London Rules by Mick Herron, Book Review

When I was young I naively thought that most professionals were competent and did a decent job – politicians, doctors, lawyers, estate agents, spies, … that mistakes were the exception and not the rule. If you watch James Bond or Mission Impossible, everything works out, everyone is clever and skilled and competent, at killing, at evading certain death, at picking up women … slick.

Now that I’m on the no-return side of getting old, I know better. Most so-called experts bumble along, cover their arses and put on a good show. And refreshingly, the author Mick Herron has the guts and humour to portrait reality. 

Slough House is the security service’s solution to what to do with spent, incompetent and broken spies and agents. This tiny fiefdom of the British spy world is ruled and guarded by a rude, profane and fierce troll. Jackson Lamb is a man with nothing to lose and nothing to live for either, with the exception perhaps of looking after his pathetic family of lost souls. With biting cynicism and a sharp intelligence, he will use any means, fair or foul, to protect his own, even when they screw up and court disaster. His disregard for manners or political correctness is hilarious – North American readers may be bemused with his contemporary spin on rhyming slang when he says he has to go for a Donald – such a large one he has to flush twice! 

But what of the plot? The prime minister is in trouble, political machinations are spinning out of control and a group of terrorists is running amok – what can MI5 do about it? And what part will the ‘Slow Horses’ from Slough House play in this deadly game of subterfuge and intrigue? 

London Rules, the fifth in this ever-improving series, is pacey and clever, a study in dialogue and character and ultimately a superbly entertaining read. It works as a stand-alone, but I imagine you will want to read the previous ones if you haven't already. I can’t wait to see what trouble the Slough House cretins get up to next and what rabbit Jackson Lamb has to pull out of the hat to save them once again. 

Published by John Murray on Feb 8^th 2018.