Decades ago, when he was a young CIA analyst, President Jack Ryan, Sr., was sent on what was supposed to be a simple support mission to investigate the death of an operative who was looking into the suspicious activities at a Swiss bank. Ryan's dogged efforts uncovered not only financial deceit - but also the existence of a KGB assassin code-named Zenith. Still, he was never able to find the killer.
In the present, a new strongman has emerged in the ever-chaotic Russian republic - the enigmatic President Valeri Volodin. The foundations of his personal empire are built on a bloody secret from his past, and he will eliminate anyone who comes close to that truth. For he has set in motion a plot to return Russia to its former might and glory, with the rest of the world once again trembling in fear of the mighty Bear.
When an old friend of the Ryans is poisoned by a radioactive agent, the trail leads to Russia. And Jack Ryan, Jr., must delve into an international conflict thirty years in the making, and finish what his father started. With President Ryan fighting a desperate campaign to thwart Russian aggression, and his son fighting a silent war against a ruthless foe, the chances for global conflict grow greater - and the possibility of survival may soon be lost for all....
Thirty years ago, TOM CLANCY was a Maryland insurance broker with a passion for naval history. Years before, he had been an English major at Loyola College and had always dreamed of writing a novel. His first effort, The Hunt for Red October, catapulted onto the New York Times bestseller list after President Reagan pronounced it "the perfect yarn." From that day forward, Clancy established himself as an undisputed master at blending exceptional realism and authenticity, intricate plotting, and razor-sharp suspense. He passed away in October 2013.
MARK GREANEY, has a degree in international relations and political science. He is the author of the Gray Man novels, the most recent of which is Dead Eye.
LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS's film credits include Stand and Deliver, Courage Under Fire, and La Bamba, among others. He has appeared on television in Longmire, Southland, and Cougar Town.