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Jack Ryan, Jr. #6
Support and Defend
One of Tom Clancy's most storied characters, Dominic Caruso, is the only one who can stop America's secrets from falling into enemy hands in this blockbuster new novel written by Clancy's longtime coauthor.
Over the course of three decades, Tom Clancy created a world alive with prescient action and remarkable individuals. In Tom Clancy Support and Defend, Dominic Caruso is presented with the deadliest challenge of his career.
Dominic Caruso. Nephew of President Jack Ryan. FBI agent and operator for The Campus, a top secret intelligence agency that works off the books for the U.S. government. Already scarred by the death of his brother, Caruso is devastated when he can’t save a friend and his family from a terrorist attack.
Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he’s a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso stands in their way, but can he succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues?
Over the course of three decades, Tom Clancy created a world alive with prescient action and remarkable individuals. In Tom Clancy Support and Defend, Dominic Caruso is presented with the deadliest challenge of his career.
Dominic Caruso. Nephew of President Jack Ryan. FBI agent and operator for The Campus, a top secret intelligence agency that works off the books for the U.S. government. Already scarred by the death of his brother, Caruso is devastated when he can’t save a friend and his family from a terrorist attack.
Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he’s a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso stands in their way, but can he succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues?
503 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 2014
640 people are currently reading
4377 people want to read
About the author
Mark Greaney
90Ìýbooks5,890ÌýfollowersMark Greaney has a degree in International Relations and Political Science. In researching The Gray Man series he traveled to ten countries and trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close range combative tactics.
Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM
Email Mark at [email protected]
Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM
Email Mark at [email protected]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 482 reviews
July 2, 2014
Should Tom Clancy's work be continued?
Clancy's last three major novels before his death were co-authored with Mark Greaney. For some time Clancy's work had gone off the boil and but IMHO the last two books, THREAT VECTOR and COMMAND AUTHORITY took us back to something nearer to Clancy at his peak, probably because Greaney took a primary role in the collaboration.
I started this book with some trepidation because of the obvious question - can (and should) Mark Greaney carry on the Tom Clancy heritage? Many Clancy fans will think that Greaney has the writing capabilities to continue the tradition, others will think that things should be left to rest and we should remember Tom Clancy at his best with the earlier books in the Jack Ryan series. Your view on this book will be the decider.
The plot of this book is a mini Edward Snowden affair about the leaking of sensitive classified information. Ethan Ross a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council is a bored narcissist lusting for attention. He believes that he can get that attention when he passes what he thinks is minor classified information to a the International Transparency Project, a Wiki Leaks kind of organisation.
Dominic Caruso, member of the 'The Campus', a top secret intelligence agency that works off the books for the U.S. government, is on a training mission to learn Krav Maga martial arts from a former Israel Defence Forces officer, Arik Jacoby, now living in India. Caruso is devastated when he is unable to thwart an attack by Pakistani suicide terrorists which kills his trainer and his family. It soon becomes clear that the attack is linked to a breach of classified digital information showing both Jacoby's status as leader of the Israeli raid on a Gaza flotilla which killed Al-Qassam operatives and that he is currently living in India.
The US Government starts a huge witch hunt led by the FBI to find who has leaked the information. Ross goes to his ITP contacts for help when the FBI suspect that he was involved. They persuade him to access more very sensitive classified espionage information to use as leverage against possible criminal charges for leaking classified information.
From then on everything seems to go wrong for Ross when he goes to the Venezuelan embassy for asylum using some of the information for protection. They take him to Panama where the chase becomes more hectic and improbable with the FBI, the Israeli's, the Venezuelans, as the Panamanians involved, as well as undercover Hamas and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard agents. Last but not least, the Russian SAS and the US Army join the fray in earnest to get their hands on the valuable information. Surprisingly the CIA and Al Qaeda don't get part of the action this time.
Caruso also gets involved in the chase almost on his own, like a Don Quixote, with a beautiful medically trained female transportation director Adara Sherman acting as his Sancho Panza. With some help from the Campus, Caruso attempts to track down Ross almost single handed, using scuba equipment and a motorbike instead of a horse, plus of course a satellite phone. As Alice said "Curiouser and curiouser!"
