The Never Game

By: Jeffery Deaver

Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

A New York Times Book Review Top 10 Crime Novel of the Year

From the best-selling and award-winning master of suspense, the first novel in a thrilling new series, introducing Colter Shaw.

"You have been abandoned."

A young woman has gone missing in Silicon Valley, and her father has hired Colter Shaw to find her. The son of a survivalist family, Shaw is an expert tracker. Now, he makes a living as a "reward seeker", traveling the country to help police solve crimes and private citizens locate missing persons. But what seems a simple investigation quickly thrusts him into the dark heart of America's tech hub and the cutthroat billion-dollar video-gaming industry. 

"Escape if you can."

When another victim is kidnapped, the clues point to one video game with a troubled past - The Whispering Man. In that game, the player has to survive after being abandoned in an inhospitable setting with five random objects. Is a madman bringing the game to life?

"Or die with dignity."

Shaw finds himself caught in a cat and mouse game, risking his own life to save the victims even as he pursues the kidnapper across both Silicon Valley and the dark net. Encountering eccentric game designers, trigger-happy gamers, and ruthless tech titans, he soon learns he isn't the only one on the hunt: Someone is on his trail and closing fast.

The Never Game proves once more why "Deaver is a genius when it comes to manipulation and deception" (Associated Press).

©2019 Jeffery Deaver (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Jeffery Deaver creates insanely devious plots calculated to make your head explode...[The Never Game] dazzles with its crafty twists and turns.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Deaver introduces a fascinating new character in the methodical Colter Shaw. Nothing is predictable in the case, and like a curvy mountain road, the twists are intense. Hopefully more stories with Shaw are in the future.” (Associated Press) 

“[A] superb series launch from Thriller Award-winner Deaver.... Fans of twisty suspense that pushes the envelope of plausibility without inviting disbelief will be enthralled.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) 

Excellent New Series...

The publisher's summary calls Jeffrey Deaver a "genius when it comes to manipulation and deception". They've got my vote! This new series proves that Deaver still has it.
I would suggest listening to the short story CAPTIVATED prior to listening to this book. It's basically an introduction to Colter Shaw and gives a preview into this new character but it's not a necessity.
Coulter is a man who grew up with his two siblings, raised by his mother and survivalist father on a secluded compound. He received an excellent home schooled education from his mother and his father trained his children even better on how to survive with little or nothing. How to build a lean-to that would protect from a blizzard or what roots and berries are edible and which are poisonous.
What do you do with this kind of training in civilization ? You become a tracker of people. Not in the mountains but on the concrete jungle.
And so this story begins when a young woman is kidnapped. The person who took her is a video gamer bringing a treacherous game to life.
Kaleo Griffith does an outstanding job narrating.
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
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Thank You.

Hate books that start in the middle

I detest authors who start in the middle of the plot and then do a flashback to the plot beginning. It's confusing right from the start and I rarely enjoy the book. It's a bad literary technique

Don't cha know????

I loved most things about this book, the characters are great, the descriptions of places and event suck you you and the story is very good. I thought I had it all figured out at one point but, once again, Deaver got me.

I was a little disappointed that one of the main characters was shot. The lapse of awareness and judgement seemed very out of character for an otherwise very solid character.

But come on Jeff, have you ever BEEN to Minnesota? Minnesotans don't talk like that. One "dont cha know" might have been fine. But you must have had that character say that a dozen times. This surprised me since it's obvious that you do a ton of research when writing your books. But your "Minnesota" character was more like a cheap caricature.

Track down this title, it’s great!

If you like the idea of tracking people physically, much like the Native Americans of old, this is a great read.

Narrator is excellent.

coulter

narrator takes some getting used to but matches the main character once you get into the book. good overall, will likely want to hear more

good to meet Colter Shaw

Colter Shaw's background growing up on the family compound has given him unique skills and values, all handy for his pursuit of rewards.
the story is credible and interesting.
a good listen.
very well narrated.

Laxmax

Hard story to follow. A long listen and had to rewind a few times to remember the story line.

Compelling although it wandered

Like the main character. Story wandered a lot; not as tightly constructed as Deaver's stories usually are. Still, I'll be reading more.

Not as good as I had hoped.

The story did not hold my attention. I was confused about the purpose of the story. Conclusion was not tied up as I would like. The end seemed like a clumsy lead in to another story.

Gr8 listen

Great story & narrator. I hope JD writes more with Colter Shaw. I'm planning on listening to the Goodbye Man.