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Colter Shaw #1
THE NEVER GAME*
A New York Times Book Review Top 10 Crime Novel of the Year
Now in paperback, the first installment in the new series by master of suspense Jeffery Deaver--about which, Lee Child raves, "No one in the world does this kind of thing better."
"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 that 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).
Now in paperback, the first installment in the new series by master of suspense Jeffery Deaver--about which, Lee Child raves, "No one in the world does this kind of thing better."
"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 that 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).
544 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
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20633 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,316 reviews
May 4, 2019
Jeffery Deaver introduced us to his new protagonist, Colter Shaw, in his short story Captivated, which certainly piqued my interest in this, his new series. This is the full blown first book and it proves to be a gripping and highly suspenseful read. We learn more about Shaw's background growing up in remote California, with his well educated and academic survivalist father, Ashton, his mother, Mary Dove, and his siblings, reclusive elder brother, Russell, and his younger sister, Dorion. Home was The Compound, where all the children were home schooled with none of the trappings of modern life and technology, which meant no TV or phones, but there was an extraordinarily well equipped library. Colter is knowledgeable about guns and the environment, acquiring the skills to become a gifted forensic tracker. Raised by his father on a number of rules and philosophy, and a particular lifestyle, Shaw is a man of few words, largely a loner, physically and emotionally resilient, but with a defining sense of wanderlust that drives his inability to settle or commit to a long term personal relationship.
There is some mystery about aspects of Shaw's life, such as the financial resources he has at his disposal. What he has settled into is a remarkably successful career in finding missing people. He is guided to potential missing people and rewards offered for locating them by his friends, Teddy and Velma in Florida, who are keeping an eye on his home there. Shaw has a number of background players who support his investigations. He ends up making his way in his Winnebago to Silicon Valley, California, where a distraught father, Frank Mulliner, is offering a reward he cannot afford to anyone who can find his missing 19 year old daughter, Sophie. The police have shown little interest in the case, so Shaw looks into her odd disappearance. Using his extensive experience and research, Shaw allocates percentages into the possible options of what could have happened that are major drivers into the decisions he makes. He has a strong interest in maps, and he maps the areas that his investigations take him to. Shaw finds himself in the unfamiliar world of gaming and murder, whilst the acquisition of stole papers take him back into his personal history and what happened to his father.
Deaver is a complete pro when it comes to writing a riveting thriller with his new protagonist, Colter Shaw, an unusual character with a unique personal history that has shaped the man he is today, a man who needs to live at the edge, who needs to take risks to feel alive. There are twists galore in the book, just when you think you know where it is all going, it moves into an entirely different direction. What really proved a highlight for me was the detailed insights and observations of the US gaming industry, both the game makers and those who live to game, people whose lives are entirely consumed by their primal need to meet the challenges that competitive gaming companies provide. The premise made in the book about where the gaming industry could end up does not feel that far fetched, given our contemporary world of fake news, dirty politics and political machinations. All in all, this was a fantastic read and I have no doubt Colter Shaw and this new series will prove to be popular with crime fiction and thriller fans. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
There is some mystery about aspects of Shaw's life, such as the financial resources he has at his disposal. What he has settled into is a remarkably successful career in finding missing people. He is guided to potential missing people and rewards offered for locating them by his friends, Teddy and Velma in Florida, who are keeping an eye on his home there. Shaw has a number of background players who support his investigations. He ends up making his way in his Winnebago to Silicon Valley, California, where a distraught father, Frank Mulliner, is offering a reward he cannot afford to anyone who can find his missing 19 year old daughter, Sophie. The police have shown little interest in the case, so Shaw looks into her odd disappearance. Using his extensive experience and research, Shaw allocates percentages into the possible options of what could have happened that are major drivers into the decisions he makes. He has a strong interest in maps, and he maps the areas that his investigations take him to. Shaw finds himself in the unfamiliar world of gaming and murder, whilst the acquisition of stole papers take him back into his personal history and what happened to his father.
Deaver is a complete pro when it comes to writing a riveting thriller with his new protagonist, Colter Shaw, an unusual character with a unique personal history that has shaped the man he is today, a man who needs to live at the edge, who needs to take risks to feel alive. There are twists galore in the book, just when you think you know where it is all going, it moves into an entirely different direction. What really proved a highlight for me was the detailed insights and observations of the US gaming industry, both the game makers and those who live to game, people whose lives are entirely consumed by their primal need to meet the challenges that competitive gaming companies provide. The premise made in the book about where the gaming industry could end up does not feel that far fetched, given our contemporary world of fake news, dirty politics and political machinations. All in all, this was a fantastic read and I have no doubt Colter Shaw and this new series will prove to be popular with crime fiction and thriller fans. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
September 24, 2019
All right everyone! It’s time to play a little game known as The Whispering Man.
The rules:
You are taken away and isolated. You will be given five objects. It’s up to you how you use them to free yourself before time runs out. OK, are you ready to play?
I’ve been reading Jeffrey Deaver's books for years. I love his Lincoln Rhyme series. So after seeing he was releasing a brand new series I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! And I wasn’t disappointed!
Meet the new lead character, Colter Shaw.
Raised off the grid with his parents and 2 siblings. He was taught how to hunt, how to understand and respect his natural surroundings. But most importantly, how to survive!
Grown-up now, Colter makes his living by cashing in on rewards posted for missing people or fugitives.
His latest assignment takes him to California to track down a young woman who vanished after leaving a local cafe. Her father has put up a reward and it’s up to Colter to safely bring his daughter home.
But wait… suddenly there are more people missing! Could all their disappearances be related?
Nonstop action, you will be glued to the pages!
