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Faulkner Family #3

Never Back Down

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She’s fought against the darkness her whole life—but now she will discover what happens when that very darkness fights back in this thrilling follow-up to Christopher Swann’s Never Go Home and Never Turn Back, perfect for fans of Michael Farris Smith and Brian Panovich.

For as long as she could remember, Susannah Faulkner knew that even though she lived a dangerous and violent life, she would try her best to do some good in the world. She’s hunted down evil men before, but the one man that puts fear into her heart, the one man who could destroy everything she loves, is the one man she cannot track down. And worst of all...she doesn’t know what will happen when she finds him. Or if he finds her first.

Finn, an ex-soldier who served alongside Susannah’s father in Iraq, left Suzie with a simple choice a year ago: she could watch her family die one by one, or she could pursue him in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The stubborn and skillful Suzie knows just how dangerous he is and how far he will go to complete his vengeance. And so, the hunt begins.

Her journey takes her across the United States, from the mountains of Arizona to the river bluffs of Missouri to the streets of Atlanta. Along the way, she contends with both new and old friends and foes: the vulnerable Brooke, determined to escape her own nightmare; her brother Ethan and his new girlfriend, a reminder of a different and more peaceful life; her uncle Gavin and his connections to the criminal underworld; the street-smart Ajax, a shadowy ally of convenience; and an FBI agent who could be friend, foe, or potential lover.

Suzie’s instincts have gotten her this far—but will they be enough against her evil equal?

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2023

8 people are currently reading
191 people want to read

About the author

Christopher Swann

13 books330 followers
Christopher Swann is an award-winning, bestselling novelist and high school English teacher. He earned his Ph.D. in creative writing from Georgia State University. He has been a Townsend Prize finalist, longlisted for the Southern Book Prize, and a Georgia Author of the Year winner. He lives with his wife and two sons in Atlanta, where he is the English department chair at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School.

He is the author of five novels:
Shadow of the Lions (2017)
Never Turn Back (2020)
A Fire in the Night (2021)
Never Go Home (2022)
Never Back Down (2023)

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5 stars
38 (31%)
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47 (39%)
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24 (20%)
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8 (6%)
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3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Linda Zagon.
1,720 reviews217 followers
July 28, 2023
“Never Back Down” by Christopher Swann is a chilling thriller and mystery that will have you sitting at the end of your seat. The author has written a horrific and intense novel, the highest form of “Cat and Mouse” or “Catch Me if You Can with deadly consequences.”. This is the third novel in a series and can be read as a stand-alone, but you will benefit from reading the other books.

The author describes his dramatic characters as complex, complicated, flawed, and unstable. Some are psychotic or sociopathic. Susannah Faulkner has had both a traumatic and tragic life. Her obsession and goals of hunting down evil and violent men that would target children or young women are ongoing. Her greatest fight against evil is Finn, a man who tormented her and made her witness and participate in deplorable acts.

Suzie tries to be one step ahead of Finn to save her relatives and loved ones. Finn has a vengeance for the past, believing that Susannah’s father and family had taken his share of stolen money during the war. His obsession is that Suzie suffers by harming her loved ones. He plays a sophisticated game of Cat and Mouse with the end goal of death.

When Suzie’s parents died, her uncle raised Suzie and her brother. The uncle had connections. Often Suzie tries to use certain connections to help her achieve her goals. Suzie is capable, courageous, and good at surviving. Will Suzie be able to survive the danger that lies ahead?

I recommend this edgy novel to book lovers that like thrillers and mysteries. Perhaps read this during the daytime.
Profile Image for Nursebookie.
2,895 reviews462 followers
August 4, 2023
TITLE: NEVER BACK DOWN
SERIES: A Faulkner Family Thriller Book 3
AUTHOR: Christopher Swann
PUB DATE: 07.18.2023
Synopsis: Swipe Above

THOUGHTS:

I love a cat and mouse game but make it dark, deadly, and deviously devilish. Swann delivered a breath tormenting thriller, edge of seat - no edge of a high rise building tense, and addictive read. I enjoyed each one of the Faulkner Family thriller books and I tell you, the series just keeps getting better and better. I can tell you that you can read this as a standalone, but why - there are three books to enjoy and devour, and I promise you they are all spectacular reads.

NEVER BACK DOWN is a story told through Susannah’s POV and what a complex and tormented character she is - but a definite badassery, kickass, and strong - but also relatable and has her soft spots too.

If you read thrillers and mysteries, this series must be on your list - strong women, diverse characters, fast paced, and action filled scenes that reads like a movie. Really enjoyed this one!
Profile Image for Jeff.
1,767 reviews164 followers
December 2, 2022
Comic Book Justice. In this epic conclusion (?) to Suzie Falkner's story, Swann manages to keep the tension tight even when filling in backstory - and showing that the characters have lived through the year ish since the publication of Never Go Home in near real-time with the rest of us. Except that for Suzie, that year has been spent being tormented by the fallout from Never Go Home. (In other words, read that book first in this particular case.) We spend most of the book with the Big Bad more a menacing presence in the shadows (ala the opening sequence) or the general background (most of the book) while showing off Suzie's own skills ever more prominently, including several other tie-ins to Never Go Home. (Seriously, read that book first.) And then, in the last third of the book or so, Swann gets into Suzie's toughest tests yet - and into some of the most creepy and traumatizing events of these books. Getting into the specifics would be spoilery, but one does need to be generally referenced in case the reader is particularly sensitive to this issue: there *is* a school shooting in this book, and yes, people die in it. Given the realities of the world today, that caution needed to be mentioned. Along those lines, Swann has a line or two where his personal politics tinge the page - but they tend to be throwaway lines that are not pervasive and are quickly moved past, and therefore don't warrant a star deduction so much as a mention of their presence. Overall truly a breathtaking book that you won't want to put down for even a second. Very much recommended.
Profile Image for David Morgan.
934 reviews25 followers
September 19, 2023
When evil raises its head, chase after it!
In the year since the end of Never Go Home Suzie has been chasing evil, also known as Finn, across the country. He's always stayed a step ahead but his threats to harm her and her family seems to be eminent causing Suzie to face him head on to end this game of cat and mouse. The question is will she be able to get the upper hand in time to save her loved ones or will her actions bring about their demise?

With each book in this series my admiration for the whole Faulkner family grows. Suzie, her brother Ethan and their uncle Gavin are so different yet so connected. With his underworld connections, Gavin always has Suzie's back and she in turn is always looking after Ethan. The drama and tension this dynamic creates is thrilling to watch play out. Like the previous two, this one can be enjoyed as a stand-alone but I do recommend this time you read Never Go Home first as this one is a continuation of that story line. The writing continues to be tight and concise with no fillers or tangents making for a quick and exciting read.

I thought this may be the last in the series but after reading the Afterword at the end it seems the author might not be done with this family quite yet and if that's the case I can't wait to see what's next!

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
1,228 reviews39 followers
September 20, 2023

In the mood for a fast paced crime thriller? Never Back Down is the second in the series but can be read as a stand alone. From the first few pages I was hooked in and on the edge of my seat. The main character Susie reminds me of a Laura Croft badass kinda girl who can hold her own. Susie helps solve crimes and protect her clients, but it’s one too close to home that has taken up her time and energy. Someone from her past has come back and is threatening her life and the lives of those she loves. Susie knows what he’s capable of so she must do exactly what he says or he will come for his ultimate revenge.
Fast paced and packed with nonstop action I read this book in a day. If you like crime books this one will satisfy that itch.
Profile Image for Krista Hajjar-Nejad.
411 reviews19 followers
July 20, 2023
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and Christopher Swann for my spot on tour! Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the gorgeous gifted copy!

This book was so addictive and a quick read for me! I loved Suzie's character! She's tough and determined to find the answers she's looking for before it's too late. Lots of action in this page-turning thriller!

Never Back Down is the third installment in the Faulkner Family series. I'm definitely going to go back and read book 1 and 2!
175 reviews7 followers
July 6, 2023
Susannah Faulkner has dedicated her life to helping others albeit in a somewhat unconventional way. She does her best to find people, some who are lost but others who don’t want to be found. She prides herself on a job well-done when she completes her task; however, her task is more challenging this time around.

Finn is an ex-soldier who served overseas with Susannah’s father and feels that he was wronged. Over a year ago Finn gave her a choice of watching her loved ones die or to pursue him in a game of chase. Having Finn go after her family was not an option. . .

