River's grandfather, the OB, is a Secret Service legend, is sinking into dementia, which is a problem, and he's just killed a blond young man who was claiming to be his grandson, River. OB is missing and Jackson Lamb has identified the body with his usual tact and sensitivity and it's all a horrible mess, and it's n the ake of a much, much worse mess, a devestating bombing in the heart of London. The dogs are on the prowl, Diana Taverner is playing games with the new First Desk, and Jackson Lamb, though he has the personality of a warthog, doesn't like it when people mess with his joes. That's his job.

Look, if you've read the previous three, you know that Herron shows no mercy. If you haven't you rreally need to go back and find out. It's been a while since LeCarre singlehandedly deromanticised the Cold War spy - Herron's here to do the same for the secret agent post 9-11 by focusing on the dregs, the outcasts, the rejects and the broken spies of Slough House. They're a mostly lovable lot, when you get to know some of them, anyway, but they are all very nearly their own worst enemies, except for Jackson Lamb, who is their worst enemy on a day-to-day basis, except every now and then someone even worse comes along. Like today.