What do you think?
Rate this book
Jack Ryan, Jr. #15
Zero Hour
Jack Ryan, Jr. is the one man who can prevent a second Korean War in the latest thrilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
When the leader of North Korea is catastrophically injured, his incapacitation inadvertently triggers a “dead-man’s switch,” activating an army of sleeper agents in South Korea and precipitating a struggle for succession.
Jack Ryan, Jr. is in Seoul to interview a potential addition to the Campus. But his benign trip takes a deadly turn when a wave of violence perpetrated by North Korean operatives grips South Korea’s capital. A mysterious voice from North Korea offers Jack a way to stop the peninsula’s rush to war, but her price may be more than he can afford to pay.
When the leader of North Korea is catastrophically injured, his incapacitation inadvertently triggers a “dead-man’s switch,” activating an army of sleeper agents in South Korea and precipitating a struggle for succession.
Jack Ryan, Jr. is in Seoul to interview a potential addition to the Campus. But his benign trip takes a deadly turn when a wave of violence perpetrated by North Korean operatives grips South Korea’s capital. A mysterious voice from North Korea offers Jack a way to stop the peninsula’s rush to war, but her price may be more than he can afford to pay.
560 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2022
1305 people are currently reading
2027 people want to read
About the author
Don Bentley
19 books843 followersDon Bentley is the NYT bestselling author of FORGOTTEN WAR, Tom Clancy WEAPONS GRADE, and Vince Flynn's MITCH RAPP series (2024). Former FBI Special Agent and Army Apache pilot. Learn more at www.donbentleybooks.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
October 11, 2022
Zero hour, 9:00 a.m. And I'm gonna be H-I-G-H as a kite by then. Sir Elton's song is better than the story. 4 of 10 stars
November 13, 2022
A book full of action and covert ops with tier one soldiers. What isn’t there to like about this book? Yes there are always a few “that would never happen in real life” but it’s a fictional novel. We’re on a ride ~don’t overthink it.
June 8, 2022
eBook ARC Review – Tom Clancy Zero Hour - Don Bentley
Release Date: June 7, 2022 - “Zero Hour,” the latest installment in the highly entertaining Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan Jr. series is a prolonged, intense, and action-packed thrill ride. Author Don Bentley has done an outstanding job with the Jack Jr. series and like Tom Clancy, this story is technical, meticulous, and very detailed but not too tedious. Jack Jr. is in Seoul, South Korea to interview a potential asset for ‘The Campus’ – the "off the books" intelligence organization and private military company established by President Jack Ryan, Sr. - when, as usual, trouble finds Jack Jr. in the form of a wave of violent attacks committed by North Korean operatives riveting the South Korea capital city. Filled with unrelenting suspense and intense action, the reader gets taken on an extreme and exhilarating thrill ride. This is Jack Jr at his finest! Bentley writes a very convincing saga of cold war tensions, startling incidents, and present-day events. There is never a dull moment in the story, with its fast-paced plot and action-filled storyline. The narrative is gripping and the conclusion gratifying. Jack Jr. was able to secure the help of a couple of Army Green Beret snipers, a Navy SEAL Team, and a host of expert Army helicopter pilots in an effort to stop an all-out war from breaking out. I thoroughly enjoyed the one scene where Bentley utilizes his personal military experience as a former Army Apache helicopter pilot to help put readers directly into the cockpit of an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Bentley’s flawless execution and thoughtful attention to detail in writing such an invigorating scene, left me in awe of the sheer amount of intelligence, hand-eye coordination, and poise it takes to successfully pilot an AH-64 Apache helicopter. The authenticity cannot be faked, and those suspense and action scenes were both fascinating and terrifying. Bentley has become a master at making the reader feel like they are in the middle of things and his depiction of the comradery amongst the operators, despite military interbranch rivalries, is also to be commended. He’s really good at writing about character relationships as well. Just a joy to read and a captivating story, Don Bentley brought his ‘A-Game’ ‘again’ with his second Tom Clancy novel. Regardless of which series he is writing – Tom Clancy, Jack Jr. or his Matt Drake series, Bentley is at the top of my “must read” and book pre-order list. Zero Hour is a very good read. Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the chance to read this digital ARC of Tom Clancy’s, Zero Hour by Don Bentley.
