Dead or Alive

Starred review from January 10, 2011
After stumbling with The Teeth of the Tiger (2003), bestseller Clancy is back at the top of his game, aided by Blackwood (An Echo of War), with this update on the Jack Ryan story, both father and son. While the senior Ryan is sitting at home quietly penning his memoirs, the real action is taking place at "The Campus," the independent secret intelligence agency he set up when he was commander in chief. Jack Ryan Jr., who works for The Campus as a researcher, has, unbeknownst to his father, begun involving himself in field operations. Uppermost in the sights of The Campus is the deadly Emir (read Osama bin Laden), who has set in motion a new round of attacks. Jack Sr. is furious at current President Edward Kealty, whose liberal administration is stripping the CIA and other intelligence agencies of funding and manpower. In-depth research, continuous suspense, and scores of fascinating characters prove again why Clancy, the man who virtually invented this genre, reigns supreme in the crowded thriller field.

Tom Clancy's first book in seven years brings together an all-star cast of his greatest characters, including Jack Ryan and ex-CIA agent John Clark, in a joint showdown with the world's most wanted terrorist. In a fast-paced, intense performance, actor Lou Diamond Phillips masterfully commands the pronunciation of names and locations and captures the accents of a myriad of characters. Jack Ryan joins his cousins at the "Campus"--a highly effective counterterrorism organization that operates outside the Washington hierarchy. While the first half is long on character development and conservative political musings, Clancy fans and those who enjoy military thrillers will be more than satisfied. B.C.E. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine