Now I'm sure that over the course of his career, Mr Deaver has probably had every superlative thrown in his direction, but this is my first review so if you'll bear with me, I'm going to throw in a few of my own. What a book. From the very beginning I was pulled right in and under, tossed around and given an emotional and thrill infused battering, much like poor Colter Shaw and the woman he is trying to save from a sinking ship. Not a metaphorical one - a literal sinking ship. That prologue, the sense of tension - that quite literal ticking clock scenario - and the almost impossible odds as Colter battles not only mother nature but rapidly onsetting hypothermia, really gets your heart thumping and sets the tone for what is still to come. Loved it. Absolutely brilliant.

What this leads us into is a delightfully twisted and case which sees our hero, Shaw, alerted to a reward being offered by a father for help in locating his missing daughter. It's not an insubstantial reward, the case by no means straightforward, but intriguing enough to capture Shaw's attention and it is just the start of a few days of tension filled, emotionally charged, tech laden adventure. Because, strange as it is to think about it now, the whole investigation really does take place over a matter of days. The killer is calculating, unemotional and above all, determined, as once you are in their sights, you are in real trouble.

I have to be honest, I was drawn to Colter Shaw straight away. I can't necessarily say why, but I was. Despite the fact that he manages to rub some of the local PD up the wrong way, he is quite enigmatic, and perhaps it was his level headed approach, his unflappable nature in a crisis, that worked for me but there was something about him that meant you knew you wanted him on your side. Jeffery Deaver has done a brilliant job of creating this character, leaving me as a reader with a feeling I knew him and yet without necessarily giving me anything concrete, such as a description of him, to hold onto. I know roughly how old he is by the foray we take into his past as certain events which have shaped the man he has become are recounted. I know who he works with, the supporting cast being slowly built up around him, and I know that he is far more than just a reward hunter and far from perfect - although perhaps not that far. That much is at least clear from this book alone. I also know that this is character I cannot wait to hear from again. I can see him becoming one of my favourites.

As for the story, without saying too much about the plot, it is clear that a lot of research has gone into this and the author creates a world which is complex, rich in colour and life, and develops a setting which is believable and dramatic. He takes the reader through the heart of Silicon Valley, from the obscenely affluent to those who just get by, creating a vision so clear that you feel as though you are there yourself. And as for the tension - there are times you could cut it with a knife. There are no end of suspects to keep you guessing, and Shaw himself is led up the wrong garden path on more than one occasion, but it all adds to the sense of something much bigger, something intrinsically bad, that drives the narrative onward. With each new victim the clock is reset, every one of them being offered the opportunity for escape, only adding to the drama.And as it builds to that final showdown, the crescendo as it were ... I found myself turning the pages faster and faster, desperate to know who was behind it all.

An absolutely outstanding read, gripping, full of misdirection, intrigue, tension and brilliant characters. I cannot wait to read more about Colter Shaw and his friends. This is no ordinary hero and no ordinary book. This is everything a thriller should be and I am off now to go and kick myself for not reading anything from the author sooner ...

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a welcome change from the Lincoln Rhyme series by the same author (not that I’ve read the most recent two, maybe they’re better!) and a great introduction to a new main character.

Colter Shaw is an intriguing protagonist, a man who makes a living collecting rewards, with a complicated past. Much of his past is revealed in this novel alongside the main plot, and seems to be setting up for either the plot of a sequel or a long-term arc across a series.

The actual plot was pretty interesting, starting with a relatively straightforward kidnapping and escalating to full on serial killer, alongside Shaw’s foray into the video game industry.

I actually really enjoyed this one compared to some of the Deaver novels I’ve read recently. Will definitely keep an eye out for the next one!

Interesting and intriguing story with lots of unusual characters and many twists and turns. There is still a mixture be solved so I hope Colder Shaw is back soon.

This is the second book in the Colter Shaw series. The first book, Captivated was more of a short story, but really introduced the reader to Colter and his antics. This book was well-written, and a nice way of introducing a new main character by a talented author. I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read some more!
Recommended.

This was a very clever murder/mystery. Great characters and lots of twists and turns. A series okidnappings and murders tied into Video Gaming. Fascinating concept and I also learnt a bit about Video Gamming. Great conclusion and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Colter Shaw can certainly play The Never Game. But can he triumph over the professionals who are supreme in their own field?

Kidnappings, and a murder or, possibly, 2, come to light in this fast paced read which will enthral.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R143NL0L7WP5YW/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Colter Shaw is a finder, helping relatives (and sometimes the police) find missing persons. When he is asked to find a missing teenager in Silicon Valley, he gets involved with a gaming blogger. When another kidnapping occurs, his investigation finds links to a popular video game, the Whispering Man, and he is forced into a race against time to save the victims from ever increasing danger. At the same time, Colter is looking into the mystery surrounding the death of his father sixteen years earlier.

