This is way too slow for me and painfully tells readers rather than shows. The inner dialogue feels unnecessary. I wanted to like this but it just feels like content being generated for the sake of content in the thriller genre. There’s nothing really anchoring this. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Ruth Ware fan. I was excited to read this book. Jack and her husband Gabe are penetration specialists. They break into businesses to see if they can get away with it which shows the company any issues with security. At the end of one assignment Gabe ends up dead and Jack who is a prime suspect goes on the run. Will she be able to clear her name before getting caught? It felt very much like a story I have read before. And many times. Nothing fresh here and I didn’t find the end satisfying.

I found this to be more of an “action thriller” a la Mr. and Mrs. smith with semblances of Irobot, then Ruth Ware’s more common psychological suspense novels.

I don’t usually read action/ thrill of them chase but this was a fast paced read that really never let up in pacing and I enjoyed it!

This was a fast-paced thriller that I couldn’t put down and finished in one day. It’s a little different from other Ruth Ware books in a good way.

Married couple Jack and Gabe break into office buildings for a living. Jack enjoys the physical and mental challenges of finding ways in and out of buildings, while ex-hacker Gabe excels at the tech aspects of their job.
When Gabe is brutally murdered and Jack remains the only person of interest in the case, she realizes it’s up to her to find his murderer. What results is a race against time that is packed with suspense, and Jack finds herself struggling to survive while relying on the kindness of her sister, an old friend of Gabe’s, and even a few strangers.

Jack is super smart in many ways, but there were a couple of times where she didn’t pick up on clues that were so obvious and it drove me nuts! I think that if you don’t connect with Jack, since so much of the story involves her thoughts and inner monologue, then this book might be difficult to get into. I really liked her as a character and the relationship she had with Gabe. I thought she was a badass who found ways to survive even in the bleakest situations. Some of the twists were a bit obvious, but I still couldn’t wait to see how the story would resolve. This book wasn’t exactly what I had expected, but I really enjoyed it! 4 stars.

This book is a bit of change for Ruth Ware and I enjoyed her foray into the heist/computer crimes genre. Ware is one of my favorite thriller authors and I appreciate the fact that she focuses on interesting characters and original plots over crazy twists. This book starts out with a bang when husband and wife Gabe and Jack (Jacintha) are breaking into a company to test their security. The couple have a job as Pen testers; they are hired to break into places and find their weaknesses. Only this one goes badly; Jack is arrested and Gabe who is on a head phone back home can only sit back and wait for her to prove herself to the police. Jack doesn't have a great relationship with the police, mostly because her ex-boyfriend is a police officer and was abusive and a stalker. After finally proving she was working for the company she was accused of breaking into, Jack arrives home to find her husband brutally murdered.

The rest of the novel involves Jack on the run from the police who want to arrest her in Gabe's murder, and with her trying to find out Gabe's killer and why she is being framed. I enjoyed following Jack as she nursed a badly injured stomach and surviving on little food and money. She was resourceful and smart and as she moved from trains to farms to hiding in plain site with the police always one step behind. I thought the killer was pretty obvious but was interested in finding out the reason behind the murder. Ware does a good job at creating characters that are interesting and plots that keep my interest. I really enjoyed this one! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Zero Days is touted as being a blend of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Fugitive. I love The Fugitive and felt connected to its characters. Unfortunately, I didn't connect to the characters here. It might be because Jack had to hit the ground running early on, and readers follow her movements as she dashes from one place to the next. There's no time for introspection, which makes Zero Days feel like a movie script. The villain was revealed fairly early, which morphed this thriller into a chase novel at the mid-way point and left me wanting more. It was definitely well-researched and may very well end up on a big screen.

Not one of Ware's best. The plotting is a little too obvious and it gets a little preachy about surveillance. Jack is a likeable enough character, but both her Terminator-like persistence and her continual wondering about her inability to cry over her husband's death get a little tiresome. This one just misses the mark.

Once again, Ruth Ware had me hooked from the beginning. Zero Days was a page turner for me as I had to find out who the killer was. Half way through the story I had it figured out but was still intrigued enough that I needed to see how Jack was going play it out with the police. There was a lot of computer/IT lingo but it didn't hinder understanding the story line, in my opinion. I read the book in two days.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press for the advance read copy.

This was a classic falsely accused murder mystery. Very thrilling which leaves you wanting to read more! I found I couldn’t put this one down and ended up reading it in 2 days! Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an advance copy of this book!

Thanks to Scout Books for this ARC. Such a good thriller, once again. This time, it’s the danger of apps if the hackers get to them. Privacy is a thing of the past, and there is real danger to lots of people. A terrific book for a rainy day read.

Ruth Ware's books are hit or miss for me but I ultimately enjoyed this book! This is a fast paced, "just one more chapter", stay up too late, action filled book. I was flipping pages so quickly to see what happened next! This story is a good blend of action, mystery, suspense, and twists. However, this one's twists are more predictable than in her other books. But that was ok with this one; the writing was still fun and I enjoyed the satisfaction that I figured out the twists!

