Zero

by Matt Brolly

In the future, no crime will go unpunishedAfter a major financial collapse, a zero tolerance policy results in the death penalty for all crimes. Society is organised around a gruesome ritual of punishment.

When a judge is kidnapped, and a ransom note demands the release of all prisoners awaiting execution, Detective Kate Swanson is put on the case.

But soon her boss also disappears. Unrest, bombings and revolutionary activity is growing. Under increasing pressure Swanson must race to find a man whose murdered wife and daughter link the missing men.

Is it too late?

A terrifying dystopia and gripping mystery, Zero is the unputdownable and atmospheric standalone novel from Amazon number one bestseller, Matt Brolly.

Praise for Matt Brolly‘I would never have guessed that this is a debut novel… Dead Eyed is such an enjoyable read. Tense, dark and with quite a grip, I can’t wait for the next.’ For Winter Nights – A Bookish Blog (Top 500 Amazon Reviewer)

‘Action packed, dramatic and addictive… an unputdownable read.’ Portybelle

‘One word for this – riveting. Fast paced, full of twisty goodness, a well-drawn and intriguing main protagonist and a well-constructed and horrifically addictive storyline.’ Liz Loves Books

‘An extraordinary fast-paced, tense thriller, taking the reader on an suspense filled journey with so many twist and turns it is a stupendous, emotional roller coaster ride!’ SplashesIntoBooks

‘A must read for all lovers of crime books’ CrimeBookLover

‘One of my books of the year… I was blown away by Mr Brolly’s plotting and gripping writing style.’ Elaine (Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer)

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Dystopia

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2021

About the author

Matt Brolly is the Amazon number one bestselling author of the DI Blackwell novels set in Weston-supper-Mare, as well as the DCI Lambert crime novels, the acclaimed near future crime novel, Zero, and the US thriller, The Controller.

Matt also writes children's books as M.J. Brolly. His first children's book, The Sleeping Bug, was released by Oblong Books in December 2018.

Matt lives in London with his wife and their young children. You can find out more about Matt at his website www.mattbrolly.com or by following him on twitter: @MattBrollyUK


Matt Brolly books in order:

DI Blackwell:

The Crossing (Feb 2020)
The Descent (July 2020)
The Gorge (March 2021)
The Mark (out November 2021)

DCI Lambert Series

Dead Water (prequel released August 2019)
Dead Eyed
Dead Lucky
Dead Embers
Dead Time

Other books

Zero
The Controller

For children (as M.J. Brolly)

The Sleeping Bug

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Matt Brolly is an up and coming British thriller author. I loved his debut, Dead Eyed (book 1 of DCI Michael Lambert series), and awarded it 4.5 stars. Book 2 of that series, Dead Lucky, was even better, receiving 5 stars from me. Zero is book one of a new series of dystopian thrillers staring DI Kate Swanson and her partner DS Joseph Keane. In my opinion, Zero does not measure up to his Michael Lambert books.

Part of my issue with this novel is that I am not a dystopian fan, which really shouldn’t be held against the book. I decided to take a chance on this one only because I loved Mr. Brolly’s previous work. In addition, the setup was also a bit long for me—it took me till around 35-40% to really get into the story. And though I really liked the protagonists, I felt they could have been better developed. As this is a series, hopefully that will be coming in future installments. Finally, there were a lot of characters, and I had to use my search button a few times to remind myself who was who. Part of that problem could have been my fault as I didn’t have time to read as much as I wanted, and with all the pauses I had to keep refreshing myself about what I had previously read.

There were certainly some plusses. Again, I did like the characters and saw a lot of potential in both Swanson and Keane, but we need to know them better. The premise was great. The plot was clever. These points are enough for me to check out the second book in the series when it comes out.

I have read so many 5 star books this year, the bar has been raised. This one just didn’t give me the spark like some of the others, though I would still call it a good read. I rate it 3.5 stars as measured against Mr. Brolly’s other 2 novels. Despite this critical review of Zero, this man has proved to me that he can write, and I will definitely be there for his next one.

Thank you Net Galley, Canelo Publishing and Matt Brolly for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this novel. The opinions stated in my review are entirely my own.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved both the previous books by this author that I read - Dead Eyed and Dead Lucky - but for some reason, Zero failed to engage me.

