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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fast-Paced but Shallow Thriller, March 14, 2008
"Zero Cool" is a stripped-down thriller that moves like a high-speed train non-stop from its opening on a babe-filled beach in Barcelona to its deadly conclusion in the catacombs of the Alhambra. Dr. Peter Ross is an American radiologist on vacation in Spain who is quickly drawn into violent intrigue surrounding an ancient treasure. He finds himself in the middle of a winner-takes-all struggle between three different groups seeking a priceless artifact, none of whom will hesitate to kill him to get it. This book has everything: kidnappings, death threats, secret disguises, animal attacks, massacres, dying declarations, arson, poisoning, even an autopsy and a dwarf thrown in for good measure. It's an entertaining read, but with no depth whatsoever.
I enjoyed the book, for what it was, but you have to understand that everything takes second place to moving the story along. That makes for a fast read, but not a very satisfying one. It's like watching a movie with cardboard sets. Most of the exotic locations, including the "rain-swept streets of Paris" and the "towers of the Alhambra" are described so quickly and generically that they lack authenticity or interest. There is no back-story here; by the end of the book, we know almost nothing personal or individually important about Peter Ross or the raven-haired beauty he meets on the beach, Angela Locke. The villains, too, are one-dimensional. The dialogue is so simple at times that it feels like reading a kids' book. The author does throw in some nice twists and turns, but the plot falls back on at least one coincidence that I found dissatisfying.
So, three stars for a clever and entertaining plot, but none for depth or character development.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better Than Grave Descend, May 25, 2008
I'm a big fan of Lange's Grave Descend, but this book is even better.
This is the classic Hitchcock plot; ordinary guy gets caught up in a web of intrigue beyond his comprehension in 1950's Europe, principally Spain. No one is whom they seem to be, there's a beautiful woman who may be more than she seems, and event move faster and faster towards the close.
What makes this better than the average noir story is the unfolding clues and sense of mystery as the protagonist, Peter Ross comes closer to the truth. The locale descriptions are detailed and captivating. The final scenes, played out in the catacombs of the Alhambra, are quite exciting.
If you like fast paced thrillers like The Da Vinci Code, you'll like this fine reissue by Hard Case Crime a lot. They have yet another winner.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding!, March 3, 2011
This review is from: Zero Cool (Paperback)
Come on people, time for a little objectivity here. This story was copyrighted in 1969 OK! So
cut it some slack.
This book is more Tarantino generation than it is a 60's piece, and it works. Very quick read,
and I've just read that Michael Crichton wrote this book under the Lange pseudonym. Amazing,
and a must read of you are a Crichton fan.
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