Jack Ryan Books in Order

by Tom Clancy · 29 books · ★ 4.3 average rating · Updated 1 October 2026

CIA analyst Jack Ryan rises from academic to President as geopolitical crises test him again and again.

Here is the complete Jack Ryan reading order — all 29 books by Tom Clancy, in the order you should read them:

Reading order

1. The Hunt for Red OctoberA Soviet sub captain tries to defect with his state-of-the-art boat.1984479 pages
2. Patriot GamesRyan foils an IRA splinter-cell assassination and earns a vendetta.1987541 pages
3. The Cardinal of the KremlinA Soviet mole in the Kremlin and SDI on the line.1988548 pages
4. Clear and Present DangerA secret war against Colombian drug cartels goes wrong.1989688 pages
5. The Sum of All FearsTerrorists detonate a nuke at the Super Bowl.1991914 pages
6. Debt of HonorJapan-US trade war escalates into real war.1994828 pages
7. Executive OrdersRyan becomes President overnight, with no administration and a biological attack looming.19961,101 pages
8. The Bear and the DragonRussia and China on the brink of war.20001,028 pages
9. Red RabbitA prequel — Ryan's work to rescue a Soviet defector.2002720 pages
10. The Teeth of the TigerJack Ryan Jr.2003431 pages
11. Dead or AliveJack Ryan, out of office and running for the White House, races to track down a terrorist mastermind known as the Emir.2010
12. Locked OnA rogue Pakistani general edges toward a nuclear showdown with India while a political rival tries to frame Jack Ryan Sr.2011
13. Threat VectorChinese hard-liners unleash a wave of cyberattacks and covert operations aimed at pushing the U.S.2012
14. Command AuthorityA resurgent Russia uses covert funds and deniable forces to pressure its neighbors, echoing a long-buried KGB scheme President Ryan once uncovered.2013
15. Support and DefendCampus operative Dominic Caruso hunts a fleeing staffer whose stolen files threaten to expose U.S.2014
16. Full Force and EffectAfter a North Korean missile disaster, Jack Ryan Jr.2014
17. Commander in ChiefRussia's President Volodin masses troops on NATO's border as President Ryan scrambles to stop a new Cold War from turning hot.2015
18. True Faith and AllegianceA massive data breach exposes covert operatives, triggering a wave of attacks that Ryan's team must stop before it reaches the White House.2016
19. Power and EmpirePresident Ryan confronts a Chinese plot to corner the global oil market alongside a personal threat to his own family.2017
20. Oath of OfficeA conspiracy inside Ryan's own administration surfaces as a rogue mercenary force operates unchecked in East Africa.2018
21. Code of HonorRyan's team uncovers a Chinese scheme using a tech mogul's global platform to steal Western trade and defense secrets.2019
22. Shadow of the DragonAs China moves aggressively against Taiwan, Ryan's team races to keep the crisis from tipping into open war.2020
23. Chain of CommandA coup abroad and a kidnapped operative pull Ryan's team into a fight over a country's future.2021
24. Red WinterA defector's secrets about a hidden weapons program put Ryan's team on a collision course with the Kremlin.2022
25. Command and ControlA compromised nuclear submarine forces President Ryan into a race against time to prevent global catastrophe.2023
26. Act of DefianceA new generation of Campus operatives confronts a resurgent threat as old enemies close in on President Ryan's administration.2024
27. Defense ProtocolRyan's administration faces a covert attack testing America's cyber and military defenses.2024
28. Executive PowerPresident Ryan navigates a fresh international crisis threatening U.S.2025
29. Rules of EngagementPresident Ryan investigates a plane-crash cover-up that uncovers a Russian conspiracy to disrupt the global oil trade.2026

Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.

Upcoming: the next book, Tom Clancy The Coldest War, releases on 24 November 2026. BookBinge Pro can notify you the day it drops.

Frequently asked questions

More Thriller series in order