TOM CLANCY ACT OF DEFIANCE

5 stars out of 5

Wading through all the submarine-related technical jargon was a bit of a chore, but it was well worth the effort in the end. If nothing else, it brought back memories of a much earlier book (and a favorite movie) that also dealt with a rogue Russian sub.

This is the 19th book featuring Jack Ryan, now President of the United States. That said, it's far more about his daughter Katie, a Navy officer with the Office of Naval Intelligence. Submarines, though, take center stage throughout - most notably, the Russian Belgorod, a super-secret, super-loaded brand spanking new model that's capable of launching nuclear weapons - if it really exists. U.S. Intelligence suggests it not only does, but it's up to something nefarious. But one of the sub's features is that it's very good at camouflage, so the first order of business - arguably the most difficult - is simply finding it. Assuming that's accomplished, the next challenge is learning what its mission really is.

When they do, it isn't pretty - if, of course, it's accurate. With not much hard evidence, it becomes not only a life-or-death educated guess that, whether right or wrong, could trigger World War III. Needless to say, President Ryan's previous experience with Russian submarine captains comes into play here, as does his daughter's astute observations and conclusions that are eerily similar to those of her father.

Getting to the truth is by no means simple, and it involves a whole bunch of people and the aforementioned technical jargon. But it's also pretty much nonstop action and some really cool-under-pressure dudes and dudesses, making for an exciting adventure every step of the way. Loved it - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Tom Clancy Act of Defiance by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson (G.P. Putnam's Sons, May 2024); 560 pp.