Ruth Ware's Zero Days is my favorite of hers. A couple work together doing "pen tests" at various businesses to test their security systems, but after a job goes awry, Jack comes home to an absolute nightmare: her husband has been brutally murdered. Determined to prove her innocence and find her husband's killer, she goes on the run. I found the relationship between Jack and her sister to be particularly compelling. This book is a great thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

For whatever reason, this book didn’t feel like a Ruth Ware book. It was still a good book but not quite as good as the others. I wasn’t as invested with Jack and I didn’t care as much about Gabe either. I will have to re-read this at a later date to see if I just wasn’t feeling it this time. It was a quick read and I am glad I read it.

Zero Days by Ruth Ware is a high-stakes thriller that throws readers into a relentless race against time. When Jacintha "Jack" Cross, a security expert, becomes the prime suspect in a shocking crime, she’s forced to go on the run, using her skills to uncover the truth while staying one step ahead of those hunting her.

Ware expertly blends fast-paced action with emotional depth, crafting a heroine who’s both tough and vulnerable. The nonstop tension keeps the pages turning, though some plot points stretch believability. Still, the blend of heart-pounding suspense and Ware’s signature twisty storytelling makes for a gripping read.

4 stars — an adrenaline-fueled thriller with strong characters and constant tension. Perfect for fans of survival stories and cat-and-mouse chases.

I am always eager to read from this author. I'm never disappointed. The twists of suspense from beginning to end makes the best book binge.

A heart-pounding thriller following a professional security tester who becomes the prime suspect in her husband's murder. With her insider knowledge of breaking and entering, Jack must use her skills to find the real killer while staying one step ahead of the police. Perfect for fans of smart, tech-driven suspense.

I'm a Ruth Ware fan, and this book is slightly different than her usual thrillers. It has a technical element that I wasn't sure I would like, but in the end, I really enjoyed it. The story follows a couple that works together to test the security of businesses, both cyber security and physical security. But, when her husband is murdered, and she's the suspect, she needs to use her skills to find the truth while she's on the run. It reads like a movie and was a fun ride!

⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (2.5 stars)

Ruth Ware’s Zero Days starts with an intriguing premise—a high-stakes thriller about a woman on the run, trying to uncover the truth behind her husband’s murder while navigating a cyber-security landscape. Unfortunately, while the concept is promising, the execution falls flat.

The protagonist, Jack, is an interesting character, and her grief and determination are palpable. However, her decisions often feel frustratingly impulsive and inconsistent, which detracts from the story’s believability. The pacing is uneven—while there are moments of gripping tension, they are frequently undermined by overly detailed descriptions and repetitive inner monologues that slow the narrative down.

As for the plot twists, they are predictable for seasoned thriller readers, leaving little room for the shock or intrigue one hopes for in this genre. The cyber-security element, which should have added a fresh, modern twist, feels underdeveloped and at times unrealistic, which diminishes the story’s credibility.

While Ware’s writing style remains accessible and easy to read, Zero Days lacks the nuance and complexity of her previous works. It feels more like a standard chase thriller than the smart, layered mysteries that fans have come to expect.

In short, Zero Days has its moments but struggles to maintain momentum or deliver the suspense necessary for a truly compelling read. It’s not a terrible book, but it doesn’t quite live up to its potential or Ware’s usual standards.

*Zero Days* by Ruth Ware is a fast-paced, gripping psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story, centered around a woman framed for her husband’s murder, is full of twists and turns, with high stakes and a relentless sense of tension. Ware’s knack for suspense and creating morally complex characters shines, making this a thrilling ride that fans of her work will definitely enjoy.

Ruth Ware is the master of thrillers and has done it again with Zero Days. This is unlike her other books in that it is about a married team that tests the security of companies, technical and physical. When Jack’s husband gets murdered and she is framed for it, she goes on the test of her life trying to find out who the killer was.

From the first page it has you on the edge of your seat wanting more. Now, it does get a little far fetched in her running from the cops and how she is injured but keeps jumping from everything to avoid being caught. But the cat and mouse game is all part of it.

I really enjoyed this one and hope that you will too.

