Book Review: Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro

I love thrillers. As a former scientist, I seem to have at least two science/medical thrillers on my reading list at all times.  When I read the description for Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro--I found it interesting enough to take a chance on a different kind of thriller:  a financial one.  What was my review of Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro?


Quick Summary of Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro.  “Sometimes you must destroy first.”  

Framed. Hunted. Betrayed. To stay alive, Scott Walker must bring down a corrupt international bank. And possibly shatter the world’s economy. Because finance is a black hole ready to chew up countries and people before spitting them out rich, or broken. Or both. In love with a woman he can’t trust. As he hides from hitmen across Europe, Walker has only one card to play – DeepShare. A silicon oracle that could predict a slice of the future, and that everyone wants. Governments and insane billionaires, criminals and anarchist hackers stand in his way, some even promising help – though with dangerous strings attached. As Walker struggles to survive and digs deeper into the dark heart of the global economy, one question torments him: how much will the world have to pay? ZERO ALTERNATIVE is an action-packed conspiracy thriller that plucks at the heart of human nature. When our grip on love, hope and morality starts to slide, the only future worth living is the one we choose for ourselves.

Be patient if the stock market isn't your calling.  The author devotes a large portion of the book to an introduction to the financial world of Scott Walker.  If fast paced, trading and financial markets are not your forte--this part of the book may be a little "slow" or boring--even though the pace of the adrenaline charged, money market is still at breakneck speed.  I am not a finance person by any stretch (that's my husband's world)--but, I think this introduction is still very necessary to the book--it gives so much insight into Walker's personality (he is a risk taker and a money maker) and the greedy world in which he lives and functions highly.  Be patient--the author does a wonderful job explaining the market finance details that readers need before venturing off with Walker as he tries to clear his name and stay alive.

Zero Alternative is a page turner.  Once I settled into the author's writing style--and relaxed a little and absorbed some of the financial terminology, I wasn't able to put the book down.  There are twists and turns--and a lot of real-world, human nature (driven by greed and a thirst for power) that creates a really, gripping thriller.  Pesaro does a wonderful job keeping this book "real"--it isn't a spy novel--it's a book about a guy caught up in the darkside of his world--and with technology advancements--the premise (and risks) of the computer program at the heart of this book are far from impossible.

Would I recommend Zero Alternative?  I am not a financial mind (the terms and the chaos of the market send me into avoidance mode)--but, I really found myself caught up in this book.  It is a thriller--and once the author sets the thrills in motion, it is nonstop and worth the read.  This book is intelligently written and I really look forward to future books from this author.  He is certainly on my author watch list!  There is sex--a bit of a romantic subplot--and violence--but, none is overdone and those aspects were minor to the book's action.  The more graphic, adult themed portions were not really graphic for shock value--but, detailed for realism.  If you enjoy thrillers with political/financial undertones--this is certainly a book to add to your summer reading list.

 

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About the Author:

Luca Pesaro was born in Italy in 1971, but he has spent most of his adult life in the US or UK. After long years gaining a degree and masters in the pseudo-science that is Economics he got bored, jumped the gun and became a derivatives trader in financial markets - first with the tragic Lehman Brothers, then with a bunch of other banks, somehow always managing not to blow up. Recently he has decided to dedicate himself fully to his great passion since the age of eight – writing, mainly Fiction, but anything that amuses him at any given time. Zero Alternative is his first English novel, and he is hard at work on his second thriller: A Game of Kings. He is married to the awesome F. and has two children, A. and J. who always manage to annoy, surprise and delight him beyond any reasonable expectation.

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