Slough House, Herron - B+

                   Diane Taverner finds herself in a pickle when she sanctions an off-the-books hit in Russia using funds provided by a group of right-wing British businessmen. At the same time, she removes the Slow Horses from MI5's record books. Somehow, the GRU concludes that the Horses are an assassination team, and two former members are killed. Threaten the Horses, and they spring into action. Lamb brilliantly plays his hand, and with a valiant effort from River, they prevail. There are quite a few loose ends, but this is another great entry in the series.

Bad Actors, Herron - B+

                Six months later, a former First Desk is asked by 10 Downing Street to try to find a missing consultant to the PM's closest adviser, a despicable man named Anthony Sparrow. For reasons unknown, Taverner tells Downing Street that the last number the missing woman, Sophie de Greer, called was Lamb's. This bald-faced lie requires the horses to get involved, and they (not Regent's Park) figure out that de Greer is probably a Russian plant. Then Sparrow vindictively manages to get Taverner suspended. Another fabulous outing,  with the hideous but hysterical Jackson Lamb pulling the strings.