What is my answer to the question I posed earlier? While Greany may have the writing skills to create adrenaline-packed action, it is too over-the-top and unbelievable to qualify to take over the Clancy banner. It was difficult for me to give this book more than a 2.5 star rating, rounded up to 3 stars where half stars are not allowed. While this will be the last "Tom Clancy" book that I will want to read, I hope that Greaney continues to write successful books on his own account.
My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an Advanced Reading Copy of this book for my honest review.
Clancy's last three major novels before his death were co-authored with Mark Greaney. For some time Clancy's work had gone off the boil and but IMHO the last two books, THREAT VECTOR and COMMAND AUTHORITY took us back to something nearer to Clancy at his peak, probably because Greaney took a primary role in the collaboration.
I started this book with some trepidation because of the obvious question - can (and should) Mark Greaney carry on the Tom Clancy heritage? Many Clancy fans will think that Greaney has the writing capabilities to continue the tradition, others will think that things should be left to rest and we should remember Tom Clancy at his best with the earlier books in the Jack Ryan series. Your view on this book will be the decider.
The plot of this book is a mini Edward Snowden affair about the leaking of sensitive classified information. Ethan Ross a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council is a bored narcissist lusting for attention. He believes that he can get that attention when he passes what he thinks is minor classified information to a the International Transparency Project, a Wiki Leaks kind of organisation.
Dominic Caruso, member of the 'The Campus', a top secret intelligence agency that works off the books for the U.S. government, is on a training mission to learn Krav Maga martial arts from a former Israel Defence Forces officer, Arik Jacoby, now living in India. Caruso is devastated when he is unable to thwart an attack by Pakistani suicide terrorists which kills his trainer and his family. It soon becomes clear that the attack is linked to a breach of classified digital information showing both Jacoby's status as leader of the Israeli raid on a Gaza flotilla which killed Al-Qassam operatives and that he is currently living in India.
The US Government starts a huge witch hunt led by the FBI to find who has leaked the information. Ross goes to his ITP contacts for help when the FBI suspect that he was involved. They persuade him to access more very sensitive classified espionage information to use as leverage against possible criminal charges for leaking classified information.
From then on everything seems to go wrong for Ross when he goes to the Venezuelan embassy for asylum using some of the information for protection. They take him to Panama where the chase becomes more hectic and improbable with the FBI, the Israeli's, the Venezuelans, as the Panamanians involved, as well as undercover Hamas and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard agents. Last but not least, the Russian SAS and the US Army join the fray in earnest to get their hands on the valuable information. Surprisingly the CIA and Al Qaeda don't get part of the action this time.
Caruso also gets involved in the chase almost on his own, like a Don Quixote, with a beautiful medically trained female transportation director Adara Sherman acting as his Sancho Panza. With some help from the Campus, Caruso attempts to track down Ross almost single handed, using scuba equipment and a motorbike instead of a horse, plus of course a satellite phone. As Alice said "Curiouser and curiouser!"
What is my answer to the question I posed earlier? While Greany may have the writing skills to create adrenaline-packed action, it is too over-the-top and unbelievable to qualify to take over the Clancy banner. It was difficult for me to give this book more than a 2.5 star rating, rounded up to 3 stars where half stars are not allowed. While this will be the last "Tom Clancy" book that I will want to read, I hope that Greaney continues to write successful books on his own account.
My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an Advanced Reading Copy of this book for my honest review.
July 22, 2014
Mark Greaney is coming of age as a writer on par with Tom Clancy. This most current addition to the Tom Clancy library of books is a good edition. Greaney gets it right and as such shows great honor to his mentor Tom Clancy.
In this book about "The Campus" we are going to focus on a new hero, Dominic Caruso. He is fast becoming one of the best character additions that has been made to the Clancy legacy. Dominic while still trying to recover from injuries he has sustained in other adventures is now tasked with saving American by stopping the flow of national secrets to other countries, i.e. he has to stop a spy. With the Edward Snowden fiasco that our country has faced this book is timely.
