Member Reviews

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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!

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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!

Was this review helpful?

This book was amazing! Loved every page! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC- will be recommending to book club friends!!

Was this review helpful?

Wow. Ruth Ware’s stunning, pulse pounding new thriller, Zero Days, is a propulsive page turner that you won’t be able to put down!!! Pre-order this one now!!!!!

Jacqueline “Jack” and her husband Gabe are “pen tester,” which means that she legally breaks into companies at their request to test their security, both physical security and data/computer security. After getting caught at the end of a job, Jack can’t get Gabe on the phone to clear things up with the police. When everything is finally straightened out, she goes home to find him brutally murdered, and it doesn’t long before she finds herself at the center of the police investigation. Jack wants justice for her husband, and she knows if she is arrested, there won’t be justice for his killer, so she takes off to find her husband’s killer on her own. The rest of the book follows the trials and tribulations of avoiding police capture while trying to investigate her husband’s murder, and this is engrossing!

I couldn’t put Zero Days down! Jack’s adventure tears at your heartstrings, as I could only imagine her heartbreak at the unexpected and brutal murder of her husband, and the shock she felt at being the police’s main suspect. The story is told as a countdown in days to the climax, and Ruth Ware’s detailed descriptions grab the reader and make you feel as though you are watching the scene unfold before you.

If you love Ruth Ware, you won’t want to miss this book! Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, thrillers, suspense, and whodunnit mysteries, this book had a little of everything!! Thank you to Gallery Books and Ruth Ware for the advance copy. Another breathtaking stunner of a thriller from Ruth Ware!!

Was this review helpful?

This was just okay, but probably not something I’d recommend for those looking for a 4 or 5 star thriller read.

The plot was intriguing, but I just couldn’t get into it and I couldn’t connect with any characters, to which there weren’t many. Jack is a pen tester, she loves her husband who died, but WHO is she? What is she like, her personality, etc?

The entire time Jack is running from the police and we are in search of Gabe, her husbands, killer but this is 90% of the book. Scene after scene, each one feeling similar and repetitive. She’s also doing this all with a significant injury that is border line sepsis and it’s all a bit too unbelievable.

Was this review helpful?

Zero Days is a fast paced, gripping and well written story which got me involved from the start. Although in the beginning I questioned some of the action Jack, the principal character, was taking, it proved to be the right course of action for resolving the issues. Ruth Ware has given us another engaging and stirring book.

Was this review helpful?

I completely enjoyed this book. Fast paced, heart bumping just the way I like my thrillers. This may be one of Ruther Ware’s best. Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Zero Days is a thriller that delves into the world of hackers and cyber criminals. Jack Cross and her husband Gabe work together at pen testers- they are hired by companies to find the weaknesses in their security. Jack handles the physical security, while Gabe is the hacker. Jack comes home after a job to find Gabe brutally murdered. Despite her shock and heartbreak, the police quickly zero in on Jack as their prime suspect. Desperate to prove her innocence and find Gabe's murderer, she goes on the run. What follows is a suspenseful tale of intrigue. Jack races against time and the police to find her husband's killer. This was a quick read and not in a genre that I usually read- cyber crimes and hacking are not my usual topic. However, I like a good murder mystery and this was definitely that.

Was this review helpful?

Overall, loved the book. I thought that there was a lot of extra information that made the beginning of the book somewhat lengthy and wordy. For that reason, it was hard for me to get into the book, characters, plot, etc. until around 10% in. I liked how we as the reader were introduced to the main character and her history/ background, relationships, and career; but I do think it could have been done more concisely. The section of the book between the setup and rising action is where I was more able to engage in what I was reading.
The plot was well-balanced. There were small instances that might act as foreshadowing or clues that I thought nothing of until near the end where details start falling into place. This was great as a reader because it is frustrating when a plot twist comes out of nowhere, simply for shock factor, without any forethought or depth. The way the components of the plot built the story and the ending worked really well for me as a reader. It was engaging, interesting, and threw you for a loop, not aggressively but rather harmoniously. It also did not come across rushed which is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to any sort of thriller/suspense. And while being tech focused, it wasn't confusing and remained easy to follow.
What I loved about the writing was how it creates a sense of anxiety in the audience, you can feel the fear the protagonist is facing; It is stressful, demanding, and exciting.

Was this review helpful?

Zero Days is not engrossing or even interesting. It is a cat and mouse game, not even well-executed. The main character was not even remotely relatable, nor was the premise of the plot. I am deeply disappointed in this book because I expect so much better from this author. I wanted to care about the outcome, but because of my lack of investment, it fell very flat. I do appreciate the advanced copy and hope others find the pleasure I failed to find in this book. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this with me in exchange for my honest opinion. I wish I had a more positive review to report.

Was this review helpful?

Ruth Ware has done it again! I prefer a locked door thriller but this one was just as good because the suspects weren't as clear. I liked the secret mission aspect because it wasn't just some bored housewife getting caught in this but a women with a closet full of skeletons. I will always recommend Ruth Ware books because she never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat and use descriptive language to evoke emotion without being too descriptive that it takes away from the high energy moment.

Was this review helpful?

Ruth Ware has done it again!!!!

This story was gripping the entire time. Jack was a really great leading lady with a ton of really cool skills and knowledge. I thought the pen tests were fascinating, the hacker bits were amazing and her journey was amazing.

Loved reading this book, can't wait to listen on audio to try to pick up extra clues along the way!!!!

Was this review helpful?