Old spooks carry the memory of tradecraft in their bones, and when Solomon Dortmund sees an envelope being passed from one pair of hands to another in a Marylebone cafe, he knows he's witnessed more than an innocent encounter. But in relaying his suspicions to John Bachelor, who babysits retired spies like Solly, he sets in train events which will alter lives. Bachelor himself, a hair's breadth away from sleeping in his car, is clawing his way back to stability; Hannah Weiss, the double agent whose recruitment was his only success, is starting to enjoy the secrets and lies her role demands; and Lech Wicinski, an Intelligence Service analyst, finds that a simple favour for an old acquaintance might derail his career. Meanwhile, Lady Di Taverner is trying to keep the Service on an even keel, and if that means throwing the odd crew member overboard, well: collateral damage is her speciality.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton General Division
ISBN: 9781473678309

The Drop aka The Marylebone Drop is a novella in the popular Jackson Lamb series by British author, Mick Herron. It takes place after the events in London Rules and features characters from the previous novella in this series, The List. Solomon Dortmund is an ageing asset, but he hasn’t lost his ability to spot a spook. And in the Fischer café in Marylebone High Street, while enjoying a divine hot chocolate, he sees a drop taking place. He gives all the details to his minder, John Bachelor. But Bachelor’s a bit distracted right now. Meanwhile, Bachelor’s one recruitment success, Hannah Weiss will soon be moved to a position where she will be more useful to Regent’s Park (and maybe the BND too?) at the Brexit Secretary’s office.

Once again, the characters are all credibly flawed (Lady Di excels in nastiness, Jackson Lamb being absent from this one), their dialogue is full of dry wit, and there is humour, and a twist or two for good measure. Herron’s last Slough House novella introduced the reader to J.K.Coe before his proper debut in Spook Street. This one sees a spook attract the wrong sort of notice from the wrong sort of people, ensuring a new face at Slough House in the next full-length novel. It’s short, very true, just over 100 pages, but it’s something to tide the reader over until Jackson Lamb #6 comes out: an excellent little dose of British spies, Herron style.