The Secret Hours: The Instant Sunday Times Bestselling Thriller from the Author of Slow Horses
£12.30
*An Instant Sunday Times Bestseller and a gripping standalone thriller with a riveting reveal about a disastrous MI5 mission in Cold War Berlin. A dazzling entry-point to Mick Herron’s writing and an unmissable read for Slough House fans*
‘Pure class’ Ian Rankin
‘I doubt I’ll read a more enjoyable novel all year’ Paula Hawkins
‘Pitch-perfect’ Lee Child
‘Terrific’ The Times
‘Never has a work of popular fiction delighted me more’ The Spectator
‘A thriller of immense brilliance’ Sunday Times
Two years ago, the Monochrome inquiry was set up to investigate the British secret service. Monochrome’s mission was to ferret out misconduct, allowing the civil servants seconded to the inquiry, Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle, unfettered access to confidential information in the service archives.
But with progress blocked at every turn, Monochrome is circling the drain . . . Until the OTIS file appears out of nowhere.
What classified secrets does OTIS hold that see a long-redundant spy being chased through Devon’s green lanes in the dark? What happened in a newly reunified Berlin that someone is desperate to keep under wraps? And who will win the battle for the soul of the secret service – or was that decided a long time ago?
Spies and pen-pushers, politicians and PAs, high-flyers, time-servers and burn-outs . . . They all have jobs to do in the daylight. But what they do in the secret hours reveals who they really are.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Baskerville (14 Sept. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 2125 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 398 pages |
| Page numbers source ISBN | 1399800558 |
by Mick C
This book provides an interesting diversion back in time to fill in the back stories of Herron’s Slough House characters. It reflects the decadence of post wall Berlin and is neatly plotted within Herron’s readable prose. I enjoyed discovering some of the circumstances that led to the character traits exhibited by the players in modern day Slough House and Regent’s Park.
by John Dickinson
If you’re willing to trudge through the first one hundred pages, this isn’t a bad book. However, as with most books, nowadays, the author feels compelled to provide evidence of his ‘commitment’ to equality, diversity and inclusivity. This takes up an annoying few opening chapters.
When the book gets back to telling its story, some page after the hundredth, it is quite enjoyable.
I agree with the other readers who only give this book one star. It is no Slow Horses book, which I expected after the series’ recent success, but a novel set in the Slough House universe – it would take a fool not to recognise who the un-named characters refer to.
All in all, I hope that Mr. Herron gets back to writing the books that his fans are accustomed to and are expecting, rather that another ‘stand-alone book’. I don’t understand why, with the series’ recent success, Mick didn’t write a novel to prepare his readers for the upcoming third T.V. Series.
I really cannot understand how so many people have given this book a five star rating (it’s his best book, yet?). The only reason that I can think is that, strangely enough, these people have been furnished with an advanced copy of the book which has been given to them for free (I’ve read two identical reviews, word perfect, from two people who have received just that, both on Amazon and Waterstone’s – as confirmed by Waterstone’s staff).
Shame on anybody who sells their opinion for a free, advanced copy.
by Joanne Connor
I loved the intricate back working of this book. Most satisfying. Its not quite a stand alone novel , those coming to Mick Herron for the first time would definitely benefit from starting the whole Slough House series. They would be in for a treat.
by Mr. C Coulson
It took me a while to get through this book, but in the end it was a thoroughly rewarding experience. Part of the problem was getting into the rhythm of the story.
Although very few familiar names of the characters are mentioned, you gradually discover who they are and what part they play in later stories.
It’s a different pace from Mick Herron’s other works, but it’s still full his barbed wit, Bon mots and a few gros mots.
To fully appreciate the depth of the story, it does help that you read all the previous novels, short stories and novellas. That said, it won’t spoil your enjoyment of it as a stand-alone story.
Another high point in an already stratospheric portfolio.
by Malcolm R
A story which revolves around two events, an operation to find a Stasi murderer in 1990’s Berlin which goes wrong and a government committee investigating wrongdoing at “The Park” in the present day. The people in Berlin become identifiable as characters we have met before and explains partly how they got where they are now. The present day tale is a bit turgid in parts as is any committee, but ends up with First Desk doing what she does best, protecting herself and her fiefdom. The books beginning includes some easily recognised people who have plenty of jokes made about them, “bin-fire of the vanities” is one I shall treasure. So a book full of the usual intrigue, satire, tension and a bit of excitement, cannot really understand the very negative reviews.
by Amazon Customer
Masterly and utterly satisfying drawing together of loose threads ingeniously, slowly, painstakingly and subtly sewn into the fabric of all the Slough House novels over the course of their entire span. It could not be improved upon.
by Nigel Palmer
Similar vein to Slow Horses but not as snappy and took a while to build. Still a very good read though.
by Nadia in Northumberland
I have read all the books in the “Slough House” series and, although this diverts from the usual “core team”, I think it is probably the best to date. The writing is tighter, the characters brilliantly developed (to their detailed mannerisms), the writing and sociopolitical references sharp as ever.
It seems to me that not having the usual players in the main story, has pushed to the background the somewhat formulaic, and hence cliche banter of the Slough House characters, while leaving ample breathing space for the new ones to become alive in a much more subtle and thoughtful way.
For those who enjoy the fast paced action of the series, this book does not disappoint either, and although fans of the series, with the help of a recent short story published recently, can guess some aspects of it, there are plenty of surprises and twists till the very end.
Enjoyable throughout!