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Dan Shepherd #11
White Lies
Dan 'Spider' Shepherd is used to putting his life on the line - for his friends and for his job with MI5. So when one of his former apprentices is kidnapped in the badlands of Pakistan, Shepherd doesn't hesitate to join a rescue mission.
But when the plan goes horribly wrong, Shepherd ends up in the hands of al-Qaeda terrorists. His SAS training is of little help as his captors beat and torture him.
Shepherd's MI5 controller Charlotte Button is determined to get her man out of harm's way, but to do that she's going to have to break all the rules. Her only hope is to bring in America's finest - the elite SEALs who carried out Operation Neptune Spear - in a do-or-die operation to rescue the captives.
401 pages, Hardcover
First published August 14, 2014
171 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Leather
245 books1,528 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 67 reviews
November 4, 2014
No need to review this. Mr Leather always delivers with his Spider Shepherd thrillers. We have seen Spider evolve throughout all eleven adventures. From a cop to a spook. Always relying on his SAS training.
Spider is up there with Reacher, but in my opinion better as the stories are more diverse and Spider does evolve.
These novels should be made into a film, but pleas no Tom Cruise!
One of the best writers out there.
Another five star hit!!
Spider is up there with Reacher, but in my opinion better as the stories are more diverse and Spider does evolve.
These novels should be made into a film, but pleas no Tom Cruise!
One of the best writers out there.
Another five star hit!!
December 18, 2024
White Lies is book eleven in the Dan Shepherd action thriller series.
This story is mainly set on the borders between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Dan Shepherd finishes one job for MI5 and is immediately asked to work for MI6 in a rescue mission.
Dan’s not happy about the situation nor with working with an unknown team. When events take a turn for the worse, Dan’s boss Charlotte Button works hard and fast to get Dan the help he needs.
This is the first book that I have read in this series, but I found it worked well as a stand-alone story. The book actually opens with a cross-channel smuggling case and I wasn’t sure that I was going to enjoy the rest of the book; however, once Dan’s new mission got underway the action took off and the story kept me avidly reading more.
There were quite a lot of characters but each had just enough detail to keep them all in my head. The setting fitted the narrative well and I look forward to picking up more books in the series.
This story is mainly set on the borders between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Dan Shepherd finishes one job for MI5 and is immediately asked to work for MI6 in a rescue mission.
Dan’s not happy about the situation nor with working with an unknown team. When events take a turn for the worse, Dan’s boss Charlotte Button works hard and fast to get Dan the help he needs.
This is the first book that I have read in this series, but I found it worked well as a stand-alone story. The book actually opens with a cross-channel smuggling case and I wasn’t sure that I was going to enjoy the rest of the book; however, once Dan’s new mission got underway the action took off and the story kept me avidly reading more.
There were quite a lot of characters but each had just enough detail to keep them all in my head. The setting fitted the narrative well and I look forward to picking up more books in the series.
July 11, 2019
So the only reason I actually read or would have ever known about this book/series is because my wife find it in Central Park, a gift of the book fairies. And I'm rather glad I picked it up. Walking into a series 11 titles in can be an issue, but it does well enough to establish the gang of characters without overdoing so for those who have followed the whole ride.
Either way, it was a solid enough read, nailing some mighty fine details on the military and spy/intel operations. It might be a little expedited and sent over the top at moments, particularly the timeline in which one raid leads to another, but it's all in well a decent enough journey with high stakes on the line with an operation in Pakistan gone awry.
Certainly has some inspirations from the likes of Tom Clancy sprinkled in, but it does a good job containing it all and keeping the action moving with also being almost picturesque in the action sequences.
Will lobby for the wife to read it, despite it not quite being up her usual ally, and then I'm eager to leave the book somewhere for the next step in its book fairy journey. Thanks for whoever left it in Central Park, I enjoyed it.
Either way, it was a solid enough read, nailing some mighty fine details on the military and spy/intel operations. It might be a little expedited and sent over the top at moments, particularly the timeline in which one raid leads to another, but it's all in well a decent enough journey with high stakes on the line with an operation in Pakistan gone awry.
Certainly has some inspirations from the likes of Tom Clancy sprinkled in, but it does a good job containing it all and keeping the action moving with also being almost picturesque in the action sequences.
Will lobby for the wife to read it, despite it not quite being up her usual ally, and then I'm eager to leave the book somewhere for the next step in its book fairy journey. Thanks for whoever left it in Central Park, I enjoyed it.
