She’d heard once of a long-distance hiker, way before the days of e-readers, who’d carried a novel over the Alps, tearing out and discarding each page as he read it, to lighten his load. There was a lot to be said for that. For a baggage-free existence, each moment of your story jettisoned as soon as done; your future pristine, undiluted by all that’s gone before. You’d always be on the first page. Never have to turn back, relive your mistakes.
Slough House on Aldersgate Street is where all the screw ups have gone. The “slow horses” who are alcoholic, or hooked on coke, or in some way have made a mess of a case and been relegated to this building of shame.
Except they’re so likeable it’s hard to be scornful of their situation. Rather, one feels a certain amount of empathy, and a hope that the tight-assed superiors of Regent’s Park, such as Dame Ingrid Tearney, will get theirs.
I love the sparkling wit, so often comprised of sarcasm, which Herron bestows on his characters. Just as I have enjoyed Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels for the humor and beautifully developed characters, so I feel an affinity toward Mick Herron’s. What a pity it’s taken me his third book of the Slough House series, Real Tigers, to find them.
Thanks to SoHo Press for the introduction.
I will keep this book in mind and author, Bellezza. Happy New Year!
(P.S. Don’t leave this book in the snow for too long or it may get ruined.)
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this trailer brings to mind Steinbeck’s cannery Row which my book club is about to read in January. Then I’ll probably ask to borrow Real Tigers 🙂
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I’ll save it for you. The humor, the dialogue, is so very witty.
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Happy New Year, Bellezza! Just a long shot of a reading goal: both Stefanie and I are planning to finish The Guermantes Way this year. So let’s do it together. I think you’re almost finished with it the last time we were on it. It’s just me that you two were waiting? Anyway, I’m aiming for it… a whole year to do it. 😉
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Yes, Arti, I’ll read Guermantes Way to the end with you and Stefanie this year; only, I fear I just begin again as so much time as lapsed. Thank you for the reminder, and repeat invitation! xo
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I will be checking out a Mick Herron book in the not too distant future. Thanks for the recommendation!
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I loved Slow Horses, but haven’t got around to Dead Lions yet. Glad to know the third book is up to scratch.
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I wish I would have read Slow Horses first (or, at all)! I suspect it lays crucial groundwork for understanding the characters. Still, I was so able to enjoy the portrayal of each personality as well as the perfectly drawn mystery. I’ll look for Slow Horses, and I’m glad you know of which I write.
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I love sparkling wit in any book! Sounds like a winner!
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[…] Real Tigers by Mick Herron […]
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