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Area Zero
If you want something hidden, consider hiding it in plain sight. Unfortunately, stumbling across such a something came close to getting Nathan fired.
An innocent when it came to the discovery, to be sure, but it would nevertheless be fair to say that Nathan wasn’t entirely blameless in the matter, having run roughshod over all manner of military regulations.
Despite the repeated screw-ups, Nathan remains an asset to the auditing firm, Mace Forensics. So, in a last ditch effort to keep him out of trouble, the firm banishes Nathan to a relic of the Cold War, a third-rate air base situated somewhere in the Nevada desert.
Nathan is a forensic accountant, and he is to audit said base until every pencil, and every paperclip has been entered into the ledger.
There he will be safely out of sight, and out of mind.
Welcome to Area Zero, Nathan.
An innocent when it came to the discovery, to be sure, but it would nevertheless be fair to say that Nathan wasn’t entirely blameless in the matter, having run roughshod over all manner of military regulations.
Despite the repeated screw-ups, Nathan remains an asset to the auditing firm, Mace Forensics. So, in a last ditch effort to keep him out of trouble, the firm banishes Nathan to a relic of the Cold War, a third-rate air base situated somewhere in the Nevada desert.
Nathan is a forensic accountant, and he is to audit said base until every pencil, and every paperclip has been entered into the ledger.
There he will be safely out of sight, and out of mind.
Welcome to Area Zero, Nathan.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2017
500 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
William Bowden
16 books21 followersWilliam Bowden is a British science fiction author with a predilection for the general weirdness of the Universe, what it means to be human, and how the two might be connected.
He lives in the west of England.
BETA Readers Wanted for plot, structure, and character feedback.
He lives in the west of England.
BETA Readers Wanted for plot, structure, and character feedback.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 23, 2019
Fast, exciting plot with some very interesting characters. I enjoyed it more the longer l read. Hope there’s a follow-up in a series that’s as action-filled. (I checked and there is!) Yeah!)
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
November 13, 2025
A quick, fun military thriller.
February 15, 2019
Nathan Nathan-Nathan (that's seriously his name) is a forensic accountant turned government auditor. He digs a little too deep on one of his audits and gets banished to audit Area Zero, a forgotten military base in the middle of the desert. What he finds there is anything but ordinary and the more he digs, the more he believes that nothing is as it seems.
This book is mildly slow to start for a short story but once the action picks up, it doesn't let up. There are no relatable characters apart from Nathan (honestly what is up with Ells) but it was an entertaining story.
This book is mildly slow to start for a short story but once the action picks up, it doesn't let up. There are no relatable characters apart from Nathan (honestly what is up with Ells) but it was an entertaining story.
April 30, 2018
Short action adventure story with intrigue, sci-fi and comedy mixed in.
A bright and persistent accountant has been punished for finding hidden accounts/files by being transferred to audit a dilapidated military installation in the middle of nowhere. There he finds an unusual cast of characters, and info that ties in with what got him sent there in the first place. Hidden info and parts pop up,, and things start to steamroll.
A bright and persistent accountant has been punished for finding hidden accounts/files by being transferred to audit a dilapidated military installation in the middle of nowhere. There he finds an unusual cast of characters, and info that ties in with what got him sent there in the first place. Hidden info and parts pop up,, and things start to steamroll.
May 7, 2018
Fairly good read.
Didn’t really enjoy it. Couldn’t get involved with any of the characters. While the premise sounded interesting, the story didn’t seem to stick with it. I wondered how the author could do a book on an audit of a military base. Simple. Halfway through the book, introduce a secondary story line and follow that for the rest of the book. Although one sentence at the end wrapped up the first story line.
Didn’t really enjoy it. Couldn’t get involved with any of the characters. While the premise sounded interesting, the story didn’t seem to stick with it. I wondered how the author could do a book on an audit of a military base. Simple. Halfway through the book, introduce a secondary story line and follow that for the rest of the book. Although one sentence at the end wrapped up the first story line.
May 13, 2022
.
I have NO FCKNG IDEA WHAT’S going on in the opening pages!!!!!!!
NO FCKG IDEA!!!!!
I have never ever read a book where they do not “cock the Glock,” or “take the safety off the Glock.”
This so-called P OS is no exception: “…CLICK Nathan’s instinctive reaction to the cocking of a handgun is to freeze momentarily….”
