Another thrilling outing from Jackson Lamb and the Slough house team. As always reads as a action packed film full of relatable characters and twists and turns.

As this is my third review of a book from Mick Herron's series on the crazy, wonderful goings on at Slough House - that MI5 Annex for troublesome losers who somehow emerge from crises smelling of roses - there's not a lot to add. The writing is again fast-paced and sprinkled with both highly effective prose and the off-beat humour that regular readers will come to expect from another Slow Horses outing. The author's style may at first seem somewhat idiosyncratic- but I would urge readers to persist and they will surely come to enjoy making the acquaintance of the MI5 misfits who have found their home in Slough House, under the inimitable leadership of Jackson Lamb. Highly recommended

Catherine Standish, Slow Horse and alcoholic, finds herself taken hostage – but she is confined in a self-catering let with en-suite bathroom and is served wine with her evening meal, her captors, two ex-soldiers and a young man with tattoos. What sort of hostage scenario is this? What can the soldiers (one of whom is an old acquaintance and has just been released from prison) want?
As usual in Mick Herron’s espionage novels the real villains are the spies themselves, at least those who are in the upper echelons of the Regent Park hierarchy. And there is a very slow reveal here of how the Catherine Standish kidnapping relates to amoral and immoral activities in the pasts of some of MI5’s most important people. There is also another villain, a blond, floppy haired MP with a penchant for using words such as ‘Blimey!’ or ‘Cripes!’ (at least in public), and who is clearly not a fictional construct of a real-life MP with similar foibles.
In addition, there are the Slow horses themselves, the failed spies of Slough House, who have the most refined ability to create mayhem and chaos. The whole plot culminates in a violent shoot-out in a converted underground bunker facility. Moral compromise ensues, with a victory of sorts for the Slow Horses, if not for anyone else.

Within the Intelligence service the battle goes on, the establishment, the demoted and put out to grass, the ring leader (Lamb) and a stray piece of Mozzerella - all trying to create a stink or hide one. This book (3rd in the series) takes us a little deeper into the individuals involved with a plot that, unfortunately, I find all to believable but does as a good book should and keeps your nose in it. For me this type of book entertains in a warm action thriller type way but is a wotsit for leaving those loose ends each time leaving you waiting on the next in series.

Great! the best Slow Horses so far. A thinly disguised Boris Johnson is the antihero Home Secretary. Internecine warfare goes on at the Park and the Slow HOrses are dragged into an operation. Many dead as usual, and new characters to replace those who dropped out last time. Thoroughly enjoyable read

After reading "Slow Horses" and "Dead Lions" I could not wait to hear more about Jackson Lamb and his staff of intelligence service rejects at Slough House. Mick Herron has created a wonderful world in the great British tradition of spy novels. The foul-mouthed and malodorous Jackson Lamb is a genuinely original character and Mike Herron has managed to craft a comic style to an exciting thriller. The twists and turns are wholly realistic and the writer is not afraid to kill off his characters just as we start to get to know them so nothing can be taken for granted. A brilliant book.

Not my usual reading genre but its always nice to try something new!
Im not a James Bond fan and thankfully the protagonist Jackson Lamb is no James Bond!
The writing style is quite unique so it will be the kind of book that you will take to or not, not much middle ground for me anyway!
The series of books are entered around a group of outcast MI5 spooks who have been relegated to pen pushers and office workers due to botched carers. Reject spooks versus the real thing!
But looks can be deceiving and Jackson Lamb proves that he shouldn't be underestimated!
With humour throughout and some interesting characters it makes for a quick entertaining read

My thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for a copy of this book to review.
The word is Mick Herron is the new le Carré . Whilst I definitely agree Mick Herron is a very good writer and the ambience of his volumes evokes the days of Smiley I think John le Carré is still carrying the Olympic Torch. Mick Herron's strength to my mind is his fresh look at the underbelly of the security service. I suspect we have all met or worked with the types of characters who inhabit Slough House, not of course spooks, but those who carry grudges and fail always to really see who is really looking back in the mirror.
Lack of time is the sole reason why this review will be used for all the currently published Slough House series, from Slow Horses to London Rules. I try never to include spoilers in my reviews and there seem little point in repeating the blurb from a book's cover. So, I have concentrated in the authors style and transport of the books. The prose slides easily along and forms pictures in the mind and the plot turns the pages for you. Occasionally I had to re-read a chapter as I realised the story had evoked such a rich visions I had mentally wondered off. I did not find this an encumbrance for on the re-read I found more to enjoy. Had I had more of that illusive element Time, I would have enjoyed re-reading all the books immediately I turned the last page in London Rules. Put Mick Herron on your wish list, take a trip to your local bookshop and fill you carrier bag.

This is probably a 3.5 stars for me. I do find these books very readable, but there are small frustrations throughout. Some of the attitudes towards women are annoying. Lamb, as a character, is a little bit too cartoonish for my liking. Really I find myself enjoying the secondary characters more, and in this particular book it was Catherine Standish I found interesting.
I also get really frustrated with the similar endings to each book in the series. I can see that some readers might enjoy that familiarity, but I find it annoying.

Although this sounds negative, I did read it easily and I did enjoy it!

Jackson Lamb is one of those fictional characters from whom we’d probably recoil in real life, not least because of his disgusting personal habits (!) but, on the page, he is fantastic entertainment. In charge of Slough House near the Barbican where MI5 agents who have made a mess of their assignments in the field or have succumbed to a drink/drugs habit are put out to grass – they are the ‘slow horses’, the title of the first in the Jackson Lamb series -, he rules over them with equal measures of contempt, diffidence and cynicism. Whilst the plot of ‘Real Tigers’ is tightly woven, pulling the reader in from the very first incident, it is the interplay between the characters that really makes this novel (and, indeed, the whole series so far) stand out from its competitors. Every character in Slough House is interesting in their own right; their interactions with each other and with Jackson are anything but the stereotypical dialogue that often comes with spy fiction territory. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments as well as the expected twists and turns, duplicity and paranoia. Highly recommended but do start at the beginning of the series if you haven’t come across Slough House before. It will be well worth the time invested!
Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Mick Herron gives us deeper insight into another of his Slough House spies, the ones too broken or compromised to be of any use to the sharp and shiny suits at Regents Park. Once again, I found myself unable to put the book down until the (kind of) happy ending was achieved, as if 'happy' were a state any of these flawed, yet fascinating, characters were capable of achieving. Love this series!

Normally I give a book 50 pages to make an impact – otherwise terminate! I was about to ditch this book but was intrigued by the characters. The characters make up a dysfunctional team in UK security forces.

It seems the task force is inhabited with people with personality flaws or performance failings. They are lead by Jackson Lamb whose man management belies belief and breaks every rule in the book. Middle management are vying for position and they report to a Home Secretary who has politcal ambitions too.

The dialogue is funny, caustic and keeps the viewer’s attention. The political intrigue is disturbing – I must remind myself this fiction!

However implausible the plot the story ticks over leading to an action packed finale.

The jury is out on these Mike Herron novels.

This is the third Jackson Lamb book. I am now completely bought into the characters and the world of Slough House and The Park. There is a happy familiarity with some of the characters and the pleasure of having new characters added. I love to hate Jackson Lamb and, indeed, am finding I actually like parts of the character. I am used to the humour and the idiosyncratic writing of the author. I look forward to this. The third book does not disappoint. Here one the Slow Horses is kidnapped. As always the plot is well written and interesting with an ending that does not disappoint. Highly recommend.

Real Tigers is the 3rd part in the Jackson lamb series. Again, like part 1 and 2, this book is well written and very entertaining to read. The plots and twists are good, again…

It’s more of the same, again… and so far it does NOT get boring. Real Tigers is really well done and entertaining. If you loved the first 2 parts: read this one also!

If you like spy stories, this book could be for you. I don't, so it wasn't really for me.

Yet another great read in the Mick herron series, which is best read in order, I can speak from experience as I got the order wrong (not a serious problem, but the historical storyline of the characters is much eaasier to follow. Lots of humour in all of these books, as well as serious storyline. A really enjoyable read, I will be following up with the next in the series as soon as I can..

This is the third in the series. The slow horses are still a good humorous read. There are better books out there but it's a change to get humour thrown into a spy novel.

A transition from police procedurals to spy thrillers has marked the start of 2018, for me, and I have Mick Herron to thank for that. I am plowing through the Slough House series with great zeal and will be most disappointed when I have caught up with the latest novel.

What can I say about Real Tigers that differentiates it from the previous books? Plenty. Each novel, though peopled by roughly the same characters, is very different from the others that came before. Real Tigers delves more deeply into the political intrigues of the security services and the vast back-stabbery that is evident when you have two people wanting to man the job of higher power. Nothing breeds discontent quite like seeing your accent up the professional ladder blocked by someone you believe expendable and not a worthy match to your talents. Time to bring out the knives, it seems.

What I enjoy most about this series is the strength of the characters. In the first book it might be difficult to keep them all straight but by this, the third, I'm ready to include them all on my Christmas card list. I feel I know them that well. They each possess an identity that is distinctly individual and unlike all the others. The gift of smart mouth commentary, the one power they all seem to share, is the single element linking them all. Oh, how I do love the fine art of sarcasm!

Real Tigers has great weight behind it as the tension ratchets up even higher here. The action is top notch and a real joy to behold. The end, especially, had my heart in my throat. I was so afraid where it would lead but I read on quickly hoping for the best, against the odds. Excellent writing should not be underestimated. This is a fab read and a strong addition to the series.

Jackson Lamb and his 'slow horses', the paper-pushing 'ex-spooks' at Slough House are pushed from background dogsbodies to full-on action mode when one of their number is kidnapped. I requested this book as a result of the hype around the series which appeared to have a loyal and ecstatic fan base. However, this book was simply not for me.
2 rival female bosses manipulate events to their own ends, leading to plenty of plot twists and turns,. However, I found the book hard going. ~ I couldn't relate or empathise with any of the characters - the nearest that came to it was Catherine Standish, though I didn't really care if she got rescued or not. I did love the descriptions of the (thinly disguised) Home Secretary: Peter Judd - his superficially 'bumbling' personality, selfish motivations and philosophy earned a star all his own! The main reason I stuck with it to over two thirds of the way through, was his character, and the dry humour around the repulsive Jackson himself - filthy, rude, yet true to his team! His team left me cold - and not in a good, thrilling way.
If I can give a book up at 83% through it, I don't think that plot is doing it for me. That point should be when I'm missing chunks out due to trying to read so fast! - and having to re-read in breathless haste, trying to race to the climax. It just didn't happen for me...

Another great read from Mr Herron! My fantastic Slow Horses are back with yet more dramas and crimes to solve.

I think what I really enjoy about this series is the fact that the books keep me guessing as it’s never clear from the outset how it’s going to end. There’s so many twists and turns in them that it keeps me on my toes, but it’s not too confusing so I don’t lose track of what’s going on.

This book see’s one of Lamb’s ‘Joes’ kidnapped and faced with choosing which of her fellow ‘Slow Horses’ she’d trust with her life...... a tough choice since they are all MI5 ‘rejects’.

Brilliant storyline and it was great to see the newer characters developing more and delving deeper into our regular Slow Horses lives.