NO GOING BACK: THE BELFAST CRIME SERIES

by Phillip Jordan

Tom Shepard has unfinished business.

Having already cut a swathe of destruction through the Belfast underworld in a spate of vigilante attacks, the former soldier has set his sights on the man who orchestrated the gangland hit in which his family were tragically killed.

His target, John Barrett, now in the employ of a shadow global criminal consortium, has fled Ireland.
With the civil servant’s old life reduced to ashes following the inferno at the Glenrafferty Home for Troubled Boys, Barrett finds himself at the crossroads of Europe tasked with ensuring the Consortium's profits, which are earned off the backs of desperate people fleeing war and persecution, continue to flourish.

Thrust into the flames of a feud between bitter rivals vying for control of lucrative illegal trade and migration routes, Barrett’s endeavours are hampered by the impulsive offspring of Serbia’s premier people trafficker, Alek Abasi.

When the indiscriminate campaign of violence draws Shepard to the region in search of an innocent caught between the warring gangs there can be no hiding place for Barrett, and for Tom Shepard, now the target is in sight there can be NO GOING BACK.

The explosive new novel from the author of 'CODE OF SILENCE' and 'AGENT IN PLACE'.

NO GOING BACK is a relentless, morally bruising thriller about the machinery of modern slavery, and the terrible cost of tearing it down one small piece at a time.

Praise for THE BELFAST CRIME SERIES

★★★★★ "If you like crime thrillers, this is one to savour...."

★★★★★ "Dark, magnetic and gripping..."

★★★★★ "Top notch. A cracking read..."

★★★★★ "Tense and twisty..."

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 13, 2026

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 3.5 years hiatus and Book 3 in this powerful series makes a welcome return…

Tom Shepherd wants revenge for the death of his wife and child and his target John Barrett has no idea what is about to befall him

Its worth saying although this is Book 3 the back story is explained and can be easily read as a standalone

Tom follows Barrett to Serbia and to a camp ‘Borovitz’, which is compared to the ‘Calais Jungle’, and was impossible not to put yourself in that camp in all its direness and evil such was the descriptive writing of it by the author

Tom finds himself involved in the camp and the men who run it but all with the goal of catching Barrett…..but things take a turn and the saying ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ becomes more than just a saying

It is a white knuckle read, flinchingly real and full of emotions and adventure

An Involving and meaningful read

[Steve Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re dropped straight into the action in Phillip Jordan’s No Going Back, the third and arguably most thrilling of his Belfast Crime series. In a complex but riveting follow-up to The Crossed Keys, the story centers on Tom Shepard and his search for John Barrett, the man he holds responsible for destroying his world. The search leads him to some unexpected places, responsibilities, and momentary alliances all of which underscore the shadowy extent and elusiveness of criminal organizations across the world.

Jordan is a stellar writer and the pace of the book is everything an action thriller demands - unrelenting. What makes this book exceptional are the beautiful pauses in which we get to know characters both good and bad, and see their motivations more clearly -Shepard, Milena, and even the criminals Barrett, the Kostics, and the Abasi’s. It’s not often a thriller allows one to see the full measure of what’s at stake and how there are times one side can learn from the other in such an immediate manner.

While the book can be read as a standalone, you’d be missing out on an evolving and incredibly gripping storyline. The books are like the making of a fine mosaic -with the pieces of characters, setting, motivation, procedure, and style fitting together creating one of the finest crime series available just now. Along with 138 Main Street by Gavin Bell, this is a thriller which will be among my books of the year.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Going Back by Phillip Jordan is book 3 in the Belfast Crime series. Tom Shepard is back, and in Dublin, on the trail of John Barrett, who was responsible for the tragedy in his past. This book follows on from where the last book, The Crossed Keys, finished, and the effects are still being felt. Tom’s early actions have unexpected consequences, and this leads him to Serbia to an Ottoman fortress. Drug and people trafficking, prostitution and extortion feature throughout the story. Life is cheap for the criminal organisations and different generations in these organisations have different attitudes and approaches which causes friction, as well as despair for those affected. This is portrayed very well throughout, as those trying to escape persecution live a hand to mouth existence. There is plenty of action and every now and then I would have to stop reading and get my breath back, although I found it hard to take my eyes off the page. What a fabulous story and well worth a read. What a terrific series of book.