Soft Target

A High-Paced Thriller That Asks Surprisingly Deep Questions

Soft Target by Stephen Leather is his second book to feature SAS trooper turned undercover cop Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd.

Three parallel stories, a host of technical details and there is always something happening. Perfect for the thriller reader inside you.

Synopsis

Dan Shepherd has many personas. As the plot progresses, he slips between them; a contract killer ensnaring a gangland wife, an armed response policeman infiltrating a gang of bent cops and a single parent doing a poor job raising his son. If that isn’t enough to contend with Dan, “Spider” Shepherd is also busy with terrorist attacks, crooked businessmen and armed robberies.  

Review

The plot was so fast and exhausting that I had to sit down whilst reading it. Stephen Leather does an excellent job of twisting all these threads together, creating an engaging read.

Leather has done his research. If you need to know how a drug dealer should armour plate his front door or the best way to find a wholesale drug buyer, this is the book for you.

Despite the compelling details, there were times when the story was a little far-fetched. Can an undercover police officer really commandeer an army helicopter so he can wave at his neglected son? I struggle to get my boss to lend me his company car.

However, the book wins out in the ethical questions it poses. It will leave you wondering whether the police are spending your taxes as well as they could.

Excerpt

Three hours later the heroin was being driven on the M2 towards London and had increased in wholesale value to £30,000 per kilo.  There were 200 kilos in the container, six million pounds’ worth.  Once it had been cut, the street value would be around fifteen million.

Twice when the truck went under footbridges across the motorway it was monitored by spotters, men with mobile phones who checked it wasn’t being followed.  Both were satisfied that it was not and phoned ahead to say everything was as it should be.

Soft Target by Stephen Leather