Release Date: June 7, 2022 - “Zero Hour,” the latest installment in the highly entertaining Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan Jr. series is a prolonged, intense, and action-packed thrill ride. Author Don Bentley has done an outstanding job with the Jack Jr. series and like Tom Clancy, this story is technical, meticulous, and very detailed but not too tedious. Jack Jr. is in Seoul, South Korea to interview a potential asset for ‘The Campus’ – the "off the books" intelligence organization and private military company established by President Jack Ryan, Sr. - when, as usual, trouble finds Jack Jr. in the form of a wave of violent attacks committed by North Korean operatives riveting the South Korea capital city. Filled with unrelenting suspense and intense action, the reader gets taken on an extreme and exhilarating thrill ride. This is Jack Jr at his finest! Bentley writes a very convincing saga of cold war tensions, startling incidents, and present-day events. There is never a dull moment in the story, with its fast-paced plot and action-filled storyline. The narrative is gripping and the conclusion gratifying. Jack Jr. was able to secure the help of a couple of Army Green Beret snipers, a Navy SEAL Team, and a host of expert Army helicopter pilots in an effort to stop an all-out war from breaking out. I thoroughly enjoyed the one scene where Bentley utilizes his personal military experience as a former Army Apache helicopter pilot to help put readers directly into the cockpit of an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Bentley’s flawless execution and thoughtful attention to detail in writing such an invigorating scene, left me in awe of the sheer amount of intelligence, hand-eye coordination, and poise it takes to successfully pilot an AH-64 Apache helicopter. The authenticity cannot be faked, and those suspense and action scenes were both fascinating and terrifying. Bentley has become a master at making the reader feel like they are in the middle of things and his depiction of the comradery amongst the operators, despite military interbranch rivalries, is also to be commended. He’s really good at writing about character relationships as well. Just a joy to read and a captivating story, Don Bentley brought his ‘A-Game’ ‘again’ with his second Tom Clancy novel. Regardless of which series he is writing – Tom Clancy, Jack Jr. or his Matt Drake series, Bentley is at the top of my “must read” and book pre-order list. Zero Hour is a very good read. Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the chance to read this digital ARC of Tom Clancy’s, Zero Hour by Don Bentley.
August 11, 2025
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Bulging with pulsating action, anxiety-inducing drama and exhilarating military operations, Tom Clancy Zero Hour offers a complete package of thrilling entertainment with a terrifyingly realistic scenario that should scare the crap out of everyone. Don Bentley delivers another fantastic entry into the Jack Ryan, Jr. universe, keeping the Tom Clancy legacy alive and thriving with his fresh, no-holds barred, action-packed approach to the series.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Zero Hour is how Bentley puts you in the cockpit of an Apache in a way not before seen in fiction. Makes sense given Bentley's prior occupation flying the celebrated attack helicopter, but it’s one amazingly extraordinary thing to fly them and another thing entirely to describe it in a way that makes the reader feel like they are in the middle of the action. But he pulls it off perfectly. Bentley's flawless execution and attention to detail in writing these scenes leaves me in awe of the sheer amount of intelligence, multi-tasking ability and poise it takes to successfully pilot an Apache. Respect!
