Cry Havoc: A Terminal List Thriller

Tom Reece #1

by Jack Carr

1968. A time of division. A time of civil unrest. A time of war.

Just before the Tet Offensive, before President Johnson announces he will not run for reelection, before the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, as riots and protests rage across the nation, a spy ship is captured by communist forces off the coast of North Korea.

The crew thought they had destroyed everything of intelligence value. They were wrong.

As a KGB “illegal” elicits information from a high-ranking NSA official, and teams of special operators infiltrating into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam disappear without a trace, an ambitious Soviet advisor launches an ingenious plan that could forever alter the world balance of power.

Tom Reece, a SEAL operator attached to the highly classified and shadowy MACV-SOG is about to be thrust into a bloody battle to discover the truth.

From the Kremlin to the White House, from the streets of Saigon to the rugged A Shau Valley, along the paths of Ho Chi Minh Trail and into the secret war in Laos, Navy SEAL Tom Reece has an official mission assigned by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group, but it’s his unofficial mission that might get him killed.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Military Fiction, Action, Mystery Thriller

576 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

Jack Carr is a former Navy SEAL who led special operations teams as a Team Leader, Platoon Commander, Troop Commander and Task Unit Commander. Over his 20 years in Naval Special Warfare he transitioned from an enlisted SEAL sniper specializing in communications and intelligence, to a junior officer leading assault and sniper teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, to a platoon commander practicing counterinsurgency in the southern Philippines, to commanding a Special Operations Task Unit in the most Iranian influenced section of southern Iraq throughout the tumultuous drawdown of U.S. Forces. Jack retired from active duty in 2016. He lives with his wife and three children in Park City, Utah. He is the author of The Terminal List, True Believer, and Savage Son.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Carr does it again!!!
With this book he expands the Reece-verse with this meticulously crafted historical thriller. Set during the Vietnam War, we see how the special forces warrior came to be a part of the murky world of Cold War spy games. Carr’s integration of historical events is nothing short of brilliant, where his attention to historical detail elevates this book to another level. The book has many great characters, where the many layers of human emotion and how these characters deals with it, decides whether they are on the right or wrong side of the equation.

A brilliant Carr novel, and great origin story to see where James Reece got his values and moral compass from, to form the man he became in the Terminal List series. Highly recommended!!

[Nema · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think 3 stars is being very generous…closer to 2.5. I love Carr but this ain’t the one. I’m sure there was a plot somewhere in here but it was virtually indecipherable due to Carr’s borderline compulsive need to over describe every gun, aircraft, knife, watch, haircut, coffee, tea, vanilla wafer, etc. He’s always done this to an extent but this was on a whole ‘nother level. I’m sure this is a “me problem” and perhaps it says more about my attention span than anything else but I constantly had to re-read sections because I’d realized I’d zoned out for minutes at a time. I’ll just call it…this book was very well researched, thoughtful, etc and had it been non-fiction I’d say it’s the most interesting historical work of the Vietnam era…the problem, however, is that this was supposed to be a thriller and I was far from thrilled…I was, in fact, quite bored

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a intriguing read going back to 1968 and the Vietnam war and Russias and the Chinese involvement in the conflict, which was instrumental in our unsuccessful efforts to free the south Vietnamese ,it will make you wonder if we should have gotten involved at all..This book was suspenseful but I feel wasn’t as good as his previous books but still had action and sent you back to a time when we felt communism
was a threat to the world and we were determined to stop it from affecting others .

[Steven Netter · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books

Jack Carr knocks this one out of the park! Cry Havoc is an explosive and emotional thriller with elements of historical fiction that pulls no punches and leaves you shaken as the brutally unforgiving events of war unfold. It’s a masterclass in blending storytelling with real-life events, expertly blurring the lines between fact and fiction.

It's a highly engaging saga that captures your attention and keeps you hooked throughout, turning you into an addict who can’t flip pages fast enough to get your next fix. It’s an emotional rollercoaster filled with moments that will make you gasp, exclaim expletives, fist pump and shed tears. Taking you from the jungle to the streets, waterways and hotels of a war-torn Vietnam to experience the conflict from different perspectives while you cheer on our heroes and pray for the demise of the enemy.

Giving off a feeling that writing this book was much more than just writing a novel, rather it’s a deeply personal and important mission for Carr.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan of the Viet Nam war and its brutalities and horrors prevent me from the end. DNF

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the 4.6 stellar reviews and synopsis. I am very interested in history and have family who fought in Vietnam. Unfortunately this plot was not for me. I hope other readers enjoy this as I am clearly the outlier on Cry Havoc.

