Rating: 
Summary: What was Brad Thinking?
Review: This book was so childish, it felt as if I should be reading it to my kids! Over 200 pages of a long boring dragged out chase, an ending that's not particularly interesting, characters that never, ever get developed- I'm sorry, but this book was just awful! Read Meltzer's other books and you'll see why I'm so shocked as to why this was so bad! Also, the book jacket was 100% wrong as to what occurs! That was so surprising!
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best.
Review: Just finished "The Zero Game" and John Grisham's "The Pelican Brief" kept popping up in my mind. Not to say that this book is a retread but once you finish, you have a "been there, done that" kind of feel. I couldn't really invest in the story as the character development was pretty sparse (along with the jacket summary being wrong!!!). And is Mr. Meltzer trying to redeem the bad guy at the end??!! Wait on this one...it will hit the remainder bins.
Rating:
Summary: SO disappointing
Review: What a disappintment. This book was like a 400 page version of Seasame Street for adults. Half of the book is a chase scene that is so dragged out, you're absolutely not missing ANYTHING by skipping 200 pages. It's not a political thriller even though it starts off taking place in the House. Coupled with the fact that the book jacket is completely wrong as to what occurs in the book- it's like they lied to make the book MORE interesting. Save your money- what a waste.
Rating:
Summary: Wait for paperback
Review: Don't go by the book jacket when selecting this book. For whatever reasons, the description on the jacket doesn't match the book. The plot was intriguing, however it never built up steam for the climax. I'd wait for paperback.
Rating:
Summary: fast start...slow finish
Review: was really excited about a new meltzer book!! the description on the back sounded great...started it, and yes, a "political intrigue" novel. then...what started as a really interesting idea soon turned into a "spy kids" chase. zero game...how about zero character development. totally lost me when the two characters hop a private jet and head off to a mine in south dakota...really disappointing...
Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: I, for one, thought this was one of Meltzer's best. Fiction with a high entertainment value.
Along with a good look at the workings of the political machine, it provided a suspenseful plot that moved very fast. A very enjoyable getaway. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Heard It Before -- Didn't Believe It
Review: A career White House staffer experienced in political intrigue allows a spunky 17 year old high school student to lead him around by the nose. Though both of their lives are at stake, he constantly defers to her sensibilities. During climactic moments, life or death chase scenes, the 17 year old stops running, ignoring her protector's strident commands -- instead demanding he not raise his voice to her. Yeah, sure. Heard it before, didn't believe it then. Equally perplexing: The abject poverty concept wherein the plucky young lady is embarassed to wear a plain white shirt with frayed cuffs, in contrast to the pristine white shirts worn by ALL other White House volunteers. The explanation: She is the only Page of African-American descent. Though both of her parents are gainfully employed and well respected in the community they are unable to afford a department store blouse sans frayed cuffs for their cherished daughter. Yeah, sure. Heard it before, didn't believe it then.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: Fun to read, a good thriller and all that -- but a few weeks after reading it I kind of think it was a stupid book. The intern who saves the day is just an awful character. And -- as someone else pointed out, the back cover is completely off. I had a readers copy and I thought it would be changed by the time the book came out -- but, I guess not. Strange.
Rating:
Summary: Good have been a good plot, but so long-winded!
Review: What was Brad thinking? The plot starts out great, just like all his other books, but then seems to drag on and on for over 300 pages of boring "Action scene"- I felt as if I was READING an old Jackie Chan flick!!! It's hard to review without giving anything away, but put it this way: the jacket of the book is COMPLETELY WRONG in describing the book- it makes you think that they may have puposely lied in the jacket just to pique your interest, because it's simply NOT TRUE!!! Buy it if you must, but don't expect much.
Rating: 
Summary: No Zero Here
Review: It's tough to review a Brad Meltzer book. Any discussion of the plot is going to give too much away. Over drinks, I was attempting to tell a friend about THE ZERO GAME. She hadn't started reading it yet, and I was midway through. "Oh, you're going to love it," I said. "The premise alone is enough to hook you." "Don't tell me," she said. "No, no, seriously," I pushed. "I won't ruin it. You see, these guys who work in congress as aides and stuff, they have this game. It's super secret, and they bet on legislation, guessing the outcome of votes and stuff." "That's too much, stop." "Well, you can imagine from that all the different ways Meltzer can take it." "Seriously. I don't want to know anymore." "No," I said. "You don't get it. That's information you get just on the first ten pages. I didn't spoil anything. The book is packed with twists and turns, probably more than any of Brad's other books. By page fifty, you're going to be so sucked in; you're never going to want to put it down." And it's true. In the first fifty pages of a 460-page thriller, there is already one turn of events so shocking that you start the next chapter fully expecting to discover Meltzer is messing with you. "No," you say, "he CAN'T do that." But he does! And at that point, THE ZERO GAME is just getting revved up. The rest of the novel is a mad, breathless dash to find the answer to the sort of convoluted plot only people who are part of the US government could dream up! THE ZERO GAME is full of Meltzer's usual narrative tricks. Shifting points-of-view, untrustworthy characters that switch allegiances at the flip of a page, young idealists, and a hero (or two) pushed out of their comfort zone, suddenly finding themselves on a run for their lives, having to scramble to find the strength and skill to survive. It boggles my mind that there hasn't yet been a movie adaptation of one of Brad's books. THE ZERO GAME was easily more exciting than any modern film I saw last year. It's a popcorn thriller, an action-packed suspense story that doesn't need special effects or the chiseled features of a $20M paycheck to excite. Proof positive that there's nothing like a good book to get the imagination--and the adrenaline--pumping.
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