragtag bunch finds themselves caught up in.

I have blown through the first three books and just started the fourth, Spook Street. If you are a fan of le Carré, slightly messy heroes(?), or dry humour, I’d pick up Slow Horses and give it a read. There are currently nine books and a few novellas. I would recommend following the order. The characters grow and change with each book, even if the throughlines in the stories are not particularly broad.

Heck, I have enjoyed them so much I might go back and give the TV show another shot. Sometimes seeing how the screenwriters turn a book into a show adds to the fun.