Underdogs

by Stephen Leather

Once a fearless SAS hero, Andy 'Deadman' Bird now battles the harsh streets of London after a catastrophic mission stripped him of his hearing, career, home and marriage. His only solace is Tyson, his fiercely loyal and battle-tested dog.

When fate thrusts them into the path of a chilling alleyway murder, Andy and Tyson become the next targets. Who are these relentless hunters, and what dangerous secrets are they willing to kill for?

Desperate and cornered, Andy reaches out to his former brothers–in–arms – a team who owe him their very lives. But as they unravel a sinister web of organised crime and deadly political plots, who will be saving who this time?

Genres: Thriller

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2026

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

[books_by_vickib]

This book has it all. Action packed right from the start. I felt like I was reading a movie script. I fell in love with Andy and Tyson's relationship throughout this book, what a clever dog!

The tension in this book was just perfect for a thriller that had secret service, armed service and wannabe gangsters! This did not feel like a fiction book and the plot made you feel like you were watching this in real time.

I had not heard of this author before but I will definitely be adding more of his work to my shelves.

If you love action packed, nail biting thrillers then I 100% recommend this for you.

[Mrs S M Burt]

Not a patch on previous Stephen Leather books. Very disappointing. Just all a bit corny and predictable.

[Esther Turnbull]

Stephen Leather certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down

[Hazel]

I have been a fan of Stephen Leather's work for a long time now and he never disappoints. This latest book is certainly no exception - it's an absolute peach of a story. If you're looking for something full of action, violence, suspense and intrigue, then this is definitely the one for you.

The story follows Andy "Deadman" Bird, a former SAS hero who has had a really tough time of it after a mission went wrong. He's lost his hearing, his career and his marriage, and he's living on the streets of London. I absolutely loved Bird as a main character, but I have to say that Tyson the dog completely stole the show for me. Tyson is Bird's fiercely loyal companion and seeing the relationship between the two of them was just wonderful.

One thing that really got to me was how they are both experiencing PTSD after that failed mission. It was so interesting to see that this isn't something that just affects humans - I didn't really know anything about dogs being affected in that way, so it was new to me although not a complete surprise. It made their bond feel even deeper because they're both struggling with the same demons.

When they witness a murder in an alleyway, they both end up as targets. It was great to see Bird reach out to his old SAS brothers-in-arms for help. The camaraderie between the characters felt so natural and authentic, and it really added to the grit of the story as they got tangled up in a mess of organised crime and political plots.

It's a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a proper, hard-hitting thriller. 🐾

Huge thanks to the author, Pan Macmillan, Macmillan and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, yet another cracker from Mr Leather.

[Lesley]

It's been a few years since I last read anything by Stephen Leather (Spider Shepherd series) and I was intrigued about this latest one Underdogs. Well, this did not disappoint and I couldn't put it down, in fact as it got nearer to the end, I was reading at 4/5am !

This book had a great start focusing on how Andy "Deadman" Bird former SAS, came to be living rough on the streets, homeless, with his faithful dog Tyson. he gets caught up in a vicious mugging in the alley he is sheltering in, instincts kick in and he comes to the victims rescue; but things go horribly wrong and he ends up with the murder weapon in his hands and being hunted by the police.

When he has no where left to run to, he calls upon his "brothers" in the SAS who instantly come to his aid and so then starts the process of trying to prove his innocence, whilst also finding out the real culprits. Russia is involved and MI5/6 and GCHQ.

Who are the baddies and how will he prove it? Adrenaline fuelled plot and it races along as fast as Tyson the dog does his job!

A great story that also covers the impact of PTSD on both humans and animals (poor Tyson suffers from it too)!

Well, that's me back to reading any book I've happened to miss over the year from SL!

[Peter Evans]

They were once SAS heroes. Now Andy ‘Deadman’ Bird and his service dog Tyson have been cast out on the streets after a disastrous mission that went wrong, and left Andy totally deaf.
Living on the streets is tough, but things become tougher when Andy is witness to a murder in the alleyway he sleeps in. Not long after, he and his faithful dog are killers hit list. With his back against the wall, Andy calls for help from his former teammates. They drop everything to help him, as they owe him for saving their lives.
This turns out to be more than a rescue mission, Andy has walked into an international incident that involves people at the highest level. From top political figures to organised crime, and they will do anything to make this go away.
With his back against the wall, will he live to see another day and bring those responsible to justice.
Underdogs is one of Stephen Leather’s best standalone books to date.
From start to finish, this book is action-packed and enthralling. The characters are brilliant and engaging, and the authors storytelling is sublime.
Stephen Leather never lets his readers down, and this latest instalment is fantastic. A total rollercoaster ride.

