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AKA Simon Lee #.5
Nicholas Bishop
Internationally wanted thieves don’t get Christmas off.
Lee knew that it was unlikely that Agent Winfield would stop hunting him, even for the holidays. What he didn’t expect was ending up doing a job on an Interpol agent, while the good guys and the bad guys close in on him.
Forced to keep secrets from everyone around him, Lee finds himself running four aliases at the same time. From the Phantom Thief to Nicholas Bishop, Lee has to keep everything straight as he plays mind games, breaks into mansions and cons even his own team.
But how far is Lee willing to go to get what he wants? And how long will it be before everything goes down in flames?
Lee knew that it was unlikely that Agent Winfield would stop hunting him, even for the holidays. What he didn’t expect was ending up doing a job on an Interpol agent, while the good guys and the bad guys close in on him.
Forced to keep secrets from everyone around him, Lee finds himself running four aliases at the same time. From the Phantom Thief to Nicholas Bishop, Lee has to keep everything straight as he plays mind games, breaks into mansions and cons even his own team.
But how far is Lee willing to go to get what he wants? And how long will it be before everything goes down in flames?
- GenresSuspense
Unknown Binding
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
P.D. Atkerson
65 books109 followersP.D. Atkerson is a homeschooled writer, living in Montana, who may or may not be a secret agent. She spends almost as much time in the worlds she creates as she does the real one.
When she’s not reporting the stories of her agents, she’s learning different languages, or traveling to different worlds through the portals of books.
She has a black belt in sarcasm and a master’s degree in useless facts.
If you're interested in reading any of her books for an honest review, just fill out the form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
When she’s not reporting the stories of her agents, she’s learning different languages, or traveling to different worlds through the portals of books.
She has a black belt in sarcasm and a master’s degree in useless facts.
If you're interested in reading any of her books for an honest review, just fill out the form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 16, 2022
I'm reading this series out of order, but I think reading Phantom Thief first makes things even more interesting! And once again, Lee is his sarcastic, genius self, and it's amazing!
Characters: Well, what can I say? Simon Lee is hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. I love his wit and his interactions with his team. The kid is just crazy! (I will say I have to kind of suspend belief for a bit when I read this series - Lee acts like he's about forty years old, but he's fourteen. I know he's special, but fourteen-year-old boys don't do the stuff he does. Well, unless you're Simon Lee, I guess.) But anyway. Lee's mysterious past just makes everything more interesting, and I definitely need some resolution there. I just need to keep reading the series! As for the other characters ... Agent Mason was interesting, and Shirley was so hairbrained, which was an intriguing mix with Lee. Lee's team was also fun to see, and I'm thinking they come back in later books? I will say that I needed a lot more of Winfield - I'm glad he made a cameo, but he's so interesting. And that ending ... my heart.
Setting/Plot/Writing Style: The French setting of this book was an interesting twist I wasn't expecting! Little did I know Simon Lee had even more talents that I'd thought and could speak fluent French. The writing style was very clean and forthright, which worked really well with this type of book. I was a little perplexed with where the plot was going at the beginning of the book, but I think it ended up connecting more once I got past the midpoint. But as usual, there was plenty of intrigue and action that kept everything moving.
Moral/Theme: So this is before Lee even thinks of becoming a Christian (save for the time he said he definitely wasn't), so there weren't a lot of overt themes. I suppose you could say there's a moral against lying and stealing, given what Lee is doing is not good. But there really wasn't a ton there, and I would've loved to see more Biblical themes.
Overall, this was a fun prequel to the Simon Lee series. I'm looking forward to reading more of these books, and I better get some closure out of those. Lee has me hanging in suspense, per usual! (Still torn up about that ending.)
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Well, what can I say? Simon Lee is hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. I love his wit and his interactions with his team. The kid is just crazy! (I will say I have to kind of suspend belief for a bit when I read this series - Lee acts like he's about forty years old, but he's fourteen. I know he's special, but fourteen-year-old boys don't do the stuff he does. Well, unless you're Simon Lee, I guess.) But anyway. Lee's mysterious past just makes everything more interesting, and I definitely need some resolution there. I just need to keep reading the series! As for the other characters ... Agent Mason was interesting, and Shirley was so hairbrained, which was an intriguing mix with Lee. Lee's team was also fun to see, and I'm thinking they come back in later books? I will say that I needed a lot more of Winfield - I'm glad he made a cameo, but he's so interesting. And that ending ... my heart.
