In this spy thriller by Mick Herron, the “slow horses,” are washed-up MI5 agents who failed in their careers. Maybe they botched an operation and couldn’t be trusted, or maybe they got too dependent on alcohol. However, they all share a desire to get back into action, and when a young man is abducted and threatened on the internet, the slow horses see a chance to redeem themselves-–but is the victim really who he appears to be?