Bulging with pulsating action, anxiety-inducing drama and exhilarating military operations, Tom Clancy Zero Hour offers a complete package of thrilling entertainment with a terrifyingly realistic scenario that should scare the crap out of everyone. Don Bentley delivers another fantastic entry into the Jack Ryan, Jr. universe, keeping the Tom Clancy legacy alive and thriving with his fresh, no-holds barred, action-packed approach to the series.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Zero Hour is how Bentley puts you in the cockpit of an Apache in a way not before seen in fiction. Makes sense given Bentley's prior occupation flying the celebrated attack helicopter, but it’s one amazingly extraordinary thing to fly them and another thing entirely to describe it in a way that makes the reader feel like they are in the middle of the action. But he pulls it off perfectly. Bentley's flawless execution and attention to detail in writing these scenes leaves me in awe of the sheer amount of intelligence, multi-tasking ability and poise it takes to successfully pilot an Apache. Respect!
May 10, 2022
Jack Ryan, Jr. is in Seoul to interview a potential addition to the Campus. In the meantime, a wave of violence perpetrated by North Korean operatives grips South Korea's capital and the question is if Jack is the one man who can prevent a second Korean War.
The latest installment in the highly entertaining series about Jack Ryan Jr is a long, intense and action packed ride that is impossible to put down. Don Bentley has made a fantastic job with this series and like Tom Clancy, it's very technical and detailed but never boring. I highly recommend this book and everything else Don Bentley has written.
Thanks to the author, Penguin Random House and Edelweiss for this advanced copy.
The latest installment in the highly entertaining series about Jack Ryan Jr is a long, intense and action packed ride that is impossible to put down. Don Bentley has made a fantastic job with this series and like Tom Clancy, it's very technical and detailed but never boring. I highly recommend this book and everything else Don Bentley has written.
Thanks to the author, Penguin Random House and Edelweiss for this advanced copy.
July 17, 2024
I have picked this audio on a whim from the library, thinking I might as well read Tom Clancy. When I realized this book is definitely current on technology, where the sign of something really bad is having no Wifi signal nearby, I got suspicious. My husband informed me that Tom Clancy is dead (confirmed by Wikipedia). It turns out the author is Don Bentley. Now, someone explain to me, how is it that TOM CLANCY is printed in letters way bigger than the title or author on the cover?
As far as the book. If it is not clear by now, I knew nothing about Jack Ryan. He is apparently Jr. and taken over daddy's spy business because he is now president and does not have the time. I am fine with that, not too much baggage I should know in advance.
I liked the setup. The North Korean dear leader is lying injured in secret and one of the ruling elite is trying to stage a coup. Jack finds himself in the middle of the plot, trying to rescuea princess the sister of the leader, who is the key to stop a nuclear war with South Korea. This leads to a complicated military operation in North Korea, with Jack and two wise-cracking snipers, plus a bunch of well-trained, cool navy seals. (or perhaps marines. can't tell the difference)
There is a lot of well-described action. The first part of the book details an elaborate North Korean plot, the second the American plot in North Korea. The technical details and military jargon are spot on, as the author is a former Apache helicopter pilot. The book often reads like a movie script, with short dialogue and long action sequences one could picture in a James Bond movie.
I have enjoyed the action, but the ending was way too abrupt. One moment our heroes are about to die, then a rescue arrives. We aren't even told what the rescue did. Just cut to epilogue. Did Bentley just reach the word count? The epilogue is short, lame, and seems to have been written in a hurry.
Some threads only exist for plot convenience. Isabel only appears in the story to make a link from Jack to the North Korean leader's sister. She is dropped like a dead ferret. At the beginning, the North Koreans appear to be tracking Jack, but later no Korean has a clue who he is. Jack is billed as a spy but apart from the contact he makes by chance with the sister, he acts as a military grunt in a spec ops mission. The spy intrigue is completely missing from the second half.
Overall, enjoyable and very knowledgeable action but lacks attention to plot resolution. The abrupt end brought it down from four stars to three.
As far as the book. If it is not clear by now, I knew nothing about Jack Ryan. He is apparently Jr. and taken over daddy's spy business because he is now president and does not have the time. I am fine with that, not too much baggage I should know in advance.
