Tall Order

Dan Shepherd #15

by Stephen Leather

He is one of the world's most ruthless terrorists, codenamed Saladin. He plans and executes devastating attacks and then, ghost-like, he disappears.

Ten years ago he blew a plane out of the sky above New York - and now he's struck again, killing dozens in a London strike.

But one of the latest victims is related to the acting head of MI5, who knows exactly who she wants on the case: Spider Shepherd.

Dean Martin, a psychologically damaged former Navy SEAL, is the only person in the world who can identify Saladin. But Martin was killed ten years ago - wasn't he?

Shepherd must find Martin and take him back to the killing fields on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Revenge on the world's most wanted terrorist is long overdue, and Shepherd is determined to be the one to deliver it . . .

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2018

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

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m slightly more relaxed about reading books out of sequence(unless it’s a trilogy), so this the 15th and most recent Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd was my first introduction to this series.

This hard hitting terrorist thriller told over two time periods kept me hooked, I might have to dive back into the previous entries in this saga.
The story jumps between an explosion at a football match in England and a plane blown up over New York ten years previously.

Out of the two plot stands I found the present day incident the more interesting. Even though the stadium isn’t named, it didn’t stop me from guessing.
The reader follows Sarah a United fan who attends the match, she only sees her team play games in London - so she must have been an away fan. It’s mentioned that the crowd was 40,000 so I ended up deciding that it was Stamford Bridge.
Having attended many games myself, I found the events this side of the pond very chilling and real...

With no affiliation for the regular series characters it was a slight shame that Shepherd doesn’t feature that heavily in this out.
Though I’d happily read some more of he’s earlier adventures.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Dan Shepherd is back and as always, it’s with a bang!

The start of this novel is both shocking and exciting. You just know that whatever is between the covers in books in this series, there is plenty to look forward to.

What I love about this series is that the further you get into it, it doesn’t matter if you have read previous books in it as the later ones tend to read well as a stand alone. I would advise reading them all of course as I have, as it’s a brilliant series.

There is a high body count in the book, some of which are shocking and sad where as others, I was glad about and some I was torn with. I’m not sure I believe in revenge but then I’ve never had a loved one brutally taken away from me. It is easy to relate to the characters that have been affected by loss though.

Tall Order is a great title for this story as Dan has his work cut out with having to stand up to people in authority as well as putting the world to rights. I love how he takes everything in his stride. I don’t think anything will ever come between him and his job, it certainly hasn’t so far. Another gripping and thrilling, action packed read that will have you tearing through the pages for one hell of a climax.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 15th book in the Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series by author Stephen Leather.
Dan Shepherd has a eidetic memory and is currently working with the Super Recogniser Unit to identify terrorists. Ex-SAS Shepherd is back is eager to get back into the action even though he recognises the importance of the desk work. When a suicide bomber strikes at a football stadium Shephard is called into action to track the jihadists responsible. The story jumps between present day and events ten years ago when terrorists destroyed an aircraft with a Stinger missile killing all the passengers.
Author Stephen Leather again shows he has lots of knowledge on the details of weapons and conflict and this novel is action filled.
The book was exciting, action filled and well written but I did feel a little uneasy with some of the text being racist. It did feel at times that this was an anti immigration rant and that did spoil my enjoyment of what was a decent action novel.

[Nick Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the view that most people could write a thriller. Very few people can write thrillers as good as this one.
Our journey starts ten years ago, following a major terrorist incident, a very black “kill order” is put out on anyone associated with it. Cue our old friend Richard Yokely, a man with no moral compass beyond getting the job done. So, with a team of ”experts”, a chain of bad guys are followed and taken out.
Back in the here and now, there is a major terrorist incident at a football match. Spider Shepherd gets involved as a “super identifier” sifting through hours of CCTV to identify who may have been involved. He’d rather be out on the streets doing the other things he is good at, but the Security Services want him kept quiet and out of the way. What Spider doesn’t know is that behind the official scenes unofficial justice is being delivered by another familiar face, Lex Harper. Another dangerous man who just gets the job done. Eventually all three threads will obviously come together, but how and why it will be your pleasure to discover.
Spider has always been the white knight, believing in the right thing, and in the Government and people like him to make the world a better place. But the world is changing around him and we see the opposites between him and Harper and in what justice looks like. Spider is slightly showing both his age and his frustration. He is not naïve and has had his darker moments, and he is the type of guy we hope is protecting us, but a question being asked here is, maybe that might not be enough.
Of course it’s good, you would expect nothing less. Some readers may think Spider is a little too much in the background, but how many times have we been given jobs we didn’t want and have to lump it? Here Spider is lumping it a bit until he spots something that some people would rather he hadn’t. Then we see his skills come to the fore.
Such a good series, full of action but also you will see behaviours and views that will make you think, long after you have lapped up the last word.