This book was just okay for me. While Ruth Ware is undoubtedly a talented writer, I find her tendency to be overly detailed at times detracts from the pacing, which, in my opinion, is crucial for a compelling mystery.

4.5 stars! I kept putting off reading this one because I thought it would be too techie. Not so. Just a good whirlwind of murder and mayhem.

If you're a fan of action-packed novels Zero Days definitely needs to move to the top of your list. This book had my heart pounding and had everything from gaping wounds, hits for hire, people jumping off moving trains, police manhunts, valuable source code, and a few things in between. It was intense, emotive, and fast-paced.

This would translate super well to the big screen and I would love to watch an adaptation. As for books, it wasn't my usual style but I did find it entertaining. Admittedly, at times, it was verbose and could feel a little repetitive. There was also a major suspension of belief as with many man hunt storylines but maybe that's just because I know that I for one would never make it!

I listened to this novel on audio and it was highly entertaining. The narrator was good and definitely added to the theatrics. She was emotive and the acting felt authentic.

Overall, this was fun but just not totally for me. For readers more into action, I think this will exceed expectations.

Thank you to Gallery for the copy.

This is a 3.5 star review. The book opens up with Jack breaking into a company with her husband helping her. When she returns home her husband is dead and she is the prime suspect. Jack goes on the run and sets out to solve the crime. The book is action packed but the who did it was very obvious from the beginning. When she makes some stupid mistakes I began to lose interest. The book ended on a very predictable conclusion.

This was ok. Her books are hit or miss for me. I found it boring, I DNFd about 40% through. I was hoping the story would pick up :(

If you're a fan of Ruth Ware, you'll love Zero Days. This thriller is about a woman who sets out to find her husband's killer and clear her name. The story is full of twists and turns, with plenty of action.

The main character is a strong and determined woman, making her quest to solve the murder and save herself really engaging. Zero Days is a thrilling read with lots of excitement and surprises, perfect for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read Zero Days!

Jack and her husband are hackers and Jack’s husband winds up dead. Jack becomes the main suspect and must solve the case. While this is a typical suspense plot, it is not a typical story. Many twist and turns through that will keep you guessing. While not my favorite Ruth Ward novel, this is a decent read. I felt the hacker theme to be a bit overdone in recent novels so had a hard time sticking to the book. Once I convinced myself to keep reading, the book did not disappoint.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

This didn’t have the same type of compelling mystery as most of Ruth Ware’s other books do; however, the main character was interesting and the plot was compelling and exciting. The storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the countdown on each chapter reinforces that sense of urgency.

Jack and Gabe are the best in the business at breaking into buildings and hacking security systems. As top penetration specialists, they get hired by high-profile companies to test their security vulnerabilities. But after a routine assignment goes terribly wrong, Jack returns home to a nightmare—someone brutally murdered Gabe, and the police suspect her of doing it.

Determined to clear her name, Jack goes on the run to find the killer. She uncovers a connection between Gabe’s death and a dangerous zero-day exploit, a vulnerability in a popular app that could be worth millions to the wrong people. Jack must stay one step ahead of the authorities and the killers.

This pulse-pounding, fast-paced novel kept me on the edge of my seat, making me feel Jack’s anxiety, as if I were the one on the run. The storyline is captivating, and it was fascinating to learn about penetration testers—who knew it was an actual job?

However, Ware’s repeated use of certain words, like “stupid,” became annoying, and the book is heavy on clichés. Even though I guessed the ending, I really enjoyed this book. Zero Days is an outstanding choice if you’ve been reading heavier novels and need a break—I can picture myself whipping through this while on vacation. Normally, I don’t read books like these for their literary value; I read them for pure entertainment.

Although not perfect, Zero Days is a high-octane thriller that plunges readers into a whirlwind of danger, suspense, and intrigue. I enjoyed it! 4 stars.

** I voluntarily reviewed a comp of this title provided by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

A thrilling and captivating adventure that pulls you in and keeps you guessing! Ruth Ware is at her best in this fast-paced tale.

DNFed at 49% because the killer seemed obvious and I was very bored - I was waiting on action to pick up, but the entire plot was Jack fumbling through London.

I did skip to the end to confirm that yes, I was correct about the killer.