White Lies: The 11th Spider Shepherd Thriller

As the other books in this series, this one delivers action, action and more action. Dan Shepherd finds out that one of his recruits has been abducted and he knows that the recruit will be tortured to find out any information the Taliban can get to destroy anyone who doesn't believe in their self centered religion. The MI6 agent who was in charge of this recruit knows Dan will go in to free the recruit because of his integrity and loyalty even though the MI6 agent had conflicts with Dan years before and Dan doesn't trust him. Dan is honor bound to help this young man. Someone leaks information and the Pakistani military and Dan are ambushed. Charlie has to get the US Navy Seals to come to the rescue because she knows the torturer is a high priority target especially for the Americans. Most of the Seals involved in the rescue have worked with Dan previously and know he is a stand up guy and would do the same for them. Got to read the book for the ending but its worth the read. The only thing I would change is I would have written more about Dan's time of being captured. It seemed abbreviated compared to the Seals and other events that occurred. Again the writer is excellent in his description of the characters, the plots are well developed and I'm on to the 12th book of the series.

As an avid Stephen leather fan I eagerly awaited the release of this novel and placed a pr order for it. I was not disapointed as it was a good read thrilling and had its moments of suspense. It was good to read the inclusion of several characters from previous books who all fitted in well and were directly involved in the story.I think it was a little lacking in the story line in as much as Afghanistan and Iraq come inot the equation in a storyline which is now becoming quite overwritten by many different writers. He is still able to build the suspense and hold your attention, from when I received this until it was finished was around 12 hours, good daytime and night time reading.However I do hope Stephen Leather is not going to go down the road of violence and torture just to fill his pages, even in this book I skipped one or two pages because of the description of torture, not because of the violence but simply because it has been written by so many others.The other criticism I have is the lack of information as to what happened to the MI6 handler who set the whole thing off I think there was at least another chapter or two there but he just vanished inot thin air with no follow up or conclusion, however as I say it was good to see some of the characters from previous books being involved.

I've read all Mr Leather's Spider Shepherd books so far and this one meets what I've come to expect. I am beginning to get a bit narked though, by this supposed "rough man who stands guard at night while the rest of us sleep" who seems a bit dull and puts up with the most appalling PC BS from his superiors. The 'nice' feminine character of Charlotte Button, one such and his immediate boss, has gone up a wee bit in my chauvinistic view in this latest novel though, by employing shall we say, 'unconventional' means to get our hero released from those nasty dark skinned men who are the cause of all the trouble.One thing never explained however, is how Spider Shepherd can remain so totally loyal to a political system which has decimated its armed forces in recent years and allowed so many of these CRIMINAL dark skinned foreigners into his homeland that his police comrades (I understand MI5&6 don't have powers of arrest) have apparently given up on chasing them and spend all their time now investigating more news-worthy stories like those concerning celebrity pedophiles.

Stephen Leather always manages to leave his readers eager for the next instalment in the series. Dan Shepherd at the beginning of the 11th episode is revealed to be approaching his 40th birthday, and his MI5 psychologist wonders whether he's approaching a midlife crisis, and should be 'promoted' to a desk.And is then sent urgently to Pakistan to help rescue a former amateur MI5 agent from the hands of Al Qaeda, who'd been recruited by an unpleasant MI5 agent previously introduced in the short stories set in Shepherd's SAS days in Sierra Leone.At about half way, the novel took a turning I wasn't expecting. And then it finally - too soon - ended in a 'high'.I wonder whether the 12th instalment will continue from the point this one finishes?

Leather's Spider Savage series is a real winner! Leather is an award-winning writer. He has written for British TV --super thriller. As with all his novels there are many sub plots. Also, even the minor characters have back stories. The stories could possibly be the lead story on the nightly news. Try to read this series in order ---- Leather does not spend a lot of time giving history to Spider. It is helpful if you know about some of the characters who are present in the series. With Kindle it is easy to line up Leather Spider Shepherd series.

Brilliant, outstanding, his best out of 11. I found I kept holding my breath. Read from cover to cover in one day, could not put it down. Excitement, fear & adrenaline. A fantastic read!!

The story line was good but the lead into the novel too predictable. Nearly 50% of the book was taken up on rehashing the character, his work circumstances (in particular the inane maditorary meet with the phycologist), his boss and her static characteristics and his unchanged home life (fortunately no rehash of his son's life in this book) .The game needs to be upped if the next book in the series is going to get an audience.

A great 'gloves off' read. Mr Leather captures the fine line between political correctness and reality quite brilliantly. I thoroughly enjoy the Spider series and the ongoing development of the main characters. Bit worried about poor old Charlie's wine dependence though. Detox in a couple of books perhaps? Seriously though, Leather has her firing on all cylinders in recent books. She's making M look positively benign! Spider is...well Spider and brilliant as ever. As for the sledgehammer that is Lex!! In all thoroughly recommended.

I like the Dan Shepherd books as an easy read, but I have felt that they have become somwhat formulaic. This starts off in the usual fashion of Dan finishing an undercover mission, and, predicatably, something goes wrong and he gets hit, or shot, or something similar. No problem, the lead in was interesting. The rest of the story followed the usual chat with his psychologist and the lead up to the mission. Gowever I felt this was really a short story padded out with nothing much to make it longer. Id like to see Dans character develop further. We have seen Dan the family man in past stories, but that was missing in this one. Maybe his character has developed in the next books in the series - guess I'll have to buy tem and find out

White LiesThe eleventh book in Stephen Leather’s Spider Shepherd series. Now approaching his fortieth birthday and after having worked undercover for ten years questions are now being asked as to his continued suitability for such a stressful role.Shepherd and his colleagues at MI5 are shocked to discover that a former asset whose cover was blown in a previous mission has subsequently been working for MI6. His cover has again been blown and he is now being held by Al Quaeda in Pakistan.Shepherd is co-opted to MI6 to assist in the rescue of the asset. He soon discovers that the commitment to the rescue is not as in-depth as one would hope. In fact for some individuals the successful return of the asset might not be in their best interest. It is further complicated by the gradual realisation that Al Quaeda seem to have a good understanding as to what is happening in MI6. Shepherd has to seek support from his MI5 colleagues to complete his mission.Once again Leather tells a complex but believable story set in a world that is somuch part of our daily news narrative. He highlights the dark side of the human personality where personal ideology, self-preservation and political ambition are to the fore irrespective of their impact on and the consequences for others. Well worth a look.

This is a fair outing for Dan Shepherd but far from his best. Leather normally gives us a couple of parallel plots that are intriguing and come together for a good finale. In White Lies, we only get a straightforward adventure which is OK but lacks any suspense or twists. Spider is also marginalised somewhat due to his predicament and the action happens around him, which is not the strength of the Spider series. Overall, an average read.

In this story spider is captured & tortured by the Taliban in a remote fort in the badlands near the Pakistan border. Charlotte Button ,his boss pulls all stops out to extract him & a colleague. She used all her influence with the American Seals to effect this extraction. There is also someone leaking information to the Taliban in the uk.

I enjoyed the book and it was an easy read and he does have a good character here but he has to be careful the stories do not get too 'samie' as we are getting to the point where you can guess ahead as to what is going to happen. That said, it kept me interested not least and this added a star, his observations about terrorism and the threat to the UK. Stephen Leather often includes a reference to something wrong or going wrong in the country in most of his books. Shepherd is in a position to be involved in numerous plots with his role in M15 and it would be good to see him step away from the continued need to call on people from his past service as Leather is a good writer who has written some very good stories that grip from start to finish.

This is the second dan Shepard in a row I have know the end about 100 pages InTotally boring no real grit in the plot and pulling old characters for cameos or major roles , honestly I loved early books but Dan Shepard is finished every book I keep hoping they kill him off . Unless something Changes with regards to plot this was my last . If you want generic , bland army books hit Chris Ryan. Stephen leather was a fresh , interesting and dare write good writer now it reads like a bored nailed to a 5 book deal writer . Take some advise take a couple of years of and come back with a thriller that reminds us why we use to buy your books !!No harm Stephen just constructive advice .

As ever spider sherperd adventures do not get any less exciting no matter how many I read. Stephen leather has in my opinion never written a bad book. I enjoyed this tremendously, and all the better for not having to wade through the usual back story about his kid and his boarding school antics! I do agree with other reviewers about the ending though, it is rather abrupt. I would have liked to know how spider stood up to the torture and what if any his injuries were. Maybe Stephen could tell us in the next installment?

Spider must be getting old, getting caught by the enemy.......it would never have happened in the earlier books tut tut. Seriously though another book where Stephen leather dips his toes in the unsavoury world of Islamic terrorism with some grizzly details of the horrors that lie within. Enjoyable and as I've said before once you're hooked you can't put his books down. More of the same please

This is a great topical Dan Shepherd adventure which brings in some of the peripheral characters we love and has an exciting edge to it. Whilst the outcome is always the same it’s the getting there that keeps one enthralled as ever.

Perhaps the bset Spider Shepherd book yet but the ending could have been a bit more eventful. It's almost like it ran out of steam at the end. Having said that, keep up the good work. The books are all good. I'm hooked and have read every one so far

Mr Leather's writing never has let me down. This adventure number eleven in the series is no exception. It is gripping from start to finish and I wouldn't be so nasty as to tell you any of the story and spoil your enjoyment of a brilliantly written adventure into the life of Dan Spider Shepard. Whatever the price you pay, you will not be wasting your money.Steve.

I've read 1-12 now and these books just gets better and better and I can't empathise anymore how great of an author this person that write these books... I can't get enough of these books

I have read all of the Spider Shepherd books and enjoyed them all. I found this one rather one dimensional as opposed to the earlier books which are more multi layered. My favorite is False Friends. That is the one were Spider has to train two Pakistani students to infiltrate a terror cell planning a killing spree in a shopping center.If your a Spider fan its' worth a read but not one of his best. Which is your favorite ?

Stephen leather has not let me down yet. I have read all his spider shepherd books I am now reading black ops 12.th spider thriller and they are all great.

Well number eleven down and so on to number twelve now . All have been good reads. Good story's, and sharply written five stars for this one and all of the previous ones . Bri.