Well done Mr. Deaver! I am totally hooked on your new series and am already watching for book 2!
The rules:
You are taken away and isolated. You will be given five objects. It’s up to you how you use them to free yourself before time runs out. OK, are you ready to play?
I’ve been reading Jeffrey Deaver's books for years. I love his Lincoln Rhyme series. So after seeing he was releasing a brand new series I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! And I wasn’t disappointed!
Meet the new lead character, Colter Shaw.
Raised off the grid with his parents and 2 siblings. He was taught how to hunt, how to understand and respect his natural surroundings. But most importantly, how to survive!
Grown-up now, Colter makes his living by cashing in on rewards posted for missing people or fugitives.
His latest assignment takes him to California to track down a young woman who vanished after leaving a local cafe. Her father has put up a reward and it’s up to Colter to safely bring his daughter home.
But wait… suddenly there are more people missing! Could all their disappearances be related?
Nonstop action, you will be glued to the pages!
Well done Mr. Deaver! I am totally hooked on your new series and am already watching for book 2!
June 6, 2019
I remember the first time I read this author. It was the Bone Collector featuring Lincoln Rymes, a parapeligic and Amelia Saks, who was his legs and eyes, in their crime solving Enterprise. It was brilliant, such unusual characters, but so likable. What really blew me away were his many twists and turns. I couldn't follow them, never could figure out where he was going. And I tried.
This is a new series, and another interesting person with an unusual background fostering unusual skills. Colton Shaw, comes from a survivalists family, off the grid living, homeschooled and trained by his father to anticipate all variables. This story has much to do with game playing.nim not a player myself but I found this fascinating. Had no clue the depth of the games and the competition between writers of codes and developers. The story line takes the unreal and makes it real. Enough said.
A great start to what I think is going to be a hit of a new series. The ending left me wanting more immediately, since it is open ended. There is a family mystery to be solved.
ARC from Netgalley.
This is a new series, and another interesting person with an unusual background fostering unusual skills. Colton Shaw, comes from a survivalists family, off the grid living, homeschooled and trained by his father to anticipate all variables. This story has much to do with game playing.nim not a player myself but I found this fascinating. Had no clue the depth of the games and the competition between writers of codes and developers. The story line takes the unreal and makes it real. Enough said.
A great start to what I think is going to be a hit of a new series. The ending left me wanting more immediately, since it is open ended. There is a family mystery to be solved.
ARC from Netgalley.
April 24, 2024
This book started a bit slow for me with some things happening that seemed out of place at first, yet the author ended the book really good where all these puzzle pieces came together really nicely. The main character, Colter Shaw, is also a very interesting one and fresh (him being a rewardist with great tracking skills). Having been raised by a survivalist, he is a man of simple taste and with good values ingrained in him, yet he can turn ruthless when he has to. Through the book his character gets developed really well and by the end one gets the feeling that you know him.
The story is also fast paced and Shaw races against time for most of it, yet the author does not rush the book and a lot happens in the three days the book covers, and the there are some nice twists as well. The author also sets up the next book nicely with the ending and this is a series I will definitely revisit.
The story is also fast paced and Shaw races against time for most of it, yet the author does not rush the book and a lot happens in the three days the book covers, and the there are some nice twists as well. The author also sets up the next book nicely with the ending and this is a series I will definitely revisit.
May 6, 2019
Jeffery Deaver has done it again!
I have been a fan of Deaver for many years especially of his Rhyme & Sachs series. So I was really interested to read this new series featuring a character by the name of Colter Shaw.
Colter Shaw is a restless and mysterious man who collects rewards from finding missing people or helping to solve crimes. He is not a private investigator, nor a detective, but he strictly holds to the fact that he collects rewards. (By the way, this was an actually ingenious idea for a lead character). Colter has gone to the Bay Area of California to help find a missing girl. Her father has offered a reward . Once he gets involved in this endeavor he is drawn into an even deeper level of investigation involving other missing persons and a villain copying a famous video game on his victims.
I found the book to be very fast-paced and as always meticulous in facts and plot. Deaver is infamous for his knowledge of law enforcement on many levels and this shows, but the reader is not bogged down in many facts. The world of video gaming was also interesting and eye opening.
This was a great book and if you are looking for a great who-dun-it, police procedural, suspense novel. I am really looking forward to reading more in the series. Colter Shaw is definitely someone you want to learn more about.
I have been a fan of Deaver for many years especially of his Rhyme & Sachs series. So I was really interested to read this new series featuring a character by the name of Colter Shaw.
Colter Shaw is a restless and mysterious man who collects rewards from finding missing people or helping to solve crimes. He is not a private investigator, nor a detective, but he strictly holds to the fact that he collects rewards. (By the way, this was an actually ingenious idea for a lead character). Colter has gone to the Bay Area of California to help find a missing girl. Her father has offered a reward . Once he gets involved in this endeavor he is drawn into an even deeper level of investigation involving other missing persons and a villain copying a famous video game on his victims.
I found the book to be very fast-paced and as always meticulous in facts and plot. Deaver is infamous for his knowledge of law enforcement on many levels and this shows, but the reader is not bogged down in many facts. The world of video gaming was also interesting and eye opening.
This was a great book and if you are looking for a great who-dun-it, police procedural, suspense novel. I am really looking forward to reading more in the series. Colter Shaw is definitely someone you want to learn more about.
September 8, 2019
Jeffery Deaver is an excellent writer with his newly developed character, Colter Shaw, a reward tracker. Colter has more good qualities than not and I look forward to his next venture. 7 of 10 stars
February 19, 2020
I've been a huge fan of Deaver’s work over the years, I like that he develops slightly off-the-wall baddies and as a result his stories are often quite quirky. There are always plenty of twists too, enough to prevent me from guessing the ending at any rate (OK, that's actually not too hard as I virtually never work out an ending). Most recently, his Lincoln Rhyme series has held me captive, but I've avoided the last couple of books as I was beginning to tire of the format. So I was delighted to see that with this book he’s introduced a new hunter of unsubs, a fresh solver of crimes. Colter Shaw looks for opportunities to earn rewards offered for missing persons and the like. He's not a registered PI but he operates along similar lines and uses a small back-up team to help him track down such opportunities and to provide additional information as his investigations progress.
A student has gone missing in Silicon Valley and her father is offering up a $10,000 reward – right up Colter’s street. And as he gets into the detail of what he suspects is a kidnapping he notices that developments seem to be tracking events featured in a video game. Soon Colter finds himself embroiled in intrigue involving the multi-billion dollar gaming industry… and now a second case has raised its head.
I quickly grew to enjoy spending time with Deaver’s new front man: he’s clever (of course), has a dry wit and an interesting background, involving a troubled brother and a survivalist father who thought him many of the skills he now deploys. Towards the end of this book the author sets the scene for book two - I'm hooked already, line me up for the second instalment. I'm not quite wowed enough to award this one five stars – a slow section in the middle of the book being the culprit - but it's an easy four star offering and I have a feeling that I’ll be tuning in to tales featuring Colter Shaw for some time to come.
My sincere thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A student has gone missing in Silicon Valley and her father is offering up a $10,000 reward – right up Colter’s street. And as he gets into the detail of what he suspects is a kidnapping he notices that developments seem to be tracking events featured in a video game. Soon Colter finds himself embroiled in intrigue involving the multi-billion dollar gaming industry… and now a second case has raised its head.
I quickly grew to enjoy spending time with Deaver’s new front man: he’s clever (of course), has a dry wit and an interesting background, involving a troubled brother and a survivalist father who thought him many of the skills he now deploys. Towards the end of this book the author sets the scene for book two - I'm hooked already, line me up for the second instalment. I'm not quite wowed enough to award this one five stars – a slow section in the middle of the book being the culprit - but it's an easy four star offering and I have a feeling that I’ll be tuning in to tales featuring Colter Shaw for some time to come.
My sincere thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2019
This is the first book in the Colter Shaw series by author Jeffery Deaver. I am a an avid reader of this authors novels and love the Lincoln Rhyme series so was keen to read this new one. I enjoyed the new character investigator Colter Shaw, who I am sure will develop in time to another excellent addition to Jeffery Deaver's repertoire. But tbh I struggled getting into the plot in this book, I am not into video games etc and couldn't really connect with the story-line. Colter Shaw however shows great promise and there are lots of sub plots and secrets to let loose there. Not for me this time but will continue to read the series in the future as enjoy not only the authors writing but also Colter Shaw.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Harper Collins for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Harper Collins for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2019
"The Never Game" is the first in a brand new investigative series written by renowned thriller writer Jeffrey Deaver and featuring a fabulous new character 'Colter Shaw'. Shaw is an itinerant 'reward-seeker', someone who finds missing people in return for the reward money and makes a refreshing change to the run of the mill, private investigator/bounty hunter stories that normally relate in the hunt for missing persons. Shaw is an exceedingly well developed character and Deaver's precise attention to detail is totally remarkable and unlike any other author indeed. The descriptions of the locations featuring in the story allow for perfect clarity of vision and the way the story is told in such immense detail, you immediately feel a part of the intriguing story and know exactly what is going on in each intelligently written chapter.
There's plenty of information on Shaw's background to keep you intrigued and I look forward to learning more about him in future books. He’s a trained survivalist (not ex cop or military), quietly spoken, strong both mentally and physically, has personal standards, empathy and respects other people regardless of their stature. His trademark way of attempting to solve crimes and dangerous situations by assessing percentages relating to each circumstance is very clever and typical of a Deaver character.
Jeffrey Deaver really is one of the best thriller writers in town and I have personally been a fan of his intellectual crime stories for many, many years. I suspect Colter Shaw will be another iconic character like the author’s other very successful character - Lincoln Rhymes- and I look forward immensely to following this series further.
Many thanks to Love Reading for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
There's plenty of information on Shaw's background to keep you intrigued and I look forward to learning more about him in future books. He’s a trained survivalist (not ex cop or military), quietly spoken, strong both mentally and physically, has personal standards, empathy and respects other people regardless of their stature. His trademark way of attempting to solve crimes and dangerous situations by assessing percentages relating to each circumstance is very clever and typical of a Deaver character.
Jeffrey Deaver really is one of the best thriller writers in town and I have personally been a fan of his intellectual crime stories for many, many years. I suspect Colter Shaw will be another iconic character like the author’s other very successful character - Lincoln Rhymes- and I look forward immensely to following this series further.
Many thanks to Love Reading for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
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June 24, 2025
The Never Game (Colter Shaw, #1) by Jeffery Deaver
Audiobook: 11.09 Hours - Narrator: Kaleo Griffith
Heard: 04:06 Hours - Balance: 07:03 Hours
I listened to 37% of this book in one sitting, hoping it would improve on its less than impressive beginning. It didn't and I was not confident enough to contemplate listening through to its end.
DNF @ 37%
Audiobook: 11.09 Hours - Narrator: Kaleo Griffith
Heard: 04:06 Hours - Balance: 07:03 Hours
I listened to 37% of this book in one sitting, hoping it would improve on its less than impressive beginning. It didn't and I was not confident enough to contemplate listening through to its end.
