Desperate Measures

by Stephen Leather

She put her life on the line for her family. But now it’s time to pay the price.

All Malee wanted was a better life for herself and her son. And the only way she could make that happen was to sell her body, to exchange sex for money.

But her plan falls apart when she arrives in London at the start of the Covid pandemic.

She risks everything to support her family - but as the country goes into lockdown she runs into Russian gangsters who have their own plans for her.

Before long the Russians are forcing her to work for them. If she refuses, they’ll kill her. Now it’s not about working for a better life - now it’s a matter of survival.

Desperate Measures is very different from Stephen Leather's regular standalone thrillers and his Sunday Times bestselling Dan "Spider" Shepherd series. It is written in the first person and contains harrowing details of what it is like to be trafficked in modern-day Britain.

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2021

About the author

Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not only the worst Leather book I've ever
read/listened to, but has to be one of the worst and
most pointless stories of all time. I have read almost
every book Stephen has put out, have a couple of
signed books, and love 90% of his work, and I'm
having difficulty believing this one was written by
him.
It's repetitive, with just a few facts about Covid
thrown in and some inside info into Thai cultures and
language.
If the ending made up part of the story, instead of
just being summarised in the epilogue, it just may
have got another star but as it stood I am awarding
myself 5 stars for actually having finished it.
Add this 'story' to the awful narration and you've got
a classic case of 'I wouldn't touch it with yours' kind
of book.
Sorry, Stephen; I still rate you among my top 3
authors. 🤗

[Steve M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a good Stephen Leather Book

Not a good Stephen Leather Book.
I have read so many of his books and they are all good but this is the exception. It is depressing,long winded and has an extremely unrealistic ending.
Very strange from such an accomplished author

[Kirsty Maule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my thing

Was initially excited to see something written so recently and involving covid but it was a bit of an awkward read. It was quite repetitive and nothing really happens until about 70% through. Wasn’t really a fan of many of the characters - they were a bit stereotypical and the editing was a bit off. It was a quick read though.

[Linda Ashby · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book

The book well a bit of a surprise and not at all like any other book he has written. Did not enjoy it every chapter seemed to be the same. I'm not a prude but it was just the same a

[Nick Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something different from the author, worth checking you are comfortable with the subject matter and understanding it is a diversion from his normal thrillers.
This is a story, told through diary entries of a Thai prostitute working in London. As with all the author’s work it works on many levels and the tension of a changing world and environment is seen through her eyes and viewpoint.
Initially our young lady comes to terms with moving from being a waitress to following the money that a working girl can make. Once she settles she becomes more comfortable with the work, her customers and, of course, the money. Then the world changes as the Covid pandemic hits London and then, her benign pimp is replaced by some very unpleasant alternatives and suddenly her comfortable life changes and starts to spiral out of control.....
It takes a while to tune into her “voice” and perspective but once you do this is very engaging and tense reading. As you would expect from Stephen Leather.

[Fred Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick book for Stephen Leather. Obviously written and self published during lockdown. I was disappointed at the start as the book seemed to lack any kind of proof reading and there was a lot of repetition to begin with, as if sentences were either copied and pasted or slightly reworded. I could have done without the Covid stats but that did tail off throughout the book. The repitition and typos did improve the further into the book I got and I ended up reading it in pretty much one sitting. I liked the first person viewpoint. It was almost like reading her diary, and now I want to learn more about the magic perfume. I did actually really enjoy it. It was something different from Leather.

[Nick Sanders · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unbelievably boring. Have read this only half. Unfortunately the first half, because if the blurbs are to be believed there's some movement in the second half. It tells of the working days of some prostitute thinly disguised as an escort. She sleeps, she fucks, she sleeps. She gets the money, she spends the money, she pays the pimp... sorry, 'agent'... She sleeps, she fucks, she sleeps. Some johns nice, some not. She sleeps, she fucks, she sleeps. Ad infinitum. At that point I closed the book, never to open it again.

[Helen Perkovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking book

Another great read from this amazing author. Written in a different style and gives more insight into what the main character is thinking. A story of the dark side of UK life which is playing out all over the country, gangsters, trafficking, escorts, drugs and violence. Read this book!

[Mrs S M Burt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read nearly all Stephen Leathers books and I had to ask myself if he had written this one. It is terrible. The plot is thin, the writing style is painful and the ending is the best bit. This is the only Stephen Leather book that I have nearly given up on. Please don’t write any more stuff like this Stephen.

[BARBARA D HILL · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title sums this up........Desperate.
Without any doubt this is the worst book I have read by Stephen Leather.
Every chapter was a repeat of the previous one without any storyline.
Why oh why write something like this.
Had this been the first book I had read by the author then I would not have read anymore which would mean I'd have missed some seriously good adventures.
Sadly a complete waste of time and money.

[derek lem-mon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

I grew up in Leathers stand alone novels and have read most 2 or 3 times, they are so well crafted that it is always possible to find something new. Then came the spider books and I felt they were formulaic and have up after the first half dozen. I found this to be pointless and boring and even the arrival of Sacha didn't lift the book.

[Martin Still · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed with this one and the first Stephen Leather read I have rated less than 5. The concept was ok and the writing style reflective of the main character's ethnicity and situation but it was very repetitive and had so many grammatical errors that I doubt it was proof read at all.

[Simon C Duckworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Thailand and have done for many years. Some of the Thai girls are desperate to help save their loved ones, on the other hand their are some very naughty cunning creatures and many gullible farangs are conned and cheated.

Another excellent read and a nice finalle.

[ron harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Different type of leather!

This book is totally different from the usual Stephen Leather books.
Not sure whether I enjoyed it or not and found the ending somewhat unlikely.
However it is an easy and uncomplicated read.

[Mrs A. J. Turbfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

How very different

Although not what I was expecting this exceptional story is absolutely brilliant.
So beautifully written and totally convincing, there was no putting it down once it was
started.

,

[kim hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent insight.....

Into the life of a 'working girl' in London. And the first book that I have read that addresses what it was like to live through the pandemic of 2020. A real page turner, which needs to be read at pace. Excellent *****

[Tracy Kerr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow this book is crap. I really like Stephen Leathers other books (spider series) what was he thinking when he wrote this I don’t know. Or maybe he wasn’t thinking. Please don’t waste your time reading this there are far better books out there.

[Janice Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

well writter

This novel is well-written, but the subject matter is rather dark. It us basically a story of human trafficking with a bit of a Cinderella ending. It held my attention as I’ve never read anything like it before.

[John Porter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not his best work.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely outstanding top drawer book as good as private dancer Really fantastic read highly recommended

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something completely different

Loved this book.not what I expected and I'm not going to talk about the plot..made me sad and then happy..just desserts and a little Lao magic

[Pes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor

I am a huge Stephen Leather fan. He is one of my favourite authors. However, this book is truly terrible.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very unusual genre, not the usual.

got a bit repetitive, but I kept reading because of the Author '

Thank you for the variety , Stephen.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DIFFERENT TAKE ON ESCORTS
A little repetitive in places but I did enjoy the read. Told from a Thai girl’s point of view you felt both exasperated and scared for her. Great twist at the end.

[Mathology · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a Big fan of his Jack Nightingale series and have read some of his books. Though this one wasn't his bad