By Martin Shore
Copyright tomsguide
Skip to main content
Tom’s Guide
Newsletters
View Profile
Search Tom’s Guide
You May Like
‘Slow Horses’ season 5 just got a new trailer and I couldn’t be more excited for the Apple spy thriller if I tried
‘Silo’ season 3 — everything we know so far
5 best spy thriller shows on Netflix to stream right now
Phone Insights
Phone Best Picks
Phone Deals
Phone Face-Offs
Phone How-Tos
Phone Reviews
Network Carriers
Android Phones
Google Phones
Motorola Phones
OnePlus Phones
Samsung Phones
Nothing Phone
TV Best Picks
TV Face-Offs
Audio Insights
Audio Best Picks
Audio Deals
Audio Face-Offs
Audio How-Tos
Audio Reviews
Over-Ear Headphones
Bluetooth Speakers
Smart Speakers
TV & Audio Brands
Entertainment
Streaming Devices
Prime Video
Paramount Plus
PlayStation
Handheld Gaming
Gaming Peripherals
Connections
Computing Insights
Computing Best Picks
Computing Deals
Computing Face-Offs
Computing How-Tos
Computing News
Computing Reviews
VPN Best Picks
VPN Face-Offs
VPN How-Tos
VPN Reviews
Operating Systems
Identity Theft Protection
Parental Controls
Malware & Adware
Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality
Smart Glasses
Chromebooks
Gaming Laptops
Apple Desktops
Gaming Desktops
Android Tablets
Computing Brands
AI Insights
AI Best Picks
AI Face-Offs
Google Gemini
Apple Intelligence
Mattress Best Picks
Mattress Deals
Mattress Face-Offs
Mattress How-Tos
Mattress News
Mattress Reviews
Mattress Care
Mattress Toppers
Pillows & Bedding
Smartwatches
Fitness Trackers
Smart Rings
Apple Watch
Home Insights
Home Best Picks
Home Face-Offs
Home How-Tos
Home Reviews
Home Topics
Home Appliances
Home Office
Home Security
Home Brands
Popular Brands
View Phones
Phone Insights
Phone Best Picks
Phone Deals
Phone Face-Offs
Phone How-Tos
Phone Reviews
Network Carriers
View Network Carriers
Android Phones
View Android Phones
Google Phones
Motorola Phones
OnePlus Phones
Samsung Phones
Nothing Phone
TV Best Picks
TV Face-Offs
Audio Insights
View Audio Insights
Audio Best Picks
Audio Deals
Audio Face-Offs
Audio How-Tos
Audio Reviews
Headphones
View Headphones
Over-Ear Headphones
View Speakers
Bluetooth Speakers
Smart Speakers
TV & Audio Brands
Entertainment
View Entertainment
View Streaming
Streaming Devices
Prime Video
Paramount Plus
View Gaming
PlayStation
Handheld Gaming
Gaming Peripherals
Word Games
Connections
View Computing
Computing Insights
Computing Best Picks
Computing Deals
Computing Face-Offs
Computing How-Tos
Computing News
Computing Reviews
VPN Best Picks
VPN Face-Offs
VPN How-Tos
VPN Reviews
View Hardware
View Software
Operating Systems
View Security
Identity Theft Protection
Parental Controls
Malware & Adware
View VR & AR
Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality
Smart Glasses
View Laptops
Chromebooks
Gaming Laptops
View Desktops
Apple Desktops
Gaming Desktops
View Tablets
Android Tablets
Computing Brands
AI Insights
AI Best Picks
AI Face-Offs
AI Engines
Google Gemini
Apple Intelligence
View Wellness
Mattresses
View Mattresses
Mattress Best Picks
Mattress Deals
Mattress Face-Offs
Mattress How-Tos
Mattress News
Mattress Reviews
Mattress Care
Mattress Toppers
Pillows & Bedding
View Fitness
Smartwatches
Fitness Trackers
Smart Rings
Apple Watch
Home Insights
Home Best Picks
Home Face-Offs
Home How-Tos
Home Reviews
Home Topics
Home Appliances
Home Office
Home Security
View Outdoors
Home Brands
Popular Brands
Exclusive Apple Interview
iPhone 17 Pro
Wordle Today
Best laptops
Best Mattress
Don’t miss these
‘Slow Horses’ season 5 just got a new trailer and I couldn’t be more excited for the Apple spy thriller if I tried
‘Silo’ season 3 — everything we know so far
5 best spy thriller shows on Netflix to stream right now
I’ve watched 43 shows in 2025 so far — here’s the 9 worth watching right now
Here are the 7 Emmy-nominated shows you need to stream right now
How to watch the ‘John Wick’ movies in order online
5 best shows like ‘Untamed’ to stream right now
Entertainment
How to watch ‘Bookish’ online — stream British crime drama series FREE from anywhere
7 top new shows I’d stream this week on Netflix, Prime Video and more (Sept. 15-21)
I interviewed the cast of ‘Foundation’ season 3 — here’s my 10 biggest takeaways for the upcoming season
New on Peacock in September 2025 — All the New Shows and Movies to Watch
5 best shows like ‘The Paper’ and where you can stream them
7 top new movies and shows to stream this weekend on Prime Video, Netflix and more (Aug. 29–31)
I spoke to the cast of ‘Foundation’ — read this before the epic season 3 finale
New on Peacock in July 2025 — all the movies and shows to watch
Entertainment
‘Slow Horses’ books: How to read the spy thriller book series in order
Martin Shore
17 September 2025
Love ‘Slow Horses’? Read the books that inspired the Apple TV Plus hit
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Every ‘Slow Horses’ book
‘Slow Horses’ books bundle
Reading order
Will every ‘Slow Horses’ book get adapted?
