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Zero Days
Ruth Ware returns with this adrenaline-fueled thriller about a woman in a race against time to clear her name and find her husband’s murderer.
Hired by companies to break into buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are the best penetration specialists in the business. But after a routine assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their suspect—her.
Suddenly on the run and quickly running out of options, Jack must decide who she can trust as she circles closer to the real killer.
Hired by companies to break into buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are the best penetration specialists in the business. But after a routine assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their suspect—her.
Suddenly on the run and quickly running out of options, Jack must decide who she can trust as she circles closer to the real killer.
356 pages, Hardcover
First published June 20, 2023
About the author
Ruth Ware
28 books43.4k followersRuth Ware grew up in Sussex, on the south coast of England. After graduating from Manchester University she moved to Paris, before settling in North London. She has worked as a waitress, a bookseller, a teacher of English as a foreign language and a press officer. She is married with two small children, and In a Dark, Dark Wood is her début thriller.
Find her on twitter at www.twitter.com/ruthwarewriter, on facebook at www.facebook.com/ruthwarewriter or via her website - www.ruthware.com
Find her on twitter at www.twitter.com/ruthwarewriter, on facebook at www.facebook.com/ruthwarewriter or via her website - www.ruthware.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,661 reviews
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 22, 2023DNF - 15%
I would usually give a book more of a chance than this-- especially one written by an author I've enjoyed before --but the first few chapters are putting me to sleep. I'm not interested in the protagonist; I don't care what happened to Gabe. Also, I've been underwhelmed by Ware's last couple of books and I don't have it in me right now to persevere for what is probably going to be a three star read at most.
I would usually give a book more of a chance than this-- especially one written by an author I've enjoyed before --but the first few chapters are putting me to sleep. I'm not interested in the protagonist; I don't care what happened to Gabe. Also, I've been underwhelmed by Ware's last couple of books and I don't have it in me right now to persevere for what is probably going to be a three star read at most.
June 2, 2023
In a word I would say this novel was disappointing. I have enjoyed many of Ms. Ware’s earlier books including “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” and “The Woman in Cabin 10”, this book was very different! Although this was also character driven, the structure of the novel was very “loose” and grew very repetitive in time.
PROS:
An interesting and unique premise. Jack Cross and her husband Gabe are PEN testers. They are hired by businesses etc to see if their premises and their online security is “hack proof” or if there are areas of concern.
The story moves fast enough, so if you enjoy a high level of cat and mouse chases, this one will work for you.
CONS:
After 13% on my Kindle (I checked) Jack goes on the run from the police and she doesn’t stop until the conclusion of the story.
I found Jack to be an unbelievable character. Though she was obviously athletic and skilled in escape methods because of her job, she was portrayed as having almost superwoman skills. This always bothers me in a book – how injured and sick can you be and still climb high fences, outrun the police, etc etc.
There are only so many ways you can describe the pain you are in and your injury. Over and over we are told how large the wound was, how infected it was, how she had to change the dressings!!
I just grew tired of the chase and kept waiting for something exciting to happen!!
The ending was unsatisfying and vague.
I had very high expectations for this one. I acknowledge that every book this author writes is different, this one just didn’t work as well for me.
I would still recommend it if you enjoy a quick read and lots of chase scenes!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
PROS:
An interesting and unique premise. Jack Cross and her husband Gabe are PEN testers. They are hired by businesses etc to see if their premises and their online security is “hack proof” or if there are areas of concern.
The story moves fast enough, so if you enjoy a high level of cat and mouse chases, this one will work for you.
CONS:
After 13% on my Kindle (I checked) Jack goes on the run from the police and she doesn’t stop until the conclusion of the story.
I found Jack to be an unbelievable character. Though she was obviously athletic and skilled in escape methods because of her job, she was portrayed as having almost superwoman skills. This always bothers me in a book – how injured and sick can you be and still climb high fences, outrun the police, etc etc.
There are only so many ways you can describe the pain you are in and your injury. Over and over we are told how large the wound was, how infected it was, how she had to change the dressings!!
I just grew tired of the chase and kept waiting for something exciting to happen!!
The ending was unsatisfying and vague.
I had very high expectations for this one. I acknowledge that every book this author writes is different, this one just didn’t work as well for me.
I would still recommend it if you enjoy a quick read and lots of chase scenes!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
April 19, 2024
I am breathless! This book is a heart-throbbing, action-packed thriller with Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Fugitive vibes! The tempo escalates every second, pumping up the adrenaline and leaving you sweaty.
It hooks you from the beginning with an adventurous start, drawing you into a murder mystery and chanting for Jack to run faster! The book is more entertaining than poorly written, big-budgeted action movies featuring A-list stars on Netflix. In my opinion, readers should ignore those movies on streaming services and instead invest their time in reading more thrillers written by brilliant authors like Ruth Ware.
The plot revolves around Jack and her husband, Gabe, who make an excellent team as pen testers, requiring them to break into the buildings of companies to test their computers and physical security by finding the weak links. Unfortunately, one of their tests does not go as planned. Jack finds herself being dragged out of the building by the security team of the company, unable to reach her husband during their job.
When she returns home, she finds her husband drenched in a pool of blood. There are no signs of breaking in, and the murder weapon, a knife, has only Jack's fingerprints on it, making her a person of interest. Before she can be convicted by officers, she hits the road, starting her escape to find the perpetrator of the murder and prove her own innocence.
With limited access to money and no proper shelter to sleep in, the streets become her only home until someone finds her trace. But she is determined to clear her name and avenge her husband's death by conducting her own investigation, confronting their colleagues, friends, and anyone who could have benefited from Gabe's murder.
Although the identity of the killer is a little obvious, I still enjoyed the last twist, which was played smartly. This may not be my favorite work by the author, but I still enjoyed the riveting and captivating writing style. Jack was a tough, smart, and capable action heroine that I could easily connect with.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press for sharing this brilliant page-turner's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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It hooks you from the beginning with an adventurous start, drawing you into a murder mystery and chanting for Jack to run faster! The book is more entertaining than poorly written, big-budgeted action movies featuring A-list stars on Netflix. In my opinion, readers should ignore those movies on streaming services and instead invest their time in reading more thrillers written by brilliant authors like Ruth Ware.
The plot revolves around Jack and her husband, Gabe, who make an excellent team as pen testers, requiring them to break into the buildings of companies to test their computers and physical security by finding the weak links. Unfortunately, one of their tests does not go as planned. Jack finds herself being dragged out of the building by the security team of the company, unable to reach her husband during their job.
When she returns home, she finds her husband drenched in a pool of blood. There are no signs of breaking in, and the murder weapon, a knife, has only Jack's fingerprints on it, making her a person of interest. Before she can be convicted by officers, she hits the road, starting her escape to find the perpetrator of the murder and prove her own innocence.
With limited access to money and no proper shelter to sleep in, the streets become her only home until someone finds her trace. But she is determined to clear her name and avenge her husband's death by conducting her own investigation, confronting their colleagues, friends, and anyone who could have benefited from Gabe's murder.
Although the identity of the killer is a little obvious, I still enjoyed the last twist, which was played smartly. This may not be my favorite work by the author, but I still enjoyed the riveting and captivating writing style. Jack was a tough, smart, and capable action heroine that I could easily connect with.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press for sharing this brilliant page-turner's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
December 12, 2024
**4.5-stars**
Ruth Ware is one of my favorite authors. I look forward to her new releases every year. Part of my attraction to her writing is the style of her storytelling.
Her mysteries have a classic-feel, while also feeling ultra-modern in settings and set-ups. The Turn of the Key would be a good example of what I mean by that.
Her last release, The It Girl, channeled a bit more of a dark academia setting; a popular sub-genre of the past couple years. Even in that setting though, I found her mystery elements still held the classic-feel of her earlier works.
In Zero Days, Ware traverses into Techno-Thriller territory and while that's not a sub-genre I tend to gravitate to, when I pick them up I do often enjoy them. I'm happy to report, I feel like Ware really delivered with this story.
I found it incredibly gripping from the very first moments. I couldn't put it down. It was exciting and fast-paced, with great moments of tension.
In this story, we're following Jack, a penetration specialist by trade. Sounds intriguing already, doesn't it? Basically, her and her husband, Gabe, are hired on by companies to break into their buildings and systems, to see where they need to improve their security.
It's after one of these jobs that Jack returns home to find her husband has been murdered. Overcome with despair, Jack makes a series of mistakes, which after she contacts the police, make her look suspicious.
It's clear the police think she is responsible for her husband's death, but Jack is innocent. This means the killer is still out there somewhere and Jack will need to find them in order to clear her name.
