By Brad Meltzer
Warner Books
Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged) and Large Print Editions

If you've ever found politics boring, think how those in Washington feel. Matthew Mercer and Harris Sandler are senior staffers working on Capitol Hill but Matthew's getting restless and thinking about changing his profession.

That's when Harris lets him in on a little secret known as the Zero Game. To spice things up in politics, only select people are invited to play a friendly wagering game on whether bills will pass or fail.

The Zero Game Excerpt My stomach leaps into my chest as the cage plummets. For the first few feet, it's no different from an elevator ride, but as we pick up speed and plunge down the shaft, my stomach sails up toward my esophagus. Jerking back and forth, the cage bangs wildly against the walls of the shaft, almost knocking us off our feet. It's like trying to stand on a rocking rowboat as it bottoms out under you. "Harris, tell her to slow down before--!" ©2004 Brad Meltzer Published with permission from Warner Books

And that's when a surefire win comes across Matthew's desk. He has the power to make the bill pass, giving him and Harris the chance of a lifetime.

They bet everything they have and watch as the game unfolds. But when Matthew gets curious, Harris finds himself on the run.

He draws a 17-year-old Senate page into the mix as he tries to uncover the truth. What went wrong with the game?

Harris discovers there's more to the Zero Game than just some minor bets on bills passing or failing. Somebody wants him dead to keep the secret quiet...an international secret that could change life as we know it.

Bookworm's Briefing
Brad Meltzer has written one of the most clever novels ever created. The Zero Game weaves such a detailed web, you'll see a side of Washington that you have to wonder if it's really fiction or not. Meltzer thanked 143 people for their help in his research, including his lawyer in Congress wife. The world he's created is very real but not so technical that only a Congressman could enjoy it.

Meltzer is also the author of such books as The First Counsel, The Millionaires and The Tenth Justice. He's married to his high school sweetheart and lives in Florida.