Never imagine a series of world events pushing the world closer to a third world war that few would survive. First, a conflict breaks out between US-backed Chad and China-backed Sudan in Central Africa, a region that has armed Islamic extremists with Chinese-made weapons from North Korea. This puts the two world superpowers at loggerheads.

Then the Chinese threats against a Vietnamese oil exploration vessel with American geologists on board raise the tension.

A military rebellion against the Supreme Leader in North Korea, a communist state that China will not let fall into the hands of US-backed South Korea, brings the world closer to crisis.

And with the rebels now controlling a military base housing six of North Korea’s nuclear weapons, the stakes could not be higher.

It is only on the last page of the book that readers find out if two people trying to stop the nuclear devastation of a World War III, US President Pauline Green and Chang Kai, China’s Vice Minister of International Intelligence , succeed.

It’s a terrifying read, as Follett shows how easily this nightmare scenario could happen. In masterly detail, his quick account explores the lives of a group of endearing figures in North Africa, China, North Korea and the United States.

It’s a mind-boggling thriller and one of the most compelling reads of the year.

It’s not quite The Godfather, but it comes close enough.

Never by Ken Follett, Macmillan, £ 20