Background Info
on novels

Date first published	14/06/2011
ISBN Number	978 0 718 15846 0
Page Count	756 h/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

For years, ex-Navy SEAL Maxwell Moore has worked across the Middle East and behind the scenes for the Special Activities Division of the CIA, making connections, extracting valuable intelligence and facing off against America's enemies at every turn.

When Moore arrives at a rendezvous to take charge of a high-ranking Taliban captive, the meeting takes a horrific turn that neither Moore nor any of his bosses saw coming. Barely surviving, he tries to bring to safety a Pakistani colonel with information about the debacle, only to have that mission fall prey to forces more powerful and cunning than any he has faced before. Undaunted, and with failure not an option, Moore continues his quest for the truth, leaving many dead in his wake - killed by those for whom secrecy is the ultimate weapon.

A shocking revelation comes to light, two of the greatest threats to the security of the US have forged an unholy alliance. After years of planning, the Taliban has come to terms with the vicious Mexican drug cartel for which they will supply opium. For the cartel, it is a matter of money, power and ultimate control of the drug trade. But for the Taliban, it is an opportunity long awaited, to exploit the cartels and bring the fire of Jihad to the hearts of infidels.

It is up to Moore and his team to infiltrate and dismantle the drug cartel, even as they hunt for those who would bring the ultimate terror and destruction to the streets of America. In a story that races from the remote, war-scarred landscapes of the Middle East to the blood-soaked chaos of the US-Mexico border, Tom Clancy once again delivers a heart-stopping thriller that is frighteningly close to reality.

Review

Overall I liked the story, it is not his best, and I would guess that it is because a large proportion of it has been written by Peter Telep. There are elements that are very Clancy-esque, details on weapons, train et-al, but it is not Clancy all the way through.

Like his last few books the attempt to make this a major thriller, backfire, there are whole episodes in the book that could have been dropped, as they do little to add to the story. One these Moore's flashbacks to training, and an ill fated mission, clog up the narrative, and just serve to create confusion. I do wonder whether this is a heavy handed attempt to make another John Clarke.

The basic premise of terrorists using the drug cartels tunnels is an interesting one and one that I have not come across before, I do however think that the cartels would not be to bothered about letting terrorists use the tunnels, as long as they were not caught.

One of the biggest problems is the multiple threads and numerous characters being used. I was almost relieved when the first one got killed off! This seems to be a modern fad, create huge books, with a large number of characters, and I wish it would stop. You need a small team of good guys, and the opposing force, with perhaps some cannon fodder on the edges. Creating a large, team which is then supplemented by some of the drug lords men, just leads to total confusion. I like to read and relax, not have to make notes about who is who and why.

Where the book does score is in the implementation of the terrorist plot. Well planned, some of it succeeds, some fails, due to Moore's intervention, and some of it fails due to third party interference. It actually felt like real life.

I did wonder why, in the face of a terrorist attack, they focus on the drugs element, and the tunnels. Moore and his team spend huge amounts of time and resources trying to break the cartel, rather than looking for the terrorist, or the groups. The whole drug cartel aspect, the interdiction into the police force, and the negotiations with a rival drug lord, just seemed way to long winded.

This is definitely an average story that could have done with some good strong editing. Especially the life of the drug lord, his son, and his girlfriend, all seemed to take the story away from the real one, that of the on-coming terrorist attack.

I certainly felt that the editors now seem to fear the wrath of the author and will just let any story through, it needs to improve. If Clancy wants to get back to the top of his game, he needs to find his original game plan, tight storylines, good characters you care about, some good technical knowledge, and fast pace. I certainly didn't come away liking Moore, and didn't really care when any of his team were killed off either. If you want to see how it should be done read 'Without Remorse', far superior, and though John Kelly is in the wrong, you care for him, and understand the reasons why he does what he does. Moore is no John Kelly.

Definitely a good do better, but not his worst book.

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