Greaney builds up the character of Caruso and gives us someone other than Jack Ryan Senior and Jack Ryan Junior that we can put our faith in and find plenty of adventure.
The writer is so good that you will think that Clancy would be proud to know that his protege is doing so well. I picked up the book and spent a sleepless night getting through it, much like I did years ago when I read my first Tom Clancy novel. (Back then I read five of his novels in five days while on vacation and think I slept about 6 hours that week).
The book starts a bit slow, at least I think it does, but then it picks up speed and keeps picking up speed until the final conclusion. Caruso is relentless (what else would you expect from a cousin of the Ryan Clan!!)
I loved the book and feel that any Clancy fan will love the book.
After you read this you need to start reading the Gray Man series that is truly just Mark Greaney. You will love that as well.
In this book about "The Campus" we are going to focus on a new hero, Dominic Caruso. He is fast becoming one of the best character additions that has been made to the Clancy legacy. Dominic while still trying to recover from injuries he has sustained in other adventures is now tasked with saving American by stopping the flow of national secrets to other countries, i.e. he has to stop a spy. With the Edward Snowden fiasco that our country has faced this book is timely.
Greaney builds up the character of Caruso and gives us someone other than Jack Ryan Senior and Jack Ryan Junior that we can put our faith in and find plenty of adventure.
The writer is so good that you will think that Clancy would be proud to know that his protege is doing so well. I picked up the book and spent a sleepless night getting through it, much like I did years ago when I read my first Tom Clancy novel. (Back then I read five of his novels in five days while on vacation and think I slept about 6 hours that week).
The book starts a bit slow, at least I think it does, but then it picks up speed and keeps picking up speed until the final conclusion. Caruso is relentless (what else would you expect from a cousin of the Ryan Clan!!)
I loved the book and feel that any Clancy fan will love the book.
After you read this you need to start reading the Gray Man series that is truly just Mark Greaney. You will love that as well.
March 26, 2022
4.5 Superb. Our 'good guy' lead is Dominic (Dom) Caruso, working for The Campus. A top secret intelligence agency is working off the books for the government.
The plotting, action, and easy to follow multiple storylines made for unputdownable reading.
Wonderful and terrific.
The plotting, action, and easy to follow multiple storylines made for unputdownable reading.
Wonderful and terrific.
Read
October 22, 2014Good book fast moving, fun to read.
December 10, 2020
I honestly didn't know what to expect from this book, for one thing, it wasn't written by Tom Clancy, since he passed away, but it was written by Mark Greaney who had co-written with Clancy on his last few books before his passing, and this is Greaney's first solo contribution to the beloved Jack Ryan Series.
Hence this entry doesn't include Jack Ryan, John Clark, or Jack Jr, but is part of the Ryan universe. Support and Defend is a spinoff of the Ryan novels and also a stand-alone featuring FBI agent and Campus operative Dominic Caruso, who is pursuing a rogue NSC operative who has been leaking top-secret information to terrorists, and also resulting in the death of an operative and his family whom Caruso was close with, so Caruso is out for more than justice, he wants revenge.
A quick easy read and a fun action-packed thriller, does Mark Greaney replace Tom Clancy, no, I find Clancy to be irreplaceable, but Greaney does come quite close.
Hence this entry doesn't include Jack Ryan, John Clark, or Jack Jr, but is part of the Ryan universe. Support and Defend is a spinoff of the Ryan novels and also a stand-alone featuring FBI agent and Campus operative Dominic Caruso, who is pursuing a rogue NSC operative who has been leaking top-secret information to terrorists, and also resulting in the death of an operative and his family whom Caruso was close with, so Caruso is out for more than justice, he wants revenge.
A quick easy read and a fun action-packed thriller, does Mark Greaney replace Tom Clancy, no, I find Clancy to be irreplaceable, but Greaney does come quite close.