Jack goes on the run. From what she can tell, someone is trying to frame her. She's not going to go down for this. Not without a fight, anyway.
Unsure who she can trust, Jack does the best she can to lay low and evade detection, all while performing an investigation into Gabe's murder.
The police are never far behind though, turning this one into a fierce game of cat-v-mouse.
Jack is shocked at the things she uncovers, but will she have time to prove the things she has found, or will she end up being another victim in a vast conspiracy?
I thought this was a fantastically-entertaining ride. I listened to the audiobook and per usual, really vibed with the narration of Imogen Church; one of my favorites.
She became Jack to me and the tension she was able to illicit with her voice-work only helped to heighten the experience of this story for me.
I felt the desperation of this protagonist. Jack did have a lot of skills that were helpful to her in these circumstances, but things definitely got dire. I was at the edge of my seat with anticipation. I just wanted her to be okay.
I did predict the baddie, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment. I think Ware was leading us there pretty close to when I figured it out anyway. Then once you know, there's still extra levels of tension and intrigue continuing to build. Because even though Jack knows, she still has to prove it.
Overall, I was impressed with this. It's out of the box for Ware and I found it to be extremely fun and refreshing. I really think she did a great job with it.
While I am looking forward to more of her classic-feeling locked room mysteries, I definitely wouldn't turn down another one like this either. That's a good sign!!
Definitely recommend!
Ruth Ware is one of my favorite authors. I look forward to her new releases every year. Part of my attraction to her writing is the style of her storytelling.
Her mysteries have a classic-feel, while also feeling ultra-modern in settings and set-ups. The Turn of the Key would be a good example of what I mean by that.
Her last release, The It Girl, channeled a bit more of a dark academia setting; a popular sub-genre of the past couple years. Even in that setting though, I found her mystery elements still held the classic-feel of her earlier works.
In Zero Days, Ware traverses into Techno-Thriller territory and while that's not a sub-genre I tend to gravitate to, when I pick them up I do often enjoy them. I'm happy to report, I feel like Ware really delivered with this story.
I found it incredibly gripping from the very first moments. I couldn't put it down. It was exciting and fast-paced, with great moments of tension.
In this story, we're following Jack, a penetration specialist by trade. Sounds intriguing already, doesn't it? Basically, her and her husband, Gabe, are hired on by companies to break into their buildings and systems, to see where they need to improve their security.
It's after one of these jobs that Jack returns home to find her husband has been murdered. Overcome with despair, Jack makes a series of mistakes, which after she contacts the police, make her look suspicious.
It's clear the police think she is responsible for her husband's death, but Jack is innocent. This means the killer is still out there somewhere and Jack will need to find them in order to clear her name.
Jack goes on the run. From what she can tell, someone is trying to frame her. She's not going to go down for this. Not without a fight, anyway.
Unsure who she can trust, Jack does the best she can to lay low and evade detection, all while performing an investigation into Gabe's murder.
The police are never far behind though, turning this one into a fierce game of cat-v-mouse.
Jack is shocked at the things she uncovers, but will she have time to prove the things she has found, or will she end up being another victim in a vast conspiracy?
I thought this was a fantastically-entertaining ride. I listened to the audiobook and per usual, really vibed with the narration of Imogen Church; one of my favorites.
She became Jack to me and the tension she was able to illicit with her voice-work only helped to heighten the experience of this story for me.
I felt the desperation of this protagonist. Jack did have a lot of skills that were helpful to her in these circumstances, but things definitely got dire. I was at the edge of my seat with anticipation. I just wanted her to be okay.
I did predict the baddie, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment. I think Ware was leading us there pretty close to when I figured it out anyway. Then once you know, there's still extra levels of tension and intrigue continuing to build. Because even though Jack knows, she still has to prove it.
Overall, I was impressed with this. It's out of the box for Ware and I found it to be extremely fun and refreshing. I really think she did a great job with it.
While I am looking forward to more of her classic-feeling locked room mysteries, I definitely wouldn't turn down another one like this either. That's a good sign!!
Definitely recommend!
June 20, 2023
Ruth Ware has written more HITS than MISSES for me, but this wasn’t a favorite.
Known for her Agatha Christie style “locked room” mysteries, my PAST reviews for her books have often used the words, “GOTHIC SUSPENSE”, “ATMOSPHERIC” and “DARK”.
And, NONE of those words apply here.
This book is a complete departure from her usual work-a pure “adrenaline-fueled” thriller-which just doesn’t fit my PERSONAL taste.
Jacintha (Jack) Cross does the “Mission Impossible” type break-ins, aided by her husband, Gabe Medway who is a digital security expert and “hacktivist”. They are “Penetration Specialists” hired by companies to evaluate their security and expose weaknesses.
After a routine assignment hits a snag, Jack returns home to find that Gabe has been brutally murdered.
It turns out that Gabe has just acquired a “life insurance” policy which means that Gabe either feared for his life, or that someone else had applied for it under his name, to frame Jack.
Despite the fact that Jack suffered an injury that should be attended to at a hospital, she decides to RUN from Police, rather than cooperate-preferring to SOLVE the case on her own, and CLEAR their names.
For a woman with mad skills-she sure does make some questionable decisions!
I guessed the PERP early on, and I don’t personally enjoy the “FUGITIVE” trope. So, suffice to say, I missed the style of her previous work. If you enjoy “action movies” this will probably be a HIT for you!
My buddy readers, DeAnn and MarilynW, did enjoy this one a bit more than I did-be sure to watch for their reviews for additional thoughts!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Gallery/Scout Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Known for her Agatha Christie style “locked room” mysteries, my PAST reviews for her books have often used the words, “GOTHIC SUSPENSE”, “ATMOSPHERIC” and “DARK”.
And, NONE of those words apply here.
This book is a complete departure from her usual work-a pure “adrenaline-fueled” thriller-which just doesn’t fit my PERSONAL taste.
Jacintha (Jack) Cross does the “Mission Impossible” type break-ins, aided by her husband, Gabe Medway who is a digital security expert and “hacktivist”. They are “Penetration Specialists” hired by companies to evaluate their security and expose weaknesses.
After a routine assignment hits a snag, Jack returns home to find that Gabe has been brutally murdered.
It turns out that Gabe has just acquired a “life insurance” policy which means that Gabe either feared for his life, or that someone else had applied for it under his name, to frame Jack.
Despite the fact that Jack suffered an injury that should be attended to at a hospital, she decides to RUN from Police, rather than cooperate-preferring to SOLVE the case on her own, and CLEAR their names.
For a woman with mad skills-she sure does make some questionable decisions!
I guessed the PERP early on, and I don’t personally enjoy the “FUGITIVE” trope. So, suffice to say, I missed the style of her previous work. If you enjoy “action movies” this will probably be a HIT for you!
My buddy readers, DeAnn and MarilynW, did enjoy this one a bit more than I did-be sure to watch for their reviews for additional thoughts!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Gallery/Scout Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
July 27, 2023
Refreshingly different than the author's typical gothic thrillers!
Jacintha (Jack) and her husband, Gabe, are “pen” (penetration) specialists hired by companies to break into businesses and reveal the weaknesses in their security systems. Jack is the one who does the actual breaking in while Gabe manages the tech end of things and is the voice in her ear via a microphone.
But one night, things go awry and she arrives home to find her husband dead. It soon becomes clear that she is being framed and her only option is to go on the run and use her considerable skills to find the killer and clear her name.
When many thrillers tend to be nearly indistinguishable from one another, I appreciate a new and different theme. It was obvious the author did her research, and I liked that I learned something new, as this wasn’t a job I was familiar with.
I actually hesitated to google “penetration specialist”….well, because, you know…I once googled "Big Toy "when researching the brand of my kids' school playground equipment, and it didn't go well 😳🤣...but I was pleasantly surprised to find penetration specialist is a real job requiring expertise in computer tech and cyber security
The situations Jack found herself in with the police close on her heels in was exciting and tense. The fact she was seriously hurt, and could trust no one, added to the harrowing scenes.
This was a fast paced and entertaining story that I could see playing well on the big screen.
Some readers aren’t a fan of this new genre for the author, but count me as a fan!
Jacintha (Jack) and her husband, Gabe, are “pen” (penetration) specialists hired by companies to break into businesses and reveal the weaknesses in their security systems. Jack is the one who does the actual breaking in while Gabe manages the tech end of things and is the voice in her ear via a microphone.
But one night, things go awry and she arrives home to find her husband dead. It soon becomes clear that she is being framed and her only option is to go on the run and use her considerable skills to find the killer and clear her name.
