Tom Clancy - Oath of Office

Jack Ryan Universe #27

by Marc Cameron, Scott Brick (Narrator)

“The spirit of Tom Clancy lives on” (Kirkus Reviews) in this New York Times bestseller ✳delivered by an AudioFile Golden Voice. President Jack Ryan faces his most dangerous situation yet when deadly nuclear weapons are hijacked by a mysterious enemy. Can he track them down — before it’s too late? With over 3,000 five-star ratings!

The fall of the Iranian government presents unexpected danger to President Jack Ryan in the latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Tom Clancy series.
President Jack Ryan preaches caution when the prospects for a Persian Spring excite the rest of the world. His is the lone Western voice urging watchfulness. As he says, "Sometimes it's better to have all the bad guys all in one place where you can keep an eye on them rather than scattered around the Middle East."

Meanwhile the Campus has been trailing a major international arms dealer whose business has waxed as the power of the Ayatollah has waned. Now, the change of regimes in Iran has opened up formerly unimagined possibilities to him. Possibilities which may lead to a new balance of power in the region.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Espionage, Suspense, Action

Audible Audio

First published November 5, 2018

About the author

A native of Texas, Marc Cameron is a retired Chief Deputy US Marshal who spent nearly thirty years in law enforcement. His assignments have taken him from rural Alaska to Manhattan, from Canada to Mexico and points in between. A second degree black belt in jujitsu, he often teaches defensive tactics to other law enforcement agencies and civilian groups. Cameron lives in Alaska with his wife and BMW motorcycle.

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had more than a few reservations when I initially heard that Tom Clancy's bestselling Jack Ryan series was going to continue after his death as the potential for it to completely ruin one of the most respected thriller franchises of all time was rather high but actually it paid off for author Marc Cameron. You never know what to expect in this situation but you can tell that Cameron has carried out meticulous research in order to make an action-packed story that moves at breakneck speed as realistic as possible.

As always the cast of characters are interesting, there are multiple twists and turns and a real feeling of the tension ratcheting up with every turn of the page. I am a huge fan of conspiracy thrillers and this is one of the best out there. You fly through it in record time, it's definitely a one-sitting read. If you're after a fun, lighthearted but satisfying story then this is an excellent choice. I look forward to further releases.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for an ARC.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a continuation of the Jack Ryan Series started by Tom Clancy. This is March Cameron’s second book in the series.

The book is well written. The story twists and turns and the suspense builds throughout the story. There are multiple plots and subplots along with many characters in the Clancy tradition. Jack Ryan is president and Russia, along with Iran is giving him problems. If you are looking for a good get-away-from-it-all book, this is it.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fourteen hours nineteen minutes. Scott Brick does a great job narrating the story. Brick has won over fifty Earphone Awards and five Audie Awards. He also was named Publisher Weekly’s Narrator of the Year and the Audiofile Magazine’s Golden Voice Award.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb. Mark Cameron writes so like Tom Clancy - in a 'blind' test I would not find the difference. Only one drawback and that has probably to do with me being a senior person: sometimes I could not follow what exactly was happening. Even going back to the prior section or going back to the beginning of the chapter. Even using 'maps' as a reader aid.
But great characters, great plot and great use of Psychological insights.
Unputdownable

[MARK. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the whole "Ryan-Verse" series,(some more than others) and I liked this one. ironically, I felt it was more of a "Campus" book because of the whole team aspect.that alone made me like it more. liked the story, great action. going head to head with the GRU, although I was just a tad disappointed that Lucile was taken out so early, and relatively easy(I did enjoy the GRU goon's mocking taunt just before her end though.) However, by far,my favorite part was John Clark "Negotiating" with the Portuguese arms dealer Urbana. Overall a solid story, lots of intrigue and action. I would have given it a "5" ,BUT (FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE) I am getting a little fed up with the whole "Jack jr." love life aspect plot. what was the purpose, really, of reintroducing Ysabel back (briefly)? they could not have found another way to tie in Iran? am I the only one that finds it strange that a known Iranian dissident, who was already captured and tortured by the regime, was rescued,and her father went so far as to hire ex SAS bodyguards for her, and "suggested" Jack jr. leave her alone because him being around put her in danger?now she shows up working for the U.N. in Afghanistan for some Anti Drug smuggling commission,close to the Iranian border,and basically on her own. one local bodyguard. an "Unescorted" Muslim woman in a third world country that has a sordid history on it's treatment of women and women's rights in general .what is that? her idea of hiding in plain sight? the only reason Jack went to Afghanistan was her calling for Erick. she later has a minute emotional breakdown of her perceived issue of him abandoning her, and disappearing from her life.refusing to acknowledge the fact that it was her own father who suggested to Jack that was in her best interests. then at the end , when all is said and done , she announces she is going to work in Russia. Not because of Erick, just "Because".guess the employment opportunities at the U.N. are extremely flexible. Mary Pat Foley tells Ryan Sr. "This(Erick) is our greatest penetration into Russian Intelligence since "CARDINAL"...... so WHY would the Director of national Intelligence risk their best newest assets exposure by being close to an Iranian who is basically as far as Iran is concerned, an "Enemy of the state", and whom the Russians would turn over to Tehran in a Heartbeat. am I overstating the "guilt by association" angle, or am I missing the set up for a future book? other than that, I did like the book, and am awaiting the next chapter(Hopefully without the "why can't jack jr. find a nice girl?" aspect)

