I really loved the new hero. He's believable, a bit macho with scars and nightmares, but also kind and caring of the innocent. John Puller is a combat veteran and the best military investigator in the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation 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 spirit and a drive to find the truth. He seemed real to me, very easy to relate too, but I grew up on Army bases so it may be that this kind of man is what I picture when I hear military. However, he was not the typical Army man, he really wanted to believe in the good in people.

The story line caught me right away and kept me up late reading chapter after chapter because I just did not want to stop. I like books that capture me that way. I fall into the story and get lost; not that getting lost in this small town is a wise idea. (Smile)

The cruelty and violence against the Reynolds family was vivid and I could almost smell the deaths. I pictured the mailman finding them and was sickened by the thought of me finding them. Some parts were just so realistic that I got up and checked the locks on the doors. Very vivid writing, but I would expect nothing less from Baldacci. I have read several of his books and I am a fan of his. I have already recommended ZERO DAY to several of my male friends and received great feedback from them also.

From the deaths to the conclusion I was a captured reader. Family interactions were interesting and told a lot about small town living, which is not all that different from people anywhere. I was surprised that I liked the small town living, I would have thought that it would be boring, I think I may be wrong about that now.

The townspeople were typical of what you think small towns are like and at times I suspected several of them. I flipped back and forth sure of what was going to happen and then totally surprised when it did not unfold the way I thought. ZERO DAY definitely kept me on my toes and guessing. I really never knew what would happen next, which is why I kept saying, just a few more pages, one more chapter then I will go to bed. Next thing I knew the sun was up and I had not slept. The characters were well defined and believable. I really liked Sam Cole, the local cop. She is a strong woman in a man's field trying to make a difference. I had hopes for a relationship and was really caught off guard when she ... well you just have to read that part. I'm looking forward to the next book.