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The Mean Streets of Asia Crime Novels #10
Don't Get Caught
Jack Shepherd is the kind of lawyer some people call a troubleshooter. He finds the trouble and then he shoots it.
If his life were only that simple.
Shepherd is tiptoeing around Hong Kong's financial back alleys looking for a billion dollars or so that went missing in Malaysia when an old friend from Bangkok turns up and dumps a much bigger problem in his lap. A military coup has swept over Thailand. The Thai army is holding Thailand's first female prime minister under house arrest and her life is in danger.
There was a time when Shepherd loved Thailand, then things went sour and he's sworn never to go back. But the prime minister is a woman with whom Shepherd once had a relationship of a sort, and Shepherd is loyal to his friends. He's also a sucker for a woman who is smart and beautiful, but of course that has nothing at all to do with it.
Whatever the reason, Shepherd can feel it happening. Thailand is reeling him right back in no matter how hard he struggles to stay away.
Okay, he decides, how hard can it be? Track down the missing money in Malaysian, then sneak into Thailand, grab his old friend right out from under the noses of the entire Thai army, and keep her alive long enough to get them both out of Thailand.
A piece of cake for the old troubleshooter, huh?
"JACK SHEPHERD IS A DELIGHT, A SHARP-WITTED LAWYER WITH A DRIVE FOR JUSTICE FORCED TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF HARD MEN WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW" -- The Malaysia Star
If his life were only that simple.
Shepherd is tiptoeing around Hong Kong's financial back alleys looking for a billion dollars or so that went missing in Malaysia when an old friend from Bangkok turns up and dumps a much bigger problem in his lap. A military coup has swept over Thailand. The Thai army is holding Thailand's first female prime minister under house arrest and her life is in danger.
There was a time when Shepherd loved Thailand, then things went sour and he's sworn never to go back. But the prime minister is a woman with whom Shepherd once had a relationship of a sort, and Shepherd is loyal to his friends. He's also a sucker for a woman who is smart and beautiful, but of course that has nothing at all to do with it.
Whatever the reason, Shepherd can feel it happening. Thailand is reeling him right back in no matter how hard he struggles to stay away.
Okay, he decides, how hard can it be? Track down the missing money in Malaysian, then sneak into Thailand, grab his old friend right out from under the noses of the entire Thai army, and keep her alive long enough to get them both out of Thailand.
A piece of cake for the old troubleshooter, huh?
"JACK SHEPHERD IS A DELIGHT, A SHARP-WITTED LAWYER WITH A DRIVE FOR JUSTICE FORCED TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF HARD MEN WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW" -- The Malaysia Star
- GenresMystery
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2023
231 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Jake Needham
48 books390 followersJAKE NEEDHAM received the Barry Award at Bouchercon 2024, the world's largest convention of mystery readers, for BEST PAPERBACK MYSTERY OF 2024. He is a three-time Barry Award nominee, as well as a nominee for the International Thriller Writers' award for BEST PAPERBACK THRILLER OF THE YEAR.
Needham is an American screen and television writer who has lived in Thailand for over thirty years. He started writing crime novels when he realized he really didn't like movies and television all that much. Since then, he has published fifteen popular mysteries and thrillers in two different series — The Inspector Samuel Tay Novels, and the Jack Shepherd Novels — as well as the international bestseller, THE BIG MANGO.
"Jake Needham is Asia's most stylish and atmospheric writer of crime fiction," says the Singapore Straits Times. "Jake Needham is Michael Connelly with steamed rice," says the Bangkok Post.
Needham is an American screen and television writer who has lived in Thailand for over thirty years. He started writing crime novels when he realized he really didn't like movies and television all that much. Since then, he has published fifteen popular mysteries and thrillers in two different series — The Inspector Samuel Tay Novels, and the Jack Shepherd Novels — as well as the international bestseller, THE BIG MANGO.
"Jake Needham is Asia's most stylish and atmospheric writer of crime fiction," says the Singapore Straits Times. "Jake Needham is Michael Connelly with steamed rice," says the Bangkok Post.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 15, 2017
Hang on Readers; Jack Shepherd Is BACK!
Another fantastic installment of JACK SHEPHERD who is a different type of lawyer as "a wannabe detective." In book 5 of Jake Needham's novel series, this one didn't disappoint! With an engaging storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I had a hard time putting this book down once I began reading and the many musings you'll find along the way. A smashing ending of the book made me a happy reader!
One of the authors' specialties is the style of well-written characters that seem to jump off the pages and is why I enjoy reading Jake's books. His knowledge and expertise of Asia and the history make you feel you are there. I love when a book can make you feel part of the storyline and locations. Another 5-Star treat by Jake Needham and highly suggest this one to all crime/thriller readers.
