The Secret Hours

English language

Published July 7, 2023 by Murray Press, John.

ISBN:
9781399800532

View on OpenLibrary

5 stars (1 review)

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 …

3 editions

Even if you don't like spy stories read this one

5 stars

Even if it was only for the language. The way Herron sets the scene and looks at the world have no equivalents. English is not my native language but it seems to me that he pushes it to its limits to make it say something that normal usage cannot carry.

And for those who do like a spy story this is even better than Le Carre.