This was a fast paced, action packed story with many twists and turns along the way. Several times I thought I’d worked out the reasons, before the plot swerved and blew my ideas away. Colter is a typical protagonist - something of a loner, with a mystery in his past, but I found him a likeable character and his relationship with Detective Standish made for an enjoyable partnership.

A very exciting thriller, and shows why Jeffery Deaver is such a successful author.

A thoroughly disturbing read that really bings home the theories that exposure to violence in video games can inspire the same in real life. Colter is an excellent character, working seemingly for reward but actually a pretty decent guy who wants to solve the string of games that reenact a video game. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, leaving you convinced of who the real villain is, only to have your theory snatched away last minute! The story is fast paced and the jargon limited well so that non-gamers do not get lost in the descriptions of that world.

Sophie is a nineteen year old that goes missing one summer afternoon.
She wakes up to find herself locked in a warehouse with only five objects around her and she needs to choose wisely if she wants to escape alive.
This is a new Detective series by Jeffrey Deaver and features the new character Colter Shaw.
Colter Shaw is a investigator and finds missing people for the reward money, he is a expert at hunting and finding people.
Thos is a very fast paced novel that has everything from kidnapping, sinking boats,arson ,killing and more.

I’ve not read a lot of Jeffery Deaver and after this book I don’t know why!

It’s right up my alley with short chapters that keep you interested and a main character who is quirky and I enjoyed getting to know.

This book would be ideal for the beach as it is an easy read!

I understand this is the first in a new series from Deaver and I will be reading any he brings out in the future.

Just what you’d expect from Mr Deaver. A fast-paced thriller starring no-nonsense main characters who have a job to do and boy do they have the skills to do it well. It’s the perfect thriller combo: the search for “fugitive of the week” playing out alongside the back-story of Colter’s survivalist upbringing and the reasons for it. Looks like it’s shaping up to be an excellent new series, quick to read, easy to follow and I’m game for it.

This is my first book by this author. I doubt I will rush to read another I'm afraid as it just wasn't for me. It was well written but as a non video game player the storyline didn't interest me and as such it was a plod of a read to get to the end. Saying that it is probably a book my husband would enjoy.

Loved this 2nd colter shaw story. Really opened up around the main character backstory. Enjoyed the way that the different story points intersected.

I received a free ecopy of this book in return for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

I am not new to Jeffery Deaver. I’ve read a number of his Lincoln Rhyme novels and The Bone Collector is a favourite film of mine. It’s always a tricky moment though, when the author starts a new series. It isn’t a given that you will like an accept this new hero, and Colter Shaw is very different from Rhyme.

Colter Shaw was raised by his university lecturer turned survivalist, parents. He is an expert at thinking outside the box, and, if necessary, outside the law too. He travels the country earning rewards by searching for missing people. It isn’t for the money, though. He is a restless character and needs a challenge, plus this seems like a good practical way to help people. He uses the rewards as a barometer of desperation. If you want a quick introduction to Shaw, there is a short ebook called ‘Captivated’ that will set you up. It isn’t necessary to read it before starting this book though.

In this book Colter Shaw gets involved in the world of computer gaming. He tangles with a series of kidnappings that appear to be modelled on an old but thriving game in which your avatar is left trapped with 5 items to help them escape. The pressure ramps as each new victim is presented with a more difficult level of the game.

As we go, we are introduced to Colter’s background via a series or rules his father raised him with. Most of them begin with the word ‘Never’ and though they were taught as survivalism they fit well with the life Colter leads.

The main mystery has an odd but very up to the minute solution. Just as intriguing is Colter’s personal big arc. His father’s paranoia and retreat from the world, which seemed like a form of dementia at the time, may have had a basis and Colter is aware that his father’s death was not the accident it appeared to be.

Like Deaver’s other books, this book has an attention to detail that reveals careful planning on the part of the author. Where Rhyme had lists of clues, Shaw has hand drawn maps. After an initial slow start, the pacing is fast. The characters are interesting, relatable and inclusive. Altogether this is a good solid thriller which leaves you with enough questions to make you want to read the next book in the series.

Also, someone somewhere is going to have to have to pull out the Ashton Shaw Never List as it seems like a rather useful life guide.

Before I start this review, I have a confession to make. This is the first book by Jeffrey Deaver I have read. Although it is a name I am familiar with, I have never got round to reading one of his books before and I’m pleased I finally have.

