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Dan Shepherd #21
First Strike: The 21st Spider Shepherd Thriller
'Enthralling' Financial Times'Explosive' The Sun'Grabs the reader by the throat' Daily MailSpider Shepherd must face his most dangerous mission yet in the unforgettable new thriller from Stephen Leather.'From the geopolitical concerns of African conflicts all the way to the sociological study of prisons in UK, there's so much in this book to entice your curiosity and your enthusiasm for knowledge in addition to offering the excitement of reading a fast-paced thriller. You can't afford to sit this one out. Brilliance personified' Best Thriller Books
- GenresThriller
358 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2024
186 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Leather
251 books1,539 followersStephen 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 26, 2024
In First Strike, British MI5 analyst David White treated his two teenage daughters, Hannah and Ella, to the Supernova Festival in Israel. He frequently took his daughter to outdoor concerts; not that he particularly enjoyed the music, but he loved seeing his daughters having fun with each other. On the morning of October 7, he and his daughters were awakened to gunfire and viewed many men descending upon their camp area using paragliders. He tried to lead his daughters to safety at a nearby kibbutz but was unsuccessful. He saw his thirteen-year-old daughter shot in the chest. He was captured by Hamas fighters, and as he was being carried away, he saw his seventeen-year-old daughter gang-raped and a bullet put into her head.
Within hours of White's kidnapping, Spider Shepherd is heading a force to rescue or kill, if necessary, David White since he has much information about MI5 anti-terrorist operations. Through satellite imagery and drone photos, they were able to see where White had been taken. Shepard and his colleagues had to penetrate the maze of tunnels constructed by Hamas. They located White and several other hostages and fought their way out of the tunnel system and several miles of the Gaza Strip to get them to freedom.
White's wife became extremely despondent about how her daughters were tortured and killed and took her own life. White becomes enraged and undertakes his own version of revenge. Now Shepard is charged with finding White.
The story takes a most unexpected twist, which I, for one, did not anticipate. I recommend his book to all my Goodreads friends.
Within hours of White's kidnapping, Spider Shepherd is heading a force to rescue or kill, if necessary, David White since he has much information about MI5 anti-terrorist operations. Through satellite imagery and drone photos, they were able to see where White had been taken. Shepard and his colleagues had to penetrate the maze of tunnels constructed by Hamas. They located White and several other hostages and fought their way out of the tunnel system and several miles of the Gaza Strip to get them to freedom.
White's wife became extremely despondent about how her daughters were tortured and killed and took her own life. White becomes enraged and undertakes his own version of revenge. Now Shepard is charged with finding White.
The story takes a most unexpected twist, which I, for one, did not anticipate. I recommend his book to all my Goodreads friends.
July 13, 2024
An outstanding and uber topical thriller. Based (somewhat controversially) on the 2023 Hamas attack on the Israeli music festival. A subject so current that Stephen Leather’s publishers stood back and this was self published. They missed out massively. British intelligence analyst David White is at the festival and his daughters fall victim to the assault and he is captured and taken to the tunnels in Gaza. He knows too much and Spider Shepherd and an SAS team is sent in to recover him. That might be it, but a rescued White turns his knowledge into revenge and Spider might have to terminate the man he helped rescue. So topical and so relevant. Of course it is a clever thriller but there is a lot here to unpack. Perspectives and views are given to make you think and elevate this above a “standard” thriller. It has the pace and thrills you would expect but also, as always, proper depth.
April 2, 2025
David White agreed to go to the Nova music festival with his two daughters when Hamas attacked the festival and killed, injured and kidnapped music lovers, many of them children.
Dan Shepherd was sent to rescue David and his family. By the time he was rescued, his two daughters had been killed.
The grief has driven David's wife to suicide.
A man who has lost everything now turned his grief into anger. Three high-level Hamas leaders boarded a plane to the UK on the same plane the day before the attack.
Three high-level targets for both Mossad and David White.
As Shepherd is the one who saved David, while keeping professional, he also wanted to capture David White instead of killing him. It is the shock and grief that have turned him into someone he no longer recognised.
It puts another layer of understanding on how the grief has pushed the man to be violent. Hamas was to blame for first attacking music festival goers and, second, for hiding behind human shields in Gaza.
