Review: File Zero

File Zero by Jack Mars
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm always on the cusp with this series, on the edge of giving up yet always compelled to read the next.

Jack Mars is a good author, the stories are great and the action is on par with other Spy/Thriller/Door kickers. But, I've always felt Reid Lawson is TOO much of a doofus, even for a college professor haha. His inner monologue even as Kent Steele feels like a Scooby-Doo episode. "Wait just a minute, if he's here and you're their that means. Uh ohhhh." It's been a downside, to me, for the whole series. Even as Zero gets more Bad Ass-er, his thought process as both Reid and Kent make me want to yell "NERRRRRD!" Unfortunately, this was all compounded when Brian Callanan took over the narration back in #4. He's a great voice actor but it seems he chose to kick the Doofus level up even more while expressing Reid/Kent's persona. Also, his portrayal of Bixby the R&D tech dude, wow HARDCORE doofus. He's like the stereotypical nerd scientist from The Simpsons with the Geek Lisp and all. It's just a bit much for me, enough where I almost dropped the series. BUT, to Jack Mars defense, this well connected series where each addition falls seamlessly into the next has kept me interested.

Zero #5 has the biggest information bomb drops and unexpected plot twists of the series so far. We left off #4 knowing his full memory returned, thankfully #5 doesn't disappoint and sh#t starts hitting the fan. The political antagonists were "bad" enough that my drive to see them called out was enough to keep reading. Sure, there are a few "okay that's a bit convenient" moments but tolerable. I've always been a bit confused how the Zero saga seemed to drop all at once like a Netflix series, in the past I assumed it was rushed or written as a side project and later released in bulk. #5 while possible the best so far, still leaves me with the same opinion "good but rushed." Needless to say I've already purchased #6 so for now I guess "rushed" will do just fine for me.

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