[Review] — Tom Clancy's "COMMAND and CONTROL" is a By-the-Book Jack Ryan Thriller

I've noticed many readers are confused about the authorship of the newest Jack Ryan thriller, COMMAND and CONTROL (Available to buy on *Amazon.com). Although novelist Tom Clancy passed away over ten years ago in 2013, his name is still prominently displayed on the book cover, which can be misleading. Marc Cameron is the book's author, and his name is located at the bottom of the cover in smaller print, right under the book's title. There's also an author bio on the back flap of the book jacket that states that Tom Clancy died in 2013, so there's no excuse for not knowing of Clancy's demise. 

Moving on to COMMAND and CONTROL, it is the 23rd book in the Jack Ryan series, also known as the Ryanverse and the 8th installment written by Marc Cameron, who is the author of the New York Times bestseller Jericho Quin and the Arliss Cutter mystery series. It is a military-political thriller, like all Jack Ryan stories. It is unclear what year it is set in, but the first book, The Hunt for the Red October, was published in 1984, and Jack Ryan was promoted to President of the United States in Debt of Honor, published in 1994, after the death of President Durling. Ryan runs for president and wins, and his first term is covered in Executive Orders, published in 1996, and Bear and the Dragon, published in 2000. He comes out of retirement in Dead and Alive, published in 2010, co-written with Grant Blackwood, to run for a second term, which he wins at the tail end of Locked On, published in 2011, co-written with Mark Greaney. Twelve books later, Jack Ryan is still the president. 

The plot of COMMAND and CONTROL revolves around the Panama Canal, which has been the route between the seas for a hundred years. Control of this crucial waterway makes the difference between free trade and anarchy in global markets. President Jack Ryan, an old friend of Rafael Botero's, can't decline an invitation to visit Panama in response to the president's request for a show of support against the socialist opposition. However, what appears to be a routine opportunity to preach democratic values quickly devolves into a nightmare when a full-blown coup d'état occurs. There is no communication or connection between President Ryan and his Secret Service staff. The vice president is organizing a military reaction in Washington, but there's one additional thing to worry about. The vicious criminal group known as the Camarilla is one of the primary forces behind the coup, and their tentacles are deeply ingrained in the scheme to topple the government. Their unanticipated opportunity to assassinate President Jack Ryan has just presented itself, and they can't turn it down because of all of their hard work. 

Although Tom Clancy cannot be replaced, Marc Cameron does his best to step into his shoes and give us a new Jack Ryan thriller with COMMAND and CONTROL. The story works well for the most part, and Cameron is a talented author in his own right. I didn't find anything wrong with his prose, but there's just something a bit off that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe as I was reading, my mind was comparing the writing to Clancy's style and noticing the differences. Or it could have to do with the lack of technical descriptions that Clancy was known for writing. 

Overall, COMMAND and CONTROL is a by-the-book Jack Ryan story that hits all the right marks but unfortunately doesn't take enough chances to do something new. It's a decent read, but it left me wanting more. ╌★★★✰✰

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