Solid but not great

Zero Days is a thriller about a woman who goes on the run after being named a suspect in her husband’s murder.

The plot is very similar to The Fugitive. There are a few major differences, some obvious and some subtle. Despite these differences, I was able to guess the killer very early on because Ware doesn't stray far from the original.

The pacing is slow--especially in the beginning. It should have been fast and exciting, as there is intrigue, murder, and a fugitive on the loose, but it was rather dry and boring to read. Thankfully, the pace picks up around the 60% mark. There is a lot of repetition, even within the same chapter.

Jack, the suspect, is the sole narrator. She is likable enough, but she makes some stupid choices. Her job as a PEN tester was an interesting plot point. Zero Days is a character-driven novel, but I wanted more character development, and I didn’t feel like I knew the other characters: Gabe, Cole, Hel, etc.
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I saw a reference to Zero Days concerning a major app today, so this aspect of the plot is timely and on point. There is some tech jargon, but I was able to follow along easily.

Even though I knew how things were going to play out, once the pace picked up, so did the tension and suspense. I didn’t love reading this, but I enjoyed seeing Jack reach the end of her journey.

Not bad, but not great=mixed bag for me.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a long time fan of Ruth Ware, and eagerly await her latest releases. Unfortunately Zero Days is one of my least favorites of the author's work.
Zero Days felt like a run of the mill thriller about someone on the run, not knowing who to trust or where to turn. I didn't find the plot or the characters particularly interesting .

The newest Ruth Ware follows Jack, who finds her the main suspect after her husband is murdered. Instead of surrendering, she decides to go on the run so that she can find the real culprit.

This was a big departure in terms of normal subject for Ware I’d say! It was a lot more Fugitive-esque instead of building up the suspense. I always get worried with her books because I’ve found them hit or miss, but I enjoyed this one. I thought one of the “twists” was predictable but then she spun it some more, so it wasn’t just what you expected. I did feel like the big bad being just a shadowy foreign government was a bit of a cop out. But I don’t really like that in any book, so if it doesn’t bother you, then you’ll probably love the ending. Overall, a captivating thriller that is a nice change of pace from Ware’s other books!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely one of the more enjoyable Ruth Ware novels I’ve read. Had Bourne Identity and The Fugitive vibes throughout, yet instead of Jason Bourne and Dr. Richard Kimble, we have Jacintha Cross. Not sure if her occupation as a “Pen Tester” is a real thing, but she’s basically paid to break into companies to test their physical security and vulnerabilities. Things go south early on when her partner husband is killed and she’s framed for his murder. Although some parts dragged on, and others were cringey, I think it’s worth the read - especially if you enjoyed the aforementioned movies.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I normally love Ruth Ware books, so I was incredibly disappointed by the fact that I could barely finish this one. The writing style felt very different from what Ware normally does — not a lot of suspense or twists. I literally guessed who did it in the first few chapters after the death. Also, for the fact that Ware normally writes strong female characters, Jack was pretty pathetic. She didn’t feel fully formed and was just straight up stupid half the time. In the end, I just skimmed through the last 3 days of dialogue to prove that I was right about who did it then put this book down with a large sigh of “finally!”

Ruth Ware is at the top of her game with Zero Days.
The novel is suspenseful, addictive, and unforgettable. Our protagonist, Jack (short for Jacinthia) is on the run and trying to prove that she did not murder her husband Gabe. The police are always one breath behind her but Jack is clever and sometimes lucky in her escape.
Ruth Ware has avoided the genre trap of becoming too predictable and has given us a likable protagonist and several original supporting players.
Looking forward to more from Ruth Ware!

I love Ruth Ware so much, but this novel just wasn’t a hit for me. The violence was repetitive and over the top, and the characters weren’t well developed enough for me to care about where the story was going. I also solved the “who did it” by 20%, which was frustrating. I will always be a fan of this author, and will continue to read and recommend her books, but this one wasn’t my favorite.

I’m a huge fan of Ruth Ware and have enjoyed all her other previous books, so I was thrilled for the opportunity read Zero Days. I knew going in that it was a bit different than her previous mystery thrillers, but I was still interested in the storyline. I have a lot of respect for authors departing from their normal genre and writing style, and I will continue to devour anything she publishes, but, unfortunately, this particular story didn’t keep my interest. The fact that it is so different from her previous works is a huge advantage, as this novel has a lot of potential to introduce new readers to Ruth Ware, and I’m excited to see what she comes up with next. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Despite an exciting start and an intriguing premise, this was a miss for me. I caught onto what was going to happen fairly early on, which made the book underwhelming. I also don’t love the fugitive trope, so the fact that Jack was on the run for most of this book did not keep my interest. Will I continue to read Ruth Ware? Yes. Is this a top read from her for me? No.

