NOBODY WALKS by MICK HERRON

HOW on earth did I miss this smashing, stand-alone novel by the brilliant Mick Herron?

For someone who loves the Slough House series so much, I repeat, how on earth did I only just come across “Nobody Walks”?

Although this is not formally a part of the Slough House/Slow Horses series, it not only covers the same ground – the gritty streets of down at heel London – but there are also appearances by characters from the series, and I admit to exclaiming out loud when I first came across this – ah ha! So THAT’S the link.

“Nobody Walks” introduces us to Tom Beattany, a lonely figure with a past that is gradually explained to us as the novel develops. He is a man with a chequered past and with a mission. Just one mission.

London is an edgy presence in the book, a city of danger and secrets and grime, and we travel much of its underbelly with Tom, as he picks away at the mission he has set himself.

I don’t want to plot-spoil, so will leave it here.

The ending is a little ambiguous, leading me to wonder if Tom Beattany will feature in other books…

Might sound clichéd, but this truly is a page-turner, an absolutely gripping book.

Despite the Slough House mentions, it is totally a stand-alone read, which is how I (unwittingly) approached it.

The link to the Slough House series is a clever twist, but you absolutely do not need to have read that series to enjoy this book. (But if you haven’t read the Slough House books, please do yourself a favour and read them ASAP!)

Highly recommended.