Mick Herron Bio

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1963, and raised in Jesmond, Mick Herron has become one of the most well-known and popular spy novel writers. Today, he resides just north of Oxford in the UK. 

Upon finishing school, Herron went on to study English Literature at Balliol College, Oxford University. He began his career writing poetry before moving onto fiction, and despite commuting daily to London for work as a sub-editor, he found the time to write every day. 

Mick Herron used his experiences of living in Oxford in his first mystery series, Down Cemetery Road, in the Zoë Boehm books. This series is set in Oxford. 

MI5 and the Slough House 

In 2010, Mick Herron published the first book in the Slough House series, Slow Horses, using exiled MI5 agents as his inspiration. Whilst this series is now award winning, it took several years after the release of the first book, before it was hailed by the Daily Telegraph as one of the twenty greatest spy novels of all time”.

The original idea behind the books was quite simple – instead of firing agents of MI5 who no longer meet the cut, why not put them somewhere they won’t bother the “real” spies. Herron took that idea and combined it with a dingy building, behind a black door, squeezed between a restaurant and convenience store he walked past every day on the way to work. 

The Slough House thrillers have won several awards and have been published in 25 languages. 

Jackson Lamb – the character you can’t help but follow

In good books, there’s always one character; a character that repulses you, yet you can’t help but follow their story. In the Slough House books, that character is Jackson Lamb, possibly one of the worst bosses in a fiction novel. 

Mick Herron has created a character that has everything you imagine in a boss involved in the spy world – cunning, he knows how to survive, he is loyal and has an interesting way to look after his “Joes”. 

On television – Down Cemetery Road and Slough House

In 2015, publisher John Murrary, picked up the rights to the Slough House series. This kickstarted huge sales for the series which hadn’t previously gained a lot of traction in the UK. The Slough House novels were adapted for television by Apple TV, and includes an experienced and loved cast including Gary Oldman, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves and Johnathan Prryce. 

The Zoë Boehm series was turned into television series Down Cemetery Road and first aired in October 2025. Featuring Emma Thompson, who plays Detective Zoë Boehm, and Ruth Wilson it has already been nominated for one BAFTA Award (2026 nominee Fehiniti Balogun – Supporting Actor) and won the 2026 Winner Planet Positive award at the British Film Designers Guild Award. 

Awards

Mick Herron has won several awards (and has been shortlisted or longlisted for many more): 

2025 – Crime Writer’s Association Award, the Diamond Dagger Award. 

2013 – Crime Writer’s Association Award, Gold Dagger Award – Dead Lions 

2017 – CrimeFest, Last Laugh Award – Real Tigers

2017 – Crime Writer’s Association, Ian Flemming Steel Dagger – Spook Street 

2018 – CrimeFest, Last Laugh Award – Spook Street

2022 – Theakston’s Old Peculier, Crime Novel of the Year – Slough House 

2022 – CrimeFest, Last Laugh Award – Slough House

2024 – CrimeFest, Last Laugh Award – The Secret Hours