This novel was pretty straightforward and easy to read but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. There were great highlight moments with a steady flow of events but it doesn’t hold your attention the entire time. I felt like we weren’t given the same energy throughout the entire book. About 35% in things drastically declined. Then after Jack discovered her husband had been murdered the reader spends the majority of the time watching her jump from one location to another with minimal development.

It was just so much with this book that I questioned. For example if you found your husband dead why would you wait over an hour to contact the police? It made her seem suspicious even if she was innocent.

The book also focused on two major themes being falsely accused and seeking justice. Quite a few of the chapters were repetitive not to mention she was doing some Kim Possible type stuff all while being hurt which made things seem unbelievable. I did feel the beginning of the book took full advantage of the premise but everything after turned into this action-packed type thriller.

I gave the book a 3 not necessarily because I enjoyed it but because the author had some great action scenes that were entertaining. Most of the side characters were one dimensional and lacked depth so you don’t really care for any of them. Then it was immediately obvious as to who was behind the murder. I thought the reasoning was boring and not really climatic because I saw it coming.

Overall, I found the book to be very mid and felt this one just wasn’t for me. But it may be for you so read at your own will. Special thanks to the author, gallery books, & netgalley for my advanced copy!!!!

Thanks to Gallery/Scout Press for the copy of this book.

Touted as Mr. and Mrs. Smith x The Fugitive, I was excited to read this even though spy books are not always my favorite. I also really enjoyed Ruth's last book, The It Girl.

Zero Days unfortunately fell pretty darn flat. While there was a lot of action, I was somehow still bored and thought it was incredibly predictable (aside from one very random twist thrown in there). There was A LOT of book left after the major twist was revealed and there were quite a few unbelievable moments in the book leaving me saying, "really?!" and kind of wondering how Jack ever got hired as a pen tester. I'll still read more Ruth Ware in the future, but this one wasn't for me.

This is a heart-pounding novel that will captivate readers from start to finish. The author skillfully crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns, ensuring an enthralling reading experience.

The story introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. As the plot unfolds, their lives become intertwined in a high-stakes game of danger and deceit. The author expertly maintains a sense of suspense throughout the book, keeping readers guessing and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its ability to create a palpable atmosphere of tension and unease. The author's vivid descriptions and attention to detail transport readers into the world of the story, making them feel as if they are right alongside the characters, experiencing the thrilling events firsthand.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I must start by saying I am a big Ruth Ware fan.

However, Zero Days was just ok. I was expecting more. The characters were meh. I mostly figured out the twist. With all that said, she can write a book that hooks your interest: the pacing was good. I read it quick. I wouldn’t shy away from reading or recommending- it’s not a bad book - she’s just written better.

I really enjoyed Zero Days, by Ruth Ware! The story follows Jacintha, "Jack" as she investigates the death of her husband. You can't help but root for Jack as she investigates, and the supporting characters are interesting and definitely add to the story. I would not say there are any crazy plot twists or shocking twists, but the story was well-written and interesting, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next at the end of each chapter!

3.5⭐️I liked this book, but I didn’t love it.

What I enjoyed:
-The premise is unique, especially how Jack (the protagonist) is hired by companies to see if their security system is “hack proof” or not
-There was a lot of action packed into a short period of time
-How the title came into play
-How it differed from Ware’s other novels

What wasn’t for me:
-Once Jack was on the run, the story dragged, and I was waiting for a “wow” moment
-The “bad guy” reveal was obvious
-I didn’t really enjoy Jack as a protagonist
-Her sisters name was “Hel”

Book Title: Zero Days
Author: Ruth Ware
Publisher: Gallery Books-Gallery Scout Press
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: June 20, 2023
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 368

In this story Jacintha (Jack) and Gabe Cross, own and operate a cybersecurity company and are ‘penetration specialist’ known as “pen testers”. They are hired by companies to break in and therefore test if there security system is secure. Gabe controls the technology and Jack does the physical work of breaking in.
However, one night after a routine assignment, Jack comes home to find her husband Gabe has been murdered. She is in shock and does not inform the authorities immediately; of course, this makes her a person of interest.
Jack thinks the police are not doing enough and sets out to find out who killed her husband.

Story is about love and loss and is told from the POV of Jack. Her pain of losing Gabe is clear.
She goes on the run from the police and she doesn’t stop until the end of the story. Thus the story chapters are a count down to Zero Days starting with
Saturday, February 4, 2023 Minus Eight Days etc. until
Sunday, February 12, Zero Days. Then
Monday, February 13, Day One
Monday, February 12, 2024 Day Three hundred and Sixty-five.

I am a big psychological thriller and love twists and turns but this didn’t quite deliver as Whodunit wasn’t a surprise to me.

This is my eighth novel by author, Ruth Ware. She is an author who has been a ‘hit or a miss’ with me. There are stories I love but then there are the okay stories. I liked "The Turn of the Key", The Death of Mrs. Westaway", and "The It Girl" - they were all big hits with me!

Want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books –Gallery Scout Press for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 20, 2023.