Susannah goes from one city to another trying to find Finn and hopefully end the chase while still being alive to tell the tale. She’s always found the person she’s looking for, whether dead or alive. Her newest quest doesn’t end the way she hopes and reignites the fire within to ensure she finds Finn and ends this once and for all.

Her world is rocked when people close to her are arrested and she races against the clock to find the answers she needs before it’s too late.

I really enjoyed this novel and had a hard time putting it down. I will definitely recommend it to other people and will ask that this series be ordered for our school library when we return in September. I can’t wait to see what the next installment (crossing my fingers that there will be a next!) of the “Faulkner Family” has in store for Susannah and her family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #NeverBackDown
417 reviews3 followers
May 23, 2023
Book 3 in the Faulkner Family Series – after I finished, I immediately looked to find book 1 and 2!
Suzie finds people, that is what she does best. As she is bringing her last missing person home, things don’t go as planned. Finn, an ex-army friend of her dad, has had her chasing him across the country and has been quiet for a bit, until now.
Profile Image for Christy Taylor.
1,153 reviews51 followers
September 3, 2023
It was exciting to catch up with Susannah Faulkner. Suzie is such an awesome character - - a badass with a huge heart. Suzie’s Uncle Gavin is a really interesting character too - - morally gray but still the kind of uncle anyone would be lucky to have. This book (third in the series) was as action packed as the second and I always enjoy the parts of each that take place in Atlanta. I loved the author’s note and am crossing fingers that this series will continue. I’m eager to learn more about Uncle Gavin’s past and future plus hear what’s next for Suzie. Each book can be read as a stand alone but you won’t want to miss any of the fun!
Profile Image for Shannon.
304 reviews304 followers
Read
January 1, 2023
Thank you kindly to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC!

An action-packed quick read, 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏 is the third installment of the Faulkner Family series. I love Suzie’s first-person POV; she’s a badass female heroine that’s so easy to root for. I also loved the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation throughout.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series! 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏 is out July 18, 2023!

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗤𝗨𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗦:
“Maybe it’s true that we all die alone, but that doesn’t mean we have to live alone.”
Profile Image for Debbie Rozier.
1,382 reviews91 followers
August 23, 2023
This is a great thriller with a strong female lead in Suzie Faulkner. This is the third book about the family, but it does read as a stand alone.

It’s a cat and mouse game with a killer that has a score to settle with Suzie’s family.

I can’t say much more about the plot, but I will tell you that the action is round-the-clock. I enjoyed Suzie’s interesting support system and the budding romance she has with FBI agent, Alisha Rondeau.

I really enjoyed the Afterward and look forward to see what comes next with the Faulkner family.
Profile Image for Lisa Albright.
1,827 reviews72 followers
September 4, 2023
This is my second Christopher Swann book and the third in the series, but can be read as a standalone. Once again, the action starts right in the beginning and never lets up. His writing style is perfect for this type of book blending humor with fascinating characters and interesting scenarios. Suzie is brilliant as the main character and Finn is the ultimate antagonist. Their struggle to be on top is the driving force behind this suspenseful story and you don't want to miss a moment of this thrilling cat and mouse game.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sarah W.
1,031 reviews33 followers
August 11, 2023
I think this is my favorite out of the series. I loved that there was a lot of communication between Suzie and Finn as she tried to track him across the country. There were a lot of high suspense moments and I never knew what Finn was going to have Suzie do. Suzie’s thought process and her connection not only with her brother but with other she considers family was relatable and made her easier to connect to.

Thank you @christopher_swann and @suzyapprovedbooktours
Profile Image for Megan Perez.
456 reviews
November 14, 2023
This was a gripping and thrilling novel! It is the 3rd in its series, you can read it as a standalone. But as is every series, reading in order is beneficial. I did it as a stand-alone and was able to follow along easily to the story line. If you want a quick read, that is full of chaos and never stops, this is it!
Profile Image for Sandi.
40 reviews
August 5, 2023
I really enjoy Mr. Swann's writing and all of his books. This was a great read and I hope he decides to continue with the series, there's so much more I want to know.
Profile Image for Angel Flickinger.
50 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2023
I feel wrong giving this a rating, because I DNF'd it at 50%. However, I have to leave a review and say that the writing is nearly unbearable and the characters are so strange and unlifelike it's difficult to read.