DNF @ 37%
May 4, 2019
Grabbing you from the first page, Jeffery Deaver crafts a devilish plot that unfolds with breakneck speed. An excellent start to a new series, Colter Shaw has comfortably nestled onto the bench with Lincoln Rhyme and Kathryn Dance - one of our best literary puppet-masters at the end of all their strings.
May 26, 2019
I started reading this book over a week ago, but couldn't get into it so I switched to audio and that didn't work either. Something about the plot or format that doesn't keep me interested. I don't mind gaming stories or Colter Shaw. DNF chapter 30, 40%.
May 16, 2019
The Never Game introduces Mr Deaver's exciting new series featuring the wonderfully mysterious Colter Shaw, and once again he has penned an intense, absorbing an enthralling page-turner highlighting that he is indeed still ahead of the game. The premise very much reminded me of the horror film Saw and is equally as disturbing with a killer that certainly wouldn't be out of place in the movie. Dark, disturbing and very troublesome, Deaver crafts a fast-paced runaway train of a novel with thrills and chills aplenty. Colter is a fascinating and original protagonist as proved by the background information revealed about him here, and I can't wait to learn more about this enigmatic character.
Interestingly and rather uniquely Colter effectively uses percentage play to guide himself and the police, and with dogged hard work, Shaw can usually unravel the mystery surrounding his cases. There are twists and surprises in abundance, and I appreciated that although I couldn't guess most of them they made sense when looking back and mulling over the clues that were there retrospectively. This adds an element of authenticity to the story. The part of the plot that explores video gaming has been extensively and meticulously researched; all of these aspects made this a quick, thoroughly enjoyable read. I look forward to many more adventures with Mr Shaw. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Interestingly and rather uniquely Colter effectively uses percentage play to guide himself and the police, and with dogged hard work, Shaw can usually unravel the mystery surrounding his cases. There are twists and surprises in abundance, and I appreciated that although I couldn't guess most of them they made sense when looking back and mulling over the clues that were there retrospectively. This adds an element of authenticity to the story. The part of the plot that explores video gaming has been extensively and meticulously researched; all of these aspects made this a quick, thoroughly enjoyable read. I look forward to many more adventures with Mr Shaw. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
February 6, 2021
Deaver delivers an extremely well paced, high impact story while bringing forth Colton Shaw, a character of depth and charisma. I found it highly engaging and as a Bay area resident could easily envision the locals. Weaving a video game titled The Whispering Man as the element the mysterious kidnapper models his process after, the reader must navigate a labyrinth filled with twists, odd characters and cops. Having read "The Bone Collector" previously, this book is on par. What's notable is the consistency of the pace; while many crime/mystery writers go the momentum route, he keeps the reader engaged from first words to last.
March 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I recently discovered a new CBS TV series called Tracker . After watching and enjoying the first episode, I saw in the credits that it is based on a series of books by Jeffery Deaver. The show's protagonist is Colter Shaw who seeks out rewards across the country and helps police and private citizens solve crimes.
I am a fan of Deaver and have read quite a few of his novels including many of his Lincoln Rhyme series, but haven't read anything by him for a few years. So I was unaware of his Colter Shaw novels but decided to check out the first in the series from the library.
THE NEVER GAME provides a lot of the back story for Shaw. He is the son of a survivalist who died years ago amid suspicious circumstances. Colter had returned to the Bay area to try to find some information on his father's death. He suspected he was killed by his older brother but was that really what happened? He also hopes to claim a $10,000 reward being offered by the father of a young woman who has gone missing and presumed kidnapped in Silicon Valley. This throws Colter into a deadly game involving the billion-dollar video gaming industry. After a second victim is kidnapped, clues point to someone playing out a video game called "The Whispering Man" in real life where the victim has to survive after being abandoned in a perilous location. So is this a gamer gone psycho or is something else motivating these kidnappings?
Overall, I did enjoy this new character from Deaver and think some of the subsequent novels may be more to my liking since I am not really a big fan of video games. The Colter character in the TV series is pretty close to the character in the book and I did enjoy the first couple of episodes of the series. I'll probably be reading more of the books as well to see how the character develops. Deaver provided some nuggets at the end of the novel related to possible future outings which is a motivation to continue with the series.
I recently discovered a new CBS TV series called Tracker . After watching and enjoying the first episode, I saw in the credits that it is based on a series of books by Jeffery Deaver. The show's protagonist is Colter Shaw who seeks out rewards across the country and helps police and private citizens solve crimes.
I am a fan of Deaver and have read quite a few of his novels including many of his Lincoln Rhyme series, but haven't read anything by him for a few years. So I was unaware of his Colter Shaw novels but decided to check out the first in the series from the library.
THE NEVER GAME provides a lot of the back story for Shaw. He is the son of a survivalist who died years ago amid suspicious circumstances. Colter had returned to the Bay area to try to find some information on his father's death. He suspected he was killed by his older brother but was that really what happened? He also hopes to claim a $10,000 reward being offered by the father of a young woman who has gone missing and presumed kidnapped in Silicon Valley. This throws Colter into a deadly game involving the billion-dollar video gaming industry. After a second victim is kidnapped, clues point to someone playing out a video game called "The Whispering Man" in real life where the victim has to survive after being abandoned in a perilous location. So is this a gamer gone psycho or is something else motivating these kidnappings?
Overall, I did enjoy this new character from Deaver and think some of the subsequent novels may be more to my liking since I am not really a big fan of video games. The Colter character in the TV series is pretty close to the character in the book and I did enjoy the first couple of episodes of the series. I'll probably be reading more of the books as well to see how the character develops. Deaver provided some nuggets at the end of the novel related to possible future outings which is a motivation to continue with the series.
