Zero Day

Written by David Baldacci

Narrated by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy

Combat veteran and U. S. Army investigator John Puller is on the hunt for justice with the help of a homicide detective--but as they face deceptions and dead ends, a powerful force threatens to stop them forever in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller.

John Puller is a combat veteran and the best military investigator in the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigative Division. His father was an Army fighting legend, and his brother is serving a life sentence for treason in a federal military prison. Puller has an indomitable spirit and an unstoppable drive to find the truth.

Now, Puller is called out on a case in a remote, rural area in West Virginia coal country far from any military outpost. Someone has stumbled onto a brutal crime scene, a family slaughtered. The local homicide detective, a headstrong woman with personal demons of her own, joins forces with Puller in the investigation. As Puller digs through deception after deception, he realizes that absolutely nothing he's seen in this small town, and no one in it, are what they seem. Facing a potential conspiracy that reaches far beyond the hills of West Virginia, he is one man on the hunt for justice against an overwhelming force.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Oct 31, 2011
• ISBN: 9781611139174

David Baldacci

Nacido en 1960, David Baldacci se licenció en Derecho por la Universidad de Virginia y ejerció como abogado en Washington durante nueve años. El reconocimiento unánime con que el público y la crítica recibieron sus primeras novelas le llevó a abandonar la abogacía para dedicarse por entero a la escritura. Desde entonces, David Baldacci es uno de los grandes nombres del género thriller contemporáneo; su obra ha sido traducida a treinta y cuatro idiomas y se publica en más de ochenta países. David Baldacci colabora también con el mundo del cine: es autor de seis guiones y su primera novela Poder absoluto (1996) fue llevada a la gran pantalla bajo la dirección de Clint Eastwood.

Reviews for Zero Day

[atticusfinch1048 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Zero Day was first published in 2011 this is the introduction to Army CID investigator John Puller by David Baldacci. Zero Day is a fabulous read a gripping read and the sort of thriller people love to read.

John Puller like his father and brother had served his country in the army. Unlike his father and brothers who had been officer he had been a grunt, and he also happened to be the best investigator in the army along with a chestful of medals. When an army colonel and his family are killed in West Virginia the Army CID is called in. The colonel had been in the Army Intelligence Division and Puller was informed there would be plenty of eyes on him. Already warned that this was an unusual case he would be a lone investigator with no back-up.

As Puller arrives in Drake, West Virginia and the death count begins to rise and he seems to have far more questions than answers. Puller teams up with Samantha Cole who is the investigator for the local Sheriffs department. The further they dig they seem to upset someone at every turn and Puller can only rely on the one person he has known all his life. The only problem was that person was currently in federal prison for treason.

This book is a roller coaster of emotions and suspense which keeps you on edge throughout the book. This is a really fantastic introduction to John Puller.

[highlander6022 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An absolutely great beginning book for the Puller series. I had read another Puller series book, not realizing it was later in the series - so when I found that out, I went back and read this one. Really superb action and characters.

[lbswiener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Zero Day is a book that keeps its feeling from beginning to end. It is a thriller dealing with nuclear bombs and desperate people who will do anything to make money. The story in addition to being thrilling is also sad. Four stars were awarded to this book.

[judygibson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a twister!

[ddjtj1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

ZERO DAY BY DAVID BALDACCI, is the first in the John Puller series.

John Puller, war hero and Army CID investigator is called in and assigned to investigate a homicide in a small mining town in West Virginia. It seems that a mail carrier, needing a signature on a package has discovered that a general and his entire family has been murdered. When Puller arrives, he finds the body count going higher and higher, including a local police officer. Puller, along with Sam Cole,local officer, find more than just bodies in Drake, West Virginia.

What a story folks! The twists and turns of the book just kept me off balance. If you think ZERO DAY is just another murder story, you are totally dead wrong.

[waldhaus1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fun read about threatened Terrorism on American soil. The author keeps the storyline moving along nicely. Little to say that wouldn't be a spoiler.
Lives up to his other work.

[decaturmamaof2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really like most of Baldacci's novels and was expecting a good, taut read. Unfortunately, I found ZERO DAY quite 'uneven', and not up to par with "Camel Club" and other novels. It seemed like a bad Lee Childs knock-off, and although some of the character development is good, the plot is very choppy and left me with a 'meh' feeling.

