Tom Clancy Flash Point: A Jack Ryan Jr. Novel, Book 10

Flash Point is the best thriller I’ve read since AJ Quinell was active. It’s the right mix of geo-politics, critical thinking and cool weapons. He actually walks the reader through some cool weaponry, about which I happen to know a little.There is a lot written by different authors about Tom Clancy’s hero, Jack Ryan, and now about him and his son, so well have a chance to compare authors’ skills in a bounded environment. It’s a bit like the food fight that has been going on with Robert B. Parker’s Spenser and Jesse Stone, where you know the character well and get to see how well authors treat him in prose. It’s time for a new Clancy, (Red-October, et al) or Quinell (Man on Fire, et al). This may be it.I’ve been noodling the term, ’National Security Techno-thriller’. Maybe we should create a new category for that with an annual winner—maybe call it a Henry, for the Good Dr. who just turned 100. I just read a ‘Henry’ worthy novel named Flash Point. This guy is good. The editing is superb. Big chunks of necessary explanatory chunks are smoothed with spacing, tags and probably, experience. Copy-editing is flawless, unlike so much of what is published today in this genre.Jack Ryan, the protagonist, can go a lot of places and do a lot of things, which makes it easier to come up with a good story setting or plot. If he spoke Arabic or Cantonese the opportunities would be endless.The thread of the old jack Ryan together with the new President, his father, is done well. There is just enough.In character development, he takes a lot of time explaining the impact of duty fighting emotion. Again, nicely done.I suspect female readers might tire quickly of the techo-guns stuff detail. I got quite a bit of feedback to that effect from my smart female first-readers with The Mahdi. That is the just finished manuscript of this type of thriller, my fourth, that I await from copy edit. I have to credit Bentley with noting the Heckler and Koch 416 with the attached 40mm grenade launcher; that round is the close combat weapon of the near future. Make it more accurate, up the quality of the explosive, drive it with software. Magic.Flash Point got hairy at the 50% mark, after lots of great shoot-‘em-up. One is required to think beyond that point.I was fascinated with the pilot chatter, full of stuff I had never thought about. And the whole P-8 narrative was fantastic. This guy Bentley is connected.I’ve been noodling the term, ’National Security techno-thriller’. Maybe we should create a new category for that with an annual winner—maybe call it a Henry, for the Good Dr. who just turned 100. I just read a Henry.Great read.Robert Cook, author of Pulse

I like this book. I think it is a good one. Individually, some books in this series are good, some not so much. Tom Clancy might be unhappy with the use of too many authors (three in this series) which leads to different causes of carry-over physical conditions and statistics for the cast of characters. Makes for a poor and possibly confusing carry- over from author to author. Jack Ryan Jr. is made to be a low-profile Superman or Einstein at times. Whatever you think, enjoy your reading.

Book Review – Tom Clancy Flash Point – Don BentleySpent Father’s Day weekend finishing “Tom Clancy’s Flash Point” by Don Bentley and I thoroughly enjoyed Book 10 in the Jack Ryan, Jr. series! Bentley is in an elite group of military thriller authors with a true gift for writing fully developed characters and thrilling action scenarios while incorporating leading edge technology, high intensity suspense, and nonpartisan geopolitics. This is one of Jack Jr.’s most adventurous and electrifying adventures! In this narrative, Jack Jr. finds himself locked in a struggle with an unseen antagonist bent on destroying The Campus - the "off the books" secret intelligence organization and private paramilitary company established by President Jack Ryan, Sr. As Jack Jr. frantically tries to figure out what’s going on, The Campus is hit with a crippling attack and takes out half the team. Jack Jr. is one of the few operators left standing, thus becoming The Campus’ ‘de facto’ leader. Jack Jr. must also stop the mysterious foe from executing a luminous campaign to paralyze America while China inches closer to invading Taiwan. With the odds stacked against him and no additional help in sight, Jack Jr. and his shattered covert special ops team must stop the world’s two superpowers from stumbling into war. Bentley continues to deliver on the young Jack Jr.’s evolving personality and leadership role with The Campus. He has done a masterful job of taking the younger Ryan on a journey in the series, from an inwardly focused and sometimes occasional hot head to a man who is comfortable in his own skin and trusts his own instincts instead of trying to be like his father, Jack Ryan Sr. Bentley lays out a plausible and compelling story from today’s headlines of possible military conflict. The storyline was probable, and the narrative was so good – it kept me “turning the pages” throughout the wee hours of the morning! This book was written in the classic Tom Clancy-style. The cast of characters all have major roles, and the story explores pertinent and possible present day world conflicts. The book's title ‘Flash Point’ is foretelling, because the South China Sea is a tinderbox for naval engagement between China and Taiwan and could rapidly escalate out of control, which sets the apparent tension and suspense throughout this novel. Action, Commotion, Technology, Tension, Teamwork and Family are all the elements of this enduring Tom Clancy thriller. Flash Point is an impressive novel by an outstanding author. Well done ‘again,’ Don Bentley…I really enjoyed this tale!

A racy high octane action story. Full of intrigue, mystery and unanny heroic action thie book keeps the reader engage=d and turning pages. The ending is magnificiant.

As with all of the Jack Ryan series, I was very pleased with this purchase.

So, it's great to see Jack Jr. grow up finally, but, the whole time, it just kept nagging at me, Ding and Dom injured, Clark kidnapped, Lisanne opposite side of the planet. Where's Adara and Midas? Yeah, Adara finally shows up at the end, and I can accept they, too, are at the opposite side of the planet, but, no mention kinda bothered me throughout the story.

Seeing the emotions from start to finish with the learning curve for leading from the front to see the highs and lows of the mission, work to complete the goal to get everyone home alive to understand your emotions through it all.

I love the series and I'm a big fan, although I would prefer if they were in Spanish. However, this reading helps me practice my English. It's important to me that two new operators have been introduced to the Campus, but I feel it's not consistent with Clancy's original idea. The Campus should be an organization under the radar, and Junior shouldn't have direct contact with Mary Pat but through Jerry Heandley, not even Clark. This sounds not only confusing but also inconsistent. This time, the plot has been incredible, and I love how it has been narrated (except for some boring episodes with certain characters of nonsense names). But if it continues like this, it might lose its charm, especially since the Campus now seems to have resources from the CIA and the military. No one questions anything? This is incongruent and headed in the wrong direction.I believe it should stick to Clancy's original concept and keep the organization secretive, without giving so much prominence to Ryan Jr. I know he's important, but what about Dominic? His role should be more significant, just like Adara, who makes an incredible undercover pair. On the other hand, was Midas on vacation? He's the strongest operator with the most experience after Ding; there's no excuse for that. Moreover, Clark hasn't been part of field operations since his time with Rainbow; he's now a 70-year-old man. Ding should be leading on-site. With the addition of Cary and his partner, they could form a better squad in the upcoming installments, but Lissane should step back. Even the ending was quite dull, without a clear reason for its existence.I want this universe that I love to persist and continue. I enjoy the narration, the action, adventure, and the realistic vehicles, but the storyline should have more continuity and return to Clancy's original vision. Lastly, I'd like to recommend reading this book; it's very exciting. It will take you to incredible locations, fantastic situations, and a lot of action. Please excuse my writing, I used a translator.

Livro para aqueles que são fans de espionagem, aventuras em lugares exóticos. Não é mais escrita diretamente por Tom Clancy, mas mesmo assim vale a pena. Todos os personagens de outros líberos estão presentes, alguns, desta vez, não saem ilesos.

The continuity through the book and story. Continuous action and a great story. This is a must read and continues the Jack Ryan jr growth.

Great work….thrilled till the end……go for it…..!!Beautiful peace of work and an interesting story!!I love it…couldn’t let it down

Great read