When many thrillers tend to be nearly indistinguishable from one another, I appreciate a new and different theme. It was obvious the author did her research, and I liked that I learned something new, as this wasn’t a job I was familiar with.
I actually hesitated to google “penetration specialist”….well, because, you know…I once googled "Big Toy "when researching the brand of my kids' school playground equipment, and it didn't go well 😳🤣...but I was pleasantly surprised to find penetration specialist is a real job requiring expertise in computer tech and cyber security
The situations Jack found herself in with the police close on her heels in was exciting and tense. The fact she was seriously hurt, and could trust no one, added to the harrowing scenes.
This was a fast paced and entertaining story that I could see playing well on the big screen.
Some readers aren’t a fan of this new genre for the author, but count me as a fan!
August 6, 2023
The chase is on...
This was action-packed, with some heart racing scenes that kept me listening. I found myself cheering Jack on and feeling the adrenaline rush as she got herself into some slippery situations, and OUCH, the wound she endured, literally gave me anxiety.
There is a lot of running! Go, go, go!
I was intrigued by the premise of Jack and her husband Gabe working as a team of pen testers. Their jobs were to find security breaches for companies so they could tighten up and prevent anyone with an intent to commit a crime from breaking in. When a job goes sideways, Jack finds herself a suspect and caught up in a frenzied race against time.
Predictable, but I was entertained and had fun with this one. I wouldn't mind a second book either! You GO Jack!
Narration by Imogen Church which I enjoyed, but her male voices were a bit awkward. 14 hrs/10 min.
This was action-packed, with some heart racing scenes that kept me listening. I found myself cheering Jack on and feeling the adrenaline rush as she got herself into some slippery situations, and OUCH, the wound she endured, literally gave me anxiety.
There is a lot of running! Go, go, go!
I was intrigued by the premise of Jack and her husband Gabe working as a team of pen testers. Their jobs were to find security breaches for companies so they could tighten up and prevent anyone with an intent to commit a crime from breaking in. When a job goes sideways, Jack finds herself a suspect and caught up in a frenzied race against time.
Predictable, but I was entertained and had fun with this one. I wouldn't mind a second book either! You GO Jack!
Narration by Imogen Church which I enjoyed, but her male voices were a bit awkward. 14 hrs/10 min.
July 2, 2023
I’m a huge Ruth Ware fan. So even after seeing mixed reviews for her latest, I still had to have a go at it.
Jack and her husband Gabe have a fairly unique business. They penetrate companies to expose potential security weaknesses. After their latest job and a few extra stops along the way Jack exhausted, heads home.
As soon as she opens the door she senses something wrong. Gabe is still sitting at his computer but not busily typing away on his keyboard. That’s because Gabe is rather dead. And blood is scattered in every direction!
Everybody knows loved ones are always the prime suspect! When the police surround Jack to make an arrest, she makes a desperate escape. Why would you run if you’re not guilty? Fair enough. She needs to find Gabe’s real killer.
Loved the premise, though I had just read something quite similar recently . But this one just failed to grab me. I think I got lost in the details. I never felt the rush and urgency of her escape, staying one step ahead of the police.
Her injuries, lack of food and listening to Gabe’s voice cheering her on in her head just became repetitive. Not to mention I had this one solved very early on.
I listened to the audio and was surprised that even a favorite narrator of mine - Imogene Church couldn’t pull out an extra star for me.
I’m still a huge Ruth Ware fan and will be looking forward to her next release.
Jack and her husband Gabe have a fairly unique business. They penetrate companies to expose potential security weaknesses. After their latest job and a few extra stops along the way Jack exhausted, heads home.
As soon as she opens the door she senses something wrong. Gabe is still sitting at his computer but not busily typing away on his keyboard. That’s because Gabe is rather dead. And blood is scattered in every direction!
Everybody knows loved ones are always the prime suspect! When the police surround Jack to make an arrest, she makes a desperate escape. Why would you run if you’re not guilty? Fair enough. She needs to find Gabe’s real killer.
Loved the premise, though I had just read something quite similar recently . But this one just failed to grab me. I think I got lost in the details. I never felt the rush and urgency of her escape, staying one step ahead of the police.
Her injuries, lack of food and listening to Gabe’s voice cheering her on in her head just became repetitive. Not to mention I had this one solved very early on.
I listened to the audio and was surprised that even a favorite narrator of mine - Imogene Church couldn’t pull out an extra star for me.
I’m still a huge Ruth Ware fan and will be looking forward to her next release.
March 20, 2023
ZERO DAYS was a nail-biting rollercoaster ride, and I loved every minute! Honestly, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this book because techno-stuff is not my thing at all. BUT, I trust Ruth Ware and she did not disappoint!
Jack (Jacintha) and her husband Gabe are "pen testers," people hired by companies to break into their buildings to find security system weak spots. Jack is more of the "muscle" who does the breaking in, while Gabe is the tech-savvy one whose voice is in her earpiece guiding her along.
It's after one of these security jobs that Jack comes home to find her beloved Gabe brutally murdered. With Jack being the prime suspect, she quickly finds herself on the run from police with very few resources and people she can trust. She has to figure out who murdered Gabe and why before the police close in.
I'm not a fast reader by any means, but I flew through this book in two evenings. Wow!! Jack was an amazing character, very strong, clever, and resilient. There were a few times when I was yelling at her about one thing or another, but I cut her some slack. The amount of stress she was under was incredible. I enjoyed learning about her relationships with the people closest to her, even though one had to end so tragically.
I think ZERO DAYS will end up being one of my favorite Ruth Ware novels. Plenty of tension to keep me turning the pages, and emotion to make Jack's predicament compelling.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this book. Opinions are my own.
Jack (Jacintha) and her husband Gabe are "pen testers," people hired by companies to break into their buildings to find security system weak spots. Jack is more of the "muscle" who does the breaking in, while Gabe is the tech-savvy one whose voice is in her earpiece guiding her along.
It's after one of these security jobs that Jack comes home to find her beloved Gabe brutally murdered. With Jack being the prime suspect, she quickly finds herself on the run from police with very few resources and people she can trust. She has to figure out who murdered Gabe and why before the police close in.
I'm not a fast reader by any means, but I flew through this book in two evenings. Wow!! Jack was an amazing character, very strong, clever, and resilient. There were a few times when I was yelling at her about one thing or another, but I cut her some slack. The amount of stress she was under was incredible. I enjoyed learning about her relationships with the people closest to her, even though one had to end so tragically.
I think ZERO DAYS will end up being one of my favorite Ruth Ware novels. Plenty of tension to keep me turning the pages, and emotion to make Jack's predicament compelling.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this book. Opinions are my own.
June 24, 2023
Zero Days is a fast-paced thriller, featuring Jack, a fugitive on the run from the law. She and her husband Gabe are verified Penetration Specialists, paid to break into companies to assess their security vulnerabilities. When Gabe is brutally murdered and Jack is framed as his killer, she goes on the run in order to avoid capture from the police and investigate who was behind the hit. However, she acquires a life threatening injury along the way, time is running out, and she doesn’t know who to trust. Who killed Gabe? Will Jack discover the truth before it’s too late?
Ruth Ware is definitely a hit or miss author for me, I really enjoyed The It Girl, her last thriller. However, while Zero Days began at lightning speed, my interest soon waned and I was left disappointed. Why?
1. The list of suspects is overwhelmingly SHORT and it is TOO OBVIOUS who is behind the hit.
2. As a Pen Specialist, Jack’s impressive skills at hacking and breaking in should immediately be used to formulate a plan. She appears to not realize this as an option until 3/4 of the way through the book. Huh?
3. The long lengthy paragraphs contain too many unnecessary details. I found myself skimming the pages by the 50% mark.
4. The plot wrapped up too neatly in the end!
While this fugitive thriller deviates from Ware’s more Gothic sensibility, it is an enjoyable, quick read if you don’t mind that it lacks any real twists or turns to the plot.
I am still a fan of Ware and hope that her next thriller returns to the Gothic thriller genre. I will definitely be looking for her next offering!
Trigger warning: Domestic abuse
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 6/20/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of Zero Days in exchange for an honest review.
Ruth Ware is definitely a hit or miss author for me, I really enjoyed The It Girl, her last thriller. However, while Zero Days began at lightning speed, my interest soon waned and I was left disappointed. Why?
1. The list of suspects is overwhelmingly SHORT and it is TOO OBVIOUS who is behind the hit.
2. As a Pen Specialist, Jack’s impressive skills at hacking and breaking in should immediately be used to formulate a plan. She appears to not realize this as an option until 3/4 of the way through the book. Huh?