Thank you NetGalley and Ms. Ware for giving me the opportunity to review "Zero Days." This is the third book by Ms. Ware that I have read. What I have come to realize is that each of Ms. Ware's books are unique. There is no paste and cut formula like so many of the popular authors these days. "Zero Days" is no exception. This book reminds me of Mission Impossible. It has a lot of action. The only fault with the book is that it lacks a lot of different characters. Because there was not a lot of characters I was easily able to guess who "did it." Not to say that there wasn't suspense it just had you guessing why more than who. I would definitely recommend this book.

Jack (Jacintha) and Gabe are a husband and wife team who are “pen” specialists - people hired to break into companies (penetrate) and test security. While Jack, guided by Gabe’s assistance through her ear, completes a job and is then detained, he is murdered. Under suspicion and being questioned at the police station, Jack uses her skills to escape and hunt for the killer herself, endangering her own life.

The falsely accused is one of my least favorite tropes yet I chose this book because of the author. It had a decent plot but the pages and pages of little and sometimes repetitive details found me doing a lot of skimming. Jack turns into almost a super action hero as she narrowly escapes precarious situations. The book struck me as being written as a pitch for a movie or Netflix series….one that I probably wouldn’t choose to watch because I am not into action films…especially those that strain credulity.

Fans of Ruth Ware might find this book surprising; action aficionados will enjoy it.

I feel that I have given Ruth Ware a few tries but I always end up not finishing her books because they simply just drag. I made myself stick it out with this one and I wish I could say it was worth it but it really wasn’t. It felt that while we did get a satisfying ending, the plot fell a bit flat for me. The writing was a bit overly descriptive and a lot of parts just felt unnecessary.

The queen of suspense is back!

The book is a bit of a departure from Ware's previous titles, but I'm into it. This is more of a technical thriller--but with many twists and unexpected turns. Jack and her husband, Gabe, are a mastermind team that are at the top of their game. When Jack is unexpectantly killed and Jack is pinned for his murder, she must prove her innocence, while on the run! Hello, The Fugitive!

I like this departure from Ware's normal style and I can see many of her fans being excited to read something new from Ware!

Well Done!!

I love Ruth Ware’s books and I really did try to dive into this one as well. I definitely thought it was riveting, and I wanted to know what would happen. It fell a little flat for me, to be honest. There was not that immediate or gradual connection to any of the characters.

Short Synopsis:
Jack and her husband Gabe are security specialists. After a job one night, Jack comes home to find her husband murdered. And surprise. She’s the police’s number one suspect.

My Thoughts:
This one started off strong. I loved the first 25 percent. There was action and surprises. Once Jack was on the run, it dragged, like so much. I think the book could have been much more impactful if it was cut down some in the middle.

I liked it though! It held my interest. But it was a bit lackluster than what I was anticipating after the strong start.

Read if You Like:
🖥️ The Fugitive
🖥️ Lots of action
🖥️ Turn paging thrillers
🖥️ Ride or Die sisters

While I thought this latest wasn’t up to Ware’s usual cleverness and plotting, I really enjoyed it. The issue for me, was that Jack was way too clever to have been so fooled by the various contrived situations, and Cole being the baddie was obvious. But, as usual, I heartily await the next one, and find these novels to be excellent weekend reads.

I can always rely on Ruth Ware for an enjoyable read, and this is no different. Do I think this take on The Fugitive is her most successful outing? No, I think it's a little outside her wheelhouse, but I was still entertained, which is the primary thing I'm coming to her for. Here's hoping next year's release closer to her whodunnit roots

I'm a big fan of Ruth Ware's other books, but Zero Days was a miss for me. Most of her books are dark and atmospheric. I would consider this one more of a fast-paced spy thriller. The writing is still really well done but the characters and plot were boring to me. If you're a fan of spy novels and movies, I think this might be right up your alley!

This book really hooks you from the start. Love that it kept you guessing ! The characters were awesome . Love Ruth Ware and all her books !

I had very high hopes for this since it is so different than other Ruth Ware books which tend to be underwhelming for me. I like the idea of it a lot, it's interesting, but I guessed the bad guy pretty fast. And I was right and that's revealed at like 65% and then that's basically it?

The reveal was boring, I was over her festering wound quickly, and Jack just didn't do it for me. I know she probably had blinders on but it was pretty obvious what was happening as she was on the move.

And I actually burst out laughing when she was in the middle of a very serious exchange with a guy from the dark web near the end where she put her finger in her mouth, ring and all while deciding what to do and thinking of her dead husband. It was just such a weird mental image, I had to stop and read that part to my boyfriend with the context it was so weird. This one just didn't do it for me.

Thank you for the ARC, Net Galley.

I was very excited to receive an advance readers copy of Zero Days by Ruth Ware. I am a big Ruth Ware fan and have read all of her books. This one did not disappoint! It was full of twist and had my heart racing while I was reading. I could not put this novel down! Jack’s husband is murdered and she is the prime suspect. She knows that if she doesn’t find out who is responsible no one will. It’s a race against the clock to get answers before they catch her.
This is definitely a book I would recommend!

OMG-Ware never disappoints; she's has really become one of my go-to authors because the stories are all unique, well-researched and twisty enough to keep you guessing to the very end. I love a good mystery that hooks you almost instantly and keeps you up late because you cannot put it down! If you do too--this is your book!