Mick Herron’s Slough House novels have been called some of the best spy fiction out there today. It also has inspired the enormously successful Apple TV+ series “Slow Horses,” starring Oscar winner Gary Oldman.

CLOWN TOWN, the ninth Slough House book, deals with a direct threat to the spies or spooks everywhere via a dark secret that is related to the late grandfather of one of our Slow Horses. For those new to the series, the Slow Horses are a group of disgraced or outcast spies who work on investigations often unwanted or unknown to the powers that be who control them. They are led by the snarky and odoriferous Jackson Lamb, who frequently challenges his boss, MI5 First Desk Diana Taverner.

"Mick Herron has no problem depicting the dangers related to the spy game, and not all of the Slow Horses will survive this latest assignment. CLOWN TOWN is a solid read and a terrific entry in a modern-day spy series that never disappoints."

One of Lamb’s top operatives, River Cartwright, was gravely injured in a previous novel when he came into contact with a powerful nerve toxin that nearly cost him his life. He is now attempting to work his way back into commission, even though First Desk has classified him as permanently disabled. However, his support will be of immense value in this latest case that threatens the entire agency. A book disappears from the library of Cartwright’s late grandfather that may contain top-secret information about a mission involving IRA informant Dougie Malone that went horribly wrong. Before any cover-up can occur, the book and its contents must be recovered, so everyone is on high alert.

The word “clown” is used to describe old spies or those who are no longer a valuable asset in the spy game. It turns out that a group of clowns not only may be behind this theft but is personally responsible for the murder of Malone, who was being investigated by them. They feel that they were betrayed by their own superiors and hung out to dry. As a result, they are now a major threat to MI5 and the UK’s prime minister, and must be uncovered before they do any more damage.

The Slow Horses, who are literally working at the location known as Slough House, are engaged in this mission, especially due to the involvement of Cartwright, whose own mission ends up running parallel to theirs. Similar to the streaming series, this novel is told in rapid style with multiple storylines happening in successive fashion.

Mick Herron has no problem depicting the dangers related to the spy game, and not all of the Slow Horses will survive this latest assignment. CLOWN TOWN is a solid read and a terrific entry in a modern-day spy series that never disappoints.