Reading the Detectives discussion

This is the third Jackson Lamb thriller.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLDSBORO GOLD DAGGER AND THE IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER

SHORTLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIAR CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR

'If you read one spy novel this year, read Real Tigers' The Spectator

'The finest new crime series this millennium' Mail on Sunday

Catherine Standish knows that chance encounters never happen to spooks.

She's worked in the Intelligence Service long enough to understand treachery, double-dealing and stabbing in the back.

What she doesn't know is why anyone would target her: a recovering drunk pushing paper with the other lost causes in Jackson Lamb's kingdom of exiles at Slough House.

Whoever it is holding her hostage, it can't be personal. It must be about Slough House. Most likely, it is about Jackson Lamb.

And say what you like about Lamb, he'll never leave a joe in the lurch.

He might even be someone you could trust with your life . . .

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

Starts with a cliff hanger, (or should that bridge hanger) and doesn't lose pace. I could feel the fear and puzzlement of Standish. Then onto Rivers urgency and frustration and so on.
Would seem Herron is not a fan of one of our MP's. This probably rings true with a lot of people,and therefore gains the author friends.

Jill wrote: "Starts with a cliff hanger, (or should that bridge hanger) and doesn't lose pace. I could feel the fear and puzzlement of Standish. Then onto Rivers urgency and frustration and so on.
Would seem He..."

Herron does not seem to have a high opinion of MI5 management either. Only the slow horses come off well, but after they mess up first. I wouldn't trust either Lady Di or Dame Ingrid.

Certainly he has no high opinion of MI5 in this book, does he? When I first read it, I had no idea of what a Tiger Team was, so it came as a complete shock.

"In the computer industry, a tiger team is a group of programmers or users who volunteer or are hired to expose errors or security holes in new software or to find out why a computer network's security is being broken". Such a clever idea - did anyone else know what it meant? I assume that, if you did, it somehow gave you a hint of the plot, whereas I was clueless!

I'd never heard of it either-the closest I can come to that was the secret shopper, hired by stores to tell them how to improve their customer service.

I found his issue with MI5 was that it had become just another bureaucratic nightmare, and his biggest criticism of Ingrid Tearney (and Lady Di?) was that she had never been in the field, but had come up through the office. It's a clever turn on the spy thriller, when the threat is entirely within the organization for which they work.

I'm worried about Catherine Standish-having Jackson Lamb tell her about Charles Paynter might be enough to push her off the wagon. I was really surprised he said what he did to her at the end-I'd thought Lamb had a heart of gold somewhere under that unattractive exterior, and in this novel he seemed much less likeable.

One of my favourite comedic touches was the cheese stuck to his trousers-all the previous comments about places smelling like cheese and then having Catherine pull the disc of cheese off him.

I am also terribly worried about Catherine. I was so happy she conquered the bottle of wine but Lamb's comment could do her in. Lamb's low point, in my opinion.

And that cheese touch was excellent! It combined Catherine's mothering, Ho's office disaster and Lamb's personal habits.

I keep recalling, in inappropriate situations, an incident from an earlier book: when Lamb found his fly was open, he scratched. A wonderful character but I hope to never meet him.

Agreed-this series seems ripe for filming, but I wonder if they'd need to pretty him up a bit (or has it been filmed yet?).

What did everyone think of the beginning and River's, obviously, doomed plan to 'break into' the Park? Also, was anyone surprised that Catherine chose River as the person she most trusted?

I wasn't clear what the Batman/Spiderman segment was about-was that Donovan making room for himself in Black Arrow?

I didn't expect her to pick River, but it makes sense. I was very surprised that he went off on his own without checking in with Jackson-that seemed out of character/out of keeping with a well-trained spook.

Frances wrote: "I wasn't clear what the Batman/Spiderman segment was about-was that Donovan making room for himself in Black Arrow?

I didn't expect her to pick River, but it makes sense. I was very surprised that..."

That is my understanding of the first scene. It is a bit extreme but these folks think way out of the box.

Originally I was not surprised Catherine chose River (I picture this series as River's coming-of-age story ... hope he survives), but now I'm wondering if there was some double-think there as well. Nothing is straight forward.

I would have expected Catherine to pick River. She seems to like him. Mind you, she seems to like everyone - she is the only person who calls Ho, 'Roddy.' I liked Ho making a play for Louisa, in his imagination at least!

I think Catherine likes River and Roddy best, but River is more active and so was more likely to actually help find her. Roddy would have spent time on the net looking and that time could have cost her.

I can't remember if Catherine was actually in fear of her life or more in fear of her sobriety. It was a 'kind' kidnapping.

Yes, although she didn't realise that at first. I don't think the kidnapper knew she was an alcoholic.

No I don't think he knew. I think he thought he was being kind.

I loved it when Jackson rescued Catherine, but took too long and then Ho drove a bus through the front door :)

Yes. He was certainly active then!

I was worried I wasn't going to enjoy this book after finding it tough going early on (too much Marcus and Shirley) but it really picked up and I loved it, though not quite as much as the previous ones.

Highlights were the Peter Judd/Diana Taverner double act, and Roddy and Jackson rescuing Catherine. I also felt Jackson was a bit harsh with Catherine, but I'm assuming that when he realised she hadn't drunk the wine, he decided she was ready to face a bit more of the truth. He's a pretty good judge of character, his firing of Marcus and Shirley worked and got them to step up ( they're still boring though!)

How funny - I *love* Marcus and Shirley ;)

I do love all the Slow Horses, but agree that they fade in and out, depending on the storyline. All except River, Catherine and Ho. Although we are always concerned about who will survive and, at some point, I suspect the Catherine storyline will become central again in a later book.

I also missed River's battle with Webb in this one, so it was good when Duffy picked up the reins as villain.

I am unsure what has happened to Webb. Did Lady Di pull the plug? Or is he recovering? Did others think it was clear what happened? Or is it an intentional cliff hanger?

And what about the leader of the dogs (Nick Duffy?)? I think he will return in diminished capacity. My boyfriend thinks he will be fine, and out for revenge.

I assumed the plug had been pulled, but just like the woman/slow horse who died(?) in the first novel (can't remember her name) perhaps we are just meant to think that (although it seemed pretty clear that he had irreversible brain damage).

I also assumed that Lady Di, with her ruthless efficiency, had either taken River's words at face value, or, to teach River a lesson, had Webb moved.