October 11, 2014
SUBJECTIVE READER REVIEW FOLLOWSA;
Support and Defend, completed after Clancy's death is actually an easier book to read than Clancy's earlier novels which were jam packed with all manner of technical know how and secret military processes and tactics. It actually felt a little strange to read a Clancy novel where neither Jack Ryan or Jack Junior are active characters. In my opinion it was a good read, did not challenge the reader into a war of attrition just to complete it, and it was fairly entertaining. I saw the average Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ rating was just under four stars, but it's still worth the price of admission. Adara Sherman, the untouchable hot hostess of the Campus seems to give into Caruso's sexual overtures at the end of Support and Defend, which I'm sure we'll learn about in the next rendition.
SPOILER ALLERT PLOT SUMMARY FOLLOWS;
The International Transparency Project. Golden boy Ethan Ross, raised with a silver spoon In his mouth is relegated to the National Security Council after his Democratic rabbi lost out in the elections and Ross had to jump to stay employed. Ross had been raised a strict liberal, with both parents strong believers in the UN and that the US should not Dominate world politics. Ross begins reading blogs and internet articles pronouncing the freedom of revealing the nasty secrets the US govt holds. After responding to a ITP ad, he is contacted by washed up DC reporter Stan Banfield who leads him to the ITP, introduces him to chief facilitator Gianni Bertoli and is talked into providing a snippet of classified CIA data which ultimately leads to the revenge killing of an Israeli Colonel Yacoby and his family, and Dom Caruso is out for revenge. Ross is quickly swept up in the ITP, an unwitting pawn of the Iranians who wish to compromise US intelligence data via ITP zealots. Ross uses his girlfriend to teach him how to perform a scrape of all classified info in the CIA database. He does so but retains access to the pass code, as he defects to the Venezuelan Embassy and is quickly secreted out of the country to their Panama hideout while their intel people run down the partial dump on CIA operatives and activities in Venezuela. Throughout the adventure, Ross is accompanied by a slightly built Lebanese man who seems to direct everything. Ross is determined not to give up the pass code even though he has already passed over the scrape--just code until the password is provided. Ross, Bertoli and Mohammed barely escape Geneva, taking on a wild and dangerous path trough the Alps as Caruso follows them on his own--hounded by FBI SA Albright. As the chase gets more dangerous, the key players escape a copter crash in the Alps, but Caruso tracks them down only to find they are torturing him for the password. Just as they are about to cut off his genitals, Caruso gets a bead on them and kills Ross before he reveals the password. Caruso employs luck and chicanery to track the Iranians until he is able to use a US Army platoon on training exercises in the Alps. Caruso finally gives the scrape drive and Mohammed to an Army LT and instructs him to turn both over to the CIA. When Adara Sherman finds him, she seems to take pity on him and alludes to a possible sexual liaison.
Support and Defend, completed after Clancy's death is actually an easier book to read than Clancy's earlier novels which were jam packed with all manner of technical know how and secret military processes and tactics. It actually felt a little strange to read a Clancy novel where neither Jack Ryan or Jack Junior are active characters. In my opinion it was a good read, did not challenge the reader into a war of attrition just to complete it, and it was fairly entertaining. I saw the average Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ rating was just under four stars, but it's still worth the price of admission. Adara Sherman, the untouchable hot hostess of the Campus seems to give into Caruso's sexual overtures at the end of Support and Defend, which I'm sure we'll learn about in the next rendition.
