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  • The Secret Hours

  • By: Mick Herron
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (107 ratings)

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The Secret Hours

By: Mick Herron
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Publisher's Summary

A new standalone novel from 'Britain's greatest living thriller writer' and author of the bestselling Slough House series, now a TV series starring Gary Oldman.

An Instant Sunday Times Bestseller

*A gripping standalone thriller with a riveting reveal about a disastrous MI5 mission in Cold War Berlin - a dazzling entry-point to Mick Herron's writing and an unmissable listen for Slough House fans.*

A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime

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 in the secret hours reveals who they really are.

©2023 Mick Herron (P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic Reviews

'I doubt I'll read a more enjoyable novel all year' Paula Hawkins

'Pitch-perfect' Lee Child

'Terrific' The Times

What listeners say about The Secret Hours

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Mick Herron winner

Excellent story and as always Sean Barrett 's narration is first class. Unfortunately the sound editing left a lot to be desired.....surely a Mick Herron book, narrated by Sean Barrett (what a team) is worthy of more than this? Can't wait for the next book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just too good!!!!!!

Getting the inside story on our loved slow horses is genius.
More please - I can’t live without more Mick Herron spook brilliance!!!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just brilliant

As others have said what a fantastic addition to the Slow Horses series. All questions I had asked answered. Please write more. My appetite will have be sated of these amazing characters and tales

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hard to understand the narrator

This recording has feedback or echo or something that makes it hard to hear clearly. I had to use headphones to be able to make out the words clearly. Good narration, but bad recording.

Otherwise, a great little story. A+

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story. Fantastic narration

Excellent plot lines and characters make this a great book. Narration makes for a great listening experience

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great book in the Slow Horse series

What a great book
I love all Slough House Books this book was up there with the best. You finally get the missing backstory from some of the key characters.
Once again Sean Barrett was fantastic

Standing by the wall book leads into the Secret Hours.
The book was very short ,only an hour long.
It was a great book but not worth 1 credit ,
I felt like standing by the wall should have been included as a prolog in the secret hours.

All that said I loved both books

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Classic Mick Herron

The action is well written and fast paced. Characters are forever interesting with back story through twists and turns for some Slow Horses characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Making sense of it all

A really great story which clears up so many mysteries of the Slough House series whilst telling a brilliant tale of its own. The narration was brilliant as usual.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent spy novel

I really enjoyed this story and it kept me glued to my audio book on holiday

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • JJ
  • 24-11-2023

Great listen

Enjoyed immensely brilliantly narrated.
Made lots of the Slow horses series characters and relationships make sense

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