Slow Horses is finally back for Season 4, and I couldn’t be more excited. While we still have a few weeks until the season finale, fans are already worried about biding the time between episodes. If books are your thing, allow me to recommend some spy thrillers with gritty action, old-school intrigue and offbeat characters to keep you busy until Season 5.
First off, did you know Slow Horses is based on the Slough House series by Mick Herron? If you love the show, I highly recommend checking it out. The first book, Slow Horses, covers the same events as Season 1. Reading it proves what an incredible job Apple TV+ did adapting the series. There are eight books so far, plus a few novellas and a standalone prequel that was just released last month. If that isn’t enough to keep you busy, check out these five other spy thrillers.
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Transcription by Kate Atkinson
In 1940, 18-year-old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly drawn into the world of MI5 espionage. Her task: monitoring British Fascist sympathizers, work that proves both mundane and dangerous at the same time. 10 years after the war and working as a BBC radio producer, Juliet believes those experiences are behind her. When confronted by figures from her past, however, she realizes that the consequences of her wartime actions have followed her into this new era, and a reckoning is at hand.
While Juliet Armstrong is no Jackson Lamb — she’s far too honest and vulnerable — she’s still a fascinating character to follow. Like the man in charge of the Slow Horses, her mind works at light speed, and she sees and understands far more than it appears on the surface. Kate Atkinson’s Transcription is full of tension, intrigue and drama, plus an ending you’ll never see coming.
Alias Emma by Ava Glass
Emma Makepeace barely graduated from basic training before she’s thrust into her first mission: escorting the son of Russian dissidents across London to safety while evading assassins. When the Russian government hacks the city’s CCTV network, they must navigate on foot without being detected by cameras, phones, or bank cards. When her handler disappears, Emma must make every decision on her own. With just twelve hours to deliver the asset danger at every turn, one wrong move could cost them their lives.
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Alias Emma is a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled novel written in the tradition of the best British spy thrillers. Raised in a spy family like River Cartwright, Emma (not her real name) is a quick-thinking, endearingly human protagonist. If you’re interested in the genre of spooks and spies, check out author Ava Glass’ fascinating essay on her time working counter-terrorism in the real-life world of British intelligence.
Intelligence by Susan Hasler
Maddie James and her team of terrorism experts are convinced another major attack is imminent. But in a post-9/11 election year, the government is more focused on showcasing its victories in the War on Terror. Despite personal and political obstacles, they nearly prevent the attack but miss a key twist. After the tragedy, the administration falsely blames Iran. As a result, Maddie’s team fights back against cover-ups and corruption to uncover the truth.
Written by an ex-CIA analyst, Intelligence is a great look at the office and interpersonal dynamics of the agency. Susan Hasler uses sharp wit and quirky characters to express her frustration with the organization as a whole, and the struggles of her team will have you both laughing and horrified. Slow Horses fans will love this tense spy thriller and its real-world political analysis.
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The Dublin Trilogy by Caimh McDonnell
Paul Mulchrone narrowly survives a first attempt on his life, only to face a second, deliberate one. Now, he’s on the run with only two unlikely allies: a crime novel-obsessed nurse and a rogue cop with a violent streak. Together, they must solve one of Ireland’s most infamous crimes—or end up becoming part of history themselves.
The Dublin Trilogy follows detective Bunny McGarry, a cop who drinks a lot and fights dirty. Like Jackson Lamb, he’s infamous, even parking his car in a dangerous estate because he knows no one is foolish enough to touch it. While Caimh McDonnell didn’t technically write a spy thriller or even a trilogy (there are six books in the series), these are all fun, funny and fast-paced mysteries.
All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer
Six years ago, a terrorist hostage crisis in Vienna ended in disaster. Questions about whether the CIA’s agent on the inside was compromised have haunted those involved ever since. CIA officers Henry Pelham and Celia Harrison were romantically involved at the time of the crisis, but Celia left the agency that night for a quieter life in Carmel-by-the-Sea. When they reconnect over dinner, both are haunted by the same question. Was their agent really compromised, and what role did each of them play in the tragedy?
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All the Old Knives is a short book but one that moves with precision. Olen Steinhauer’s novel is basically a locked-room spy mystery about history, regret and deception. Full of flashbacks and introspection, Steinhauer slowly reveals the plot through both agents’ perspectives, slowly revealing their contradictions—and the truth.
All of these great spy thrillers are available to purchase from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. What books would you recommend for fans of Slow Horses? Let us know below, and keep an eye out for more reading lists for all of your favorite shows and films.
Slow Horses drops new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
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