I absolutely love everything that Ruth Ware has published and this is now at the top of my list. She has such an amazing ability to tell a story so vividly that you can picture yourself as the main character. There are just enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. And I love a good ending and this main character definitely deserved it! 10/10 recommend

I was halfway through this book before I even came up for air! It doesn’t seem like it would be a quick read, but it is so action packed and riveting that I think it actually increased my reading speed! It’s difficult to describe the story, except to say that it is a murder mystery with a dedicated woman striving desperately to figure out who murdered her partner. I love Ruth Ware and this book did not disappoint, although I did figure it out way too soon, I would still recommend this book to all of Ware’s fans, and anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Zero Hour follows a traditional Ruth ware formula with a few twists you don’t see, and some see sharper than the main character. It was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but having just watched the series, Poker Face , I would highly suggest superglue for the “go bag”. The twist at the end was delightful and I wish there was more reflection on that twist.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the to read and review.
First the cover, really love it. It actually sent off a creepy vibe for me, though this book is not creepy at all.
The title, yeah, I had no idea what it meant. The book explains it for sure. But being un-techie, it's still not something I totally understand.
Despite the popularity of this author, I haven't been overly impressed with the books I've read by her. I keep picking them up hoping to like the next one more than the last. This one didn't throw me over the top.
I honestly found the main character underwhelming. And everything she did, despite her background and how much she tells you all about it, just seems totally over the top. She gets away with so much and in the end not a thing happens to her. Now, I'm not sure how the penal system works in the UK but in the USA she would definitely be in some kind of trouble for all the things she did.
I also figured out part of who done it by the middle of the book. It made the rest of the read harder. The suspense was gone and it didn't really go anywhere for me.
I'm sure lovers of this author will enjoy this book more than I did but it unfortunately missed the mark for me.

I honestly can't decide if this book tops The Turn of the Key or if they're equal but oh my goodness, I loved this book. It started off with multiple bangs and the suspense was so intense throughout. I was actually gasping during a couple points in the book which is a reaction very few thrillers have gotten out of me. It amazes me the way authors can come up with a storyline like this and write a whole book about it. This book had me on the edge of my seat with my heart pounding waiting to see what was happening next. I know I rated her last two books low but this one more than made up for them!

Many thanks to Gallery Books/Scout Press for the gifted copy for my honest review!

I'm always excited for a new Ruth Ware - her books are always so unique and engaging! Zero Days was far outside the realm of familiarity for me - hackers and penetration testing have always seemed more fiction than reality, but Jack and Gabe are a couple who make a career and business out of doing these things. When Jack comes home from a job to find her husband brutally murdered, and herself a suspect, she takes off on a quest to find out who REALLY killed her husband, because it certainly wasn't her. There is tons of suspense and action in Zero Days, which made it really enjoyable to read. I felt for Jack as she was dealing with her devastation, and forced to do everything possible to find the real killer, or end up in jail herself. While the reveal of the catalyst to the situation didn't really surprise me, the underlying "why" was fresh, unique, and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I'm sure other fans of Ware will as well.

I love Ruth Ware and was so excited to have a chance to review her newest book. I have some cybersecurity friends so I really enjoyed the premise.

This one really keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was immediately hooked given the action. We were really thrown right in.

I could see the comparisons to Mr and Mrs Smith (one of my favorites)! This would make such a great movie.

4 ⭐️ It was described as comparable to Mr. And Mrs. Smith with The Fugitive but I say it more of The Fugitive plot. Jack aka Jacintha Cross, found her husband dead when she got home. Now she’s the main suspect and on the run.

I was on the edge of my seat. It was intense especially when Jack was so close to getting caught. As intriguing the story was I kind of predicted the guilty party already.

Let this be a record that this is the first book that I read less than 6 hrs. Definitely a short read for me and thrilling.

Zero Days, Ruth Ware's latest, does not fit her Agatha Christie formula, for which she’s well-known. A crime thriller involving good and bad hackers, the action takes many unexpected turns. I found the plot interesting, if not at times tedious. A lot of detail. Long explanations of operations turned into longer explanations. With all that said, I enjoyed the novel. Ruth Ware knows how to tell a good tale and one connects with the characters, particularly “Jack”’ from the onset. A nice read for escapism, just not vintage Ruth Ware.

This is unlike any other Ruth Ware title. It felt as if it were written through the lens of Karin Slaughter. We will purchase because of the author name recognition, but it would be a hard sell for fans. I would recommend if someone was looking for this style of book. Sadly, that person is not me. I finished it, but did not love it.

I've read pretty much all of Ruth Ware's books. I've loved some and some I'm just okay with. But I really enjoyed Zero Days. Initially, if I'm being honest, I wasn't sure I was into it because there is a lot of tech detail. But when I figured out what exactly was happening in the beginning part of the book, I was hooked. The story goes at breakneck speed, and that's pretty much how I read it because I had to know what was coming next. I actually feel like this book was a little different from her usual books, and it was a good one!