The Zero Option

by David Rollins

The Cold War is going badly for President Reagan's administration. Support in Europe for the Soviet Union is on the rise, while acceptance of the new US intermediate range nuclear missiles is waning. Enter Roy Garret, a bright young NSA analyst with a plan. It goes into effect on the morning of 1 September 1983 when Korean Air Lines commercial passenger flight 007 takes off from Anchorage, Alaska, heading for Seoul. The airliner rendezvous with a US spy plane over the Bearing Sea, overflies a top secret Soviet submarine base and is then shot down off Sakhalin Island... Or is it? No wreckage or bodies are recovered. And a radar tape that shows what really happened to KAL 007 has gone missing. On board the downed airliner were 269 souls, including one US Congressman with too many secrets. Thirty years later, the missing radar tape falls into the hands of the daughter of a KAL 007 passenger and the son of the US spy plane commander. Determined to keep the facts hidden after all these years is New Mexico Governor Roy Garret, who is now contesting the US presidency. What follows is a desperate chase across Russia to uncover the truth once and for all from beneath the snows of Siberia. Can two young idealists outwit the forces ranged against them, or will Uncle Sam and the Russian Bear sweep history under the carpet again?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Russia

550 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Hiya, I'm a fiction author and I live in Sydney, Australia. I guess my best-known work is the series featuring Vin Cooper, a special agent in the United States Air Force OSI.

I have published eleven novels, which most recently includes the seventh novel in the Cooper series, the highly controversial KINGDOM COME.

I've recently discovered the joys of Substack. Come and take a look at davidrollins@substack.com where I'm also serializing BLOOD & EMPIRE, the sequel to FIELD OF MARS.

Reviews

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well researched novel based on facts surrounding the disappearance of Korean Airlines Flight 007 during the cold war.

Whilst not as fast paced and riveting as some of Rollins other novels, it is a good read once it gets going.

Core events in the novel are factual, surrounding events are entirely plausible making for an interesting 'what if...' train of thought; would recommend for those particularly interested in cold war shenanigans.

[Garry Duncan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on a real event, I was disappointed that the plot was so contrived to fit the facts. I couldn’t take the characters seriously.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

So slow, it was a yawn fest. DNF

[Steve Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars would be more accurate.

[Helen Goltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great thriller. Well written, intriguing and keeps you hanging in there. Hard to hold up in bed with its size but that's my problem!

[Gerry Davy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting reading but not in the same league as the Vin Cooper series. The storyline is certainly engaging but I found it dragged.

[Michael Petherick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doing whatever they have to, military factions get things done , a good insight into the machine

[Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great thriller!