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Helix #10
Zero
A trainee spy. A washed-up operative.
A doomsday cult with a city to burn.
Xiu thinks her recovery mission is leading her to the middle of nowhere, but when she reaches a derelict city on the Chinese border, she finds a seasoned operative with only a pistol, twenty rounds and a broken heart.
Cut off from the rest of the world, Xiu and her new, begrudging mentor face an unimaginable enemy: a paramilitary apocalypse cult with room for two, and irradiation for two million.
A doomsday cult with a city to burn.
Xiu thinks her recovery mission is leading her to the middle of nowhere, but when she reaches a derelict city on the Chinese border, she finds a seasoned operative with only a pistol, twenty rounds and a broken heart.
Cut off from the rest of the world, Xiu and her new, begrudging mentor face an unimaginable enemy: a paramilitary apocalypse cult with room for two, and irradiation for two million.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2020
119 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Nathan M. Farrugia
19 books460 followersNathan M. Farrugia is the USA Today bestselling author of the Helix and Fifth Column sci-fi thriller series.
Nathan is known for placing himself in dangerous situations, including climbing rooftops in Russia and being hunted by special forces trackers in the United States. He studies Systema, a little-known martial art and former secret of the Russian special forces.
Beyond his army training, Nathan has trained under USMC, SEAL team, Spetsnaz and Defence Intelligence instructors, and the wilderness and tracking skills of the Chiricahua Apache scouts and Australian Aboriginals.
Nathan is known for placing himself in dangerous situations, including climbing rooftops in Russia and being hunted by special forces trackers in the United States. He studies Systema, a little-known martial art and former secret of the Russian special forces.
Beyond his army training, Nathan has trained under USMC, SEAL team, Spetsnaz and Defence Intelligence instructors, and the wilderness and tracking skills of the Chiricahua Apache scouts and Australian Aboriginals.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 1, 2022
In 2017, I received my first Kindle. I was not immediately enamored with e-books. I was 52 at the time and my love of books has been lifelong. To change my mindset, which involves the tactile sensation of holding, feeling the weight, touching the pages, and other sensations such as smelling the yellowed with age volumes, was going to be difficult. One of my early purchases was a 20-volume set of e-books called Murder and Mayhem (which incidentally is facilitated only by an e-book library which can hold a heck of a lot of books, a major selling point). Nathan M. Farrugia’s novel Zero was the first of those Murder and Mayhem books. I was impressed with the fast-paced espionage, action thriller. The story is part of his Helix series but works fine as a standalone novel despite being #10 in the series. I still find the story compelling. I re-read the book recently and still found it quite original. The plot involves a secret agent trainee, an older ready to retire agent, an overrun foreign city, and a doomsday cult. Really, if you pause to consider, the ingredients make for a strange, unique, and volatile alchemy.
April 22, 2019
Xiu was almost through her routine medical with Qui when voices and boots sounded. Then gunshots and screams. Xiu managed to escape with her life, knowing only that she had to go to Zehran to find Jian, an important but isolated operative. Xiu couldn’t report – she hadn’t been allocated a number as she was a trainee – but she could do the job she’d been trained for.
The city was overrun by a paramilitary unit of dangerous, zealous idealists, and Jian was determined they shouldn’t locate the Red Dust he’d hidden. He and Xiu needed to neutralize the dust before their commander unleashed it on unsuspecting citizens. But could they do it? Just two operatives against many soldiers – it seemed impossible.
Zero by Aussie author Nathan M. Farrugia is a fast-paced thriller with nonstop action. Filled with suspense and heart stopping tension, I thoroughly enjoyed it and with some characters from the Helix series, it was great to catch up with Xiu again. Highly recommended.
The city was overrun by a paramilitary unit of dangerous, zealous idealists, and Jian was determined they shouldn’t locate the Red Dust he’d hidden. He and Xiu needed to neutralize the dust before their commander unleashed it on unsuspecting citizens. But could they do it? Just two operatives against many soldiers – it seemed impossible.
Zero by Aussie author Nathan M. Farrugia is a fast-paced thriller with nonstop action. Filled with suspense and heart stopping tension, I thoroughly enjoyed it and with some characters from the Helix series, it was great to catch up with Xiu again. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2020
She wasn’t even a full-fledged operative, but when a well-armed paramilitary doomsday cult rain death upon her comrades, Xiu barely escapes with her life. Now it is up to her to find an elusive, seasoned warrior, Jian and stop the irradiation of millions with the Red Dust. Can they prevent the annihilation of innocents? Is Xiu too green and Jian too worn out to do the impossible? They says heroes aren’t born, they are created during the worst of times and this time things couldn’t get any worse.
Nathan M. Farrugia is back with the tenth episode of his non-stop action thriller series, Helix and ZERO is the perfect title…because the clock is ticking down…
Once again, the tension is razor taut, the action breathtaking and the characters brilliant in a gritty and mesmerizing way as a damaged pro and a young trainee take on a force of soldiers with only their heart and sheer force of will to succeed. No mincing of words, no extraneous blather, just pure adrenaline-inducing scenes that flash past like an explosive fireball!
I received a complimentary copy from Nathan M. Farrugia! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Helix - Book 10
Publisher : Anomaly Press (October 1, 2020)
Genre: Science Fiction | Techno-thriller
Print Length : 192 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Nathan M. Farrugia is back with the tenth episode of his non-stop action thriller series, Helix and ZERO is the perfect title…because the clock is ticking down…
Once again, the tension is razor taut, the action breathtaking and the characters brilliant in a gritty and mesmerizing way as a damaged pro and a young trainee take on a force of soldiers with only their heart and sheer force of will to succeed. No mincing of words, no extraneous blather, just pure adrenaline-inducing scenes that flash past like an explosive fireball!
I received a complimentary copy from Nathan M. Farrugia! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Helix - Book 10
Publisher : Anomaly Press (October 1, 2020)
Genre: Science Fiction | Techno-thriller
Print Length : 192 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 28, 2022
Non-stop action from the beginning to the end of this story. Jian and Xiu use sheer force of will to get the job done. If you enjoy thrillers this book will not disappoint.
November 18, 2020
An excellent short story about a very intriguing character from the Helix series.
Brilliant world building as always. How a short story can provide such a rich and vivid world is beyond me but Nathan Farrugia is a master at it. The surroundings the characters find themselves in is just so vital and full of an energy that you just get swept along for the ride while being able to admire what's going on around them.
Xiu while not a major character in the Helix stories is a fascinating one and this foray into her backstory is wonderful. She is complex and forthright and unrelenting and always has a never give up attitude. There are some other characters too who had a real depth to her and her story.
Fantastic non stop action mixed in with some humour and spot on pacing are real features of this story. It packs so much into it but never feels rushed. After finishing it it feels like a much longer book given everything that went on. There's amazing action, twists and turns and some softer moments as well.
If you've read the other books by this author you've probably already read this. But if you haven't you really really really should. It's a stand alone too so while certainly connected to the Helix /Fifth Column books it'd be a perfect starting point for those wanting to get into them.
A must read no doubt for anyone who loves thrillers/espionage/techno thrillers or just fantastic stories which have you gripped from start to finish.
Brilliant world building as always. How a short story can provide such a rich and vivid world is beyond me but Nathan Farrugia is a master at it. The surroundings the characters find themselves in is just so vital and full of an energy that you just get swept along for the ride while being able to admire what's going on around them.
Xiu while not a major character in the Helix stories is a fascinating one and this foray into her backstory is wonderful. She is complex and forthright and unrelenting and always has a never give up attitude. There are some other characters too who had a real depth to her and her story.