March 29, 2019
What could possibly be better than finding an exciting new series? When it's written by a favorite author, that's what! Such is the case here for sure - and for sure I'm already chomping at the bit for the next installment.
The new character is a complex guy named Colter Shaw, who grew up as a son of exceptionally well-educated parents who ditched mainstream life for a survivalist existence. They taught their children well; their father, from off an ever-deepening end, and their mother from a more practical (and loving) perspective as she struggled to rein in her husband's paranoia. Long since, Colt moved back to reality (even going to college and law school) and now makes a living primarily by earning reward money offered for locating missing loved ones. He's not a bounty hunter; he picks his jobs only after carefully researching both the reward offerers and the victims. On every case, one of his strengths - long ago instilled by his now-deceased father - is assessing probabilities (whether or not he'll be successful, which suspect is more likely to be the perpetrator, etc.) Adding to the overall strength of the book is that interspersed throughout are recollections from Colt's growing-up years - some good, some not so much - all of which give readers intriguing insights into what motivates him.
The story opens as Colt is in over his head - literally; he's trying to save a very pregnant woman who's been locked into a boat that's sinking in frigid water. We get a glimpse or two of what might happen before the scene shifts to two days earlier, when someone tries to toss a Molotov cocktail into Colt's RV. Shortly thereafter, he learns of a $10,000 reward from a Silicon Valley father who's desperate to find his missing daughter. Colt drives his RV to a park there, rents a car, visits the father and agrees to take on the case. During the investigation, he encounters a professional computer game tester named Maddie, who drags him to a huge convention and introduces him to a world he didn't even know existed - a world filled with characters who love killing, both virtually and, quite possibly, in real life.
Although I'm working on some kind of electronic gadget a big part of every day, whether it be my desktop or Kindle or smartphone - I've never had more than a passing interest in playing animated games. As such, a good bit of the plentiful and complex information on that topic that's in here pretty much sailed over my head. On the other hand, I learned quite a few things - all of which added to the story and made it even more interesting. I can't say more without giving away too much, but the ending brings everything together (including the woman on the sinking ship) as well as leaves the door wide open to the next chapter in Colt's life.
For me, that can't come soon enough, so please get busy, Mr. Deaver. While I wait, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review the first of what I'm confident will be a great series.
The new character is a complex guy named Colter Shaw, who grew up as a son of exceptionally well-educated parents who ditched mainstream life for a survivalist existence. They taught their children well; their father, from off an ever-deepening end, and their mother from a more practical (and loving) perspective as she struggled to rein in her husband's paranoia. Long since, Colt moved back to reality (even going to college and law school) and now makes a living primarily by earning reward money offered for locating missing loved ones. He's not a bounty hunter; he picks his jobs only after carefully researching both the reward offerers and the victims. On every case, one of his strengths - long ago instilled by his now-deceased father - is assessing probabilities (whether or not he'll be successful, which suspect is more likely to be the perpetrator, etc.) Adding to the overall strength of the book is that interspersed throughout are recollections from Colt's growing-up years - some good, some not so much - all of which give readers intriguing insights into what motivates him.
The story opens as Colt is in over his head - literally; he's trying to save a very pregnant woman who's been locked into a boat that's sinking in frigid water. We get a glimpse or two of what might happen before the scene shifts to two days earlier, when someone tries to toss a Molotov cocktail into Colt's RV. Shortly thereafter, he learns of a $10,000 reward from a Silicon Valley father who's desperate to find his missing daughter. Colt drives his RV to a park there, rents a car, visits the father and agrees to take on the case. During the investigation, he encounters a professional computer game tester named Maddie, who drags him to a huge convention and introduces him to a world he didn't even know existed - a world filled with characters who love killing, both virtually and, quite possibly, in real life.
Although I'm working on some kind of electronic gadget a big part of every day, whether it be my desktop or Kindle or smartphone - I've never had more than a passing interest in playing animated games. As such, a good bit of the plentiful and complex information on that topic that's in here pretty much sailed over my head. On the other hand, I learned quite a few things - all of which added to the story and made it even more interesting. I can't say more without giving away too much, but the ending brings everything together (including the woman on the sinking ship) as well as leaves the door wide open to the next chapter in Colt's life.
For me, that can't come soon enough, so please get busy, Mr. Deaver. While I wait, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review the first of what I'm confident will be a great series.
February 17, 2020
starting reading i was quite disappointed. i found it messy, too many details which seemed only to bulk the pages. i did not know where the plot is heading and hoped the writer knows. so i turned to goodreads to see reviews and i must say thank you guys. as crossing the first 160 pages i found really nice thriller, fresh and great writing and enjoyed it till the end. still, i do think a bit of tough editing could lift the book. too much game and gaming details. it is a nice start to a new character.
July 17, 2025
After an underwhelming prequel, I thought I should at least read the first installment of the series to see if I wanted to continue with the series. I’m glad I did. This was a much better representation of the MC, Coulter Shaw, and while there is no episode called Never Game, this installment definitely inspired one of the show’s episodes of Coulter Shaw spending some time in Silicon Valley looking for missing people. The story starts off (in the prologue) with Shaw trying to save a very pregnant woman who is stuck in a sinking boat with very little space left before she is completely underwater. Yeah, that’s how to grab a reader’s attention from the get-go!
The book summary is kind of vague, but kind of lays out the first half of the story. Shaw finds and rescues one missing person and pisses off the kidnapper enough that he goes and kidnaps someone else the same night. In the meantime, Shaw meets a woman, who is a game reviewer, and who helps him understand the players and history of some of the top gaming companies in the industry. None of this is a spoiler since it’s really early in the story (first 20%). There is also a secondary storyline of Shaw searching for info on his father’s death, that was ruled as an accident, but that Shaw has always suspected was not an accident.
The story flips back and forth between Shaw’s present-day search for missing people as well research on his father along with Shaw’s nightmares/flashbacks of an incident 15yrs ago regarding his father’s death. One of the quirky things that I like about Shaw is his habit of assigning percentages of how some scene or search is likely to turn out. I know people who are like that and it’s kind of interesting how they go about doing that and why. Almost all of them were raised that way and definitely have an affinity or talent for the inclination and/or skill. Shaw was definitely raised that way by his survivalist parents (who were former Berkeley college professors), and who raised their three kids at the family compound, basically in isolation in the Sierra Mountains.
Deep in the second half, twists and turns that have Shaw and Standish, the chief of a local police task force, running in circles. There is a boatload of scary and intense scenes that had me on the edge and up a little too late on a work night because I just had to know how it all played out.
The character development of Shaw and one or two other characters was pretty good. We got a lot more background on Shaw and how he grew up. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline disturbing – a killer playing out real kidnappings and a murder based on a game. The writing was good, and I liked the added cliffhanger as a lead-in to the next installment. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.8 that I will be rounding up to a 4star review.
The book summary is kind of vague, but kind of lays out the first half of the story. Shaw finds and rescues one missing person and pisses off the kidnapper enough that he goes and kidnaps someone else the same night. In the meantime, Shaw meets a woman, who is a game reviewer, and who helps him understand the players and history of some of the top gaming companies in the industry. None of this is a spoiler since it’s really early in the story (first 20%). There is also a secondary storyline of Shaw searching for info on his father’s death, that was ruled as an accident, but that Shaw has always suspected was not an accident.
The story flips back and forth between Shaw’s present-day search for missing people as well research on his father along with Shaw’s nightmares/flashbacks of an incident 15yrs ago regarding his father’s death. One of the quirky things that I like about Shaw is his habit of assigning percentages of how some scene or search is likely to turn out. I know people who are like that and it’s kind of interesting how they go about doing that and why. Almost all of them were raised that way and definitely have an affinity or talent for the inclination and/or skill. Shaw was definitely raised that way by his survivalist parents (who were former Berkeley college professors), and who raised their three kids at the family compound, basically in isolation in the Sierra Mountains.
Deep in the second half, twists and turns that have Shaw and Standish, the chief of a local police task force, running in circles. There is a boatload of scary and intense scenes that had me on the edge and up a little too late on a work night because I just had to know how it all played out.
The character development of Shaw and one or two other characters was pretty good. We got a lot more background on Shaw and how he grew up. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline disturbing – a killer playing out real kidnappings and a murder based on a game. The writing was good, and I liked the added cliffhanger as a lead-in to the next installment. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.8 that I will be rounding up to a 4star review.
July 12, 2019
As a big fan of the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jefferey Deaver was I curious to see how THE NEVER GAME, the first book in Deaver's new series, would turn out. Would this book appeal to just as much as the Lincoln Rhyme books did? In this book, are we introduced to Colter Shaw, an expert at tracking people down, thanks to his upbringing with a father who uprooted the whole family to live off the grid. Now, he's been contacted by a man in Silicon Valley whose daughter has gone missing. It soon turns out that this is just the first missing case he has to deal with in Silicon Valley.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
December 1, 2023
Another author that I enjoy but I've usually read the Lincoln Rhyme books and liked them all. This is the first book in a series about a young man who searches the internet for people offering a reward for a missing person, he then goes and finds the missing person and gets the reward. He's not a PI or a bounty hunter. This is just what he does and how he makes his money. He travels around in a Winnebago. I had seen the book is being made into a TV series based on the book series and I think it is starting soon. Also, think it will be on CBS and is called Tracker. I will definiely watch and read more of these books in the series.
December 8, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
I tried the first Lincoln Rhyme book in the series and it didn't hold my attention. I thought I'd try the first Colter Shaw book in this series. I really love his writing style...I just lost interest when the gaming took center stage halfway through the book.
I tried the first Lincoln Rhyme book in the series and it didn't hold my attention. I thought I'd try the first Colter Shaw book in this series. I really love his writing style...I just lost interest when the gaming took center stage halfway through the book.
October 12, 2020
2 stars. I had to push to finish. I only finish because I push myself. I am trying to read good and bad books.
Maybe a review down the road.
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Maybe a review down the road.
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February 11, 2020
An intriguing new series by Deaver and one I will be looking forward to following.
I found Colter Shaw (protagonist) an excellent character. Unique in approach as a ‘reward-hunter’ who uses his tracking and survival skills to solve mysteries. The plot is thought-provoking and made me wonder just how powerful and manipulative the gaming world could be. Quick-paced, interesting and contemporary.
Technology, crime, politics, power, and great storytelling.
I found Colter Shaw (protagonist) an excellent character. Unique in approach as a ‘reward-hunter’ who uses his tracking and survival skills to solve mysteries. The plot is thought-provoking and made me wonder just how powerful and manipulative the gaming world could be. Quick-paced, interesting and contemporary.
Technology, crime, politics, power, and great storytelling.
February 26, 2019
Jeffrey Deaver is a one of our most exciting storytellers, and THE NEVER GAME pulls off the remarkable feat of intertwining devilish plot with unforgettable characters, fascinating disquisitions with propulsive action, every element conspiring to make it almost impossible to not turn the page. I absolutely loved it.
June 16, 2019
Well my eyes really got a workout with this one!
