Remote Control: A Spider Shepherd Short Story

Dan Shepherd #ss

by Stephen Leather

A brand new Spider Shepherd short story, including an exclusive extract from the eleventh Spider Shepherd all action thriller, WHITE LIES, out 14 August 2014.When Dan 'Spider' Shepherd is called urgently to a remote UK RAF base, he has no idea of the hazardous task set out before him.Working closely with a team of drone pilots, Shepherd's brief is to help take down Abdaullah a British-born Somalian terrorist who has fled Britain to a safe house in Pakistan. Branded 'the new Bin Laden' - and the world's most dangerous and wanted extremist - Hussain is a threat who must be eliminated at all costs. As one of the only people who have ever seen Hussain face to face, Shepherd must identify him for the drone operators before he slips through the net again - and the next planned terror attack goes ahead. But as the drones close in the operation takes a nasty turn, and Shepherd is left to decide how far he will go - and what he will risk - to hit his target . . .

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2014

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

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story about a potential drone attack on a high ranking terrorist

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a little disappointed that the recent Shepherd books concentrate on Pakistani/Afghan suicide bombers or terrorists and this is no exception. The thing that bugged me here is that there really is no story. Maybe it's the introduction to the, yet-to-be-released White Lies, but if it truly is a stand-alone story I was greatly disappointed. Nothing happens, and the only thing remains is a question of morals.

It was nice to see Yokely make a comeback but I found no substance to this book, even if it was just a "short story".

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the usual short action sorry we're used to from Stephen Leather, instead almost a prelude to the new novel. None the worse for it as the pages give an insight into Shepherd's thoughts on modern warfare, and the morals of those who engage in it.

I'd actually be interested in knowing if the opinions that come out are the author's own or if he did some interviews beforehand.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story by Stephen Leather.
Although well written the story goes nowhere and is no more than a prelude to future books with the same character.
I read a book by Stephen Leather called The Basement sometime ago which was a great read but since then I have never found another of his books that comes anywhere near that standard. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them.

[Robyn Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little story! Enough of a plot, good/bad characters balance. Thought provoking end. Right amount of information for the genre. I really enjoyed it. I already have my next read by Stephen Leather lined up and am really looking forward to it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story to wet your appetite in time for white lies due next month.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice quick read.
A good military thriller featuring the recurring character Spider Shepherd.
Also includes an excerpt from the next novel featuring this character as a taster.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short Story - Small ending

Just enough to get your interest to follow with another, to me much like finishing a chapter and starting the next

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short but well written. Interested in the series but not sucked into the story enough to go and buy the next one.