Setting/Plot/Writing Style: The French setting of this book was an interesting twist I wasn't expecting! Little did I know Simon Lee had even more talents that I'd thought and could speak fluent French. The writing style was very clean and forthright, which worked really well with this type of book. I was a little perplexed with where the plot was going at the beginning of the book, but I think it ended up connecting more once I got past the midpoint. But as usual, there was plenty of intrigue and action that kept everything moving.
Moral/Theme: So this is before Lee even thinks of becoming a Christian (save for the time he said he definitely wasn't), so there weren't a lot of overt themes. I suppose you could say there's a moral against lying and stealing, given what Lee is doing is not good. But there really wasn't a ton there, and I would've loved to see more Biblical themes.
Overall, this was a fun prequel to the Simon Lee series. I'm looking forward to reading more of these books, and I better get some closure out of those. Lee has me hanging in suspense, per usual! (Still torn up about that ending.)
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
April 9, 2025
Guess what just got a new cover! :D
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
September 18, 2021
Whenever I try to choose which AKA Simon Lee book is my favorite I pretty much always end up stuck. They are all too good to pick. Well, the wait is over, I have finally found my favorite AKA Simon Lee book: Nicholas Bishop. (I think).
Living a life on the run Nicholas (aka Simon Lee) has so much to carry on his shoulders. If I didn’t already completely love this character, this book completely finalized it.
I will warn though...you must read all the other books in the series first, please. Or at least all the main books. Start with Phantom Thief which might be my favorite other than this. If you're into spy stuff, playing bad guy for the bad good good guys, spinning covers, and doing believable but scarily terrible feats for a cause much too big to be understood by the average 14-year-old, you need to read this series. Probably even if you don’t especially like those things.
Because believe me if you haven’t read Nicholas Bishop (or any of the other AKA Simon Lee books) you’re missing out.
Living a life on the run Nicholas (aka Simon Lee) has so much to carry on his shoulders. If I didn’t already completely love this character, this book completely finalized it.
I will warn though...you must read all the other books in the series first, please. Or at least all the main books. Start with Phantom Thief which might be my favorite other than this. If you're into spy stuff, playing bad guy for the bad good good guys, spinning covers, and doing believable but scarily terrible feats for a cause much too big to be understood by the average 14-year-old, you need to read this series. Probably even if you don’t especially like those things.
Because believe me if you haven’t read Nicholas Bishop (or any of the other AKA Simon Lee books) you’re missing out.
September 5, 2024
5+ stars & 6/10 hearts. So I read this prequel AFTER I read all the other Simon Lee books, and I kinda recommend that…? I guess we’ll see what I think next year when I reread the whole series chronologically. But this book was so, SO good. I absolutely loved Lee, Digit, and Jackal. (I still don't like Izzy, but she’s good comic relief.) I loved seeing what Lee was up to, and the whole running-from-Winfield thing, which isn’t really shown in the other books except from Winfield’s POV. The writing was a lot smoother, of course, since the author has grown and matured, and it was well done. I loved the plot, and it was really cool to see Shirley and her dad from another POV than Murphy Lawson… And
OH.
MY.
HEART.
that endinggggggg. <333
So good and so perfect.
*quotes to come upon reread*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
OH.
MY.
HEART.
that endinggggggg. <333
So good and so perfect.
*quotes to come upon reread*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
July 14, 2021
This was a really good starter to this series…it gave enough information without giving away the plot of the other books and opened up the questions that get answered in the other books. It also showed the tension between Lee and his dad and Lee and the world, really. I really appreciated being able to see Lee in his former life. I also enjoyed Lee’s interaction with his team and seeing why he was such a feared individual. The characters were portrayed very well, and the craziness of Lee’s life was also shown very well. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book as well.
Something to keep in mind.
- This book is full of sarcasm. Personally, I liked the sarcasm in this book better than in the others. I’m not quite sure why.
Thank you to the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Something to keep in mind.
- This book is full of sarcasm. Personally, I liked the sarcasm in this book better than in the others. I’m not quite sure why.
Thank you to the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2021
Deck the halls with Nick and Digit. . .
Don't get your tinsel in a knot, but Lee did something to his hair. . . And, well, there's no taking the holidays off. Sorry bud.
Ever the slick one, Lee plans a con and calls in recruits. Enter Digit, who's one of my favorites, along with Izzy and Jackal, and things start to get fun! Then, we have to turn up the heat and have his 'Nemesis' come to hunt. Him. Down. This book was high paced, action packed, and the perfect prequel to Phantom Thief. And the ending. . . *sniffs* I literally teared up!
