Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not as exciting as I'd hoped
Review: Special Agent Christopher Whitcomb is one of only about 200 people who have ever been part of the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). HRT is one of America's counterterroism units along with the Army's Delta Force and Navy SEAL Team Six. In this book, Special Agent Whitcomb provides a very informative and engaging look at his life in the FBI. The reader follows him on some of his more interesting assignments doing casework out of a satellite office in Missouri and when Whitcomb feels the need to do more in his life, he takes the reader through his selection process into the HRT. From his description, I imagine the HRT selection process to be somewhat similar to the Navy BUD/S (SEAL) selection process. Anyone familiar with BUD/S (or if you've seen some of Hollywood's bastardized film versions like G.I. Jane), knows that the process is amazingly taxing--both physically and psychologically--and there is a very high drop out rate. Obviously, Whitcomb managed to get through selection and becomes a sniper on the HRT. He was present and accounted for the standoff on Ruby Ridge and in Waco, Texas during the Branch Davidians crisis. Though both situations were tense and Whitcomb manages to portray that mood in his writing, there isn't much excitement involved (for the reader). I imagine most of Whitcomb's missions are still classified and that's unfortunate. Though Whitcomb provides his experience during some of the most famous current events of the past 15 years or so (like Ruby Ridge and Waco), there isn't much to get excited about. With a book about an elite unit like the Hostage Rescue Team, one would expect (and presumably want) a lot of action. Sadly, there wasn't much to speak of. Also, I would recommend skipping the last three chapters because they don't really seem relevant to the primary function of HRT. Although the book doesn't provide as much action and excitement as I would have liked, Whitcomb is a good writer and the book is a very good read. Perhaps some of Whitcomb's more exciting missions will be declassified in the future and he can write a follow-up with some more meat to it, especially since this book was written and published prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I'd be extremely interested in reading what role HRT played immediately following 9/11 and what they are doing now. Still, I would recommend this book to people interested in the FBI and especially to potential candidates to HRT. Lastly, Special Agent Whitcomb if you get a chance to read this: Thank you for your service to this great country.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting at times, but nothing more than that
Review: Christopher Whitcomb appeared on C-Span2 promoting this book, and now is a commentator for MSNBC. As a fan of military biographies, I had high expectations for this book based on what I'd seen on TV and the subject of the book. It was decent and interesting at times, but nothing close to what I'd hoped. Whitcomb has lived a very interesting life, much of it with the prestigious FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). The interesting parts of the book were those when Whitcomb's life coincided with historically momentous occasions: he was present at the standoffs at Ruby Ridge and Waco--the two most controversial domestic police actions of the '90s. His descriptions and thoughts of these two events were very interesting, as were his insider's accounts of what it entailed to join the FBI and the FBI HRT. Unfortunately, that was about all that was interesting. Whitcomb used to be a speechwriter for a congressman, and admitted in interviews (as well as in his book) that he always wished to be a writer. Unfortunately, he seems to me to be trying to hard to be a "writer" versus telling what could/should be (and at times is) a captivating story. There are moments during the narration where the author makes blatantly obvious attempts to be literary rather than direct; these attempts came across as cheap literary tricks or shallow observations/clichés that did more to distract me from the story than to improve its telling. I don't want to sound too harsh on Mr. Whitcomb because his story is interesting, but it's disingenuous to not mention that the book dragged at times and was often a chore to read. This should NEVER be the case in an action-based autobiographical narrative.
Rating:
Summary: Book Lover
Review: "The world looks different through a rifle scope." With this opening line Special Agent Whitcomb grabs the reader and doesn't let go. From his first day on the job (in Kansas City) then on to HRT training and finally to places like Ruby Ridge, Waco and Kosovo we get to know the man who believes in this country. A man who wanted to make a difference and did. As the mother of two sons there are times when Christopher's story causes my heart to skip, but as an American I am so grateful for these men (and women) who risk so very much to protect us. The writing is fast-paced, compelling, and on target. This former speech writer has a story to tell and he tells it well.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent insight from someone who has been there
Review: Soon after September 11, I had an unexpected chance to meet this man at a book signing in New Hampshire. He was articulate, intellegent and thought provoking. I bought his book immediately after hearing his unrehersed thoughts and responses to audience questions at that signing. His book is a well written and enjoyable read regarding the training needed for his career as a sniper for the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team. He touches on the effects his career have had on his wife and children and the emotional tool of both Ruby Ridge and Waco. As such, it is in line with similar books such as "So that others may live" the story of a pararescue "PJ". This book, though, is better. The ending of the book becomes a little light and may suffer from the event's proximity in his still unfolding life. And of course, all events occurred before September 11. It was reassuring to meet a man like Mr. Whitcomb and to realize what he has and is giving our country. At risk of being 'sappy', it was a pleasure to meet him. I'm certainly looking forward to his next book.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping and Informative
Review: Whitcomb has two birds nailed with this book: he chronicled an amazing career in the FBI, and secondly, he did it well. His writing style was masterful. Having read several of these types of stories, that start with a quick scene in the middle of the action, and then go back to biography the means and methods one uses to get there, I find Cold Zero to be a top notch book. I'd love to read more writing by Whitcomb, but I imagine he's still busy saving the world from bad guys.