The Never Game is an intriguing start to a new series featuring Colter Shaw, an investigator with a bit of a difference. I’ve read a few novels featuring private investigators, but this is one which felt really fresh to me. There is an element of mystery about Colter, and I’m very interested to find out more about him in future books.

Colter is hired by the father of a missing woman who is desperate for news of her; Colter takes on the case with the promise of a reward as payment. But as his own investigation into the woman’s disappearance deepens, he realises that there is something much darker going on behind the scenes. And then an online blogger and a pregnant woman go missing. Is there something that connects these three cases?

In his latest book, Jeffery Deaver taps into the online gaming world, which has become hugely popular in recent years, earning companies billions of dollars in revenue each year. It’s a staggering amount of money. One game that particularly interests Colter during his investigations is an immersive game, and it plants a terrifying thought into his head as he tries to work out why people have been going missing and find who is targeting them. I’ve often thought about how certain games can have a psychological effect on people, particularly with games such as Call of Duty, and this is what Jeffery Deaver also explores here. It is a very scary thought to think about.

I turned the pages of this book really fast. I was immediately gripped by the opening; I could sense the danger and the urgency in this scene right away. Jeffrey Deaver’s writing pulls you into the story without any effort, and you can easily see that this is a writer who is very experienced at his craft. I really liked Colter, he comes from an interesting background, and I particularly found his family story intriguing which is what I think this series will run with as there are lots of interesting aspects to this part of the plot. Colter uses different methods to most investigators when he is searching for the missing girl. He has his own set of unique tracking methods which have been unique to him since he was very young.

This is a series that I am definitely interested in following. If you are new to Jeffrey Deaver as well, then this is the perfect time to start reading his books. It’s such a pacy read and with totally immersive writing; it’s exciting and a thoroughly enjoyable book. Recommended.

Our restless survivalist-background protagonist, Colter Shaw, responds to offers of rewards for finding missing people though he’s no money-grabber per se but a man of sensitivity with a high moral code – and he won’t take the offered reward unless he can track down a living person for the seeker.

In this case, he is tasked with finding a missing woman by her father, and soon finds himself immersed in the world of virtual-reality gaming as not just the first woman but other victims start popping up and it seems someone is devising his own ‘game’ for his or her victims. As the plot thickens, Shaw himself finds himself being hunted and in danger and the tension builds, setting us up beautifully for the next in the series.

I’m not remotely tech-y or interested in gaming, but there was just enough here to generate interest for a non-tech like me; thankfully the author keeps the plot in mind and gives just enough information to capture our interest, rather than getting carried away with trying to impress the audience with his tech knowledge, as is unfortunately sometimes the case with ‘tech-based’ novels.

Only got 4 stars rather than 5 'cause I'm very very sparing with my 5s ... less than 10 on my whole-life list. Wish there was a 4½ rating! Excellent plot, superb tension and characters you can invest in – what more could you ask for? A thumping read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I had read the short story introduction to this new character Colter Shaw and enjoyed that immensely and was not disappointed on this the full length story relating to Colter. Colter continues to seek out rewards from those seeking help in order to find lost loved ones. All the people he is trying to find before they are murdered or left to die alone are linked in some way and along the way a few red herrings are thrown in. The book does concern computer games but you not need to know anything about them and the descriptions help you to understand without any prior knowledge. I am so glad I kept this book to read on my holiday as I read this in one day, by the pool. The book is compulsive reading and I enjoyed this immensely and honestly did not want the book to end however it is very nicely set up at the end for a sequel and I for one cannot wait.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of Jeffrey Deaver’s latest ‘The Never Game’ in exchange for an honest review.

When 19-year old Sophie goes missing, the police seem uninterested and so her distraught father offers a reward. Enter Colter Shaw. Raised in the wilderness by survivalist parents, Shaw is an expert tracker with a keen forensic mind who locates missing persons.

This is the first novel in a new series featuring enigmatic investigator Colter Shaw. I have previously read a few books by Deaver and know that he writes well plotted thrillers and so was fairly confident this would prove a good fit for my tastes.

It was interesting how gaming was utilised in the story though like Shaw I have very little experience of it and so appreciated the exposition.

I found Colter Shaw a very appealing protagonist and liked the way his backstory was slowly revealed. I plan to keep an eye out for future books in this series and certainly feel that ‘The Never Game’ will please his existing readers and attract new ones.

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.

With thanks to Pigeonhole, Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC and the enjoyment of reading an excellent novel.
Jeffery Deaver is a storyteller in the masterclass category of storytelling. The words just leap off the page and are an engrossing read, whilst the story is complex and about gamers, kidnappers and murderers, plus the odd conspiracy theory thrown in it weaves and comes together at the end. Then you are left with another conundrum, what will Colt do next?
Highly recommended.