[Nick Brett]

A “one off” from Stephen Leather, but I’d be delighted to see this roll into a series.
Andy “Deadman” Bird (his nickname is explained at the start of the book where we see him and Tyson his Malinois dog in SAS action.
Sadly both Bird and Tyson are on the streets of London both suffering from PTSD and, in Bird’s case, a degree of deafness. Rejecting military help, the streets are now their home.
Witnessing a death, they become hunted by bad guys who seem to think they have something they badly want. Bird and his faithful companion elude those chasing them and Bird thinks he may only survive if he calls for help from some old, and very dangerous, friends.
So, it becomes a question of staying alive and working out what his mysterious hunters think he has. Full of action and clever plotting as you now expect from the author, Bird and Tyson are good characters and this thriller is full of tense action and pace.
As an aside, Stephen Leather does make the gentle point that there are a lot of military veterans living under the radar and we shouldn’t let their plight be forgotten.

[Paul Sutter]

It is always a pleasure to find a book so thrilling that you are able to start it one afternoon, and finish it the following afternoon. That is a sign the book is so good it is almost impossible to close and walk away from. That is the case of UNDERDOGS, a thrill-a-minute classic that has you captivated right from page one.
Andy “Deadman” Bird is a war hero, an ex-SAS veteran, who is now homeless and living rough on the streets of London England. He was on assignment in the Middle East, and when a grenade was thrown, he headed toward it, and the bomb exploded under a table he dove on. He survived but he lost his hearing totally. Andy didn’t want to learn sign language and refused an implant in his ears to help him hear. He has learned to lip read, and is very good at it. He lost much more than his hearing, his wife leaving him, unable to handle the man he has become.
He is not totally alone on the streets, as he has his faithful dog Tyson at his side. Tyson is a Belgian Malinois who served in the war with him, and was there when the grenade went off. Like his owner, Tyson is suffering from PTSD, and Andy treats him cautiously, as sounds can set the dog off. One night in a back alley, Andy witnesses two men executing another. Andy cautiously goes to the man, but the men then realize he is a witness, and set their sights on him. With the aid of Tyson, Andy is now a hunted man, the killer knowing they need to silence the sole witness.
This sets the wheels in motion for Andy to run for his life, as the killers think the dead man somehow slipped an SD card to Andy before he died. Andy does get assistance from army personnel he knew, and others, but not before he manages to terminate some of the group of assassins who seem to know his every move. Those pursuing him pull out all the stops, abducting his ex-wife and threatening to kill her if the SD card is not returned. It is obvious there is information on that card people will not hesitate to kill over.
It makes for an exhausting ride, with one dangerous moment after another that Andy, Tyson and others must navigate to survive. There is danger and also deception, because as we come to realize there are some people who are trusted, who turn out to be far from trustworthy. UNDERDOGS is definitely a book you will savor every singe page, with the sort of action that induces sweaty palms and sleepless nights possibly, until you finish it.

[Ganesh Subramanian]

Underdog is a fast-paced crime thriller that follows a man who is pushed into a dangerous situation and must fight to survive. The story centres on an ordinary individual who finds himself caught in a web of crime, power, and betrayal. He is not a traditional hero. He makes mistakes, struggles with fear, and often acts on instinct. That makes him feel real.
The novel moves quickly. The tension builds steadily as the stakes rise. Some twists keep the reader guessing. The action scenes are sharp and vivid. The writing is direct and easy to follow.
The book explores themes of loyalty, survival, and moral compromise. The main character must decide how far he is willing to go to protect himself and those around him. Some moments feel gritty and raw, which adds to the realism. At times, the pace leaves little room for deeper emotional reflection.
The main character feels real because he is flawed and vulnerable. He is not perfect, and that makes his struggle more powerful.
The pace is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Events unfold quickly, and there is little wasted space. Each chapter adds tension and pushes the story forward. The action scenes are clear and intense without being confusing.
The novel also explores moral choices. The protagonist must make difficult decisions to survive. These choices add depth to the story and keep readers thinking.
Overall, Underdog is a strong crime thriller. It balances action with emotional weight. It is an entertaining and satisfying read for anyone who enjoys suspense and realistic characters. It is an engaging read for those who enjoy crime fiction with action and moral tension.
Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing an advanced reader copy of the book for review.

[Meg Pearson]

Underdogs by Stephen Leather is an extremely enjoyable, edge-of-your-seat thriller and a rattling good read from start to finish.

At around 300 pages, this is an easy book to sink into, but it is also very cleverly plotted and packed with tension. Once I started reading, I was completely gripped and found it very difficult to put down. The suspense builds steadily and relentlessly, carrying right through to a final paragraph that delivers a genuinely exciting and satisfying conclusion.

