• The Never Game

  • Colter Shaw, Book 1
  • By: Jeffery Deaver
  • Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
  • Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (13 ratings)

Prime member exclusive:
pick 2 free titles with trial.
Pick 1 title (2 titles for Prime members) from our collection of bestsellers and new releases.
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
Your Premium Plus plan will continue for $14.95 a month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Never Game  By  cover art

The Never Game

By: Jeffery Deaver
Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.81

Buy for $15.81

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Number one international best seller Jeffery Deaver returns with a stunning new thriller – the first in an exciting series featuring enigmatic investigator Colter Shaw. 

Escape or die trying....  

Three people are kidnapped across California.  

Sophie is locked inside a derelict warehouse.

Henry is abandoned in remote woodland.

Elizabeth is trapped inside a sinking ship.  

They are alive, but don’t have much time to live....  

Only one man can save them: unique investigator Colter Shaw. He’s an expert tracker with a forensic mind, but this will be a test even for him.  

Because this killer isn’t following the rules; he’s changing them. One murder at a time....

Soon to be a major TV show starring Justin Hartley (This is Us).

©2019 Jeffery Deaver (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

"Terrific writing, vivid and raw, Deaver grips from the very first line and never lets up. He is, hands-down, one of the finest thriller writers of our time." (Peter James)

"No one in the world does this kind of thing better than Deaver." (Lee Child)

What listeners say about The Never Game

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing and Confusing Story

I am a fan of Deaver's books featuring Lincoln Rhyme and Kathryn Dance, but Never Game was a big disappointment. I was looking forward to a new character, but Shaw is a an odd duck with an strange background. Deaver reveals some of his earlier life, but too much is held back for future books. There are too many seemingly unrelated stories with no hints at how they might be connected until viola...now they kind of make sense. The opening scene is a good example because it pops up throughout the story but takes a long time to fit with the rest. SPOILER - Deaver leaves the major mystery unresolved. He leaves it as an unsatisfying cliff hanger to get the reader to buy the next book. This reader will not buy it unless Deaver returns to his Dance and Rhyme characters.

Kaleo Griffith was devoid of any emotions while delivering the story

4 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Les
  • Les
  • 10-15-19

Definitely not the same level of Deaver.

Only realised now that this is a franchise Deaver. Very formulaic and thoroughly disappointing. For those who have devoured the Lincoln Rhyme universe.....run for the hills

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for mollyeyre
  • mollyeyre
  • 05-30-19

Confusing

I have twice tried to start this book, this time I got 1/3 of the way through, I have no idea what is going on, the story is all over the place and I have got to the stage of wanting to find some paint that I can watch drying, just so that I can have some excitement in my life!
I don't give a fig about the main character, he seems a cocky and very odd chap! I have really had enough.

I have enjoyed many of Jeffery Deaver's books, but this one is making me lose the will to live!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for L.J.M.
  • L.J.M.
  • 06-02-20

Disappointing and very confusing

The character of Colter Shaw is well drawn here, and his back story is fascinating but the plot is too complicated with its various red herrings. The most confusing and uninviting aspect of the novel is the beginning, where Shaw is trying to rescue a woman from a sinking boat; I found myself bewidered by it, almost as if it belonged to a different book and for a long whilew as concerned I had missed a vital clue.

Jeffery Deaver has painted a picture of Silicone Valley and its occupants which seems very real but for me all the technical information is too much and detracts from the forward movement of the story. It's not quite formulaic but close to it, and the plot mix of part Native American tracker, and I.T., is jarring.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Peter J Sinfield
  • Peter J Sinfield
  • 01-17-20

Ok

To be honest it is a while since I have listened to a Jefferey Deaver, and I was interested by the plot. I thought the book went on too long, and about 1/2 way through I was looking forward to the end. Storey seemed very formulaic. While I hadn’t worked out who the killer is, by the end, I didn’t really care.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Vinces
  • Vinces
  • 06-05-19