August 3, 2022
Spiders Web begins to catch The Flies
Shepard moves on as Button closes down, those that know do, those that don't die. With the assistance of those she trusts Button closes the the doors as quickly as she can. Need to know Is the watch sword. Spider understands that he needs to believe that he will be rescued and with as minimum bloodshed as possible. Great book, well written and well executed. Enough said.
Shepard moves on as Button closes down, those that know do, those that don't die. With the assistance of those she trusts Button closes the the doors as quickly as she can. Need to know Is the watch sword. Spider understands that he needs to believe that he will be rescued and with as minimum bloodshed as possible. Great book, well written and well executed. Enough said.
October 24, 2014
I've never been a fan of books about war (or movies, for that matter). But I do love a good action/adventure book, and with all the turmoil that's happening around the world these days, I'm not surprised that settings often are in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan. I'm not thrilled about that, but when a book keeps me engaged throughout - as this one does - I'm willing to deal with it.
This is the 11th in the series featuring British MI5 agent Dan "Spider" Shepherd, and I've read and enjoyed quite a few of the others. Here, he's just come off a botched undercover assignment, only to learn that a young man he once mentored has been kidnapped in a remote part of Pakistan by al-Qaeda terrorists. Shepherd's controller, Charlotte Button, desperately wants to rescue him, but attempting that through the usual (and legal) channels isn't an option. So, she calls in a few chips - and then calls Shepherd and some of the Navy SEALS who were responsible for killing Osama bin Laden - to tackle the job.
Needless to say, there's plenty of action, which is more than a little bit heavy on torture (one of the reasons I don't like war stories). As usual, the chapters jump back and forth among the various players - those doing the planning and those on the front lines of the action. In between, there's a ton of information on guns and surveillance equipment, the layout of a country most of us know little about and details of the thinking that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the covert operation is a success.
In the beginning, Shepherd - fast approaching his 40th birthday - remains confident of his ability, but his MI5 psychologist suspects he may be losing his edge and more suited to a desk job. In the end, there's no resolution of that issue - but it did seem to me that Shepherd himself was less a focal person in this book than in those I've read previously. Perhaps that signals a change in his future similar to John Sandford's Lucas Davenport's "graduating" from street work to a less dangerous, but still important, supervisory role.
Oh well - guess I'll just have to wait for the next one to find out.
This is the 11th in the series featuring British MI5 agent Dan "Spider" Shepherd, and I've read and enjoyed quite a few of the others. Here, he's just come off a botched undercover assignment, only to learn that a young man he once mentored has been kidnapped in a remote part of Pakistan by al-Qaeda terrorists. Shepherd's controller, Charlotte Button, desperately wants to rescue him, but attempting that through the usual (and legal) channels isn't an option. So, she calls in a few chips - and then calls Shepherd and some of the Navy SEALS who were responsible for killing Osama bin Laden - to tackle the job.
Needless to say, there's plenty of action, which is more than a little bit heavy on torture (one of the reasons I don't like war stories). As usual, the chapters jump back and forth among the various players - those doing the planning and those on the front lines of the action. In between, there's a ton of information on guns and surveillance equipment, the layout of a country most of us know little about and details of the thinking that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the covert operation is a success.
In the beginning, Shepherd - fast approaching his 40th birthday - remains confident of his ability, but his MI5 psychologist suspects he may be losing his edge and more suited to a desk job. In the end, there's no resolution of that issue - but it did seem to me that Shepherd himself was less a focal person in this book than in those I've read previously. Perhaps that signals a change in his future similar to John Sandford's Lucas Davenport's "graduating" from street work to a less dangerous, but still important, supervisory role.
Oh well - guess I'll just have to wait for the next one to find out.
September 12, 2015
The 11th book in the Dan Shepherd series by Stephen Leather and I am now finally up to date with the series. I started reading this series 6 weeks ago and have read all 11 in that time in between my other books and I really have enjoyed them. This is a great series and is certainly up there with Lee Child's Jack Reacher. The next book in the series is out in 5 months time so I can catch up on all my other books.
September 19, 2014
This has got to be my favourite of all the spider books. How Stephen leather can keep delivering such brilliant storylines for this character I don't know but I'm so glad he does. Fast paced and had me gripped from start to finish.
August 8, 2015
Any Stephen Leather novel would attract four stars, and I'm not going to differ here. Leather's work is well researched, the writing is gritty and persuasive, and no reader of SAS type novels will be disappointed. I highly recommend it.