[Gina DeMilt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing book for me. I am a long time Jack Carr fan and have read everything he has published and always anxiously await and preorder his new novels. This one did not do it for me. I found the characters bland and boring. The history of the Vietnam war was interesting but I think I needed to know more myself to truly understand the content behind this one.

Unfortunately 2 stars is because the action is always good but the general plot and characters were boring to me. I toughened out to finish the book but do not recommend. The James Reece series is 1000x better.

[Jerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jack Carr's previous books are some of my favorites. This one I DNF'd 130 pages in. I may go back, but not sure. He obviously changed his formula on this one, as it was dry and boring! Not sure he used a different editor (or just did not use one at all), but it was basically an advertisement for every single thing a soldier wears or carries during the Vietnam era. I may have missed it, but socks and underwear brands may have been in there as well. And the long poker section and discussion. UGH! Whatever system or team the author used for this books needs to be discarded. I think all the high stars come from web based reviewers, and perhaps the authors friends. You missed the mark entirely on this one George!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eager to delve into the latest novel by Jack Carr, I reached for this book, which takes things in a slightly different direction. While fans of Carr’s work will be familiar with his James Reece novels, this book seeks to explore the kernel of that military experience. Tom Reece taught his son everything he knows by serving as a Navy SEAL in the middle of the Vietnam War. After a US spy ship is captured by North Korean operatives, the Americans were sure they ha destroyed everything, but some key intel remained. KGB officers used the intelligence given to them to plot out many of the attacks that would help turn the war, while also painting targets on some well outside the battle theatre. Navy SEAL Tom Reece is pushed into the spotlight as he tries to dismantle the messy situation in which his country finds itself. He must not only find the leak, but also neutralise the opposition without revealing too much. This includes killing in the jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, while also targeting KGB members who work in the backrooms and hide in the shadows. Reece will have to use his abilities to push things in the American’s favour, while also making sure that the tides turn swiftly. Reece pours all his efforts and shed much blood to keep his country from sliding into oblivion, though he was also laying the groundwork for his son’s service decades later. Jack Carr delivers a stunning piece that keeps the reader on edge as they learn much that never made it into high school history books!

Jack Carr has never failed to impress me with his writing and story ideas, even though I have never had a passion for military tactics. Using recent history as his backdrop, Carr builds up great themes within his narrative and then pushes things along to keep the reader hooked. Fans of his work will know that Carr does not shy away from controversy within his stories and provides stellar direction to elucidate his point. With each passing chapter, the story gets more intense and there is much to discover, all of which ties into the present-day work of James Reece.

Characters under Carr tend to develop easily and yet nothing is entirely smooth, even with so much backstory to offer. Many of those who emerge, both on the battlefield and in backrooms, have their own struggles and successes, which connect with Carr’s larger themes or push an idea or two. These characters flavour the larger story, none more so than Tom Reece. Readers familiar with Carr’s approach will enjoy how he uses characters to shape events, both in the past and during present stories. Tom Reece is central to the story’s advancement, but there are a handful of others, both known to history and simply faces in the story, who help shine light on many of the themes. Carr’s ability to craft them serves as a wonderful conduit to the novel’s added success.

The plot points of the book develop slowly and with much intensity, particularly as it relates to events in country. Carr weaves the story together with a number of surprises as he builds things up for the reader’s entertainment, looking both at the Vietnam War and the various geopolitical aspects that shaped that period. Surprises are plentiful and needed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, tapping into both historical record and Carr’s own fictional development. I am glad that Carr took the time to lay some groundwork for his series protagonist and am excited to see where things are headed in the future.

Kudos, Mr. Carr for another high-octane piece that mixes military might with strategic gameplay.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Matt Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much exposition for my taste. I don’t need a full chapter detailing every item in each of Tom’s pockets, and I don’t need the full life story of every intelligence operative he meets. The book is kind of like a car with a bad fuel pump: alternating between full throttle and coasting, which is disappointing considering how much I have enjoyed all of the author’s other works.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is a mix of fiction and historical events but it’s done so well that it is clear Jack Carr did a ton of research and brings this story to life with such a passion, respect and admiration for the teams back then. But never fails to show that it was a very dirty and brutal war with victims on both sides.

[Daniel Grimshaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most self indulgent books I've read in a long time, Jack Carr spends most of the book describing the gear they carry and the ammo they have! I understand he served but he needs to concentrate on character development, I didn't care about the characters at all and the author didn't either just the watch strap he was wearing!! Wouldn't recommend this book to anyone

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

Not bad, but the other Carr books are all better. The story was choppy and disjointed. It just wasn’t very entertaining or fun to read.

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic book at 560 pages.

Tom Reece Book !..... Yes we get to know James Reece's Dad. What a tough nut.

