The Marylebone Drop by Mick Heron

 

John Batchlor is a semi-retired spy for MI5, not that he wanted to be semi-retired.  His only job these days is to check on the old assets who need a place to live and someone to check on them periodically and be there if they need a hospital or when they pass on.  MI5 has also cut his pay and John finds himself homeless.  He has worn out his friends offers to stay a day or two and is faced with perhaps sleeping in his car in a terrible winter.

But one of his charges asks to speak with him.  Solomon Dortmund was having a coffee in a restaurant when he saw an old-fashioned drop; the passing of information from one spy to another.  The giver was a young beautiful girl while the recipient was a middle-aged man.  Solly reports this to John who decides that he needs to check it out.  

In the meantime, political maneuverings are ever present.  Some individuals are moving up in the ranks while others are being sidelined.  There are spies and counterspies and who can tell the difference?  

This is a novella and the Slough House crew are not present.  It is about the main group of MI-5.  I listened to this one as no one is better than Gerald Doyle who narrates all the Slough House series.  He has the perfect voice for this kind of book and it is best suited to the dry humor found in Herron's books.  This book is recommended for mystery readers and Mick Herron fans.