[John M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thriller for right-wingers and racist from start to finish. Once we get those "little" issues out of the way there is a great adventure story at the centre of this book. I have to say that I wouldn't want to meet the writer up a dark alley if the novel is an accurate portrayal of what he believes and his cover photo is a true reflection of what he looks like. Macho all the way - as long as you're not a Muslim. Oh, and a bit of a mix-up in timeframes too: Chapter 46 is set in the present day but Chapter 52 has the protagonists carrying out the action they plan in 46 10 years earlier!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many back and forths but I get it. Not one of Spiders finest.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

The good guys are hunting…………………….the good guys.

“Tall Order” is the latest in the Spider Shepherd series, although they can all be read as stand-alone novels without detracting from the enjoyment of each book.

The action takes place in the present and a decade earlier and follows the reaction of the respective security services in the USA and UK following the terrorist downing of an American airliner, after taking off from New York, and the murder of numerous innocents by a jihadist suicide bomber at a football match in the UK.

Shepherd has blotted his copybook and has suffered from the fall-out of the suicide of the head of MI5 and has been assigned to desk duties. His unique talent for recognising people comes to the fore after the suicide bombing and he again finds himself in the thick of the action with a chance to get back into favour and to return in future to the field operations he so enjoys.

The plots (for there are two, separated by a decade) roar along at a tremendous pace. I picked up the book with the intention of reading a few pages and eventually was forced to put it down again but only after I had avidly consumed 180 pages. The action is non-stop and it’s almost impossible not to turn yet another page to see what happens. Once the two storylines merge Shepherd comes into his own.

Some may find the many killings (executions) gratuitous and the story raises awkward questions of a moral nature which can basically be summed up as - is it right to execute terrorists without a trial? This adds another dimension to the thriller which can, therefore, be considered on several different levels. However, whichever way it is read, there is no getting away from the fact that, if you enjoy this genre, you will love this book.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

[R.J. MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story jumped between two periods that converged somewhat. I was distracted by military inaccuracies. The author goes to lengths to educate the reader that 'silencers' are actually 'suppressors', but then forgets this later on a slips in a couple of 'silencer' references; SEALs saying HUA? It would never happen in a million years, HUA is a US Army term and is never used by the US Navy or US Marines (unless you're being super-sarcastic). Taping magazines together? Really? In the military? How do you retain empty magazines? How do fire from the prone? A great way to unbalance your weapon and stress the magazine release. If you're going to write about the military, you have to get it right, especially if you've no military background. I did like the author's website, and his advice to authors.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another action packed story in the Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd series.
Spider is working with M15 with the special recognition team due to his photographic memory but he would much rather be out working undercover.
Whilst investigating the bombing of a football stadium he identifies a group of killings that is too much of a coincidence not to be linked.
Charlie is back in this book and I love the relationship between her and Spider.
There’s a few flashback chapters to ten years ago when an American plane was shot out of the sky by terrorists and it seems this is linked to the stadium bombing.
As Spider is desk bound for most of the book it wasn’t as exciting as some of the other books in this series but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, workmanlike writing and pace. These books, like most in a series, became increasingly predictable. I guess the author (and editors) are obliged to include background boilerplate for those readers coming into a series mid-stream but I’ve seen it handled less intrusively. I’m glad I read this series, though, but luckily I’ve finished for the moment. The series was like a season of TV episodes. I grew to like the noble, highly capable and chameleon-like Dan Shepherd over the course of the series but, in spite of my affection, the books remained quite unmemorable.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a great book, I am not normally a fan of books that flip back and forth in time but leather does this so well it was easy to read and to follow

basically something happens in the USA and spiders old 'mate' Richard Yokely is tasked with cleaning it up, then something happens in the UK and spiders old mate Lex is tasked with cleaning it up

the action and the plot as superb , the characters and the situation very believable , the pace as all Stephen leathers books are is great

loved it loved it loved it , it could be the best spider book yet

[Helen Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Leather at his best. Having been disappointed with the Jack Nightingale series, l was happy to get back to the Spider Shepherd stories. Full of action, not for the faint hearted though, this book had me hooked from the first page. Can't wait to find more in the library.

[Ian Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read in the Spider Shepherd series. With a flashback arc to 10 years ago which cleared up some loose ends from a previous book....