Forged in blood, this is how legends begin. . . From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr brings the worlds of special operations and CIA paramilitary units into direct collision in the jungles of Vietnam with his explosive new thriller introducing young Navy SEAL Tom Reece.

1968. A time of division. A time of civil unrest. A time of war.

Tom Reece, a SEAL operator attached to the highly classified and shadowy MACV-SOG, is about to be thrust into a bloody battle.

A spy ship, the USS Pueblo, is captured by communist forces off the coast of North Korea. The crew thought they had destroyed everything of intelligence value. They were wrong.

As teams of special operators infiltrating into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam disappear without a trace, an ambitious Soviet advisor launches an ingenious plan with consequences that reach far beyond the battlefields of Southeast Asia, one that will forever alter the world balance of power.

From the Kremlin to the White House, from the streets of Saigon to the rugged A Shau Valley, along the paths of Ho Chi Minh Trail and into the secret war in Laos, Tom Reece has an official mission assigned by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group, but it’s his unofficial mission that might get him killed.

This is a gritty, powerful, realistic, strong, action packed thriller, no holding back !

No better person to share this story, than author Jack Carr.

Clear 4 stars

[Terence M - “Quot libros, quam breve tempus!" · Rating 1 out of 5]

✔1-Star DNF - I didn't Like It!
I do not need to read about the war in Vietnam and its associated horrors.
Jack Carr - James Reece #1 - The Terminal List
(Ray Porter,12.24 hrs) 2018 [Audible RETURNED] 2019

[ZZ · Rating 1 out of 5]

You can read this review or just watch the beginning of Two and a Half Men, Season 6, Episode 24...

Naively, I was hopeful that with a change of period and characters, Jack Carr would use the opportunity to improve his writing. He has failed spectacularly.

The book reads like the work of a high school student given an assignment on the Vietnam War — someone who did their research thoroughly (per the author's own words) and, out of enthusiasm and lack of experience, decided nothing should be left out. The result is 500+ pages of a chaotic compilation of Wikipedia-level descriptions (from gun specs to extinct Serbian caviar) and ridiculous exchanges — ranging from a gorgeous European woman explaining the benefits of having a mistress to an average American guy, to a deputy head of Russian intelligence agency solemnly educating his boss that U.S. media are private or what West Point stands for.

Worse yet, all characters seem to share the same brain. They think alike, talk alike, and even narrate their own thoughts in motivational T-shirt slogans with PTSD: “If you are going to survive in this world you are going to be more attentive.”

But at the end of the day, Mr. Carr has said it best himself:

“‘You kidding? No SEAL would ever write a book,’ Tom replied.
‘Have to learn how to write first,’ Graves noted.”

He should’ve taken that advice.

[Dwayne Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could have given this book 4 stars; it was close.
An engaging historical fiction of, primarily, the war in SE Asia. The characterizations were quite vivid. Learn about the covert backstory including the Soviets', and learn about how the USS Pueblo ties in.

[Larry Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. I liked the story enough but the execution was poor.

[josh klingensmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could probably have 200 less pages and it would be much better

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed all the books about Reece, both father and son by Jack Carr. This one, Cry Havoc the latest and possibly a new series with Tom Reece is together with the first book, Terminal List in my mind the best work from this author so far. In this story we meet Tom Reece in Vietnam during the events of 1968, both with secret missions and espionage. Throw in some love and betrayal and you have what you need for a great book. I know I'm partial to stories about the Vietnam war and that may influence me somewhat. He writes that this is probably his most researched book to date and I think it shows. That and the fact that he has interviewed a few veterans about this conflict. I must confess that it was hard to put this book down to get some food and sleep but that made the pleasure last longer. I love the attention to details and the fact that most of the characters that appear in this book is someone I have read about and in some cases also have their books. This made it so much more interesting. I only wish a Swedish K would have been used at some crucial point since I'm Swedish and that is one of the weapons I've trained on and used during my time in the army. I will recommend this book to all that lend me an ear and I sincerely hope we get more of Tom in the future. Now I will put my shot through signed edition of this book on its shelf in my library.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is easily my least favorite Jack Carr book even though it was still a fairly enjoyable read. The problems are mostly that it feels like Carr was really focused on writing a period piece that really feels like you're in Vietnam 1968 behind enemy lines with the badasses of MACV SOG. On that he 100 percent accomplished what he set out to do. However, books are more than their setting and plot-wise it was hard to stay engaged. That's mostly because there wasn't much plot at all. You're just kind of going on different missions with Tom Reece without much overall direction or tension. This is problem with both prequels and historically accurate fiction. You definitely know that Tom is never really in jeopardy and the plot is constrained by actual historical events. There's kind of a revenge plot that starts around page 400 of 510 but it was kind of too little too late to be that interesting. Just give me more James Reece thrillers please, or if there are going to be more Tom Reece books at least make them less wrapped up in historical events so they can have more compelling thriller-style plots.