This is a husband/wife duo similar to a Mr. and Mrs. Smith pair. Gabe is a hacker and Jack, a skilled penetration specialist that does the physical on the ground work. Together they navigate holes in companies' security systems and report back on cracks in their system to address potential intruders. On a routine job, Jack arrives home and finds her husband has been murdered. She quickly becomes the main suspect and goes on the run to find the killer. I also enjoyed learning more about the penetration field and the technical details that were described in this line of work. You also must suspend reality for some of the police / chase scenes - but still a fun one overall.

Zero Days is the first "just one more chapter" read-too-late-into the night book I've had in a while. As a long-time fan of Ruth Ware, this one's twists were more predictable than in her other books (at least if you came up during the 90's thrillers in books and in film), but you know what? I didn't care. Ware's writing style and ability more than made up for any predictability and it was fun to just sit back and enjoy the ride...even if it made for an "early" morning. :)

My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for the opportunity to preview this title in exchange for my honest opinion!

Zero Days by Ruth Ware is a thrilling page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. The story follows Jack, a skilled penetration specialist, and her husband Gabe, as they navigate their dangerous line of work. When a routine job goes wrong, Jack returns home to find her husband dead and herself as the prime suspect in his murder. With the police closing in, Jack must race against time to clear her name and find the true killer.

The book is a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and action, with twists and turns that will leave readers guessing until the very end. Ware's writing style is sharp and engaging, making it easy to become fully invested in the story and its characters. The protagonist, Jack, is a strong and determined woman who readers will root for throughout the book.

Overall, Zero Days is a gripping and well-crafted thriller that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Ware is truly a master of suspense, and this latest novel is a testament to her skill as a writer. Highly recommended for fans of the genre or anyone looking for a heart-pounding read.

The penetration testing aspect of this novel was fascinating. It’s amazing what a poker face and nerves of steel can get you. This was something of a departure for Ware with a story that is not wedded to a specific space (a house in the woods, a cruise ship, a college campus, a smart house, etc) and therefore many of the thrills came from the action rather than relying on interpersonal dynamics as much. I enjoyed the technical details and they were explained well enough for a lay person.

A fast-paced thriller that keeps you on your toes and turning the pages.
Jacintia ,”Jack” is a Penetration Specialist. And, she is very good at her job! Her husband Gabe mans the computer helm and talks in her ear as she navigate the premises for holes in company security systems without getting caught. Unfortunately, on this very night Jack is caught and spends hours at the police station to clear herself. Jack gets home very late to find the her husband has been brutally murdered. Her life turns upside down as she finds herself as the main suspect. Jack decides she has nothing to lose and goes on the run when she realizes the police really are not interested in finding who really killed Gabe. It’s The Who and the Why that keep Jack going even as she runs out of options and people to trust. Another excellent mystery/thrilled written by one of the brilliant mystery writers of our time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scott Press for sharing this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book: Zero Days
Author: Ruth Ware
Format: Digital
Genre: Crime/Mystery, Thriller
Places Featured: London, England, United Kingdom
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Review: Ruth Ware is known for her psychological thrillers with imperfect, but real characters, twisted plot lines, and heart-pounding action. Zero Days has all of that, but not quite at the level I’m used to from this author. Jack (Jacintha) and her husband, Gabe, are “pen testers”—they are paid to test company’s security system by breaking into them and hacking. When Jack returns from a job, though, to find her husband murdered in front of his computer, she soon becomes the primary suspect and she knows she must prove her innocence. The characters aren’t as well developed as I would like (even though it is told from Jack’s perspective) and the plot is a bit repetitive, but it was enough to hold my attention and make me want to keep going.
*I was given a version of this book for free in exchange for an honest book review. (Thanks @NetGalley and @ssedlib!) The book will be released on 20 June 2023.

This was one of my more favorite books by Ruth Ware, I liked this one better than "It Girl" not by any means saying it was a bad book but this book flowed very nicely and the suspense was constructed better. Actually I correct my statement this is my favorite.

I loved the character of Jack (Jacintha Cross) well thought about story line and dialogue between every character. This book took time to write, usually I find plot holes rather fast and this book didn't have any glaring holes.

I enjoyed the flow of this book and the little twists taking you into the inner workings of the dark web. I also enjoyed the little surprise in the last two chapters that left a bit of hope and light at the end of the book.

Great action scenes, great family dynamic, great man vs man dynamic, while also being man vs nature.

Jack and her husband Gabe run a security firm. When returning home after a job Jack finds Gabe with his throat slit. The rest of the book is Jack trying to solve his murder while running from the police. I enjoyed the book and all Jack had to go through.

Perhaps I don't understand the crypto world. I'm a big fan of Ruth Ware and read all her books. I appreciate that she writes a different book every time - different setting, different time. Unfortunately this one just didn't grab me.