Tom Clancy: Defense Protocol

Andrews and Wilson’s second entry in Clancy’s Jack Ryan series (after Act of Defiance) is a solid shoot-’em-up centered on tensions between China and the United States. At the outset, China’s defense minister and top diplomat have just been “disappeared.” The new defense minister, Qin Haiyu, has authored a plan to reintegrate Taiwan into mainland China, which Chinese president Li is preparing to execute despite its likelihood of igniting a war with the U.S. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Katie Ryan—President Jack Ryan’s daughter—is an up-and-coming analyst for the Office of Naval Intelligence. Hoping to avert a war, Qin warns the Americans of the looming attack on Taiwan, setting the stage for a clash between President Ryan and President Li. Katie leads the U.S. effort against China alongside John Clark, director of operations for a secret task force called the Campus. With the exception of an intriguing new character—a Chinese superspy for the Americans known as “the Spider”—this is mostly business as usual, with Katie now firmly established as one of the Ryan family’s freedom fighters. Series fans will be satisfied. Agent: Tracy Fisher, WME. (Dec.)