Drop Zone: An Action-Packed Spider Shepherd SAS Novella

by Stephen Leather

Drop Zone is an action-packed thriller featuring Spider Shepherd during his SAS days, before he signed up as an undercover cop and worked for MI5. Different decade, different terrorists. But lives are on the line, and Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd and his SAS team are the only ones who can save the day. The daughter of an American politician has been kidnapped by white supremacists in Namibia. The kidnappers are demanding their own homeland in the heart of Africa and want to use the girl as leverage. The American Government can’t agree to the demands but are reluctant to mount a high profile rescue mission. They need a deniable operation, and who better than the SAS to do the dirty work? Shepherd is tasked with putting together a team to parachute into the African badlands to rescue the hostage. Getting to the girl is easy enough, it’s when they try to get her out that the trouble begins and the bullets start to fly. Stephen Leather is one of the UK’s most successful thriller writers, an eBook and Sunday Times bestseller and author of the critically acclaimed Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd series and the Jack Nightingale supernatural detective novels. Praise for Stephen Leather’s Dan "Spider" Shepherd Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it. — The Sun The sheer impetus of his storytelling is damned hard to resist. — Daily Express A master of the thriller genre. — Irish Times

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2020

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

[Nick Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novellas are often an opportunity for authors to knock out something fairly short and make a few quid from loyal fans. Not Stephen Leather. This novella is long enough to properly develop both plot and characterisation and give the reader a full experience.

This is a young Spider Shepherd, SAS NCO and picked to lead a small team into Namibia to rescue the daughter of an American politician. While the Americans refuse to negotiate and can’t be seen to be involved, the SAS come to the fore. A dangerous parachute drop takes him and his team closer to some very dangerous enemies.
Loved the way that we see early leadership skills and pure soldiering from Spider, part of forming the man he has become when we are first introduced to him in Hard Landing (2004 - wow!). Although this moves with pace nothing is rushed here in the perfect blend of plot, characters and action. For less than the price of a coffee. Wow.

[Darren Bourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an author that I was made aware of thanks to a Facebook group that I had recently joined (Military Thriller Book Group).

Most novellas are usually just an opportunity for authors to make a few extra dollars by providing a quick story with no real background. As this is my first exposure to Stephen Leather, I can definitely say that this is not the case.

As I got through this novella, the story is that the daughter of a US politician is kidnapped by a rogue South African group of paramilitaries and the protagonist and his teammates (in a joint operation with US special forces) are asked to go in and help rescue this person.

This story, though short, provides a lot of in depth information and would definitely be a favourite for action aficionados. As such, i would give this tale a solid four stars out of five.

As with all my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents worth.

[K T Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shepherd at his best

This is Spider Shepherd in his SAS days and book 3 in this series by Stephen Leather. As expected, having read so many of his books, it’s another brilliant read. This time Spider is asked to head the rescue of an American, daughter of a US Congressman kidnapped and held in deepest Africa. As always lots of casualties for those in his way and, just as Spider looks in grave danger, the cavalry arrive to ensure a successful outcome.

[Mr Roy Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly standard "shoot 'em up" SAS book that does not really fit with the Spider we all know and love. Spider killed many in this book, but when you read the full novels, Spider does not seem to have killed very often. It could be read in isolation without knowing about Spider of later years. As a shortish novel, in isolation, it ws not bad. AS a book wanting to get to know more about your Spider, it failed.

[Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stand In The Door!

Stephan Leather lives up to his reputation with Drop Zone. The plot races from the beginning to the end. Character development suffers because of the pace of the plot, but I believe the plot is the focus. Leather provides names, ethnic background and expertise possessed by each character. And that’s enough for this plot. Drop Zone is a quick and satisfying read.

[Terry Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't fault a book that tempers action with empathy. Not much empathy shown towards most enemy personnel but you can sense Spiders reluctance to accept orders when they are blatantly wrong. Nevertheless, you can see in the forthcoming "Spider joins the police" series where he gets the attitude from.

[Mrs A. J. Turbfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notas exciting as previous outings for Sam Shepherd but readable. One for the fans, not long enough for me to really get into

I almost expected more, but a short story in the same vein as other's in this series. Also
Lacked some of the humour, I have come to expect.

[Alan Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spider Shepherd back in the thick of it as he leads a rescue team to recover the daughter of a US Congress man from Boer separatists in an unruly region of Africa bordering Namibia.
Action all the way worth a look.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the daughter of a US diplomate is kidnapped. The SAS is asked to step in. spider leads a team into the jungle and tries to save her life. The in-depth research Mr leather puts into the books is amazing
He take you into depth into the work of the SAS and it makes you want to read more

[James Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

As a paratrooper myself I really enjoyed reading this story. Especially since I jumped from both aircraft talked about in the story. As well as having been stationed at Ft. Benning and Ft. Bragg. The story never dragged it was exciting all the way through.

[Ms L Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jump or bust

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[Anne Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another rattling good read from Stephen Leather

A fast paced thriller that entertains from the beginning. Only issue is that the character of the hostage is very sketchy

[Bryan Cross M.B.E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider at his best

A gripping take which holds your attention from beginning to the end. I would recommend any Spider Shepherd book to anyone who enjoys action thrillers

[kennedy rath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider as a soldier

Pretty much a routine story of SAS heroics, with some insight. I prefer the later stories of Spider working outside the armed forces, but still it’s OK.

[alan cupitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Shepherd goes again into the fire I know this is just another book but if the sad are anything like him in real life they must be a unbelievable force

[Mr D L McColl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early Spider

Good story but going back to Spider’s career in SAS. Very out of sync. However quite enjoyable read. Give it 7 out of 10.

[TOM COWAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read from start to finish

A very good read for ex military types wanting a action read with no punches pulled.Would recommend this for all military reader's out there.

[Chris Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, but?

The story,spider and author very good as always. big can of Leather and Spider novels. Very short, should be billed as a short story.