The sudden and surprising assassination of three American officials in Colombia.

Many people in many places, moving off on missions they all mistakenly thought they understood.

The future was too fearful for contemplation, and beyond the expected finish lines were things that, once decided, were better left unseen.

Tom Clancy's thriller is based on America's war on drugs . . . and the covert - and shocking - U. S. response.

"The issues raised are real ones, and a jump ahead of the headlines." The New York Times

"Rousing adventure...A crackling good yarn." The Washington Post

Tom Clancy is the author of The Hunt for Red October and Clear and Present Danger, among several other bestselling novels. His has also written many works of nonfiction about the U.S. military. He is a co-creator of the Op-Center, Power Plays, and Net Force series. He lives in Maryland.