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Dan Shepherd #13
Dark Forces
When you're caught between two evils, only the most decisive will survive. The thirteenth book in action supremo Stephen Leather's Spider Shepherd series is his most pulse-pounding yet . . .
A violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan 'Spider' Shepherd can gather enough evidence against them while posing as a ruthless hitman. What he doesn't know is that his work as an undercover agent for MI5 is about to intersect with the biggest terrorist operation ever carried out on British soil.
Only weeks before Shepherd witnessed a highly skilled IS sniper escape from a targeted missile strike in Syria. But never in his wildest dreams did he expect to next come across the shooter in a grimy East London flat.
Spider's going to have to proceed with extreme caution if he is to prevent the death of hundreds of people, but at the same time, when the crucial moment comes he will have to act decisively. The clock is ticking and only he stands between us and Armageddon....
'Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it' Sun
A violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan 'Spider' Shepherd can gather enough evidence against them while posing as a ruthless hitman. What he doesn't know is that his work as an undercover agent for MI5 is about to intersect with the biggest terrorist operation ever carried out on British soil.
Only weeks before Shepherd witnessed a highly skilled IS sniper escape from a targeted missile strike in Syria. But never in his wildest dreams did he expect to next come across the shooter in a grimy East London flat.
Spider's going to have to proceed with extreme caution if he is to prevent the death of hundreds of people, but at the same time, when the crucial moment comes he will have to act decisively. The clock is ticking and only he stands between us and Armageddon....
'Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it' Sun
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2016
226 people are currently reading
385 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 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 17, 2017
This is the 13th book in the Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd series, a former SAS trooper turned detective in an elite undercover squad by author Stephen Leather.
I have enjoyed this series from the very start and although they can be read as stand-alones, I feel that to get the maximum out of the series it is best to read in order from the start. By reading them in order you get to know the characters more as well as obviously learning the history behind the relationships.
That said it did take me a little while to get really absorbed in this one, but once there I was fixed and couldn't put the book down. In this one a violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan 'Spider' Shepherd can gather enough evidence against them while posing as a ruthless hitman. What Shephard doesn't know is that his work as an undercover agent for MI5 is about to connect with the biggest terrorist operation ever carried out on British soil. Only a few weeks earlier Shepherd witnessed a skilled IS sniper escape from a targeted missile strike in Syria, not realising that he would come across the shooter in a East London flat. Shephard will have to work fast to prevent hundreds of people dying.
This novel is full of action in a race against time, great characters, good plot and superbly paced, highly recommended.
I have enjoyed this series from the very start and although they can be read as stand-alones, I feel that to get the maximum out of the series it is best to read in order from the start. By reading them in order you get to know the characters more as well as obviously learning the history behind the relationships.
That said it did take me a little while to get really absorbed in this one, but once there I was fixed and couldn't put the book down. In this one a violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan 'Spider' Shepherd can gather enough evidence against them while posing as a ruthless hitman. What Shephard doesn't know is that his work as an undercover agent for MI5 is about to connect with the biggest terrorist operation ever carried out on British soil. Only a few weeks earlier Shepherd witnessed a skilled IS sniper escape from a targeted missile strike in Syria, not realising that he would come across the shooter in a East London flat. Shephard will have to work fast to prevent hundreds of people dying.
This novel is full of action in a race against time, great characters, good plot and superbly paced, highly recommended.
December 13, 2016
It's been a while since I've read one of the author's terrific books featuring British M15 agent Dan "Spider" Shepherd - too long, I said to myself as I polished off this one (the 13th). Despite not being a fan of settings in countries where Americans are less than welcome, this series is so well written (and the main character so intriguing) that once I get off and running, the books are hard to put down.
As this one begins, Shepherd has been with M15 for five years, much of the time doing heavy-duty undercover work. Early on, he watches as an extremely on-target sniper escapes from a missile strike in Syria while his two companions - spotters - are blown to smithereens. Of course, Shepherd wants the one who got away, but there are no clues as to his identity or to what location he disappeared.
Back in London, he's gone undercover to infiltrate a gang that's involved with money laundering and murder; the plan is to get sufficiently entrenched in their good graces that they show him the guts of the money-laundering operation - thus allowing charges to be made that will stick and land them in prison for years to come.
But meanwhile, chapters shift to the perspective of Mohammed al-Hussain, a jihadist who's on a suicide mission. It's possible he and other IS cohorts are planning to come to London under the cover of the many refugees who are crossing borders to escape the strife in their countries. To that end, Shepherd gets help from an informant and puts his eidetic memory to good use once again.
As the end nears, it becomes clear that the terrorists have targeted somewhere in London as the site of a major strike that could kill hundreds. But where and when? And with what weapons? The answers to those questions keep the action moving along (interspersed with more than a little spewing of blood and guts) to the last few pages.
I should add that this one struck me as a little bit different in that readers see a "softer" side of Shepherd as he ruminates on killing for killing's sake (or, put another way, whether or not the end justifies the means) and ramifications of his 18-year-old son Liam's decision to pass on going to university and instead join the army.
Lots of meat and potatoes in this one - one of the best, IMHO!
As this one begins, Shepherd has been with M15 for five years, much of the time doing heavy-duty undercover work. Early on, he watches as an extremely on-target sniper escapes from a missile strike in Syria while his two companions - spotters - are blown to smithereens. Of course, Shepherd wants the one who got away, but there are no clues as to his identity or to what location he disappeared.
Back in London, he's gone undercover to infiltrate a gang that's involved with money laundering and murder; the plan is to get sufficiently entrenched in their good graces that they show him the guts of the money-laundering operation - thus allowing charges to be made that will stick and land them in prison for years to come.
But meanwhile, chapters shift to the perspective of Mohammed al-Hussain, a jihadist who's on a suicide mission. It's possible he and other IS cohorts are planning to come to London under the cover of the many refugees who are crossing borders to escape the strife in their countries. To that end, Shepherd gets help from an informant and puts his eidetic memory to good use once again.
As the end nears, it becomes clear that the terrorists have targeted somewhere in London as the site of a major strike that could kill hundreds. But where and when? And with what weapons? The answers to those questions keep the action moving along (interspersed with more than a little spewing of blood and guts) to the last few pages.
I should add that this one struck me as a little bit different in that readers see a "softer" side of Shepherd as he ruminates on killing for killing's sake (or, put another way, whether or not the end justifies the means) and ramifications of his 18-year-old son Liam's decision to pass on going to university and instead join the army.
Lots of meat and potatoes in this one - one of the best, IMHO!
July 25, 2016
Britain’s top thriller writer delivers the 13th “Spider Shepherd” story. I was lucky enough to be given an advance copy which I devoured like a starving man.
While this is a great thriller series they always take the character of Spider forward and provide you with things to think about.
In Dark Forces, Spider has infiltrated a London criminal gang for his new boss, at the same time a major London terror attack is being planned and eventually the story threads all end up in the same point and it may be too late for even Spider to do anything about it.
Dark Forces indeed, but there are a few themes here, Spider is feeling slightly isolated, his support network was blown apart by the events of the last book, he is also feeling his age and has a bit of a shock that his son is growing up too. As a character, Spider is the good guy we all want, talented, loyal to his country and doing a difficult job. But his country is changing and nothing is ever black or white anymore and decisions are being made that almost support a view that to beat terrorists, we have to be a bit more like them. The Dark Forces of the title are not necessarily the bad guys.
Spider is a fantastic character and always a pleasure to read about, I also like the fact that his colleagues in the intelligence service are shown as professional and with a clear goal, nothing wishy washy, this is the intelligence service you hope we have. Having said that, it may be an intelligence service that Spider is no longer comfortable with, same goals but different ways of getting there. It presents an interesting dynamic and is one of the many things that raises these thrillers above the norm.
No unlucky 13 for this one, it is as brilliant as all the others.