[Nick Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number twenty six in the Jack Ryan series. Interestingly enough, thirteen written by the man himself and now the thirteenth written by other authors. And, despite the cover blurb of “Inspiration for the thrilling TV series Jack Ryan” this is the original book timeline and not the complete re-imagining of the TV series (which I liked by the way). Mark Greaney did a very good job at writing the post Clancy books and quite a few other authors have done average to poor jobs. And now we have the first from Marc Cameron….who surprised me by doing a pretty good job and covering the right blend of techno-thriller, big political view and guys at the sharp end providing intelligence or intel. Jack Ryan Sr is President (the polar opposite of Trump) and his son, Jack Jr, is part of a covert team that is off the Government books gathering intelligence but with a range of capabilities. Jack Sr is dealing with a number of issues that seem to have been generated from abroad, but is not sure what the big plan is. Meanwhile his son and his colleagues are chasing down gun-runners and agents and locating pieces of the big picture jigsaw.
There is some kind of world changing event coming, but who is responsible, who is the target and can it be stopped.
Marc Cameron has revived my faith in these books somewhat. He holds together a fast paced story pretty well and avoids some of the traps other authors have fallen into. He leaves a couple of threads dangling (a flu crisis that is pretty soon pushed into the background) but pretty much ties this up in a satisfying way.

[Christian D. D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile and semi-prescient

Some technical gaffes (such as casting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a mere 3-star general), but still exciting and engrossing enough to keep the reader guessing and turning the pages whilst on the edge of one’s seat.

The references to Ukraine and the Iranian missile programme are at least somewhat prescient, as is the minor subplot of the new killer flu pandemic hitting the country (reminiscent of real-life COVID as well as the fictitious Ebola Mayonga superbug from “Executive Orders,” the first full novel to deal at length with Jack Ryan Sr. as POTUS). And speaking of “Executive Orders.” Sen. Chadwick reminds me of a female version of the slimy leftist Sen. Ed Kealty.

[Ray LaManna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story... but not up to the exciting standards of the original Tom Clancy books.

[Chuck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Knew it was coming one day. After Tom Clancy passed, they tried to keep the gravy train going and frankly, several of the books were very good. But as teh Campus/Jack Ryan Jr series quickly fell to a poor level, it was clear the Jack Ryan series was doomed. This was the version that ended it for me, cluttered, choppy with no real direction or sense of intrigue. Oath of Office is the biggest loser of the 26 volume series.

And with this, I'm out. Christmas used to be a time to devour the latest from Clancy, now it's time to find another author.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Marc Cameron does an excellent job breathing life back into this Tom Clancy franchise. The series has had its ups and downs with various authors but Cameron has been consistently good in his writing style. His second outing is even better than the first. All the ingredients are there. Action, multiple story lines, camaraderie with Campus members, globe trotting and of course, evil bad guys bent on world annihilation. The only annoying thing is the resurfacing of the character Ysabel and her constant castigation of Jack Jr. over not keeping in touch with her. Then he saves her life (again) and she still bitches about Jack not keeping in contact.

This episode, the Russians have some nuclear missiles that are stolen by weapons dealers with the intention of selling them to Iran. What they want them for is the real surprise. What's a president's son to do? Girl trouble and exploding nukes. Jack again proves his proficiency at multitasking. A good yarn for a snowy day.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

First "Clancy" book that felt like a real Clancy book in a while. Lot of story lines that came together. Well done book.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid story. It was good to see Ysabel back again. As always for me, not enough of the other Campus characters. Lot of moving parts in this story to keep up with but I liked it.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oath of Office by Marc Cameron continues the adventures in the on-going series of thrillers developed by Tom Clancy. This adventure follows now President Ryan's complex involvement in clandestine efforts to control several international crisis at once. Stolen missiles , bot planted stories, political opponents without any ethical limits and Ryan's son being a captive in a complex international challenge.

Fans of Clancy will find the overall story very familiar and satisfying from a style and character standpoint.

