Another enjoyable addition to the Jack Ryan Jr. series by M.P. Woodward. The plot moves along quickly and keeps you focused on what the outcome will be. Only issue I had was keeping straight all the different characters that are introduced, but still was a good read. I always enjoy books that make you look at the geography and learn a little more about the world even when those books are fiction, they still include real world locations.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC!

Line of Demarcation was such a fun ride! It had the action and excitement that we expect from a Jack Ryan (and adjacent) book and it kept me enthralled from beginning to end. The plot was interesting, the characters were captivating, and I love it when a book wraps up nicely at the end so you’re not left screaming at a years long wait for the next. I love this universe because you can jump right in wherever you want and not be lost as you go; these are very newbie-friendly!

M.P. Woodward returns to the Ryanverse with Line of Demarcation, delivering another solid, enjoyable addition to the series. It’s undeniably a good book. Woodward does what he does best—finds underexplored geopolitical terrain and builds a tight, compelling story around it.

The premise is fresh. A U.S. Coast Guard cutter is sunk in international waters. All hands lost. What follows is a smartly drawn South American geopolitical flashpoint involving the Wagner Group, Venezuelan-backed Tiburónistas, and a fight over offshore oil fields near Guyana. It’s localized, believable, and timely. Guyana is an excellent choice—strategically relevant, rarely explored—and GOPLAT Marlin, the floating oil platform at the heart of the conflict, makes for a standout setting. I only wish the showdown there had unfolded on a slightly grander scale.

I was particularly pleased to see Woodward anchor this story in series history, drawing a line back to Clear and Present Danger. From the very first scene on the USCG cutter, there was a clear echo of the earlier novel. That kind of callback walks a fine line—it can tip into nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—but here, it felt earned. Ding Chavez’s connection to that past raised the stakes, and it was rewarding to see a newer author weave deeper into the legacy. Honestly? Woodward could’ve gone even further. There was space here for a full-blown sequel to Clear and Present Danger, and longtime readers would’ve welcomed it.

Jack Ryan Jr. continues to evolve. He spends much of the book operating under his Hendley Associates cover as an investment analyst, which helps keep his his role other things plausible. There’s less maverick energy now, more methodical execution. He’s maturing, clearly. His involvement in Guyanese business and politics, and in helping two local women in need, gave him purpose beyond the mission. If there’s a next step for Jack, it might be choosing a lane—defining a specialty rather than trying to be everywhere at once. Maybe we saw the start of that here, with his deeper connection to the specific investment he’d made. Time will tell.

But the real heart of Line of Demarcation? One line—quiet, devastating, and absolutely on point:

“What we have now is a new way of war. It’s neither cold nor hot, neither black nor white. Let’s call it a grey war, continuously operating in the shadows. There is no line of demarcation.”

That single quote encapsulates everything. Woodward isn’t just writing thrillers—he’s updating the geopolitical thesis of the series. Hybrid warfare, continuous conflict, blurred morality. This is where the Ryanverse must go to stay relevant. And Woodward delivers.

If I had one wish, it’d be for more Kendrick Moore. I was genuinely excited by his introduction in Shadow State. He’s got the DNA—haunted past, elite skillset, quiet conviction. He could be the next John Clark. But here, he fades too far into the background. If the baton is going to be passed, it has to move. We need a book centered on Moore, maybe with Clark pulling him in tighter—one last op, one last lesson. Let Moore shine. Let Clark pass the torch on his own terms.

Still, there’s no question: Line of Demarcation is smart, current, and thoroughly enjoyable. Woodward continues to be one of the most reliable voices in the modern Ryanverse, and I’ll be there on day one for his next entry, Terminal Velocity, arriving September 2025—alongside his separate novel, Red Tide.

The future of this series is right there in front of us. It just needs to keep pushing forward.

Jack Ryan Junior is working on the white side business for Henley and Associates. Have purchased a shipping company, Jack is working to get the Guyanese government to give them exclusive rights to export newly found oil. As Jack tries to navigate the white side of the business, he’s drawn into a much bigger plot that will require him to use his skills honed on the black side of the business. Meanwhile, Ding Chavez is working undercover, to infiltrate a Venezuelan drug gang. While these two events seem separate, Jack soon realizes that they are intertwined.

As with any good book in the Jack, Ryan series, there’s a lot going on. This keeps the reader on their toes and interested in the book. While this is a standalone Jack Ryan Junior book, there seems to be more of the campus involved than normal. I thought the Venezuela druglord and his Russian Wagner partner were excellent adversaries to the campus group. There’s plenty of action to keep you engaged, and Jack has to use not only his fighting skills but also his brain.

This book is a must read for all fans of the Jack Ryan series. Even if you haven’t read any of the series, you can pick this book up right away and enjoy it without knowing all the backstories of the characters. Thank you to NetGalley, MP Woodward, and Penguin Group Putnam for a free advanced‘s copy for an honest review.