SPOILER ALLERT PLOT SUMMARY FOLLOWS;
The International Transparency Project. Golden boy Ethan Ross, raised with a silver spoon In his mouth is relegated to the National Security Council after his Democratic rabbi lost out in the elections and Ross had to jump to stay employed. Ross had been raised a strict liberal, with both parents strong believers in the UN and that the US should not Dominate world politics. Ross begins reading blogs and internet articles pronouncing the freedom of revealing the nasty secrets the US govt holds. After responding to a ITP ad, he is contacted by washed up DC reporter Stan Banfield who leads him to the ITP, introduces him to chief facilitator Gianni Bertoli and is talked into providing a snippet of classified CIA data which ultimately leads to the revenge killing of an Israeli Colonel Yacoby and his family, and Dom Caruso is out for revenge. Ross is quickly swept up in the ITP, an unwitting pawn of the Iranians who wish to compromise US intelligence data via ITP zealots. Ross uses his girlfriend to teach him how to perform a scrape of all classified info in the CIA database. He does so but retains access to the pass code, as he defects to the Venezuelan Embassy and is quickly secreted out of the country to their Panama hideout while their intel people run down the partial dump on CIA operatives and activities in Venezuela. Throughout the adventure, Ross is accompanied by a slightly built Lebanese man who seems to direct everything. Ross is determined not to give up the pass code even though he has already passed over the scrape--just code until the password is provided. Ross, Bertoli and Mohammed barely escape Geneva, taking on a wild and dangerous path trough the Alps as Caruso follows them on his own--hounded by FBI SA Albright. As the chase gets more dangerous, the key players escape a copter crash in the Alps, but Caruso tracks them down only to find they are torturing him for the password. Just as they are about to cut off his genitals, Caruso gets a bead on them and kills Ross before he reveals the password. Caruso employs luck and chicanery to track the Iranians until he is able to use a US Army platoon on training exercises in the Alps. Caruso finally gives the scrape drive and Mohammed to an Army LT and instructs him to turn both over to the CIA. When Adara Sherman finds him, she seems to take pity on him and alludes to a possible sexual liaison.
July 27, 2014
Dominic Caruso the nephew of the President Jack Ryan and a
FBI agent and operator for the Campus a top secret intelligence
agency that works off the books for the government is already
scarred by the death of his brother and then he is devastated
when he can't save a friend and his family from a terrorist
attack. Ethan Ross is a mid level staffer for the National
Security Council and is now a wanted fugitive on the run with
a Microdrive that has enough information to wreck American
Intelligence around the world. The CIA is desperate to get
this back but the Russians and various terrorist groups are
all closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso is in the way
but he must succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues.
I was deeply sorry to hear of the death of Tom Clancy, he was
a fine writer and a great story teller but Mark Greaney who
wrote this book for him seems quite capable of carrying on the
Clancy legacy. This book has a fine story and it's a page
turner. I'm sure that you'll enjoy it.
FBI agent and operator for the Campus a top secret intelligence
agency that works off the books for the government is already
scarred by the death of his brother and then he is devastated
when he can't save a friend and his family from a terrorist
attack. Ethan Ross is a mid level staffer for the National
Security Council and is now a wanted fugitive on the run with
a Microdrive that has enough information to wreck American
Intelligence around the world. The CIA is desperate to get
this back but the Russians and various terrorist groups are
all closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso is in the way
but he must succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues.
I was deeply sorry to hear of the death of Tom Clancy, he was
a fine writer and a great story teller but Mark Greaney who
wrote this book for him seems quite capable of carrying on the
Clancy legacy. This book has a fine story and it's a page
turner. I'm sure that you'll enjoy it.
July 2, 2023
Though this is listed as a “Jack Ryan Jr.� novel, this is primarily a novel with his cousin, Dominic Caruso, as the protagonist…It also fleshes out his love interest, Adara Sherman as a kick-ass support member for The Campus…Dom and Adara are drawn into the hunt for an NSA security breach and the person responsible…From Central America to Europe the race is on to stop the escape of the secrets that could crush America intelligence efforts for decades…Fun, Fun, FUN!!!
May 23, 2020
Good story! Dom Caruso is mostly on his own in this one.
April 9, 2019
The book was easy to read, and had some nice suspenseful and exciting parts. Although, some of it was like an over the top Hollywood action movie. I picked up the book while waiting at the pharmacy, thinking it was an Tom Clancy book since his name takes up half of the front cover, but apparently it is just a lame marketing gimmick.
Russian Spetsnaz suddenly enter the book 2/3rds of the way through for about two chapters. They are used only to advance the story, then never mentioned again. Disappointing writing there, not to mention the love story that was shoehorned in for no reason.
The most disturbing thing about the book is how it reads like a neocon propaganda piece. The "hero" of the book goes on a Constitution shredding vengeance quest to murder an american citizen who is this book's demonized version of Edward Snowden. Then there is the groan inducing line from the Iranian agent, "We are at war with you, you just don't know it yet."
