When North Korea's "Supreme Leader" is missing for more than a few days, a political coup is suspected and a doomsday program of counter terrorism is triggered. Jack Jr is in Soth Korea on a mission for the Campus and instantly becomes involved in preventing the beginning of another war. The plotline is perfect for a Jack Jr book. He gets to show off his skills and I get to read long after I should have gone to bed. Oh well, I guess I'll have a book reading hangover tomorrow!

After I graduated from college, I found myself for the first time as an adult with enough time to read for pleasure. Yet, I had no idea what I liked to read. What I had last read for pleasure in high school no longer interested me. My mom had a shelf full of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels. I enjoyed the movies that had been made from the books. I picked up my first novel Cardinal in the Kremlin, and I was hooked. Even though Clancy has died, there are a few authors that have continued the series. And I'm still enjoying the adventures in black op espionage.

I usually listen to the audiobooks of this series either because I received an audiobook ARC or because I didn't get an ARC and it's the only way I can fit it into my reading schedule. I forgot how much more I enjoy the books when I read them myself. I received an ebook ARC of Zero Hour and the tension was so much greater when I was reading it to myself.

I'm sure all the other books had just as much tension as this one, but when I listen to an audiobook I'm often multi-tasking so my attention is divided. Though when I read it myself all my attention is on the book.

Almost from the first page, I had to remind myself to relax my hands because my grip on my Kindle was so tight that I was afraid I would snap it in half.

Zero Hour hits the road running when Jack Jr. finds himself in the middle of a riot that is interrupted by a car bombing. Junior and Lisanne are on a recruiting trip in South Korea and once the action starts, be ready, because it doesn't let up. There are brief moments to catch your breath but it is mostly an adrenaline-infused rush to the conclusion. The story isn't rushed though; it is well-paced and there are plenty of twists as the plot shifts between Jack Jr and North Korean operatives in alternating chapters.

We don't see Jack Sr. in this novel but we get brief conversations with John Clark and Ding from the Campus, but largely Jack Jr is on his own - which is pretty much how all his stories are.

Whether you are a Jack Ryan fan or just looking for a great espionage story, you can't go wrong with this one.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/06/tom-clancy-zero-hour-by-don-bentley.html

This is the summer entry into the Jack Ryan/Jack Ryan Junior series. Typically the summer version follows Jack Ryan Junior on an adventure. This book is no different, it finds Jack in South Korea interviewing a possible asset for the campus when all hell breaks loose. There are a number of attacks on South Korea, and is up to Jack help prevent World War III. Jack must go to North Korea and rescue his important contact in order to stop war.

This book had a ton of action. Mr. Bentley kept things moving, and it never felt like more than a chapter or two went by without some sort of action involving Jack or the enemy. It has been fun to watch Jack Ryan Junior grow over the past years from his initial book, The Teeth of the Tiger, to where he is today. As with any book that stems from Tom Clancy, there is plenty of detailed technology that brings depth to the story. The storytelling is also top-notch as you really bond with characters and excited to see how their arcs play out.

Overall, this is a super fun thriller that keeps with the high standards Mr. Clancy had with most of its novels. If you are a thriller fan or just a fan of a well liked strong hero, this book is worth a read. I would like to thank @netgalley @putnambooks for a free arc for an honestreview.

Don Bentley has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Bentley carries on the Tom Clancy legacy beautifully writing the Jack Ryan Jr series. Highly recommended!

Bentley is no stranger to the thriller scene after the phenomenal start to his career with his Matt Drake series, and because of that, his stint as a Clancy estate writer has the highest of expectations from me. Following up the hair-raising Jack Ryan Jr. adventure Target Acquired, he brings a deadly battle on a peninsula that has been primed for explosion for years. Pull those belts tight, Zero Hour is going to get crazy.

Jack Ryan Jr. would be one of the most polarizing figures in the United States if people knew who he was. As the son of the President, you would think he has media following him everywhere, when in fact, Jack Ryan Jr. is a mythical ‘Campus’ operator/analyst roaming the world over keeping his country safe. While overseas with Lisanne Robertson, his something more than a girlfriend but not yet affirmed with the status conversation, South Korea turns deadly in an instant. While sightseeing in Seoul following a long flight, the heat picks up as Ryan sees what is either a flash mob or a riot starting. Police and EMS personnel arriving on scene seem to show that this is going to be a rowdy bunch until the world unexpectedly turns upside down.