January 25, 2015
Boring
August 23, 2019
Another great book from the Master of Dan Shepherd, he was on the receiving end of the problems this time, but I think they went easy on him, he did not seem to have the same problems as the others, the story was very good, and all the players that we have been introduced to during the series of his books all seem to have come together to save Dan Shepherd. I think a little more action would have made this book more exciting and more action from Ms Button who is good at giving orders, she could have gone out there with the rest of the team and got into it, she justs drives a desk and not very good at that really. I thought Dan would have thrown in the towel after his escapades as he had a rough time and did not have the proper backing. Worth reading but in sequence with the other books by Stephen Leather, start at 1 and work your way through. I have just finished book 12 and only think I have a few left, I seem to have had a good time reading and am well over my book limit I am sure, looking forward to the next book wondering what we will be dealing with this time.
February 10, 2021
“White Lies” by Stephen Leather (2014) First Edition
Overall Rating 9/10 – Totally Fanblastic!
Plot
A young M15 operative that our protagonist helped to train (and handle) is captured by a high ranking Al-Qaeda leader and put to torture while working for MI6. Annoyed, our very own Charlotte Button (M15) takes her counterpart (M16) to task and brings in Dan “Spider” Shepherd to effect a rescue. When Shepherd takes himself to Pakistan and allies with the Pakistani Secret Service, it quickly becomes clear there is a leak and everything goes wrong …
Writing Style
As with all his earlier works in this series, Leather writes with short, punchy prose with “bang up to date” elegance. Easy to read, nothing extraneous – just relax and let the story unfold around you. So easy to feel you are actually there with Shepherd.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
An outstanding and completely realistic account of a MI5/Mi6 agent being captured in the field and tortured for information. A brilliant performance from the author as he catapults all the fantastic background characters to the foreground. We see the Major and Yokeley back in action. We see some of our protagonists colleagues back (both USA and UK units). And we see a totally compelling performance from the delectable Charlotte Button.
Quite frankly, this is Leather’s best novel to date (to 2014). Such was the draw that I found myself reading faster and faster to uncover more and more. The words flowed, the pictures grew and I watched the whole thing play out in real time with my eyes fixed firmly on my internal movie screen.
Talking of which, this book would make a totally awesome “stand alone” movie – it has all the right ingredients and the plot is just fantastic.
If the film is true to the book – Certificate 18.
Overall Rating 9/10 – Totally Fanblastic!
Plot
A young M15 operative that our protagonist helped to train (and handle) is captured by a high ranking Al-Qaeda leader and put to torture while working for MI6. Annoyed, our very own Charlotte Button (M15) takes her counterpart (M16) to task and brings in Dan “Spider” Shepherd to effect a rescue. When Shepherd takes himself to Pakistan and allies with the Pakistani Secret Service, it quickly becomes clear there is a leak and everything goes wrong …
Writing Style
As with all his earlier works in this series, Leather writes with short, punchy prose with “bang up to date” elegance. Easy to read, nothing extraneous – just relax and let the story unfold around you. So easy to feel you are actually there with Shepherd.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
An outstanding and completely realistic account of a MI5/Mi6 agent being captured in the field and tortured for information. A brilliant performance from the author as he catapults all the fantastic background characters to the foreground. We see the Major and Yokeley back in action. We see some of our protagonists colleagues back (both USA and UK units). And we see a totally compelling performance from the delectable Charlotte Button.
Quite frankly, this is Leather’s best novel to date (to 2014). Such was the draw that I found myself reading faster and faster to uncover more and more. The words flowed, the pictures grew and I watched the whole thing play out in real time with my eyes fixed firmly on my internal movie screen.
Talking of which, this book would make a totally awesome “stand alone” movie – it has all the right ingredients and the plot is just fantastic.
If the film is true to the book – Certificate 18.
September 22, 2020
Another great addition to the spider shepherd collection. Any fan of the series will definitely not be disappointed with this instalment.
Stephen has slightly mixed things up this time round, and where Dan “spider” shepherd usually uses his fantastic SAS skills and training to help save others and fight terrorism, it’s himself who needs saving from the turmoils of Pakistan this time after an operation goes wrong, leaving Charlotte Button to bend the rules to get her man out of danger.
A great twist from the usual, however with the same fantastic detail, characters and fantastic storytelling from Stephen that come from all his novels, not just the shepherd series, avant fans will not be disappointed
Stephen has slightly mixed things up this time round, and where Dan “spider” shepherd usually uses his fantastic SAS skills and training to help save others and fight terrorism, it’s himself who needs saving from the turmoils of Pakistan this time after an operation goes wrong, leaving Charlotte Button to bend the rules to get her man out of danger.
A great twist from the usual, however with the same fantastic detail, characters and fantastic storytelling from Stephen that come from all his novels, not just the shepherd series, avant fans will not be disappointed
January 7, 2022
Another good book in the Dan Shepherd series. I really do think that you needed to have read the previous books in the series to fully apprecite this book, there were lots of references to previous stories here. For me, this made it all the better but if this was the first book you read I think it might have felt a bit weak.
The development of the relationship with Charlie Button was good, and it was interesting to have Lex Harper back on the scene. Like the last few books it was sad not to see more of Liam and Katra I always felt that they added some 'real world' to Spider's character.
All in all though, a solid read.
The development of the relationship with Charlie Button was good, and it was interesting to have Lex Harper back on the scene. Like the last few books it was sad not to see more of Liam and Katra I always felt that they added some 'real world' to Spider's character.
All in all though, a solid read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
...and another. These get faster to read every time, as I know the style so well now, after 12 books of this series and ten or more of his other books. I only have one more at hand in this series, and that will be enough for quite a while. I won't read any of his horror series, as that just isn't my genre. The episode features more highly unlikely CIA/NSA/SEALS/MI5/MI6/SAS/ETC. action. At least Leather puts in plenty of failures and incompetent desk donkeys to keep it fun.
March 4, 2024
A bit of a spy/intelligence ops/military procedural I suppose. The weapons and actual procedure details are the kind which are entertaining enough, but I have no way of critiquing them, and neither do they leave a lasting impression.
The plot is pretty straightforward. It mostly hinges on the incompetence of one chap. So, not a very complex story then.
The action is fun, and it’s a breezy read for most parts. But then, it’s the kind of book where a movie is good enough, in my opinion.
The plot is pretty straightforward. It mostly hinges on the incompetence of one chap. So, not a very complex story then.
The action is fun, and it’s a breezy read for most parts. But then, it’s the kind of book where a movie is good enough, in my opinion.
May 27, 2019
Fast moving, lots of gunfire from a writer who has obviously done an awful lot of research on the Top Dogs ie - M15/M16 British intelligence and the US Navy Seals. Graphic and aggressive story-telling. Probably a Male orientated book rather than female, although I am appreciative of the study involved to keep Spider Shepherd at the top of his game in his undercover world.
August 7, 2025
Ratings are tricky as they change depending on expectations and what you are looking for in a book at the time of reading. I picked this up at a very busy time in life so rated it highly as it had wide line spacing for tired eyes, a speedy page turning plot and a satisfying ending. Read it in three sittings. Could have read it in one sitting if life wasn't so hectic at the mo.
April 24, 2022
As usual a brilliant Steven leather book
Read a number of the spider Shepherd series books and have always really enjoyed them from start to finish and this one didn't disappoint me. Action all the way and the way Steven writes makes the story believable.
Read a number of the spider Shepherd series books and have always really enjoyed them from start to finish and this one didn't disappoint me. Action all the way and the way Steven writes makes the story believable.
September 20, 2023
Classic war/army type book, feels like your watching a movie when you read it weirdly. If you like the 13 hours, jarhead, extraction etc type movies then this book is great. (I love those style movies).
May 4, 2017
Giving it back, pay back!!!
What a really great read, fantastic story with a great group of characters that really grip you until the very end.
What a really great read, fantastic story with a great group of characters that really grip you until the very end.
May 12, 2017
Easy to read, straightforward action. Can't really say more than that.
November 8, 2018
I came late to Stephen Leather but his books never fail to entertain. This is no exception, a good fast paced thriller with a nod to current world political and religious conflict.
August 25, 2019
Enjoyable but also pretty thin
June 5, 2020
The plot is great, I can say that the Spider is both very lucky and skilled in this novel.
July 11, 2020
An action, adventure set in both Britain and the Middle East. A kidnapped undercover MI6 agent must be rescued by British operatives with help from the Navy Seals. A good, fast moving story.
November 17, 2021
brilliant, tense, nerve shredding
Like all the books in this series, absolutely fantastic. Brilliantly told, sweating palms by the time I finished it, in just over a day !!!
Like all the books in this series, absolutely fantastic. Brilliantly told, sweating palms by the time I finished it, in just over a day !!!
April 20, 2022
Great read
What can one day another great book from Stephen Leather love his book looking forward to the next Can Shepherd story.
What can one day another great book from Stephen Leather love his book looking forward to the next Can Shepherd story.
March 6, 2023
Great read
October 18, 2023
Ended abruptly which was a pity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews