Tom Clancy Act of Defiance

By: Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 17 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

A rogue nuclear Russian submarine is steaming toward the East Coast of the United States. For President Jack Ryan, memories of past events may seem stunningly vivid, but the dangers are terrifyingly real in the latest entry in this #1 New York Times bestselling series.

US intelligence is reporting turmoil in the Russian navy. Their deadliest submarine, the Belgorod, has unexpectedly launched, and taken along with it a long list of questions. Who authorized the departure? What mission is it on? And, most disturbing of all, what weapons do the giant doors on the sub’s bow hide?

It's been four decades since a similar incident with the Soviet sub, Red October, ended happily, thanks to a young CIA analyst named Jack Ryan.

Now, President Jack Ryan finds himself with fleets of ships, squadrons of jets, and teams of SEALs at his command, but what he doesn’t have is insight into the plans of the Belgorod’s commander. It falls to a younger generation of Ryans to do the dangerous work that will reveal that information.

But there’s always a price to be paid. When the final moments tick away, will Jack Ryan have to choose between the safety of his country and the safety of his child?

©2024 Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Forty years after Tom Clancy’s genre defining debut novel, The Hunt for Red October, a new Russian submarine is moving west… Gripping and powerful, Act of Defiance is Andrews and Wilson at their best! A fitting tribute to the master. Tom Clancy would be proud."—Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Only the Dead

"Welcome back to Tom Clancy's world, where familiar and new characters untangle a conspiracy that threatens to light the world on fire. Andrews and Wilson pack in enough action for three books."—Larry Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Arctic Gambit

“I expected a lot from Navy veterans Andrews and Wilson—and they exceeded every expectation! Tom Clancy Act of Defiance is a remarkable tale of political intrigue and high-seas adventure. Jack Ryan and friends are in capable hands.”—Marc Cameron, New York Times bestselling author of Tom Clancy Command and Control

Tom Clancy would be proud!

andrews and Wilson deliver an amazing story no woke bs like the last few entries that went under the Tom clancy name just a true patriotic story of those who love this country and those that defend it keeps you on your toes the entire book

I know kids grow up fast, but sandbox is now a lieutenant commander. How long has Jack been president for?

I’m about two hours in I really hope this isn’t a girl power story. So far it’s fine. I still have trouble with the time. And when the sandbox and Kyle become twins

Classic Clancy

Both the story and the way it was told are classic Clancy. Removed one star for factual inaccuracy (including Scott Brick, who should have caught the errors!). Playing with the timeline is one thing, but making Katie and Kyle twins? That was either a big oops or an intentional change that served no purpose. And the Red October story had already been leaked.

Fantastic! Best Entry in a Long Time!!

No spoilers. Exceptionally done
To build on a classic is so risky, but this is extremely well done and stands on its own. This is the first in the series I’ve I’ve completed straight through in a very long time.
I am a Clancy and JRU fanboy and appreciated every nod to The Hunt for Red October.

I am satisfied with the timeline. You can’t manage a juggernaut series like the Jack Ryan Universe without out some flexibility and this hold up.

Scott Brick nailed it.


Thanks to everyone at JRE and Rubicon for being brave enough to take this chance.
Here’s to the franchise! 👍👍

Give me a ping Vasili… one ping only, please.

Really . . . .

I’ve been thinking, “this is what we’ve come to”, but I realized that that there are now pretty much two generations of adults that didn’t sit in front of actual brick and mortar book shops waiting on the next Tom Clancy.
I’ve spent the last thirty plus years reading and rereading the first ten. I’ve read them all over the world. They’re comforting to me now as I knock the hell out of sixty.
These young guys have done a great job with this story, hopefully, making people want to know the characters that are so rich to us old guys.
Good job! Quit dropping hints about Ember. They sell themselves.
Fair winds!

Authors and Editors aren't fans

Scott. rick as usual, brilliant performance. the authkrs and editors must not have read all the source materials, though. Katie Ryan is not a twin. Ding Chavez is not just a friend to John. He is family.

those types of things aside, the plot is a bit of an old hash, but but the story does tie into the overall lore of the Ryanverse. this is not a female emplwerment character, sex could have been either.

Excellent book, nice homage to a loved original

Loved the book. Thought it was one of the better newer ones, written. The homage to a classic was a nice touch too.

Welcome back, Mr. Clancy!

I'm going to gush and not apologize for gushing. The last few offerings with Tom Clancy's name attached so completely missed the mark that I was fearful to begin this one. Oh my. What a fabulous addition to Mr. Clancy's marvelous works. I loved everything about it. The plot is on-point, superior storytelling, new characters that actually make sense, a lovely reconnection to his historic first book, and the continuation of the Ryan Family! Thank you so much Mr. Andrews and Mr. Wilson. Well done!

timeline makes no sense

In previous books the aw shucks I never wanted this job and will leave politics forever after a second term President Ryan had young twins that were not even in high school. Now his twins are officers in the navy after graduating from the Naval Academy and the girl is a Lt. Commander. Taking into account Ryan finished out a shorter first term didn't initially run for a second term came back after 4 years and is now in a second term a max of 10 years have passed. So the twins have 4 years of high school and 4 year at the Academy and needing time in grade of say 5-6 years to get to Lt Commander that would mean the boy scout Ryan has ignored the constitution and been president for longer than the legal 2 terms.