I don't know if it was because Zero is set in the near future, quite how near is not apparent, or because the prospect of this actually happening frightened me. There are times when, sitting listening to the news, a zero tolerance policy seems not only viable, but desirable.

But the death penalty for any crime, no matter how minor? And to put the offenders on display as they endure a long and lingering death? I think not, on both counts.

Mr Brolly, you certainly can write. I think it is the glimpse into a possible future that I do not like here.

On reflection I will award Zero 3.5 stars and stick to Mr Brolly's wonderful Michael Lambert series.

Thank you to Canelo via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Zero by Matt Brolly for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

My Review:

I loved both Dead Eyed and Dead Lucky by this author. They are both contemporary crime stories featuring DCI Michael Lambert and superb stories IMHO. When I read the synopsis for this I realised it was going to be very different - and it definitely is!

The Zero tolerance policy in this dystopian society means that anyone convicted of any crime will die . . . it doesn’t matter how minor, the penalty remains the same. The police officer who helps catch criminals is Detective Inspector Kate Swanson and, unknown to her colleagues, she’s a kleptomaniac so could easily face the same sentence herself. Now the policy is being questioned by members of the public and someone has decided to take the law into their own hands by kidnapping a judge and demanding all prisoners be released. When her boss also disappears the pressure is on for Kate to find the perpetrator.

This is the first book in a new series by this talented thriller writer and proved to be a very unique take on police procedural thrillers. The world in which it is set is well developed and there are a wide range of characters, with DI Kate Swanson and her partner DS Joseph Keane being the lead investigators. I found them easy to relate to, their flaws helping make them and the scenarios more believable but have to say I much preferred reading the stories featuring DCI Michael Lambert! I suspect this is a series that may grow with future novels as the characters and dystopian setting become more familiar. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a good read and one to give a go. It may appeal to others more than it did to me but given a choice between another book in his first series or the next in this one, there's no contest for me, Michael Lambert definitely wins - but I’ll still look forward to reading both!

I requested and received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a really interesting premise and was well written, but let down by unlikeable characters, a somewhat ponderous plot and overall lack of suspense.
It's the near future in an unnamed British city, and after a lengthy economic collapse, the government (unclear whether this is nation-wide or just regional) have instituted a policy of zero tolerance for all crime, where the punishment is death by starvation/dehydration inside clear pods that travel through the city on cables, supposedly as a deterrent to all. Inspector Kate Swanson is a secret kleptomaniac, who lusts after her sleazy colleague while he sleeps with everyone but her. They are assigned the case of a kidnapped judge, where a ransom note demanding the release of all the pod prisoners has been received. We know who has done it, but not why. Meanwhile lawyers, politicians and senior police seem to be obstructing the investigation, and a supposedly non-violent anti-ZT group seems to be involved with terrorists.

There was a lot going on here, too many confusing background characters who are discussed but not introduced, and overlapping motivations. I didn't like the heroine at all, who chose to work for the police despite her own mother having died in the pods, and yet refuses to confront her feelings about this, instead stealing from colleagues, suspects and witnesses alike. The revelations were a bit meh and the ending left semi-resolved, ready for the next book. 3.5, rounded down for the disappointment of a great idea turning out to be a bore.
I'm not averse to reading the next book if the reviews warrant it, and will look out for his other series which sounds more exciting.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

21/11/16 Zero

***

I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of Zero, a new dystopian series of police procedurals to feature DI Kate Swanson.

"The City" is recovering after years of social unrest and "The Flux", rampant inflation followed by economic depression caused by the breakdown of trade agreements between the major powers, thanks, mainly to "The Council"'s draconian approach, ZT (zero tolerance), to law and order. Any offender, no matter how trivial the crime, (in chapter 2 a youth is found guilty of stealing a bottle of vodka) is sent to the holding zone for "podding". Podding involves being sent on a monorail trip round the city for 30 days in a glass pod which is a death sentence as food is withdrawn after 8 days, the body, however, remains in the pod until the journey is over. Crime is therefore minimal and leaves the police with little to do until a judge disappears. DI Swanson, aided by DS Joseph Keane, is put in charge of the case but finds she has little to go on. Then a dissident with explosives experience, Oscar Garner,escapes from the holding zone, an almost impossible feat and Swanson is told to find him. Throughout it all her investigation is hampered by The Council's own security force, some sort of Special Branch.

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed Mr Brolly's high octane series featuring DCI Lambert so I was looking forward to Zero but I found it disappointing. Mr Brolly knows how to write a novel so Zero has good pacing and a fairly complicated plot but that's where my appreciation ends. It all seems underdeveloped from the characters to the plotting.

There is no life about the characters and it is impossible to identify with them. Swanson has a back history, a kleptomaniac habit which could get her podded and is supposedly a smart investigator although I saw little evidence of it. Keane is a player and apparently has connections although this is not explained. I can't tell you much else about them except they drink frequently.

I'm not quite sure what to say about the setting. It seems to me that Mr Brolly has taken a sledgehammer to the possible results of broken trade agreements (Brexit, anyone?) and expended all his imagination on ZT. There is a surprising lack of technology in his dystopia and it seems strange given how far our world has come in the past 20 years. The pods and ZT are a frightening vision, exaggerated perhaps, but the core idea already appeals to some.

The plot, the hunt for Judge Lloyd and the subplot, the hunt for Oscar Garner, are a bit woolly. There does not appear to be a protocol for finding missing persons so Kate flounders around following hunches and her bosses' blind alley instructions until she happens on the right path to finding the judge. She does nothing to find Oscar. There is no tension and it all seems a bit aimless. The denouement, when it finally comes, is a bit of a letdown as well, overly clever and unnatural.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and loved Matt’s previous DCI Lambert series I was delighted to hear he was working on a new dystopian crime book. Needless to say I jumped at the chance to read it, and I’m really happy to be a part of the tour too!

Zero focuses on DI Kate Swanson and her appointment to the team investigating the kidnapping of a Judge. Working and living in a city with a zero tolerance policy on crime makes this investigation all the more difficult as it throws far more suspects in to the mix.

Zero tolerance is exactly that. Anyone caught engaging in criminal activity gets sent to the pods. The pods are travelling glass cars suspended above the city. The criminal is put into a pod for 30 days, so essentially they are starved to death in the pods. If they can’t handle the slow death, there is a suicide button which releases a toxin which causes immediate death shrouded in a red mist.

This is almost a novel of two halves. There is the general crime aspect, and then you factor in the dystopian regime-like city and it adds a sci-fi element which brings a very different feeling to the book. It’s reminiscent of The Fifth Element, but with a really dark and gritty criminal vibe the whole way through.

I read Zero fairly quickly. It was a really enjoyable crime novel, with some very interesting takes on the sci-fi/dystopian genre and it all intermingles really well. I think Matt Brolly has got the makings of a great series, DI Kate Swanson is a brilliant lead too so I am really looking forward to reading more.

Highly recommended!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars but not rounded up. An interesting idea, a future world where all crimes carry the ultimate sanction. The world is well constructed and developed through an intricate plot. A police procedural but with only marginally interesting lead characters who are less than empathetic. It was a good read but I doubt it can develop into a series. I will try the author again.

[Alexia Capsomidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this author's previous books,Dead Eyed and Dead Lucky, I was really looking forward to the new offering by Matt Brolly, Zero.

The book introduces us to a dystopian world where a zero tolerance policy exists and anyone found guilty of a crime, no matter how small, is punishable by death.

The story starts with the kidnapping of a judge and the demand for the release of all prisoners awaiting their fate. Right from the first chapter you are hooked and want to know how both the story and characters, Detective Inspector Kate Swanson and her partner DS Joseph Keane, unfold.

I really enjoyed the book as a whole. The characters held my interest from the start and were easy to relate to. You have all the twists and turns of a good crime thriller, and coupled with the excellent writing skills of the author I would not hesitate to recommend this book.

Looking forward to the next one in the series already!

[Flapper72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really scary. It wasn't the story itself but the setting. It was dark, scary and disturbing. This city has a zero tolerance policy to crime. Found guilty of crime and you're put into a pod to die. The pods move around the sky, rather like a fairground ride with glass, see through pods, suspended up in the air. Travelling across the city. And the prisoners stay in there until they die. In desperation they can commit suicide and press a button and the pod is filled with red smoke. Once the prisoner has died (by suicide or not) the pod continues on its journey with the body in it. So, the city can see the pods traveling round, can see people in the pods, can see pods turning red, are reminded of the ZT policy. And the path of the pods is set up such that areas with high crime rates are where the pods are relatively low so that the city people are constantly reminded of the policy and what happens to those who commit crime. Awful. Dark. But doesn't feel that far away from the 21st century western world.

And author, if you're reading my review, I loved your book but prone leans lying on one's tummy so, therefore, if someone's being held prone on the bed they'd be unable to look up at their attacker.

[Terri Weitze · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book is really interesting - a society where every criminal offense receives the same punishment - death. Not just death, but being put into a glass pod that circles the city for 30 days - no food and after 8 days, no water. The main character is a police inspector; and she and her new partner work to solve a series of kidnappings - which may or may not be linked to a group that protests the pods.

The book, for the most part is slow. It's well written, but for such exciting ideas, it just seems to drag. The end picks up - a lot - and the whole thing is full of twists and turns and hints of what is going on but never enough to truly get a handle on how it all turns out, so it is well worth it to stick it through the slow parts.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Matt’s first book in the DCI Michael Lambert series and thoroughly enjoyed it.  So when I was offered the opportunity to read and review ‘Zero’ I eagerly took it.  Now I have to be honest and say that I am not usually a fan of sci-fi or dystopian books, but I thought that a change would be as good as a rest and it would be interesting to read a book in a new genre.
The plot of the book is fairly straightforward in that a judge goes missing and DI Kate Swanson is tasked with investigating the case.  The disappearances continue and there are more twists and turns in the story than on a rollercoaster ride.  Can Kate solve the crime before it is too late?  The interesting aspect to this dystopian tale is that there is a ‘Zero’ tolerance attitude to crime and anybody falling foul of the regime is put into a pod, which then travels around the area on a little railway type system to act as a deterrent to future potential criminals.  The pods are rather gruesome and it’s true that they become a living hell, which is the point I suppose.
Reading this book was certainly very interesting and it was a unique idea.  I did like the idea of a ‘Zero’ tolerance attitude towards crime  but what I wasn’t too sure of was the idea of the pods travelling around the area.  I have a vivid imagination and so I pictured what happened to the occupants of the pod when things got to be too much and it wasn’t pretty.  I suppose the idea is similar to what they used to do to criminals hundreds of years ago in that they decapitated them and displayed the heads to act as a deterrent.
Characterwise, I did like the character of DI Kate Swanson and took to her moreorless from the start.  She is a woman dedicated to her work and this often comes at a cost to her personal life.  She shares a very close relationship with her work partner DS Joseph Keane and it’s safe to say that there is a fair amount of unresolved sexual tension.  (You will have to read the book to see what happens).  Her mother passed away when she was younger and it emerges that Kate’s mother fell foul of the ‘zero tolerance’ system, which haunts Kate Swanson and always has done.  Every time she sees the pods she thinks of her mother.  Kate has a close relationship with her father.  DS Keane is certainly a smooth talking charmer, who uses his good looks, charm and personality to get results, even if it means blurring the lines of what is acceptable conduct.  I have to say that the villains of the book are truly frightening psychopaths and there is no  limit to what they will do.  Sometimes I almost had to read the book through my fingers as I genuinely dreaded what was in store for the victims.
In short, I did enjoy the change in genre and I would definitely recommend this book to anybody.  I look forward to reading further books in the DI Kate Swanson series.  I award this book 4* out of 5* and Matt Brolly is clearly an author to watch and he is destined to become one of THE popular authors.

[Terry Medford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in a Zero tolerance to crime society in a Sci-fi/Dystopian world, sometime in the near future, Probally a few years after Brexit the story revolves around the kidnapping of a Judge and DI Kate Swansons attempts to find him.

I didnt enjoy the book, I felt it to lack a spark that would keep me wanting to read. It became a bit of a chore. I love Matt Brollys DCI Lambert series so I was a bit disapointed that I couldnt really get into this. I liked the concept, which is why I wanted to read it but I never got to grips with the characters at all.

It will appeal to readers who enjoyed BladeRunner and the like but it just didnt do it for me.

[Scooby Doo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much 4 stars until the end, which was a little disappointing. If you can accept the implausible premise of a city where all crimes are punishable by death, then this mystery is a rewarding, classic police procedural. The character depictions are excellent. The plot pacing is great, not too brisk, not too slow.
My only complaint is that the subplot of a conspiracy at the municipal level overly complicated the story for no good reason, except perhaps to create a thread that would tie in to a sequel.

