Never To Be Found
The stunning new thriller from the no.1 bestseller
Will be published approx. on 2. July 2026
Book
Hardback
416 pages
978-1-78512-936-0 (ISBN)
Description
THE BRAND NEW 2026 PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CONFESSION - now available to pre-order.
___________________
She helped him disappear.
She'll wish she hadn't . . .
In Japan, one hundred thousand people voluntarily disappear every year, aided by those who help them start over. They call them Johatsu - the evaporated.
I brought the idea to England. No judgement, no questions. Just new identities, packed bags, and discreet escape plans from abusive partners, debt, or simply lives that no longer fit.
I thought I was doing something good - honourable, even. Until now.
I know now that not everyone is fleeing hardship. I've helped someone who committed a crime to flee the police. I've disappeared a murderer.
And unless I find him, I don't know what he'll do next . . .
Praise for Never to be Found:
'Will grip you from the first page. With a fantastic concept and a fast-paced, twisty plot, this is undoubtedly one of my books of the year. A masterclass in how to write an impeccable crime novel' - JANE CASEY
'The best thriller you will read this year. Utterly original, breathtakingly gripping, forensically plotted . . . this is a masterpiece that crowns Jo Spain as one of the best writers of a generation. You will be completely sucked into the world of the evaporated, and confounded by twist after terrifying twist. Unputadownable genius, pure and simple' - SAM BLAKE
'Jo Spain's incomparable flair for plotting and a truly intriguing - and original - premise makes this a relentlessly gripping page-turner. Truly, I couldn't put it down' - CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD
'Non-stop tension, clever twists and turns, and nothing is ever as it seems' - ANDREA MARA (on Jo Spain)
___________________
She helped him disappear.
She'll wish she hadn't . . .
In Japan, one hundred thousand people voluntarily disappear every year, aided by those who help them start over. They call them Johatsu - the evaporated.
I brought the idea to England. No judgement, no questions. Just new identities, packed bags, and discreet escape plans from abusive partners, debt, or simply lives that no longer fit.
I thought I was doing something good - honourable, even. Until now.
I know now that not everyone is fleeing hardship. I've helped someone who committed a crime to flee the police. I've disappeared a murderer.
And unless I find him, I don't know what he'll do next . . .
Praise for Never to be Found:
'Will grip you from the first page. With a fantastic concept and a fast-paced, twisty plot, this is undoubtedly one of my books of the year. A masterclass in how to write an impeccable crime novel' - JANE CASEY
'The best thriller you will read this year. Utterly original, breathtakingly gripping, forensically plotted . . . this is a masterpiece that crowns Jo Spain as one of the best writers of a generation. You will be completely sucked into the world of the evaporated, and confounded by twist after terrifying twist. Unputadownable genius, pure and simple' - SAM BLAKE
'Jo Spain's incomparable flair for plotting and a truly intriguing - and original - premise makes this a relentlessly gripping page-turner. Truly, I couldn't put it down' - CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD
'Non-stop tension, clever twists and turns, and nothing is ever as it seems' - ANDREA MARA (on Jo Spain)
Reviews / Votes
Jo Spain is one of the most accomplished storytellers I know, and Never to Be Found is a precision-engineered thriller that will grip you from the first page. With a fantastic concept and a fast-paced, twisty plot, this is undoubtedly one of my books of the year. A masterclass in how to write an impeccable crime novel * JANE CASEY * The best thriller you will read this year. Utterly original, breathtakingly gripping, forensically plotted and with characters that jump off the page, this is a masterpiece that crowns Jo Spain as one of the best writers of a generation. You will be completely sucked into the world of the evaporated, and confounded by twist after terrifying twist. Unputadownable genius, pure and simple * SAM BLAKE * Jo Spain's incomparable flair for plotting and a truly intriguing - and original - premise makes this a relentlessly gripping page-turner. Truly, I couldn't put it down. * CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD * Non-stop tension, clever twists and turns, and nothing is ever as it seems * Andrea Mara * Jo Spain never disappoints * Chris Whitaker * The queen of the corkscrew plot * Sunday Times Crime Club * The Queen of Irish Thrillers * Irish Times * Few writers set up and deliver so brilliantly as this writer at the top of her game * Caz Frear *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bonnier Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 153 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78512-936-0 (9781785129360)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jo Spain is the author of thirteen bestselling thrillers, including her three No.1s, The Trial (Ireland), The Confession (Ireland) and Dirty Little Secrets (Audible). She is translated into seventeen languages and was nominated as Irish author of the year in 2024.
Jo is also a full-time screenwriter. Along with her writing partner, David Logan, she has been commissioned for the fifth season of Harry Wild, a series they showrun, co-write and executive produce, starring Jane Seymour. Jo and David also co-wrote and exec produced 2024's The Boy That Never Was, and showran and wrote Mix Tape, which has already won the audience choice award at SXSW, the prestigious U.S. festival, which launched Hacks and Beef.
Jo is currently adapting Emma Curtis' novel Invite Me In for RTE as well as her own, The Trial, with Metropolitan Pictures (Wednesday/The Banshees of Inisherin/The Tourist). Her books Don't Look Back and The Last to Disappear are also in development.
Jo is also a full-time screenwriter. Along with her writing partner, David Logan, she has been commissioned for the fifth season of Harry Wild, a series they showrun, co-write and executive produce, starring Jane Seymour. Jo and David also co-wrote and exec produced 2024's The Boy That Never Was, and showran and wrote Mix Tape, which has already won the audience choice award at SXSW, the prestigious U.S. festival, which launched Hacks and Beef.
Jo is currently adapting Emma Curtis' novel Invite Me In for RTE as well as her own, The Trial, with Metropolitan Pictures (Wednesday/The Banshees of Inisherin/The Tourist). Her books Don't Look Back and The Last to Disappear are also in development.