3. The long lengthy paragraphs contain too many unnecessary details. I found myself skimming the pages by the 50% mark.
4. The plot wrapped up too neatly in the end!
While this fugitive thriller deviates from Ware’s more Gothic sensibility, it is an enjoyable, quick read if you don’t mind that it lacks any real twists or turns to the plot.
I am still a fan of Ware and hope that her next thriller returns to the Gothic thriller genre. I will definitely be looking for her next offering!
Trigger warning: Domestic abuse
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 6/20/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of Zero Days in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2023
Zero Days starts out intensely, adrenaline filled, and exciting. Jack (Jacintha) has broken into a building and is attempting to escape without being caught while her husband, Gabe, is speaking in her earpiece. Gabe is telling her where to go as security is hunting for her. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!
As it turns out Jack and Gabe are pen testers who are hired by companies to break into the buildings to find the holes in their security systems. When Jack makes it home after getting into some hot water, she makes a startling and horrific discovery - Gabe has been murdered.
As the spouse is always a suspect, Jack goes on the run, determined to find her husband's killer. She must utilize all the skills she has as the police are hot on her tracks. Who can she trust? Why was her husband killed?
I enjoyed the first half of the book and found it to be gripping and intense. The second half of the book lost some of its sizzle for me. I figured out whodunit in the first half of the book. Did this hinder my enjoyment, not so much, but I found the second half of the book to be a little repetitive. This book did play out like a movie in my mind. I imagined Jack looking like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2. Small, strong, and mighty.
I enjoyed this book but feel Ruth Ware really shines with her Gothic mystery books. I applaud her for taking on a more action/thriller-based book and while the story was good, it lost some steam for me after its powerful beginning.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
As it turns out Jack and Gabe are pen testers who are hired by companies to break into the buildings to find the holes in their security systems. When Jack makes it home after getting into some hot water, she makes a startling and horrific discovery - Gabe has been murdered.
As the spouse is always a suspect, Jack goes on the run, determined to find her husband's killer. She must utilize all the skills she has as the police are hot on her tracks. Who can she trust? Why was her husband killed?
I enjoyed the first half of the book and found it to be gripping and intense. The second half of the book lost some of its sizzle for me. I figured out whodunit in the first half of the book. Did this hinder my enjoyment, not so much, but I found the second half of the book to be a little repetitive. This book did play out like a movie in my mind. I imagined Jack looking like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2. Small, strong, and mighty.
I enjoyed this book but feel Ruth Ware really shines with her Gothic mystery books. I applaud her for taking on a more action/thriller-based book and while the story was good, it lost some steam for me after its powerful beginning.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 29, 2023
My toxic trait is every Ruth Ware book I read I rate three stars, but then I still pick up more books by Ruth Ware knowing I will rate them three stars.
I picked up Zero Days because it's getting closer to spooky season and I was expecting what we usually get from Ware: a dark, moody, atmospheric, mystery novel. That was my mistake because Zero Day is not any of those things. Instead of Ware's usual, this book is more of a follow along as someone runs from the cops thriller type (but it wasn't very thrilling sadly).
When Jack's hacker husband is murdered, the police think that Jack hired a hit on him. Once she realizes she's been framed, Jack runs from the police in an effort to find evidence she is innocent. I think the pacing was off a bit in this book, very slow start but then it picked up in the middle to end. I also think the added aspect of an injury was not needed and instead made me really stressed while listening to this book instead of enjoying it more.
Overall, if you're a big fan of Ware's books this is a nice change of pace for her, I personally prefer her darker moody mysteries.
I picked up Zero Days because it's getting closer to spooky season and I was expecting what we usually get from Ware: a dark, moody, atmospheric, mystery novel. That was my mistake because Zero Day is not any of those things. Instead of Ware's usual, this book is more of a follow along as someone runs from the cops thriller type (but it wasn't very thrilling sadly).
When Jack's hacker husband is murdered, the police think that Jack hired a hit on him. Once she realizes she's been framed, Jack runs from the police in an effort to find evidence she is innocent. I think the pacing was off a bit in this book, very slow start but then it picked up in the middle to end. I also think the added aspect of an injury was not needed and instead made me really stressed while listening to this book instead of enjoying it more.
Overall, if you're a big fan of Ware's books this is a nice change of pace for her, I personally prefer her darker moody mysteries.
June 26, 2023
Zero Days is a middle-of-the-road thriller. It won’t be a memorable read for me.
Jack and her husband Gabe test company security systems by breaking into them. Jack handles the physical breaking-in while Gabe hacks the digital end.
After completing a job, Jack heads home to find Gabe brutally murdered. In no time at all, Jack becomes a person of interest. But Jack is innocent and decides to evade arrest.
This thriller starts out a bit slow but eventually picks up the pace. It’s told entirely from Jack’s perspective.
Initially, I wasn’t a big fan of Jack. She makes some truly ill-advised decisions, like running from authorities while being interviewed at the police station. And the flirty banter between her and her husband was cringeworthy, even though I’m aware it was supposed to demonstrate their love for each other. But she eventually grew on me with her persistence to find the truth.
The murder reveal was predictable, but I still felt compelled to keep reading.
I’ve enjoyed previous books by the author, but this one felt average. I’ll definitely read future books.
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
Jack and her husband Gabe test company security systems by breaking into them. Jack handles the physical breaking-in while Gabe hacks the digital end.
After completing a job, Jack heads home to find Gabe brutally murdered. In no time at all, Jack becomes a person of interest. But Jack is innocent and decides to evade arrest.
This thriller starts out a bit slow but eventually picks up the pace. It’s told entirely from Jack’s perspective.
Initially, I wasn’t a big fan of Jack. She makes some truly ill-advised decisions, like running from authorities while being interviewed at the police station. And the flirty banter between her and her husband was cringeworthy, even though I’m aware it was supposed to demonstrate their love for each other. But she eventually grew on me with her persistence to find the truth.
The murder reveal was predictable, but I still felt compelled to keep reading.
I’ve enjoyed previous books by the author, but this one felt average. I’ll definitely read future books.
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
July 6, 2023
A refreshingly unique premise that captivated my interest from the very beginning. The initial chapters, where Jack finds herself immersed in a job while being directed by Gabe, were particularly engaging. The author skillfully builds tension and intrigue during this phase, creating a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead.
The turning point occurs when Jack returns home after the job, only to discover the life-altering event of Gabe's murder. The emotions portrayed in this pivotal moment are intense and effectively convey the impact on Jack's life. From here, the story takes a thrilling turn as we follow Jack's desperate attempt to prove her innocence while being on the run.
However, it is worth noting that the pacing of the story slows down at certain points, causing it to drag and become somewhat lengthy. While it could have been trimmed down by a few pages, the perseverance to uncover the truth and clear her name shines through Jack's character, keeping readers invested in her plight.
The ending of the book serves as a redeeming factor, as it brings everything together in a satisfying manner. The epilogue, in particular, offers a glimpse into Jack's future, leaving readers with a sense of fulfillment and happiness for her triumphs.
The turning point occurs when Jack returns home after the job, only to discover the life-altering event of Gabe's murder. The emotions portrayed in this pivotal moment are intense and effectively convey the impact on Jack's life. From here, the story takes a thrilling turn as we follow Jack's desperate attempt to prove her innocence while being on the run.
However, it is worth noting that the pacing of the story slows down at certain points, causing it to drag and become somewhat lengthy. While it could have been trimmed down by a few pages, the perseverance to uncover the truth and clear her name shines through Jack's character, keeping readers invested in her plight.
The ending of the book serves as a redeeming factor, as it brings everything together in a satisfying manner. The epilogue, in particular, offers a glimpse into Jack's future, leaving readers with a sense of fulfillment and happiness for her triumphs.
August 2, 2023
This is only getting a 2 star rating I couldn’t get into it & it started slow Ms Ware is a hit or miss with me unfortunately this was the latter a bit on the sloooooww side for me I have had success with some of her other offerings but just plodded along.
June 28, 2023
There are some authors I have come to know for their signature writing style or tropes they are known for, and I rely on them for that. Ruth Ware, known for being the "Agatha Christie of our time," is one of those authors, with her unputdownable, fast, tightly woven thrillers that keep me on my toes. She strays from that Agatha Christie feel and creates an adrenaline-driven action but predictable story that missed the mark for me with Zero Days. While I love being surprised by authors trying something different, Zero Days didn't surprise me in a good way.
Zero Days started out strong with one of my favorite tropes, race against time, as Jake races to clear her name and find her husband's murderer before the law catches up with her. I was on the edge of my seat with the story's fast pace until we were told of Jake's every move, and that slowed down the story so much that I started to lose interest. When something did happen, it felt predictable rather than layered, unlike Ruth Ware's usual tightly layered twists and turns I love.