This was a real page turner---couldn't read it fast enough, had to know how it ended.
On the other hand, I did keep rolling my eyes--a lot!!
I'll give Deaver at least one more chance to turn Colter Shaw into a real person; right now he is all action-hero cardboard figure. An interesting one, to be sure, but two dimensional nonetheless.
This was a real page turner---couldn't read it fast enough, had to know how it ended.
On the other hand, I did keep rolling my eyes--a lot!!
I'll give Deaver at least one more chance to turn Colter Shaw into a real person; right now he is all action-hero cardboard figure. An interesting one, to be sure, but two dimensional nonetheless.
July 2, 2024
It's All In The Game
Review of the G.P Putnam's Sons eBook edition (May 14, 2019) released simultaneously with the hardcover and audiobook.
I'm reading the Colter Shaw series after being introduced to the character in the recent Tracker TV series. Deaver builds an interesting character in a man who grew up in a survivalist family and whose "cutting-sign" aka "tracking" skills were honed by his father who died mysteriously. That unsolved case is a greater multi-story arc which is introduced in this novel and presumably continues into the later books. The father's axioms to his children (there are 2 other siblings) always started with the word "Never" as in "Never guess, but base your decisions on facts", "Never assume, but seek the truth", etc.
In The Never Game, Shaw is at first called out to find a daughter who went missing after an argument with her father. The father has offered a reward for her safe return. Shaw makes his living by following such reward offers around the country, and has assistants who search for possible cases and also a secretive hacker-type private investigator on his team.
As Shaw proceeds with his investigation, an odd pattern begins to emerge. Other victims are kidnapped as well, each left in abandoned locations but with 5 objects which may be of assistance in their possible escape and rescue. This all uncannily mimics an online multiplayer game situation where players progress through various levels solving the same sorts of puzzles. The question is whether the kidnapper is a deranged gamer or is somehow seeking to create bad press for the associated company in an effort to undermine their sales and reputation.
Deaver builds suspense very effectively throughout, while also providing flashbacks to Shaw's upbringing and early childhood. The subplot of his search for answers about his father's death also progresses with a final twist revelation to come at the very end.
Why not a 5-star rating if I enjoyed the book as much as I did? Once the motive of the culprit is revealed it is somewhat of a letdown and not quite believable, not to the extent of needing an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert, but just that I would have wished for something that was a bit more clever. So a 4-star rating is the compromise.
Footnote
* This refers to writer/researcher Richard Bartle and the Bartle taxonomy of player types an analysis of online game players as first proposed in a 1996 paper.
Trivia and Link
Watch the extended trailer for the Colter Shaw Tracker TV series on YouTube here. The series has been renewed for a Season 2 after the shortened 13-episode Season 1. It is actually filmed in British Columbia, Canada although it is an American TV series on the CBS network.
Review of the G.P Putnam's Sons eBook edition (May 14, 2019) released simultaneously with the hardcover and audiobook.
"There are four personality profiles of gamers, according to Bartle*. One: Achievers. Their motivation is accumulating points in games and reaching preset goals. Two: Explorers. They want to spend time prowling through the unknown and discovering places and people and creatures that haven’t been seen before. Three: Socializers. They build networks and create communities.” He paused for a moment. “Then, fourth: Killers. They come to games to compete, to win. That’s the sole purpose of gaming to them. Winning. Not necessarily to take lives; they enjoy race car and sports games too. First-person shooters are their favorites, though."
I'm reading the Colter Shaw series after being introduced to the character in the recent Tracker TV series. Deaver builds an interesting character in a man who grew up in a survivalist family and whose "cutting-sign" aka "tracking" skills were honed by his father who died mysteriously. That unsolved case is a greater multi-story arc which is introduced in this novel and presumably continues into the later books. The father's axioms to his children (there are 2 other siblings) always started with the word "Never" as in "Never guess, but base your decisions on facts", "Never assume, but seek the truth", etc.
In The Never Game, Shaw is at first called out to find a daughter who went missing after an argument with her father. The father has offered a reward for her safe return. Shaw makes his living by following such reward offers around the country, and has assistants who search for possible cases and also a secretive hacker-type private investigator on his team.
As Shaw proceeds with his investigation, an odd pattern begins to emerge. Other victims are kidnapped as well, each left in abandoned locations but with 5 objects which may be of assistance in their possible escape and rescue. This all uncannily mimics an online multiplayer game situation where players progress through various levels solving the same sorts of puzzles. The question is whether the kidnapper is a deranged gamer or is somehow seeking to create bad press for the associated company in an effort to undermine their sales and reputation.
Deaver builds suspense very effectively throughout, while also providing flashbacks to Shaw's upbringing and early childhood. The subplot of his search for answers about his father's death also progresses with a final twist revelation to come at the very end.
Why not a 5-star rating if I enjoyed the book as much as I did? Once the motive of the culprit is revealed it is somewhat of a letdown and not quite believable, not to the extent of needing an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert, but just that I would have wished for something that was a bit more clever. So a 4-star rating is the compromise.
Footnote
* This refers to writer/researcher Richard Bartle and the Bartle taxonomy of player types an analysis of online game players as first proposed in a 1996 paper.
Trivia and Link
Watch the extended trailer for the Colter Shaw Tracker TV series on YouTube here. The series has been renewed for a Season 2 after the shortened 13-episode Season 1. It is actually filmed in British Columbia, Canada although it is an American TV series on the CBS network.
June 4, 2019
8/10
I haven’t read a Deaver for some time but I’m fond of his Lincoln Ryhme series and some of his standalone books have been excellent so when I saw this on offer I snatched at it. As predicted, it was a fun read with plenty of intrigue, twists and turns.