[Sue Morcumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was too long, repetitive and boring, maybe I have too many of the same author and books, Dan Shepherd is great, especially when he is working, but even he is either undercover or setting someone up or being set up himself by those he trusts, he has just had a raw deal and ended up behind a desk doing recognition of faces, suspects watching the cameras looking for the people who are wanted, while his friend Harper is out killing everyone and his other friend the American with the tassle on his shoes is doing the same, but when it comes down to getting the one they want, who do they persuade with blackmail and threats, poor old Dan who has to go into the worst area that you can think of and not allowed to participate in the actual fire fight but identify the dead when they are dead and find the one they are looking for, but he is superb at the point where he takes a shot and kills the one that they have been after on his own and does with superb panache and style, but does he get a medal like the rest of them, No, he was not there, does he get any praise, No, he was not there, and does he get any credit, No, he was not there, and then to top it all his supposed girlfriend gets the hump when he sees him talking to his ex-boss and kissess her on the cheek to say no hard feelings, he walks in the door and she interrogates him and is jealous as hell, poor Dan, he never gets it right, and then he has to explain who she is and blah blah blah, it is time he got himself some credit and some praise, he is definately due for some TLC and a decent girlfriend, come on Stephen, be nice to Dan he is supposed to be your hero, and all you do is put him down and give him horrible jobs, and repetitive jobs at that, something new and fresh and some action and no more Islam and Muslims and all that goes with it, book after book is all the same, lets us have some action.

[Ian Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tall Order” by Stephen Leather (2018)

Overall Rating 9/10 – Toweringly Brilliant!

Critique
A sizzling blockbuster fit for the giant cinema screens of the world. No doubt at all that this is Leather’s finest performance of the series to date. A rip roaring ride along with all the favourite characters (past and present) that binds you into a woven spell of terrorism, vigilantism, mystery and intrigue.

A superb handling and knitting together of events that we have already seen and told from another perspective. A brilliant “then & now” account of a plane bombing over the United States 10 years ago – fetching the “then” into the “now”. A splendid portrayal of the characters that we have come to know and love. A full concourse of mind-blowing realism that kept me reading even when I was trying to put the book down.

Awesomely Great!


Plot
A suicide bomber detonates at a football stadium and a race is on to identify the terrorists responsible. Dan “Spider” Shepherd has been transferred to a “desk job” following the assassination of his former M15 boss and he is tasked with trawling through video footage to identify the bomber and his associates. But, there is another interested party who seems to keep getting there first with their own capital agenda.

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)

[Jack Baines · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruined by Britain First rhetoric.

I have 2 major issues with this book.

The first major issue relates to Harper as well. I absolutely love the Harper character and totally lapped up Takedown, the Alex Harper spin off released between this Spider book and the last. But for the first half of this book Harper is essentially the protagonist. When I've just read a book all about Harper with zero mention of Spider I'm feeling a bit short changed by the overshadowing of Spider here.

My biggest gripe with this book however is the constant anti immigration rhetoric. It's totally fine for characters a to have a range of political views, however almost every chapter had at least one character repeating the same boring rant about child refugees. There was never any counter argument to balance it as we usually get from leather, other than "The human rights brigade won't like it". I had to keep checking the cover to make sure it wasn't actually a Free Tommy Poster. And the main plot device, that compassion be abandoned in the fight against terror and "innocent" associates and family of terrorists be killed, including children, was never tested. It was generally agreed by characters who should know better, but the subject only ever arose briefly in a hypothetical discussion. This can't have been an accident and I'm positive it was ommited out if cowardice. I hate to say it, but I think this might be the end of Spider Shepherd.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've now read 12/16 of this series. Think this will be the last one I do. Employed Leather's usual set up... short fast caper, followed by a more complex caper, that eventually crosses paths with the first caper. Some interesting bits were highlighted here, such as the huge number of CC cameras in the UK. From several documentaries I've watched, it turns out that all the coverage rarely stops any crime, though it does make it easier to track down the perps. While tracking them down is good, there's no evidence that total crime has decreased despite the cameras or their improved capture record.
There are more Americans than usual in this episode, though Leather slips and has them use some British phrases I've never heard and American say. Example: "But you knew what you were doing. You have done when you saw the Stinger." "...must have done..." eh? Oh well, Leather does get in his usual catch phrases, 'teach grandma to suck eggs,' is a popular one. At least he didn't go for 'the ends justify the means' this time.
I've also read another 15 of his books, from other series or stand alones. Think I have four more on hand, that I'll read, but won't read any of the Jack Nightingale horror series. Not my genre.

[Sudhagar · Rating 1 out of 5]

A total disappointment and DNF.

Leather is a decent writer but this novel sounds like he wrote it when his was drunk. The quality of writing is poor considering Leather's vast experience. The first chapter is a letdown and the scene where Martin captures the terrorists are so unrealistic and illogical at the best.

The mention of Gray Fox is another problematic aspect. They are not some James Bond / SAS unit but an undercover intelligent gather unit. That Gray Fox operatives are asked to undertake a mission which is so sensitive and illegal in the US soil is ridiculous. Even if it done, there are far more qualified units within the JSOC or the CIA.

And on the other side ocean, the story about MI5 and Spider is equally absurd. Like how MI5 director personally getting involved in the nitty gritty of the operation and issuing orders to someone who works for the police and expecting him to obey.

[Steve Denton · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing compared to the other books in the series. I prefer the ones where he is undercover. Bit predictable. Follows same plot as a couple of others in the series.
for memory only. = Ten ears ago a passenger plane was shot down by Al-Quaeda that had the wife and son of the defense secretary on board. As a result those responsible were killed "off the books".
UK present day bombing at a football stadium that caused the death of a god- daughter of the acting head of MI5. She arranges for those responsible, and their families to be killed again off the books. Spider is working in a facial recognition team and then has to track to Afghanistan the leader of the cell to caves and wipe them out.

[Mr Roy Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather disappointing book as Shepherd is "flying a desk" for most of the book. There is also the somewhat unnecessary "two stories in one" to provide background, but felt more like Mr L was filling out the pages to try and have a big enough script to call it a book. It's only in the last quarter that we get back to the old Dan, meeting with Lex Harper and Major Gannon and the SASs barracks routine again. Almost no mention of Katra and Liam was only a few lines. Dan's family issues were a main part of a number of his books. This seemed more like a "filler" book before Ddan goes back on adventures again, but this should not ahve been made into a full book. Many Spider Shepherd fans will be disappointed.

[Paul Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I approached this with some trepidation. I am not a fan of terrorism-based spy thrillers, and was appalled by the racist and islamophobic views expressed by some of the characters in this book. I am also uncomfortable with a plot based on the notion that highly placed officials might find it acceptable to hunt down and murder the families of terrorist bombers and their co-conspirators. However, this is a work of fiction so I went ahead.

Despite taking place in two different time periods, the book flows easily. But is ultimately just a stream of torture, death and bloodshed. I know there are plenty of readers who like this sort of book. I have confirmed to myself that I am not among them.

[Arnold Masayila · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a whole? The spider series is 5 stars for me.

This was one of the best in the series.

It was so good to have some call backs and loose ends from previous titles tied up nicely.

You can have a love/hate relationship with Richard Yorkely but now we at least understand what drives and motivates him.

Martin was a nice addition whom I hope we hear from again. I suspect we might in a similar capacity to Lex perhaps.

As always, wish the relationship between Spider and his significant other would be explored more.

Missing Liam and Razor but understanding that there was not much room for them in this instalment.

[Mike Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new Spider book and once again my productivity goes to pot

Once again another Spider book and once again a fantastic read! Steve has cleverly amalgamated Spider, Charlie, the tassled shoe wearer, the Thai spy.....well you know who I mean! into a modern up-to-date story. Events from 10 years ago merge into today's wars against ISIS and others. A very clever storyline that not surprisingly I really enjoyed and can recommend to anyone that enjoys this genre. The only problem is I have a wait another year for the next one!

[Bob Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time for Revenge

As ever, Stephen Leather delivers a great Dan "Spider" Shepard tale. Whilst enjoying working in the Super Recogniser Unit, Dan is desperate to get back into action. What he can't work out is why he is not being allowed. As a super Recogniser, he starts to have suspicions that a real "undercover" operation is in progress but doesn't know who, why, and what the outcome will be. The tale leads you by the nose and then goes roaring off into the distance. Great ending.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
An enjoyable book and so good to hear Paul Thornley narrating. Once again we find ourselves in the midst of an Isis attack but with the interesting twist which ties this story in to a parallel one, albeit 10 years prior.
Very well written and obviously thoroughly researched but I’m kind of tired of this genre. I’d like to see Shepherd in a different undercover role like some of the previous stories.
All in all a good read that I would recommend.

[Stacey B. Plotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

FABULOUS!

Stephen Leather has written another great tale involving Dan Shepherd, AKA "Spider." Weaving a fascinating story through different timelines, this is a scintillating look at what it must be like in the ever-ongoing battle against hardcore terrorists. With edge-of-your-seat, pulse-pounding action, this one keeps the reader engrossed.
The Spider Shephard series just keeps getting better!

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

Yet again what an amazing read from this talented author and I’ve read all fifteen books now and there all as good as the first book I have read and I’m definitely going to read book sixteen next and I probably won’t be disappointed with this great author and I would definitely recommend this book to others

[Andrea Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, believable, and very readable. Spider is on the trail of a ruthless terrorist who had executed his attacks with precision before disappearing. He disappeared 10 years before having blown a plane up above NY, and now he's targeting London. Spider is stuck in the super recogniser group watching faces on cctv when he's contacted by the head of MI5 for a very special mission.

[Colin Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read non stop action

Gripped from page one I was taken on a real rollercoaster of a ride, impossible to put down once you start reading. Is it fiction or does this really happen outside our mundane lives

[Mrs A. J. Turbfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another extremely well written tale excellent rhythm and unputdownable. Spent all weekend reading.

Very engrossing story of a high calibre. What is expected of this enjoyable author
Can't wait for Spiders next outing.