Who writes Jack Ryan?
Tom Clancy created the Jack Ryan series and wrote 17 of its 44 novels (1984–2015). Ward Larsen ghostwrote the most recent entry, Rules of Engagement (2026). Earlier books in the rotation came from Mark Greaney, Grant Blackwood, Mike Maden, Marc Cameron, Don Bentley, Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson and M.P. Woodward.
The full authorship picture
- Creator Tom Clancy 17 novels
- Ghostwriter Mark Greaney 4 books — from Support and Defend (2014) to True Faith and Allegiance (2016)
- Ghostwriter Grant Blackwood 2 books — from Under Fire (2015) to Duty and Honor (2016)
- Ghostwriter Mike Maden 4 books — from Point of Contact (2017) to Firing Point (2020)
- Ghostwriter Marc Cameron 7 books — from Power and Empire (2017) to Command and Control (2023)
- Ghostwriter Don Bentley 4 books — from Target Acquired (2021) to Weapons Grade (2023)
- Ghostwriter Brian Andrews 3 books — from Act of Defiance (2024) to Executive Power (2025)
- Ghostwriter Jeffrey Wilson 3 books — from Act of Defiance (2024) to Executive Power (2025)
- Ghostwriter M.P. Woodward 3 books — from Shadow State (2024) to Terminal Velocity (2025)
- Ghostwriter Ward Larsen 1 book — Rules of Engagement (2026)
Several of these writers' credited books overlap in publication order rather than following on cleanly from one another — the table below shows exactly who wrote which book.
Every book, with its credited writer
This list follows publication order. Each credit below is the byline recorded for that specific book. It is the checkable source for the summary above.
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Tom Clancy
- by Grant Blackwood & Tom Clancy
- by Mark Greaney & Tom Clancy
- by Mark Greaney & Tom Clancy
- by Mark Greaney & Tom Clancy
- · Ghostwriter: Mark Greaney
- · Ghostwriter: Mark Greaney
- · Ghostwriter: Grant Blackwood
- by Tom Clancy · Ghostwriter: Mark Greaney
- · Ghostwriter: Grant Blackwood
- · Ghostwriter: Mark Greaney
- · Ghostwriter: Mike Maden
- · Ghostwriter: Marc Cameron
- · Ghostwriter: Mike Maden
- · Ghostwriter: Marc Cameron
- · Ghostwriter: Mike Maden
- · Ghostwriter: Marc Cameron
- · Ghostwriter: Mike Maden
- · Ghostwriter: Marc Cameron
- · Ghostwriter: Don Bentley
- · Ghostwriter: Marc Cameron
- · Ghostwriter: Don Bentley
- · Ghostwriter: Marc Cameron
- · Ghostwriter: Don Bentley
- · Ghostwriter: Don Bentley
- · Ghostwriter: Marc Cameron
- · Ghostwriter: Brian Andrews · Ghostwriter: Jeffrey Wilson
- · Ghostwriter: M.P. Woodward
- · Ghostwriter: Brian Andrews · Ghostwriter: Jeffrey Wilson
- · Ghostwriter: M.P. Woodward
- · Ghostwriter: M.P. Woodward
- · Ghostwriter: Brian Andrews · Ghostwriter: Jeffrey Wilson
- · Ghostwriter: Ward Larsen
How the credits break down
Jack Ryan has 44 novels on file from 1984 to 2026. 28 of them carry a credit for a writer other than the creator. Because the byline changes, the credit for each book matters.
Mark Greaney has 4 book credits as a ghostwriter. The credits run from Support and Defend (2014) to True Faith and Allegiance (2016). Since credits can change from book to book, the table below shows each one.
Grant Blackwood has 2 book credits as a ghostwriter. The credits run from Under Fire (2015) to Duty and Honor (2016). While credits can change from book to book, the table below shows each one.
Mike Maden has 4 book credits as a ghostwriter. The credits run from Point of Contact (2017) to Firing Point (2020). Although credits can change from book to book, the table below shows each one.
Roles matter here. A ghostwriter writes a book for someone else, while a continuation author carries a series on after its creator. Both get a credit on the book page. Therefore the byline tells you who wrote each novel. Credits come from public bibliographic and publisher records. We list them book by book, so you can check any claim. For the full reading order, open the series page.
However, these writers' credits overlap in publication order. For that reason, no single writer simply took over, and the table shows who wrote which book.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes the Jack Ryan series now?
Tom Clancy created the Jack Ryan series and wrote 17 of its 44 novels (1984–2015). Ward Larsen ghostwrote the most recent entry, Rules of Engagement (2026). Earlier books in the rotation came from Mark Greaney, Grant Blackwood, Mike Maden, Marc Cameron, Don Bentley, Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson and M.P. Woodward.
Who created the Jack Ryan series?
Tom Clancy created the Jack Ryan series and wrote 17 of its 44 novels (1984–2015).