This series introduces a new character of Colter Shaw, a reward hunter but with scruples who picks and chooses which case to go after based on the people involved. In this one he gets dragged into a mystery in Silicon Valley where a number of seemingly unrelated kidnappings are occurring in a technical backdrop in the world of computing. Shaw and his unique tracking skills set about finding the missing people.
Shaw is an interesting character with plenty of information provided on how he’s got his skills and his family life. Some of the characters after that are less well padded out but you might not expect great characterisation in a 400 page thriller. This didn’t deter from the plot as things kept up a nice pace with chapters flying by and plenty of new discoveries to make you question what you thought you knew.
I know for a fact I would read more from this series, it was exactly what I’d expect and want from this type of book. It might be easily forgettable by the time the next one in the series out but I have a feeling that won’t overly matter. A fun read whilst absorbed in it and Deaver has another solid story under his belt again. I also now have no desire to try and buy a house in Silicon Valley, it sounds worse than London house prices!!
I received a free copy from NetGalley in return for my review. This was it!
I haven’t read a Deaver for some time but I’m fond of his Lincoln Ryhme series and some of his standalone books have been excellent so when I saw this on offer I snatched at it. As predicted, it was a fun read with plenty of intrigue, twists and turns.
This series introduces a new character of Colter Shaw, a reward hunter but with scruples who picks and chooses which case to go after based on the people involved. In this one he gets dragged into a mystery in Silicon Valley where a number of seemingly unrelated kidnappings are occurring in a technical backdrop in the world of computing. Shaw and his unique tracking skills set about finding the missing people.
Shaw is an interesting character with plenty of information provided on how he’s got his skills and his family life. Some of the characters after that are less well padded out but you might not expect great characterisation in a 400 page thriller. This didn’t deter from the plot as things kept up a nice pace with chapters flying by and plenty of new discoveries to make you question what you thought you knew.
I know for a fact I would read more from this series, it was exactly what I’d expect and want from this type of book. It might be easily forgettable by the time the next one in the series out but I have a feeling that won’t overly matter. A fun read whilst absorbed in it and Deaver has another solid story under his belt again. I also now have no desire to try and buy a house in Silicon Valley, it sounds worse than London house prices!!
I received a free copy from NetGalley in return for my review. This was it!
March 9, 2021
This is the first book in the Colter Shaw series and it just didn't grab me like the first book in the Lincoln Rhyme series did.
The plot was a little disjointed and it took a while to get into the book and see where it was heading. The book seems to follow two storylines, one now related to an abduction and murder, the other to some sort of network that Shaw's father may have been involved with.
The plot regarding the abduction appears to be linked to computer gaming. There was a lot of technical information regarding this that was very foreign to me and it lost me a bit as I have no interest in it.
Still, it did keep me reading to the end, and I feel a little intrigued to read book 2 to find out the mystery behind Shaw's past.
The plot was a little disjointed and it took a while to get into the book and see where it was heading. The book seems to follow two storylines, one now related to an abduction and murder, the other to some sort of network that Shaw's father may have been involved with.
The plot regarding the abduction appears to be linked to computer gaming. There was a lot of technical information regarding this that was very foreign to me and it lost me a bit as I have no interest in it.
Still, it did keep me reading to the end, and I feel a little intrigued to read book 2 to find out the mystery behind Shaw's past.
May 20, 2024
I had already read the second installment of this Deaver series while vacationing. Now with the tv show called Tracker on Disney + I decided to revisit the books.
Jeffrey Deaver is mostly known as the writer of Lincoln Rhyme CSI extraordinaire. I enjoyed his Kathryn Dance novels as well. And of course mr Deaver is mostly known for the sometimes quite brilliant twists hé puts in his stories. Just when you are comfortable enough hé steaks something into a story and changes the narrative. Which is enjoyable and frustrating at times.
Anyhow the hero of the story is Colter Shaw who is a rewardist, somebody who collects rewards for finding missing people. This story starts with a missing girl which leads to a serial kidnapper who seems to follow the game script of a certain game with possible lethal consequenses. Colter lends his tracking skills to the Police.
Then there is the background of Colter Shaw himself, which is somewhat of the beaten track. There is still a mystery of his fathers' dead and his brother gone and dissapearance from the face of the planet.
Mr Deaver delivers two stories in one book of which the family secrets Will undoubtely be the guiding light for the series. The story connected to the game industry was an interesting one albeit that I know little or less about gaming I was always less into games than reading.
A good read as I expect with this writer, good tv show so far.
Jeffrey Deaver is mostly known as the writer of Lincoln Rhyme CSI extraordinaire. I enjoyed his Kathryn Dance novels as well. And of course mr Deaver is mostly known for the sometimes quite brilliant twists hé puts in his stories. Just when you are comfortable enough hé steaks something into a story and changes the narrative. Which is enjoyable and frustrating at times.
Anyhow the hero of the story is Colter Shaw who is a rewardist, somebody who collects rewards for finding missing people. This story starts with a missing girl which leads to a serial kidnapper who seems to follow the game script of a certain game with possible lethal consequenses. Colter lends his tracking skills to the Police.
Then there is the background of Colter Shaw himself, which is somewhat of the beaten track. There is still a mystery of his fathers' dead and his brother gone and dissapearance from the face of the planet.
Mr Deaver delivers two stories in one book of which the family secrets Will undoubtely be the guiding light for the series. The story connected to the game industry was an interesting one albeit that I know little or less about gaming I was always less into games than reading.
A good read as I expect with this writer, good tv show so far.
January 21, 2019
Excellent start to a new series for Mr Deaver. Review to follow nearer publication.
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