Spook Street by Mick Herron

 

Readers of the Slough House series are familiar with River Cartwright, one of the Slow Horses and his grandfather, David, or OB Old Bastard as River calls him.  OB raised River from the time he was seven and his mother dropped him off at OB's house and never returned.  OB was an operative at M15, near the top and in on everything.  Now in his eighties, he is entering dementia and River is concerned about him.

But that concern ratches up when he goes to visit and finds a body in OB's bathroom.  What to do?  River stashes his grandfather where he thinks he will be safe then goes off by himself to try to discover who wants his grandfather dead and what he can do about it.

In the meantime, there's a new Slow Horse.  Cole doesn't talk but goes about his business with headphones on at all times.  He shares a room with Ho who actually has gotten a girlfriend.  Marcus and Shirley are sharing an office while Louisa has struck up a friendship with River.  Catherine Standish hasn't been back to the office since the last blowup and there's a new office manager.  Of course, Jackson Lamb is there as always, keeping his secrets and stepping in when needed.

This is the fourth novel in the Slough House series.  In this one, we learn more about River Cartwright's  background and about the friendships that evolve among the residents of Slough House.  There's a new head of M15 and lots of machinations and power plays there but it's the Slow Horses that the focus in on.  I listened to this novel and the narration of Gerald Doyle adds so much to the book.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.