It is a difficult read. 4.5 stars.
Dan Shepherd was sent to rescue David and his family. By the time he was rescued, his two daughters had been killed.
The grief has driven David's wife to suicide.
A man who has lost everything now turned his grief into anger. Three high-level Hamas leaders boarded a plane to the UK on the same plane the day before the attack.
Three high-level targets for both Mossad and David White.
As Shepherd is the one who saved David, while keeping professional, he also wanted to capture David White instead of killing him. It is the shock and grief that have turned him into someone he no longer recognised.
It puts another layer of understanding on how the grief has pushed the man to be violent. Hamas was to blame for first attacking music festival goers and, second, for hiding behind human shields in Gaza.
It is a difficult read. 4.5 stars.
April 11, 2025
really good
As always this dan shepherd book was a good read. A bit close to the bone with what’s going on in the world at the moment but obviously well researched.
As always this dan shepherd book was a good read. A bit close to the bone with what’s going on in the world at the moment but obviously well researched.
August 12, 2024
Spider back at his best. Great to see some familiar faces.
Though I do miss Charlie too.
The ending was very interesting.
Though I do miss Charlie too.
The ending was very interesting.
February 15, 2025
Another fun Spider Shepherd outing.
May 19, 2025
Excellent
July 4, 2024
Just wow.
This series of books has been part of my life since their inception. Mr Leather never fails to make the books relevant to real world events. This book though really captures the zeitgeist of what has been happening in the world since October 7th. Thank you, well done, and Shalom.
This series of books has been part of my life since their inception. Mr Leather never fails to make the books relevant to real world events. This book though really captures the zeitgeist of what has been happening in the world since October 7th. Thank you, well done, and Shalom.
June 3, 2025
“First Strike” by Stephen Leather (2024)
Overall Rating – Struck out (See Below)
Plot
Set from the onset of the Palestinian attack against Israel on the 7th October 2023, the story follows the tribulations of an M15 analyst who was at the music festival with his two daughters when Hamas attacked. He witnesses one daughter shot and the other stripped, raped then murdered. After he returns to the UK, he goes rogue in revenge – can Dan “Spider” Shepherd track him down before he exacts his revenge?
Writing Style
Very modern, Easy, flowing sentences. Detailed prose but no excessive flowering. Very easy to watch the “movie” unfold in your mind’s eye as you read.
Point of View/Voice
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
So, a number of immediate observations;
Firstly, the book has been self-published and is not produced by Leather’s publishers, “Hodder & Stoughton”.
Secondly, it is riddled with typographical errors.
Thirdly, it is only available in paperback.
And, lastly, he has used the Hamas attack on the Israelis as the entire story for his plot (with a fictional rogue M15 agent seeking retribution – well, I assume that aspect was fictional because everything else appeared to be precisely what actually happened).
The author’s decision to write this story is (very obviously) divisive. Imagine that a noted actor might stand on a podium and spew forth their political views (you don’t have to imagine it; many do it all the time). The same actor always expects you to agree with their political views, often spitting some vitriol out against those who might not. In their mind, it seems to appear to them that, because they are a noted celebrity, they somehow know more about politics than “you” or “me” and that we should be grateful to them for their voice. Of course, when an actor does this, they immediately divide their fan base into folk who agree with them and folk who do not. What the actor fails to see (and I find this remarkable) is that they can only stand to LOSE fans (and therefore their kudos with production companies). I am afraid that Stephen Leather has done precisely the same thing with this book.
I looked at his Wikipedia page for information to discover what was going on (ie. why he has self-published) and also to discover his political/religious views – but, sadly, there was nothing there. However, I also visited his website, and there I read that (his words) Hodder & Stoughton had declined to publish the book because they thought it would offend some people. Perhaps his publishers knew that they could only be damaged by appearing to take one side over the other?
I do like Dan “Spider” Shepherd, and I hope the author has not become a Pariah.
... It did have a brilliant (unexpected) ending though ...
Overall Rating – Struck out (See Below)
Plot
Set from the onset of the Palestinian attack against Israel on the 7th October 2023, the story follows the tribulations of an M15 analyst who was at the music festival with his two daughters when Hamas attacked. He witnesses one daughter shot and the other stripped, raped then murdered. After he returns to the UK, he goes rogue in revenge – can Dan “Spider” Shepherd track him down before he exacts his revenge?
