STANDING ALONE

4 stars out of 5

As a big fan of this author's Dan "Spider" Shepherd series, I was eager to get my hands on this book (while lamenting the fact that I somehow missed the first one in the series). My conclusion? No shortage of action and I'm looking forward to the next installment, but Spider - who's a friend of SAS trooper Matt Standing, the hero of this series - remains my favorite of the two.

Another character from the Shepherd books plays a big role in Matt's life as well; Charlotte Button, who at least at one time was Spider's controller and now works for The Pool, a nefarious sort of organization that apparently ignores legal boundaries. Setting the rest of the story in motion, she contacts Matt with an offer he literally can't refuse even though he wants to: Chase down and eliminate an old acquaintance - a former Navy SEAL who's now out of the service and gone rogue.

Once in a remote and somewhat lawless section of the country that's a potbed for illegal production and sale of cannabis - where his target is believed to be hiding out - Matt meets up with a crusty but likable self-sufficient guy named Brett (and bonds with him so much so that he feels guilty for not being able to reveal his true mission). But while Matt spends a little time looking for the man he's supposed to kill, he spends far more dealing with the realities of a robust - and  cartel-controlled - marijuana industry that tromps on human rights and fiercely protects its territories.

And that is, I think, the biggest turn-off for me; the vast majority of the book centers on all these experiences (some of which nearly get Matt killed) and almost totally sidesteps his original quest to find Charlotte's man. Besides that, there are too many words spent on hot-button political issues like Big Pharma, legalization of marijuana and hemp, what's taught in public schools and such to suit me. That has nothing to do with whether or not I agree - to each his or her own, after all - but rather that I hear enough of that "stuff" in my daily life that I really don't want to read about it as well.

Since this is a series, it's no spoiler to say that Matt somehow makes it through to the end, although it's touch-and-go in a few spots. For the details, you'll just have to read it for yourself; if you love to see action heroes who don't back away from a good fight no matter what the odds, you'll love this character. As for me, I'll just say I enjoyed it very much and thank you to the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Standing Alone by Stephen Leather (Hodder & Stoughton, January 2022); 324 pp.

DARK FORCES

5 stars out of 5


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!

Dark Forces by Stephen Leather (Hodder & Stoughton, July 2016); 433 pp.

WHITE LIES

4 stars out of 5

I've never been a fan of books about war (or movies, for that matter). But I do love a good action/adventure book, and with all the turmoil that's happening around the world these days, I'm not surprised that settings often are in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan. I'm not thrilled about that, but when a book keeps me engaged throughout - as this one does - I'm willing to deal with it.

This is the 11th in the series featuring British MI5 agent Dan "Spider" Shepherd, and I've read and enjoyed quite a few of the others. Here, he's just come off a botched undercover assignment, only to learn that a young man he once mentored has been kidnapped in a remote part of Pakistan by al-Qaeda terrorists. Shepherd's controller, Charlotte Button, desperately wants to rescue him, but attempting that through the usual (and legal) channels isn't an option. So, she calls in a few chips - and then calls Shepherd and some of the Navy SEALS who were responsible for killing Osama bin Laden - to tackle the job. 

Needless to say, there's plenty of action, which is more than a little bit heavy on torture (one of the reasons I don't like war stories). As usual, the chapters jump back and forth among the various players - those doing the planning and those on the front lines of the action. In between, there's a ton of information on guns and surveillance equipment, the layout of a country most of us know little about and details of the thinking that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the covert operation is a success. 

In the beginning, Shepherd - fast approaching his 40th birthday - remains confident of his ability, but his MI5 psychologist suspects he may be losing his edge and more suited to a desk job. In the end, there's no resolution of that issue - but it did seem to me that Shepherd himself was less a focal person in this book than in those I've read previously. Perhaps that signals a change in his future similar to John Sandford's Lucas Davenport's "graduating" from street work to a less dangerous, but still important, supervisory role. 

Oh well - guess I'll just have to wait for the next one to find out.

White Lies by Stephen Leather (Hodder & Stoughton, August 2014); 384 pp.