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Book Review: The Murder of the Real Jack Ryan: Piecing Together the Life and Death of an American Hero and CIA Operator

Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Title: The Murder of the Real Jack Ryan: Piecing Together the Life and Death of an American Hero and CIA Operator

Author: Daniel P. Sullivan

Publication Date: September 16, 2020

Genre: United States Biographies

Cover:

I like the deep blue paired with the black and white photograph. The overlay is unique and reminded me of a puzzle or a maze. Making the words “Jack Ryan” stand out was a smart move, as many people are familiar with this name due to Tom Clancy’s book/movie series, even though the two are unrelated.

Premise

The Murder of the Real Jack Ryan shares the story of Jack Edwin Ryan, a man descended from Irish immigrants who rose through military and government ranks to earn the title of an American hero. From his military service partnering closely with the French resistance during World War II to his time as a CIA operative working tirelessly to avoid the Vietnam war, Sullivan pieces together the professional and personal moments of Jack’s life to offer the reader a well-rounded view of the man. Taking an investigative journalist role, Sullivan dives deep into the mystery surrounding Jack’s murder and who might be behind it.

Why I chose this book:

Author Daniel. P. Sullivan requested this review. This was the first biography to be received at The Redhead Notes, and I was happy to expand my genres by accepting it.

First Impression:

From the very first chapter, it is clear to the reader that an astounding amount of research was completed in order to tell the story of the Ryan family. Not only is Sullivan meticulous in his reporting of details, but he manages to weave the research into a story format.

What I loved:

To truly understand Jack Ryan, the reader must first understand the family he came from and the influence they had on his life. Sullivan’s decision to start this biography with Jack’s great-grandfather, Patrick William Ryan, and his immigration to the United States in 1847 was strategic. It paved the way to understanding why Jack had an unwavering commitment to public service, even at the expense of his family. I found the story of Jack’s parents, Ed and Georgette Lecointe Ryan, fascinating! Ed served in the military and then had prominent public service and political roles in Minnesota. He was exceptionally forward-thinking for his generation, and Sullivan clearly showed how this mindset influenced Jack and his own life and career.

The commentary on politics, government, and the relationship between the U.S. and other countries was enlightening. Sullivan did not shy away from documenting just how deceptive the government and its officers can be. While World War I and II are some of my favorite periods in history, I knew very little about the Vietnam War and what led up to it. Sullivan shined a light on this backstory, and I now fully understand why this war was fraught with controversy.

Additional Thoughts:

I love that Sullivan included pictures in the book, as it helps to bring those people to life in the eyes of the reader. However, from a formatting standpoint, the images often felt cramped and did not have captions. While this may be a personal preference, I like being able to flip through a book and skim the captions quickly.

I believe the ideal reader for this book is one who either loves history or is particularly intrigued with the Vietnam War. Sullivan goes into great detail about Ryan’s time in Vietnam, which is logical given that this is where he spent the final months of his life. Since this is not my favorite period, I sometimes struggled to maintain close attention to the details.

Quotable Quotes:

• Jack Ryan was one of millions of young men and women who answered the call when America went to war in 1941. They were flung into faraway places, new roles and unexpected adventures. The people they became – if they survived – often lay in what fate had to offer during the war years.
• Poverty would come to shape the brothers’ belief in education, just as it had bolstered their conviction that providing for the family was a priority. The two would make certain their own children would benefit from what they had been denied.
• Ed had been everything his father wasn’t, but Jack would be everything his father was: ambitious, hard-working and duty bound.
• “At that point in time, I guess I realized it was a matter of ‘this is what we had to do.’ You give (the government) your soul. They make use of your life and death as they see fit.”

Who might enjoy this book:

The Murder of the Real Jack Ryan is ideal for readers who love history and are curious about the life and death of a “real-life American hero.”

Overall Impression:

Five stars. The Murder of the Real Jack Ryan is a biography with a healthy dose of investigative journalism, which was not an easy feat considering Jack Ryan died in 1965. Sullivan pays a beautiful tribute to not only Jack but the entire Ryan clan by sharing their personal family correspondence and stories. Sullivan documents the Ryan family’s contributions to the United States through military and political service while answering the question of who killed Jack and for what reason.

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