ReviewsPraise for "The Secret Hours" "A deft knockout of a story, with an arc of history, written with humor and style. Mick Herron is one of the best writers of spy fiction working today." --Martin Cruz Smith Praise for Mick Herron "Intricate plotting, full of twists . . . Herron can certainly write a real spy story, with all the misdirection and sleight of hand that requires. But it's the surly Slough House mood, the eccentric characters, and Herron's very black, very dry sense of humor that made me read one after the other without a break." --Laura Miller, Slate.com "Out of a wickedly imagined version of MI5, [Herron] has spun works of diabolical plotting and high-spirited cynicism, their pages filled with sardonic wit, their characters approaching the surreal." -- The Wall Street Journal "The sharpest spy fiction since John le Carré." --NPR's Fresh Air "Mick Herron never tells a suspense story in the expected way . . . In Herron's book, there is no hiding under the desk." -- The New York Times Book Review "Stylish and engaging." -- The Washington Post "[Herron] really is funny and his cynicism is belied, here and there, by flashes of the mingled tenderness and anger that seem to define Britain's post-Brexit self-reflections." -- USA Today, Praise for "The Secret Hours" "A deft knockout of a story, with an arc of history, written with humor and style. Mick Herron is one of the best writers of spy fiction working today."- Martin Cruz Smith Praise for Mick Herron "Intricate plotting, full of twists . . . Herron can certainly write a real spy story, with all the misdirection and sleight of hand that requires. But it's the surly Slough House mood, the eccentric characters, and Herron's very black, very dry sense of humor that made me read one after the other without a break." --Laura Miller, Slate.com "Out of a wickedly imagined version of MI5, [Herron] has spun works of diabolical plotting and high-spirited cynicism, their pages filled with sardonic wit, their characters approaching the surreal." -- The Wall Street Journal "The sharpest spy fiction since John le Carré." --NPR's Fresh Air "Mick Herron never tells a suspense story in the expected way . . . In Herron's book, there is no hiding under the desk." -- The New York Times Book Review "Stylish and engaging." -- The Washington Post "[Herron] really is funny and his cynicism is belied, here and there, by flashes of the mingled tenderness and anger that seem to define Britain's post-Brexit self-reflections." -- USA Today, Praise for Mick Herron "Intricate plotting, full of twists . . . Herron can certainly write a real spy story, with all the misdirection and sleight of hand that requires. But it's the surly Slough House mood, the eccentric characters, and Herron's very black, very dry sense of humor that made me read one after the other without a break." --Laura Miller, Slate.com "Out of a wickedly imagined version of MI5, [Herron] has spun works of diabolical plotting and high-spirited cynicism, their pages filled with sardonic wit, their characters approaching the surreal." -- The Wall Street Journal "The sharpest spy fiction since John le Carré." --NPR's Fresh Air "Mick Herron never tells a suspense story in the expected way . . . In Herron's book, there is no hiding under the desk." -- The New York Times Book Review "Stylish and engaging." -- The Washington Post "[Herron] really is funny and his cynicism is belied, here and there, by flashes of the mingled tenderness and anger that seem to define Britain's post-Brexit self-reflections." -- USA Today, Praise for The Secret Hours "Great Britain has a long, rich history of how-it-really-works espionage fiction, and Mick Herron--stealthy as a secret agent--has written himself to the very top of the list. If you haven''t already been recruited, start with The Secret Hours --all Herron''s trademark strengths are here: tension, intrigue, observation, humor, absurdity . . . and pitch-perfect prose." --Lee Child " The Secret Hours is wonderful. It''s Mick Herron at his best, taking us into a dark world where there is high action, a spinning moral compass, and hidden motives on every page. And, oh, yes, the fun--Herron''s greatest talent may be the examination of serious things with a perfectly wry sense of humor." --Michael Connelly "I doubt I''ll read a more enjoyable novel all year. The Secret Hours has it all: thrilling action scenes, crackling dialogue, characters to infuriate and beguile, and a neatly intricate plot. And through it all cuts Herron''s acerbic wit, its effect heightened by the glimpses he allows us, from time to time, from his world to ours." --Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train "A collection of delightfully batty characters, a disdainful tortoise, a wonderful plot and a guaranteed smile on every page." --Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants "A deft knockout of a story, with an arc of history, written with humor and style. Mick Herron is one of the best writers of spy fiction working today." --Martin Cruz Smith "It''s not all Aston Martin sports cars and martinis (''shaken, not stirred'') in Herron''s spy world... Billed as a standalone, this smartly written, funny, and complex thriller is a good introduction for newbies, but fans of Herron''s ''Slough House'' books will recognize a few crossover characters." --Wilda Williams, First Clue Reviews "Hailed as a twenty-first-century Le Carré, Herron is a master at portraying the dark, disturbing world of espionage... Gripping, cryptic, tragic, and suspenseful, this must-read will keep readers riveted from first page to last." -- Booklist , Starred Review "Espionage fans of all stripes will devour this exemplary outing." -- Publishers Weekly , Starred Review "Readers