HEY AUTHOR: a Glock neither “cocks” the way you mean it, here, or has a safety the way one might mean it.
I keep reading; give writer a chance….
But, the book makes no sense at all to me.
All the action with Short Stack or whatever the fck her name is.
I have NO idea what’s going on.
This book seems absurd to me. I quit, and do NOT care what happens next. I stopped reading and returned this wreck.
.
I have NO FCKNG IDEA WHAT’S going on in the opening pages!!!!!!!
NO FCKG IDEA!!!!!
I have never ever read a book where they do not “cock the Glock,” or “take the safety off the Glock.”
This so-called P OS is no exception: “…CLICK Nathan’s instinctive reaction to the cocking of a handgun is to freeze momentarily….”
HEY AUTHOR: a Glock neither “cocks” the way you mean it, here, or has a safety the way one might mean it.
I keep reading; give writer a chance….
But, the book makes no sense at all to me.
All the action with Short Stack or whatever the fck her name is.
I have NO idea what’s going on.
This book seems absurd to me. I quit, and do NOT care what happens next. I stopped reading and returned this wreck.
.
April 29, 2020
Predictable
Not much of a story but lots of nail bitting adventure. You have to ignor what would really ocur and just accept what you are told. The events just happen even though you know that what is happening isn't really possible. I really ignored the P-51 flight outmaneuvering stealth fighters. And jumping from one moving vehicle to another moving vehicle while traveling at supersonic truck speeds. Not to mention that I-95 is on the east coast and not in Nevada. Look past reality and you might enjoy the short story.
Not much of a story but lots of nail bitting adventure. You have to ignor what would really ocur and just accept what you are told. The events just happen even though you know that what is happening isn't really possible. I really ignored the P-51 flight outmaneuvering stealth fighters. And jumping from one moving vehicle to another moving vehicle while traveling at supersonic truck speeds. Not to mention that I-95 is on the east coast and not in Nevada. Look past reality and you might enjoy the short story.
March 13, 2025
Started off a little slow, but then righted itself. Characters were all a little odd or unrealistic, but still seemed necessary to the plot. Writing felt a little inexperienced or unrefined, I can't decide. I felt the technical detail was unnecessary and too much, but I know I also tend to skim past that stuff because I don't care about it. And I felt amount of descriptive detail was too rushed to allow the reader to be immersed in their mind's eye.
I think as a novella, it was average. I can't imagine it being anything more than this.
I think as a novella, it was average. I can't imagine it being anything more than this.
August 2, 2018
A TORNADO OF A BOOK!
Starts off just a tad slow, but don't be deceived. Be prepared for a wild ride Oh, and what you think is going on....isn't. What IS going on is about to force you to finish this book in one sitting. It probably will not be the best book you read this year, but it will be in your top five somewhere. A rollicking good read.
Starts off just a tad slow, but don't be deceived. Be prepared for a wild ride Oh, and what you think is going on....isn't. What IS going on is about to force you to finish this book in one sitting. It probably will not be the best book you read this year, but it will be in your top five somewhere. A rollicking good read.
October 1, 2018
Had a rough start for a short story and then as I read on it turned into more of a YA bordering on Thriller. Character development was lacking, geography was good, and the action scenes were believable. There is an element of suspense throughout the story that comes to a climax at the ending and the editing is clean enough, but the story never really drew me in. Meh!
June 5, 2019
I think this story would make an AWESOME action movie. Not my kind of read, though. Lots of time on car/plane chases - limited character building or development, a 'guy' book. Good enough, if highly improbable, plot - and, as I said, GREAT potential for an action movie - but I found it rather a bore to read.
June 19, 2020
Excellent Read
If one of your standards is actual good writing that captures old world wit with few words, then this guy does it. I mean talent beyond the mainstream boom and bang mentality of today’s “keep me interested every second” reader. Engaging and quirky story as well as its fleshed out characters who presented just off the norm. Well done.
If one of your standards is actual good writing that captures old world wit with few words, then this guy does it. I mean talent beyond the mainstream boom and bang mentality of today’s “keep me interested every second” reader. Engaging and quirky story as well as its fleshed out characters who presented just off the norm. Well done.
January 29, 2024
This is a short novel, more of a novelette really. The beginning moves slowly and is a bit bewildering. At about the half-way point, the speed and the interest accelerate quickly. In the end I enjoyed this book a lot. I have to admit I am, like Nathan, an accountant, with a healthy interest in forensics.
April 16, 2018
Great read lots of action and breath holding moments. Tks for a good read.
See above
An exciting book . A lot of fun at times. Hope there is more from this writer
Great action
See above
An exciting book . A lot of fun at times. Hope there is more from this writer
Great action
December 28, 2018
3.5 stars. Area Zero is a standalone book. There is violence. This book was better than I expected and was surprised by how quickly the story sped on. It is an unusual set of characters. And who would think forensic accounting could be combined with Sci-Fi and be interesting?
July 20, 2019
Enjoyed the book, a little different from what I was expecting.
The story flowed rather well.
Reading this short story made me check out the other books by this author.
Found several that I will read.
The story flowed rather well.
Reading this short story made me check out the other books by this author.
Found several that I will read.
October 19, 2019
Area 51 ???
WOW! A wild daughter with a crazy daddy. What was an airfield, long ago dropped from the “active” list turns out to be the starting point. The rest you must read to learn, I don’t want to spoil the read.
WOW! A wild daughter with a crazy daddy. What was an airfield, long ago dropped from the “active” list turns out to be the starting point. The rest you must read to learn, I don’t want to spoil the read.
April 29, 2020
This was, to me, a very different type of story. The characters are quite believable, the plot as twisted as any I have read, and the ending quite fitting. I do recommend this book and deem it well worth your time and effort.
April 1, 2023
Slow to start but races to the finish
Not sure in the beginning where it was going. Started out sounding technical but turned out to be a clever set up for what was to come. Didn't want it to end. Fun read!
Not sure in the beginning where it was going. Started out sounding technical but turned out to be a clever set up for what was to come. Didn't want it to end. Fun read!
January 23, 2024
Interesting Read, Streaches Ones Imagination
I realize ones imagination has to be tugged on occasionally to unveil some delightful entrainment. With that, I say tug all the corners of your imagination and enjoy a fun book.
I realize ones imagination has to be tugged on occasionally to unveil some delightful entrainment. With that, I say tug all the corners of your imagination and enjoy a fun book.
March 6, 2024
Area Zero is A fun romp
A secret military base with a motley crew of military has-beens. Add in a government auditor and the mother of all car, truck and airplane chases through the Nevada desert and.Vegas. That's Area Zeroes quick, fun, irreverent read.
A secret military base with a motley crew of military has-beens. Add in a government auditor and the mother of all car, truck and airplane chases through the Nevada desert and.Vegas. That's Area Zeroes quick, fun, irreverent read.
November 16, 2017
Enjoyable
Took a few pages to get "into" this book, but very enjoyable after that. Lots of good technical stuff for those of us with that kind of brain.
Took a few pages to get "into" this book, but very enjoyable after that. Lots of good technical stuff for those of us with that kind of brain.
January 25, 2018
A funny and entertaining read. It was a little slow to start and a little out there. Think X-files without the aliens. LOL
July 26, 2018
Nice read...
This is not a genre I usually read, but I tried it & really liked it! The author has given us an unusual storyline with some different characters.
All good..😁
This is not a genre I usually read, but I tried it & really liked it! The author has given us an unusual storyline with some different characters.
All good..😁
August 3, 2018
Absolutely hilarious and a fast paced read, am off to check out the next book 📚 Block Zero.
August 7, 2018
Slow read for me. Took awhile too understand plot
August 9, 2018
Great read
Enjoyed this book very much. Couldn't put this one down until I finished it. I need some more. Highly recommend this book.
Enjoyed this book very much. Couldn't put this one down until I finished it. I need some more. Highly recommend this book.
November 5, 2018
Fast moving
One can say this is a good travel book. It is but also more. Fast moving adventure, good characters, odd but interesting situations. A very good read.
One can say this is a good travel book. It is but also more. Fast moving adventure, good characters, odd but interesting situations. A very good read.
December 21, 2018
Excitement
This book engaged me immediately. Parts are far fetched, but exciting, anyway. Realistically I can see some of this book really happening..
This book engaged me immediately. Parts are far fetched, but exciting, anyway. Realistically I can see some of this book really happening..
May 15, 2019
That was fun! A quick easy read. It might have been a four stars but I gave five stars just because it left me smiling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews