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Last Chance: The stunning new thriller from the legendary SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author
416 pages, Hardcover
Published July 31, 2025
6 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 19, 2025
Dan Spider Shepherd is on the case. Someone has taken out a contract to kill someone. An assassin called Dutchman took up the contract and pretended to kill someone.
Dan is there. This person is under protection. Yet the protection failed the contract was completed.
Another hit was taken out of an Iranian descendant. Now the Five is getting interested in the case.
Dan asked Lex Harper to protect him, as he thinks he is on the list, too.
There is some humour, a car chase, gun fight. The violence is in moderation.
The real bad guy is working for a consulting company, the Office. Shepherd's boss in Five wants this to be handled by subcontractors.
Who are the people behind the Office? That's part of the mystery and thrill to have this unfold.
Details like how blood is easily cleaned on a waxed hardwood floor. Or someone who got teased would sometimes pissed themselves and make it hard to clean off from leather car seats. It gives a more realistic feel to it.
Dan is more mature and thoughtful. Not easy to get angry. Lex Harper is loyal but might believe in some conspiracy theory that Dan sometimes corrects. The bad guys are more ruthless and not afraid of law enforcement. All these add dimensions to the overall story.
4.5 stars read.
Dan is there. This person is under protection. Yet the protection failed the contract was completed.
Another hit was taken out of an Iranian descendant. Now the Five is getting interested in the case.
Dan asked Lex Harper to protect him, as he thinks he is on the list, too.
There is some humour, a car chase, gun fight. The violence is in moderation.
The real bad guy is working for a consulting company, the Office. Shepherd's boss in Five wants this to be handled by subcontractors.
Who are the people behind the Office? That's part of the mystery and thrill to have this unfold.
Details like how blood is easily cleaned on a waxed hardwood floor. Or someone who got teased would sometimes pissed themselves and make it hard to clean off from leather car seats. It gives a more realistic feel to it.
Dan is more mature and thoughtful. Not easy to get angry. Lex Harper is loyal but might believe in some conspiracy theory that Dan sometimes corrects. The bad guys are more ruthless and not afraid of law enforcement. All these add dimensions to the overall story.
4.5 stars read.
August 2, 2025
The latest top notch thriller from one of the UK’s top thriller writers.
Astonishingly, this is the 22nd book in the “Spider Shepherd” series, all topical and clever thrillers. Shepherd has grown older and gained much experience over the 22 books, here he is comfortable working for MI5 and using that experience and his many skills to keep the country safe.
A number of killings are being co-ordinated by the mysterious organisation called The Office, when it appears a foreign Government might be behind things, MI5 sends in their best man to put a stop to things by any means necessary.
As always, much to enjoy, very current and multi layered. Shepherd is joined by some familiar faces as he tracks down The Office. Quite a lot of this is about the skills and ability of our intelligence agencies but with the real world situation of budget cuts and resourcing. Also, when the enemy is not playing by the rules, how can you keep your hands clean?
I’m a massive fan of the series and amazed how fresh each book is, there is no rinse and repeat in a Stephen Leather book. This is a welcome addition to an outstanding series.
Astonishingly, this is the 22nd book in the “Spider Shepherd” series, all topical and clever thrillers. Shepherd has grown older and gained much experience over the 22 books, here he is comfortable working for MI5 and using that experience and his many skills to keep the country safe.
A number of killings are being co-ordinated by the mysterious organisation called The Office, when it appears a foreign Government might be behind things, MI5 sends in their best man to put a stop to things by any means necessary.
As always, much to enjoy, very current and multi layered. Shepherd is joined by some familiar faces as he tracks down The Office. Quite a lot of this is about the skills and ability of our intelligence agencies but with the real world situation of budget cuts and resourcing. Also, when the enemy is not playing by the rules, how can you keep your hands clean?
I’m a massive fan of the series and amazed how fresh each book is, there is no rinse and repeat in a Stephen Leather book. This is a welcome addition to an outstanding series.
August 5, 2025
He's back! Twenty second in the series and not bored with reading the Dan 'Spider' Shepherd novels yet. My thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.
This novel opens with Dan stood at the edge of an open grave a gun in his hand, next to him is long time friend Geordie 'Razor' Sharp.
A compelling read from the start, its the perfect mix of drama, action and tension as MI5's Dan Shepherd with help from some familiar faces from previous novels take on 'The Office' an outfit that have been carrying out contract killings on UK soil.
One of the best in the series, a great read from start to finish.
This novel opens with Dan stood at the edge of an open grave a gun in his hand, next to him is long time friend Geordie 'Razor' Sharp.
A compelling read from the start, its the perfect mix of drama, action and tension as MI5's Dan Shepherd with help from some familiar faces from previous novels take on 'The Office' an outfit that have been carrying out contract killings on UK soil.
One of the best in the series, a great read from start to finish.
August 2, 2025
Stephen Leather is back on top form! A fantastic Spider Shepherd story featuring a whole host of characters from books past.
December 4, 2025
Just what you'd expect from Dan "Spider" Shepherd and just what I was in the mood for.
I don't know if anybody else noticed it but I really liked the Mitch Flynn homage 👊💥
I don't know if anybody else noticed it but I really liked the Mitch Flynn homage 👊💥
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews