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Cover of Without Remorse by Tom ClancyWithout Remorse
Modern · Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Without Remorse

by Tom Clancy
1993 · 769 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 19 hours to read · about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Before he was the CIA legend Mr. Clark, he was John Kelly, a former Navy SEAL grieving the death of his wife. When he rescues a young woman from a drug ring in Baltimore and she is murdered, Kelly sets out to destroy the dealers, while also being recruited for a secret mission to rescue American prisoners in Vietnam.

Why it's worth reading

It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1993. It's the origin story of one of Tom Clancy's most popular characters.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It's darker and more violent than the Jack Ryan books. It's set in 1970 and stands on its own.

By the numbers

76.5Must-Read Score
  • Readers84 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller52 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

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (2 weeks at #1)One of the ten best-selling books of 1993 (Publishers Weekly)

Reads as

Gripping, Epic, Dark

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is Without Remorse worth reading?

Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1993. It ranks #650 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.5 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Without Remorse about?

Before he was the CIA legend Mr. Clark, he was John Kelly, a former Navy SEAL grieving the death of his wife. When he rescues a young woman from a drug ring in Baltimore and she is murdered, Kelly sets out to destroy the dealers, while also being recruited for a secret mission to rescue American prisoners in Vietnam.

How long does it take to read Without Remorse?

About 19 hours (769 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Without Remorse?

If you liked it, try Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn, The Defector by Daniel Silva or Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child.