Even though this was not the best for me, I still love Ruth Ware and think Zero Days is worth the read if you like an adrenaline-driven chase over the suspense of who did it and why.
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
Zero Days started out strong with one of my favorite tropes, race against time, as Jake races to clear her name and find her husband's murderer before the law catches up with her. I was on the edge of my seat with the story's fast pace until we were told of Jake's every move, and that slowed down the story so much that I started to lose interest. When something did happen, it felt predictable rather than layered, unlike Ruth Ware's usual tightly layered twists and turns I love.
Even though this was not the best for me, I still love Ruth Ware and think Zero Days is worth the read if you like an adrenaline-driven chase over the suspense of who did it and why.
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
August 8, 2023
Together, Jack Cross and her husband, Gabe Medway, are a dynamite duo in security penetration. Tasked to discover the inherent flaws in corporate information security systems, Gabe handles the hacking while Jack does the very real world breaking and entering. Both are truly at the top of their game, until, that is, a job goes unthinkably wrong.
So when Jack finally gets back to her loved filled home, she’s expecting to find Gabe anxiously waiting up for her. But as she opens the door, she instantly knows that her already bad day has taken a catastrophic turn, for just inside the front door, Jack can smell the memorable scent of blood. Nothing can prepare her, however, for the sight awaiting her in Gabe’s office. Slumped in front of his computer is her husband—murdered in the most savage way.
As the police look into Gabe’s gruesome death, Jack begins to get the distinct impression that their sights are set firmly on her and her alone. Despite her shock and bottomless grief, her only option left is to go on the run in order to avoid being taken into custody—especially since it’s quite clear that the police see this as an open and shut case, looking no further than Jack herself.
While evading arrest, she begins to root out answers and run down leads, but most important of all, Jack must decide who she can trust. After all, the wrong decision could not only land her in prison, but very well mean death for her as well. Will she manage to get to the bottom of it all before the police track her down? And if she does, will the answers be more than even she can handle?
Holy amazeballs! Grabbing me right off the bat, Zero Days took me and my heart rate on quite the nail-biting rollercoaster ride that only a true virtuoso like Ruth Ware could master. Filled to the brim with more twists and turns than I could have ever fathomed, this cat-and-mouse chase was just what the doctor ordered.
I know I say this a lot, but, yet again, the characterization was where this novel truly started to sing. Between the grieving widow who had more guts and cunning than even she probably knew to the sweet relationship between her and her ill-fated hubby, they truly delivered throughout. While maybe not exactly true-to-life given the premise, they each felt decidedly genuine nonetheless, which was a delicious balance to be sure.
The plot, however, is where the true genius lay. An ever ratcheting level of suspense kept me ripping through the pages, just wanting to know what the ultimate endgame was going to be. Despite this feeling very little like Ware’s prior novels, her customary talent to keep the reader spellbound yet also blind to the twists was especially well done here. On top of that, Ware has proven yet again how gifted a writer she is, as she has now shown that she can skillfully pull off not just one but two genres. As for the specifics for the brilliance of this storyline, well, read on my fellow thriller lovers.
With near constant nerve-shredding dread imbued throughout, the climax was simply sublime. To be frankly honest, though, with the whole storyline brimming with adrenaline-fueled action, it was kind of hard to figure out when that bit started and ended, but that’s hardly a fault. And then the conclusion? Well, it was the perfect cooldown to a truly epic workout, if I had to make a comparison.
To be honest, however, I was somewhat doubtful about the premise going in. After hearing more than one lament about Ware’s deviation from her well known winning formula, I was hesitant to pick this one up. Boy, was I glad that I decided to ignore other people’s opinions and listen to my own, though. After all, I think, quite truthfully, that this was my favorite out of all of her books so far. And if you know, you know, but that’s really saying something.
As I wrap up my review, I’m still stunned by the mad skills hidden in Ms. Ware’s head. And now I’m just crossing my fingers that this one is headed straight for the silver screen. A rip-roaring explosion from beginning to end, I’m already daydreaming about sitting down in the theater with my bag of popcorn. My only other wish from this novel? Well, for this to not be a one off for the very intrepid Jack Cross. I can just imagine plenty of trials and tribulations that this strong and resilient character could endure. All said and done, give this one a shot regardless of what you’ve heard. I, for one, am proof positive of what you could gain. Rating of 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: death of a spouse, emotionally and physically abusive relationship, septicemia, cybercrime mention of: dementia, suicide
So when Jack finally gets back to her loved filled home, she’s expecting to find Gabe anxiously waiting up for her. But as she opens the door, she instantly knows that her already bad day has taken a catastrophic turn, for just inside the front door, Jack can smell the memorable scent of blood. Nothing can prepare her, however, for the sight awaiting her in Gabe’s office. Slumped in front of his computer is her husband—murdered in the most savage way.
As the police look into Gabe’s gruesome death, Jack begins to get the distinct impression that their sights are set firmly on her and her alone. Despite her shock and bottomless grief, her only option left is to go on the run in order to avoid being taken into custody—especially since it’s quite clear that the police see this as an open and shut case, looking no further than Jack herself.
While evading arrest, she begins to root out answers and run down leads, but most important of all, Jack must decide who she can trust. After all, the wrong decision could not only land her in prison, but very well mean death for her as well. Will she manage to get to the bottom of it all before the police track her down? And if she does, will the answers be more than even she can handle?
Holy amazeballs! Grabbing me right off the bat, Zero Days took me and my heart rate on quite the nail-biting rollercoaster ride that only a true virtuoso like Ruth Ware could master. Filled to the brim with more twists and turns than I could have ever fathomed, this cat-and-mouse chase was just what the doctor ordered.
I know I say this a lot, but, yet again, the characterization was where this novel truly started to sing. Between the grieving widow who had more guts and cunning than even she probably knew to the sweet relationship between her and her ill-fated hubby, they truly delivered throughout. While maybe not exactly true-to-life given the premise, they each felt decidedly genuine nonetheless, which was a delicious balance to be sure.
The plot, however, is where the true genius lay. An ever ratcheting level of suspense kept me ripping through the pages, just wanting to know what the ultimate endgame was going to be. Despite this feeling very little like Ware’s prior novels, her customary talent to keep the reader spellbound yet also blind to the twists was especially well done here. On top of that, Ware has proven yet again how gifted a writer she is, as she has now shown that she can skillfully pull off not just one but two genres. As for the specifics for the brilliance of this storyline, well, read on my fellow thriller lovers.
With near constant nerve-shredding dread imbued throughout, the climax was simply sublime. To be frankly honest, though, with the whole storyline brimming with adrenaline-fueled action, it was kind of hard to figure out when that bit started and ended, but that’s hardly a fault. And then the conclusion? Well, it was the perfect cooldown to a truly epic workout, if I had to make a comparison.
To be honest, however, I was somewhat doubtful about the premise going in. After hearing more than one lament about Ware’s deviation from her well known winning formula, I was hesitant to pick this one up. Boy, was I glad that I decided to ignore other people’s opinions and listen to my own, though. After all, I think, quite truthfully, that this was my favorite out of all of her books so far. And if you know, you know, but that’s really saying something.
As I wrap up my review, I’m still stunned by the mad skills hidden in Ms. Ware’s head. And now I’m just crossing my fingers that this one is headed straight for the silver screen. A rip-roaring explosion from beginning to end, I’m already daydreaming about sitting down in the theater with my bag of popcorn. My only other wish from this novel? Well, for this to not be a one off for the very intrepid Jack Cross. I can just imagine plenty of trials and tribulations that this strong and resilient character could endure. All said and done, give this one a shot regardless of what you’ve heard. I, for one, am proof positive of what you could gain. Rating of 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: death of a spouse, emotionally and physically abusive relationship, septicemia, cybercrime mention of: dementia, suicide
January 4, 2024
Jack (Jacinta) and her husband Gabe, own and operate a cybersecurity firm. One night after working an assignment, Jack returns home to find that Gabe has been murdered. In shock and devasted, Jack does not inform the authorities immediately which sets her up for being a potential suspect. The police do not seem to believe her account and she thinks they are not doing enough to find the person who was responsible. Jack feels that she is the only one who truly wants to find out who killed her husband and sets out to do just that.
The novel is full of twists and turns and keeps the reader engaged and guessing. There are moments when you almost hold your breath waiting to see what happens. The relationship between Jack and Gabe is realistic and her loss is handled simply and realistically. Jack is a well-developed character; the settings are descriptive, and the pacing is just right. This is a bit of a departure from some of her other novels, but it also might be one of her best. -Jen C.
