Mick Herron‘s Down Cemetery Road was first published in 2003. With the success of Herron’s dysfunctional spy series, Slow Horses, on Apple TV+, Morwenna Banks adapted Down Cemetery Road for an 8-episode series directed by Natalie Bailey for Apple TV+.
I’m very impressed by Emma Thompson who plays the private investigator Zoë Boehm, a woman of grit, determination, and intelligence. Zoe’s new client, Sarah Tucker (played by the glorious Ruth Wilson), is looking for a missing child.
The two women join forces as they untangle a nefarious Government plot. I’m enjoying the Apple TV+ version of Down Cemetery Road (you can read about it here) but this largely forgotten novel launched Mick Herron’s career that is now celebrated by the Slow Horses series. The novel shows the glimmer of talent that will burst into fame for Mick Herron in the years ahead. GRADE: B+
Zoë Boehm series:
- Down Cemetery Road (2003)
- The Last Voice You Hear (2004)
- Why We Die (2006)
- Smoke and Whispers (2009)
Never heard of his author, George. Anyway, I don’t really enjoy ‘nefarious government plots’. Too much of politics in real life as it is.
Neeru, Mick Herron loves to write about sneaky Government actions. You might want to watch SLOW HORSES, the TV series based on his spy novels.
No Apple + …
I’ve read a number of the Slough House series, but don’t know this.
Jeff, DOWN CEMETERY ROAD was Mick Herron’s first novel and it has some flaws. But he cleaned them up for the SLOUGH HOUSE series…
None of this is part of my universe! Thanks, anyway!
Bob, there’s a military component to DOWN CEMETERY ROAD that might intrigue you.
Slough House to Slow Horses…a lucky title formation/homophonic tendency…
Todd, SEASON 5 of SLOW HORSES might be the best so far! SEASON 6 has been green-lighted for 2026.