Jack Ryan, Jr.'s latest escapades takes us to the coast of Guyana.

USCG Cutter Claiborne was tasked with identifying a shipping lane amongst the coral reefs and shoals making navigating the trip treacherous. Initially chalked up as a navigation error, US forces realize there has to be more to the ship's demise along with the 22 souls aboard.

Already in Guyana, Jack finds himself working to procure an export license for his civilian company. That area of the world is already plagued with corruption and deceit which proves to increase the burden on those conducting above board business. But as things escalate between the above board members of the government and the Venezuelan terror gang (plus Russian involvement), Jack is forced to launch into operator mode.

New to Clancy novels, I appreciated that I could jump in on this book without feeling I had missed a backstory. Also, this one was a bit of a departure for me but I do love the movies. Also helpful was the way in which things - military activities in particular - were written. They were informative but not condescending, nor were they over an average reader's head.

Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Ptutman/G.P. Putnam's Sons and M.P. Woodward for the eARC.
Pub Date May 20 2025 #TomClancyLineofDemarcation #NetGalley

The latest Tom Clancy novel will be out for consumption in May and M.P. Woodward does a better job on his sophomore effort. Jack Ryan is in Guyana doing white side business for Hendley Associates and it soon turns to the black side. Jack gets thrust into the action, along with a few friends from the Campus, and the action ramps up. The plot was good, had a great cast of characters(good and bad), and the ending didn't leave you hanging. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC. I would recommend this novel and for an ARC, there weren't many (if any) typos/errors.

Classic Clancy. Jack Jr on a simple white side mission that turns anything but simple. The whole crew jumps into action.

"You're not here to stop them?"
Exchange looks
"I guess we are now"

While it is a series I think you can understand most things without being a Clancy expert.

Jack Ryan Jr is back in a new adventure. This time he is in Venezuela representing the white side of Hendley Associates to secure an export license for the newly found offshore oil fields. A Coast Guard work boat is attacked and sunk with all hands aboard, narcos and Russians have other plans and are threatening eco terrorism and the characters from the Campus are soon all involved in this thriller. It is a race to the finish and that could be the finish of us all.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was supposed to be a quick and simple trip to pick up the license Jack needed for his latest corporate investment to be able to operate in Guyanese waters. But is anything ever really quick or simple when you’re last name is Ryan? While Jack Ryan, Jr., has established a great cover for himself in the business world, he easily slips into the covert world after his government contact and several others are assassinated in an attempted coup that threatens not only the stability of the Guyana government, but also his own black ops team when one of their covers is blown. Will Jack be able to exfiltrate himself from behind enemy lines and help rescue a teammate in the process, or is this the end for the Hendley Associates black ops team?

M.P. Woodward brings readers the 13th installment in the Jack Ryan, Jr. series with Tom Clancy Line of Demarcation – his second in the Ryanverse.. A former Naval Intelligence Officer, Woodward utilizes that knowledge to make the plot from each of his books, Ryanverse and others, come alive for readers without coming in with too much military or political jargon or too little explanation. While many other great writers have picked up the quill to pen books in the Ryanverse since Clancy, on a few have delivered works in the same tenor and intention as the originator of these characters – Woodward is one. This is a novel of unlikely heroics and exemplary military skills, and learning that, in politics, there’s really no one you can trust.

I give Tom Clancy Line of Demarcation 5 out of 5 stars. To say I was blown away by this novel might be an understatement. This is one of the best Ryanverse novels I have read in a while from the newer writers. One aspect I truly appreciate here is that Woodward took time to not only develop Jack Jr.’s character and his abilities as an operator, but also those of his supporting operators. I can almost see who will take Ding or John Clark’s place if they decide to step away based on the way Woodward developed some of these characters. This was one of two novels to receive perfect 5.0 ratings in February – I could find no faults here!

If you’re like me and late to the Jack Ryan Jr novels, don’t worry! Much like the original series, you can jump into these at any point and follow along pretty well. I did find that knowing some storylines from other earlier novels did help, but this could be a standalone read. I would caution you if you’re sensitive to assaults against women and children during war and prisoner torture – while not explicit, it is lightly referenced here. Given the subject matter, I would direct this to more mature readers over 16.

I jumped at the chance to request this book on Netgalley last month when I saw it. If you have been following the blog long, you will know how much I love the Ryanverse – I’m on a mission to read all the books and have my work cut out for me! How many books have you read in the Ryanverse?

Fast-paced and action-packed, Line of Demarcation is a dynamic geopolitical and covert action thriller that blends business and bullets, integrity and deceit, and good versus evil. M.P. Woodward constructs another engaging and entertaining Tom Clancy novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seat.