While this is a great thriller series they always take the character of Spider forward and provide you with things to think about.
In Dark Forces, Spider has infiltrated a London criminal gang for his new boss, at the same time a major London terror attack is being planned and eventually the story threads all end up in the same point and it may be too late for even Spider to do anything about it.
Dark Forces indeed, but there are a few themes here, Spider is feeling slightly isolated, his support network was blown apart by the events of the last book, he is also feeling his age and has a bit of a shock that his son is growing up too. As a character, Spider is the good guy we all want, talented, loyal to his country and doing a difficult job. But his country is changing and nothing is ever black or white anymore and decisions are being made that almost support a view that to beat terrorists, we have to be a bit more like them. The Dark Forces of the title are not necessarily the bad guys.
Spider is a fantastic character and always a pleasure to read about, I also like the fact that his colleagues in the intelligence service are shown as professional and with a clear goal, nothing wishy washy, this is the intelligence service you hope we have. Having said that, it may be an intelligence service that Spider is no longer comfortable with, same goals but different ways of getting there. It presents an interesting dynamic and is one of the many things that raises these thrillers above the norm.
No unlucky 13 for this one, it is as brilliant as all the others.
September 19, 2023
Wow.
The final chapters were extremely tense.
Thoroughly enjoyed how the the stories within the story weaved together for a very exciting final few chapters.
One of my favourites in a GREAT series.
The final chapters were extremely tense.
Thoroughly enjoyed how the the stories within the story weaved together for a very exciting final few chapters.
One of my favourites in a GREAT series.
January 15, 2017
Another first class story centring around Spider Shepherd. Reading it just makes you fearful of what terrorist activity may be capable of. The annoying feature of Stephen Leather's novels is the reluctance to write in chapters - most odd!
September 12, 2025
i love Stephen leathers writing style. The guy knows how to write a great book. His characters are always very real, the story lines are always gripping and he writes another great page turner in dark forces
Spider is undercover in London criminal gang and at the same time using his skills to bring down terrorists. Leathers descriptions of how the terrorists move around the world and how they plan their actions is amazing. The dual stories work well and culminate in a great finale . there is a liot more of spiders private life and with out giving too much away things happen at home that we all hoped would
Stephen really had a knack of bringing the stories and characters to life and they jump off the page and grab your attention
When will the movie or TV world take notice of one of the new great hero’s
Spider is undercover in London criminal gang and at the same time using his skills to bring down terrorists. Leathers descriptions of how the terrorists move around the world and how they plan their actions is amazing. The dual stories work well and culminate in a great finale . there is a liot more of spiders private life and with out giving too much away things happen at home that we all hoped would
Stephen really had a knack of bringing the stories and characters to life and they jump off the page and grab your attention
When will the movie or TV world take notice of one of the new great hero’s
July 29, 2016
Well worth the wait!!
I wish Stephen would produce more than 1 Spider book a year but then my work productivity would drop even more
Once again another superb book featuring Spider and at long last he kisses, well you will have to read the book to find out
Liam comes into the book a bit more this time and the plot twists and turns all the way through
The plot is evil set in London and the ending is very dramatic and would look good in a film
Would I recommend this book? Too damn right I would
I wish Stephen would produce more than 1 Spider book a year but then my work productivity would drop even more
Once again another superb book featuring Spider and at long last he kisses, well you will have to read the book to find out
Liam comes into the book a bit more this time and the plot twists and turns all the way through
The plot is evil set in London and the ending is very dramatic and would look good in a film
Would I recommend this book? Too damn right I would
August 27, 2016
This IS good. Stephen Leather pulls out all the stops with Spider Shepherds 13th adventure.
As usual Spider juggles identities whilst undercover, be it as a London hitman infiltrating a gang of hardmen or as an MI5 agent bringing down the latest terrorist threat.
Leather's social commentary is spot on and his grasp of cultures is impeccable.
A brilliant read that I finished in two days..I had work so was a little slow...
Well done Mr Leather, can't wait for the next one.
Oh and my last criticism was that Spider was not a physical enough tough guy....well now he is!
As usual Spider juggles identities whilst undercover, be it as a London hitman infiltrating a gang of hardmen or as an MI5 agent bringing down the latest terrorist threat.
Leather's social commentary is spot on and his grasp of cultures is impeccable.
A brilliant read that I finished in two days..I had work so was a little slow...
Well done Mr Leather, can't wait for the next one.
Oh and my last criticism was that Spider was not a physical enough tough guy....well now he is!
May 25, 2017
Looking at the stellar reviews I was excited to read my first Stephen Leather novel. But I wasn't very impressed. The story really dragged in places (literally following the terrorist's EVERY boring step on their journey to Europe) and the ending was SO contrived I found it almost laughable. The subject matter for the book could be really interesting but the author seems to have trivialised the bad guys into 1 dimensional characters that the average Telegraph reader would find believable. Needless to say I wont be coming back for more Stephen!
August 25, 2016
An excellent Spider Shepherd thriller. I thought the last one was getting a bit routine, but this was a great read. Characters who are just good at what they do, without needing to be an alcoholic, drug addict or embroiled in relationship issues seem to have disappeared from television drama. Thank goodness that they can still exist in the far superior printed word.
My only minor quibble was that everything seemed to be wrapped up with both storylines very quickly at the end.
My only minor quibble was that everything seemed to be wrapped up with both storylines very quickly at the end.
August 27, 2016
Spider does it again.
I have this book a 5* rating because of its easy reading.
I have read all off Stephen Leather's Spider Shepherd series and this one was just as good as the other 12.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a tense build up and an explosive ending to a read.
Now I've got to wait another year before Mr Leather gives me Spider's next episode. Hurry up Stephen.
I have this book a 5* rating because of its easy reading.
I have read all off Stephen Leather's Spider Shepherd series and this one was just as good as the other 12.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a tense build up and an explosive ending to a read.
Now I've got to wait another year before Mr Leather gives me Spider's next episode. Hurry up Stephen.
April 18, 2017
Another great adventure. Multiple threads expertly woven culminating in an appropriate finale.
January 21, 2017
Just about one of the best Dan Shepherd novels I have read. Very difficult to put down.
May 10, 2019
This is the 13th in the Spider series. My curiosity for this book stems from the fact the Charlie Button got driven out of MI5 in the last book and Jeremy Willoughby-Brown has taken over the position with Spider now reporting into Jeremy, whom he detests! So I was excited to read how the relationship goes, will Charlie try to steal him into the private contractor space where she has gone in or will Spider go back to Sam Hargraves, his old SOCA boss.
The book starts in the same way, Spider is in a deep infiltration mode with a south London gang as a hitman. That’s the first plot. The second plot was Spider is now in the squad which mans drone and attacks the enemy from a distance. During one such incident in Syria, where a Sniper was about to kill a Syria Army Colonel, the Sniper escaped and Spider followed the trail knowing the high value of the sniper.
The book goes on along how Spider infiltrates the gang as hitman and brings down the gang. Also, his eidetic memory comes to use (or misuse) when he goes to Syria to talk to a people trafficker where he sees all the people who has entered Europe and UK through fake passports from those Syrian camps.
Few excerpts which I loved in the book was the meeting up with Caroline Stockman who has been discontinued as the psychiatric for MI5 undercover unit but she still turns up to meet and debrief Spider when he requests her. The revelation that Charlie would never poach Spider as that would be against her ethics. That Spider would not work outside the govt agencies due to his strong sense of right or wrong. The way the relationship of Spider and Jeremy travels from a place of complete distrust to a place of more respect and acceptance of each other. And loved the part where Spider first hunts down the sniper and then uses that same rifle to snipe some terrorists in the stadium.
Very fast pace, nicely crafted and thought through and great flow in the climax. A great fast read like all of Spider series. As I wrote the review, I bumped up the rating from 4 to 5 stars as I reflected more on the book. I will take a break from Spider, read a Baldacci (The Redemption, another eidetic person) and come back to book 14!
