In Rules of Engagement, President Jack Ryan is pulled into a global crisis after what should have been a routine diplomatic trip ends in a deadly plane crash in Turkey. Official reports call it an accident. However, with only fifteen bodies recovered and a missing intelligence asset who clearly matters to the wrong people, the hunt becomes a race across multiple countries to uncover who survived, what they’re carrying, and why powerful forces are willing to burn everything to get to them first. As threats stack up and time collapses, Ryan works side by side with his children, trusted allies, and legends like John Clark to connect the dots before a shadow war turns very real.
Ward Larsen absolutely knocked this out of the park. He stays true to the heart of the Ryanverse while bringing a fresh rhythm and edge that feels modern, urgent, and fearless. I loved seeing generations of relationships come back into play, the trust built over decades paying off in high pressure moments where every decision counts. This story feels so relevant, and scary, to think about all of the covert operations unfolding while the rest of us are just living our normal lives, unaware of the chess game happening behind the curtain. It makes you pause and wonder how much of the world is quietly being steered in rooms we will never see.
The action is relentless and wildly creative, from drone dogfights I never knew I needed to pulse pounding extractions that had me holding my breath. Add in cutting edge AI, rapidly evolving tech, and dialogue that crackles with both tension and perfectly timed humor, and you get a thriller that never feels heavy or stiff. Between the burning coffee pots, sharp one liners, and characters who feel real even when the stakes are insane, this book delivers on every level. Smart, fast, authentic and absolutely gripping, Rules of Engagement is the kind of thriller that reminds you why the Jack Ryan series continues to dominate.
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