I could not put this one down! The story was twisty and kept me guessing. I needed to know what happened. By the end, I wasn't sure what was going on. I didn't care for this author's early books, but she has found her groove and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Zero Days by Ruth Ware. I've been a fan of hers since her first novel, In A Dark, Dark Wood, but her last few books just haven't excited me, including this one. I literally only finished Zero Days because I felt like I had to because it was an advanced copy.

I enjoyed the first few chapters, seeing Jack in her element and loving her job, reading the back and forth between her and Gabe- but as soon as Gabe is murdered, it went downhill fast. I figured out who was involved fairly quickly, didn't even care about the why, and found the whole storyline boring. There were a few moments that were enjoyable, but for the most part this is a big nope for me. 2.5 stars, which I guess I'll round up to 3, just to be nice.

This book was definitely more CIA crime than psychology thriller. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. The plot was a 3 but with Ruth ware’s writing I’ll give it a 4.

When I picked up this book, I wasn’t certain what sort of ride I was signing up for. Ruth Ware delivers a fairly action packed novel with all the twists and turns one would expect of an individual framed for a crime they didn’t commit and now they are trying to prove they are innocent before time runs out. The main character, Jack, doesn’t do herself a lot of favors in her pursuits to prove the truth of the situation, but with the help of her sister and a couple of nice strangers along the way, Jack pushes to uncover who set her up and who murdered her husband.

I thought this book was a fairly thrilling ride from beginning to end even though I don’t know much about hackers and pen testers. There were times I was nearly screaming for this poor protagonist to turn herself in, she was getting more and more beat up by the page. Even if she wasn’t worried about surviving, I was rooting for her to make it to the end and be able to see the real culprit brought to justice. I will say, I wish I didn’t see the ending coming the way I did but, hey, sometimes when you read thrillers and murder/suspense, these things can happen.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with this book. I read it over the course of about 3 days and would recommend it to anyone traveling. The momentum in the book feels right for someone on the go.

I've read a lot of Ruth Ware, and this is my favorite one so far! This feels different from her other novels. She really seems to have stepped out of her comfort zone and tackled a whole new world. I feel like I just took a course on how to be a spy/hacker! This was a wild ride with a female protagonist, and after she goes through hell and back, the ending ties things up nicely. Thank you Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the ecopy for a free and unbiased review.

Loved this unique mystery from Ruth Ware! I've read all her books and this one was particularly interesting with the protagonist being a pen tester who is on the run. The pacing was perfect, it kept me at the edge of my seat and was a very enjoyable read. Would recommend!

High octane thrills once again from none other than Ruth Ware in this delicious new novel. Readers will be hooked from the beginning in this story that unfolds like it should be on the big screen.

Better put this on your library holds list or pick up a copy on release date, because this is just further proof that aware can do no wrong, and her thrillers leave readers breathless.

As a loyal reader of Ruth Ware’s books I have to say I’m just a bit disappointed in the plot. It’s a good and enjoyable read as all her books are, but the plot was predictable. I do like the main character Jack, she’s a fighter and she’s tough. I like that she’s determined to find the killer, going above and beyond on a realistic quest. Focusing on the way society depends so much on the internet and social media makes you stop and think just how easy we open ourselves up to apps, and place our trust into the hands of tech corporations. Although I would’ve like to see more of Ware’s surprise twists in this book, I think the plot itself was enjoyable enough that it kept me reading to the end.

Branded as a spy novel, Ruth Ware’s latest book fell flat for me. I enjoy thrillers that keep the reader guessing. However with this book as soon as a character was introduced I knew that they would be part of the twist. Felt too formulaic.

3.5 stars.
Jack and her husband live an exciting life. Jack, the stealth physical operative, and Gabe, the coder, work together as contractors hired to test companies security measures. They are a successful, strong duo - until one night, a job doesn’t quite go as planned. After a few bumps in the road, Jack is caught. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing when it comes to her clients, however when Gabe doesn’t answer her emergency calls home, she begins to panic. And even worse, when she returns home that might, things are not as they should be. Something horrible had happened to Gabe and Jack had no idea who is behind it. What she does know is that the finger are pointed straight at her.

I get really frustrated at the “character on the run” trope. I get it, but sometimes it’s just so absurd. I still felt that way with this book, but I really enjoyed Jack’s story more than most. This is quite action-packed with more running than thrill or mystery, but it kept me turning the pages.

Happily married Jacinta “Jack” Cross and Gabriel “Gabe” Medway are penetration testers. They are hired by their client to penetrate their security system. And that was what they were doing one night when Jack was arrested and Gabe was murdered. Without time to grieve Jack becomes a suspect! This is a fast paced, adrenaline filled, action packed read! Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a gifted copy.

