Tag 1990s

The image depicts a cityscape lit up at night, from above, as if viewing from an airplane or helicopter.

The Secret Hours by Mick Herron

juliefitzreader Leave a comment
The image depicts a cityscape lit up at night, from above, as if viewing from an airplane or helicopter.

By Julie F.

The Secret Hours opens with a thrilling pursuit: Max, a retired academic living in remote Devon, experiences a home invasion. The reader is privy to Max’s thinking in this first scene; he’s calm and collected enough to evade capture, at least immediately, and it’s clear that he has some background with the intelligence services. Max is now on the run, and the reader’s task is to figure out how his story matches up with the other tale author Mick Herron is telling – a look into what, at first, seems like ancient history.

In 1994, a newly-minted MI5 agent, Alison, is sent to cold war Berlin by David Cartwright to oversee and report back on the work of a somewhat abrasive, difficult agent named Miles. Cartwright is second-in-command in the Service and Alison isn’t sure why he distrusts Miles. In the present day, decades later, Alison is telling the civil servants on the nearly-defunct, investigative Monochrome commission the story of her sojourn in Berlin – how agents died and how the situation was rife with betrayals. The reader gradually comes to realize that her story might have something to do with Max and his pursuers. Of course, all the threads come together at the end and we get a glimpse of the manipulators behind the curtain who pull them for their own benefit. Herron’s unpredictability is one of his strong suits; the good guys don’t always come out on top, so it’s interesting to learn whether those maneuvering behind the scenes will get their comeuppance.

Mick Herron is a master – of character development, of mood and theme, and of plotting above all. I’ve loved the Slough House books in varying degrees, but this book – which is really Slough House-adjacent, involving none of Jackson Lamb’s present-day agents but clarifying many important questions from prior books – is utterly fantastic. If the acclaimed Apple TV series tackles this novel, it will be fascinating to see how they handle the flashbacks and resolve them in the modern storyline that features Lamb and his motley crew.

The tagline from Lee Child on the book cover says it better than I could: “Great Britain has a long, rich history of how-it-really-works espionage fiction, and Mick Herron – stealthy as a secret agent – has written himself to the very top of the list.” I’ve reread Slow Horses already, but as I’ve worked my way through the series, I’ve become convinced that there are so many little details and asides that are easily missed yet turn out to be consequential later on. I rarely re-read series (just because there is so much new fiction out there to discover), but this is one that is worth a second go – not just The Secret Hours, but all nine of the Slough House novels to date, as well as the excellent collection, Standing by the Wall: The Collected Slough House Novellas.

My favorite quote, from Miles to Alison: “You want to serve your country, right? What did you think that involved, dressing up and playing parts? This job is about betrayal. About persuading people to betray other people. Their countries, their friends, those they work for. And in return, we betray them too in the end” (295). It’s worth noting that, despite what he says about playing parts, the narrator tells us at the end that “for a moment they were back in their old lives, the ones that had turned out to belong to other people, or at any rate, to no longer belong to them” (349). Everyone has a hidden identity or motive; everyone is playing a part.

If you’re already a Slough House aficionado, good news: the wait will be up next year. Soho Crime currently plans to publish Clown Town, the tenth book, on September 2, 2025. And if you need something between now and then and have run through the entire series, Herron wrote two standalone novels that, like The Secret Hours, are set in the world of MI5 and MI6 concurrent to the adventures of Jackson Lamb’s Slough House crew: Reconstruction and Nobody Walks.

Julie is an instructor and research specialist at HCLS Miller Branch who finds her work as co-editor of Chapter Chats very rewarding. She loves gardening, birds, crime and espionage fiction, all kinds of music, and the great outdoors.

The book cover photographs show a woman in partial profile, leaning over her bare shoulder, above a cityscape at night, with twinkling lights and a hazy red sunset in the background.

A Little Love for Urban Lit

Angie Engles Leave a comment
The book cover photographs show a woman in partial profile, leaning over her bare shoulder, above a cityscape at night, with twinkling lights and a hazy red sunset in the background.

by Angie E.

Also known as street lit or hood lit, urban fiction focuses on the gritty realities of life in the inner cities and the raw, unfiltered experiences that expose the highs and lows, the triumphs and tragedies of urban life. It emerged in the late twentieth century as a genre centered in urban communities, primarily among African American authors. While being vibrant and compelling, it often finds itself grappling with preconceived notions and stereotypes. Despite its popularity and cultural significance, it is often dismissed or misunderstood.

From street hustlers and drug dealers to determined mothers and aspiring entrepreneurs, these individuals often navigate morally ambiguous situations, creating a nuanced narrative. By examining the motivations and inner conflicts of its characters, urban fiction humanizes those who may be pigeon-holed, encouraging readers to challenge their preconceptions and recognize the complexity within individuals.

The genre has played an important role in amplifying underrepresented voices and providing a space for authors to share their lived experiences. Featuring protagonists from diverse backgrounds and communities, urban fiction offers a refreshing departure from other contemporary literature, which has historically been dominated by a narrow set of perspectives.

If you’re looking to get started with reading urban fiction, you can’t go wrong with Tracy Brown (whom, I was saddened to hear, recently passed away).

Her books, which are set in Staten Island and focus on women who triumph despite adversity, have been Essence magazine and USA Today bestsellers. Tracy Brown also started and ran a nonprofit organization known as We Are Ladies First, which serves to inform, inspire, and empower young women.

Set in the 80s and 90s, White Lines portrays authentic and multifaceted characters. Jada, the protagonist, is a beautifully flawed individual whose journey is heart-wrenching. Brown writes her with depth and vulnerability. As the narrative unfolds, we meet a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique stories and motivations. From Jada’s childhood friend Born, who walks a fine line between right and wrong, to the mysterious and captivating Cuban, whose connection to Jada sparks a whirlwind romance, these characters leave a lasting impression.

Beyond its compelling characters, White Lines delves into thought-provoking themes that confront societal issues head-on. The exploration of the drug epidemic, the impact on families, and the consequences of choices made under desperate circumstances are handled with a delicate balance of compassion and realism. Brown’s narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the human toll that addiction can exact on individuals and their communities.

While the story deals with heavy subject matter, Brown’s storytelling keeps the pacing engaging throughout. The plot twists and turns, keeping readers on their toes, and the emotional depth of the narrative never falters.

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.

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