who''ve joined Herron in following the Slow Horses in a series of rollicking, scary novels won''t be surprised to learn that everyone here looks down their noses at everyone else, that everyone has a price, and that conflicts within MI5 are much more likely to turn lethal than conflicts outside, against England''s nominal enemies." -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for Mick Herron "The best in a generation, by some estimations, and irrefutably the funniest." --Jill Lepore, The New Yorker "Intricate plotting, full of twists . . . Herron can certainly write a real spy story, with all the misdirection and sleight of hand that requires. But it''s the surly Slough House mood, the eccentric characters, and Herron''s very black, very dry sense of humor that made me read one after the other without a break." --Laura Miller, Slate.com "Out of a wickedly imagined version of MI5, [Herron] has spun works of diabolical plotting and high-spirited cynicism, their pages filled with sardonic wit, their characters approaching the surreal." -- The Wall Street Journal "The sharpest spy fiction since John le Carré." --NPR''s Fresh Air "Mick Herron never tells a suspense story in the expected way . . . In Herron''s book, there is no hiding under the desk." -- The New York Times Book Review "Stylish and engaging." -- The Washington Post "[Herron] really is funny and his cynicism is belied, here and there, by flashes of the mingled tenderness and anger that seem to define Britain''s post-Brexit self-reflections." -- USA Today, Praise for The Secret Hours An ABA Indie Next Pick for September 2023 "Great Britain has a long, rich history of how-it-really-works espionage fiction, and Mick Herron--stealthy as a secret agent--has written himself to the very top of the list. If you haven''t already been recruited, start with The Secret Hours --all Herron''s trademark strengths are here: tension, intrigue, observation, humor, absurdity . . . and pitch-perfect prose." --Lee Child " The Secret Hours is wonderful. It''s Mick Herron at his best, taking us into a dark world where there is high action, a spinning moral compass, and hidden motives on every page. And, oh, yes, the fun--Herron''s greatest talent may be the examination of serious things with a perfectly wry sense of humor." --Michael Connelly "I doubt I''ll read a more enjoyable novel all year. The Secret Hours has it all: thrilling action scenes, crackling dialogue, characters to infuriate and beguile, and a neatly intricate plot. And through it all cuts Herron''s acerbic wit, its effect heightened by the glimpses he allows us, from time to time, from his world to ours." --Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train "A deft knockout of a story, with an arc of history, written with humor and style. Mick Herron is one of the best writers of spy fiction working today." --Martin Cruz Smith "It''s not all Aston Martin sports cars and martinis (''shaken, not stirred'') in Herron''s spy world... Billed as a standalone, this smartly written, funny, and complex thriller is a good introduction for newbies, but fans of Herron''s ''Slough House'' books will recognize a few crossover characters." --Wilda Williams, First Clue Reviews "Herron continues his winning streak... This novel, filled with acid wit, political pokes, and a veritable basketful of ''Slough House'' Easter eggs, will thrill longtime Herron fans and delight newcomers and aficionados of cracking-good spy fiction." -- Library Journal , Starred Review "Hailed as a twenty-first-century Le Carré, Herron is a master at portraying the dark, disturbing world of espionage... Gripping, cryptic, tragic, and suspenseful, this must-read will keep readers riveted from first page to last." -- Booklist , Starred Review "Espionage fans of all stripes will devour this exemplary outing." -- Publishers Weekly , Starred Review "Readers who''ve joined Herron in following the Slow Horses in a series of rollicking, scary novels won''t be surprised to learn that everyone here looks down their noses at everyone else, that everyone has a price, and that conflicts within MI5 are much more likely to turn lethal than conflicts outside, against England''s nominal enemies." -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for Mick Herron "The best in a generation, by some estimations, and irrefutably the funniest." --Jill Lepore, The New Yorker "Intricate plotting, full of twists . . . Herron can certainly write a real spy story, with all the misdirection and sleight of hand that requires. But it''s the surly Slough House mood, the eccentric characters, and Herron''s very black, very dry sense of humor that made me read one after the other without a break." --Laura Miller, Slate.com "Out of a wickedly imagined version of MI5, [Herron] has spun works of diabolical plotting and high-spirited cynicism, their pages filled with sardonic wit, their characters approaching the surreal." -- The Wall Street Journal "The sharpest spy fiction since John le Carré." --NPR''s Fresh Air "Mick Herron never tells a suspense story in the expected way . . . In Herron''s book, there is no hiding under the desk." -- The New York Times Book Review "Stylish and engaging." -- The Washington Post "[Herron] really is funny and his cynicism is belied, here and there, by flashes of the mingled tenderness and anger that seem to define Britain''s post-Brexit self-reflections." -- USA Today, Praise for The Secret Hours An ABA Indie Next Pick for September 2023 "Great Britain has a long, rich history of how-it-really-works espionage fiction, and Mick Herron--stealthy as a secret agent--has written himself to the very top of the list. If you haven''t already been recruited, start with The Secret Hours --all Herron''s