The Hunt for Red October

What Tom Clancy lacks in characterization and style he makes up for in plot, nowhere better than in his first novel, The Hunt for Red October. The book is the story of CIA analyst Jack Ryan, who believes that a rogue Soviet submarine captain has intentions of defecting to the United States. The narrative follows a reliable formula — a low-level analyst must prove that he is right and his superiors are wrong — but Clancy executes it almost flawlessly. This is a superb modern thriller.