Ryan does what any one from ‘The Campus’ would do, he acts, saving people and variably changing the lives of those around him. As his adventure is just beginning, ODA 555 is conducting real life training scenarios in South Korea as well. ODA members Jad Mustafa and Cary Marks are specialists in dealing death when they run into funny business that plagues the Korean peninsula. By doing what they are all trained to do, they unwillingly link up as terror strikes everywhere in downtown Seoul.

As the story unwinds you meet another host of special operators with an endless amount of witty rhetoric and timely firefights. The story continues to build and build and there is a point where you believe puppet hands are in play but that the North Koreans are the aggressors in every single way. While you are struggling to play this out in your mind and help the team decide what they need to do, Ryan, ODA 555, and the other operators are attempting to stop one of the most egregious acts of violence seen in recent times. If they do not execute a flawless mission of redemption the Korean peninsula will never be the same. Is it World War III or the complete inexistence of a neighboring country?

The battle takes on new fronts with terrifying helicopter combat, infiltration to areas that typically do not like Americans, and the race to save the most unlikely captive. I cannot stress that last point enough, the creativity that Bentley drops on every page is unmatched and relentless and Jack Ryan Jr. is at the top of his game right now. Bentley lures you in with his perfected balance of detail and drama, delivering treacherous territory for Ryan and Robertson to navigate and a world full of unknowns for you to enjoy!

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 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.

The ”Supreme Leader” has been missing for a number of days and the suspicion of a successful coup is rampant. The renegades are intent on initiating a war between the South and American advisors. They gather a detachment of soldiers intent on exacerbating the chaos.

A leading medical advisor to the “Supreme Leader” has him placed in a safe bunker near the border between the North and the South. Can the plans of the radicals in the North Korean military succeed in starting WWIII?

Jack Ryan Jr. joins up with a group of U.S. Navy Seals to attempt to thwart the potential of WW III. Jack believes the Seals are effective but not very eloquent in the execution of plans. The give and take between the two is humorous.

Don Bentley writes a very convincing saga of cold war tensions and events. The Supreme Leader is only incapacitated for a week which appears long enough to start WWIII. The insurgents hope to eliminate the leader of North Korea and put themselves in power.

There is not a dull moment in this novel, it’s fast-paced and filled with action. The protagonist is self-confident and independent and efficient. The narrative is gripping and the conclusion satisfying. 5 stars – CE Williams

Don Bentley continues his winning streak of stupendously thrilling adventures in the Clancy-verse. His take on Jack Ryan Jr. is peak entertainment and keeps you on the edge of your seat for the whole duration of the book.
This time we see Ryan Jr. in South Korea where he stumbles upon a plot by North Korean officials to wage war against its neighbor. With help from unlikely sources including two hilariously witty Special Forces operators, Ryan Jr. must protect a Campus asset and follow the breadcrumbs to uncover a devastating new weapon before Zero Hour approaches and kicks off the next major world conflict.
Ryan Jr. continues to evolve under the expert tutelage of Bentley’s meticulous writing with a distinctive charm that radiates freshness and excitement. His evolution reaches new levels due to Bentley’s well-placed patches of dark and sinister experiences that add to the gravitas of the scenario’s plausibility without taking away from the levity of the hysterical banters between characters in otherwise serious moments.
The story comes locked and loaded with adrenaline-pumping action sequences ranging in diversity from stunning feats of aerial maneuverability in Apache gunships to good ol’ shootouts and martial arts as Jack Ryan Jr. takes a plethora of headshots with his MP5 and kicks butt with expert ease. Don Bentley writes vivid scenes of combat on all mediums that walk you through the high-octane situations with pitch perfect clarity almost as if you were honing your warrior senses to take out your enemies.
At the same time, the narrative also sheds light on a political conflict usually overshadowed in the thrillerverse. With all the focus going on Russian and Middle-Eastern conflicts, Zero Hour is a fresh change of scenery with the Korean backdrop. Not only does the story awaken a curiosity to find out more on that frontier, but it also keeps things unpredictable which immensely helps the narrative from going stale.
High on action and laughs in the midst of sheer chaos, Don Bentley’s Zero Hour is a no-brainer pick when you want to kick back with hot cocoa and a light read that aptly balances both the suspension of disbelief and the necessity of pragmatism.

Full review posted on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com

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.

Jack Ryan, Jr. and Lisanne Robertson are in Seoul, South Korea to interview a potential asset for the Campus when, as usual, trouble finds Junior in the form of a wave of violent attacks in the city. After convincing John Clark to let him lead an operation to figure out who’s behind the hostile acts, Jack goes on the offensive with the help of a mysterious source, a couple of Green Beret snipers, a team of Navy SEALs and a bevy of hotshot Army helicopter pilots in a resolute effort to stop all-out war from breaking out, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and consuming the Korean peninsula.

While the entire book is excellent, there are a few aspects of Zero Hour that really stand out. First, Don Bentley’s signature of putting his characters through hell is once again prevalent throughout. Jack doesn’t make it a handful of pages before being in the blast radius of a VBIED…and that’s just the beginning. He’s tested physically, mentally and emotionally throughout the story with his wellbeing at risk and safety absolutely uncertain.

Second, while North Korea has increasingly been the antagonists in thrillers the past several years, usually it’s in regard to direct conflict against the United States. So having the plot focus on the Korean peninsula and the prospect of war between North and South was a slight, yet bold, change of pace that works very well.

And last but not least, perhaps the most intriguing part of Zero Hour is how Don puts you in the cockpit of an Apache in a way not before seen in fiction. Makes sense given Don’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. Don 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!

Another impressive book by an impressive writer and induvial. I’d say Don Bentley is a rising star, but that’s no longer accurate because he’s already right there with the best in the genre. Whether it’s writing in the Clancy universe or his brilliant Matt Drake series, Don can be counted on to bring the heat with everything he writes and has reached “automatic must read” status for thriller fans.

This is an installment of the Jack Ryan series. Jack is in South Korea to recruit a woman for the Campus when all hell breaks loose. Jack is walking in the city when he ends up in the middle of a bombing. The North Korean leader is ill and a faction of the North is planning to attack the South and seize power. Jack is forced to go into action to stop a war. This book is fact paced and the action is non stop from the first page. Altho this book is part of the series it could be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Maybe it's me, but these reprises in the style Tom Clancy ginned up by various hired writers are beginning to reach the level of self-parody. Clancy was no great writer, but he gave us titles far better than the ones we've gotten recently with his name on the cover. Maybe it's time for the publisher to stop exploiting him like this.

Clancy books have never featured complex plots or character development, I understand that, but ZERO HOUR offers up a plot so simpleminded and characters so one-dimensional and predictable that the effort and engagement it requires from a reader is... well, zero. About the only thing the book offers is dialogue so overloaded with jargon that even that turns quickly turns into a joke.

I'm sure there are a ton of people who will buy this book. Some of them may even enjoy reading it. I simply didn't. Like I said, maybe it's me.

Don Bentley has masterfully delivered another installment in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Jr. series with Zero Hour. Filled with unrelenting suspense from beginning to end, the reader is in for an intense and exhilarating ride. This is Jack Ryan, Jr at his finest!

Jack Jr. is in South Korea attempting to recruit a helper asset for The Campus when a bombing sets in motion a series of events that catapults him into a full-fledged Campus operative rushing to prevent a catastrophic military conflict. With fully realized side characters, and realistic military components, Zero Hour is a fast paced read; I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. This installment had an element of mystery and I feel that was amplified by my not knowing much plot beforehand. While this is part of an ongoing series, this can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest 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.

Bentley has never been shy about putting the hurt on his protagonists while they deal out pain and suffering amongst their enemies. This book is no different. Jack Jr. must overcome a series of both physically and mentally challenging obstacles to accomplish his goals. You’ll have to read the book to see how much it costs him to do so.

As an added bonus, Bentley utilizes his personal military experience to help put readers directly into the cockpit of an Apache. That type of authenticity cannot be faked and I found those scenes to be both fascinating and terrifying. The additional description of the comradery amongst the operators, despite interbranch rivalries, was also a joy to read. Regardless of which series he is working on, Bentley should be at the top of every one’s “to read” list.