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Introduction

“Clown Town” is the ninth installment in Mick Herron’s acclaimed Slough House series, continuing the saga of the “slow horses”—disgraced MI5 agents relegated to administrative purgatory. This novel blends the series’ signature dark humor with high-stakes espionage, delving into the buried secrets of the British intelligence service. In this chapter, the narrative explores the lingering shadows of The Troubles and the personal cost of a life spent in the shadows, as the team at Slough House once again finds themselves the target of political machinations from the Service’s headquarters at Regent’s Park.

Overview of the story

The narrative unfolds along two converging paths. River Cartwright, currently on medical leave and awaiting clearance to return to active duty, occupies himself by organizing the library of his late grandfather, the legendary spymaster David Cartwright. During this process, River discovers that a “dummy” book—a hollowed-out volume used for concealing sensitive items—is missing. This anomaly triggers River’s instincts, leading him on a private investigation to uncover who infiltrated the O.B.’s (Old Bastard’s) sanctuary and what secrets might have been stolen [1].

Simultaneously, Diana Taverner, the First Desk at MI5, faces a crisis that threatens her career and the reputation of the Service. A covert operation conducted years ago during the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland is on the verge of being exposed. Blackmailers are leveraging details of this “ugly side of state security,” forcing Taverner into a corner. In characteristic fashion, Taverner seeks a scapegoat to absorb the fallout, turning her gaze toward the expendable agents of Slough House. However, Jackson Lamb, the slovenly but brilliant leader of the slow horses, intervenes to protect his team from becoming collateral damage in Taverner’s survival strategy [1][2].

Overview of the characters

River Cartwright remains a central figure, driven by a need to prove himself and protect his grandfather’s legacy. His investigation into the missing book showcases his tenacity, even when officially sidelined.

Jackson Lamb returns as the grotesquely fascinating head of Slough House. Despite his abrasive demeanor and personal hygiene issues, he demonstrates a fierce, if unconventional, loyalty to his “clowns,” acting as a formidable barrier against the predators at the Park.

Diana Taverner continues her role as the ruthless pragmatist running MI5. Her storyline highlights the moral compromises required at the top, as she maneuvers to bury past sins to survive the present.

The ensemble cast includes the familiar crew of misfits: Catherine Standish, the recovering alcoholic who manages the office’s chaos; Roddy Ho, the delusional tech expert; and Shirley Dander, whose volatility remains a constant variable. The narrative also features Peter Judd, a politician whose antagonism toward the service adds another layer of pressure to the unfolding crisis [1].

Overview of the themes

A primary theme of the novel is the weight of the past, specifically the legacy of The Troubles. Herron examines how historical operations and the decisions made by a previous generation of spies continue to have dangerous repercussions in the present. The missing item from David Cartwright’s library serves as a physical manifestation of these buried secrets [1].

The book also explores the tension between loyalty and expendability. The slow horses are defined by their status as rejects, yet they consistently display a cohesive loyalty to one another that contrasts sharply with the institutional willingness of the Park to sacrifice its own for political expediency. The concept of “old spies” is dissected, questioning the worth of those who have been left behind by history and whether they are merely ridiculous “clowns” or if they retain a dangerous relevancy [2].

Conclusion

“Clown Town” reinforces Mick Herron’s reputation for crafting espionage thrillers that are as funny as they are tense. By weaving a mystery about a missing book with a high-level political threat rooted in British history, the novel provides a compelling stage for its ensemble cast. It balances the absurdity of the slow horses’ daily existence with the genuine peril they face, offering a sharp critique of institutional decay while celebrating the resilience of the marginalized agents who operate within it.

Sources

[1] Peter Turns The Page - Clown Town Review: https://peterturnsthepage.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/clown-town-by-mick-herron-bookreview-clowntown-mickherron-espionage-thriller-slowhorses/
[2] 2nd & Charles - Clown Town: https://www.2ndandcharles.com/shop/clown-town-11183663