The Zero Game

By: Brad Meltzer

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Matthew Mercer and Harris Sandler are playing a mysterious game. It's a game almost no one knows about: not their friends, not their coworkers, and certainly not their bosses, who are some of the most powerful senators and congressmen on Capitol Hill.

It's a game that has everything: risk, reward, mystery, and the thrill of knowing that, just by being invited to play, you've confirmed your status as a true power broker in Washington.

But as Matthew and Harris quickly discover, the Zero Game is hiding a secret so explosive that it will shake Washington to its core. And when someone close to them winds up dead, Harris and Matthew realize this game is far more sinister than they ever imagined. As the bull's-eye turns their way, it's clear they're about to become the game's next victims.

In a frenetic chase from the secret tunnels under the Capitol to an abandoned gold mine halfway across the country, the two friends realize they're no longer players in the game; they're pawns. On the run, they turn to the only person they can trust: a 16-year-old Senate page who can move around the Capitol undetected. As a ruthless killer creeps closer, this idealistic young page not only holds the key to their safety, but is the one person who can redeem them in the process.

Packed with high-octane suspense and heart-pounding action, The Zero Game is Brad Meltzer at his supercharged best.

©2004 Forty-Four Steps, Inc. (P)2004 Time Warner AudioBooks, a division of the Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"Packed with plenty of backroom D.C. ambience and lots of action, the novel also boasts improved plotting and character development since Meltzer's last high-concept best seller." (Booklist)

Excellent

Great Couldn't stop listening, highly recommend . One of the best. Zero Game had me on the edge of my seat.

Three and one-half stars

I purchased this title despite the mixed reviews because I had enjoyed Meltzer's other books and Scott Brick could make the phone book interesting to listen to. I wasn't disappointed.

The plot is like a Hitchcock movie. The main character is a Congressional staffer and quickly he and a Senate page are running for their lives while trying to figure out what villainy the bad guys are up to.

The story is just okay and Meltzer does not do a great deal of character development but it is definitely an exciting listen. Meltzer's books are very cinematic and he always does a good job describing the action and suspense.

I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could.

Listenable...just barely

The Zero Game is a fairly predictable yarn that is basically like eating soy-based products: no depth. It leaves one hungry and unsatisfied. I thought the basic premise of political staffers betting on whether or not a bill could be made to pass or fail by their (or their cronies) machinations an interesting one. But this is soon dropped in favor of a fairly pedestrian political intrigue regarding one such appropriations bill. Oddly enough, the author changes voices about one fourth of the way through the book and I found that this change disturbed me and this colored the rest of the book in a somewhat negative manner. It's one saving grace is a fairly masterful narration. If it's the end of your subscription and you have a book credit left, you could do worse than purchase this, but I wouldn't recommend this title otherwise.

exceptional

Meltzer and Brick , how could you go wrong. Fabulous story about the swamp .

No not worth the credit

I tried literally for the whole book to get into the characters and story line but was always bored and impatient!

I found the premise weak, every step off the story unnecessarily drawn out and overwrought. I generally like Scott Brick as a narrator but was annoyed at his high pitched attempts to sell urgency and tension into the story.

I only listened to the whole book because I had purchased it and had a number of chores to do so listened to it as a minor distraction. But it wasn’t worth the credit. There are a number of better Brad Meltzer books - get them instead.

Makes Zero sense!

There was an event early in the book that was totally unnecessary but without it the author couldn’t build the story line. Without this event the plan probably works out perfectly … with it everything unravels. Even if things hadn’t been written as they were the very fact the event happens would have caused people to look closer and certainly unravel an ingenious plan. I personally find it offensive when an author writes such a clearly dumb story line then hopes I won’t notice that the rest of the story is built on this ridiculous beginning. I did listen to the entire book with the hope that the start of the book would some how make sense. It didn’t. If you, like me, are looking for a stories plot to make sense then skip this book. In the reviews I read this seemed to be an issue for only one other listener so maybe it’s not important to most people.
On a positive note Scott Brick does a decent job as narrator which made it not a complete waste of a credit.

Skip

Overwritten, too long, unbelievable, unlikeable main characters. If you have to read it, get the abridged version. The publisher's description is inaccurate. One of the friends dies at the beginning, and the rest of the story has the other friend tethered to a sixteen-year-old black female senate page exploring at too great length and in an utterly improbably manner an abandoned mine. Boring.

Very boring

The reader for this novel is great, however, the subject of making small bets on congressional votes is so boring...and yet the author tries to make it so exciting, that this book was impossible to finish. It just seemed to go on and on about such insignificant but detailed betting. Perhaps a compulsive gambler might like it.

Not my favorite

I've read a few of his books and this by far has been the worst. not sure if it was the characters or just the plot of the book in general. the next one I hear/ read has a lot to make up for.

Interesting plot but please get to the point

I listened to the unabridged version. The abridged version might be more enjoyable. The plot and characters are interesting. Changing the primary character is something I found to be shocking and kept me interested. Scott Brick does a nice job on the reading. But, the writing is repetitive. I would echo Brad, from Alpharetta, GA comments, I wish I would have purchased the abridged. There are two action sequences that went on for what seemed like forever that could be shortened considerably or made more interesting. I am sure they were supposed to be suspenseful, but they are simply annoying.