The novel is full of twists and turns and keeps the reader engaged and guessing. There are moments when you almost hold your breath waiting to see what happens. The relationship between Jack and Gabe is realistic and her loss is handled simply and realistically. Jack is a well-developed character; the settings are descriptive, and the pacing is just right. This is a bit of a departure from some of her other novels, but it also might be one of her best. -Jen C.
July 17, 2023
I have to give Ruth Ware credit for continuing to branch out from the Gothic suspense genre and write new things, but at the same time I kind of wish she would stop doing that, LOL. In Zero Days, she tries her hand at a tech thriller, and the results are overwhelmingly meh.
The premise here is that Jack and her husband Gabe are Penetration Specialists (cue my immature 12-year-old boy snicker) who are hired by companies to break into their facilities and test for vulnerabilities in their security systems. But after a job gone wrong, Jack arrives home to find Gabe dead. When she becomes the police’s prime suspect in the investigation into Gabe’s murder, she goes on the run as she tries to hunt down his killer before time runs out.
There’s no doubt Ware can write; her prose is engaging and her plotting is meticulous. The problem is that Zero Days is way, way too long. After an exhilarating start, the book becomes excruciatingly slow-paced, bogged down with unnecessary details and descriptions of the most mundane things and activities, so any momentum that was created at the beginning totally fizzles out. It’s just boring. The list of suspects is so small that it’s glaringly obvious who is behind Gabe’s murder, so there’s no tension to that aspect. Ware tries to create tension in other ways (chapters in a countdown format, a troubling wound for Jack that raises the stakes), but the results are mixed. There are a few exciting scenes, but even those become repetitive because they’re all just chases.
Even after reading nearly 400 pages of Jack’s first-person narration, I don’t feel like I ever really got to know her as a character. She doesn’t have much of a personality beyond her (admittedly cool) job and her relationship with Gabe. Jack tells us several times in the book that she doesn’t care if she lives or dies, and to be honest, Ware didn’t make me care that much either. I’ve enjoyed so many of her previous novels that I’ll still probably read anything she writes, but here’s hoping her next novel plays to her strengths in the realm of Gothic suspense.
The premise here is that Jack and her husband Gabe are Penetration Specialists (cue my immature 12-year-old boy snicker) who are hired by companies to break into their facilities and test for vulnerabilities in their security systems. But after a job gone wrong, Jack arrives home to find Gabe dead. When she becomes the police’s prime suspect in the investigation into Gabe’s murder, she goes on the run as she tries to hunt down his killer before time runs out.
There’s no doubt Ware can write; her prose is engaging and her plotting is meticulous. The problem is that Zero Days is way, way too long. After an exhilarating start, the book becomes excruciatingly slow-paced, bogged down with unnecessary details and descriptions of the most mundane things and activities, so any momentum that was created at the beginning totally fizzles out. It’s just boring. The list of suspects is so small that it’s glaringly obvious who is behind Gabe’s murder, so there’s no tension to that aspect. Ware tries to create tension in other ways (chapters in a countdown format, a troubling wound for Jack that raises the stakes), but the results are mixed. There are a few exciting scenes, but even those become repetitive because they’re all just chases.
Even after reading nearly 400 pages of Jack’s first-person narration, I don’t feel like I ever really got to know her as a character. She doesn’t have much of a personality beyond her (admittedly cool) job and her relationship with Gabe. Jack tells us several times in the book that she doesn’t care if she lives or dies, and to be honest, Ware didn’t make me care that much either. I’ve enjoyed so many of her previous novels that I’ll still probably read anything she writes, but here’s hoping her next novel plays to her strengths in the realm of Gothic suspense.
April 27, 2024
*A rant review. Do not unfriend me, please!
Adrenaline-fueled, this was not!
The married couple Jack and Gabe are hired hackers. Their job is to physically and digitally break into companies’ security system and report back to the self-same company if there is any loophole needs filling.
One night after a troublesome job, Jack arrives home to find her husband murdered. It takes our smart heroin more than half hour to call the police. Furthermore, there is no evidence of an intruder and the police zoom on her as a suspect.
That’s when things go South.
Usually when I read a thriller, especially when it involves a fight or flight situation, I tend to put myself in the protagonist’s shoes. I ask myself would I do what she did?
In this case, the answer is a resounding NO!
For example, if I’m in the business of legitimate hacking, I would make sure I have the legal papers proving that I am who I say I am and I do what I do by the authorization of whatever company hired me to do it.
For example, it won’t take me more than half an hour to call the police/scream my head off/bang on neighbors’ doors as soon as I see a body with his throat cut.
I wonder, was there an obligation for the author to write a 500000 word book?
Is that why she wrote it in first person, so the narrator could go on and on and on about trivialities? I mean was it necessary for us to read about how much she paid for the taxi or the other nonsensical thoughts she thought? And let me tell you, she thought a lot of thoughts. I pity her brain!
Her nonstop inner monologue was truly annoying. I swear to all the gods on Olympus if one more time I read “if Gabe were alive…”!!!
The air-dropping of the F bomb in virtually every page was super annoying. And this comes from me who am a generous user of the said word when flustered.
Also, the main culprit's identity was very predictable.
Adrenaline-fueled, this was not!
The married couple Jack and Gabe are hired hackers. Their job is to physically and digitally break into companies’ security system and report back to the self-same company if there is any loophole needs filling.
One night after a troublesome job, Jack arrives home to find her husband murdered. It takes our smart heroin more than half hour to call the police. Furthermore, there is no evidence of an intruder and the police zoom on her as a suspect.
That’s when things go South.
Usually when I read a thriller, especially when it involves a fight or flight situation, I tend to put myself in the protagonist’s shoes. I ask myself would I do what she did?
In this case, the answer is a resounding NO!
For example, if I’m in the business of legitimate hacking, I would make sure I have the legal papers proving that I am who I say I am and I do what I do by the authorization of whatever company hired me to do it.
For example, it won’t take me more than half an hour to call the police/scream my head off/bang on neighbors’ doors as soon as I see a body with his throat cut.
I wonder, was there an obligation for the author to write a 500000 word book?
Is that why she wrote it in first person, so the narrator could go on and on and on about trivialities? I mean was it necessary for us to read about how much she paid for the taxi or the other nonsensical thoughts she thought? And let me tell you, she thought a lot of thoughts. I pity her brain!
Her nonstop inner monologue was truly annoying. I swear to all the gods on Olympus if one more time I read “if Gabe were alive…”!!!
The air-dropping of the F bomb in virtually every page was super annoying. And this comes from me who am a generous user of the said word when flustered.
Also, the main culprit's identity was very predictable.
February 13, 2024
I typically like Ruth Ware novels and appreciate her writing style and ability to tell a good mystery. This one differs that some of the another books I’ve read by her and although I still liked this novel, I took off a star for predictability. I like good twists and turns to be sure, so although I enjoyed reading this, I want to be more surprised at the ending.
This book is gives “Mission Impossible” vibes, full of action and thrills that will get your heart pumping. I found myself trying to read faster at times to get through some intense moments…lol. This was an interesting read overall minus me figuring it out, but if you like action packed novels, this one will do the trick…
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is gives “Mission Impossible” vibes, full of action and thrills that will get your heart pumping. I found myself trying to read faster at times to get through some intense moments…lol. This was an interesting read overall minus me figuring it out, but if you like action packed novels, this one will do the trick…
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2023
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Rating: 3 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I am impressed by how the atmospheric, greyscale image and bold text font capture the genre and essence of this story. On top of this, the vibrant green accent colour creates a striking impact that makes this book stand out.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
It did not take long for the casual writing style and vivid descriptions to pull me in and bring this story to life. Further enriching the narrative is the emotive language used to convey the complex emotions of the main character, Jack, but this eventually becomes repetitive and tedious.
"stay pleasant and others are much more likely to do the same."
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟
The tense, exciting opening scene seized my attention and brilliantly introduced the key characters. However, despite a few twists and bursts of action, I gradually lost interest in the unfolding mystery as the narrative became repetitive and seemed too convenient. All loose ends were nicely resolved by the end of the story, though, making it a satisfying read.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
Jack's job as a penetration specialist makes her a fascinating protagonist, especially since she is shown to be clever and resourceful. While I also liked discovering more about her life as the story progressed, the overpowering grief she experiences leaves little room for any growth or complexity beyond this.
"doing nothing was a risk in itself."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Although the few secondary characters are given clear roles and expertly used to drive the story, they all lack the complexity and depth needed to be engaging. I guess it says a lot that Gabe was my favourite of these characters, but I simply adored the banter and love between him and Jack.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The various sound effects and vocal variety done by Imogen Church create a great listening experience. The emotions within the story are also nicely conveyed, even though there were moments when I thought the narration did not quite meet the descriptions within the story.
Ultimately, 'Zero Days' quickly drew me in with its strong start and fascinating protagonist. While I gradually became less invested in the story as it became repetitive and somewhat convenient, I still found it entertaining and satisfyingly wrapped up. Check out 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard for another murder mystery involving a couple.
____________________________________
For those who have read this and want to discuss it, here are a few questions:
Rating: 3 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I am impressed by how the atmospheric, greyscale image and bold text font capture the genre and essence of this story. On top of this, the vibrant green accent colour creates a striking impact that makes this book stand out.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
It did not take long for the casual writing style and vivid descriptions to pull me in and bring this story to life. Further enriching the narrative is the emotive language used to convey the complex emotions of the main character, Jack, but this eventually becomes repetitive and tedious.
"stay pleasant and others are much more likely to do the same."
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟
The tense, exciting opening scene seized my attention and brilliantly introduced the key characters. However, despite a few twists and bursts of action, I gradually lost interest in the unfolding mystery as the narrative became repetitive and seemed too convenient. All loose ends were nicely resolved by the end of the story, though, making it a satisfying read.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
Jack's job as a penetration specialist makes her a fascinating protagonist, especially since she is shown to be clever and resourceful. While I also liked discovering more about her life as the story progressed, the overpowering grief she experiences leaves little room for any growth or complexity beyond this.
"doing nothing was a risk in itself."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Although the few secondary characters are given clear roles and expertly used to drive the story, they all lack the complexity and depth needed to be engaging. I guess it says a lot that Gabe was my favourite of these characters, but I simply adored the banter and love between him and Jack.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The various sound effects and vocal variety done by Imogen Church create a great listening experience. The emotions within the story are also nicely conveyed, even though there were moments when I thought the narration did not quite meet the descriptions within the story.
Ultimately, 'Zero Days' quickly drew me in with its strong start and fascinating protagonist. While I gradually became less invested in the story as it became repetitive and somewhat convenient, I still found it entertaining and satisfyingly wrapped up. Check out 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard for another murder mystery involving a couple.
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June 27, 2023
3.5 stars
I've read all of Ruth Ware's books and Zero Days is one of her best in terms of action and pacing. As for the mystery elements, not the most satisfying, average at best. I still had a fun time reading this one though as it had a nice page turner vibe.
The story has a heavy focus on technology but trust me, if that's not in your wheelhouse, you can easily follow what's going on. I don't want to give away too much about the plot other than mention it involves a woman searching for answers and there's danger involved. (Yes, I'm totally being vague on purpose because part of the fun of reading a thriller is not knowing everything ahead of time.)
If you are looking for a mindless vacation or weekend thriller, Zero Days is a decent pick although it's not a must read. If you've never read a book by this author, I recommend starting with The Turn of the Key.
I've read all of Ruth Ware's books and Zero Days is one of her best in terms of action and pacing. As for the mystery elements, not the most satisfying, average at best. I still had a fun time reading this one though as it had a nice page turner vibe.
The story has a heavy focus on technology but trust me, if that's not in your wheelhouse, you can easily follow what's going on. I don't want to give away too much about the plot other than mention it involves a woman searching for answers and there's danger involved. (Yes, I'm totally being vague on purpose because part of the fun of reading a thriller is not knowing everything ahead of time.)
If you are looking for a mindless vacation or weekend thriller, Zero Days is a decent pick although it's not a must read. If you've never read a book by this author, I recommend starting with The Turn of the Key.
August 1, 2023
the setup…
Jacintha (Jack) Cross and her husband Gabe Medway own Crossways, a company that conducts penetration test for companies to test their security systems. She’s the one that does the breaking and entering, he does the tech and hacking work. After Jack is caught leaving after successfully finishing the current assignment, she’s taken to the police station and held into the wee hours of the morning until someone finally acknowledges she’s not really a burglar. But when she gets home, Jack discovers Gabe has been brutally murdered. Unfortunately, the police begin to hone in on the likely suspect…her! She makes a split second decision to flee, knowing it’s now up to her to find out the truth.
the heart of the story…
The story begins with Jack and Gabe carrying out that assignment, he a voice in her ear via Bluetooth and she expertly avoiding pitfalls and completing the mission. In that short period of time, I got a strong sense of not only Jack’s mag skills but the depth of feelings between the couple. When she finds Gabe dead, I shared her excruciating pain and grief. After she goes on the run, Jack is fueled by that grief and adrenalin, combined with natural talent and instincts. It’s a breathtaking journey as her resources are limited and she’s no longer certain who she can trust. Even though I pinpointed the likely culprit about midway, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment because I didn’t know the why and keeping up with and worrying about Jack was paramount.
the narration…
I love Imogen Church’s performances, even though I have to increase the speed. She’s got great storytelling skills and this seemed tailor made for her talents. She made this even more compelling.
the bottom line…
This was a little different flavor from the past books by Ware and it was a nice surprise. I became an instant Jack fan and rooting for her was mostly all I cared about. She will rank as one of my most favorite fictional characters as this woman’s gut instincts served her incredibly well and she trusted them. Jack was a quick thinker who outwitted the police and those who placed obstacles in front of her (think a female Jason Bourne). While I enjoyed everything about the story, the ending was spectacular and did me in. This was a wonderful listening experience. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Jacintha (Jack) Cross and her husband Gabe Medway own Crossways, a company that conducts penetration test for companies to test their security systems. She’s the one that does the breaking and entering, he does the tech and hacking work. After Jack is caught leaving after successfully finishing the current assignment, she’s taken to the police station and held into the wee hours of the morning until someone finally acknowledges she’s not really a burglar. But when she gets home, Jack discovers Gabe has been brutally murdered. Unfortunately, the police begin to hone in on the likely suspect…her! She makes a split second decision to flee, knowing it’s now up to her to find out the truth.
the heart of the story…
The story begins with Jack and Gabe carrying out that assignment, he a voice in her ear via Bluetooth and she expertly avoiding pitfalls and completing the mission. In that short period of time, I got a strong sense of not only Jack’s mag skills but the depth of feelings between the couple. When she finds Gabe dead, I shared her excruciating pain and grief. After she goes on the run, Jack is fueled by that grief and adrenalin, combined with natural talent and instincts. It’s a breathtaking journey as her resources are limited and she’s no longer certain who she can trust. Even though I pinpointed the likely culprit about midway, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment because I didn’t know the why and keeping up with and worrying about Jack was paramount.
the narration…
I love Imogen Church’s performances, even though I have to increase the speed. She’s got great storytelling skills and this seemed tailor made for her talents. She made this even more compelling.
the bottom line…
This was a little different flavor from the past books by Ware and it was a nice surprise. I became an instant Jack fan and rooting for her was mostly all I cared about. She will rank as one of my most favorite fictional characters as this woman’s gut instincts served her incredibly well and she trusted them. Jack was a quick thinker who outwitted the police and those who placed obstacles in front of her (think a female Jason Bourne). While I enjoyed everything about the story, the ending was spectacular and did me in. This was a wonderful listening experience. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
May 26, 2023
sadly this was a miss for me. Ware can be pretty hit or miss IMO—i LOVED the turn of the key, the lying game. i liked it girl, one by one and the death of mrs westway. and then all the others… missed the mark. ZERO DAYS falls in that bucket.
i will say that i loved the first 60ish pages. i was hooked right away—it started so good. maybe too much happened too quickly? bc it was all downhill from there and we had 300+ pages to fill with the main “event” already over with? 😅
it took me over a week to finish which should never happen with a thriller 🥹 i really wanted to love it. it just became too repetitive and i really wasn’t emotionally connected to the MC and she’s all we really got sooo… 😅
it’s very different subject matter from her other work. much more suspense and like police/procedural almost? vs the murder mystery / spooky mystery she typically does.
anywho, i hope others love it more than me! but so far, i agree with all the early reviews i’m seeing online.
more to come on my IG next week! thanks to Gallery for the gifted early copy.
i will say that i loved the first 60ish pages. i was hooked right away—it started so good. maybe too much happened too quickly? bc it was all downhill from there and we had 300+ pages to fill with the main “event” already over with? 😅
it took me over a week to finish which should never happen with a thriller 🥹 i really wanted to love it. it just became too repetitive and i really wasn’t emotionally connected to the MC and she’s all we really got sooo… 😅
it’s very different subject matter from her other work. much more suspense and like police/procedural almost? vs the murder mystery / spooky mystery she typically does.
anywho, i hope others love it more than me! but so far, i agree with all the early reviews i’m seeing online.
more to come on my IG next week! thanks to Gallery for the gifted early copy.