Fantastic non stop action mixed in with some humour and spot on pacing are real features of this story. It packs so much into it but never feels rushed. After finishing it it feels like a much longer book given everything that went on. There's amazing action, twists and turns and some softer moments as well.
If you've read the other books by this author you've probably already read this. But if you haven't you really really really should. It's a stand alone too so while certainly connected to the Helix /Fifth Column books it'd be a perfect starting point for those wanting to get into them.
A must read no doubt for anyone who loves thrillers/espionage/techno thrillers or just fantastic stories which have you gripped from start to finish.
September 3, 2021
This was a good read! It will keep you engaged until the end!
I really enjoyed this story. Everything was just plausible enough to make me nervous, and fanciful enough to be entertaining. It is the sort of story that grabs your attention and refuses to let it go until you find yourself holding your breath!
A must read for sure.
I really enjoyed this story. Everything was just plausible enough to make me nervous, and fanciful enough to be entertaining. It is the sort of story that grabs your attention and refuses to let it go until you find yourself holding your breath!
A must read for sure.
May 31, 2021
This is a stand-alone story about Xiu from the Helix series. I have read the entire Helix series. I loved learning more about Xiu. This is a great technothriller, action-packed until the end.
Currently reading
March 24, 2022Good
March 13, 2024
Xiu is recently trained as an operative when she finds herself having to save older experienced op, Jian who doesn't think she's capable but soon learns she's brilliant. They have to go to a new controlled territory to save a fallout but can they make it in time?
Wow this book was brilliant hence the five star ⭐ rating. From the first paragraph to the last it was fast paced, non stop action which I loved and the details for the fight scenes was incredible.
I later read about the author and no wonder since he was in the military and it shows in his exemplary writing which btw is faultless.
I was so hooked I read it in one sitting.
I've since downloaded several other books in this Helix series
Kerry Kennedy Author
Wow this book was brilliant hence the five star ⭐ rating. From the first paragraph to the last it was fast paced, non stop action which I loved and the details for the fight scenes was incredible.
I later read about the author and no wonder since he was in the military and it shows in his exemplary writing which btw is faultless.
I was so hooked I read it in one sitting.
I've since downloaded several other books in this Helix series
Kerry Kennedy Author
October 6, 2020
Zero. Nathan Farrugia
This book tells the early exploits of Xiu a trainee operative at this particular time. Xiu is portrayed in earlier books in this series. She and another operative, actually one with legendary status are up against a doomsday cult , in China. Paramilitary and it's objective is to eradicate the population of an abandoned city. Non stop action from the first to last page. Bravery and tenacity are the cornerstones of Xiu and her legendary partner Jian. Another excellent read in this series. My highest recommendation!!
This book tells the early exploits of Xiu a trainee operative at this particular time. Xiu is portrayed in earlier books in this series. She and another operative, actually one with legendary status are up against a doomsday cult , in China. Paramilitary and it's objective is to eradicate the population of an abandoned city. Non stop action from the first to last page. Bravery and tenacity are the cornerstones of Xiu and her legendary partner Jian. Another excellent read in this series. My highest recommendation!!
March 17, 2024
No real explanations ever given for most of it. Not about the characters, or the agencies, or the world setting. Seems to be nearly entirely focused on the action scenes. Wouldn't read any more in the series.
June 19, 2021
The Future
A look into the future and what it may hold. Well written and exciting, lots of hold your breath scenarios.
A look into the future and what it may hold. Well written and exciting, lots of hold your breath scenarios.
February 11, 2023
Very good
Different but rivetting. Two hard characters that mix it with some bad Chinese dudes. Very easy to read and very well written.
Different but rivetting. Two hard characters that mix it with some bad Chinese dudes. Very easy to read and very well written.
May 7, 2023
Hooked at page one and enjoyed the non stop adventure to the end. Farrugia knows how to craft a thriller.
December 9, 2023
ok , kinda a bruce lee vibe with a woman, but it was ok, needed something more, so not a 5 star
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews