Les Lions sont morts

The mix of dark humor and gritty espionage feels unique. I'm curious whether this tone was intentional from the start or evolved over time.

The tension picks up again later, but I felt some parts dragged. Is that common in spy thrillers, or was it a deliberate choice to build atmosphere?

The detailed descriptions made the world feel very real. I wonder if Herron based it on real places or crafted it entirely from imagination.