Friendly Fire: A Spider Shepherd short story

Dan Shepherd #ss

by Stephen Leather

An action-packed short story featuring Dan “Spider” Shepherd during his days as an SAS trooper in Afghanistan. It’s November 2001 and Shepherd is sent on a dangerous mission to a Taliban stronghold on the trail of the most wanted man in the world – Osama Bin Laden.

Friendly Fire is just under 14,000 words, about thirty pages, perfect if you have half an hour to spare.

Stephen Leather is one of the UK's most successful thriller writers. He was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Before that, he was employed as a biochemist for ICI, shovelled limestone in a quarry, worked as a baker, a petrol pump attendant, a barman, and worked for the Inland Revenue. He began writing full time in 1992. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. Two of his books, The Stretch and The Bombmaker, were made into movies. You can find out more from his website, www.stephenleather.com.

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2012

About the author

Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story detailing a time from Spider Shepherd's service with the SAS. Even though it was short I still found it to be a good read. The characters, and locations, are as believable as those in the full length books. I have the usual problem with these short stories, they are always over just as you start to get engrossed. Still a useful addition to the backstory of Spider Shepherd.

[Bob Phillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Stephen Leather writes.
Spider Shepherd is sent on a mission for the SAS, he does not know where he is going, and his wife will not be happy that he is away for longer, as their son misses him.
Spider finds himself in Afghanistan, and Bin Laden is supposed to be there according to a local, Taj.
Spider and a few small teams go to look, and behold there is the terrorist himself.
During the firefight, some friendly fire hits one of the SAS teams.
The USA says to wait, they want him for themselves.
Spider and Tajl follow with the thought of the kill, but the order is to stand down.
Spider takes the shot anyway but misses, Bin Laden escapes and both Taj and Spider are not happy.
Great short read.

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy these SAS short stories - a quick read when needed

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thriller, even though you know the ending. Nice to get some background for Spider Shepherd.

[Gail Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good idea that works for a short story, but glad it wasn't taken to anything longer.