[ajlewis2_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

John Puller is another over-the-top fighting character. These guys are pretty unbelievable, but then the biographical stories I've read of some real military people have been amazing as well. Puller is also very real as a man. He owns a cat. He deals with a father who is harsh and under care for dementia in a nursing home. His brother and his story add another dimension to make me want to follow this series.

The story is very good as usual for Baldacci. I listened to the audio version which is done well. As usual, I could do without the sound of the gun blast now and then. It startles me. I guess that is the point. Maybe it does add to the feel of the story. There is not a lot of this extra noise, certainly not enough to keep me away from the audio versions of these stories.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I went back and forth on how to rate this book. I don't think it is Baldacci's best effort. I didn't find the storyline very compelling. I've read other John Puller books prior to this one and seeing that this one was the first book of the series, I'm glad I didn't read it first because if I had, I may not have read the later ones (which in my opinion are better).

I did like that Puller and Cole didn't end up having the obligatory bedroom scene that so many of these books have. I did get the feeling that had things turned out differently, they might have tried to have a relationship with each other.

Puller's brother is in military prison--we're told he's been convicted of treason, but we're not told what he did that was considered treasonous. (I believe a later book in the series provides more information but I can't remember the specifics.) So that whole part left me confused.

So as far as rating, I started at a 3 and took away one for the plot but added one for the things I liked--and ended up back at my average rating of 3.

[tonifgmamtc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this story, but I did find it hard to stay focused sometimes. I just finished a different book from this author which I loved so I was holding this one to pretty high expectations. It was still very much worth reading, and I will definitely continue reading this author.

[debavp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was telling someone that I was reading a book by Baldacci and that halfway through I still had no idea what was going on. That someone said they had just finished Zero Day by Baldacci and loved it--HAHA! When I advised that's what I was reading they assured me it only got better and they were right! Of course I loved the alphabet soup aspect of the story and Baldacci is one of the very few who can use it competently. Puller does remind me a bit of Reacher, with just a tiny hint of Virgil Flowers thrown in.

[skraft001 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good page turner right from the start. It was well written and mostly believable, at least up until Chapter 86 when Puller and Sam wee the only ones sent in to look for the nuclear material. R-i--g-h-t -- like half the Army wouldn't have descended on the place. Sam being killed in the fizzable explosion was a twist I didn't see coming. Other stupid thing was the confrontation with Mason and his men. Really cliche.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable with lots of twists and turns that leaves you guessing until the very end. A typical Baldacci book.

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars, would have been 4 but lost some of its pace in the last part of the book and got too technical for me.

[carol420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

John Puller is a Army CID - called into investigate a brutal family killing in rural West Virginia. The father is a Defense Intelligence Agency high ranking colonel about to transition to civilian life. Puller questions his solo assignment to the highly sensitive case. He is also saddled with a father who is a living (though retired) Army legend and a brother serving life for treason. Along the way he partners with a local police detective - female detective Samantha Cole. Baldacci gives enough background to promote interest without bogging down the story. And just as you think you have it ... the story takes a sharp left. Concisely written police procedural wrapped around a compelling story. If only David Baldacci and Lee Child would get together and introduce John Pullman to Jack Reacher. What a story that would be. Highly recommend any of his books.

[qatarjj · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This the first and last David Baldacci novel for me. I was drawn to it by the number of favourable reviews it had received. The book is so peppered with clichés I think it should be listed under the genre of humour.

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Baldacci has taken one of the most terrifying possibilities and brought it to us in a scary way. It's a suspense filled story with clean dialogue and well written characters. The situations may be borderline unbelievable, but that's what makes it good. This novel is a fast-paced and reads rather quickly. Zero Day was intriguing enough to make me watch out for the next one

[christineellei · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

John Puller is Mr. Baldacci’s newest hero. A veteran of combat now working for government special investigations, John is a man with special talents but also a man with a past. Coming to a remote coal mining town in rural West Virginia John joins forces with local law enforcement to investigate the brutal murder of an entire family. Obvious by his presence, this in no ordinary murder investigation and things quickly spiral towards thriller conspiracy status.

We learn in the first chapter that John has a brother in prison for treason and a war hero father, but those facts are just a tease in this book. It is fairly obvious there are more John Puller books to come. Zero Day was intriguing enough to make me watch out for the release of the next one.