"Cat Lyon's Reading and Writing Den"
Another fantastic installment of JACK SHEPHERD who is a different type of lawyer as "a wannabe detective." In book 5 of Jake Needham's novel series, this one didn't disappoint! With an engaging storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I had a hard time putting this book down once I began reading and the many musings you'll find along the way. A smashing ending of the book made me a happy reader!
One of the authors' specialties is the style of well-written characters that seem to jump off the pages and is why I enjoy reading Jake's books. His knowledge and expertise of Asia and the history make you feel you are there. I love when a book can make you feel part of the storyline and locations. Another 5-Star treat by Jake Needham and highly suggest this one to all crime/thriller readers.
"Cat Lyon's Reading and Writing Den"
November 7, 2017
Jack Shepherd is an attorney living in Hong King. He's an ordinary guy who suddenly finds himself thrust into extraordinary circumstances. An old friend asks Jack to help spirit away the deposed prime minister of Thailand. On the surface, that's a tough enough task but the fact that Jack is persona non grata in Thailand only serve to complicate matters even further.
Jake Needham is a terrific writer with a real feel for his exotic locations. He does an incredible job describing the streets and back alleys of Bangkok and he also peoples his locales with fully developed characters, warts and all.
If you haven't read Needham, I think you'll find you are a fan after this book. I know I am.
Jake Needham is a terrific writer with a real feel for his exotic locations. He does an incredible job describing the streets and back alleys of Bangkok and he also peoples his locales with fully developed characters, warts and all.
If you haven't read Needham, I think you'll find you are a fan after this book. I know I am.
July 13, 2025
Great story and as always terrific writing.
February 25, 2025
Jake Needham’s Don't Get Caught is a sharp, no-nonsense thriller that reminds me of The Geneva Strategy by Jamie Freveletti. Both authors share a similar writing style—straightforward yet precise, cutting through the noise and focusing on the essentials. Needham, much like Freveletti, knows how to flesh out the relevant details while skimming over anything that might be considered unnecessary fluff. I attribute this to his background as a lawyer, which reflects in his precise, almost methodical prose. His writing doesn’t get bogged down in elaborate metaphors or overly artistic flourishes; instead, it presents the story with a clarity and efficiency that makes it feel immediate and real.
The novel’s protagonist, Jack Shepherd, is himself a lawyer, and since the story unfolds from his first-person perspective, the narration takes on the tone and structure of a legal mind at work. Shepherd doesn’t just describe events—he observes, analyzes, and dissects them like a seasoned attorney building a case. This adds a distinct flavor to the storytelling, making it feel more grounded in reality than many thrillers that rely on over-the-top action sequences or contrived suspense.
The novel kicks off in Hong Kong before transitioning to Bangkok, Thailand, where Shepherd becomes entangled in an effort to help an old friend caught in the midst of a political crisis. One of the book’s strengths is how it weaves in sharp observations about the geopolitical and cultural landscapes of both Hong Kong and Bangkok, as well as their broader relationships with China. While these insights are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, they also serve as thought-provoking commentaries on the political tensions and social undercurrents shaping these regions. I found myself mentally noting several of these observations for future reference.
Overall, Don't Get Caught is a well-crafted thriller that delivers intrigue without unnecessary embellishments. It’s an engaging read that balances action with intelligence, and I appreciate how Needham maintains a strong sense of realism throughout. The book left me eager to explore more of his work, and I’ll definitely be picking up his other novels. If you enjoy legal thrillers with international stakes and a pragmatic, observant narrator, this one is well worth your time.
The novel’s protagonist, Jack Shepherd, is himself a lawyer, and since the story unfolds from his first-person perspective, the narration takes on the tone and structure of a legal mind at work. Shepherd doesn’t just describe events—he observes, analyzes, and dissects them like a seasoned attorney building a case. This adds a distinct flavor to the storytelling, making it feel more grounded in reality than many thrillers that rely on over-the-top action sequences or contrived suspense.
The novel kicks off in Hong Kong before transitioning to Bangkok, Thailand, where Shepherd becomes entangled in an effort to help an old friend caught in the midst of a political crisis. One of the book’s strengths is how it weaves in sharp observations about the geopolitical and cultural landscapes of both Hong Kong and Bangkok, as well as their broader relationships with China. While these insights are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, they also serve as thought-provoking commentaries on the political tensions and social undercurrents shaping these regions. I found myself mentally noting several of these observations for future reference.
Overall, Don't Get Caught is a well-crafted thriller that delivers intrigue without unnecessary embellishments. It’s an engaging read that balances action with intelligence, and I appreciate how Needham maintains a strong sense of realism throughout. The book left me eager to explore more of his work, and I’ll definitely be picking up his other novels. If you enjoy legal thrillers with international stakes and a pragmatic, observant narrator, this one is well worth your time.
October 15, 2017
Hong Kong and Bangkok
Jack Shepherd is in a reflective mood. Settle in for an unvarnished meander through these two Asian cities and the internal and external forces changing them. Hong Kong had laugh out loud funny lines and such good descriptions of food and restaurants I took notes for my next trip. But Thailand turned somber. It's a bit scary for the casual tourist to have the stark reality of Thailand exposed. It's not the Thailand I've seen in my several trips there but that was before my guide in Cambodia was run down and left for dead in a squalid morgue. An American saved him. Will Jack Shepherd be the American to save Thailand? It wasn't the plot that caused tension for me but the feeling that Jack Shepherd's Bangkok is the real deal despite Needham's protest that this is a work of fiction. Seems to me Needham is channeling the future if not the present. I'll be thinking about this book long after the battery on my burner phone dies.
Jack Shepherd is in a reflective mood. Settle in for an unvarnished meander through these two Asian cities and the internal and external forces changing them. Hong Kong had laugh out loud funny lines and such good descriptions of food and restaurants I took notes for my next trip. But Thailand turned somber. It's a bit scary for the casual tourist to have the stark reality of Thailand exposed. It's not the Thailand I've seen in my several trips there but that was before my guide in Cambodia was run down and left for dead in a squalid morgue. An American saved him. Will Jack Shepherd be the American to save Thailand? It wasn't the plot that caused tension for me but the feeling that Jack Shepherd's Bangkok is the real deal despite Needham's protest that this is a work of fiction. Seems to me Needham is channeling the future if not the present. I'll be thinking about this book long after the battery on my burner phone dies.
October 29, 2017
Brilliant latest book in the Jack Shepherd series
I love Jake Needham's style of writing and both his fascinating characters Jack Shepherd and Inspector Tay in his other series. Now I 'm sure Jake wrote recently that this may be his last book. I say, you have to be joking Jake, this latest novel has surpassed all the others, introducing into Jack's character a hidden knight in shining armour! Jack is living and working in Hong Kong, trying to locate a missing billion dollars for a client investment fund, when a friend from Thailand urges him to help rescue his close friend, the deposed female prime minister of that country, to escape from house arrest! Against his better judgement Jack finds himself in Taiwan with a false passport. This story is about a real reluctant James Bond type hero, evolving all the time, and the story line is also very romantic. Please do not stop here Jake, this new Jack Shepherd has a long way to go!
June Finnigan - Writer
I love Jake Needham's style of writing and both his fascinating characters Jack Shepherd and Inspector Tay in his other series. Now I 'm sure Jake wrote recently that this may be his last book. I say, you have to be joking Jake, this latest novel has surpassed all the others, introducing into Jack's character a hidden knight in shining armour! Jack is living and working in Hong Kong, trying to locate a missing billion dollars for a client investment fund, when a friend from Thailand urges him to help rescue his close friend, the deposed female prime minister of that country, to escape from house arrest! Against his better judgement Jack finds himself in Taiwan with a false passport. This story is about a real reluctant James Bond type hero, evolving all the time, and the story line is also very romantic. Please do not stop here Jake, this new Jack Shepherd has a long way to go!
June Finnigan - Writer
August 2, 2019
This was probably the last of the Jack Shepherd series, at least so far. In this book he must return to Bangkok to help rescue the PM of Thailand, his friend from book 3, “Kate”, who has been arrested under a Military takeover of the gov’t. General Prasert has set a trial date accusing her of corruption and many fear he means to kill her in prison. Jack succeeds at his task and has her in a safe place, when Kate decides that she cannot run away from Thailand. That she must stay there, but hidden by her resistance followers, and help her country to survive through this military coup. Jack realizes her strength and they both realize that she is right. Although they really have an attraction for each other, he realizes that they could never be together and make it work. Jack leaves Thailand by himself to find a new beginning to his life. Author Needham could certainly continue this story, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2017
Once again Needham hits a grand slam with his latest book, 'Don't Get Caught'. I really enjoy not only his detail and ability to deliver the flavors and nuances of his many Asian backdrops, but the threads of history and actual events and places as well. If you are a recipient of Jake's periodic 'Letters From Asia' newsletter, you will recognize many such events in this book. And Needham's hallmark sophistication and touches of humor throughout always please. 'Don't Get Caught' finds Jack Shepherd continuing his intense and interesting adventures, albeit somewhat reluctantly. The ending is a real surprise which, of course, has now left me unsatiated and tapping my toes to await the next installment from Needham.
