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.
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