Zero Knowledge

By: Arnaud Pascolo
Publisher: Warrington Publishing
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 978-1944972615
Reviewed by: Lily Andrews
Review Date: April 22, 2025

Arnaud Pascolo's pulse-pounding thriller Zero Knowledge follows two individuals brought together by similar glim situations. We get to see their behavior and development, as well as closely analyze their motivations, as they look for comfort in the most unexpected places as shocking information following a terrible recent occurrence comes to light.
A growing dark cloud of despair hangs over Duan and Mina's bedroom, after a biopsy indicated the latter had terminal blood cancer. While Duan is overcome with grief and concern about life without her, Mina surprisingly manages to stay calm and enthusiastic. She begins walking a lot which she views as "walking the cancer out of her body," following their joint decision for her to quit her job. But the pain becomes unbearable, and she ends up making a startling choice that makes Duan shudder.
We then meet Luc, Mina's friend and cryptocurrency entrepreneur, who gets a mysterious Bitcoin transfer and an invitation to a meeting at a Swiss hotel from someone who seems to be a significant player in the Bitcoin space a few weeks later. The meeting, however, ends tragically with Luc dead and his host nowhere to be found. As the inquiry progresses, it becomes clear that Luc was not just under the radar of the authorities for being complicit in deep illicit operations of his firm; his wife, Gail, had severally accused him of domestic abuse.
The author deftly introduces a new character--a blood-thirsty hacker who embodies everything from resentment to danger. His involvement completely alters the story’s course, as suggestions of a personal vendetta abound. While Gail is comforted by her husband's death, more detailed and intricate information about his connection to the hacker and the revelation of a sizable fortune that Luc had hidden away becomes crucial information that might alter Gail's perception of Luc.
In the next chapters, these examples swiftly give way to more heart-stopping details that elicit utterly surprising responses. In addition to a profound emotional weight and a sense of sorrow that grows with each new page, the plot becomes incredibly intricate, with themes of loss, love, betrayal, and retribution carefully woven throughout. Deeply rooted in reality, the word-building of this narrative skillfully conveys the excitement of anonymity. Its capacity to defy genre boundaries is evident as it reads as literary fiction at first, then as a cyber thriller, and lastly as a revenge story.
Pascolo has shown impressive control of the pacing and tone. Even while revealing very intimate scenes, his writing remains poetic. His character development is his strongest suit. He portrays the protagonist as self-reflective, imperfect, and incredibly real, with a past that reflects the central ideas of the book. Readers will love how he captures the emotional stakes of digital finance. They will also enjoy his book's slow-burning style and reworking of popular thriller elements.
Quill says: Zero Knowledge, which is emotionally stirring and slow-burning, exposes the consequences of greed and unspoken truths. It stands out in its respective genre thanks to its character-driven mystery and psychological drama. For those who enjoy a gripping thriller with technological details and cryptocurrency themes, it is well worth reading.
For more information about Zero Knowledge, please visit the author's website at: https://arnaudpascolo.com/