Reviews

Joe Country by Mick Herron

mark_b's review against another edition

3.5

Joe Country is (depending on how you count them) the sixth in a series by Mick Heron that started with Slow Horses. The series follows a group of partially turfed-out MI5 agents known as the slow horses. This installment concerns blackmail, a double- and triple-agent, a botched cover-up, and mis-behavior at the top of MI5. Like the other books in this series, Joe Country is a dark comedy, with violent death providing the darkness, and witty banter the comedic element. Drugs, alcohol, vulgarity, tobacco, sexism, racism, and violence are plentiful in Joe Country.

It’s perhaps not absolutely essential to read the entire series in order to follow Joe Country, but there are back-stories that will be better appreciated with the prior installments under one’s belt. I enjoyed this book, but I’m not sure I’ll read the next title in the series. Mick Heron is a fine writer and story-teller, but I wonder if there’s anything left to say about these characters. 

take2teach's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

knittingtipsy's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

amandacreadsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

caddyh301's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious

4.5

pauaraos's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

cransell's review against another edition

funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lauraborkpower's review against another edition

4.0

Herron keeps delivering well written police thrillers and I am happy to keep reading them.

marfahope's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

berkshirebookreader's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75