The story follows Andy “Deadman” Bird, a former SAS soldier whose life has fallen apart after a heroic act left him deaf, discharged, divorced, and living on the streets with his loyal dog, Tyson. When Andy witnesses a brutal murder, he is suddenly hunted by both the police and ruthless killers who believe he has something they need. What follows is a fast paced, high stakes race for survival that pulls in Andy’s old comrades, shadowy intelligence agencies, and a dangerous web of political intrigue and organised crime.

Stephen Leather’s writing style is smooth and engaging, with excellent scene setting that makes it easy to visualise the action unfolding chapter by chapter. The plot is well constructed, the pacing is spot on, and the sense of camaraderie between Andy and his former team adds real emotional weight to the story. Tyson is also a standout presence, adding heart and intensity to an already gripping narrative.

Frighteningly suspenseful, action packed, and expertly told, Underdogs is another strong entry from Stephen Leather and a book that thriller fans will absolutely devour. Strongly recommended.

[Maggie Harris]

Underdogs
Discharged from the army Andy ‘deadman’ Bird an ex SAS soldier is homeless and living on the streets of London with his service dog Tyson, both suffering from PTSD after an overseas operation went wrong also leaving Andy completely deaf.
Andy witnesses a shooting, tries to help but the victim dies and Andy suddenly finds himself pursued by the assailants. He and Tyson run, Andy is sure he’ll evade these criminals easily with his previous military training but seems foiled at every turn as they continue their relentless pursuit.
Realising he needs professional help he contacts his serving army friend who is only too willing to become involved.
This leads to the involvement of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ spies somehow his chasers think Andy has information they don’t want revealing. As the body count mounts there are many twists and turns as this thriller takes you on a breathtaking ride. Full of action which is descriptive and exciting, great army banter and total comradeship in full force from Andy’s old team this is an absolute page turner.
Having served in the armed forces I am still shocked at how ex service personnel can be treated and feel this author perfectly described it.
I’m hoping Andy and his ‘team’ will work together again in the future, one that is brighter for our hero.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

[Lesley Olariu]

The action explodes from the page in this fast paced novel “Underdogs” about Andy “Deadman” Bird and his trusty canine sidekick Tyson. Called “Deadman”, after saving the lives of his SAS team by jumping on top of a grenade on an op in Syria, Andy now lives on the street, deaf from the grenade, having lost his job, wife and home. His only companion is his trained dog but, after stumbling into an attempted assassination on a London street, then being suspected and chased by police and the killers, Andy must call on his SAS mates for assistance. What follows is a breakneck race for the truth…. who was the victim, why was he killed and why are they now after Andy? Throw in MI5, MI6, and some bad guys working for a very shady outfit willing to stop at nothing to get what they want and you have a ripper of a tale. Not my usual genre and I’ve never learnt so much about weaponry and tactics on a page rather than a screen, but very visual….would make a blockbuster movie! Once I settled in for the ride, Steven Leather had me hooked and I would definitely lock in for a sequel.

[Paul Perry]

Stephen Leather introduces a gripping new protagonist in The Underdogs: Andy Bird, a homeless ex–Special Forces soldier whose only constant companion is his loyal service dog, Tyson. Deafened by an act of extraordinary bravery on his final deployment, Andy carries both the scars and the deep respect of the regiment he once served with distinction.

When a violent encounter turns him into a fugitive—hunted by the police and a ruthless group of foreign criminals—his old comrades rally to his side. What follows is a high‑octane chase packed with covert operators, shadowy agendas, and layers of deception that unravel at breakneck speed.

It’s a taut, propulsive thriller that shows Leather at his best, delivering a story that easily stands shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the strongest titles in the genre.

[Lynda]

Andy 'Deadman' Bird is ex SAS. He had to quit following an heroic event in the Middle East when he saved his squad but was rendered deaf by doing so. Divorced and living on the streets, with his dog Tyson, he witnesses a brutal murder. Unable to save the man he finds himself hunted by the police as their main suspect and by the killers who believe he has something they want.

Briefly, when Andy’s ex wife Is kidnapped he has no choice but to enlist the help of his old team. Also drawn in is the enigmatic Emma from MI6 and an official from GCHQ in Cheltenham.

A brutal and murderous jet fuelled read and for fans of this genre an absolute belter. Terrible that a former SAS soldier was reduced to living on the streets and loved how quickly his old comrades came to help him. A dark story of political intrigue and international organised crime and very entertaining. 4.5⭐️

[Eric Robinson]

Firstly Ive listen and enjoyed all of the Spider Shepard books and as a result am very familiar with Stephen Leather's style. I could not believe how poor and amateurish this book was nor could I believe some of the glowing reviews. It was like Leather had pulled this one out from under the bed long forgotten and rejected for good reason, dusted it down and sent it off to the publisher. There were so many glaring errors, wooden characterisation and cliches plus the story was as dull as something very dull indeed! Very disappointed. To call this lame duck 'pulse pounding' is stretching it somewhat.

