Dead Lions

Diana Taverner is an ambitious woman. To what extent are Diana Taverner's professional ambitions compromised by her interactions with the slow horses, and how do her goals evolve in response to the dysfunction within Slough House?

How deep is Min and Louisa’s emotional connection, and what factors, both internal and external, shape their relationship? What unresolved tensions did they face?

How does Pashkin construct and perform his fake identity as a billionaire, and how does this performance of wealth and status allow him to manipulate others and secure his goals?

In what ways do Ho’s engagements in antisocial and criminal behaviors affect his ability to be seen as a sympathetic character, and can his actions be justified or understood within the context of the novel?

The slow horses come from many different backgrounds but they are united by their failure. To what extent do they find comfort in their ability to work as a team, and does this sense of camaraderie foster solidarity or breed resentment among them?

Why does Katinsky specifically choose Upshott for his act of revenge, and how does the town’s quiet, seemingly mundane nature contrast with the explosive consequences of his actions?

River’s understanding of espionage is influenced by his grandfather’s stories. How does he conform to his grandfather’s depiction of spies and secret agents? Does his idealized vision of being a spy clash with the harsh reality of life at Slough House?

In what ways does the lingering influence of the Cold War loom over the novel, and how do past political tensions shape the contemporary world of espionage depicted in Dead Lions?