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  • The Secret Hours

  • By: Mick Herron
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (758 ratings)
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The Secret Hours

By: Mick Herron
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Summary

A new standalone novel from 'Britain's greatest living thriller writer' and author of the bestselling Slough House series, now a TV series starring Gary Oldman.

An Instant Sunday Times Bestseller

*A gripping standalone thriller with a riveting reveal about a disastrous MI5 mission in Cold War Berlin - a dazzling entry-point to Mick Herron's writing and an unmissable listen for Slough House fans.*

A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime

Two years ago, the Monochrome inquiry was set up to investigate the British secret service. Monochrome's mission was to ferret out misconduct, allowing the civil servants seconded to the inquiry, Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle, unfettered access to confidential information in the service archives.

But with progress blocked at every turn, Monochrome is circling the drain . . . Until the OTIS file appears out of nowhere.

What classified secrets does OTIS hold that see a long-redundant spy being chased through Devon's green lanes in the dark? What happened in a newly reunified Berlin that someone is desperate to keep under wraps? And who will win the battle for the soul of the secret service - or was that decided a long time ago?

Spies and pen-pushers, politicians and PAs, high-flyers, time-servers and burn-outs . . . They all have jobs to do in the daylight. But what they do in the secret hours reveals who they really are.

©2023 Mick Herron (P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

'I doubt I'll read a more enjoyable novel all year' Paula Hawkins

'Pitch-perfect' Lee Child

'Terrific' The Times

What listeners say about The Secret Hours

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Superb prologue to the Slough House series

Answers all the questions about the back stories for key characters. The writing is excellent as usual and Sean Barrett’s narrative super.

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Top notch.

MH’s turn of phrase and seemlessly prismatic temporal shifts have made this a really pleasure. Narrator nails it with his veteran’s voice and the plot holds you like a vice.

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All the parts that make the book brilliant

couldn't stop listening!

brilliant plot line great characters and superbly narrated

not listened to Mick Hereon before? try it you will not be disappointed.

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back story

Best yet, brilliantly conceived back story that breathes new life and understanding of old characters, bravo.

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A Treat.

The Slough House books are high on my favourites list and now The Secret Hours has been added.
As we’ve come to expect from Mick Herron, it is well written and spiced with sharp humour. The various interwoven storylines give us some interesting background details about several of the now familiar Slough House characters and introduce some new ones. Sean Barrett’s narration, as expected, is superb.

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Slow Horse fans will love

Mick Herron is a great writer and this book proves again his right to be considered up there with John le Carre for writing wonderful espionage novels.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Sloppy editing

The story is great but this audio book is let down by some poor editing. Specially when the reader corrects himself both the original phrase and the corrected version are recorded. The audio element itself is a consistent tone where distinguishing between characters can be tricky at times

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The end makes the middle worthwhile.

Overall just leaves me wanting more of the same from Mick Herron.
Great start a little slow in the middle, but all loose ends tied up when finished and overall a very rewarding listen.
Sean Barrett on top form as always on the narration

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If you liked slow horses, you’ll love this

If you liked Slow Horses and the series, you’ll absolutely love this, as it almost to prologue, absolutely brilliant storytelling and fantastically well narrated.

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Change of perspective

Loved this different take on the Jackson Lamb story; on form but with a change of format.

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