I’m a big Ruth Ware fan – I even did a post about which is her best book. I was worried that this had a lot more technology than I wanted, so what did I think? Check out my Review of Zero Days by Ruth Ware, which I have picked as Best Popcorn Thriller of 2023!
Zero Days by Ruth Ware
To be published on June 20, 2023 by Gallery Books. Thanks so much to the publisher for providing me an advance copy for review!
Plot Summary of Zero Days by Ruth Ware
Hired by companies to break into buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are the best penetration specialists in the business.
But after a routine assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their suspect—her.
Suddenly on the run and quickly running out of options, Jack must decide who she can trust as she circles closer to the real killer.
What Other Books Has Ruth Ware Written?
After a couple of young adult series, Ruth Ware’s first adult thriller was In a Dark Dark Wood (2015).
Then she wrote The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016)
The Lying Game (2017)
The Death of Mrs. Westaway (2018)
The Turn of the Key (2019)
One by One (2020)
The It Girl (2022)
Which is her best book? Check out What’s The Best Book by Ruth Ware?
Review of Zero Days by Ruth Ware
Technology and I are not really close friends. More friends of convenience.
When I was writing my post on What is the Best Book by Ruth Ware and discussing themes, I realized that a lot of Ware’s books have tech elements, like Turn of the Key and One by One. So she obviously is a fan!
But good news to all Luddites, technophobes, and people whose eyes glaze over when a book plot is too tech-heavy: you can still enjoy Zero Days.
I did not know what a “zero day exploit” was before I started reading this book. Zero Days does explain, but a “zero day flaw” is basically a security flaw in software that lets a hacker or bad actor steal or compromise data. A “zero day exploit” is when someone finds the flaw and exploits it. (If I explained this wrong, PLEASE tell me in comments and I will correct and credit you.)
In any case, at its heart, Zero Days is a fugitive-on-the-run story, not unlike this recent release by a very popular thriller writer. One of my Instagram friends called it a locked room mystery in reverse, and I love that description.
Jack and her husband Gabe run a company that tests security systems by staging break-ins. But after one assignment, Jack arrives home to find that her husband is head and she’s the main suspect.
The opening sequence nicely sets up Jack as a formidable character. Because of her job, she’s an expert at breaking in and breaking out of spaces. She owns and uses disguises, is comfortable lying, and has lots of experience doing very daring physical stunts. She’s a walking action movie character. But still (to me) believable.
The rest of the story is Jack on the run, trying to figure out what happened to her husband.
Zero Days is just a flat-out fun (and female-forward) summer thriller. It’s fast-paced and exciting, with plenty of twists and turns.
Zero Days is pretty different from many of Ruth Ware’s other books, many of which have a more classic mystery feel or a modern gothic feel. I’m excited that she tried something new!
I chose this book as My Favorite Popcorn Thriller of 2023!
Movie News for Zero Days by Ruth Ware
I just read that Zero Days was optioned by Universal. I didn’t realize that many of Ware’s books have also been optioned, though of course this never guarantees a movie gets made.
Ruth Ware Books That Have Been Optioned for Movies
Reese Witherspoon said she planned to adapt In a Dark Dark Wood back in 2015. But IMDB still shows it as “in development” so it’s possible the option has expired. But you never know!
The Woman in Cabin 10 was optioned in 2017 and must have been sidelined by the pandemic or other things. BUT Netflix has picked up the option and, with a star attached, this one looks promising!
Turn of the Key was optioned in 2021, but it’s not listed on the production company website.
Fingers crossed that Zero Days is the one that makes it to a streaming platform or movie theater near you! I’ll watch it!
Have you read any Ruth Ware books? Tell me in comments! And if you’ve read this, come join the discussion.
I loved In a Dark Dark Wood and Woman in Cabin 10 but the couple I tried after those I was a bit more meh about so I stopped reading her books. But this one sounds amazing and I really want to pick this one up!
Hooray – I feel like she has something for everyone. My personal favorite is The It Girl, because I love an Agatha Christie style mystery set in the UK, but I hope you try Zero Days. Let me know what you think!