The title of the book comes from a line where a FBI agent is trying to convince the "hero" to stop his illegal bloodthirsty vengeance quest and says something along the lines of "We both took the same oath to support and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic". I guess it's ironic because supporting and defending the Constitution was the last thing our hero was doing in this novel.
Russian Spetsnaz suddenly enter the book 2/3rds of the way through for about two chapters. They are used only to advance the story, then never mentioned again. Disappointing writing there, not to mention the love story that was shoehorned in for no reason.
The most disturbing thing about the book is how it reads like a neocon propaganda piece. The "hero" of the book goes on a Constitution shredding vengeance quest to murder an american citizen who is this book's demonized version of Edward Snowden. Then there is the groan inducing line from the Iranian agent, "We are at war with you, you just don't know it yet."
The title of the book comes from a line where a FBI agent is trying to convince the "hero" to stop his illegal bloodthirsty vengeance quest and says something along the lines of "We both took the same oath to support and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic". I guess it's ironic because supporting and defending the Constitution was the last thing our hero was doing in this novel.
August 4, 2014
With the death of Tom Clancy in 2013 there is no longer any pretence that he has been involved in the books produced under his name. This one makes it clear it is a franchise with Mark Greaney once again doing the honours. The good news is that it avoids the Ryan family and the worse elements of the “Campus team�, the main character here is Dominic Caruso on a bit of a solo mission of revenge.
As a senior US intelligence official goes on the run with critical data a lot of people are after him with different agendas and off the books Caruso is stuck right in the middle of it.
This is a fast paced page turner, perhaps less geo-political then the Clancy standard it does demonstrate that Mr Greaney writes well and handles the story and franchise with ease. To be honest, the only thing I didn’t like about this book was the somewhat meaningless title.
As a senior US intelligence official goes on the run with critical data a lot of people are after him with different agendas and off the books Caruso is stuck right in the middle of it.
This is a fast paced page turner, perhaps less geo-political then the Clancy standard it does demonstrate that Mr Greaney writes well and handles the story and franchise with ease. To be honest, the only thing I didn’t like about this book was the somewhat meaningless title.
June 4, 2017
This is my third Read by Greaney (the other two the 1st two Gray Man novels.) Not since I discovered Alan Furst years ago have I been so excited at the prospect of another dozen unread Greaney books awaiting me. I may be late to jump on this thriller express but I'm sure for years I won't be the last. Well done Mark...thanks for all your hard work!
July 26, 2014
Seriously great book! It seems like I read somewhere that Mark Greaney was able to write the book based on plot outlines Tom Clancy had completed before he died. I don't think Clancy could ask for a better author to write his last books. It's not as good as his Gray Man series, but still excellent.
December 26, 2018
Another Clancey type spy novel. Pretty entertaining. Domingo Chavez is main character is this book. Hell bent on revenge, going rogue most of the time. Disobeying orders left and right. Mostly outside or above the law. This has to be fiction. There are too many rules in place for stuff like this to really happen. Gone are the days of Olivet North conducting his own private operation. But really entertaining none the less.
May 12, 2021
As this is part of the Jack Ryan/Jack Ryan Jr. series, I was apprehensive when I realized this book's main character was Jack Ryan Sr.'s nephew and neither of the two Jacks were ever even mentioned by name throughout the entirety of the book, only indirectly referenced. However, I still had fun with this ridiculous read.
February 25, 2023
Spionage Thriller. Snel geschreven, spannend, beetje ongeloofwaardig. Hij strooit veel met afkortingen van allerlei geheime diensten. Zo'n boek dat je in één adem uit leest, maar daarna ook snel vergeet.
March 7, 2018
I thought this one was going to be boring, since it didn't really focus on the Campus, I almost skipped it. I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T. This book was really good! An excellent action novel, it really made Dominic's character so much more interesting. I can't wait to read the next one!
March 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, you could see how this could happen in today's time.
Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he’s a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive.
Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he’s a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive.
December 30, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Dominic Caruso. Nephew of President Jack Ryan. FBI agent and operator for The Campus, a top secret intelligence agency that works off the books for the U.S. government. Already scarred by the death of his brother, Caruso is devastated when he can't save a friend and his family from a terrorist attack
Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he's a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso stands in their way, but can he succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues?
