Never: A Novel

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 54,438 ratings

Price: 27.56

Last update: 01-02-2025


About this item

New York Times Best Seller

The new must-listen epic from master storyteller Ken Follett: more than a thriller, it’s an action-packed, globe-spanning drama set in the present day.

“A compelling story, and only too realistic.” (Lawrence H. Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary)

“Every catastrophe begins with a little problem that doesn’t get fixed.” So says Pauline Green, president of the United States, in Follett’s nerve-racking drama of international tension.

A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert; a stolen US Army drone; an uninhabited Japanese island; and one country’s secret stash of deadly chemical poisons: all these play roles in a relentlessly escalating crisis.

Struggling to prevent the outbreak of world war are a young woman intelligence officer; a spy working undercover with jihadists; a brilliant Chinese spymaster; and Pauline herself, beleaguered by a populist rival for the next president election.

Never is an extraordinary novel, full of heroines and villains, false prophets and elite warriors, jaded politicians and opportunistic revolutionaries. It brims with cautionary wisdom for our times, and delivers a visceral, heart-pounding story that transports listeners to the brink of the unimaginable.


Top reviews from the United States

  • R. D. Frank
    5.0 out of 5 stars exceptional
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
    Another incredibly detailed, interesting, and exciting masterpiece from Mr. Follett. Held my rapt attention from start to finish. Major kudos!
  • Peggy P
    4.0 out of 5 stars NEVER is a nuclear drama
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2024
    It was a good book but the ending was a surprise. I was interested in the stories of each character and was fond of the the characters.
    Ken Follett is always a great story teller.
  • Mike Mohn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Ken Follett,
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2024
    This book is AMAZING! Never is a political thriller that really dives into how a bunch of seemingly random events can escalate into something huge and dangerous on a global scale. The story follows different characters like a U.S. president, a CIA operative, and an intelligence officer, all trying to make the right choices in a super tense situation. Follett does a great job with the details, making the whole scenario feel pretty realistic, which amps up the suspense. Even though some parts drag a bit and the political stuff might feel heavy, the story is still gripping and makes you think about how easily things can go wrong in our interconnected world. If you're into thrillers that mix action with real-world issues, Never is definitely worth checking out.
  • DD
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not up to Follett's Standards
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2024
    Anything by Ken Follett is almost guaranteed to be well written and very readable. This book is that, but doesn't live up to his normal standards otherwise. Follett excels at historical fiction, particularly anything taking place during WWII or older. This book revolves around a number of characters involved in increasing tensions between the US and China potentially leading to nuclear war. I found much of the plot unrealistic. Some of that was probably to make the plot work (e.g., a weak Chinese leader that bears no resemblance to dictator-for-live Xi Jinping), but some of it was unnecessary (e.g., some of the author's biases regarding diplomacy, civil-military interaction, etc. shine through). Bottom line, you probably won't regret reading this book, but don't expect it to be at the level of the Knightsbridge series or the Century Trilogy.
  • Peter M Beaumont
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another gem from Follett
    Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024
    Scarily real, logically thought through and emotionally charged, another breathtaking masterpiece from Ken Follett, demonstrating he is still at the top of his game.
  • uncleraffiki
    4.0 out of 5 stars Is another ending possible?
    Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2024
    Enjoyed the story very much which intertwined concurrent present-day events from various parts of the globe; however, did not care for the ending. Note: I get a lot out of this author’s history lessons, and believe he performs detailed and thorough research for his works with which he uses the novel as a teaching medium. I’ve read at least 20 of his, and can highly recommend all but this one (the conclusion anyway) and the Hammer of Eden. Pillars of the Earth got me hooked early on — and I’ve read all 5 in the Kingsbridge series. The Century Trilogy also not to be missed.
  • Kimba
    5.0 out of 5 stars Follett’s talent at it’s best
    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
    This story follows the lives of citizens in many parts of the world, all trying to do the right thing for themselves and their countries. The story is like a train chugging along to an inevitable destination. Will these people make the correct decisions to stop that train? Read this novel to find out. A comprehensive look at humanity and how the decisions made can affect the world.
  • langleyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars A unique story line
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024
    Ken Follett is one of the most prolific authors of over arcing series that I consider "must reads". He also has a significant number of stand alone stories that should come stamped with "BINGE READ" on the cover. His books cover so many differing eras and the series span huge pieces of history in many countries with immigrant history featuring in many of them. Follett is a "visual" writer. He skillfully paints the characters and communities in his books, making them very hard to forget. He does tend to pack alot of story into each of his books, this one is a little over 800 pages.

    In the multinational thriller, NEVER, Follett splits the story into three world views as they work to stop those who would see a WWIII launch using nuclear weapons. As these three groups work their seperate goals, readers get a glimpse of prevailing politics as they set policy to aggravate the other parties instead of focusing on the immediate threat. The story line is full of tension and suspense, each battle could push the world powers into destroying sections of every country. This was an easy 5 star read, but then, Follett books usually are.

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