The first chapter is kind of like a Prologue, but it’s not really because the tale alternates between 2 time frames- “2 years prior” and “now.”  And then it goes back to some old spy tales of the Cold War, but the setting is basically 2022 and 2020, London with a bit in Berlin. This is not in any way a part of the Slough House series, but the names of a couple minor players come up.  

The Secret Hours
by Mick Herron
Sept, 2023 
Read  (brilliantly) by Gerard Doyle 12h 48m
Rating: A- / spy novel

 The story opens with Max waking in bed and checking out his house and but sneaking out because he fears an intruder. He lives in a rather rural neighborhood and we find out that the intruder(s) prefer Max alive, but they’ll take him dead if necessary. So Max sneaks down the lane and eventually gets away but it’s not until daylight when he is able to get back home, fix and egg sandwich, check on Dolly, and get on his way again. He’s age 63 now, not exactly the prime age for this kind of chasing through fields in the dead of night. 

In Chapter 2 the whole situation changes and we are introduced to the “Monochrome Inquiry” along with Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle, two Intelligence employees of the Government. Anthony Sparrow is their director and he reports to the Prime Minister. Sparrow may have some shady friends himself. The assignment of Griselda and Malcolm for the last few years has been to run an investigation into the doings of Regent’s Park (the MI5s). They get the material they need, BUT it’s all smashed together and they’re only given 18 months to get it sorted – (Ha!)

Everyone is suspect and everyone is dangerous.  Read this book carefully and PAY ATTENTION!!! 

That said, I wasn’t as crazy about The Secret Hours as I’ve been about Herron’s Slough House series I think I was so attached to those characters and these new ones never really come out of the fuzzy stage.  The writing is as bright, witty and sly ever – fascinating. I may give it another go – I had to do that with Down Cemetery Road (Zoe Boehm series by Herron).