A compelling listen with good storyline

A fast paced storyline that keeps you listening from chapter to chapter. Good narration helps keep you engaged.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Guy Bispham
  • Guy Bispham
  • 02-05-22

Deaver on top form

I have always liked the cleverness and complexity of Deaver's plots but felt recently he hit a flat patch with the twists more and more unlikely. The new Colter Shaw trilogy puts him right back on his A-game. One of the best first part of a series I have read with both good resolution at the end but also very promising developments left to be unravelled. Shaw is a very interesting protagonist, "from a "Deliverance" family", trained to survive, hunt and make his living from collecting rewards offered in difficult cases.
The "Never Game" is set in the gaming world but it is incorporated so cleverly and not for computer geeks. The twin plots of catching the murderer and the flashback writing to his own father's death are very cleverly linked. This book was an absolute page turner and I will definitely be reading books two and three in this story. Everything to like, except when Deaver tries to inject any humour. He really cannot do funny.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for masambula
  • masambula
  • 07-24-19

Total loss of Form

Jack Reacher clone enters the world of online gaming.Preposterous plot .Awful and I normally enjoy this author's novels.Avoid.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for B. Toner
  • B. Toner
  • 03-01-23

A good story well told.

A good storyline and thankfully it didn’t slip into the quiet he man hero genre.

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for reader
  • reader
  • 12-21-22

Not for me

Not for proper adults as only of interest to nerd gamers!!
Not Deaver’s usual style. Disappointed, but am sure his younger audience will enjoy.

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Islandpixie
  • Islandpixie
  • 07-21-22

All over the place

Jumbled and all over the place. Very disappointed. I usually love Jeffrey Deaver books but won't be bothering with any further books from the series. What a waste of a credit.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Angela McGown
  • Angela McGown
  • 01-08-20

The Never Game

excellent book can't wait for the next installment as ever Jeffrey Deaver is the master

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 07-16-19

Not my favourite but still worth the listen

not my favourite of this authors books but still worth a listen if your a Deaver fan. Little slower in places that I like but the narration I felt suited the story.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 07-02-19

The new Jack Reacher?

A compelling and enthralling story. The twist was a little hard to grab, but the character created I think, will be one to follow.
Looking forward to the next Colter Shaw story!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mrs. Kaja Malouf
  • Mrs. Kaja Malouf
  • 05-27-19

I didn't want to finish it but I did anyway.

Not my type of story. I wanted to like it but it just put me to sleep

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for ciorstan
  • ciorstan
  • 05-26-19

Great new series

I really enjoyed the first book in this new Jeffrey Deaver series.
Looking forward to the next..

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for miranda
  • miranda
  • 02-02-23

Great storyline excellent voiceover

Plot was interesting and easy to listen to and follow over multiple sittings

Excellent voiceover made characters easy to understand and listen to the plot line in a engaging way

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Louise
  • Louise
  • 01-23-22

Introducing Colter Shaw

And what an introduction! Colter Shaw is a fantastic protagonist who is instantly likeable and with a mysterious back story of his own. The plot itself is great and I loved the way it introduced gaming and VR to the mystery genre. Very clever indeed.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kazablanka
  • Kazablanka
  • 05-28-20

Kazablanka

Reminiscent of the style of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, with a relatable hero battling a deep mystery and trying to catch the bad guys. A deeper story arc underlying it all that will presumably carry over into sequels. Great story, well told. I will be looking for more books by this author.

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Michael
  • Michael
  • 05-18-20

I Got Bored

My first Deaver book and there won't be any more. I reached about halfway in the book but thought life is too short for bad books, so I'm moving on to something else. The subject matter of the book should be interesting but it wasn't.

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 04-28-20

Cracking

Struggled to get into the book over the first few chapters as it jumped around, but once things settled down just could not put the book down. Now looking for the next book by Jeffery Deaver.