I really enjoyed False Friends, Spider Sheperd’s latest adventure. Unusually, Spider spends less time in action than usual. His role as a mentor to a pair of muslims who are recruited to MI5 shows a softer side to him than is usually seen. That said, Spider does end up in the wars, and does battle with some nasty individuals. His long time ally, “Razor Sharpe” is on side to help, and the two make a formidable team. The finale of the tale is set in a major shopping centre, and it is clear from the depth of detail in the story that Stephen carried out a lot of research into this location. Similarly, the detail of the operation of terrorist cells and criminal activities is enthralling, and keeps the pages turning. Shepherd’s boss Charlotte Button features prominently, and is as hard nosed as ever in her efforts to protect the public from the bad guys. Surprisingly there is little mention of Liam or of Katra, and none at all of Shepherd’s in-laws. Whilst False Friends is a little less action packed than Shepherd’s usual outings, it is still an enthralling entertaining tale that keeps the pages turning, and the reader wanting to know what happens next. That Stephen Leather can keep us entertained over 450 pages is a testament to his storytelling skills, especially in a change from his usual format. I have little doubt that Spider is already preparing himself (and his team) for an action packed adventure next time round. I thoroughly enjoyed False Friends and recommend reading it.