Synopsis
"The Cardinal and the Kremlin" is a political thriller novel by Tom Clancy and co-author Martin Greenberg, published in 1988. The story follows the attempts of the United States government to prevent a possible nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
The novel opens with the death of a Soviet dissident named Vladimir Semyonov. His death is initially believed to be a suicide, but evidence suggests that he was murdered by the KGB. The US President, Ed Kealty, sends his National Security Advisor, Admiral James Greer, to investigate the case.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union is facing a severe economic crisis, and the Politburo is considering launching a nuclear strike against the United States to distract from the domestic issues. In response, the US government sends a cardinal, Stephen Fermoyle, to Moscow to negotiate a peace agreement with the Soviet Union.
As Fermoyle begins his negotiations, he is drawn into the investigation of Semyonov's death, which leads him to discover a plot by the KGB to launch a nuclear attack on the United States. Fermoyle works with Greer and a team of CIA agents to stop the attack and prevent a nuclear war.
The novel features many of the characters from Clancy's previous novels, including Jack Ryan, John Clark, and Ding Chavez. It also includes historical figures such as Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan. The book is a fast-paced political thriller, with plenty of action, suspense, and diplomatic intrigue.