How does one reach a world war?

In the Sahara Desert, two intelligence agents follow the trail of a powerful terrorist group, risking their lives with every step. In China, a high-ranking government official with great ambitions battles against the old hardline hawks of the Party who threaten to push the country to a point of no return. And in the United States, the President faces a global crisis and the siege of her relentless political opponents. She is willing to do everything to prevent an unnecessary war. But when an act of aggression leads to another and the worlds most powerful nations are caught in a complex web of alliances from which they cannot escape, a frantic race against time begins. Can anyone, even with the best intentions and exceptional skills, stop the inevitable?

Never is an extraordinary thriller, full of heroines and villains, false prophets, elite agents, disillusioned politicians, and cynical revolutionaries. Follett sends a warning message for our times in an intense and thrilling story that transports readers to the edge of the abyss.

When I was researching for Fall of Giants, I was struck by the realization that World War I was a war that nobody wanted. No European leader on either side intended for it to happen. But, one by one, the emperors and prime ministers made decisions - logical and moderate decisions - that brought us one step closer to the most terrible conflict the world has ever known. I came to believe that it was all a tragic accident. And I wondered: could it happen again?