I liked the setup. The North Korean dear leader is lying injured in secret and one of the ruling elite is trying to stage a coup. Jack finds himself in the middle of the plot, trying to rescue
There is a lot of well-described action. The first part of the book details an elaborate North Korean plot, the second the American plot in North Korea. The technical details and military jargon are spot on, as the author is a former Apache helicopter pilot. The book often reads like a movie script, with short dialogue and long action sequences one could picture in a James Bond movie.
I have enjoyed the action, but the ending was way too abrupt. One moment our heroes are about to die, then a rescue arrives. We aren't even told what the rescue did. Just cut to epilogue. Did Bentley just reach the word count? The epilogue is short, lame, and seems to have been written in a hurry.
Some threads only exist for plot convenience. Isabel only appears in the story to make a link from Jack to the North Korean leader's sister. She is dropped like a dead ferret. At the beginning, the North Koreans appear to be tracking Jack, but later no Korean has a clue who he is. Jack is billed as a spy but apart from the contact he makes by chance with the sister, he acts as a military grunt in a spec ops mission. The spy intrigue is completely missing from the second half.
Overall, enjoyable and very knowledgeable action but lacks attention to plot resolution. The abrupt end brought it down from four stars to three.
August 29, 2022
Don Bentley has taken over and brought back some of the vintage Tom Clancy Jack Ryan style of writing. Excellent storyline with great storytelling. Hard to put down during the last 150 pages. Good amount of intrigue with some suspense. Jack Ryan Jr. is becoming his father during the Hunt for the Red October. Can wait to see where this goes. One thing I did miss was more of the campus operators working with Jr.
June 22, 2022
We’re absolutely blessed having a wonderful set of legacy authors carrying on the Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan Universe…Don Bentley’s “Zero Hour” has Jack Jr. in South Korea trying to add an asset to the Campus, when he finds himself in the middle of a North Korean power struggle that could launch WW III…Huge page-turning thriller that’s nearly impossible to put down…Loved It!!!
August 14, 2023
Just couldn't get into this one unfortunately.
November 17, 2025
I'd go 3&1/2 stars.
August 2, 2022
Classic Clancy by Don Bentley
January 9, 2023
The Jack Ryan Jr books continue - This felt like a real based scenario based on a plan for North Korea to attach South Korea. It was a fast paced read and enjoyable
April 19, 2022
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Tom Clancy Zero Hour is a high intensity thrill ride that ratchets up the action exponentially as the chapters fly by. I was in a constant state of agitation and apprehension while reading, unsure if Jack Ryan, Jr. was going to come out of each scenario (relatively) unscathed. With Don Bentley at the helm, the series could not be in better hands and the younger Ryan is quickly becoming my new favorite campus character.
As North Korea seeks to hide the fact that it’s leader has been incapacitated after a catastrophic accident, the dictator’s precarious physical state triggers a series of attacks by sleeper agents across South Korea. With blood in the water, some amongst the Politburo see an opportunity to seize power for themselves.
Being a magnet for trouble, Jack Jr. happens to get a front row seat to the opening salvo of this operation. In Seoul to interview a potential recruit for the Campus, Jack is forced to pivot to full operational status in order to neutralize the immediate threat in South Korea’s capital. A cryptic phone call, offering a path to help stave off a full scale war on the peninsula, sends Jack and his hodgepodge team of operators deep behind enemy lines. The only question is whether or not they’ll make it there before time runs out.
Make sure to check out the full review
Tom Clancy Zero Hour is a high intensity thrill ride that ratchets up the action exponentially as the chapters fly by. I was in a constant state of agitation and apprehension while reading, unsure if Jack Ryan, Jr. was going to come out of each scenario (relatively) unscathed. With Don Bentley at the helm, the series could not be in better hands and the younger Ryan is quickly becoming my new favorite campus character.
