Reconstruction

By: Mick Herron

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

In CWA Gold Dagger winner Mick Herron’s chillingly plausible first standalone, “there is no hiding under the desk” (The New York Times Book Review).

When a gunman breaks into South Oxford Nursery School and takes a group of hostages, teacher Louise Kennedy fears the worst. But Jaime Segura isn’t there on a homicidal mission, and he’s just as scared as those whose lives he holds as collateral. As an armed police presence builds outside the school’s gates, the only person Jaime will talk to is Ben Whistler, an MI6 accountant who worked with Jaime’s lover, Miro. Miro’s gone missing, along with a quarter of a billion pounds allotted for reconstruction work in Iraq. Jaime refuses to believe that Miro is a thief—though he’s always had his secrets. But then, so does Louise, so do the other hostages—and so do some people on the outside, who’d much rather Jaime was silenced.

“Masterful … How Herron is able to tie all these events together will test the sleuthing ability of even the most savvy readers as one surprise engenders another. The intricate plot, coupled with Herron’s breezy writing style … results in superior entertainment that makes most other novels of suspense appear dull and slow-witted by comparison.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

©2008 Mick Herron (P)2026 Recorded Books

Not His Best

The premise got way too bogged down in the nursery school segment. The characters no where near as engaging as the Slow Horses’. Gerard Doyle is a great narrator, but this book fell short.

Brilliant

Mick Herron weaves a story together like no other. This is another great read that’s Slough House adjacent

Simply put this is well written intricate story with great narration.

Simply put this is well written intricate story with great narration. It’s a great stand alone but still fits nicely into the Slow Horses universe.

Complicated

Unfortunately this was a very confusing listen . Not his best . Hard to keep track of all the characters and the plot took forever to take shape.

Dullest entry yet

It was very sluggish. Barely any activity to jolt you back awake. I think maybe the author needs to take a beat before he continues in the Slow Horses world.