The Catch cover art

The Catch

A Slough House Novella

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The Catch

By: Mick Herron
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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About this listen

If life in the Intelligence Service has taught John Bachelor anything, it's to keep his head down. Especially now, when he's living rent-free in a dead spook's flat.

So he's not delighted to be woken at dawn by a pair of Regent's Park's heavies, looking for a client he's not seen in years. John doesn't know what secrets Benny Manors has stolen, but they're attracting the wrong attention. And if he's to save his own skin, not to mention safeguard his living arrangements, John has to find Benny before those secrets see the light.

Benny could be anywhere, provided it serves alcohol. So John sets out on a reluctant trawl through the bars of the capital, all the while plagued by the age-old questions: Will he end up sleeping in his car? How many bottles of gin can he afford at London prices?

And just how far will Regent's Park go to prevent anyone rocking the Establishment's boat?

©2020 Mick Herron (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd Espionage Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Transportation

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All stars
Most relevant  
A standalone gem of a story that perfectly complements the Slough House series. I only hope this isn't the last time we encounter John Batchelor.

A thoroughly enjoyable aside from Slough House

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I've found these marvelous little side stories essential companians as I've read the main Slough House novels. Essential in that they knit in periferal characters to flesh out the whole.

Essential

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A short story which gives a snapshot of the dreary run of the mill everyday spookery than the swashbuckling Impossible Bond Bourne ilk. In that way it is refreshing and maintains an air of believability.

The story revolves around people and the human experience rather than focussing on technical rivalry, so paying with the nature of the traditional ‘craft’.

The storyline is ok and the way it is presented by the narrator is lifted beyond its rank or ingenuity. The performance and characterisations well deserve my 5***** rating, if nothing else than for the underplayed inebriated section which would have been so tempting to ham up. It wasn’t and the listening experience benefitted from it.

The narrator managed to convey a good range of intentions and emotions as appropriate, from the menacing, smug and deluded.

Worth a listen but not groundbreaking. If anything, I found it too short and the story and characters could have done with padding out to give some more depth.

There is potential empathy left wanting, and I am left unclear if there is a hero to look out for in any further episodes. But then again, it is perhaps better to leave the audience wanting more.

More Grumpy than Smiley

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Perfectly read as ever. A nice stand-alone. Full of the author’s usual wit and nuance.

Another neat novella

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Yes, it's very short and perhaps not quite worth a full credit, however I thoroughly enjoyed this little sideline of the Slough House narrative. Double cross all round with a twist at the end, it kept me engaged for the whole two hours.

Another great narration by the reader. Top marks all round.

Very short but very satisfying

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Fabulous read , absorbing and beautifully read by Sean Barrett . Moving into the next immediately to continue the pleasure

Gripping

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why do they charge a full credit for such a short piece? surely it could have been added to the previous book?
Having said that it was a good listen and was performed well. Just wish I'd paid more attention to the listening time because I wouldn't have paid full price for it.

don't waste your credits

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Just a teaser of the Slow Horses leaves the listener craving more. Listen to them all and you will be desperate for the next fix.

Catch is up to scratch.

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The first book left me wanting more and I soon started to dread the end. First class spy tales with real characters who leave you wanting more.

Never disappoints….

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This is little more than an extended coffee break of a novella but if that is what it is, the coffee is great and there's a nip of brandy and a decent danish in it too. Hapless 'Milkman' John Bachelor gets out of his depth again even in the tawdry shallows he flounders in. It seems that everyone is playing him as he is used by 'Lady Di' to help sort out a potential scandal starring a recently deceased American paedophile allegedly connected to a senior member of the Royal Family. As with all things Spook Street, nothing is quite what it seems and this entertaining episode is a lovely reminder of what we can all look forward to in 'Jackson Lamb 7'. Sean Barrett's narration is, as ever, pitch perfect.

A warming nip from the Spook Street hip flask

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