Jack Ryan Jr. travels to Guyana to secure a strategic partnership for the “white side” of Hendley Associates following the discovery of a significant offshore oil field. At the same time, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter is mysteriously destroyed while establishing a vital sea route between the new oil reserves and Gulf Coast refineries. As Jack Jr. delves deeper, he uncovers a complex web involving Russian mercenaries and Venezuelan narco-terrorists, all intent on destabilizing the region. Amid shifting alliances and hidden threats, Jack must navigate this treacherous landscape to prevent a potential conflict that could escalate into war.

Line of Demarcation starts as an intriguing real-world business trip before transforming into a kinetic action thriller, with both parts being equally fascinating. Witnessing Jack Jr. conducting legitimate business and trying to navigate the complexities of another country’s political system – feeling the highs that accompany the expectation of completing a lucrative deal and the lows of disappointment when the deal is on the brink of collapse – is a relatable feeling that reminds us that he’s no superhero. And then he gets thrust into the action, along with a few friends from the Campus, to save innocent people, expose a conspiracy, extract a friend and colleague from a dangerous situation, and stop a cartel kingpin and foreign operatives from starting a war with the United States. Which is when the fun really begins with tensions flaring, bullets flying and a day in need of saving. Throw in a connection to events that occurred in Clear and Present Danger, and this book delivers everything long-term Clancy fans could want in a current-day continuation of this beloved universe.

M.P. Woodward's 2nd installment in the Ryanverse was a good one, and to me, a slight step up from Shadow State. I thought the story here was good and do enjoy seeing all the members of the Campus have some level of involvement; however I thought for a Jack Jr. book there wasn't enough of Jack Jr. I also miss the days where the Campus operatives go on a mission all together from the start. Here, they kind of come together in a loose fashion, but something still feels like it's missing. Something else I'm struggling with is the crossing over of timelines between the two separate authors. It seems odd for each series to not mention the events that happen in near-ish time with the events of the other series.

Despite the things I feel this book is lacking, I really enjoyed the story, flew through it, and will 100% pick up the next one M.P. Woodward writes. This is probably a 3.5 for me, but since I thought it was better than the last one that I gave 3 stars, I rounded this one up.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for this ARC. #TomClancyLineofDemarcation #NetGalley

Received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review. I had to dnf this book as the story line is pretty bleak. The characters get introduced to you at a rapid pace, and none of which are like able. I can tell from reading this book that I am not the author’s targeted audience, you can tell that this book is written for a man. The characters in the book are misogynistic, one even makes the comment, “I’ll spare you from my wife’s cooking”.

I grew up reading Tom Clancy's novels so I always love to revisit these familiar characters. This book might be my favorite of the Jack Ryan Jr. series. Once I started I couldn't put it down. A complete thriller start to finish with a satisfying ending.

The disappearance of a US Coast guard cutter and her crew sets off a series of events in the waters around Guyana that drags Jack Ryan Jr right into the middle of a chaotic and frenzied confrontation
between Russia's Wagner group mercenaries protecting a drug distribution project and Guyana's corrupt PM and his staff.
Action is riveting at times and Jack Ryan Jr,, once again, shows flashes of his Dad's tenacity and great instinct for discerning the good from the bad.
Good read and nice to revisit some old friends.

Tom Clancy’s Line of Demarcation is a great addition to the Jack Ryan Jr. series. Woodward did a great job in continuing the story. Another classic Tom Clancy story.

Another great read in the Clancy legacy. A fun fast paced read that you won't want to put down. Well developed story with lots of action. The book follows Jack Ryan Jr. and the Hedley Group in South America, Guyana. The book works in past Clancy stories with Chavez and Clark's past coming back to haunt them.

A fun read and highly recommended and looking forward to more by Woodward.

Another great addition to the Jack Ryan series. Buckle up for a gripping geopolitical thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Tom Clancy-style action and suspense await! M.P. Woodward is one of my favorite writers in this Tom Clancy book series and I highly recommend.

LINE OF DEMARCATION was a major disappointment to me. It falls far short of the standard we have come to expect from the Tom Clancy universe.

The novels that have been published within that universe aren't character studies or subtle explorations of moral dilemmas. They're narrative driven. But the narrative here simply isn't engaging enough to carry a complete novel and, worse, it sometimes slides into the realm of the somewhat confused and slightly rambling without enough drive behind it to make it worth trying to untangle what is actually going on. On top of that, a lot of the writing is downright clunky and irritating to read.

If the publisher expects people to keep reading novels derived from Tom Clancy's classics, they're going to have to do a lot better than this.

Jack Ryan Jr. is using his white hat side persona to try and make money for Henley & Associates but it doesn’t take long for the black hat side to be needed. As usual someone is trying to take over a smaller country. Through the usual people coming to help they try to find a solution. This is a great read!

This is exactly the type of book I have come to expect in the Jack Ryan Jr series. A story that begins with business but ends up being one about spycraft and action. Woodward once again hits a home run with this new entry into the Ryanverse. I would have read this in one night if I had less self control. Fun and enjoyable book!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.