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adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
i bought this when season one of the show adaptation was halfway through because i was obsessed with colter, and i really needed more of him, but put off reading it until i had the rest of the series... then i read THE RULE OF THREES by deaver and was like "oh no this guy can't write." but now season 2 of tracker is airing and i'm once again obsessed with colter and i've been in a reading slump so i decided to dig into this to see just how it compares to the series - and i guess i shouldn't be surprised they feel like two entirely different things, because that's typically how it goes, but what was really a surprise (and thankfully so) is how competently this is written compared to RULE OF THREES, which i'm about 80% convinced was AI generated still. THE NEVER GAME actually feels like a story with heart, though, with really good pacing and a refreshing take on video games; mainly, how gamers aren't really looked down on or considered violent criminals just waiting for a chance to go on a murder spree. there's some language usage that still betrays deaver's age but it's still really interesting how he approaches the gaming industry and its predatory tactics.
as for how it compares to the show? colter is essentially the same, if maybe a little rougher in the book, but the core plot of this novel outside of colter's family stuff is never in the show, which i do find to be a shame; i like the case of the week format of tracker, but this could have made for a very engaging season-long plot mystery. and since it doesn't feel AI generated like RULE OF THREES, i actually am going to continue the series - i just hope it keeps this momentum
as for how it compares to the show? colter is essentially the same, if maybe a little rougher in the book, but the core plot of this novel outside of colter's family stuff is never in the show, which i do find to be a shame; i like the case of the week format of tracker, but this could have made for a very engaging season-long plot mystery. and since it doesn't feel AI generated like RULE OF THREES, i actually am going to continue the series - i just hope it keeps this momentum
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Summary
Colter Shaw, a man who makes an income by finding missing and wanted persons in exchange for rewards posted for their recover, rolls into Silicone Valley and right into the middle of a big mess. The good news is, his restless nature and survivalist upbringing make him the perfect man for big messes. When one missing girl turns into a dead boy and a string of kidnappings, Colter dives head first into saving lives and solving the mystery of who is kidnapping people and why.
My Thoughts
I picked this book up after watching, and enjoying Tracker, a TV Show based on the Colter Shaw series. Book Colter lacks some of the warmth the actor who plays him brings to the TV show, but this was still an enjoyable, plot-driven thriller mystery.
Content
Sexual: Closed door, one night sex with a fling Colter meets while on the job with mild to moderately described making out leading up to it. Characters worry about s*x trafficking and r*pe when the first girl is kidnapped. Colter works with a cop who turns out to be lesbian. Colter is accepting, her co-workers less so.
Violence: Gun violence, injury, and death. Nothing described graphically.
Language: Swearing throughout, including repeated use of f*ck.
Religion: Little to none.
Colter Shaw, a man who makes an income by finding missing and wanted persons in exchange for rewards posted for their recover, rolls into Silicone Valley and right into the middle of a big mess. The good news is, his restless nature and survivalist upbringing make him the perfect man for big messes. When one missing girl turns into a dead boy and a string of kidnappings, Colter dives head first into saving lives and solving the mystery of who is kidnapping people and why.
My Thoughts
I picked this book up after watching, and enjoying Tracker, a TV Show based on the Colter Shaw series. Book Colter lacks some of the warmth the actor who plays him brings to the TV show, but this was still an enjoyable, plot-driven thriller mystery.
Content
Sexual: Closed door, one night sex with a fling Colter meets while on the job with mild to moderately described making out leading up to it. Characters worry about s*x trafficking and r*pe when the first girl is kidnapped. Colter works with a cop who turns out to be lesbian. Colter is accepting, her co-workers less so.
Violence: Gun violence, injury, and death. Nothing described graphically.
Language: Swearing throughout, including repeated use of f*ck.
Religion: Little to none.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I picked this book up after watching the first few episodes of the new series Tracker, which is based on this series. I mostly enjoyed it and will definitely continue on to the other books eventually, but it's definitely not something I could binge several books in a row. Deaver tells a great story, but often takes too long to do it and I generally find myself burning out by halfway through one of his books, and that was more or less the case here. It was a solid read, but one that felt a little drawn out by the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If anything, the main character didn’t have enough flaws. He could track, he could save lives, he could solve mysteries, he could woo the ladies. All from a Winnebago while unraveling the mysteries of he father’s death.
I usually like Deaver, and I loved Blue Nowhere. I just struggled to get into this one.
It’s not bad. It just feels like it’s checking the plot point boxes by rote.
I usually like Deaver, and I loved Blue Nowhere. I just struggled to get into this one.
It’s not bad. It just feels like it’s checking the plot point boxes by rote.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent
Moderate: Death