[lrobe190 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

John Puller is a combat veteran and the best military investigator in the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Division. Now, Puller is called out on a case in a remote, rural area in West Virginia coal country far from any military outpost. Someone has stumbled onto a brutal crime scene, a family slaughtered. Facing a potential conspiracy that reaches far beyond the hills of West Virginia, he is one man on the hunt for justice against an overwhelming force.

Very suspenseful. Keeps you guessing until the last chapter. John Puller is a great character - a mix of flawed and compassionate; macho, but not handsome necessarily. Very realistic. There is a potential love interest and some sexual tension, a local police officer who helps him solve the case, but the relationship is a minor part of the book. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[dcavin-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First Baldacci for me. Recommended by a co-worker. Glad I read it and will put John Puller books in my wishlist. For me I want this type of fiction to entertain me, but not insult my intelligence. Baldacci delivers. We all have to suspend disbelief with fiction, but just how far.

[judithdcollins · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Have read of few of Baldacci’s books and I liked The Forgotten (#2 Puller) better than (#1 Puller) Zero Day. I listed to both on audio and enjoy sound effects and the narrators Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy made the novel very interesting.

Again war hero, John Puller is the top investigator in the US Army CID. As in Forgotten he is called to work the case after someone is brutally murdered in a remote area of West Virginia. As usual, upon his investigation, there is more than meets the eye and teams up with local homicide detective Sam Cole. There are secrets of the past and deceit surfaces. Without giving up the ending-- A shocking conclusion of family and justice and how to make things right – A fast-paced book with battles between good and evil.

[tabascofromgudreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very solid mystery thriller. The main charachter is an army hero, and his thoughts throughout the book often sound like an advertisement for the army. Nothing wrong, only maybe a little too much of that. in fact I found this novel to be very well-researched and credible well into the 4th quarter. The last chapters, and especially the scene when Puller is on the phone with the brother (and the fact that the goverment allowed that to happen) are so unrealistic that Mr Clive Cussler would be punching the air in joy. Too bad, because most of the book is not as cartoonish. Overall, a really enjoyable, entertaining mystery, with different dimensions to it. Lots of fun and new facts to learn too.

[hemlokgang · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this thriller. The pairing of amilitary expert and a small town cop worked well, as did the steadily increasing complexity of the case at hand. Well done!

[deanclark · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can't remember if I read this book or listened to it in the truck on the way to Utah. A "page turner."

[zachmontana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Different sort of Baldacci crime story with good characterization of Army Crime investigator and interesting relationship with local homocide detective. Lots of intrigue
and interesting outcome.

[whitmelb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Of all the Baldacci books I have read I enjoyed this on the most. The protagonist is an active duty Army CID agent sent to investigate the murder of a Colonel that occurred in a small West Virginia town in coal mining country. Plenty of plot twists, good descriptions of action and activity. Two comments though: First Puller, (the protagonist) has the most well stocked automobile trunk one could hope for. almost every contingency has him pulling out the correct item as needed. Secondly, his character has echoes of Jack Reacher. This is not a cavil but rather a comment that such characters are a welcome change from the anti-hero and metrosexuals that seem to inhabit the genre lately.

[caj828 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was enjoyable. It wasn't over the top or anything a nice mystery with a captivating scenario. I thought I had it figured out. I did have a piece of the puzzle correct but not fully. I don't know I was kind of disappointed with the ending. Overall okay book not sure if I'm going to continue this series.

[bobandkathy · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

A silly book that gets positively stupid near the end. Why can't people who do "nuclear thrillers" get even a tiny bit of technical review so their stories are not insulting!!??

[susancrowe01 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I actually read the first part of this on my kindle and am listening to the second part on audible.

very good book. this character has been compared to Reacher. I believe I may like him better than Reacher.
will definitely be reading the next one real soon.

[livelylady · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Federal agent John Puller gets sent to West Virginia to investigate the murder of an Army officer and his family. This is just the tip of the iceberg as Puller finds out. He escapes being killed, discovers a plot that endangers the country and falls in love.

While the story was good, I kind of got lost on some of the scientific information. But this would be a good read for someone who has a long time to read like on a plane trip or being bedbound. If I had read this quicker I may have given it a "4".