🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Stephen Leather
Born in 1956, Stephen Leather is one of the most popular and renowned British thriller authors. With a background in journalism, Leather has the knowledge, expertise and experience to write on subjects of international intrigue such as: espionage, terrorism and international crime. Leather was born in Manchester, England and attended Manchester Grammar School before graduating from Bath University. Contrary to many other writers and journalists who studied writing or communication, Leather graduated from Bath University with a BSc in Biochemistry. After college, Leather is employed at the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) as a biochemist. While employed at ICI, Leather was exposed to chemicals, incidents and stories that became the plot lines for many of his books.
All Book Series by Stephen Leather
Inspector Zhang and the Island of the Dead
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 2013
The Chinaman: The 1992 Breakout Thriller From Stephen Leather
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2023
Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2018
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Stephen Leather?
Born in 1956, Stephen Leather is one of the most popular and renowned British thriller authors. With a background in journalism, Leather has the knowledge, expertise and experience to write on subjects of international intrigue such as: espionage, terrorism and international crime. Leather was born in Manchester, England and attended Manchester Grammar School before graduating from Bath University.
Which Stephen Leather series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Mike Cramer series, the earliest of Stephen Leather's multi-book series: it opens with The Chinaman / The Foreigner (1992) and runs to 4 books across 1992–2023, ending with The Chinaman: The 1992 Breakout Thriller From Stephen Leather (2023). Stephen Leather's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Stephen Leather written?
Stephen Leather has 141 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1987 and 2027. 103 of them belong to 11 named series — the largest being the Spider Shepherd series with 24 books — and 38 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Stephen Leather's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Stephen Leather's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Mike Cramer (1992–2023, 4 books), Spider Shepherd (2004–2027, 24 books) and Jack Nightingale (2010–2026, 13 books), plus 8 more.
How are Stephen Leather's books organised into series?
This guide splits Stephen Leather's 141 books into 11 named series and 38 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Spider Shepherd (24 books, 2004–2027); Jack Nightingale Short Stories/Novellas (21 books, 2011–2021); Spider Shepherd Short Stories/Novellas (16 books, 2012–2015); Jack Nightingale (13 books, 2010–2026); Inspector Zhang (7 books, 2011–2013), plus 6 further series.