If you are one of the millions of fans of the Ryan series, Oath of Office will be very enjoyable .

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUBJECT READER REVIEW WITH PLOT SPOILERS FOLLOWS:

Completely ignoring all the plot twists that predominated the first part of the book, 'Oath of Office' was unique because of the dastardly storyline Marc Cameron put together; the Russians up the ante on deniable plausibility by 'losing' a couple of anti-ballistic missiles. Now on the surface this didn't shake my world, not until the best minds in government finally figured-pointed out by a midshipman-that if one single satellite in low-earth orbit were to, say, be obliterated the shrapnel space junk would likely disable every LEO satellite within two weeks. All business and entertainment comms go poof! Now the spooks might rely on geosynchronous orbiting satellites for the key systems, but any traversing low earth would likely kill any launched vehicle. Interesting that Reagan brought the Russians to their knees in fear of ABMs (remember SDI, Star Wars?), refusing to move that option off the table in exchange for arms reductions. That was a bitter, bitter pill for the Russkies to swallow, and they obviously ain't forgot about it, according to Cameron.

Operation AVIDA, where the 51T6 Gorgon anti-ballistic missile targets a key US LEO satellite, say like a Keyhole or its successor Orion, and the kinetic energy blows it to smithereens, is played out by unlikely bedfellows. The Russians give the conn to GRU to 'lose' the ABMs, specifically to an apparent Iranian dissident Reza Kazem, who utilizes a clearly excited Ayatollah to launch the two missiles from Iran's Mashhad Air Base. The ABM misses the satellite by a shade of gray, or silk degrees, when Jack Jr. figures it all out, calls it in and the powers that be figure out which satellites would be most likely targets. One of the ABMs successfully launches, and the USAF Satellite Control Network engages repositioning thrusters two minutes following launch. It woulda been a dastardly thing indeed to allow a thermonuclear device to detonate in low earth orbit, but the Russkies knew that'd kill their own ops, so no magic codes. The ABM was to be a kinetic energy weapon that would obliterate anything traveling at full thrust.

Two things of personal interest happened in the book. Jack Jr's mind won't allow him to perceive Campus Transportation Director Lisanne Robertson, the later day Adara Sherman, as the smoking hot fearless but approachable woman she is because of Hendley Associates official policy on fraternizing. Well, Ding Chavez hooked up with Adara without either getting fired, so you gotta pay to play, and Junior knows it and is trying to ignore the denial. Helping this somewhat was when the Hendley 'enablers' were playing small fry games in Portugal & Spain when old flame Ysabel Kashani calls Junior in a tizzy, tipping off the first of the clues to Operation AVIDA. Of course Junior goes to hell, otherwise known as Afghanistan, to glimpse and clutch her once again, but by the time he and Ding get there, the proverbial shit has hit the fan. No time for romance when everyone except the SVR espionage traitor is trying to kill you!

Read 'Oath of Office' and enjoy your time with the Tom Clancy Universe. It's worth the price of admission, I'm pretty sure.

[Tom Tischler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freedom may have finally arrived in Iran. As protests break out the media rejoices
over the so called Persian Spring. Western leaders are ecstatic and members of
Congress clamor to back the rebels. Only President Jack Ryan remains wary. At the
same time he has plenty to handle at home. A deadly virus is ravaging the U.S. as
spring floods decimate the South East and an unethical senator wants to bring down
the Ryan Presidency. But the scariest story is closely guarded. Two Russian nuclear
missiles have been hijacked. The campus gets it's first break when Jack Jr. connects
with a rouge Russian Intelligence Officer, but he is soon abducted after arriving in
Afghanistan. Stories spin out of control and the missiles remain out of reach. The
Presidents greatest challenge emerges then. How do you meet the enemy when you
don't know who he is. This is book 26 in the Jack Ryan series. The story is interesting
but I thought that there were too many things happening all at the same time and with
too many characters which made the story a bit hard to follow at times. I gave it a 3.5.

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 1 out of 5]

anuary 5, 2019 –

40.0% "Audiobook - 14:20 hours - Narrator: Scott Brick
I have listened to over 5 hours of this book but I have a problem in that every time I return to the book, it recommences at the beginning of chapter 2! It is a single file Audible audiobook and no matter what I do, it restarts at chapter 2. Audible says they will give me new file to replace this one. In the meantime I'll move on to the next book."

January 7, 2019 –
40.0% "The replacement download from Audible has the same problem - wherever I am when I stop listening, I am returned to the start of chapter 2 when I want to resume. DNF"

January 7, 2019 – Shelved as: did-not-finish.

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It should be 2 1/2 stars. Not an edge of the seat book but really just a mediocre read with some excitement that pushes it to the 1/2 star level.

