Book 5 in the Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy. (3.5 Stars) The story is set in the late 1980s, to the background of the arms control talks between the Soviet Union and the United States. Both countries are clandestinely working on anti-missile defense systems based on using lasers to shoot down incoming missiles. The CIA's most highly protected agent within the USSR is known as the Cardinal, and he is sending information about the Soviet system to the US, but a small mistake, combined with coincidence, leads to the Cardinal's capture - and in turn, sets up a rescue mission to get him out.

All in all this is a solid, fast moving story with engaging characters and believable action. The biggest problem with the book is that there are too many superfluous people and minor story lines - a good editor could have cut this book by well over 100 pages, tightened up the story, and not lost anything of value. But, having said that, I still enjoyed the whole thing, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys spy thrillers.