Susannah Falkner is a woman on the run, who rescues damsels in distress as a side hustle (because she's a lesbian). She claims to be a self-sufficient B-A who can accomplish any task set before her. She claims she is professional, ruthless, and overall an excellent addition to her mafia boss uncle's... gang? Network? Not entirely sure, but according to the examples we're shown, none of it is true.

For example, on her first mission, Susannah's client (a young woman trapped in an abusive engagement) is shot and killed on her way to safety. In response to this tragedy, Susannah clutches her dying body and screams and cries while the police try to pry her away. She kicks and punches them, trying to stay near the body (of this woman she has only met today??). This results in her receiving accounts of resisting law enforcement as well as other charges. She is bailed out by the fiancee of her client, because he is under the impression that she will bring justice to whoever killed the woman (for whatever reason). Susannah is then flown out of Arizona by her mafia boss uncle in a private jet.

There are many weird instances like this, where Susannah acts like an inexperienced teenage girl as opposed to a professional assassin. She also seems to be LGBTQ+ just for the sake of Swann getting to claim he "has a lesbian main character!!" She flirts with every woman she sees (who always seem to return her affection). She calls an FBI agent on business and suddenly gets overwhelmed with desire on the phone and asks her out on a date?? Genuinely, the events that occur are so disjointed and unnatural it feels like reading an outline.

Overall, cannot determine why this book has so many good reviews, it was just an overall bad piece of literature (if you can even call it that).
11.5k reviews197 followers
July 14, 2023
What a terrific page turner! Suzie finds people but she can't find Finn, the man who has, for warped reasons, tormented her family but mostly Suzie for years. Now he's put one right in her face- and she's going after him for it. Luckily, she has her Uncle Gavin, his employees (and her friends) Cesar, Gus, and Frankie, as well as her brother Ethan, wh0 she will do anything to protect. And Gavin, well he's got big time connections with a wide range of criminals except that he's just been arrested. The action in this is propulsive but there are some wonderful softer moments as well, especially between Suzie and Ethan and the others. She's tough, yes, and she's awesome. No spoilers from me about anything in this- I went in blind and other readers should as well. I'd only read the second book in the series and can assure you that this will work fine as a standalone because Swann gives you the necessary background (and everyone - don't miss the afterword). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Great read.
Profile Image for Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff).
2,636 reviews99 followers
September 17, 2023
It was so great to visit again with Suzie Faulkner. I first met her in 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞, where I loved her kick-butt attitude.

Even though her traumatic past might have most people jumping at every sound, Suzie has always been one to go after the bad guys and rescue people in need.

Yet there is one man who strikes fear in her - Finn. He was a soldier who fought alongside her father in Iraq. But Finn is convinced that Suzie’s Uncle Gavin cheated him out of millions they looted from Iraq. So now he has devised a sick and deadly game - he toys with Suzie, always threatening, a master manipulator.

But Suzie is smart, sassy and not about to back down; no one is going to mess with what’s left of her family. Can she outwit Finn and put a stop to his madness?

𝘼𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙖𝙩-𝙖𝙣𝙙-𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚!

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @christopher_swann for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
Profile Image for Booksandcoffeemx.
2,515 reviews132 followers
September 10, 2023
𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨!

Talk about a non-stop wild ride; it starts with a bang and from there is an action-packed story that will keep you at the edge of your seat. This is book three of the Faulkner Family Thrillers but it can be read as a standalone.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 by Christopher Swann released July 18, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
Profile Image for Christa Maurice.
Author 47 books37 followers
September 20, 2024
Mark Twain said that the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. This book has a lot of lightning bugs and even a few houseflies. And don't get me started on the dress Susie wears to her first date. That's a man-writing-a-woman hall of famer.
Profile Image for Patty.
1,983 reviews5 followers
July 26, 2024
Susannah is a great character, but this book didn't show her skills as well as the second one; I would love to read more books with her as a significant character.
Profile Image for Jessie.
79 reviews
May 2, 2024
I liked it. If you like the first book (Never Turn Back ) and the character you will like the 2nd book (Never Go Home ) and this book (Never Back Down) I FEEL Like there soo much more that could be written on all the characters and I'm excited to see if there will be anymore books with them in it.
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