I liked this as a popcorn read, you munch it down without thinking a lot about what you're doing and then forget it. Deaver's formula is to introduce a suspect and make everything point that way, and then "A-HA", it's not them. Easy to figure out since you know there's still 2/3 of the book to go. Colter's background was very interesting and I liked how lessons of the past dictate his moves (true for any of us I guess). One big subplot involving his dad, and another little one (where DOES he get his money?). I know almost nothing about the computer gaming world, but the part of the plot about collecting user data - c'mon, no one is so naive today as to be surprised by any of that right? The main plot seemed awfully complicated but hey, it's entertainment. I enjoyed it, I'd buy one in an airport bookstore, but I won't actively seek out the next.
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 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.
Colton Shaw, a new character for the author. A bounty hunter of sorts, a good guy who always seems to want to help. I enjoyed the story enough, kept me interested, but seems to be missing the suspense/thriller aspect. Didn't have me on the edge of my seat, and the twists, such that they were, were kind of meh. The conclusion of the main story was ok, and a sub-story within the book was inconclusive, leading to the next installment for this character. Will I read the next book with this character? Yes probably, but I'm not on the edge of my seat waiting for it.
I'm not a huge Deaver fan but this is introducing a new character, Colter Shaw, who borders on being a PI/bounty hunter but isn't legal for either one
However, the first 1/3 of the book was good has he is trying to find a missing girl, and it goes into his background of being a 'tracker' and how he came to be one which was interesting to a point but I don't want a book riddled with 'backstory'
After he found the girl then it takes a turn and goes into 'gaming', he met another girl while looking for missing girl and now she takes him to some kind of a gaming convention? gaming is her job---that's as far as I got as I have no interest in gaming or the dark web or computer lingo riddled into a story that can only be confusing and boring
I will try another book with Colter Shaw and see where Deaver takes him in his profession of a 'tracker' and hopefully he'll create a good character
However, the first 1/3 of the book was good has he is trying to find a missing girl, and it goes into his background of being a 'tracker' and how he came to be one which was interesting to a point but I don't want a book riddled with 'backstory'
After he found the girl then it takes a turn and goes into 'gaming', he met another girl while looking for missing girl and now she takes him to some kind of a gaming convention? gaming is her job---that's as far as I got as I have no interest in gaming or the dark web or computer lingo riddled into a story that can only be confusing and boring
I will try another book with Colter Shaw and see where Deaver takes him in his profession of a 'tracker' and hopefully he'll create a good character
Introducing a new character Colter Shaw, sort of a Private Investigator who is known for tracking and finding missing persons for the reward offered. It is inferred that he does not need money and at times will forgo it.
The book is all about the video gaming industry of which I'm not a fan. I think violent video games is a danger to the younger generation especially in today's times. There are a lot of twists to this story, but the subject matter just turns me off.
The end is not an ending! You have to read the next book.
The book is all about the video gaming industry of which I'm not a fan. I think violent video games is a danger to the younger generation especially in today's times. There are a lot of twists to this story, but the subject matter just turns me off.
The end is not an ending! You have to read the next book.
