Never cover art

Never

A Globe-spanning, Contemporary Tour-de-Force from the International Bestselling Author of the Kingsbridge Series

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Never

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: January LaVoy
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About this listen

'Ken Follett can't write a bad book, and Never is his best' – Stephen King

Expertly researched and visionary in scale, international no. 1 bestseller Ken Follett’s Never is more than a thriller. It imagines a World War Three scenario we all hope never comes true, one which will keep you transfixed until the final word . . .

A stolen US army drone.
A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert.
A secret stash of deadly chemicals.


Each is a threat to global stability. Each can be overcome with only the highest levels of diplomacy. But when those in charge disagree and refuse to back down, an international chain reaction kicks off with potentially catastrophic consequences: a world edging closer to war . . .

Now three people must work with the utmost skill to stop that from happening:

A spy working undercover with jihadis.
A brilliant Chinese spymaster.
A US president beleaguered by a populist rival for the next election.


The only question is – in a game of brinksmanship, can the inevitable ever be stopped?

'Bold in scale and meticulously researched' Sunday Times Thriller of the Month

'Stunning . . . one of the most compelling reads of the year' – Daily Express

'Urgent and fiercely compelling’ Washington Post

More than 175 million copies sold worldwide. Published in over eighty territories and thirty-seven languages. The international no.1 bestselling phenomenon returns.

Genre Fiction Military Political Science Fiction Spies & Politics Technothrillers Thriller & Suspense War & Military Espionage Fiction War Exciting Scary Middle East Imperial Japan Iran China

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Critic reviews

Ken Follett has never been short of ambition. And it’s the global scope and vast multinational cast that chiefly impress in Never, his return to contemporary storytelling . . . Bold in scale and meticulously researched, Never makes other international spy novels appear timid, lazy and parochial (Sunday Times Thriller of the Month November 2021)
I couldn't put it down . . . terrifying read . . . masterful detail . . . It's a stunning thriller and one of the most compelling reads of the year. It's not quite The Godfather, but it comes pretty close (Daily Express)
A master storyteller, Follett has created a tale vast in scale, yet richly detailed, exploring the consequences of international power plays and the chilling imminence of global catastrophe.
An ambitious and compelling narrative, exploring the consequences of international power plays and the chilling imminence of global catastrophe (Press Association syndicated review)
Urgent and fiercely compelling . . . Never is first-rate entertainment that has something important to say. It deserves the popular success it will almost certainly achieve (Washington Post)
Superstar novelist Ken Follett’s what-if political thriller . . . is so exciting – and so plausible – you won’t want to look away (Apple Books Best Book of the Month)
Settle in for a thrilling ride (CNN.com)
Follett’s story captivates (Christian Science Monitor)
A complex, scary thriller that feels too plausible for comfort. You’ll be so absorbed in the story threads that you’ll follow them anywhere – and you’ll suddenly realize you’ve read hundreds of pages . . . On one level, it’s great entertainment; on another, a window into a sobering possibility (Kirkus Reviews starred review)
Absolutely compelling . . . A smart, scary, and all-too-plausible thriller (Booklist)
Terrific . . . A powerful, commanding performance from one of the top writers in the genre (Publishers Weekly starred review)
[Follett] weaves a web of intrigue . . . Shocking to the very last page
Taking readers on a thrilling, rollercoaster ride through 800 pages of dazzling storytelling, Follett brings his extraordinary visionary talents to this powerful and far-reaching novel.

A pacey, character-driven thriller set against the backdrop of an imminent Third World War

Told in Follett's hallmark widescreen style, the blockbuster thriller is packed with memorable characters and global politics, it's a nail-biting ride!
All stars
Most relevant
The best book I have listened to this year and I listen to a lot of audio books
Wow

Wow

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I have been a Follett fan for decades and have always rushed to his latest novel, they are always impeccable in their research and have good story lines with twists and turns. Never does not deliver this, there are 2 stories one on people smuggling and the other on nuclear conflict. It’s almost as though the author has tried to combine two lesser books. Overall not up to the normal standard.

The reader’s mispronunciation of various names in particular Tamara is also annoying!

Two unconnected stories

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Despite the rather cheesy beginning that does grate a little, it’s definitely worth persevering with. A very realistic scenario of how the world could slide into nuclear war.

Slow start but gripping thriller

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Really enjoyed the character building throughout the story. The result was at least 10 characters with whom the listener was invested in. The way in which this story concluded was therefore disappointing in the extreme. Having listened to nearly 20hrs I was bringing to worry when I saw I had just an hour to go and couldn't fathom how the tale could be concluded satisfactorily. My concern was well placed. The story ends on a cliff hanger which in what I assume is a standalone novel is a poor and lazy conclusion I felt.

Story was 90% brilliant. Let down by last 10%

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What a book I held my breath through most of it a must listen do it now

Fabulous

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