Writing Style
Very modern, Easy, flowing sentences. Detailed prose but no excessive flowering. Very easy to watch the “movie” unfold in your mind’s eye as you read.
Point of View/Voice
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
So, a number of immediate observations;
Firstly, the book has been self-published and is not produced by Leather’s publishers, “Hodder & Stoughton”.
Secondly, it is riddled with typographical errors.
Thirdly, it is only available in paperback.
And, lastly, he has used the Hamas attack on the Israelis as the entire story for his plot (with a fictional rogue M15 agent seeking retribution – well, I assume that aspect was fictional because everything else appeared to be precisely what actually happened).
The author’s decision to write this story is (very obviously) divisive. Imagine that a noted actor might stand on a podium and spew forth their political views (you don’t have to imagine it; many do it all the time). The same actor always expects you to agree with their political views, often spitting some vitriol out against those who might not. In their mind, it seems to appear to them that, because they are a noted celebrity, they somehow know more about politics than “you” or “me” and that we should be grateful to them for their voice. Of course, when an actor does this, they immediately divide their fan base into folk who agree with them and folk who do not. What the actor fails to see (and I find this remarkable) is that they can only stand to LOSE fans (and therefore their kudos with production companies). I am afraid that Stephen Leather has done precisely the same thing with this book.
I looked at his Wikipedia page for information to discover what was going on (ie. why he has self-published) and also to discover his political/religious views – but, sadly, there was nothing there. However, I also visited his website, and there I read that (his words) Hodder & Stoughton had declined to publish the book because they thought it would offend some people. Perhaps his publishers knew that they could only be damaged by appearing to take one side over the other?
I do like Dan “Spider” Shepherd, and I hope the author has not become a Pariah.
... It did have a brilliant (unexpected) ending though ...
September 22, 2024
A really good read , although something was missing
As always a really great book , Dan Shepard sure does get about,
However , in the last book his life was saved by a PARA in the prison , and Dan Shepard picked him up from outside the prison , the guy got in the car , and they both were going for breakfast ,and Dan Shepard said to him , there's something I want to talk to you about , and the book ended , it would have been nice to have had that guy in this book I think , as the opportunities could have been endless , but anyway a really good read
As always a really great book , Dan Shepard sure does get about,
However , in the last book his life was saved by a PARA in the prison , and Dan Shepard picked him up from outside the prison , the guy got in the car , and they both were going for breakfast ,and Dan Shepard said to him , there's something I want to talk to you about , and the book ended , it would have been nice to have had that guy in this book I think , as the opportunities could have been endless , but anyway a really good read
July 4, 2025
Dan Shepherd is used to making tough decisions but when he finds himself hunting down Intelligence Analyst David White it doesn't sit right with him.
Tough decisions and a tough read in parts due to the very current Gaza/Israel conflict that is the backdrop of this the 21st in the series.
Its a terrific read from start to finish, well plotted with good characterisation and a worthy addition to a series that never fails to deliver. Looking forward to the next one.
Tough decisions and a tough read in parts due to the very current Gaza/Israel conflict that is the backdrop of this the 21st in the series.
Its a terrific read from start to finish, well plotted with good characterisation and a worthy addition to a series that never fails to deliver. Looking forward to the next one.
August 28, 2024
A good story on similar lines to recent Spider books but having a new twist with the very current situation in Gaza-Israel.
Well done, as usual, and excellently read by Paul Thornley. An enjoyable story pairing Matt Standing alongside Spider with appearances by Razor and some of your fave characters.
Well done, as usual, and excellently read by Paul Thornley. An enjoyable story pairing Matt Standing alongside Spider with appearances by Razor and some of your fave characters.
October 28, 2024
A very topical read, brilliantly woven around recent real-life events.
Spider Shepherd as always wins the day but interestingly he comes across this time as a bit weary with his lot. This coupled with an unusual ending leaves the door open to a possible change for him ahead?
Nice touch to have an appearance from Matt Standing too
Another thoroughly enjoyable read in this excellent series
Spider Shepherd as always wins the day but interestingly he comes across this time as a bit weary with his lot. This coupled with an unusual ending leaves the door open to a possible change for him ahead?
