Bad Actors by Mick Herron

 

In this eighth novel in the Slough House series, a government employee has gone missing.  Not just an everyday employee.  This is the government's superforecaster who predicts how the average person in the street will react to the government's policies and moves.  She has been imported from Russia and has now disappeared.  Have the Russians kidnapped her back?  Has she gone on the lam?  

Claude Whelan, head of the Park and Diana Travener's former boss, is given the assignment of finding her or at least finding out what happened to her.  Diane is upset that he is back and clues are pointing at Jackson Lamb at Slough House.  Slough House is shorthanded these days although since they do nothing it doesn't matter that much.  River Cartwright is taking some time off after the death of his grandfather while Shirley Dander is off taking the cure at the rehab center for spies.  

This is definitely one of the best books in the series.  Watching Shirley and getting into her head is a rare joy while her alliance with Whelan when a pack of mercenaries try to kidnap her is an amazing piece of work.  Instead of being a throwaway character, we get to know more about Lach and see why he was recruited by MI-5 in the first place.  Jackson Lamb, of course, is on top of things while appearing not to care a bit about his job or anyone else.  My only fear is that Mick Herron will get tired of writing about the misfits at Slough House and that would be a disaster as this series is becoming one of my absolute favorites.  This book is recommended for mystery and spycraft readers.