[Dan Curnutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In another intricate plot line Marc Cameron gives us a good political thriller. President Jack Ryan and his son Jack Ryan, Jr. are propelled into action by a group of terrorist who want to level the playing field by crippling the U.S. intelligence community. They will attempt to achieve this through a series of projects meant to derail President Ryan and his administrations progress in a number of areas.

From manipulating computer graphics to stealing nuclear weapons there will be a wide range of problems running that will consume the presidents time as well as the efforts of Jack Junior and the Campus operatives.

As always the research is well done, the issues are cutting edge stuff taken from our actual present issues. Marc Cameron learned well from his mentor Tom Clancy and gives us a political thriller that will keep you turning the pages until you are done.

So, why only 4 stars and not 5? Well, I thought that maybe there wasn't enough action from the remainder of the Campus operatives. It seemed a bit to heavy on Jack Jr. Also there was so a lot of background work done that I felt kind of bogged down the story.

But with that said, I still enjoyed the story and will look forward to the next book by Marc Cameron.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic global tech-thriller, that does justice to the foundations of the genre that Tom Clancy helped construct...Marc Cameron does the Clancy Estate "proud" in recreating the tone & feel of the original "Clancy's!"...Multiple epic storylines that merge into a coherent tale...Eurotrash arms dealers, assassins, Russian spies, Iranians and even Afghani smugglers...quite a few threads to weave together, but it works as the White House, the Campus & a disaffected Russian agent all race to save the World again...Great stuff!!

[Kym Gamble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid Jack Ryan and Jack Ryan Jr. book. Jack Jr. has some unlikely new friends who need to figure out where 2 nuclear-tipped Russian missiles have gone. Will they stop them in time before the Iranians set them off, into space? Great book of intrigue. The only thing I would have done is to bring the Campus into the story more.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling five-star read. Tom Clancy’s Oath of Office by Marc Cameron, I will be honest I was hesitant about this as I wasn’t sure how Marc Cameron was going to go about this and weather it would be as good, especially as there is so much hype now that its on Amazon Prime TV I will be honest and thought they would bow down and write something that would work well for the Tv screen but they didn’t they stayed true but brought a freshness to the Universe. With plot twists and drama a foot this is a great read that you wont be able to put down, buy yourself a copy and buy one for a friend for Christmas, they will love you for it.

[Rita Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the characters are there but it is missing the intensity of Tom Clancy.

[Bill Kempthorne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Clancy style has always been heavy with extra colour and context but I found this on to be especially tedious. He usual model and caliber details of every weapon, car, and piece of tech is not new. The female assassin for example had and interesting backstory. But despite following her around for about a quarter of the book her character was very insignificant to the plot. As a result I found myself less and less interested in the secondary cast. The final climax had an interesting technical twist but the ultimate solution felt very superficial.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced Jack Ryan Jr story about securing stolen Russian nuclear missiles before they are launched in Iran!! Great read!

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an enjoyable read

[wally · Rating 4 out of 5]

finished yesterday 21st april 2021 good read four stars really liked it kindle owned

[Zach Rzicznek · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun read, but the plot was a hot mess of I don’t know what. Preferred Mark Greaney’s contributions to the series over all others.

[Alan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was my first Jack Ryan read that was not written by Clancy. Solid. Well done, does not have the technical writing of Clancy, which is just fine for me.

[Martin Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel,nonstop action and a great plot,really good book

[Keith Hendrickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oath of Office is a complex story, with lots of twists and turns, Characters from Iran, Russia, and the Campus are in a race to stop a doomsday scenario. Just another day in the office for Jack Ryan.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#26 in the Jack Ryan universe. This second entry by author Marc Cameron is a good read and examines threads started other authors continuing the Ryan stories initiated by original author Tom Clancy, in this case that of Ysabel Kashani, an Irani former lover of Jack Ryan, Jr. President Jack Ryan also get some significant attention, as he oversees the situation room and flexes his diplomatic muscles when the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon is put under siege and a dependent wife is abducted. He also has the Secret Service handle, in a low key manner, an attack on a Senate enemy. A very entertaining read.

Erik Dovzhenko, a reluctant Russian spy stationed in Tehran, chooses to defect when his dissident lover, Maryam Farhad, is killed by Revolutionary Guards. Erik escapes to Afghanistan to warn Maryam's friend Ysabel Kashani, who in turn contacts her former lover, Jack Ryan Jr., the U.S. president's son. Jack Jr. travels to Iran, where he meets Erik and Ysabel-and seeks to intercept two hijacked Russian nuclear missiles, which he and his compatriots from the Campus, a covert antiterrorism organization, have been tracking. Meanwhile, in random interludes, President Ryan deals with an attack on the American embassy in Cameroon and the attempted assassination of a political rival.