Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


So this book was originally published is 2003 and, surprisingly, it’s held up very well. Also it was his debut novel, which really says something about his talent. I never would have guessed it could be a debut.

I’ve been a fan of Mick Herron since the first episode of Slow Horses on Apple TV+. I immediately started the series and only got a couple books in because the show does a great job and there are so many books to read!

Here’s the blurb:

From the author of Slow Horses and soon to be an Original Series from Apple TV+ starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson.

CWA Gold Dagger winner Mick Herron’s debut novel introduces Sarah Tucker, whose search for a missing child unravels a murderous conspiracy.

This deluxe edition of a modern classic includes a foreword by the author and discussion questions for book clubs.

It’s an evening like any other when an explosion rips through the leafy Oxford suburb Sarah Tucker calls home. In the aftermath, a house now stands devastated, with two adults dead and a young girl missing.

With the police more interested in keeping the neighbors from rubbernecking than in searching for the missing child, Sarah becomes obsessed with finding her, and enlists the help of Oxford private investigator Zoë Boehm. But Sarah’s and Zoë’s search reveals more secrets than answers. As Zoë and Sarah draw closer to the truth, they are caught in a web of conspiracy and come up against government forces, cold-blooded mercenaries and vengeful loners.

When I saw Down Cemetery Road offered as an audiobook from NetGalley, I grabbed it. How could I resist a new Apple TV+ series starring Emma Thompson?? And I LOVE Ruth Wilson since seeing her for the first time on Luther. Alice is my hero. Anti-hero? Regardless, I love Alice.

As I expected from Herron, there are lots of twists and turns and goodish guys and super bad guys. I loved the story and how many times everything seemed to change. Sarah was a fantastic character and I’d love to know what happened with her and some of the others. I very well may read the second in the series just to satisfy some of my curiosity. Or maybe I’ll just wait for the new TV series…

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up with the audiobook – which was done very well. The narrator was lovely.



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