Review: Zero Days

Zero Days by Ruth Ware
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had completely forgotten I'd put his book on hold on the Libby app, so I was happily surprised when I got the notification stating that it was available to borrow.

In Zero Days, Ruth Ware crafts a story with the same vibes of a Sunday afternoon movie from the 1990s: perfectly balanced between thriller and drama, keeping one in guesses up to the very last line, and yet leaving this residually dissatisfied feeling due to its repetitive actions and lack of verisimilitude.

The protagonist, Jack, is a woman who, with her husband, is hired to break into buildings and hack security systems to find its flaws. However, after a routine mission goes horribly wrong, Jack returns home to discover her husband dead.

This book does seem more designed for suspense rather than character development. As the plot thickens, so does Jack's physical talents, perhaps perfected by her athletic background. Nonetheless, it was somewhat wearing how much time was devoted to her injuries. Ware too often talks about the wound, how badly infected it was, and that it needed constant dressing; these descriptions became quite repetitive. I found myself nearly rolling my eyes at the superhuman things she was doing, wondering how somebody that injured could keep going at such a phenomenal standard.

Moreover, besides the repetition of themes, there was also repetition of actions. The plot continually hinges on Jack's terrible and unlikely decisions, which often come across as contrived and exasperating. Her choices frequently plunged her deeper into turmoil, fostering a sense of inevitability that diminished the suspense. It became difficult to cheer for her when her actions appeared illogical and self-destructive. This dependence on poor decision-making eroded my engagement with the story.

As I flipped through the pages, I realized this story didn't contain that many plot twists one really would want to read in such a book, and resolved pretty much uneventfully. Although tension-filled in suspense, much of that was overcome by extended chase scenes. I wanted to see better obstacles for Jack to face for his character development and some real thrills, not to actually watch a straightforward, predictable thriller unfold before my eyes.

In closing, the story had a fun concept and was a quick read, but it ultimately falls short in some key areas: character plausibility, pacing, and relying too heavily on poor decisions. I'd recommend it to the readers of simple thrillers looking to pass some time, but not those who want emotional involvement or plot twists in a book.

Content Warnings

Graphic - Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death

Moderate - Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Police brutality

Minor - Pregnancy, Death of parent, Suicide

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