trademark strengths are here: tension, intrigue, observation, humor, absurdity . . . and pitch-perfect prose." --Lee Child " The Secret Hours is wonderful. It''s Mick Herron at his best, taking us into a dark world where there is high action, a spinning moral compass, and hidden motives on every page. And, oh, yes, the fun--Herron''s greatest talent may be the examination of serious things with a perfectly wry sense of humor." --Michael Connelly "I doubt I''ll read a more enjoyable novel all year. The Secret Hours has it all: thrilling action scenes, crackling dialogue, characters to infuriate and beguile, and a neatly intricate plot. And through it all cuts Herron''s acerbic wit, its effect heightened by the glimpses he allows us, from time to time, from his world to ours." --Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train "A deft knockout of a story, with an arc of history, written with humor and style. Mick Herron is one of the best writers of spy fiction working today." --Martin Cruz Smith "It''s not all Aston Martin sports cars and martinis (''shaken, not stirred'') in Herron''s spy world... Billed as a standalone, this smartly written, funny, and complex thriller is a good introduction for newbies, but fans of Herron''s ''Slough House'' books will recognize a few crossover characters." --Wilda Williams, First Clue Reviews "Hailed as a twenty-first-century Le Carré, Herron is a master at portraying the dark, disturbing world of espionage... Gripping, cryptic, tragic, and suspenseful, this must-read will keep readers riveted from first page to last." -- Booklist , Starred Review "Espionage fans of all stripes will devour this exemplary outing." -- Publishers Weekly , Starred Review "Readers who''ve joined Herron in following the Slow Horses in a series of rollicking, scary novels won''t be surprised to learn that everyone here looks down their noses at everyone else, that everyone has a price, and that conflicts within MI5 are much more likely to turn lethal than conflicts outside, against England''s nominal enemies." -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for Mick Herron "The best in a generation, by some estimations, and irrefutably the funniest." --Jill Lepore, The New Yorker "Intricate plotting, full of twists . . . Herron can certainly write a real spy story, with all the misdirection and sleight of hand that requires. But it''s the surly Slough House mood, the eccentric characters, and Herron''s very black, very dry sense of humor that made me read one after the other without a break." --Laura Miller, Slate.com "Out of a wickedly imagined version of MI5, [Herron] has spun works of diabolical plotting and high-spirited cynicism, their pages filled with sardonic wit, their characters approaching the surreal." -- The Wall Street Journal "The sharpest spy fiction since John le Carré." --NPR''s Fresh Air "Mick Herron never tells a suspense story in the expected way . . . In Herron''s book, there is no hiding under the desk." -- The New York Times Book Review "Stylish and engaging." -- The Washington Post "[Herron] really is funny and his cynicism is belied, here and there, by flashes of the mingled tenderness and anger that seem to define Britain''s post-Brexit self-reflections." -- USA Today, Praise for The Secret Hours "Great Britain has a long, rich history of how-it-really-works espionage fiction, and Mick Herron--stealthy as a secret agent--has written himself to the very top of the list. If you haven't already been recruited, start with The Secret Hours --all Herron's trademark strengths are here: tension, intrigue, observation, humor, absurdity . . . and pitch-perfect prose." --Lee Child " The Secret Hours is wonderful. It's Mick Herron at his best, taking us into a dark world where there is high action, a spinning moral compass, and hidden motives on every page. And, oh, yes, the fun -- Herron's greatest talent may be the examination of serious things with a perfectly wry sense of humor." --Michael Connelly "I doubt I'll read a more enjoyable novel all year. The Secret Hours has it all: thrilling action scenes, crackling dialogue, characters to infuriate and beguile, and a neatly intricate plot. And through it all cuts Herron's acerbic wit, its effect heightened by the glimpses he allows us, from time to time, from his world to ours." --Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train "A deft knockout of a story, with an arc of history, written with humor and style. Mick Herron is one of the best writers of spy fiction working today." --Martin Cruz Smith Praise for Mick Herron "The best in a generation, by some estimations, and irrefutably the funniest." -Jill Lepore, The New Yorker "Intricate plotting, full of twists . . . Herron can certainly write a real spy story, with all the misdirection and sleight of hand that requires. But it's the surly Slough House mood, the eccentric characters, and Herron's very black, very dry sense of humor that made me read one after the other without a break." --Laura Miller, Slate.com "Out of a wickedly imagined version of MI5, [Herron] has spun works of diabolical plotting and high-spirited cynicism, their pages filled with sardonic wit, their characters approaching the surreal." -- The Wall Street Journal "The sharpest spy fiction since John le Carré." --NPR's Fresh Air "Mick Herron never tells a suspense story in the expected way . . . In Herron's book, there is no hiding under the desk." -- The New York Times Book Review "Stylish and engaging." -- The Washington Post "[Herron] really is funny and his cynicism is belied, here and there, by flashes of the mingled tenderness and anger that seem to define Britain's post-Brexit self-reflections." -- USA Today
Dewey Edition23/eng/20230303