As North Korea seeks to hide the fact that it’s leader has been incapacitated after a catastrophic accident, the dictator’s precarious physical state triggers a series of attacks by sleeper agents across South Korea. With blood in the water, some amongst the Politburo see an opportunity to seize power for themselves.
Being a magnet for trouble, Jack Jr. happens to get a front row seat to the opening salvo of this operation. In Seoul to interview a potential recruit for the Campus, Jack is forced to pivot to full operational status in order to neutralize the immediate threat in South Korea’s capital. A cryptic phone call, offering a path to help stave off a full scale war on the peninsula, sends Jack and his hodgepodge team of operators deep behind enemy lines. The only question is whether or not they’ll make it there before time runs out.
Make sure to check out the full review
January 31, 2023
Haven't read many Tom Clancy novels in recent years, but I read two back to back. I was interested to see what Don Bentley could do with the Jack Ryan Jr. series. Knowing Don's background, I just wanted to say that I really, really enjoy when a writer waltzes into their wheelhouse and plops into the seat with a smirk that would look like what Dryden would describe as a pleasure that only madmen would know. I've been in many a helicopter, but not at the controls. I can only imagine, and maybe better now, what it would be like to be in the front seat, with the IR monocle slaved to another aircraft's attack computer prosecuting an attack with a 30mm canon. I think that most fans really sit up a little straighter when they realize an author is about to launch into a subject that they are singularly experts on in the genre. Not only does Don deliver the Apache with detail and passion, but his SWAT background also means that he swivels around in the plopped in chair with his hands behind his head and tosses his feet up on the desk while he strums an MP5 like a rare Fender Stratocaster... and he nailed the details there too. I'm a new Don Bentley fan and he definitely made the book rotation.
August 23, 2022
Great book with Jack Ryan Jr. Jack is in South Korea to talk with a potential addition to the Campus. People are gathering to protest in the streets when a car bomb goes off. Two Green Berets are having coffee at a coffee shop when people dressed as Koren police come in and start shooting. They get away with their lives but are now on the streets trying to stay away from trouble. Jack and the Green Berets end up together finding out that there is a plan by North Korea to take over South Korea. The fast-paced, intense story had me on the edge of my seat.
July 10, 2022
I'm impressed. Seriously though, this is one of the better Jack Jr. novels. Jack is FINALLY starting to mature a little. The protagonists in this one are the North Koreans. I was a little let down with how little detail was devoted to the Campus in this one, as well as how little we heard from POTUS. Once again, the operators are called on to save the day, this time from all out nuclear conflict on the Korean peninsula. Overall, this was a very good entry in the series.
August 30, 2022
Another Jack Jr. episode and full of action and excitement. Our hero is part of a group that saves the world from another Korean war. This time, it isn't through the endeavors of the Korean tyrant in charge, but through the efforts of a faction trying to kill him and/ or stage a coupe. All in all, it is a tale that keeps moving at a quick pace and keeps the reader interested. Some have written pieces in Clancy's name and they can be rather looooong. Well done, Mr. Bentley.
Read
June 16, 2022Great story
This is one of the best of the Jack Ryan Jr. novels. The action was great from the beginning and the storyline was exciting was .... Strongly recommend the novel.
This is one of the best of the Jack Ryan Jr. novels. The action was great from the beginning and the storyline was exciting was .... Strongly recommend the novel.
August 30, 2022
Wow. What an amazing addition to the Jack Ryan universe! Great book, exciting and heart warming! Love some of the quotes, and even the mention of Jack Reacher made me chuckle!
October 8, 2022
No rest in this one!
October 9, 2022
Awesome book
July 4, 2022
Good story, not over the top like some of the Cussler books I've read lately.
August 6, 2022
Never disappoints
August 4, 2022
Great read
While a little wordy it's a fast based read wit the subject matter is very real and very possible to happen in today political climate.
While a little wordy it's a fast based read wit the subject matter is very real and very possible to happen in today political climate.
January 13, 2023
Great story, great characters, and great writing.
August 2, 2022
Another page turner…
… By the Tom Clancy (may he RIP) writing team! I hope they publish a new one soon, as I’ve read them all.
… By the Tom Clancy (may he RIP) writing team! I hope they publish a new one soon, as I’ve read them all.
January 12, 2023
I read 50 books last year band this was the best!
I loved the plot and characters. Don has not missed beat with Jack Jr!
I loved the plot and characters. Don has not missed beat with Jack Jr!
July 30, 2022
Jack Ryan Jr. is his name and running assets is his game. This is how he finds himself with his co-worker and prospective future Mrs. Ryan and an HR headache waiting to happen, Lisanne Robertson, in Korea du Sud. Much like TARGET ACQUIRED, ZERO HOUR places Ryan the Younger in a foreign country on an innocuous mission to benefit Uncle Sam when Mr. Murphy crashes the party and things go sideways. To keep things Clancy, the old crew is still traveling the same haunts, somewhere over the Rainbow Six, namely a satellite organization to the US Intel community, The Campus.
The loc this time is the DPRK, and its despot, based on a real life figure who shall remain unnamed but the last part of the name is known to rhyme with DUNE, has taken ill, and the entire court of Versailles is clamoring, including the court jester and the top dog at the Politburo. It's the ersatz Ides of March while the dictator's ailing. With everyone throwing their hat in the ring, Jack Ryan Jr.'s behind the 8-Ball once again, playing catch up every step of the way. At the center of it all, a purple haze of nastiness, unleashed by NorKo tangos to reignite the Korean War. Op Plan Dragon Fire. With a 'Little Bird' in action, soon, there'll be smoke on the water, fire in the sky. This OP is only possible as the supreme Dictator of DPKR was injured during testing a new Russian missile "mysteriously" codenamed Skyfall. Naturally, Jack's task is to get in the way of this case of Peninsular Envy, as he is well versed in the universal language of violence when his Korean falls short.
Don Bentley's mastering the craft, which means that his Navy jokes are twice as funny as his Air Force ones, and triple the Marines ones. The constant ribbing of Navy SEALs is utmost hilarious. Even so, one could imagine that it would get tiresome for tailless amphibians from the order Anura. Though it's quite weird that for a serialized book, it seems that Jack Ryan Jr. is being "introduced" to the reader, almost setting this outing up as a stand-alone effort. Bentley flexes his XP as a former rotary wing stick boy and teaches readers how to navigate through flying an Apache AH-64E. If you can't make sense of the mechanics of aviation after this, stick with Eleven Bang Bang. You know who you are.
Par for the course, ZERO HOUR hits its stride near half-way through the book when the ubiquitous press-check makes an appearance. Aside from that, the Don keeps things crisp with reality inducing tac-terms the likes of Near peer, Readiness Level 1, HDU, Battlefield Calculus, Criolis effect, PIR, and Combat multipliers. It'd be interesting to see what other titles were considered for this entry in the Jack Ryan Jr. adventures, and perusing the material, Dragon Fire, Dead Man's Switch, SkyFall, and 2-Green-Berets-Steal-The-Show would've been worthy. The latter in fact so glaring as the two Special Forces Operators assisting Jack's travails are the best part of the book and the most entertaining. All in all, ZERO HOUR feels like a Matt Drake adventure by another name. Perhaps one ought to let some time elapse between crossing the Thriller streams? Nonetheless, for any thriller fan, master of the ThrillerVerse, Don Bentley acolyte (there are more and more of them every day), or Tom Clancy lover, ZERO HOUR is a solid entry into the series and a formidable spy caper to boot. With war threatening to tear the Korean peninsular apart, the world's looking to Jack Ryan Jr. to prevent disaster. Get in on the adventure before the clock hits ZERO HOUR.
July 31, 2022
Liked it a lot. Held my interest throughout, some interesting new characters that I hope we meet up with again and an enjoyable story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews