Jack Ryan, who we were introduced to in Patriot Games, is back in the 19th installment in the Jack Ryan series. Now 40 years later, Jack is President of the United States, and his youngest daughter Katie has followed in his footsteps as a senior analyst for Russian threats. Like her father in more ways than one, she is as well-suited for the position as her father was, being knowledgeable and willing to do just about anything to get the job done, intuitive and honorable.

Like its earlier predecessor The Hunt for Red October (THFRO), the US is on alert to a threat from the Russians. And, like its earlier predecessor, there is a Ryan working the case!

First, let me say that I know The Hunt for Red October. I have to have watched the movie at least 40-50 times...very possibly more! I kid you not! I could recite the dialogue for half of the movie. I was married to a Fire Control Tech stationed on a nuclear submarine, and I would watch THFRO on repeat every patrol in order to feel close to him. I even went out on a day patrol on the USS Ben Franklin SSBN 640. We did different maneuvers like dives and emergency blows whereby the submarine rushes to the surface like a super-sonic elevator and pops out of the water. So, can you see how I would have a bit of a personal connection to this story?

This is like a modern-day Hunt for Red October. I mean, very obviously so. This is almost like a parallel story right down to a submarine captain going rogue around the anniversary of his wife's death. If you followed a timeline of THFRO, this would basically coincide with the high points with just minor twists to make it different. Women are now much more prominent to reflect the changing times, but even things that are said tend to be similar to THFRO (i.e. "One ping... One ping only."). I can connect the characters to their equivalents in THFRO. "This guy is the equivalent of that second in command on the aircraft carrier that didn't like Jack Ryan in THFRO!"

But in this modern-day retelling, it is Katie Ryan that takes on the role of competent and beleaguered analyst attempting to prevent WWIII.

My final word: Well, I think I've already established that I am partial to the movie The Hunt for Red October (the third book in this series), so this book is right up my alley. I think that the author is a talented storyteller. His experience in submarines make the submarine scenes feel particularly authentic. The writing really flows. It is easy, comfortable and enjoyable. The characters are rather one-dimensional, but that isn't really surprising for this genre. I think that my only real complaint is that it was too much like its predecessor THFRO. It became a distraction for me. I was constantly picking up on all of the similarities. But for someone not suffering from the same affliction as me, this is a fun, on-the-edge-of-your-seat ride!

Thank you Putnam and Netgalley for the ARC!

What a fun and action packed ride! Act of Defiance kept me on the edge of my seat with all the suspense throughout. I loved the homage to Hunt for Red October, and I enjoyed getting to see some returning characters too. This book had a piece of everything that I love in an action novel and it kept me entertained the whole way through!

Fantastic 1st effort from Andrews & Wilson"s take on a Clancy novel; but then A & W are the best tag team duo out there. Jack Ryan, intelligence officer in The Hunt for the Red October way back when is now President of the United States in Act of Defiance. Plenty of action throughout the book, great cast of characters, and plenty of tension that will have you on the edge of your seat. So, just buy the book and try to not read it in one day.
Thanks to Penguin Book Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC. A huge thanks to Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson for their amazing debut novel via the Clancy Estate. BUY and READ this BOOK.

This is an action packed book from start to finish. A lot of familiar characters, plenty of technical detail and a good suspenseful story line will keep you turning the pages. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Brian Andrews and Jeffery Wilson have done a masterful job of duplicating the intrigue of master story-teller Tom Clancy. As a reader and collector of Tom Clancy’s novels, I’ve enjoyed the other writers attempts to keep the storylines going for the Ryan universe. However, none have made me feel like Clancy was writing. Andrews and Wilson’s attempt left me happy and smiling at the end of the book. What a wonderful read.

I love how the writers brought the storyline full circle with the incorporation of Tom Clancy’s first novel, The Hunt for Red October. This homage to the original book brought back the intrigue and fascination of the story. Pulling those original characters back to the first novel, doing what they did then, and following a similar path was really refreshing. I found this book was one that I could not put down.


This novel introduces us to the rest of the Ryan clan as adults working in the real world. The twins, Katie and Kyle, have joined the military. Both are excelling in different services and Katie is the main character of Act of Defiance. She is channeling the original, Pres. Jack Ryan, in her actions and thought process. As in the first novel, Ryans follow there gut and jump into the middle of the action. Submarines, rogue captain, America threatened, and last minute victory; it’s all there. I would be doing you a dis-service to go into the details and give away the plot. It’s that good for you the reader.

If this was the last of the Clancy novels, I would be sad, but satisfied with how it ended. So many characters lose their attraction when new writers assume the mantle. I hope for Andrews and Wilson, this is not their last collaboration of Clancy.

A classic bare knuckled Russian-American brawl from start to finish. Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson take the reins of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan in Act of Defiance, and will have you loving every minute of it.

When an American asset is betrayed decades earlier, while Marko Ramius and the famed Russian submarine Red October disappear forever, what is set in motion is the beginning of a story of deception and treachery that affect millions.

President Jack Ryan has a past and in similar fashion Russian submarine captain Konstantine Gorov has plans to change the earth's landscape and start another Cold War, if not World War three. Ryan’s daughter, Navy Lieutenant Katie Ryan is a hot runner advancing not due to her father’s name and title, but due to her cunning drive to be the best at everything she does. When approached with information that a new style Russian sub, the Belgorod, has deployed with some very dangerous equipment on board, Ryan is thrust into the spotlight to prevent the escalating tensions from wreaking havoc.

Katie is forced to interact with disgruntled sailors and amazing mentors while using her intimate knowledge of the not so well known Russian Gorov and his tragic past. Running headlong into the dark depths, where submarines rule the ocean, Ryan must convince everyone that millions of lives hang in the balance and she’s the key to success. Utilizing data from some highly trained American submariners, Ryan and the crews of the USS Indiana and the Washington must stop the death from below.

Andrews and Wilson embrace the tradition and culture surrounding their first Clancy novel piloting Jack Ryan. Plenty of action to keep you glued to the pages, they prime it with intrigue and enough mystery to keep the story rolling. Andrews and Wilson are no strangers to providing action packed sequences with phenomenal characters. Pulling true Jack Ryan from Clancy lore and a refreshing perspective on the war happening below the surface of depths rarely traversed.

If you’re the kind of person who loves the traditional Clancy stories that provide mayhem and genuine mystique, you’re in for a wild ride. If you are a contemporary fan with more action, heart pounding life and death scenarios, you’re also in luck. As a submariner myself, I absolutely loved the undersea warfare that highlighted Russian aggression and the American persistence. Put this one on your to be read list for sure.

I really enjoyed this novel. It pays an appropriate respect to the Hunt for Red October without being a copy or “borrowing” story elements. Solid character work and an appropriate amount of tension it feels at home in the Clancy universe. My only critique is the pop culture references take me out of the novel a bit and feel a bit foreign in a Clancy book

As always the author has done Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan story beyond justice. It was nice to see and read about Jack Ryan's daughter as an adult and following in her father and brother's footsteps. The whole ARC was excellent. The whole story and plot flowed really well. It went into a lot of detail about things in the book. I definitely give this book 5 stars

I’ve been a fan of the Tom Clancy books all the way back to “The Hunt for Red October” and this book,doesn’t disappoint. The thing I am thankful about is that even after Clancy’s death we continue to get the high quality techno thrillers. Act of Defiance is a Jack Ryan novel, The author’s Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson continue that strong tradition that fans of Jack Ryan have come to expect from their favorite character. Highly recommended.

The literary tag team of Andrews & Wilson serve up a tall glass of satisfying nostalgia with Act of Defiance, a brilliantly crafted modern-day homage to the Tom Clancy masterpiece The Hunt for Red October.

Trouble is afoot in Russia. A potential coup is in the works and the Belgorod – a special missions submarine carrying advanced nuclear torpedoes and helmed by a troubled captain – is lurking in the Atlantic Ocean. As tensions escalate, Naval Intelligence officer Katie Ryan analyzes the unfolding events and connects the dots to prove a clear and present danger to the United States. Now it’s up to President Jack Ryan’s youngest daughter – along with a few of the President’s old friends – to untangle the plot, thwart the enemy and stop World War III before it begins.

The plot is fresh but sentimental, the intensity is dialed up to sweltering levels and the sequencing of events is impeccably on point. But what makes Act of Defiance special is the parallels and throwbacks to Red October. It starts with a young analyst named Ryan spotting patterns no one else can see, drawing all the right conclusions and putting themselves in the middle of the action. Like father, like daughter. And like her father before her, Katie Ryan is forced to put herself in the shoes of a Russian submarine captain to determine his intentions and safeguard the United States from imminent peril. Knowing that one wrong assumption spells doom for the entire world but having complete confidence in her abilities that belie her age. Sound familiar? Then throw in several old characters we know and love, including a couple of amazing cameos, and it really takes you back in time. Resulting in a gigantic smile and a gratifying sigh as you lean back into your chair having finished a book that you have to believe Tom Clancy would be eminently delighted with having his name adorn the front cover.

Prepare to be blown away by Act of Defiance. It is a beautiful symphony that hits all the right notes. A throwback to the classic Clancy novels, reminding us why we fell in love with this genre. If you call yourself a military thriller fan, you can absolutely not miss this book. It’s perfect. 10/10 no notes. Contender for best thriller of 2024.

Wow, wow, and wow! Andrews and Wilson knocked it out of the park in their debut in the Jack Ryan Universe. This book could have easily been called The Hunt for Red October II. The Russians secretly send out their most technologically advanced submarine on a secret mission. The Americans are suprised by its launch, and it seems there is more to the mission than the powers in the Russian Government anticipated. Has a rogue captain taken over the most powerful submarine in the Russian fleet? Is the submarine on its way to the United States Coast to start World War III?

Act of Defiance, also introduces the newest Ryan into the Jack Ryan Universe. Katie Ryan, one of Jack’s youngest, twins, is a fast rising Naval Intelligence Officer. She finds herself in the thick of the Russian submarine’s mission. Katie Ryan seems like a great character, whose role will only expand in future books. She seems to have a lot of similar traits and abilities that her dad, Jack, Ryan, possesses.

The story is top notch, and the book itself is a fast read. New characters like Katie Ryan only expanded the universe. Overall this is a top notch thriller that you need to pick up. Thank you to NetGalley, Brian Andrews, Jeffery Wilson, and Penguin Putnam Group for a free advance copy of the book for an honest review.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

I read this as an ebook, and I was only at six percent when I uttered my first "HOLY CRAP!" There were more of those exclamations. This book is *that* book.

There are a brace of writers now tapped to write "Tom Clancy" (1947-2013) techno-thrillers, all of whom do a bang-up job. But when US Navy veterans Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson were chosen to extend the franchise, I imagine even the publisher didn't know what an inspired decision that would turn out to be.

The Russian military is a devastated shell of its former self (does that ring any bells?), but its Navy has a secret new sub that has escaped detection leaving its port for open sea. This branch of the Ryanverse is a paen to "The Hunt For Red October," and involves a Russian submarine that may be defecting to the US—or it may be headed to America's coastline to deploy an ultra-fast underwater super-nuke. In grand Ryanverse style, the new protagonist is now President Ryan's *daughter.* Katie Ryan is a Navy intel officer (natch) who ... wait for it ... has to be ferried out to a submarine with vital operational information.

You may be skeptical of the minor narrative similarities between "Defiance" and "Red October," but I'm here to tell you they enrich and further the foundational canon and provide a terrific pathway going forward.

I'm a retired US Navy Reserve Chief Petty Officer, and frankly, as the Andrews & Wilson team are already well-known authors (Brian is a former submarine officer, Jeff was a Navy combat surgeon deployed with SEAL teams. Between them they have authored tons of thrillers already, including the "Sons of Valor," "Tier One," and "The Shepherds" series), I was vibrating with excitement when I learned they had been awarded their slice of the "Clancy" pie.

I was not disappointed. You won't be either. All the stars, and strongly, unequivocally recommended.

Jack is Back and Andrews and Wilson have revived the Clancy magic. The superb storytelling, brilliant technical detail, and continuing development of the Clancy character universe all with committed dedication to the Clancy style while slipping in their own unique style and humor make this the most Clancy-esque book since Tom left us. Clancy fans will be thrilled with Act of Defiance and eager to see what A&W have coming for us next.

Jack Ryan is the president and he and his family are out to help the nation. This story takes place on the water both on and below. Great descriptions of weapons and their uses. A totally plausible story! Great book!

A new threat from Russia from a rogue submarine Captain blames, now POTUS for the death if his father. New characters emerge as does new ones. A good read if you like the Jack Ryan series.

"Act of Defiance" could be called "The Hunt for Red October 2024." It's not the Red October story literally, but it's a similar kind of submarine story and references the earlier story repeatedly. The chase is on for a Russian sub and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. The motivations and intentions of this Russian sub captain are different from Captain Ramius in Red October, but actually a part of his motivations are similar to what partly drove Ramius.

The book even uses lines that fans of the original book will recognize. In one case, two characters share a reference that I don't think they'd have any reason to be aware of, so that was a little strange. ("'Good call,' he said. 'So the clank is all you've got--no broadband or narrowband?' 'Yup,' she said, 'One ping . . . One ping only.' He chuckled at the inside joke." Now, maybe I missed something, but neither of these characters should have had any knowledge of that from The Hunt for Red October. So what inside joke?)

With all of that said, this was a fun submarine story in the spirit of the original. Many of the "Tom Clancy" books that have come after his death haven't been anywhere near as good as those early ones by the author himself. In this case, I think the authors did him proud. I'm not the fastest reader, but I was through this 560 page book in less than 4 days. It was a fun read and a real page turner. Definitely worth the read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

Action packed, suspenseful, intense, entertaining, well written novel with intertwining stories of the past and present. I didn't want to put it down. Jack Ryan, POTUS, daughter Katie, an intelligence analyst with ONI, rogue Captain of new Russian sub, old guard of Russian hierarchy, just to name a few characters to wet your appetite for more. You don't want to miss this book.

One of my favorite books of the year. A classic Clancy tale that feels like the next generation of Jack Ryan stories is in more than capable hands.

Once upon a time, Tom Clancy wrote some very entertaining novels, “The Hunt for Red October,” “Red Storm Rising,” and “The Cardinal of the Kremlin” among them. They were well-plotted with likable characters and filled with interesting information about whatever topic Mr. Clancy was dealing with, be it submarines, the CIA, U.S.-Soviet relations, Russian defectors, etc. I came away from those absorbing works believing I’d learned something.

But then the quality of the books declined markedly, IMHO. The plots were outlandish, the characters cardboard. The writing seemed all too militant and jingoistic—as if Mr. Clancy was pandering to his readers rather than seeking to educate and entertain.

So, it was with some trepidation that I began “Act of Defiance.” Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! Authors Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson have written a tale of modern submarine warfare and geopolitical gamesmanship that finds its roots in and is, for the most part, as entertaining as “The Hunt for Red October.”

It is present day. Jack Ryan is POTUS. His daughter Katie is a wunderkind Naval Intelligence officer. The Cold War and the Soviet Union ended decades ago. But various Russian military and government higher-ups detest the kleptocracy their country has become, not to mention its loss of super-power status and subordination to the U.S. on the world stage. Those men have now gone rogue and plan to deal the US a crippling blow and reclaim Russian power and prestige. Their instrument will be Russia's newest submarine armed with experimental torpedoes as catastrophically deadly as any weapon ever made and captained by a man as bent on revenge against Jack Ryan as Ahab was against Moby Dick. Will Jack, Katie, a cast of supporting characters—some from previous “Jack Ryan” novels, others brand new—and the United States Navy be able to figure out what’s going on in time to prevent devastating damage to the U.S.?

Spanning the globe from Washington D.C., to Moscow, to the Bering Sea, to the Atlantic Ocean, and set aboard the super-carrier U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford and various U.S. and Russian submarines, “Act of Defiance” is a tense techno-thriller. It utilizes air, land, sea, and undersea operations as well as intelligence gathering and covert espionage to keep readers turning the pages to find out whether World War III will be averted. The authors seem to have done a wealth of research into the submarines of both nations and how they operate, both day-to-day and in combat.

All in all, a very good read that fans of Tom Clancy’s early works, as well as movies and novels like “Fail-Safe,” “Seven Days in May,” and “On The Beach” may well enjoy.

My thanks to NetGalley, authors Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, and publisher Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with a complimentary ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.