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June 26, 2024Jack Shepherd is persuaded by his old friend Jello to go back to Thailand to help another old friend, Kate, who had been deposed as PM by a military coup. She's about to stand trial and Jello is convinced that Kate will be imprisoned and then murdered. Everyone seems to think Shepherd and Kate had an intimate relationship but "the moment passed" before that happened. As well as friendship Shepherd has strong feelings for Kate and there is a little bit of "will they/won't they" going on in the background. As usual with this type of story you need a fair amount of suspension of disbelief to accept that Shepherd has a chance of escaping unscathed.
October 13, 2018
A pretty good thriller involving an expat who makes his living as a fixer in Hong Kong in two plots that converge in Bangkok: finding stolen and laundered money and rescuing a friend who just happens to be the deposed prime minister of Thailand who is under threat from the military junta. There’s a bit too much world weariness (you really don’t need to quote rick’s speech at the end of Casablanca) and entirely too much travelogue description (there are about five commentaries on how bad traffic is) of Asian settings and customs. There is a nice twist at the end though.
September 26, 2025
Once again Jack Shepherd, like Sam Tay, can always stand a second reading. So much detail is awe inspiring and benefits from the rereading.
Initially I was not sure about the scenes
which covered previous territory, but actually it worked very well.
A question - is Jake Needham PNG in Singapore; Bangkok, or Hong Kong?
I have spent working time in these places so his descriptions of them resonate!!
Initially I was not sure about the scenes
which covered previous territory, but actually it worked very well.
A question - is Jake Needham PNG in Singapore; Bangkok, or Hong Kong?
I have spent working time in these places so his descriptions of them resonate!!
October 12, 2017
This latest in the Jack Shepherd series drew me in quickly and kept me involved.
The story line is credible, with an ending that brought a big smile to my face.
The characters are strong and engaging, and drawn so well I could picture them.
Well done, Mr. Needham.
The story line is credible, with an ending that brought a big smile to my face.
The characters are strong and engaging, and drawn so well I could picture them.
Well done, Mr. Needham.
May 4, 2018
The End of a Fun Series
The five Jack Shepherd novels made for a lot of fun and interesting hours. Set in the always fascinating Southeast Asia, the novels all kept my interest from start to finish following the exploits of very likable characters. I’ll miss ya, Jack.
The five Jack Shepherd novels made for a lot of fun and interesting hours. Set in the always fascinating Southeast Asia, the novels all kept my interest from start to finish following the exploits of very likable characters. I’ll miss ya, Jack.
July 9, 2018
Great stuff as always. It’s mind boggling how close to the truth this book is, even though Needham says he wrote this waay before... Makes you wonder... Wish the book would carry on and on and on... Cant wait for the next one
September 3, 2019
Feels like the end to a serires
A fun noir read, written with Needham's dry charm and sense of humor. Leaves you wondering how Jack is going to pull everything off right up to the end. Has a couple of well done plot twists too.
A fun noir read, written with Needham's dry charm and sense of humor. Leaves you wondering how Jack is going to pull everything off right up to the end. Has a couple of well done plot twists too.
January 30, 2025
Jack Shepherd, reluctant hero
I have a friend who retired to Bangkok and I kept thinking of him while reading about the old Americans wandering the streets there. This is a great thriller with known and unknown dangers throughout.
I have a friend who retired to Bangkok and I kept thinking of him while reading about the old Americans wandering the streets there. This is a great thriller with known and unknown dangers throughout.
August 9, 2019
Needham delivers, plain and simple.
His novels have pace, suspense, humor, and fascinating educational details. It's a multi dimensional pleasure he delivers for the reader.
His novels have pace, suspense, humor, and fascinating educational details. It's a multi dimensional pleasure he delivers for the reader.
May 23, 2022
A Good Ending
Worth reading through and not be bothered by some of the silly premises the author uses to get to a very ending with a clever twist
Worth reading through and not be bothered by some of the silly premises the author uses to get to a very ending with a clever twist
June 13, 2023
Entertaining. Our hero saves the Thai pm. Great stuff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
Jack almost did in this thriller that brought him back Thailand to help his very close friend Kate. Also while there is trying to recover a billion dollars. A must read. Off to # 6 in the series.
May 16, 2024
Another great read. Love these books as they are set in the Far East and whilst it is obviously fiction, I think you do learn about the area.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews