Standing by the Wall: The Collected Slough House Novellas

Written by Mick Herron

Narrated by Gerard Doyle

At last in one volume: the collected Slough House spy novellas, including the never-before-published Christmas interlude Standing by the Wall

Espionage. Blackmail. Revenge. Cunning. Slapstick. State secrets dating back to the fall of the Berlin Wall. All this and more in a tight package of five novellas by Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger–winning author of Slow Horses. From the troubled recruitment of a new MI5 informant to a botched
information transfer, Herron’s novellas capture the drama, humor, and high stakes of everyday life in the world of spycraft, a world rife with both legends and secrets, where thrillseeking and loneliness are ubiquitous and deadly, and where the lines between friends, enemies, and lovers
are perpetually blurred by circumstance and subterfuge. For fans new and old, Standing by the Wall is an excellent introduction to the extended literary universe of Mick Herron’s Slow Horses.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781705094549

Reviews for Standing by the Wall

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This little Christmas interlude book by the author of the wonderful Slough House series was an enjoyable little read. I have just been recently introduced to this delightful series by the TV series, and I have read the first book. I'm waiting for the second to become available at the library, and believe me, it's a long wait. There is a reason why this spy series is so popular. The Slow Horse gang is absolutely unique. Mick Harron's writing is sardonic and hilarious. Even in this little Christmas book, the characters come alive. A glimpse at what the Slow Horses get up during the festive season. It's actually not much different than any other season in Slough House. Thanks to my SantaThing elf for sending me this book.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mick Herron has created a wonderful world in which various MI5 officers who have run aground in their career end up in the Service equivalent of internal exile, banished to work in Slough House. Because of the name of their base, those unfortunates to whom that fate befalls are known as the Service’s ‘Slow horses’, and as if their humiliation were not punishment enough, they have to work for the monstrous Jackson Lamb – think of Reginald Hill’s Superintendent Dalziel but without all the tenderness and effeteness!In this novella, standing slightly aside from the main sequence of the novels, Jackson lamb has received a Christmas Card made up of a photograph from the past, which pricks his curiosity, and prompts him to stir some of the Slow Horses into work.I was a little disappointed with this novella, which seemed unusually insubstantial. Herron has produced additional novellas before which have yielded valuable additional insight into the machinations behind the scenes at Slough House. It was difficult to see how this added to the oeuvre.

[ericlee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every new book from British author Mick Herron is a cause for celebration. Even when the book isn’t actually a book. This “interlude” is more of a short story — a story in which appear all our favourite characters from Slough House. Jackson Lamb is, as usual, the star of the show, and his insults will generate some laughs. But probably the funniest part of the story is Roddy Ho’s internal monologues. Yes, it can all be a bit cruel, but these are smart stories with interesting characters that make me laugh out loud. I can’t wait for the next book — and I do mean an actual book this time.