The Drop

'It is time Mick Herron was recognised in his own right as the best thriller writer in Britain today' Sunday Express

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 cafe he knows he's witnessed more than an innocent encounter. But in relaying his suspicions to John Bachelor who babysits retired spies like Solly he sets in train events which will alter lives. Bachelor himself a hair's breadth away from sleeping in his car is clawing his way back to stability; Hannah Weiss the double agent whose recruitment was his only success is starting to enjoy the secrets and lies her role demands; and Lech Wicinski an Intelligence Service analyst finds that a simple favour for an old acquaintance might derail his career. Meanwhile Lady Di Taverner is trying to keep the Service on an even keel and if that means throwing the odd crew member overboard well: collateral damage is her speciality.

A drop in spook parlance is the passing on of secret information.

It's also what happens just before you hit the ground.