Nice touch to have an appearance from Matt Standing too
Another thoroughly enjoyable read in this excellent series
April 26, 2025
I want to read this but I am worried that it will be woke and see the poor guy stopped from getting his revenge which would infuriate and upset me.
What would be beyond thrilling would be if the book ends with Spider teaming up with him to kick off the start of the coming civil war with the Pakistani army of military aged men who won’t join our military.
What would be beyond thrilling would be if the book ends with Spider teaming up with him to kick off the start of the coming civil war with the Pakistani army of military aged men who won’t join our military.
July 20, 2024
Stephen Leather should get a prize!
Beautiful work of art. Wonderfully woven, intricately detailed & excellent story telling. I have all 21 books & I read them often, again & again. Love Spider so much! Thank you Stephen!
Beautiful work of art. Wonderfully woven, intricately detailed & excellent story telling. I have all 21 books & I read them often, again & again. Love Spider so much! Thank you Stephen!
July 31, 2024
I love Stephen Leather and this book was no exception. A wonderful thriller set in modern times. We learnt a great deal about the Israel/Hamas conflict and what a twist at the end. Highly recommended.
November 3, 2024
First Strike: The 21st Spider Sheperd Thriller
He'll of a book and series, this series keeps you going what I didn't expect somewhere in the book hell of a twist I was not expecting wants you longing for more of this series, really well worth the series...
He'll of a book and series, this series keeps you going what I didn't expect somewhere in the book hell of a twist I was not expecting wants you longing for more of this series, really well worth the series...
November 21, 2024
Read this book.
I always enjoy Stephen Leather’s books. Very clever plots, great action, and prose that draws the reader in. This is simply another example of Stephen’s skill.
The underlying storyline is very relevant today.
I always enjoy Stephen Leather’s books. Very clever plots, great action, and prose that draws the reader in. This is simply another example of Stephen’s skill.
The underlying storyline is very relevant today.
December 25, 2024
outstanding as usual
One of his best Spider Shepherds novels. Bang up to date and topical. I learned as much about the current situation surrounding Israel than through any other means
One of his best Spider Shepherds novels. Bang up to date and topical. I learned as much about the current situation surrounding Israel than through any other means
May 1, 2025
Another Excellent Story
Another excellent story in the Spider Shepherd series. Great storyline with plenty of action. Lot of I intrigue and a great cast of characters.Looking forward to reading more.
Another excellent story in the Spider Shepherd series. Great storyline with plenty of action. Lot of I intrigue and a great cast of characters.Looking forward to reading more.
July 7, 2024
Great story line and very good read
July 8, 2024
Excellent
I really enjoyed this book it was so realistic and thought provoking. I know it's fiction but something like that did happen.
I really enjoyed this book it was so realistic and thought provoking. I know it's fiction but something like that did happen.
August 23, 2024
I just couldn’t get into it… maybe a good book but I just don’t like the characters
September 4, 2024
Spider gets better
Another nonputdownable tale
Mixture of truth and fiction. Very clever , well woven tale ,believable
A great read
Thanks Stephen.
Another nonputdownable tale
Mixture of truth and fiction. Very clever , well woven tale ,believable
A great read
Thanks Stephen.
September 15, 2024
Stephen Leather is back on top form with this fantastic book! I was hooked from the first page. A stellar twist at the end. Keep it up!
November 4, 2024
Good up to date story
Really enjoyed this Spider Shepherd book , up to date storyline. Good read from start to finish hard to put down.
Really enjoyed this Spider Shepherd book , up to date storyline. Good read from start to finish hard to put down.
November 12, 2024
Another good read from Mr Leather
November 19, 2024
Another well written thriller
Bit more morally ambiguous than usual but Spider comes out top . Look forward to the next episode of Spider Shepherd
Bit more morally ambiguous than usual but Spider comes out top . Look forward to the next episode of Spider Shepherd
November 20, 2024
As usual, Spider doesn't disappoint. Looking forward to book 22 already !
December 14, 2024
Welcome to reality
I feel so naive and this might be a story but omg it seems so real. Great read well recommended.
I feel so naive and this might be a story but omg it seems so real. Great read well recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews