Some suspense, but uneven pace and preposterous chase scenes spoil indifference-breeding thriller.

This was our first Brad Meltzer, the author having been recommended by a friend. We're usually game for any kind of mystery or thriller, but this one fell short of expectations. The "Zero Game" in question turns out to be a silly betting scheme that consumes/wastes the first third of the novel. The incredulous exploits of protagonist Capital staffer Harris, with 17-year-old senate page Viv his somewhat unwilling accomplice, to discover the nature of the real plot which has killed off his best friends takes another 200 pages before the mystery of what's going on in the "Wendell" mine at least heats up some suspense. But the ever-present, hired-hand bad guy Janos gets old; and by the time he gets his, we barely care anymore. While another side character winding up villainous is quite a surprise, the book ends with almost the same anticlimactic feel of its stodgy beginning.

Obviously, we weren't that impressed. The uneven pace of the plot left us cold, and the somewhat preposterous nature of first the "game" and then the mining shenanigans, coupled with the many chase scenes that of course all went the right way, just left us wanting all this to get over. While the writing per se was adequate, we want a better story line, characters to really care about, more realistic action and drama, and a twist or two en route to a believable outcome, to entertain and amuse. Despite the success Meltzer enjoys, we found this one lacking. Should we try another?