If you have Apple TV Plus, you’re either already watching “Slow Horses” and recommending it constantly, or you probably have people telling you to start watching “Slow Horses,” because it’s one of the best Apple TV Plus shows. I say that with experience: I caught up on “Slow Horses” last year and have been telling everyone I knew to watch it since (it’s the only thing stopping me from canceling after that recent Apple TV Plus price hike).
The Apple spy thriller’s showing no signs of slowing down, either. “Slow Horses” has already been renewed for a seventh season, and “Slow Horses” season 5 is about to reunite us with Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), River Phoenix (Jack Lowden), and the rest of the Slough House gang for what’s almost sure to be another gripping season of television, premiering Sept. 24.
If six more episodes aren’t enough to satisfy, or you’re simply desperate to know what’s in store for the Slow Horses in future installments, now seems as good a time as any to dive into the books. Here’s how to read the “Slow Horses” books in order.
You may like
‘Slow Horses’ season 5 just got a new trailer and I couldn’t be more excited for the Apple spy thriller if I tried
‘Silo’ season 3 — everything we know so far
5 best spy thriller shows on Netflix to stream right now
How many ‘Slow Horses’ books are there?
Slow Horses — Season 5 Official Trailer | Apple TV+ – YouTube
To date, Mick Herron has written nine different “Slow Horses” novels. The series began with “Slow Horses,” first published back in 2010, and continued through to the present day with “Clown Town,” published just a couple of weeks ahead of “Slow Horses” season 5’s debut on Apple TV Plus.
Here’s a full reading list of the series so far
“Slow Horses”
“Dead Lions”
“Real Tigers”
“Spook Street”
“London Rules”
“Joe Country”
“Slough House”
“Bad Actors”
“Clown Town”
In between those main novels, Mick Herron also penned a series of shorter Slough House novellas: “The List,” “The Marylebone Drop,” “The Catch,” “The Last Dead Letter” and “Standing by the Wall.”
If you want to read every story, all five of these tales are collected together in the “Standing by the Wall” novella collection, which collates all five of these additional stories together in one omnibus edition.
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom’s Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
‘Slow Horses’ books bundle deal
(Image credit: Apple)
Don’t own any of the “Slow Horses” books yet? Don’t buy them individually.
If you’re sure you want to commit to reading the whole series, you can currently buy the first eight books together in one bundle on Amazon — and it’s way cheaper than buying them individually.
Save on Slow Horses Books 1-8 at Amazon
$66.99View
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
How to read the ‘Slow Horses’ books in order
(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Here’s a list of all the “Slow Horses” books and novellas, placed in publication order.
You may like
‘Slow Horses’ season 5 just got a new trailer and I couldn’t be more excited for the Apple spy thriller if I tried
‘Silo’ season 3 — everything we know so far
5 best spy thriller shows on Netflix to stream right now
“Slow Horses” (2010)
“Dead Lions” (2013)
“The List” (2015)
“Real Tigers” (2016)
“Spook Street” (2017)
“London Rules” (2018)
“The Marylebone Drop” (2018)
“Joe Country” (2019)
“The Catch” (2020)
“The Last Dead Letter” (2020)
“Slough House” (2021)
“Bad Actors” (2022)
“Standing by the Wall” (2022)
“Clown Town” (2025)
Just as a quick reminder, “The List,” “The Marylebone Drop,” “The Catch,” “The Last Dead Letter,” and “Standing by the Wall” can all be found in the “Standing by the Wall” omnibus.
I’ve not included three additional books — “Reconstruction,” “Nobody Walks” and “The Secret Hours” — which take place in the same universe and do feature some of the same characters.
However, they aren’t necessarily considered part of the main series of “Slow Horses” books. Case in point, MickHerron.com lists these as “standalone” thrillers, so I didn’t think they necessarily belonged on the list (though fans should probably seek them out at some point).
Will every ‘Slow Horses’ book get adapted?
(Image credit: Apple TV+)
As far as we know, as long as there’s an appetite, Apple is focused on bringing all the “Slow Horses” books to our screens. In 2024, showrunner Will Smith (who is leaving the series after season 5) told THR that that was the plan, too.
Asked whether they’d want to continue through all nine main books, he said, “Yeah. I think Mick is writing the ninth now, but we’ll have to see what happens. Depends on what Apple wants and what the appetite is, but I definitely have the kind of leave-them-wanting-more rather than the outstay-your-welcome instinct … But the world of the show is there to be mined.”
Apple’s renewed the series up to season 7, and “Slow Horses” only seems to be growing in popularity, so it seems like the whole saga will make it to Apple TV Plus. And seeing as “Slow Horses” is easily one of the best Apple TV Plus shows you can stream, we’re keen to see more.
Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
More from Tom’s Guide
How to get Apple TV Plus for free
New on Apple TV Plus in September 2025
“Severance” showrunner reveals the end is in sight
Best deals on the Slow Horses books
$10.43View
$14.36View
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Martin Shore
Staff Writer, Streaming
Martin is a Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things movies and TV. If it’s in the theaters or available to stream somewhere, he’s probably watched it… especially if it has a dragon in it. Before joining the team, he was a Staff Writer at What To Watch where he wrote about a broad range of shows that stretched from “Doctor Who” and “The Witcher” to “Bridgerton” and “Love Island”. When he’s not watching the next must-see movie or show, he’s probably still in front of a screen playing massive RPGs, reading, spending a fortune on TCGs, or watching the NFL.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
‘Slow Horses’ season 5 just got a new trailer and I couldn’t be more excited for the Apple spy thriller if I tried
‘Silo’ season 3 — everything we know so far
5 best spy thriller shows on Netflix to stream right now
I’ve watched 43 shows in 2025 so far — here’s the 9 worth watching right now
Here are the 7 Emmy-nominated shows you need to stream right now
How to watch the ‘John Wick’ movies in order online
Latest in Apple TV +
‘Severance’ showrunner reveals the end is in sight as Apple sci-fi sensation racks up 8 more Emmy wins
I was stunned by ‘Foundation’ season 3 and the twist that even I couldn’t see coming
I spoke to the cast of ‘Foundation’ — read this before the epic season 3 finale
The new Denzel-Spike Lee crime thriller blew me away — ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ is worth the Apple TV Plus price hike
‘Slow Horses’ season 5 just got a new trailer and I couldn’t be more excited for the Apple spy thriller if I tried
Apple TV Plus Drops First Trailer for New Romantic Drama Movie With ‘Ted Lasso’ Star — and It Has a Compelling Sci-Fi Twist
Latest in Features
These are the only 3 gadgets I bought when I became a dad — and one’s less than $30
I did yoga for 15 minutes every night before bed for a month — here’s how it transformed my sleep
I’m a smart home skeptic, but after switching to this AI refrigerator I’m never looking back
Windows 10 support ends in less than 30 days — here are the options for PC owners right now
I did the Pilates ‘roll like a ball’ exercise for a week, and my mobility improved in a way I didn’t expect
Unlocking watchOS 26 — 7 new features Apple Watch users should check out now
LATEST ARTICLES
I’m a smart home skeptic, but after switching to this AI refrigerator I’m never looking back
I spoke to fitness and nutrition experts about avoiding winter slumps — here’s the 3 things you need to know
I tested ChatGPT vs Claude with 7 personal productivity tests — here’s the clear winner
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Apple Watch SE 3 — which one should you buy?
Windows 10 support ends in less than 30 days — here are the options for PC owners right now
Tom’s Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Terms and conditions
Contact Future’s experts
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Accessibility Statement
Advertise with us
Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…