[Jpcdrahm · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Tom Clancy and the minutiae of combat, you will probably like this.
I’m not interested in gun calibers or specific aircraft or how a claymore mine works.
I have enjoyed other works that Carr has published.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, first historical fiction from Jack Carr I’ve read, as usually just did the terminal list series. As the old saying goes “War is Hell” but the fact so much was researched and just how bad the Vietnam war really was for those on the ground. This fictional story with that as the background doesn’t make it any less impactful or gut wrenching. It’s a good spy action novel that portrays seals as the biggest badasses around but also feels grounded. It’s an origin war story for the father of James Resse and I liked it a lot. It was tough at parts for some war violence as this probably happened but doesn’t do any good to hide in the sand about things. If you’re a fan of historical fiction spyesque action novels this will be a good pick for you! Plus seems like Jack Carr has hit his stride with his war espionage books post terminal list!

[Sabrina S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if it was where I was in my time of life, or ? I feel Jack Carr did some excellent research, and this could have been much better with better characters. Ray Porter did an excellent narration.

[Romulo Perez-Segnini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non-stop action thriller with Tom Reece, Lt. Commander James Reece’s father as the main character. Set in 1968 with the backdrop of the Vietnam war it is well researched with a very real depiction of the events of the time.

Tom Reece, a Navy SEAL is part of the classified group MACV-SOG team with clandestine operations in the Vietnamese jungle then into Laos & Saigon. While there he’s recruited by the CIA and they discovered Russian operations behind the scenes. These will lead to important sub-plots in books where James Reece is the principal.

Very entertaining with a glimpse of many historical facts around the Vietnam war.

[William Bolyard · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author simply read Gentle Propositions, added product placement, cringy dialogue and about 60k unnecessary words, then called it Cry Havoc. It could have been a great book but obviously whoever wrote this just wants to produce slop.

[Jarod Grubbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad I didn’t like this book because I love Jack Carr and the Terminal List series. Cry Havoc is the exact same template of his other books in the series but a prequel following the father of his usual main character. By the time you get to the main character of Tom Reece, not action, but real character work, you are already exhausted with the book. Carr takes too much time setting up all the espionage and politics rather than drawing you in to the main character of the story. It feels he was more invested in getting all the aspects of military life in Vietnam meticulously accurate than just telling a story about Tom and how his story would eventually affect the character we love (James Reece).

If you’ve read every Terminal List book, expect the exact same action scenarios you’ve read many times just in a 1960’s Vietnam setting.

Lastly, I’m not sure why but this time around explaining the brand/make/model of every gun, bullet, magazine, coffee, tea, car, engine, or any other item finally wore me out in this book and made me start skimming much of the novel.

Next time around I hope Carr either avoids a sequel to Cry Havoc altogether or really focuses more on character development and themes rather than on the surface items.

[Brad Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cry Havoc is an incredible story of Tom Reece, a Navy Seal on assignment during the Vietnam War with the MACV-SOG. The power of the writing is overshadowed only by the quality of narration - but, suffice it to say, both are phenomenal. Though a work of fiction, make no mistake - this is a history lesson. The level of detail Carr goes into, especially concerning the spy network during the Cold War, is intense. If you are looking for a straightforward fictional narrative, this level of detail may prove to be a bit “much” for you. I do not subscribe to that theory. I believe it was done to paint an accurate picture of the quagmire that was Vietnam and the Vietnam War. I beg you to stick with it through part 1 as parts 2 and 3 are the true payoff, and I think you will see why such level of detail was necessary. The fictional portion of the story is, in my opinion, Carr’s finest work. Not only does he "introduce" us to a new protagonist that I strongly hope we see again, he sheds light on the origin stories we have grown to love in the James Reece series. Cry Havoc does NOT disappoint.

[Josh Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. Liked the setting, although it’s was bit harder to follow than the terminal list books. I was surprised that it seemed like there was less action in this. The fighting scenes were pretty short.

I felt like it was a bit harder to visualize this one as well as I’m not super familiar with Vietnam. That’s just a me thing though.

This is a good book one, but I think later titles will be a lot. Better. Solid offering from Jack Carr. Hope this guy keeps writing more and more. It would be cool to take this one more step further and hear more stories about Thomas Reece Sr. And his time in the OSS during WW2. Lot of potential there.

[Drew French · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was disappointed to jump back in time to the Vietnam War…but then I loved it. Another great Jack Carr novel.