I have to admit from the start that I stopped reading Tom Clancy long before his sad death. I found that his work was starting to get a bit stale and repetitive. The writing was still exemplary - just I wanted new stories and ideas. And I wasn't getting that so I went looking elsewhere for new authors...
...and that's how I stumbled over Mark Greaney.
I was introduced to The Gray Man series by a friend and was immediately drawn to the style of writing. I have read a number of them and enjoy them immensely. So when I saw that he had taken on the mantle of writing with Tom Clancy, I was a little bit nervous. I wondered if his writing would be throttled by Clancy's style of story-telling, so I avoided the first few books. Then it was suggested that I give the books he wrote after Clancy's death a go...and I am glad I did.
Is this book as good as Clancy? It depends on what you are looking for. If you want a good action-packed, seat of your pants thriller novel, then this is right up your alley. If you want more the political intrigue, you get that here, too. I think it is a little more over-the-top than Clancy ever did, plot-wise - but that's good. It is a sign of the author being allowed to write how he thinks the story should be told.
Would I recommend this book to everyone? Absolutely! When you see the name "Tom Clancy" at the top of the cover, you know what you are getting - when you see Mark Greaney's name at the bottom, you know it will be awesome!
Paul
ARH
Dominic Caruso. Nephew of President Jack Ryan. FBI agent and operator for The Campus, a top secret intelligence agency that works off the books for the U.S. government. Already scarred by the death of his brother, Caruso is devastated when he can't save a friend and his family from a terrorist attack
Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he's a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso stands in their way, but can he succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues?
I have to admit from the start that I stopped reading Tom Clancy long before his sad death. I found that his work was starting to get a bit stale and repetitive. The writing was still exemplary - just I wanted new stories and ideas. And I wasn't getting that so I went looking elsewhere for new authors...
...and that's how I stumbled over Mark Greaney.
I was introduced to The Gray Man series by a friend and was immediately drawn to the style of writing. I have read a number of them and enjoy them immensely. So when I saw that he had taken on the mantle of writing with Tom Clancy, I was a little bit nervous. I wondered if his writing would be throttled by Clancy's style of story-telling, so I avoided the first few books. Then it was suggested that I give the books he wrote after Clancy's death a go...and I am glad I did.
Is this book as good as Clancy? It depends on what you are looking for. If you want a good action-packed, seat of your pants thriller novel, then this is right up your alley. If you want more the political intrigue, you get that here, too. I think it is a little more over-the-top than Clancy ever did, plot-wise - but that's good. It is a sign of the author being allowed to write how he thinks the story should be told.
Would I recommend this book to everyone? Absolutely! When you see the name "Tom Clancy" at the top of the cover, you know what you are getting - when you see Mark Greaney's name at the bottom, you know it will be awesome!
Paul
ARH
July 31, 2015
I have been a Tom Clancy fan since the late 90's. His books were almost always an intricate web of details waiting to be pulled together in an action packed story of valor, good versus evil, etc. The last few stories co-authored with Greaney were excellent represntations of a master storyteller. Support and Defend is a pretty good yarn, no doubt about it, but for me it fell short of what a Clancy novel should be.
It seemed to me that the story may have been a rush job by Greaney or the publisher as there was a major editing error in the first paragraph of chapter 35, (a confussion of character names). I don't ever recall seeing such an obvious error in any of Clancy's previous works.
For the most part the characters stayed true to form, but the ending did leave me a little dissappointed. The other struggle I had with the story was how often things would start lining up for Dom, only to have everything fall apart. The introduction of a completely new threat, not even previously hinted at about 2/3 of the way through the book, was extremely un-Clancyish and annoying, but I'm sure it was thought a good idea to move the story where Greaney wanted it to go.
The next installment is due in December and was briefly hinted at in this book. Yes, I will probably go buy it, but I hope that a little more effort goes into making it a story worthy of these incredibly rich characters that Clancy has given us.
It seemed to me that the story may have been a rush job by Greaney or the publisher as there was a major editing error in the first paragraph of chapter 35, (a confussion of character names). I don't ever recall seeing such an obvious error in any of Clancy's previous works.