The book starts in the same way, Spider is in a deep infiltration mode with a south London gang as a hitman. That’s the first plot. The second plot was Spider is now in the squad which mans drone and attacks the enemy from a distance. During one such incident in Syria, where a Sniper was about to kill a Syria Army Colonel, the Sniper escaped and Spider followed the trail knowing the high value of the sniper.
The book goes on along how Spider infiltrates the gang as hitman and brings down the gang. Also, his eidetic memory comes to use (or misuse) when he goes to Syria to talk to a people trafficker where he sees all the people who has entered Europe and UK through fake passports from those Syrian camps.
Few excerpts which I loved in the book was the meeting up with Caroline Stockman who has been discontinued as the psychiatric for MI5 undercover unit but she still turns up to meet and debrief Spider when he requests her. The revelation that Charlie would never poach Spider as that would be against her ethics. That Spider would not work outside the govt agencies due to his strong sense of right or wrong. The way the relationship of Spider and Jeremy travels from a place of complete distrust to a place of more respect and acceptance of each other. And loved the part where Spider first hunts down the sniper and then uses that same rifle to snipe some terrorists in the stadium.
Very fast pace, nicely crafted and thought through and great flow in the climax. A great fast read like all of Spider series. As I wrote the review, I bumped up the rating from 4 to 5 stars as I reflected more on the book. I will take a break from Spider, read a Baldacci (The Redemption, another eidetic person) and come back to book 14!
February 10, 2021
“Dark Forces” by Stephen Leather (2015) First Edition
Overall Rating 10/10 – Utterly Superb!
Plot
Our protagonist is sent undercover to infiltrate a hard hitting London gang with a history of selling drugs and weapons and murdering people that get in their way. At the same time, ISIS is undertaking a significant campaign against the British in London using a sniper known to our hero, Dan “Spider” Shepherd - and he is one of the best there is. Of course, these two worlds are destined to collide but can our undercover M15 operative handle this kind of heat?
Writing Style
As with all his earlier works in this series, Leather writes with short, punchy prose with “bang up to date” elegance. Easy to read, nothing extraneous – just relax and let the story unfold around you. So easy to feel you are actually there with Shepherd.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
A blistering performance by the author that totally blew me away.
Fantastic depth of characters with superb multiple plots that keep you on edge (turning pages faster and faster) and a wholly believable account of both the underworld London gang warfare as well as a well planned ISIS terrorist attack.
Mind bogglingly brilliant.
The first time, in 35 years, I have ever rated a book 10/10
Overall Rating 10/10 – Utterly Superb!
Plot
Our protagonist is sent undercover to infiltrate a hard hitting London gang with a history of selling drugs and weapons and murdering people that get in their way. At the same time, ISIS is undertaking a significant campaign against the British in London using a sniper known to our hero, Dan “Spider” Shepherd - and he is one of the best there is. Of course, these two worlds are destined to collide but can our undercover M15 operative handle this kind of heat?
Writing Style
As with all his earlier works in this series, Leather writes with short, punchy prose with “bang up to date” elegance. Easy to read, nothing extraneous – just relax and let the story unfold around you. So easy to feel you are actually there with Shepherd.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
A blistering performance by the author that totally blew me away.
Fantastic depth of characters with superb multiple plots that keep you on edge (turning pages faster and faster) and a wholly believable account of both the underworld London gang warfare as well as a well planned ISIS terrorist attack.
Mind bogglingly brilliant.
The first time, in 35 years, I have ever rated a book 10/10
April 9, 2020
Nie najgorsza książka akcji. XIII z serii, ale dla mnie było to pierwsze spotkanie z autorem i jego bohaterem.
Rzadko mi się zdarza trafić na książkę, która by była osadzona w tak nieodległych czasach. Rzecz dzieje się w Wielkiej Brytanii dosłownie kilka lat temu, a osią akcji jest walka z terrorystami z ISIS (a.k.a. Islamic State). Czytając, czuje się, że autora interesuje co prawda prowadzenie akcji i opowiadanie o moralnych rozterkach głównego bohatera - byłego żołnierza SAS, ale równie mocno zajmuje go przekazanie czytelnikowi informacji o sytuacji na Bliskim Wschodzie, podejściu społeczeństwa Wielkiej Brytanii do imigracji, mechanizmów działania organizacji terrorystycznej i podobnych tematach. Trochę to zaskakuje, ale wyjaśnienie znajdujemy przeglądając biogram autora - jest dziennikarzem.
Książkę czytałem w oryginale, bo jednym z celów było poczytanie po angielsku. Ciekawe słówka i wyrażenia (współczesny brytyjski angielski), które wynotowałem, znajdziecie tutaj.
Rzadko mi się zdarza trafić na książkę, która by była osadzona w tak nieodległych czasach. Rzecz dzieje się w Wielkiej Brytanii dosłownie kilka lat temu, a osią akcji jest walka z terrorystami z ISIS (a.k.a. Islamic State). Czytając, czuje się, że autora interesuje co prawda prowadzenie akcji i opowiadanie o moralnych rozterkach głównego bohatera - byłego żołnierza SAS, ale równie mocno zajmuje go przekazanie czytelnikowi informacji o sytuacji na Bliskim Wschodzie, podejściu społeczeństwa Wielkiej Brytanii do imigracji, mechanizmów działania organizacji terrorystycznej i podobnych tematach. Trochę to zaskakuje, ale wyjaśnienie znajdujemy przeglądając biogram autora - jest dziennikarzem.
Książkę czytałem w oryginale, bo jednym z celów było poczytanie po angielsku. Ciekawe słówka i wyrażenia (współczesny brytyjski angielski), które wynotowałem, znajdziecie tutaj.
September 8, 2019
I had read this book some time ago and it was another good read, I like that there are two stories running through the book. The books are great to read, keep you interested all the time and never disappoint. I enjoy Dan Shepherd and his undercover work but it is a shame he has had to be away from his son for such long periods, so it would be nice to see him spend more time with him. I think he will end up being with the Home Help that he has had for many years while his son Liam was growing up and now she is beginning to lose both of the men in her life as Dan has always been away so she has looked after Liam, but now he is growing up and will soon be leaving too, and she is very sad that she may not be needed, I feel that deep down she has feelings for Dan and we shall have to see if anything comes of the relationship, Dan only sees here as the Au Pair that he brought in to the home after his wife was tragically died to look after Liam and keep house for Dan, but we will have to wait and see, the story was very good and I have not given anything away. I am getting to the end of the Series of Dan Shepherd and I shall miss the stories.
May 31, 2019
I know, I have a bad habit of starting series with a book that’s smack bang in the middle of it. Despite this and the fact that it didn’t have chapters, I highly enjoyed this book. Shepherd, the protagonist, was a highly witty, charming character and I highly appreciated the fact that he’s not just your average tough guy special agent. His relationship with his son, Liam, seemed very sweet and quite genuine to me, a rare thing with character tropes commonly used in power fantasy novels. The detail that went into this book is fantastic. I had a feeling I’d like this book, but I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do.
April 10, 2021
Spider Shepherd 1,terrorists 0.gangsters 0
Spider Shepherd does it again,this time he takes down a crew of dangerous gangsters whilst also searching for Islamic terrorists who have managed to get into the country by using forged passports with the intention of using a sniper to shoot into the crowd at a boxing match to distract the police and other agencies while they prepare to set off bombs by jihadists who are suicidal and want to kill as many people in the crowd as they can,but spider as usual stops them.
Spider Shepherd does it again,this time he takes down a crew of dangerous gangsters whilst also searching for Islamic terrorists who have managed to get into the country by using forged passports with the intention of using a sniper to shoot into the crowd at a boxing match to distract the police and other agencies while they prepare to set off bombs by jihadists who are suicidal and want to kill as many people in the crowd as they can,but spider as usual stops them.
February 19, 2018
I've read several in the Dan Shepard series and there is one item of note that is bothering me. Why has Mr. Leather chosen to call all of the characters he has written as terrorists from countries like Syria, Afghanastan, Iraq and Iran "Asians". To me, this is an annoying nod to political correctiness. Inhabitants of these countries are commonly know by seveal ethnic backgrounds, Middle Eastern, Arab, Persian but hardly Asian...
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August 27, 2020
Purchase Dark Forces here for just $12!
Follow Dan “Spider” Shepherd, a highly trained M15 agent, as he works with his colleagues to uncover unfolding mysteries, one of which could potentially kill thousands if not put to bed. With a snarky main character and a gripping plot, you won’t want to put this book down.
Christina - The Book Grocer
Follow Dan “Spider” Shepherd, a highly trained M15 agent, as he works with his colleagues to uncover unfolding mysteries, one of which could potentially kill thousands if not put to bed. With a snarky main character and a gripping plot, you won’t want to put this book down.
Christina - The Book Grocer
September 26, 2021
A slow burn this one, but many sub plots that eventually worked their way through, including the start of the love interest with Kattya. Mixing London Gangland and Islamic terror plots into the same story was well done to Mr Leather. This was back to the better standards of the earlier books. Yes, we hate the slimy Wilmot-Brown, but it adds more sub-plot and intrigue than the Charlie Button boss. Time to get on and read the next book :).
March 4, 2017
Spider Shepherd working undercover for a criminal family in London. Syrian sniper comes to London. Pakistani recruit is buying cars. The sniper wounding people at a boxing match and the bombs re in the back of the ambulances that are sent to attend. Liam wants to go in army. Spider and Katra kiss. A lot about Spider's trick memory. Charlie has been dismissed over using agents off the books and Jeremy Willoughby-Brown is running Spider.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2017
This is the first of Stephen Leathers books I have read and I found it a quick and easy read, well constructed but the plot is a little obvious. For those who like fast paced thrillers this will be a good read. If however you are inclined to the complex psychological thrillers then you may wish to look elsewhere.
January 16, 2018
Another Spider Shepherd thriller. This one set mainly in the UK about an IS sniper that Shepherd has come across before in Syria. We also follow Shepherd as he infiltrates a notorious South London gang posing as a hit man. Both stories will come together nicely in the end. And, will Dan Shepherd ever get together with Katya if Liam leaves home?
October 13, 2018
Dark Forces review.
A great read, as usual. I had great difficulty putting it down. The plots and dialog were very informative and believable. The very detailed analysis of the Asian culture and their beliefs and ultimate motives regarding the UK were unsettling but very believable, particularly in light of their previous UK activities.
A great read, as usual. I had great difficulty putting it down. The plots and dialog were very informative and believable. The very detailed analysis of the Asian culture and their beliefs and ultimate motives regarding the UK were unsettling but very believable, particularly in light of their previous UK activities.
December 30, 2019
Our hero prevents a massive attack by ISIS forces on the UK. In fact, very little happens until the very end. Our hero can apparently be a plant in a notorious gangland family and also be directing RAF drone attacks on Syrian targets he is a veritable superman while all Arabs are wicked. 3* is generous.
May 22, 2017
Absolutely brilliant!!!
Another riveting nail biting ending to a very good novel.
If only these types of people existed in reality the world wouldn't seam so threatening.
Read it & love it.
Another riveting nail biting ending to a very good novel.
If only these types of people existed in reality the world wouldn't seam so threatening.
Read it & love it.
November 17, 2017
Thanks again Mr Stephen Leather...
Thanks again Mr Stephen Leather you have done it again and when you think that it can't get any better than it does. Just can't get enough of reading these books..
Thanks again Mr Stephen Leather you have done it again and when you think that it can't get any better than it does. Just can't get enough of reading these books..
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