[Hamish McAlpine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished reading: March 30th 2025

“She reminded herself that she didn't make the policy. Her job was to uphold the law, however draconian that law appeared to be.”

REVIEW

I really enjoyed my first experience with Matt Brolly's writing last year, and I've been meaning to read more of his work ever since. I was drawn to Zero because of its dystopian thriller plot, and the premise sounded like it would provide for a fascinating ride... While there is no doubt that this dystopian future as described in the plot had a lot of potential, I do have to say that as a whole Zero turned out to be a bit underwhelming for me. I don't think that the story used its dystopian setting to the fullest, and I would have loved to see more fleshing out of this world instead of the constant repetition of certain aspects like the pods and the people against the zero tolerance policy. I was also surprised by just how incredibly slow the pace was for a story with such an explosive plot... In fact, it took me at least twice as long as usual to finally make it to the final page. Sure, there were some interesting and intense moments along the way, but as a whole the journey turned out to be surprisingly tedious. The POV switches only slowed down the pace even further, and Swanson wasn't exactly easy to like as a main character. All in all it was a premise that had a lot of potential to be absolutely mindblowing, but somehow the actual story wasn't quite what I hoped it would be. The ending was a bit lackluster as well... It's not exactly the worst read either, but there are definitely way more satisfying dystopian thrillers out there.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this dystopian world, where there's zero tolerance against crime, a Judge has been kidnapped... Inspector Kate Swanson and Sergeant Joseph Keane are investigating the kidnapping, but there is no one trying to help them... Who is really involved? Are they against or in favour of Zero Tolerance?
I have to say that this book surprised me, reading about a dystopian world is not always easy, but this book was a lucky find!
This book has some similarity with the movie Minority Report, where they try to arrest the murderers before the crime. But in this world is a bit more exaggerate, Zero Tolerance started trying to remove the guns from society, and has ended with everyone who has broken the law put in a glass prison starving to death, literally! There are people against it, but specially the politic power wants to promote it, so if nothing changes there will have Zero Tolerance for a long time!
In the beginning there were too many characters and it was difficult to follow, but as you started entering in the story, every piece started to fit and you just wanted to know more...
I have to say I missed some background about the characters, we don't know much about Kate's past, just that her mother died in a pod, but Why? And Keane? Why he has to flirt with every woman he sees? Seems that he doesn't have very much interests in his life apart from women... This will be the first book of a series of Zero Tolerance story, so I hope we will learn more about them in the future.
Matt Brolly delighted us in a police investigation where hopes are surrounded in glass and everyone can see them but no one can help...
Do you believe in Zero Tolerance?

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh...this had an interesting premise and the world building had great potential. It reminded me a more adult version of Hunger Games society.

That said...my gripes were small and large. The tension and chemistry between the leads felt very much like a male perspective of what they think a woman thinks about a hot colleague. The fact that it was on the narrator’s mind so much was relatively obnoxious. Despite the adult themes, that portion of the book felt pretty teen to me.

No follow through on tension-building intentions. A ransom demand with a 72 hour deadline that is completely ignored and days and days go by, passing the deadline without addressing it. Why have a deadline in the storyline if it doesn’t matter to anyone in the story?

Editing...I was bumped out a lot by missteps here. Places where the MC was alone but then referenced “we”. Font size in the book changed a couple of places. Typos. It seems so rare to catch these and they were plentiful in this book.

Strange descriptions without explanation. A character in the book is described in a very non-human manner. I kept waiting to understand how his body could be so strangely described and flesh seemingly rotting and bubbling off his body but it was never explained.

A hostage in a day or two is described as wasting away with no real reason. He’s being fed and given water so how, in two days, is he nearly dead?

I wanted to like this...but...not so much.

[Caotico09 · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a snoozefest.

Zero is a futuristic crime novel. There is a policy of 'zero' tolerance for crime. Anyone convicted of a crime is put in a pod that circles the city. They slowly die of dehydration while the city looks on.

Our story focuses on three POV characters. Swanson- the detective who is in over her head, Blue - the kidnapper, and McKlusky - some random weirdo. The crime? The kidnapping of a judge. We know who did it- Blue. What we don't know is why.

That is where the book fails. The book spends too much time on backstory and on Swanson's in-effectiveness. The first 75% of the book focuses on backstory for the city and punishment. It then follows Swanson as she ineffectually interviews people. It is a dry, suspenseless slog. For example: She interviews a female lawyer 3 times before 75% and learns absolutely nothing, she doesn't even infer anything- how does that make it through editing?

For a better futuristic crime novel, tryout out Halfhead by Stuart MacBride.

Positives:
+ Unique futuristic society?

Negatives:
- Ineffective policing.
- Lots of backstory.
- No suspense.
- No crime solving.

[Rachel (Rae) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the main things I loved about DI Kate Swanson is that she is a flawed character. This definitely made her all the more realistic. Both Swanson and Keane are intriguing characters and I enjoyed their interactions as they put the clues together to solve the case. It will be great to read more books in the series when they are released and get to know the characters even more.

I really enjoyed the crime and dystopian mix in this book. The idea is intriguing and it made me think about what it would be like to live in a society that would implement zero tolerance. The way the zero tolerance policy is carried out is brutal and I liked how information regarding the policy is slowly revealed throughout the book. Evidence is uncovered piece by piece but Zero grabbed my attention and held it. At times I couldn't put the book down as the pace increased and I wasn't sure which way the story was going to go.

Zero is intriguing and dark with a great dystopian twist!

Four stars from me!

Thank you to Canelo & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Monica Lavery · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm confused - READ ON!

I can't rate this book. I couldn't put it down but it was a morbid fascination that held me. I guess it was too close to how I see our dreadful, rich, privileged, violent, uncaring, reckless society heading at a million miles an hour!

It had quite a good plot. I wasn't keen on the characters or the setting. However, like I said I couldn't put it down.

The Pods and their red gas will give me nightmares for years to come.

[Ms P E Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual and compelling

A credible premise driven by sympathetic characters. Normally I am irritated by the flawed detective but this works perfectly in conjunction with a well thought out plot line. The concept of zero tolerance towards anything rarely works, there are always shades of grey and instances where outrageous actions can be justified and understood, if not forgiven. A compelling read.

[Becky Manson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine a world with a zero tolerance to crime - so much so that you are sentenced to a prolonged public death for stealing something trivial… does it seem right that a rapist and murder is acquitted? Those scenarios couldn’t exist in the same distorted reality righ?
Took me a while to get into the book, it’s an interesting premise and it all flowed together in the end, maybe a bit clunky for my liking.

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zero. Matt Brolly

Is this book a glimpse into the future, or just into Matt Brolly’s imagination. Either way I found it fascinating and interesting and read it to the very end because I needed to know the outcome for the central character. I was left wanting more so hopefully there is more. A very interesting book.

[Graham Tallents · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really scary look into a future world where no crime goes unpunished. Zero tolerance is something that I would love to see in Melbourne, Australia, where we have a Judiciary that seems to believe no crime warrants punishment. The revolving door of bail for repeat offenders is sickening. However, the death penalty for stealing or drink driving is going to the other extreme. A very good read.

[Mark Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read.

A very good read but horribly depressing to think our society could go this way. Swanson, the main character, is a typically flawed and tortured soul, like so many real people in this world.

[Hannah Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was kind of slow to begin with and various inconsistencies in some places kept putting me off wanting to continue, but it picked up near to the middle and I'm glad I carried on reading because I did enjoy it overall was just put off slightly by said inconsistencies

[Mary Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

a truly dystopian work

No winners here, only suffering losers surrounded by execution “pods”, where all persons convicted of any offense, great or small, are encapsulated until death.

Very, very grim.,

[Scarlett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This might be one of the worst books I have ever read, which is a shame because the plot seemed so intriguing. However there was too much going on and not a single likeable character and the only thing about this that I like was the dystopian aspect.

[Douglas Law · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got through the first 150 pages but could go no further as there was nothing I found interesting or entertaining so far. Just not my type of story although I have enjoyed many other Matt Brolly books.

[Michael Burling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a 'can't put didn't book

I have now read 5 of Matt Brooks in the last few weeks and have really enjoyed each of them. I found d this Zero great reading, exciting and interesting characters. I just wanted to keep reading it. I hope he does another in this type