Zero Days was a miss for me and I DNFed it at only 20%. To be clear, I am new to Ruth Ware novels, but loved The It Girl and was thrilled to receive an early ARC of this title.

I think my expectations were a little skewed...I went in wanting a thriller vibe and instead got a sort of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" action movie vibe that just didn't grasp my attention.

This one was a miss for me but I still look forward to discovering other backlist titles by Ware and her newer offerings.

Ruth Ware has had huge success as a writer of unstable-women-in-peril novels (Woman in Cabin 10, Turn of the Key etc) and while this new novel nicely keeps its feet in that territory, it also takes a successful step into action thriller ground.

Jacintha “Jack” Cross and her husband Gabe Medway are “pen testers” - that is to say they test the security systems, both physical (Jack) and virtual (Gabe), of their client companies. But after one such test, Jack gets home and finds Gabe has been murdered. And then it looks like she’s being set up to take the blame.

The best bits of the novel are the skills and tactics Jack uses to wheedle her way into various places and situations. The not so good bit is the mystery itself which isn’t really much of a mystery because there’s not enough viable characters to raise many questions (assuming we work with the immutable law of fictional mysteries that the perpetrator always has to be a character that we’ve met in the novel).

Overall, I enjoyed having a slight woman as an action hero who has to use her brain as well as her body and I think the author did a great job of keeping the tension tight and the plot moving along.

Thanks to Gallery and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

2.5 rounded up. This was definitely more strictly suspense than some of Ware's other books, and the foray into cybersecurity was a strange development. Calling this Zero Days didn't make a ton of sense to me, even after it was explained 2/3 of the way through the book. I liked Jack, but knowing her profession, many of her moves baffled me. The fact that she consistently almost got caught, despite being severely ill (and somehow pregnant) also seemed absurd. Anyone hoping for more of a thriller, this isn't the book for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Zero Days" by Ruth Ware is an unputdownable and gripping mystery that will leave readers breathless. Jack and Gabe, renowned penetration specialists, find their lives upended when a routine assignment goes wrong, leaving Jack's husband dead and her as the prime suspect. On the run and with time running out, Jack must unravel the truth and determine whom she can trust. With propulsive prose and heart-stopping moments, Ware keeps readers hooked, delivering unexpected twists and a sense of impending danger. The attention to detail and immersive atmosphere bring the story to life, while Jack's relatable character adds depth to the narrative. "Zero Days" is a masterfully crafted thriller that combines suspense, action, and emotional depth, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Prepare for a gripping ride from start to finish.

This book riveted me from start to finish. The backdrop of the story was interesting and fresh, and I found the characters likable and engaging. This book was just what I needed to jumpstart my summer vacation! A needed vacation for my mind, filled with excitement and action! Do yourself a favor and read this book!

I tend to enjoy Ruth ware. This one I did not care for. Read like a cheap sci-fi thriller. I love Blake Crouch sci-fi. This book missed its mark for me. Sorry Ruth Ware.

Thank you to the publisher and netgallery

For fans of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, so, everyone, this fast paced thriller is perfect for those slow summer days. Jack is infamous for her abilities in breaking into buildings and hacking security systems in partnership with her husband. Suddenly though, she finds herself in a race against time to find her husband's murderer.

Thank you to #GalleryBooks ##Gallery/ScoutPress and #RuthWare for the ARC of #ZeroDays. Normally, Ruth Ware’s books are my absolute favorite (Woman in Cabin 10, In a Dark Dark Wood), but this one, while good, just didn’t’ thrill me. I didn’t really connect with the characters. I found no real reason to like them. Jack and her husband are penetration testers – they test the security of companies to ensure the safety of buildings and computer networks. Jack finds herself in a horrible situation when her husband ends up dead and she is the lead suspect. She takes off on the run in a very improbable quest for the real killer. I did enjoy the book, but I found a lot of it very unbelievable and the characters just not likeable. I feel bad that I didn’t like this more.

I have only read one other Ruth Ware novel, One by One and really enjoyed the premise, which was more a locked room traditional mystery. In this one, Ware pivots to a thriller with little mystery. We meet Jack and her husband Gabe as they are doing a pen test for a client. After a small detour to a police station, Jack returns home to find her husband dead. Thus begins the journey of Jack trying to find out why Gabe was killed and who did it. Jack annoyed me greatly because it felt like she wasn't making rational decisions and the frustration wanted me to DNF at times. There was a lot of internal dialogue and telling vs showing that slowed the story down. Ware has been compared at times to Agatha Christie, but I feel like she tries a new facet of mysteries in each novel without honing her skills on them. This one just didn't work for me, but depending on what she does next, I'll give her another try.