For the most part the characters stayed true to form, but the ending did leave me a little dissappointed. The other struggle I had with the story was how often things would start lining up for Dom, only to have everything fall apart. The introduction of a completely new threat, not even previously hinted at about 2/3 of the way through the book, was extremely un-Clancyish and annoying, but I'm sure it was thought a good idea to move the story where Greaney wanted it to go.
The next installment is due in December and was briefly hinted at in this book. Yes, I will probably go buy it, but I hope that a little more effort goes into making it a story worthy of these incredibly rich characters that Clancy has given us.
September 14, 2014
#1 in The Campus series by Mark Greaney as a solo author after co-authoring 3 entries in the series with Tom Clancy. This novel fits into the Jack Ryan universe as #17, as protagonist Dominic Caruso is repeatedly referred to as President Jack Ryan's nephew. This seems to be a seamless transition of the series after the death of author Tom Clancy. As befits a member of 'the Campus', Caruso has no problem gathering information and is always several steps ahead of the FBI. A fun read in the anti-terrorist genre.
Campus series - Dominic Caruso is presented with the deadliest challenge of his career. Already scarred by the death of his brother, Caruso is devastated when he can't save a friend and his family from a terrorist attack . Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he's a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso stands in their way, but can he succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues?
Campus series - Dominic Caruso is presented with the deadliest challenge of his career. Already scarred by the death of his brother, Caruso is devastated when he can't save a friend and his family from a terrorist attack . Ethan Ross was a mid-level staffer for the National Security Council. Now he's a wanted fugitive on the run with a microdrive that contains enough information to wreck American intelligence efforts around the world. The CIA is desperate to get the drive back, but so are the Russians and various terrorist groups all of whom are closer to catching the fugitive. Only Caruso stands in their way, but can he succeed without the aid of his Campus colleagues?
July 23, 2015
I absolutely love Tom Clancy books. I love these types of spy thriller books anyway, but Clancy is my all-time favorite. This book is one of the first ones I have read that was written by another author after his untimely death in 2013, but it totally stands up to anything Clancy wrote himself. If you have read any of the other 'Campus' series books then you will know what to expect. Unfortunately, Jack Ryan Jr is not featured in this at all, but its still got all the aspects of the series. The ending did seem kind of rushed, but the events leading up to it kept me reading to see what was going to happen next! If you like spy thrillers and you like Clancy, you will love this book....mark my words!
November 10, 2017
Lots of action and intrigue. Great stuff.
Dom Caruso's trainer and good friend is killed in front of his eyes as an unknown force attack's the friend's home and family killing all but Dom. As Dom seeks to discover who killed his friends and why, his mind is set on revenge for the killer and the traitor within the US government organization that unknowingly set the plan in action.
Dom Caruso's trainer and good friend is killed in front of his eyes as an unknown force attack's the friend's home and family killing all but Dom. As Dom seeks to discover who killed his friends and why, his mind is set on revenge for the killer and the traitor within the US government organization that unknowingly set the plan in action.
November 9, 2015
Good book. Clancy is missed, but I did enjoy the story.
July 15, 2015
About what I expected for the first "by" someone else and no longer "with" or "by" TC.
October 16, 2015
It was a good book. I enjoyed reading it. It was full of action/adventure. It had a good story to it,for sure.
November 24, 2015
I think Tom Clancy would be very proud of the excellent work you have done to continue his legacy of his work
November 17, 2016
Great tead
Exciting to the end. Greater is a worthy successor to Tom Clancy. Dom as the main character now is a good replacement for his uncle.
Exciting to the end. Greater is a worthy successor to Tom Clancy. Dom as the main character now is a good replacement for his uncle.
April 14, 2017
This book was okay, but it's not one of my favs in the series.
June 20, 2017
Great read
Lots of action and excitement . Also, lots of acronyms, but you can just scan over them. A little bit of filler stuff byt again, easy to scan over.
Lots of action and excitement . Also, lots of acronyms, but you can just scan over them. A little bit of filler stuff byt again, easy to scan over.
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