A Book A Week

The plethora of streaming services in the entertainment industry has led to a wide variety of content, and many TV shows have their origins in literature. This is precisely the case with the acclaimed spy thriller series on Apple TV+, Slow Horses. As I approached the first season's conclusion, I realized it was adapted from Mick Herron's 2010 novel of the same name. Eager to experience the original source material without spoiling the show's conclusion, I paused my viewing and delved into the book instead.

The world is filled with stories of heroic secret agents who save the day. From James Bond to Jason Bourne, these thrilling adventures capture our imaginations, creating a romanticized view of espionage. But what about the agents who mess up? Indeed, not every mission goes as planned, let alone is successful. No, there are inevitably a few mishaps here and there, and those responsible for them must be handled with care. In the case of Britain's MI5, the "slow horses," as they're called, find themselves separated from the rest of the force, consigned to the disheveled Slough House—a last resort where the blacklisted agents will spend the remainder of their careers doing nothing more than busywork.

Slough House is the last place River Cartwright ever thought he would find himself. As the grandson of a decorated agent, he believed he would follow in his grandfather's legendary footsteps. Unfortunately, River was betrayed by a colleague and bungled a critical mission. Now, he stands on the steps of Slough House, left to try to pick up the pieces of his shattered career. When a young Pakistani student is kidnapped by a far-right group that plans to live-stream their victim's murder, River sees this as an opportunity to honor his duty and redeem himself. It won't be easy, especially as he is meant to remain in the shadows as a pencil pusher for the rest of his career, but River will stop at nothing to try to regain his spot as an agent.

In Slow Horses, Mick Herron envisions a group of antiheroes I couldn't help but cheer for. Unlike the polished agents in Ian Fleming's world, they are a band of misfits, each selfishly striving to escape the purgatory of Slough House and return to the glory of being an active agent. After a compelling start, the novel takes some time to find its footing. I'll confess to feeling a bit weary as Herron introduced each of the "slow horses" and the various elements of the plot. Around the halfway point, however, the story's trajectory began to unfold, and I could not put the book down. The characters bring a wit that injects much-needed levity into the weightier subject matter, resulting in a thrilling read and a promising start to the series.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 18)