Patriot GamesPatriot Games
Score Classic
What it's about
Jack Ryan is a former Marine and history teacher on vacation in London when he stumbles onto a terrorist attack on members of the British royal family, and stops it. In doing so he kills one of the attackers, members of a violent splinter group of Irish terrorists. The surviving terrorists swear revenge, and when they bring their war to Ryan's family in Maryland, he joins the CIA to fight back.
Why it's worth reading
It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list, was a PBS Great American Read pick, and became a film with Harrison Ford. It's one of the defining thrillers of the '80s.
You'll love it if you liked
Noble House
The Day of the Jackal
The GodfatherGood to know
It comes before The Hunt for Red October in Jack Ryan's story, though it was written after. There's a lot of technical detail.
By the numbers
- Readers75 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller61 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #56 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #220 of the 762 classics we rank
- #693 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Epic, Dark
More by Tom Clancy
Without Remorse
Red Storm Rising
Clear and Present Danger
Rainbow SixIf you like this, read next
The Pillars of the Earth
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Quick answers
Is Patriot Games worth reading?
Yes. It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list, was a PBS Great American Read pick, and became a film with Harrison Ford. It ranks #693 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Patriot Games about?
Jack Ryan is a former Marine and history teacher on vacation in London when he stumbles onto a terrorist attack on members of the British royal family, and stops it. In doing so he kills one of the attackers, members of a violent splinter group of Irish terrorists. The surviving terrorists swear revenge, and when they bring their war to Ryan's family in Maryland, he joins the CIA to fight back.
How long does it take to read Patriot Games?
About 20 hours (800 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Patriot Games?
If you liked it, try Noble House by James Clavell, The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth or The Godfather by Mario Puzo.