The Marylebone Drop: A Novella

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Ian R ankin, via Twitter Thoroughly gripping espionage, focused on int elligent plotting over action for its own sake--think le Carré, b ut with a heartier dash of dry humor. iBooks currently doesn’t list this novella as part of the series, but hopefully they will correct that soon. Today, he has settled upon a hot chocolate—he breakfasted late, so has no need for anything substantial, but various errands having placed him in the neighbourhood, it would be unthinkable to pass Fischer’s without dropping in. And Solomon can see what is about to happen as surely as if he were reading the scene on a page; the brief moment of impact, the startled oomph from the young lady, an equally surprised ungh from the man, a scattering of envelopes, the sudden monopoly of attention.

The Marylebone Drop (Literature) - TV Tropes The Marylebone Drop (Literature) - TV Tropes

Through the momentarily open door intrude the mid-morning sounds of Marylebone High: a passing taxi, a skirl of laughter, the rumble of London.But in relaying his suspicions to John Bachelor, who babysits retired spies like Solly for MI5, he sets in motion a train of events that will alter lives. A figure of fun to those who don’t know him, and he is aware of that, and regards it as one of life’s better jokes. Solomon Dortmund, eyes closed, takes a sip, and for one tiny moment is transported to his childhood. Secure at his table, he surveys the congregation sparse today, but other people, however few in number, always command Solomon’s interest, for Solomon is a people-watcher, always has been, always will be.

The Marylebone Drop: A Novella (Slough House) by - Biblio The Marylebone Drop: A Novella (Slough House) by - Biblio

And then the man, fully recovered, is apologising; the young woman assuring him that the fault is as much hers as his (this is not true); the envelopes are gathered up while the young lady pats at herself, confirming that she still has everything she ought to have; the bag slung over her shoulder, the scarf around her neck. To anyone watching as he heads for the outside world, he is no more than old-fashioned clothing on a sticklike frame; a judgement he would accept without demur. Frame-Up: Wicinski is framed for possession of child porn - downloaded onto his laptop by a BND hacker - after Hannah reports his name to her handler. It’s not often a reviewer can say, ‘You’ve never read anything quite like this’ but it’s a safe encomium to use in the case of Mick Herron.His own telephone is black, with a rotary dial, and lives on a table, but he is one of those rare creatures who recognises that even those technological developments in which he himself has neither interest nor investment might yet be of value to others, and he is perfectly content to allow them to indulge themselves. Peter Kahlmann (who's actually just a cover identity for Martin Kreutzmer) is Weiss’s BND handler, who’s far more competent than Pynne or Bachelor. Old spooks carry the memory of tradecraft in their bones, and when Solomon Dortmund sees an envelope being passed from one pair of hands to another in a Marylebone café, he knows he’s witnessed more than an innocent encounter. Unwitting Instigator of Doom: The waiter in Fischer's who asks Peter Kahlmann if his uncle's friend managed to get in touch. Code Name: Hannah Weiss, MI5’s double agent in the BND, is randomly assigned "Snow White" as her code name.

The Marylebone Drop, A Novella by Mick Herron - Booktopia The Marylebone Drop, A Novella by Mick Herron - Booktopia

In his black coat and antique homburg, w hiskers sprouting from every visible orifice, he resembles an aca demic whose subject has been rendered otiose. But un der the hat, under the coat, under the wealth of whiskers, Solomo n carries the memory of tradecraft in his bones, and those bones are rattled now by more than the winter wind.A moment later, the man is at a table, busying himself with the buttons on his coat; the young woman is at the door, is through it, is gone.