July 26, 2023
I got nothing. Way too much tech speak. The motive was dumb. The murderer should have worn a big I did it sign. And the book dragged. Too bad Gabe never felt like a real person to me. And Jack was naive to the point I was flabbergasted at some of the stuff she did.
Full Review: Wow. I just don't even know you guys. This was Ware's first foray into a straight thriller that did not mimic an Agatha Christie or Henry James book. I don't think this was a successful effort. I think the tech speak throughout and common sense gaps in the lead character just killed me. And the countdown to zero days irked the life out of me.
"Zero Days" follows husband and wife team, Jack (wife) and Gabe (husband) who are hired by tech companies and others to break into their systems or buildings to point out security gaps. After a very trying test run though, Jack is picked up by the police who ignore her protestations. When she can't get in contact with Gabe though she worries something is up. And when she returns to their home and finds him murdered, she is left devastated and confused. What could Gabe have been involved in that would have someone breaking in to murder him? When the police decide Jack must have done it (it's stupid, just go with it) she goes on the run (yep even stupider) to figure out whose setting her up and why Gabe was murdered.
Lord. Look, you don't get to really experience Gabe as a character. And every time Jack thinks about him, his "ghost" or whatever it is tells her she has to eat.
Jack. Good grief, she doesn't listen and apparently can't figure out who is obviously setting her up even though I pinged it at the 50 percent point. This was not very hard to work out and it's the only character that made sense. For someone that seems to be an expert who can blend in anywhere and "read" people she was pretty bad at it. And she didn't listen to any advice her sister gave her and went on the run. I don't know about the police in the UK, but that tends to be a terrible idea in the U.S.
The other characters are not given much to work with. We have a lot of police characters and one that is an ex of Jack that just sticks out poorly throughout the book.
The writing was way too much. Look, I am savvy enough about IT and security because of...you know what, don't worry about it. But after a while it was too damn much information.
The flow was awful. There's a countdown from 8 days to zero days and I call BS on this all taking place in a freaking 8 day period.
The setting of the book takes place in the UK in a lot of places. I can't even recall all of the places Jack holed up to hide from the police, but there were a lot. Plus she was walking around with an energy that would have killed anyone else, so you got that going on too.
The ending was a mess. Just dragged on forever to zero days. My guess was confirmed. The book then jumps forward a whole year and I rolled my eyes a thousand times.
Back to the library stacks with this one.
Full Review: Wow. I just don't even know you guys. This was Ware's first foray into a straight thriller that did not mimic an Agatha Christie or Henry James book. I don't think this was a successful effort. I think the tech speak throughout and common sense gaps in the lead character just killed me. And the countdown to zero days irked the life out of me.
"Zero Days" follows husband and wife team, Jack (wife) and Gabe (husband) who are hired by tech companies and others to break into their systems or buildings to point out security gaps. After a very trying test run though, Jack is picked up by the police who ignore her protestations. When she can't get in contact with Gabe though she worries something is up. And when she returns to their home and finds him murdered, she is left devastated and confused. What could Gabe have been involved in that would have someone breaking in to murder him? When the police decide Jack must have done it (it's stupid, just go with it) she goes on the run (yep even stupider) to figure out whose setting her up and why Gabe was murdered.
Lord. Look, you don't get to really experience Gabe as a character. And every time Jack thinks about him, his "ghost" or whatever it is tells her she has to eat.
Jack. Good grief, she doesn't listen and apparently can't figure out who is obviously setting her up even though I pinged it at the 50 percent point. This was not very hard to work out and it's the only character that made sense. For someone that seems to be an expert who can blend in anywhere and "read" people she was pretty bad at it. And she didn't listen to any advice her sister gave her and went on the run. I don't know about the police in the UK, but that tends to be a terrible idea in the U.S.
The other characters are not given much to work with. We have a lot of police characters and one that is an ex of Jack that just sticks out poorly throughout the book.
The writing was way too much. Look, I am savvy enough about IT and security because of...you know what, don't worry about it. But after a while it was too damn much information.
"..../hey babe, your PI light just came on"
"....coming out onto the 5th floor I dropped another USB."
"encoding a swipe reader wasn't hard if you had the equipment and knew the code, but we didn't know the code. And even if he managed to dig into the intranet files, I was here, and the encoder was back at home."
The flow was awful. There's a countdown from 8 days to zero days and I call BS on this all taking place in a freaking 8 day period.
The setting of the book takes place in the UK in a lot of places. I can't even recall all of the places Jack holed up to hide from the police, but there were a lot. Plus she was walking around with an energy that would have killed anyone else, so you got that going on too.
The ending was a mess. Just dragged on forever to zero days. My guess was confirmed. The book then jumps forward a whole year and I rolled my eyes a thousand times.
Back to the library stacks with this one.
June 11, 2023
Ruth Ware has been one of my favourite thriller authors ever since I read In A Dark Dark Wood. Her books just have a way of hooking you from the very start and holding onto you until the very last word. Zero Days was brilliant, I could not stop reading it. I flew through those pages, wondering what in earth was going to go wrong from a Jack next. Another absolute cracker from and author that never lets me down.
Jack and Gabe are happily married and work together as pen testers - they break into places and test their security systems. Gabe is the brains in the computer remotely and Jack is on the ground. After a very long and exhausting night in the jib, Jack returns home to find Gabe has been murdered in his office. Jack is soon the number one suspect, after all, it is always the spouse right. She finds herself in the run and alone, trying to find out who killed her husband and why, whilst staying one step ahead of the police hunting her down.
This is a really fast paced, cat and mouse story that will have your heart racing. It would make a fantastic action movie, the tension is so intense all the way through the book. It will make you nervous and make you cry.
Can’t recommend it more, another winner from Ruth Ware. Thank you so so much to Gallery Books and Edelweiss for my advanced copy to read.
Jack and Gabe are happily married and work together as pen testers - they break into places and test their security systems. Gabe is the brains in the computer remotely and Jack is on the ground. After a very long and exhausting night in the jib, Jack returns home to find Gabe has been murdered in his office. Jack is soon the number one suspect, after all, it is always the spouse right. She finds herself in the run and alone, trying to find out who killed her husband and why, whilst staying one step ahead of the police hunting her down.
This is a really fast paced, cat and mouse story that will have your heart racing. It would make a fantastic action movie, the tension is so intense all the way through the book. It will make you nervous and make you cry.
Can’t recommend it more, another winner from Ruth Ware. Thank you so so much to Gallery Books and Edelweiss for my advanced copy to read.
June 12, 2023
I shouldn’t have loved this book as much as I did.
I find it really challenging when a beloved author switches genres. Ruth Ware proves that she’s a capable writer regardless of how we readers want to pigeonhole her. That’s skill.
I find reading about tech and apps really boring because I don’t understand it. Ruth Ware proves that she can maintain my interest for 352 pages on a topic I know very little about. That’s skill.
I find reading about gruesome deaths upsetting. Ruth Ware proves that despite her use of detailed description, a scene can be written to minimize the horror. That’s skill.
Again, I shouldn’t have liked this book but in the hands of a master author, it ranks up there in my top suspense novels of the year.
Ruth Ware, you’ve got mad skills.
Don’t let cyber security, zero-day exploits, and Bitcoin exchanges give you pause. This adrenaline-filled, in-your-face technology and time countdown novel is one you’ll want to put on the top of your list. Guaranteed.
As I turned over the last page, I commented that this would make a FANTASTIC movie. I hope it is optioned for the silver screen. I’d go see it.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I find it really challenging when a beloved author switches genres. Ruth Ware proves that she’s a capable writer regardless of how we readers want to pigeonhole her. That’s skill.
I find reading about tech and apps really boring because I don’t understand it. Ruth Ware proves that she can maintain my interest for 352 pages on a topic I know very little about. That’s skill.
I find reading about gruesome deaths upsetting. Ruth Ware proves that despite her use of detailed description, a scene can be written to minimize the horror. That’s skill.
Again, I shouldn’t have liked this book but in the hands of a master author, it ranks up there in my top suspense novels of the year.
Ruth Ware, you’ve got mad skills.
Don’t let cyber security, zero-day exploits, and Bitcoin exchanges give you pause. This adrenaline-filled, in-your-face technology and time countdown novel is one you’ll want to put on the top of your list. Guaranteed.
As I turned over the last page, I commented that this would make a FANTASTIC movie. I hope it is optioned for the silver screen. I’d go see it.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
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