Clown town by Mick Herron

Starting a new book by Nick Herron about his wonderful group of misfits, the slow horses, set aside by MI5 to a dilapidated building a long way from anywhere, Finnsbury, is like walking through treacle, the reader has little idea of where they are headed, and only the most observant will pick up clues along the way. In number nine in this series, Slough House, Jackson Lamb is at his most formidable, sparring with Lady Di, now First Desk at MI5, who is consistently seeking out those who conspire against her. She and Lamb have history, hinted at but never revealed, and their clandestine meetings at the Barbican Gardens reveal her unease at the helm.

Recently River Cartwright has had an email from the PHD student at Oxford, putting together his grandfather’s library, but she says, one book is missing. Meanwhile the leader of a group of four, called the Brains Trust, sent to Northern Ireland during The Troubles, to monitor and support an informant, attempts to blackmail Lady Di into helping his crew, all approaching poverty in their late middle age. When Peter Judd approaches Lady Di to lobby on his behalf, he has little idea of how powerful she can be. She has received help from Judd, former MP and now working behind the scenes, but finding that his finances came through many channels leading back to China, feels he holds as a sword over her head. She must try and rid herself of this problem. The threat from the Brains Trust gives her the vehicle to put a convoluted plan into action.

Manipulation and subterfuge, cross and double cross, truths and half truths, all converge in this journey to the truth which remains slippery until the end. River and Sid, still recovering from their injuries, are the perfect tools for Lady Di. They are not operating at full strength, are unsure of their futures and vulnerable to suggestion, just the traits needed by Lady Di to use as puppets in her game.

But she underestimates the loyalty of Jackson Lamb to his joes.

Themes: Crime, Spies, Intrigue, Humour.

Fran Knight