Review: 'Cold Zero' by Brad Thor with Ward Larsen

Finally catching up on some winter reading during the summer. Yep, that’s me, the procrastination king. While the world basked in sunshine, enjoying picnics and fireworks, I dove into Cold Zero, a military thriller by Brad Thor and Ward Larsen, published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books back in February. It had been languishing in a pile of ARCs, gathering dust, until I decided to blow off the grime, sit down, and read the damn thing.

So, what’s it all about? It unfolds like a MacGuffin story, starting with the audacious disappearance of Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777, the most advanced jetliner ever built. The aircraft vanishes without a trace over the North Pole, succumbing to sabotage and crash-landing on the icy wasteland. The surviving passengers find themselves in a chaotic, frigid landscape, but the real tempest is yet to come. Hidden in the wreckage is the prototype of a groundbreaking technology capable of tipping the scales of global power. Now, Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are racing against one another to seize it—whatever the cost. Caught in the eye of this storm are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and Brett Sharpe, a former fighter pilot turned first officer. With enemy forces closing in, they must navigate the perilous Arctic terrain, escorting both the device and its creator to safety before rival superpowers turn the frozen expanse into a war zone. As the clock ticks and temperatures plunge, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance at the top of the globe.

What caught me off guard was that I didn’t realize Cold Zero was a standalone tale until I was well into the pages. It kicks off like a standard Hollywood thriller, with villains hot on the trail of Dr. Chen Li, a scientist harboring an AI device called Sky Fire, which can infiltrate military assets and seize control. Beijing is desperate to acquire it, willing to go to any lengths, even downing an airplane. Chen is working with the CIA and, inevitably, finds himself on board the ill-fated flight. Only a few survive the crash, including Chen and Agent Sheridan. However, the stakes are raised significantly, as the Chinese deploy an icebreaker to recover Sky Fire, and Russia’s latest submarine, Aurora, lurks nearby. Not to be outdone, the United States dispatches the USS Cheyenne to rescue the survivors and secure the device.

With an image of the plane on the cover, I was blindsided by the maritime action that unfolded in Cold Zero. I admit to being a sucker for submarine stories; my personal bias led me to become immersed in the novel within just a few chapters. Thor’s narration style is reminiscent of his Scot Harvath series. While Ward Larsen—who I've yet to explore, though I own his piece in the Tom Clancy universe, Rules of Engagement—provides an engaging collaboration. The writing exudes a turbocharged vibe akin to a high-octane Hollywood action film from the ‘90s, complete with all the familiar clichés and predictable arcs. The characters, however, are largely two-dimensional, lacking emotional depth. Yes, Agent Sheridan is likable, but she reads like every other CIA operative that has graced the pages of thrillers and movies alike; there’s nothing particularly distinctive about her.

The book features countless intense moments, with action scenes crafted skillfully by the authors. Yet, here’s the catch: the plot feels relatively insubstantial. It’s a classic MacGuffin tale: retrieve an AI device before it falls into enemy hands. That’s the crux of it, plain and simple.

In the end, I had a satisfying reading experience with Cold Zero. The prose grabbed my attention from the outset, whisking me away on an exhilarating ride from start to finish. It’s not without its flaws, clichéd and somewhat predictable, but there’s a nostalgic comfort in it, a throwback to the action thrillers of yesteryear that make you roll your eyes yet also smile. —★★★★✰

〜B.J. Burgess

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