Divide and Conquer

Tom Clancy's Op-Center #7

by Jeff Rovin, Tom Clancy (Series Creator), Steve Pieczenik (Series Creator)

Shadowy elements within the State Department secretly cause tensions to flare between Iran and the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. They hope to start a shooting war to increase their own power and profit.

At the same time, the conspirators decide to up the ante --- by deposing the president of the United States. In a treacherous scheme, they convince the president that he is mentally unstable, and a silent coup d'etat is within their reach.

Now, Paul Hood and the members of Op-Center must race against the clock to prevent the outbreak of war, save the honor of the president --- and expose the traitors ...

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Espionage, Adventure, Action, Military Fiction, Suspense

372 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 12, 2000

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Conspiracies abound in Washington and Azerbaijan as powerful political figures in the former hope events in the latter will change the nation and the world. Divide and Conquer is the seventh book of the Op-Center series written, and acknowledged, by Jeff Rovin as the newly returned Op-Center Director Paul Hood who is dealing with the aftermath of his daughter’s ordeal and the dissolution of marriage finds himself attempting to stop events political and diplomatic from spiraling out of control.

In Baku, Azerbaijan a CIA operative is knocked unconscious by the terrorist The Harpooner who injects the operative with a virus before joining his team of Iranians to set up and destroy an Iranian oil rig so as to blame the Azerbaijani. The CIA operative goes to the U.S. Embassy and meets the local CIA officer and officer from Moscow when he falls sick resulting in his two colleagues are assassinated by a rogue NSA agent and one of The Harpooner’s contacts. Meanwhile Paul Hood meets with the First Lady about President Lawrence who seems to not be himself, but a clue from the night before results in Op-Center finding something going on with the head of the NSA especially since he was secretly meeting with the Iranian U.N. mission. Hood then learns about The Harpooner in Baku and calls his Russian counterpart to work to capture the terrorist, but the murder of the two CIA agents result in the Russian Op-Center getting an undercover agent to save the sick CIA operative who is recovering. The two agents then track down The Harpooner and kill him. Just then Hood and his team have found evidence that the Vice President and the Chief of Staff along with the NSA head have been giving the President false information so as to use the crisis in Caspian to force him to resign. With the First Lady, Hood forces his way into the Situation Room and confront the conspirators though to a stalemate until the NSA head gets a call from a secure phone in The Harpooner’s possession from the recovering CIA operative. Though the Vice President attempts keep his office, Lawrence forces him to resign along with his two co-conspirators.

Released in 2000, Divide and Conquer was a product of its time with an insider conspiracy against a sitting U.S. President. The background of the Lawrence administration, which is retconned from Op-Center, and events in Washington were the major downfall of this book. First Rovin apparently forgets the 22nd Amendment on term limits, Lawrence has won 3 of the 4 elections he was in, and fails to set up Hood connection with the First Lady in the previous six books. Second, how the conspirators misinform the President is unlikely to happen since in real life they wouldn’t be able to do it and at no time were the Secretaries of State and Defense around especially in the Situation Room. Add on top of this is the poor editing throughout the book especially in regards to the capitalization of titles, i.e. Vice president, and Paul Hood giving The Harpooner’s actual name when no intelligence agency in the world actually knows it. However, I will give Rovin credit for the well written events and characters in and around Baku as well as the Russian Op-Center which are the most believable in the book along with subtle setup for the next book in the series.

Divide and Conquer is a mishmash of good and really bad but unlike previous books there is no intriguing plot for Jeff Rovin to underperform in writing. If anything of the two arcs in the book’s plot, it’s the one that doesn’t include the titular institution and main character that is better written in story and characters. Although this is a different issue than previous books, it keeps up the generally underwhelming quality of this series.

[Raymond Gettins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line and engaging characters. Time to was the next in the series.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Op-Center novel, so I am coming into the middle of a series. It took some time to get up to speed on the characters but once I did it was great. Good characters and a good plot. I enjoyed this one a lot

[JodiP · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I was getting a Tom Clancy novel--whom I don't think I've ever read--but no. This was so laughably bad. Of course Muslims are the bad guys. Then, the main character references an episode in which his teenage daughter was kidnapped, he rescued her, and his wife resented that he wasn't home caring for her, so she left him. Anybody who'd write such a stupid female character does not get my time.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy books from the Op-Center series. They are a step below technically from Tom Clancy's main books. But for that reason, they are more understandable to me. This book had a very unique plot and kept me turning the pages to find out how it would end.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scariest thing about this story is, with tensions high between the U.S. and Iran, this book could almost serve as a warning. Very intriguing story line, it kept me wanting to know what happens next.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as an audiobook performed by Michael Kramer about 8 hours. This is my first Op Center read and I understand that this is the 7th in the series. Paul Hood is a main character and much has happened in his life prior to this novel. Lots of political and spy action both U.S. and international as well as a very good overview of White House protocols and set-up. Perhaps, too much information for me to follow as a lot was packed into a relatively short (i.e. 8 hour listen) book. Nonetheless, a good story gets 4 stars from me.

[Drew Keim · Rating 3 out of 5]

__________________________________________
1 star = Did not finish / did not like
2 stars = Had trouble keeping attention to finish
3 stars = Good enjoyable book. A great way to spend my time.
4 stars = Couldn't set the book down. Engaging. Great Book.
Will likely reread when more of the series is released.
5 stars = (4 stars) plus such a good book I will re-read it periodically.
___________________________________________

[Stuart Haining · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a shock to discover NOT written by Tom Clancy (the authors name was tiny on my version!) so had low anticipation - turned out to be an enjoyable read, well written, great plot. Would have scored higher if the ending had been more dramatic versus an obvious intro for a sequel. Shame. Won’t read again or keep.

[carl clause · Rating 5 out of 5]

CC1

As always another excellent story. Paul proved his determined passion and for his country. Unfortunately because of the UN tragedy his marriage was over. But he already pretty much new that. It was both their fault. Now it was up to him to get right with his kids. Glad to see him and An get together just rewards!! 5 stars plus!!!Thanks, Carl Clause

[Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambitious politicians and NSA officials attempt a coup of the Executive Branch by gaslighting the president and bringing the US to the brink of war. Sharon finally files for divorce against Paul Hood. Ann Farris makes her move.

This one is an easy read, entertaining and satisfying, but not as complex as the usual Op Center installment.

[Andreu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aquesta sèrie de Tom Clancy ha millorat una mica respecte als primers llibres però no mereixen les 5 *, no estan tant mal escrits com els primers llibres i la tensió està, més o menys, boen portada, però no son gens creibles. Això, al meu entendre, els resta molts punts perquè siguin de 5 estrelles. En resum, si l’hagués de tornar a llegir, no ho faria.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Op-Center Novel. Just the right balance of twists; and it also has left hook for more in the next novel. The new characters were interesting and add just the right amount of back ground detail. I am looking forward to the next novel "Lines of Control Op-Center, #8"

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing. I got a behind the scenes look at what goes on in the government and overseas operations. The characters really come to life in the story, which made me want to read even more!

[Ben Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the first 5 in the series years ago, and then went back and read the first one a couple months back, but enjoyed this series and this one also good. The move thing about this series is so many characters on the team that there is usually a few good threads going. On at the same time.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Op Center crew helps go after a most-wanted terrorist and save the US President from a plot to overthrow him. Using their friends in Russia, the terrorist is caught. This help reveal the connection to the NSA, who was key in the plot to overthrow the US government. Great listen.

[Kevin Stumpf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good addition to the series. MUCH better than Shadow State and Defense Protocol. Not a whole lot of action, but enough. Quick read. Complete plot. A few twists, but a few obvious situations. Looking forward to Line of Control.

[chris marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Great book, couldn't put it down, page after page of excitement. Such a great series of books recommend all of them

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

More politics and hunting down assassins as well as preventing a coup than the other technothriller genre that Clancy and his associates like.

[Christopher DuMont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was by far the best Op Center book in the series so far. I enjoyed all the story lines and I like the teasers for the next book.

[Shreyanth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can't be put down once the plot thickens. A really fast paced political/espionage thriller.

[Rehear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually fabulous

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[David N Fetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good action

Good narrative keeps you engaged. Hard to put down. Recommended to fans of spy mystery thrillers. Continues in the tradition of OpCenter reads.

[Justin Guinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Op Center books are ok just all seemed rushed compared to the Jack Ryan series.

[Quazi · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s boring. Waste of time. May be I won't read any other Op-Center.

[Terry King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Booring

The story line drug on at times and I did not feel Tom Clancy in it, but it was interesting

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the Tom Clancy series.

This one travels to Azerbaijan and Russia. Since I was stationed nearby, I enjoyed what the book included as facts strung together in the story.

Enjoy!

[Richard L. Paschall]

Entertaining Throughout


Nice flow and continuity. Author kept several fronts going at once without losing the audience. 👍 Definately worth the read.

[Lars Farabee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun read, this time it’s an attempted coup. Rinse repeat. Still fun stories with good characters, I’ll stick with the series until that changes and so far it hasn’t.