[Lindsay]

Not my normal read but I devoured this one in one sitting. We meet a man and his dog sleeping rough on the streets after an ambush in a missing he not only lost his hearing but also his loved job in the SAS. When he accidentally stumbles on an assassination his whole life is turned upside down when he is being hunted and everyone close to him is in danger and only his old colleagues can help him. Will he get to the bottom of it all before it’s too late. A great thriller and would make a great film.

[Sue Thomas]

Adrenaline fuelled action.

Fast paced mostly. Slowed down by time consuming investigation and detailed specs on military equipment used by both SAS and Russian armed shooters.
Andy and Tyson, his war dog proved they were still at the top of their game as SAS skilled soldiers and they could still depend on the team mates, he had saved from certain death in Syria, to support him when his ex-wife was kidnapped by a notorious Russian group who needed evidence they believed Andy had and using hidden contacts in Britain government defence services to try to retrieve it.

[Janine Defontaine]

This was one of those ‘please don’t let the dog die’ kinda stories in which I wasnt sure I’d make it past the first few chapters. But I persisted and, spoiler, the dog doesn’t die 😉

Underdogs was a different take from your traditional espionage novel, with the central character, Bird, a dear vet alongside his ex-service dog Tyson. With a dose of reality about how the system has abandoned some vets, to multiple spy agencies and the Russians, this was a good read. Im hoping Bird gets his ear implants and that we get to read more from him, Tyson, Warren and the team.

[J L NICOL]

SECRET SQUIRRELS

What a wonderful storyteller this author is, right from the start you can tell that you are in for a treat. His writing keeps you engaged as the story progresses. Andy and his dog Tyson literally steal the show. This book is very reminiscent of his early books which should be read?
Recommended the without a doubt.
Hopefully another book will continue the story because Andy and Tyson should have more to give!!

[Own Timis]

This is a classic Stephen Leather SAS thriller - good guy going rogue to fight not only bad guys, but also the bureaucratic machinations of UK government institutions. As always, lots of artistic licence and pretty implausible at times but a very energetic read. It became pretty obvious who the baddie was pretty soon after they were introduced, but I'm not reading Stephen Leather for his nuanced plots.

[Ned Frederick]

Reacher-like mayhem abounds, seasoning Underdogs many action scenes with a bit of a cartoonish flavor. Tyson (the Malinois with PTSD), at times, seems to be the most realistic character in the book. While you are catching your breath between body count upgrades there is a decent narrative that touches on many themes, deafness, PTSD, the SAS, and the Secret Intelligence Service, not to mention the shameful neglect of wounded warriors by the UK. At the end of the day it was an enjoyable diversion from the cartoonish mayhem of our current everyday lives.

[Ann]

Wow! what an absolute blast of a read this is. It’s SO good. I never thought anyone could equal Spider Shepherd but I was wrong. Stephen knocks it out of the park again!
Andy & Tyson are the dream team and I really hope we see more of them and this is the first of a new series.
Be prepared for a rollercoaster ride, SAS, MI5, MI6 GCHQ, but who can you trust?

[Mrs Kay Justice]

Extremely good. Couldn't put it down.

As usual another brilliant book from Mr Stephen Leather. Andy Bird and Tyson. It would be great if there w,ere more novels with these characters and there S.A.S. buddies in the future. I would look forward to reading them. They could always appear in a Spider Shepherd story. I have already pre-existing the next book in that series.

[Mrs B S Bairstow/ Mr A Bairstow]

I needed dogged determination

I think the title says it all. For me, it started off very slow and at one point I was going to stop reading. However with a little perseverance it soon got going. Turned out to be a great read, as you would expect from Stephen Leather. I hope there are more to come with Bird and Tyson

[David Hutson]

Underdogs

Another excellent book from Stephen Leather full of twist and turns and action keeping the reader enthralled from start to finish I've read most books from Stephen and every one has enthralled me

[Jacqueline Rawlins]

I've read quite few of Stephen Leather's books and really enjoyed them.
I'm afraid this one didn't 'grip ' me and after a quarter of the way in I gave up.
I will however be looking out for his next book.

[Richard Mulholland]

Fun :)

[Peter]

A first class and believable read. Birdman is ably assisted by Tyson. Clips along at a great pace. I hope this is the first of a series. Move over Spider - you a real competitor in Andy.

[Ian Watson]

A Cracker

Stephen this was a Cracker,will we have some more of your man and his great dog in the future,if so can't wait,great read

[Carl]

Excellent
Another winner by Mr Leather