Slow Horses

Story: Failed spies, washed up and banished to a purgatory of sorts end up caught up in the machinations of others. A a complex thriller type plot that does drive the reading along, a bit of a page turner and the plot points are taken from contemporary news.
Setting: Contemporary London and it is believably presented. At times almost a character itself, enjoyable.
Language: Modern english with some spy type slang, not challenging.
Character: The characters are certainly the strength of the book. Washed up, failed, incompetent, arrogant, overly ambitious and well the list is long as to what ails the main characters but at the core they are looking to get past whatever it is that has led them to be in their current lot. Many of these histories are relatable, apparently spies are human.