Rating:
Summary: Inside Scoop
Review: I first heard Christopher Whitcomb on a local NPR program and was fascinated by his stories. Interested enough to buy his book.
The book is hard to put down. It gives us a first hand look at the physicality and courage it takes to go through this rigorous training: first to become an FBI agent and then to go on to the Hostage Rescue Team. I fear Mr Whitcomb is a might too coy to allow us to see the real fear and pain it takes to make this team. It is a very elite team that is in danger most of the time-he was on-call 24/7, and required constant vigilance and training to stay within the group. His version of the sorties that he took part in are insightful. I felt like I was part of the group. Mr. Whitcomb did not share much of his family life and it would have been a better book if he had- how does the family endure the amount of time they were apart? His decision to leave the FBI and take part in civilian life tells some of the story. Hope there are more books to come..
Rating:
Summary: Unusual and Fast Paced Narrative
Review: Military adventure is not my usual choice for pleasure reading. I picked up the book based on the copious glowing reviews on the jacket cover, and I wasn't disappointed. Whitcomb takes you behind the scenes at the FBI and shows you a side that most of the public never sees. I always pictured the FBI as suit-clad persons sitting at desks, but Cold Zero pretty much destroys that out of date idea. This book was highly entertaining, but educational also about one of the most powerful government agencies. He gives personal glimpses into the stresses of such dangerous jobs. Whitcomb's accounts of Ruby Ridge and Waco strike me as honest and forthcoming.
Rating:
Summary: Cold Zero!
Review: This boook is okey. Mr Whitcomb tell his story on how he got into FBI-HRT and what missions he have done. The book is "average" but don't be put off for that. One section is really interested when he explains (interrogation)how the "car salesman break down" people, but it could be littlebit longer on that subject.
Rating:
Summary: Not As Good As I Hoped
Review: This book gives a look at the selection and training for HRT, which is quite fascinating. Unfortunately, he limits his discussion two a few major incidents (in all fairness, he probably had to). Mr. Whitcomb paints a good picture of the boredom faced by men in his position when telling the Waco story. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in counter-terrorism units, the FBI or sniping.
Rating:
Summary: A complete account
Review: For anyone familiar with Danny Coulson's No Heroes, this book should be the requisite companion. Where Coulson's book suffers, Whitcomb's account excels. Coulson's book claimed to be an insider's account into the HRT, but really failed in that respect. Coulson's role was never really of the HRT operator but, rather, a skilled supervisor. Whitcomb's Cold Zero is all that and more. More than anything I've seen, Cold Zero is a nearly exact account of an HRT operator/sniper's daily life. The rigors of selection and training and the hell of having to laying motionless for hours on end, always ready to take a shot that WILL kill someone, often only inches from an innocent hostage. Whitcomb is, in a word, skilled. As the reader should quickly realize, HRT members excel at everything. They approach everything they do with the same intense concentration and focus on perfection that is required of the FBI's elite counter-terrorism force. Whitcomb's prose in unencubered and to the point. His descriptions of the seiges at Ruby Ridge, Waco and others are total sensory experiences. (Actually, ever visual picture in the book is partnered with this same sensory drama. One of my favorite, although brief, parts of the books is Whitcomb's description of his guille suit. It's easy to assume what it looks like, but the reader learns how it smells, feels, sounds, etc.) The one flaw, which I think is unavoidable, is Whitcomb's distaste for Bureau resistance to his mission. One will recall from Coulson's book the apprehension of Bureau higher-ups about the role of HRT. Whitcomb's account calls upon the same pattern. Whitcomb has little patience for decisions made at FBI HQ that run completely against what training and experience have taught him is right (case in point, Ruby Ridge, where the rules of engagement were altered to allow HRT members to shoot anyone with a gun, regardless of whether or not they posed an immediate threat. Thankfully, Whitcomb and his brethren chose to ignore this order). Cold Zero tells more about the HRT than anything I have seen. It is exceptionally well written and leaves the reader wishing Whitcomb had remained with the team. More stories would not have been unappreciated.
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