- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (30 Jan 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340895586
- ISBN-13: 978-0340895580
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.6 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 854,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Contact Zero
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Product Description
Guardian on GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
'An exhuberant and satisfying debut'
Review
" 'An exhuberant and satisfying debut' - Guardian on Good News, Bad News. 'A rollercoaster ride of a book which manages to be both a traditional spy story and a hip tale of friendship and trust... flair and originality. I loved it.' - Observer on Good News, Bad News. 'Good News, Bad News revitalizes the espionage novel and dishes up a breakneck plot, dizzying twists and two of the most memorable characters in recent suspense fiction. This book is a pure delight' - Jeffery Deaver, author of Garden Of Beasts, on Good News, Bad News. 'Sharp and funny... brilliant... exciting... A dazzling performance, full of surprises, and the only doubt it leaves is what will this most promising author ever do for an encore.' - Chicago Tribune on Good News, Bad News"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
'Contact Zero', the latest novel from David Wolstencroft, author of the decent 'Good News, Bad News', can best be described as being the fast food of spy-novels. In other words its quite good at the time, goes down quickly, but isn't that satisfying in the long run and doesn't stick in the memory.
In many respects its a bit like the TV series 'Spooks' (aka MI6 in the USA) that the cover of the book goes at length to remind you the author helped create. Like its TV bretheren, Contact Zero moves at a fair pace, features a cast of young go getters, skullduggery in high places and purports to be a real insight into the inner workings of the Secret Intelligence Service. In reality its a glossy, slim story, dressed up with pointless gimics such as blanked out bits of 'classified' text (the literary equivalent of MTV style editing) that globetrots from one locale to another for no apparent reason and features a bunch of stereotypical characters, only one of whom is given any sort of depth, albeit one riddled with cliche.
So yes, its a bit of harmless fun, but Contact Zero is no Smileys People or Red October and Wolstencroft is no Le Carre or early-Clancy. As a disposable read to help pass the time on a flight or a beach and that is quickly forgotten, like a Big Mac to a hungry man it will do. As a gourmet meal to be savoured and relished however, its just doesn't cut the mustard...
(apologies for the excess of metaphors)
In many respects its a bit like the TV series 'Spooks' (aka MI6 in the USA) that the cover of the book goes at length to remind you the author helped create. Like its TV bretheren, Contact Zero moves at a fair pace, features a cast of young go getters, skullduggery in high places and purports to be a real insight into the inner workings of the Secret Intelligence Service. In reality its a glossy, slim story, dressed up with pointless gimics such as blanked out bits of 'classified' text (the literary equivalent of MTV style editing) that globetrots from one locale to another for no apparent reason and features a bunch of stereotypical characters, only one of whom is given any sort of depth, albeit one riddled with cliche.
So yes, its a bit of harmless fun, but Contact Zero is no Smileys People or Red October and Wolstencroft is no Le Carre or early-Clancy. As a disposable read to help pass the time on a flight or a beach and that is quickly forgotten, like a Big Mac to a hungry man it will do. As a gourmet meal to be savoured and relished however, its just doesn't cut the mustard...
(apologies for the excess of metaphors)
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Contact Zero - always just out of reach, not quite what you're looking for, not exactly what you expect. The fictitious entity from which the book takes its name is similar.
The story follows four spies who trained together and have been sabotaged on their first postings. They seek to reach Contact Zero, the illustrious escape route for spooks who wish to leave their profession alive.
The pace is excellent. Although the fragmented opening makes it a little tricky to become orientated at first, the tales unite quickly and from there on in the narrative is easy to follow. The gang don't waste much time in any one location and are always on the move. Wolstencroft does well to paint numerous vivid sets, from ancient monasteries to seedy bars to palatial apartments.
The four lead characters, plus KB, have distinct personalities and abilities, so it really does feel like there are four different personalities progressing through the novel. I would have liked more development of the characters who seemed a little one-dimensional. Their suspicion of each other, while understandable, was underplayed and could have had a greater plot impact than it did. Similarly, the mole was unmasked far too quickly; there was hardly any time to guess before the cat was released from its bag.
The concept of Contact Zero seems quite credible and there was plenty of semi-fact (or very convincing fiction) that gives the story an authentic feel. Particularly, the training anecdotes add a layer of believability that enhance the novel's enjoyment, but it must be said that the elongated flashback over several chapters right after a cliffhanger effectively killed the tension stone dead by the time we returned to present day. The running motif of events at training hidden from the reader until closer to the end was well played - there was enough tension to create intrigue without over-egging the fact. The reveal was satisfying and explained the impact on relationships well.
In the end, only Nat's character had a decent conclusion. Ben, Lucy and Jamie were all found themselves in situations a little too convenient which left me feeling cheated of a decent ending, while KB's swansong was just daft.
Although not a sequel to Good News Bad News, comparisons will inevitably be drawn. Contact Zero did not enjoy the dizzy heights of its predecessor. The writing was amateurish and the structure - particularly with flashbacks - was off. There was no significant twist at the end or exciting conclusion; the plot dribbled out in contrast to its action-filled premiere. While Good News Bad News keeps you guessing to the very last page, Contact Zero doesn't have the same impact.
In fact, the characters and plot would make excellent spies - quite good at the time, but instantly forgettable.
The story follows four spies who trained together and have been sabotaged on their first postings. They seek to reach Contact Zero, the illustrious escape route for spooks who wish to leave their profession alive.
The pace is excellent. Although the fragmented opening makes it a little tricky to become orientated at first, the tales unite quickly and from there on in the narrative is easy to follow. The gang don't waste much time in any one location and are always on the move. Wolstencroft does well to paint numerous vivid sets, from ancient monasteries to seedy bars to palatial apartments.
The four lead characters, plus KB, have distinct personalities and abilities, so it really does feel like there are four different personalities progressing through the novel. I would have liked more development of the characters who seemed a little one-dimensional. Their suspicion of each other, while understandable, was underplayed and could have had a greater plot impact than it did. Similarly, the mole was unmasked far too quickly; there was hardly any time to guess before the cat was released from its bag.
The concept of Contact Zero seems quite credible and there was plenty of semi-fact (or very convincing fiction) that gives the story an authentic feel. Particularly, the training anecdotes add a layer of believability that enhance the novel's enjoyment, but it must be said that the elongated flashback over several chapters right after a cliffhanger effectively killed the tension stone dead by the time we returned to present day. The running motif of events at training hidden from the reader until closer to the end was well played - there was enough tension to create intrigue without over-egging the fact. The reveal was satisfying and explained the impact on relationships well.
In the end, only Nat's character had a decent conclusion. Ben, Lucy and Jamie were all found themselves in situations a little too convenient which left me feeling cheated of a decent ending, while KB's swansong was just daft.
Although not a sequel to Good News Bad News, comparisons will inevitably be drawn. Contact Zero did not enjoy the dizzy heights of its predecessor. The writing was amateurish and the structure - particularly with flashbacks - was off. There was no significant twist at the end or exciting conclusion; the plot dribbled out in contrast to its action-filled premiere. While Good News Bad News keeps you guessing to the very last page, Contact Zero doesn't have the same impact.
In fact, the characters and plot would make excellent spies - quite good at the time, but instantly forgettable.
Format:Paperback
The book starts out at a cracking pace bringing a number of characters into the picture. But the story line soon gets confused by the inplausibility of the main idea of the plot. To keep the plot going the story line becomes so full of unexplained or contractictory twists that you start longing for the book to end. Ultimately it becomes simply silly but it's difficult to explain why without giving the game away.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent Service
This book was purchased as a present for my husband. He is enjoying it as much as the authors first novel. The service provided by the seller was excellent
Published on 11 May 2010 by Mrs. P. Aldous
A good start...
As with Wolstencroft's previous novel, this starts really well.
In fact, it starts at break neck speed, new recruits, covers blown, in dire straits. Read more
In fact, it starts at break neck speed, new recruits, covers blown, in dire straits. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by freedomrulesok
An enjoyable read with some good twists
First of all forget that the author had anything to do with the fantastic "Spooks" series. Writing books and writing for a television drama are two very different things and it is... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by R. Griffiths
Great Book
This book hooked me in the first two chapters. This is a fast moving tale as is Spooks on the TV. If you like Spooks then this is the book for you. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by G. Heriot
A pleasant timekiller that won't last in your memory.
Contact Zero is not a bad book. David Wolstencroft is a writer that can keep your attention and keep you entertained as you read his books. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2007 by Ashleigh
A real let down
I love Spooks, really liked Good News Bad News but feel so let down about this book.
Poor characterisation to begin with, a plot that has holes big enough to drive a bus... Read more
Poor characterisation to begin with, a plot that has holes big enough to drive a bus... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2007 by Call Me Sparky
This was Brilliant
I loved this book. Every page had me even more hooked than the last. And yes i have read some early Clancy and am currently reading one, yet this was better and personally I cannot... Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2007 by S. D. A. Wilson
Fantastic
After reading Good News Bad News, which was brilliant, I was forced to wait ages before getting my hands on Contact Zero. But the wait was worth it. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2006 by J Hitch
Spookily Poor
The second book from the creator of the fantastic ‘Spooks’ TV series. I really wanted to like this as I enjoyed the stylish and clever Spooks, but this did nothing for... Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2006 by N. Brett
Loved It!
A gripping read that had me hooked from page one, a thriller in every sense of the word. Great characters showing real humanity, some fantastic twists, and pageturning prose. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2006
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