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A review by m_peacock
The Marlyebone Drop by Mick Herron
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's the second novella featuring the sad sack MI5 agent John Bachelor who's trying to stay on the payroll and off of Diana Taverner's radar. Similar to The List, the first in what might be called the "Bachelor series," The Marylebone Drop distills the Slough House style down to its base elements -- the cynical careerism of MI5 (and now BND) agents and the London Rules that are, according to Jackson Lamb, "cover your arse" above everything else.
Though I do think you need to read The List first (not a big deal since it's only ~110 pages), I think The Marylebone Drop is better; the plot is more interesting, the characters are better developed, and the ending's moral ambiguity pulled at me more. And The Marylebone Drop also introduces a new Slow Horse who I assume I'll see in Joe Country.
Though I do think you need to read The List first (not a big deal since it's only ~110 pages), I think The Marylebone Drop is better; the plot is more interesting, the characters are better developed, and the ending's moral ambiguity pulled at me more. And The Marylebone Drop also introduces a new Slow Horse who I assume I'll see in Joe Country.