Nicholas Bishop strikes again. . .
(I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Don't get your tinsel in a knot, but Lee did something to his hair. . . And, well, there's no taking the holidays off. Sorry bud.
Ever the slick one, Lee plans a con and calls in recruits. Enter Digit, who's one of my favorites, along with Izzy and Jackal, and things start to get fun! Then, we have to turn up the heat and have his 'Nemesis' come to hunt. Him. Down. This book was high paced, action packed, and the perfect prequel to Phantom Thief. And the ending. . . *sniffs* I literally teared up!
Nicholas Bishop strikes again. . .
(I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Want to Read
March 9, 2022I'm going to come back to this one. I've read book 1 and just finished 1.5 and have decided to read this series in chronological order instead of jumping around. I think I'll enjoy it more that way.
December 9, 2021
Wow! This was such an amazing story about Simon Lee. I read all the other Simon Lee books before I had even heard of this one, but it was as amazing as all the others! Can't wait to read more by P.D. Atkerson!
December 30, 2024
Amazing amazing! 🤩 I loved reading more of Lee! 🥺 but the end… 👀 okay yeah I’m glad I know what happens. 🤭
**I received a free ebook in exchange for a review! Thanks, PD!! ☺️ I so so so so enjoyed it!
And I would shout to everyone who loves spy and sarcasm! This is perfect for you!
**I received a free ebook in exchange for a review! Thanks, PD!! ☺️ I so so so so enjoyed it!
And I would shout to everyone who loves spy and sarcasm! This is perfect for you!
July 18, 2024
4.25 stars
Nicholas Bishop is the perfect prequel to the series. It is a brilliant book, extremely well-written, screamingly funny, and seat-grippingly suspenseful. It provides intriguing background to Phantom Thief and leaves you with dozens of questions you want answered.
It also introduces some very important characters, and gives a glimpse into the type of life Lee led as the Phantom Thief.
Although it could technically be read either way, I would definitely recommend reading this as a prequel, not as a sequel. When I read Phantom Thief, I didn't realise this was a prequel, and so this was the second book I read in the series - and I actually think that might be the best way to read it. Before reading Christmas Hostage, definitely, but it was really nice to read it knowing what happens in Phantom Thief, which, in my opinion, is better to get you started on the series than this one. In other words - don't read it as either a prequel or a sequel, but read it as a breather between the ending of PT and the intensity of the rest of the series. It definitely gives a good appreciation for things which wouldn't be as effective read anywhere else in the timeline!
The one thing I really didn’t like was the lying, which was slightly worse than in the other books. I know Lee doesn't enjoy lying, and tries to avoid it if possible, but it still spoils the book a bit. The other thing I didn't like was the Christmas, but it wasn’t really a major part and it can be ignored easily enough.
But other than that, it was SO GOOD! From Page 1 I couldn’t put it down, and I was left really really wanting to read the rest of the series. The characters, the plot, the suspense – it’s all so good. And the ending was… really sweet, and definitely has quite a bit of foreshadowing in it! Of all of the epilogues in the series, I think this one was my favourite. I love Lee - and his dad - so much!
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended Reading Order for the Simon Lee Universe books (SLU):
Note: This is the order I've put together after reading and rereading almost all of these books, sometimes at once. While there are different opinions on which series should be read first, this is the order I personally feel is best for a first-time reader. It is NOT the chronological order - and I strongly recommend that a first-time reader does NOT read these books in chronological order. That's great for rereads, but the most will be got out of the SLU books by reading them loosely in the following order
Phantom Thief
Nicholas Bishop
Gregory's Epilogue (blog short)
Christmas Hostage
Guardian Eagle
Murphy Lawson
Ghost Hunter
Most Wanted
Winnie Winfield
Not Enough
Rebel Mind
Talking Turkey (blog short)
Killian Young
Domestic Conflict (Seize the Fight)
They Call Her Ella
Deadlock
First Christmas (blog short)
Exploit
Choices
License
Training
Guilt
My Name is Anastasia
Night Crier (blog short)
Only For a Moment (blog short)
Christmas Bear (blog short)
Everything
Sick Leave (blog short)
Water Boy (blog short)
Школьник (blog short)
Bank Robber (Classified Files)
Blinded (blog short)
Room Escapee (Classified Files)
Dare (blog short)
Wrong Number (blog short)
Minor Detail
Unwanted Services
Off the Rails
Smoke Screen
Lost Time
Web of Lies
Nicholas Bishop is the perfect prequel to the series. It is a brilliant book, extremely well-written, screamingly funny, and seat-grippingly suspenseful. It provides intriguing background to Phantom Thief and leaves you with dozens of questions you want answered.
It also introduces some very important characters, and gives a glimpse into the type of life Lee led as the Phantom Thief.
Although it could technically be read either way, I would definitely recommend reading this as a prequel, not as a sequel. When I read Phantom Thief, I didn't realise this was a prequel, and so this was the second book I read in the series - and I actually think that might be the best way to read it. Before reading Christmas Hostage, definitely, but it was really nice to read it knowing what happens in Phantom Thief, which, in my opinion, is better to get you started on the series than this one. In other words - don't read it as either a prequel or a sequel, but read it as a breather between the ending of PT and the intensity of the rest of the series. It definitely gives a good appreciation for things which wouldn't be as effective read anywhere else in the timeline!
The one thing I really didn’t like was the lying, which was slightly worse than in the other books. I know Lee doesn't enjoy lying, and tries to avoid it if possible, but it still spoils the book a bit. The other thing I didn't like was the Christmas, but it wasn’t really a major part and it can be ignored easily enough.
But other than that, it was SO GOOD! From Page 1 I couldn’t put it down, and I was left really really wanting to read the rest of the series. The characters, the plot, the suspense – it’s all so good. And the ending was… really sweet, and definitely has quite a bit of foreshadowing in it! Of all of the epilogues in the series, I think this one was my favourite. I love Lee - and his dad - so much!
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended Reading Order for the Simon Lee Universe books (SLU):
Note: This is the order I've put together after reading and rereading almost all of these books, sometimes at once. While there are different opinions on which series should be read first, this is the order I personally feel is best for a first-time reader. It is NOT the chronological order - and I strongly recommend that a first-time reader does NOT read these books in chronological order. That's great for rereads, but the most will be got out of the SLU books by reading them loosely in the following order
Phantom Thief
Nicholas Bishop
Gregory's Epilogue (blog short)
Christmas Hostage
Guardian Eagle
Murphy Lawson
Ghost Hunter
Most Wanted
Winnie Winfield
Not Enough
Rebel Mind
Talking Turkey (blog short)
Killian Young
Domestic Conflict (Seize the Fight)
They Call Her Ella
Deadlock
First Christmas (blog short)
Exploit
Choices
License
Training
Guilt
My Name is Anastasia
Night Crier (blog short)
Only For a Moment (blog short)
Christmas Bear (blog short)
Everything
Sick Leave (blog short)
Water Boy (blog short)
Школьник (blog short)
Bank Robber (Classified Files)
Blinded (blog short)
Room Escapee (Classified Files)
Dare (blog short)
Wrong Number (blog short)
Minor Detail
Unwanted Services
Off the Rails
Smoke Screen
Lost Time
Web of Lies
November 29, 2022
While the Phantom Thief may not be a huge fan of Christmas parties, he does have an eye for priceless art—one that might just be the death of him yet. If Agent Winfield doesn’t get to him first.
Or his wonderful new hairdo.
Or, perhaps, a terrorist organization by the name of [REDACTED]. Who just happens to be out for the girl that Lee is suddenly a live-in bodyguard for.
Yes, Nicholas Bishop has a lot to juggle. Expensive ornaments, jelly donuts, and more identities then can be good for a person.
Secrets. Theft. Christmas lights.
What could possibly go wrong?
Sure, there are a few plot holes.
A betrayal or two.
A healthy (or not) dose of sarcasm.
But it's Lee. The teddy bear that might just kill you. Just ask Izzy.
Who could resist?
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Most thoughts and wittiness, and all options, are my own.
Or his wonderful new hairdo.
Or, perhaps, a terrorist organization by the name of [REDACTED]. Who just happens to be out for the girl that Lee is suddenly a live-in bodyguard for.
Yes, Nicholas Bishop has a lot to juggle. Expensive ornaments, jelly donuts, and more identities then can be good for a person.
Secrets. Theft. Christmas lights.
What could possibly go wrong?
Sure, there are a few plot holes.
A betrayal or two.
A healthy (or not) dose of sarcasm.
But it's Lee. The teddy bear that might just kill you. Just ask Izzy.
Who could resist?
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Most thoughts and wittiness, and all options, are my own.
February 3, 2023
Super fun! Mason was a bit odd... The spine of the physical book is utter nonsense!!!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews