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Mitch Rapp #5
Separation of Power
Newly appointed CIA director Dr. Irene Kennedy is the target of an inside plot to destroy her and prematurely end the American President's term. To make matters worse, Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race - something Israel has vowed to stop. With the haunting specter of World War III looming, the president calls on his secret weapon: top counter-terrorism operative Mitch Rapp. But with only two weeks to take out the nukes, Rapp is up against a ticking clock - and impossible odds.
14 pages, Audiobook
First published October 1, 2001
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About the author
Vince Flynn
41 books6,987 followersThe fifth of seven children, Vince Flynn was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1966. He graduated from the St. Thomas Academy in 1984, and the University of St. Thomas with a degree in economics in 1988.
After college he went to work for Kraft General Foods where he was an account and sales marketing specialist. In 1990 he left Kraft to accept an aviation candidate slot with the United States Marine Corps. One week before leaving for Officers Candidate School, he was medically disqualified from the Marine Aviation Program, due to several concussions and convulsive seizures he suffered growing up. While trying to obtain a medical waiver for his condition, he started thinking about writing a book. This was a very unusual choice for Flynn since he had been diagnosed with dyslexia in grade school and had struggled with reading and writing all his life.
Having been stymied by the Marine Corps, Flynn returned to the nine-to-five grind and took a job with United Properties, a commercial real estate company in the Twin Cities. During his spare time he worked on an idea he had for a book. After two years with United Properties he decided to take a big gamble. He quit his job, moved to Colorado, and began working full time on what would eventually become Term Limits.
Like many struggling artists before him, he bartended at night and wrote during the day. Five years and more than sixty rejection letters later he took the unusual step of self-publishing his first novel. The book went to number one in the Twin Cities, and within a week had a new agent and two-book deal with Pocket Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
Vince Flynn passed away on June 19, 2013 after a three year battle with prostate cancer.
After college he went to work for Kraft General Foods where he was an account and sales marketing specialist. In 1990 he left Kraft to accept an aviation candidate slot with the United States Marine Corps. One week before leaving for Officers Candidate School, he was medically disqualified from the Marine Aviation Program, due to several concussions and convulsive seizures he suffered growing up. While trying to obtain a medical waiver for his condition, he started thinking about writing a book. This was a very unusual choice for Flynn since he had been diagnosed with dyslexia in grade school and had struggled with reading and writing all his life.
Having been stymied by the Marine Corps, Flynn returned to the nine-to-five grind and took a job with United Properties, a commercial real estate company in the Twin Cities. During his spare time he worked on an idea he had for a book. After two years with United Properties he decided to take a big gamble. He quit his job, moved to Colorado, and began working full time on what would eventually become Term Limits.
Like many struggling artists before him, he bartended at night and wrote during the day. Five years and more than sixty rejection letters later he took the unusual step of self-publishing his first novel. The book went to number one in the Twin Cities, and within a week had a new agent and two-book deal with Pocket Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
Vince Flynn passed away on June 19, 2013 after a three year battle with prostate cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,299 reviews
December 29, 2024
This was read a long time ago, but it came in recently as a donation to my Little Free Library Shed, so I decided to take some time and browse through it again.
It is so strange to look back on a 2001 book when our main protagonist is worried about Saddam Hussein.
But here I am. Book 5. I believe there are already 21 Mitch Rapp books out already!! Oh My!
Let’s take a trip down memory lane with this review I am now bringing to Goodreads.
Premise: One of the most trusted Senators and confidants to the President is plotting his downfall and covers his actions with smooth talking. He resorts to hiring assassins and dealing with dissadents in foreign countries to achieve his ends. Our protagonist is Mitch Rapp, the top U.S. operative in Black OPS.
Not only will there be high energy twists and turns, but lots of political intrigue and power struggles. And of course, we have to stop Saddam Hussein, right?
And...Nukes are on the loose.
And...Mitch only has 2 weeks to solve this problem.
Are you a Mitch Rapp fan?
As a side note, the author always likes to include true-to-life insider details as part of his stories. So, as a reader we always feel like we are right in the middle of a government conspiracy. But reading something that is this old, gives us a moment to pause.
The questions as readers then become...
Can it happen again - with a different villain?
Or in a different way?
Or is it happening now?
Gotcha thinking, maybe?!
It is so strange to look back on a 2001 book when our main protagonist is worried about Saddam Hussein.
But here I am. Book 5. I believe there are already 21 Mitch Rapp books out already!! Oh My!
Let’s take a trip down memory lane with this review I am now bringing to Goodreads.
Premise: One of the most trusted Senators and confidants to the President is plotting his downfall and covers his actions with smooth talking. He resorts to hiring assassins and dealing with dissadents in foreign countries to achieve his ends. Our protagonist is Mitch Rapp, the top U.S. operative in Black OPS.
Not only will there be high energy twists and turns, but lots of political intrigue and power struggles. And of course, we have to stop Saddam Hussein, right?
And...Nukes are on the loose.
And...Mitch only has 2 weeks to solve this problem.
Are you a Mitch Rapp fan?
As a side note, the author always likes to include true-to-life insider details as part of his stories. So, as a reader we always feel like we are right in the middle of a government conspiracy. But reading something that is this old, gives us a moment to pause.
The questions as readers then become...
Can it happen again - with a different villain?
Or in a different way?
Or is it happening now?
Gotcha thinking, maybe?!
December 15, 2020
Another missing review. Why......????
4 stars so I'm sure it was pretty awesome!!
4 stars so I'm sure it was pretty awesome!!
October 28, 2019
Book 5 in the Mitch Rapp series. First published in 2001.
Like agent 007 Mitch Rapp is licence to kill and he is very efficient at it.
Given the fact that the book is now 18 years old it’s no surprise that it’s geopolitically outdated, Saddam Hussein is still the number one threat to world peace. As long as the book is read in this context I have to say it was a power loaded thriller.
Mitch lives life on the edge almost all of the time. He’s the man who gets sent into countries that only the insane or the highly talented would dare to go. He does this at the behest of his government with the intent of helping to preserve peace in the world.
On this occasion it has been discovered that Saddam Hussein has got his hands on three nuclear warheads. These need to be neutralised and at any cost. The major problem is that the bombs are housed in an underground bunker and sitting on top of the bunker is one of Bagdad’s biggest hospitals. Bombing the site would be international suicide. With no place else to go the US president is left with Mitch Rapp and a small unit of elite US soldiers to get the job done. Their mission is to, not only, disarm the bombs but to bring them back to the US as proof of Hussein’s madness.
At the same time as Mitch and his army buddies are out there saving the world there are faceless people back in the USA that would like nothing better than to see Mitch Rapp six feet under the ground. Mitch really does need eyes in the back of his head.
And the cherry on the top of all this is his love life; both past and present; is causing him more headaches than all of the above put together.
A great escapist thriller.
A recommended 4 star read.
Like agent 007 Mitch Rapp is licence to kill and he is very efficient at it.
Given the fact that the book is now 18 years old it’s no surprise that it’s geopolitically outdated, Saddam Hussein is still the number one threat to world peace. As long as the book is read in this context I have to say it was a power loaded thriller.
Mitch lives life on the edge almost all of the time. He’s the man who gets sent into countries that only the insane or the highly talented would dare to go. He does this at the behest of his government with the intent of helping to preserve peace in the world.
On this occasion it has been discovered that Saddam Hussein has got his hands on three nuclear warheads. These need to be neutralised and at any cost. The major problem is that the bombs are housed in an underground bunker and sitting on top of the bunker is one of Bagdad’s biggest hospitals. Bombing the site would be international suicide. With no place else to go the US president is left with Mitch Rapp and a small unit of elite US soldiers to get the job done. Their mission is to, not only, disarm the bombs but to bring them back to the US as proof of Hussein’s madness.
At the same time as Mitch and his army buddies are out there saving the world there are faceless people back in the USA that would like nothing better than to see Mitch Rapp six feet under the ground. Mitch really does need eyes in the back of his head.
And the cherry on the top of all this is his love life; both past and present; is causing him more headaches than all of the above put together.
A great escapist thriller.
A recommended 4 star read.
June 16, 2017
Although set many years ago, this story still seems relevant today. The action is non-stop, with multiple plots eventually connected ... a good read.
August 27, 2012
Unlike the previous two Flynn novels, while this book could conceivably be read as a stand alone novel, if you haven't read The Third Option then this book will make much less sense, as this is basically a the second of a two part series. So I would definitely recommend that The Third Option be read before starting this book.
Like The Third Option, there is much in the way of political machinations in this story, and the largest event of the novel only really develops in the last fifth of the book. The rest of the story involves bringing together threads developed in the previous novel, and laying the groundwork for the conclusion.
As with his previous books, if you like Vince Flynn books then you'll almost certainly enjoy Separation Of Power. There is enough realism to make the story enjoyable, and the pacing of the story is fast making it a quick read.
Like The Third Option, there is much in the way of political machinations in this story, and the largest event of the novel only really develops in the last fifth of the book. The rest of the story involves bringing together threads developed in the previous novel, and laying the groundwork for the conclusion.
As with his previous books, if you like Vince Flynn books then you'll almost certainly enjoy Separation Of Power. There is enough realism to make the story enjoyable, and the pacing of the story is fast making it a quick read.
January 4, 2022
A real thrill ride of a novel. I enjoy Flynn's writing style and his main character Mitch Rapp. Just another fun story by Vince Flynn.
All bad guys get what's coming to them... and true to all good novels, Senator Hank Clark gets his "just reward".
All bad guys get what's coming to them... and true to all good novels, Senator Hank Clark gets his "just reward".
August 27, 2013
Fifth in the Mitch Rapp series, this one follows closely on from The Third Option and it would be fairly confusing not to have read this first and relatively recently. I enjoyed this more as there was less politics and more action and they brought the plot from the previous book to a satisfying conclusion.
Mitch has travelled to Italy with a plan to propose to Anna and get out of his career as an assassin, but while there meets with his ex Donatella to find out who had tried to have him killed. Senior politicians have been plotting to bring down Irene Kennedy and ultimately the president, with the help of the head of Mossad. Meanwhile the president is advised that Saddam is developing nuclear weapons for imminent use and needs to find a way to destroy them without starting an international incident.
There were several unnecessary repetitions throughout in descriptions of people and places, which didn't matter but it didn't feel well edited, and from the way that Flynn portrayed Anna as a selfish jealous shrew I thought she wouldn't survive - I still wonder how Mitch is going to get through the next 8 books with a wife in tow. The events described also seem strange when read with hindsight because it was set and published in 2001, I'm wondering how he tackles Sept 11th in the future books. Apart from these minor details I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Mitch has travelled to Italy with a plan to propose to Anna and get out of his career as an assassin, but while there meets with his ex Donatella to find out who had tried to have him killed. Senior politicians have been plotting to bring down Irene Kennedy and ultimately the president, with the help of the head of Mossad. Meanwhile the president is advised that Saddam is developing nuclear weapons for imminent use and needs to find a way to destroy them without starting an international incident.
There were several unnecessary repetitions throughout in descriptions of people and places, which didn't matter but it didn't feel well edited, and from the way that Flynn portrayed Anna as a selfish jealous shrew I thought she wouldn't survive - I still wonder how Mitch is going to get through the next 8 books with a wife in tow. The events described also seem strange when read with hindsight because it was set and published in 2001, I'm wondering how he tackles Sept 11th in the future books. Apart from these minor details I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 10, 2013
8.5/10
An excellent read in this, so far, excellent series. Vince Flynn weaves political intrigue with action in this easy to read thriller. Whilst it could be read as a standalone novel it does help to have read the previous novel as there are plot elements that come back into this one.
In the previous novels, especially the first in this series, the word of the day is action. This one has more political going ons but this didn't slow the pace and actually added a nice extra layer and let more characters come to the fore.
You can tell why the team writing the TV series 24 got Vince Flynn in to help out with the fifth series as this oozes similarities with 24. The hero who is unbelievably skilful at his job but also a little bit susceptible to a lady figure, Washington back stabbing galore, and also the odd terrorist scenario thrown in for good measure.
I enjoyed the ending for this novel as it tied up all lose ends and left a whole new dimension to be explored in the other books in the series. A really good read which I recommend to anyone who likes action/thriller books.
If you like this try "The Mozart Conspiracy" by Scott Mariani
An excellent read in this, so far, excellent series. Vince Flynn weaves political intrigue with action in this easy to read thriller. Whilst it could be read as a standalone novel it does help to have read the previous novel as there are plot elements that come back into this one.
In the previous novels, especially the first in this series, the word of the day is action. This one has more political going ons but this didn't slow the pace and actually added a nice extra layer and let more characters come to the fore.
You can tell why the team writing the TV series 24 got Vince Flynn in to help out with the fifth series as this oozes similarities with 24. The hero who is unbelievably skilful at his job but also a little bit susceptible to a lady figure, Washington back stabbing galore, and also the odd terrorist scenario thrown in for good measure.
I enjoyed the ending for this novel as it tied up all lose ends and left a whole new dimension to be explored in the other books in the series. A really good read which I recommend to anyone who likes action/thriller books.
If you like this try "The Mozart Conspiracy" by Scott Mariani
February 6, 2015
What a piece of garbage. Especially the way he writes women. You HATE Anna Rielly immediately. She's immature and self-absorbed. But of course it's completely reasonable that after she pitched a complete drunken foundless jealous hissy fit in Milan and storms out, and THEN sends Mitch on a huge guilt trip and punishes him emotionally for it he still wants to marry her. Right. Makes sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2020
My first Vince Flynn and I seriously doubt whether this is one his best works. The plot is just run-of-the-mill with US trying to disarm Saddam Hussein of his nuclear weapons, who is on a diabolical plot to attack USA. Enter Mitch Rapp who is assigned the task of foiling the plot. Paralelly a couple of senators are trying to defame the CIA director and remove the POTUS. Eventually good prevails over evil.
The action was fast paced and narrative interesting. However I thought I spotted a few minor grammatical errors here and there. Not exactly the best-thriller-I-ever-read kind of book.
The action was fast paced and narrative interesting. However I thought I spotted a few minor grammatical errors here and there. Not exactly the best-thriller-I-ever-read kind of book.
April 27, 2011
Vince Flynn is a guilty pleasure - a testosterone gulping guilty pleasure, but I kind of felt this one fell flat. Flynn's American assassin, Mitch Rapp is shadowed by his boss Irene Kennedy in this installment of the series. We get to see Mitch's feminine side as he realizes that maintaining domestic harmony is far more difficult then wedging a K-BAR combat knife in the spine of some crazed U.S. hating terrorist.
I think I may have been expecting too much out of this one, or perhaps my choice of reading this novel after having read a non-fiction account of life in the present-day military left me with a desire for answers with a deeper meaning. But that's really not the point of a Mitch Rapp novel is it?
Most of the characters are cardboard cutouts, except the reader is given a bit of a glimps of Irene Kennedy's character. If anything, one leaves this book with more respect and admiration for her character and less for Mitch and Anne.
I don't think this book stands well on its own, but I'm guessing that it will serve its purpose in the larger scope of the Mitch Rapp series.
I think I may have been expecting too much out of this one, or perhaps my choice of reading this novel after having read a non-fiction account of life in the present-day military left me with a desire for answers with a deeper meaning. But that's really not the point of a Mitch Rapp novel is it?
Most of the characters are cardboard cutouts, except the reader is given a bit of a glimps of Irene Kennedy's character. If anything, one leaves this book with more respect and admiration for her character and less for Mitch and Anne.
I don't think this book stands well on its own, but I'm guessing that it will serve its purpose in the larger scope of the Mitch Rapp series.
July 6, 2016
While the first couple of books in this series were fun & the plots seemed pretty good, everything else went to the dogs in this book. The narrator emphasized the already puffed-up prose. The dialog was terrible & seemed to be written simply to fill space. There was also a lot of repetition. After Mitch thinks about not being able to talk to Annie about his job, they have a conversation about it. A bit much, but then they get on the jet & have the conversation again, this time in whispers. Not only was it completely unnecessary, but it made no sense. Much of it seemed designed to show how important Mitch is & to fill in too much back story.
I tried really hard to stick with this, but found myself dreading listening to it on the way home tonight, so to hell with it. I have dozens of books I want to listen to & after Pride and Prejudice, my masochistic tendencies are all used up.
I tried really hard to stick with this, but found myself dreading listening to it on the way home tonight, so to hell with it. I have dozens of books I want to listen to & after Pride and Prejudice, my masochistic tendencies are all used up.
April 21, 2018
I love this book, and all of thus series that I've read so far. This story picks up where the book "Transfer of Power" leaves off. The continuing story of how Mitch Rapp and Irene Kennedy are working against internal and external corrupt people and countries seeking greater political power or promoting terrorism. In this book Irene Kennedy has been nominated to succeed her boss who has died. Mitch Rapp is working to find out who is behind the attempts on his life, while Iraq is on the verge of having nuclear capability with Israel's Mossad sharing this information with the U.S.
The stories are gut reaching, exhilarating, and in believable, if not realistic, detail. A couple of characters are a bit too much, but I'm just being a bit picky here. Once I got about 2/3 of the way through, I couldn't put the book down.
The stories are gut reaching, exhilarating, and in believable, if not realistic, detail. A couple of characters are a bit too much, but I'm just being a bit picky here. Once I got about 2/3 of the way through, I couldn't put the book down.
May 8, 2020
I was excited to read this after Flynn's 'The Third Option', which leads right into 'Separation of Power'. At a point it seemed a little repetitive and I stopped reading it--instead I began reading a book on the history of the Persian Gulf War--a lead-in to this fictional setting. (Rick Atkinson's 'Crusade'). Today I finally got back into this, wondering how Flynn could wrap it up in 100 pages. The last part was an amazing fast-paced read. Everything is neatly packaged in the end--not much like the 'real' world, but aren't we trying to escape that? I'll probably take a break before I continue on with this series.
May 5, 2008
This is an amazing book, by an author who has really come into his own. He's at the top of his game now, and this is my favorite Mitch Rapp novel.
Separation of Power, 4th in series – Flynn totally redeems himself with this one. This is a continuation of the previous novel's story, and bad guy Hank Clark is finally killed by Mitch and Donatella on the last page. Irene is set up as new head of CIA, so cool under fire.
Flynn uses the technique of switching the action back and forth between chapters, leaving you hanging in frustrating ways at the ends of chapters. It's done so well, you find yourself pissed at being left hanging!! -- until you turn the page and remember 'oh yeah, I wanted to know what was happening over there, too'.
We move from a strategy meeting (in which military and political experts are trying to figure out how to take out Saddam Hussein’s nuclear facility under a hospital without creating a PR catastrophe) to Mitch in the field (in which Donatella is being attacked by two assassins waiting for her in her apartment, sent by Israel). Then, when you think the action is over, he starts it up again. I was worn out after reading.
His BEST book so far, will make a hell of a movie. The only thing left to ponder -- who to cast as Mitch? My vote is Gerald Butler, the guy from "300," "Sin City," and "Bourne Identity."
Why Flynn is so enjoyable: His hypothetical discussions regarding military action versus covert CIA action contain REAL details -- the weapons, artillery, personnel, consequences, politics, budget, all real. I read somewhere that the real head of CIA is requiring all employees to read the Mitch Rapp novels "to start thinking about how we can more effectively wage this war on terrorism."
Separation of Power, 4th in series – Flynn totally redeems himself with this one. This is a continuation of the previous novel's story, and bad guy Hank Clark is finally killed by Mitch and Donatella on the last page. Irene is set up as new head of CIA, so cool under fire.
Flynn uses the technique of switching the action back and forth between chapters, leaving you hanging in frustrating ways at the ends of chapters. It's done so well, you find yourself pissed at being left hanging!! -- until you turn the page and remember 'oh yeah, I wanted to know what was happening over there, too'.
We move from a strategy meeting (in which military and political experts are trying to figure out how to take out Saddam Hussein’s nuclear facility under a hospital without creating a PR catastrophe) to Mitch in the field (in which Donatella is being attacked by two assassins waiting for her in her apartment, sent by Israel). Then, when you think the action is over, he starts it up again. I was worn out after reading.
His BEST book so far, will make a hell of a movie. The only thing left to ponder -- who to cast as Mitch? My vote is Gerald Butler, the guy from "300," "Sin City," and "Bourne Identity."
Why Flynn is so enjoyable: His hypothetical discussions regarding military action versus covert CIA action contain REAL details -- the weapons, artillery, personnel, consequences, politics, budget, all real. I read somewhere that the real head of CIA is requiring all employees to read the Mitch Rapp novels "to start thinking about how we can more effectively wage this war on terrorism."
December 31, 2023
I gave Mitch Rapp a fair shot. I've finished book 5, and these just aren't consistently good, fun or interesting. Orphan X set the bar too high and ruined all other spy novels for me.
Vince Flynn always has too many characters - bad enough on its own, but he insists on writing up an elaborate backstory on every one. You can't just have a random Senator Clark, for example. The first time he's introduced, you have to sit through a giant infodump about his childhood, college days, how he met his wife, what drove him to run for office, how he's currently vacationing on a tropical island, etc.
I absolutely could not care less. This is a guy who won't last beyond a single novel.
Another reason I don't enjoy these is that Mitch is trying to force a square peg into a round hole when it comes to Anna Reilly, the WH correspondent for NBC news. She's petty, childish and distrustful, and every interaction between them turns into an argument. Remind me, what makes her his one true love?? Dude, every time she's in a scene I cringe. A man in real life would be running the other way, but not our Mitchy.
*sigh*... This is just not the series for me, but I wanted to give it an honest effort because it's so popular and has lots of fans. Ultimately, it's just not as good as Gregg Hurwitz's series. No mas.
Vince Flynn always has too many characters - bad enough on its own, but he insists on writing up an elaborate backstory on every one. You can't just have a random Senator Clark, for example. The first time he's introduced, you have to sit through a giant infodump about his childhood, college days, how he met his wife, what drove him to run for office, how he's currently vacationing on a tropical island, etc.
I absolutely could not care less. This is a guy who won't last beyond a single novel.
Another reason I don't enjoy these is that Mitch is trying to force a square peg into a round hole when it comes to Anna Reilly, the WH correspondent for NBC news. She's petty, childish and distrustful, and every interaction between them turns into an argument. Remind me, what makes her his one true love?? Dude, every time she's in a scene I cringe. A man in real life would be running the other way, but not our Mitchy.
*sigh*... This is just not the series for me, but I wanted to give it an honest effort because it's so popular and has lots of fans. Ultimately, it's just not as good as Gregg Hurwitz's series. No mas.
February 6, 2012
The usual thrilling action that makes this series enjoyable "mind candy". Whether it is believable or not is another question but at least it is plausible. Characters are often cartoonish and simple but these books are a great way to pass some time on the beach.
May 10, 2010
Dual story line involving the confirmation of a new CIA Director and
America's learning of the imminent acquisition of nuclear weopons by
Iraq. It was just OK.
America's learning of the imminent acquisition of nuclear weopons by
Iraq. It was just OK.
August 8, 2014
Great one!! Enjoyed this one a lot.
May 18, 2015
Intriguing, Fast Paced & A Compelling Plot!!! Excellent Read!!! Love It!!!
March 23, 2013
Yeah, this book gives Flynn a bad "Rapp"...whatever. My poor attempt at humor having failed, here are my thoughts:
The ending was underwhelming, pretty uncharacteristic of Flynn. Other than that, this was pretty standard, an OK read, but not as great as say, "Transfer of Power" or "The Last Man."
The characters don't fare well. A 'president' who gives new definition to the term "wooden." Assorted Senators who waffle between power mad and power hungry. And then the redoubtable Mitch Rap, savior of the universe. I can almost see his cape.
How does Mitch do it? One minute he's Mr. Sensitive and the next minute he's saving the entire world from nuclear holocaust. The so-called raid is such a joke that it's almost worth reading this book just to see how they pull it off. Amazing how all this time I wasn't aware Mitch could easily pass for someone else so famously known. Lucky for us Mitch can imitate this person to perfection. His words, not mine. Kinda makes you wonder how he has this beautiful, albeit, dumb as a rock, girlfriend. Not only that, but a beautiful ex-girlfriend who just happens to be an accomplished assassin also. Man, that Mitch. Not only do you have to suffer through the first 2/3 of the book setting all this dreck up, but you are left with an ending that ranks right up there with the most stupid endings ever devised. Stephen King would be proud. I love how the President and Director of the CIA just stand around and give mighty Mitch the old "attaboy" routine. Why do they even exist? Hmmm. Mighty Mitch. We just might have a new comic book hero after all.
The book hastily concludes, (20+ pages), in an unsatisfying and simplistic finale. That was probably the worst part of the novel. It's just too brief, too easy, too shut-the-door-and-be-done-with-it.
I found the writing to be sophomoric at best and lacking in very basic research. Flynn has apparently never been to Italy and doesn't know that coffee is not served "to go" as at a 7-11; He has apparently not traveled First Class either, or maybe doesn't understand that there is no higher fare a passenger can pay. Nonetheless, "Reilly was lucky the AA agent did not charge her extra on her first class seat due to the change of date (pg 268) And finally, why does he have President Hayes act perplexed (pg 285) that disclosure of classified material is actually something on which he can legally hang his enemies? Please.
Minor errors detracted from the story. In two quick examples, Flynn inaccurately has US SOUTHERN Command responsible for enforcing post-Gulf War Operations when it should have been US CENTRAL Command and lists the 48th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base when it should have been the 49th Fighter Wing. The book's significant inaccuracies are a concern. Flynn has the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff employ F-111 and C-141 aircraft as part of a strike against Iraq.
The ending was underwhelming, pretty uncharacteristic of Flynn. Other than that, this was pretty standard, an OK read, but not as great as say, "Transfer of Power" or "The Last Man."
The characters don't fare well. A 'president' who gives new definition to the term "wooden." Assorted Senators who waffle between power mad and power hungry. And then the redoubtable Mitch Rap, savior of the universe. I can almost see his cape.
How does Mitch do it? One minute he's Mr. Sensitive and the next minute he's saving the entire world from nuclear holocaust. The so-called raid is such a joke that it's almost worth reading this book just to see how they pull it off. Amazing how all this time I wasn't aware Mitch could easily pass for someone else so famously known. Lucky for us Mitch can imitate this person to perfection. His words, not mine. Kinda makes you wonder how he has this beautiful, albeit, dumb as a rock, girlfriend. Not only that, but a beautiful ex-girlfriend who just happens to be an accomplished assassin also. Man, that Mitch. Not only do you have to suffer through the first 2/3 of the book setting all this dreck up, but you are left with an ending that ranks right up there with the most stupid endings ever devised. Stephen King would be proud. I love how the President and Director of the CIA just stand around and give mighty Mitch the old "attaboy" routine. Why do they even exist? Hmmm. Mighty Mitch. We just might have a new comic book hero after all.
The book hastily concludes, (20+ pages), in an unsatisfying and simplistic finale. That was probably the worst part of the novel. It's just too brief, too easy, too shut-the-door-and-be-done-with-it.
I found the writing to be sophomoric at best and lacking in very basic research. Flynn has apparently never been to Italy and doesn't know that coffee is not served "to go" as at a 7-11; He has apparently not traveled First Class either, or maybe doesn't understand that there is no higher fare a passenger can pay. Nonetheless, "Reilly was lucky the AA agent did not charge her extra on her first class seat due to the change of date (pg 268) And finally, why does he have President Hayes act perplexed (pg 285) that disclosure of classified material is actually something on which he can legally hang his enemies? Please.
Minor errors detracted from the story. In two quick examples, Flynn inaccurately has US SOUTHERN Command responsible for enforcing post-Gulf War Operations when it should have been US CENTRAL Command and lists the 48th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base when it should have been the 49th Fighter Wing. The book's significant inaccuracies are a concern. Flynn has the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff employ F-111 and C-141 aircraft as part of a strike against Iraq.
October 16, 2024
In 2013, I was a smoker. Hated smoke inside the house, so I would smoke on my porch and read. I was mostly reading David Baldacci then, and I was looking for a new writer because I was almost done with his books. My neighbor recommended Vince Flynn, and I read all of his books in a summer. Mitch Rapp was one of my favorite characters.
I was so saddened to learn when he died. I have no idea who has been keeping up his series after he passed away. Not sure I'd want to continue them. Kind of like Steig Larsson's series, I suspect it will fall short of the author's original vision.
Because I read all these books in 2013, I'll be copying/pasting this review into all of the 13 Mitch Rapp books I read.
I was so saddened to learn when he died. I have no idea who has been keeping up his series after he passed away. Not sure I'd want to continue them. Kind of like Steig Larsson's series, I suspect it will fall short of the author's original vision.
Because I read all these books in 2013, I'll be copying/pasting this review into all of the 13 Mitch Rapp books I read.
November 28, 2019
Is it just me or are these getting worse? Flynn does fine at getting his story off the ground, but fails at sticking the landing. Like in the previous book, the suspense just fizzled out towards the end. Also, let me just reiterate how very much I hate Anna. Seriously, that woman needs to go.
October 1, 2014
Taut, quickly drew & kept me in, well-plotted, likeable cast, light language, no gore or graphics. Read well by Armand Schultz. ©2001 Recommended.
June 22, 2023
I'm not sure if I read this or not. It was marked read, with a rating, but no review, and I always write at least a short review.
September 8, 2024
Mitch Rapp returns with political power plays behind the scenes working with a U.S. ally to do damage to the current administration and the CIA with Rapp in the crosshairs. Quite a bit of intrigue with the workings of the "villains", but not a typical spy thriller with action, as only some limited action in Italy and Iraq. And for the most part the Rapp is not a full-on participant in the book, but has his parts. This works for and against the story depending on how you like your political thrillers.
Story could have been shortened as Flynn at times goes into explaining military terms and historical events that explain somewhat to the situation in the book.
Rapp's love interest becomes embattled after a mixup in Italy, and you kinda get the feel that as is usual with spies, that it will likely not end well---but...keep reading.
This was probably my least favorite of the Rapp series so far, as the ending wrapped up faster than the the whole buildup to the finale.
Story could have been shortened as Flynn at times goes into explaining military terms and historical events that explain somewhat to the situation in the book.
Rapp's love interest becomes embattled after a mixup in Italy, and you kinda get the feel that as is usual with spies, that it will likely not end well---but...keep reading.
This was probably my least favorite of the Rapp series so far, as the ending wrapped up faster than the the whole buildup to the finale.
April 9, 2014
It's like they do this to me on purpose.
In a prolonged spy craft book series. The very fact that such a thing as a living legend in the CIA exists is due to his ability to be no one.
In the first book it states, Mr. President you are about to be brought in on a secret that only 3 people in the world know. This man is IRON MAN... In the course of a year, he went from legend to everyone and their damn dogs knowing who he was.
Literally this is the fault of doing things well. Has anyone else noticed the problems/bad guys. That are the predominate figures in this book series so far?
Book 1 - Terrorist take over the white house. (BY FAR THE BEST PLOTLINE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE BEING TAKEN OVER) Also the first and best book. Sure there is another prequel I haven't read yet, but I am probably going to get fed up with this series if the next book goes how I imagine.
Book 1 - Subplot bad guys. The vice president, his lackey, the Attorney General.... Ummm I am sure there were more, I just can't think of them. Oh yeah, the press...
Book 2 - New baddie list *German guy* (big problem out of 2-3 day job) Hitmen, Senators who are both Biggots, Sexists, Hypocrites & Egotists. They want a government to have transparency, but when asked about activities their first response is to lie. We also have an ex-CIA analyst who is hiring out and way over his head.
On to this book... Bad guy... Saddam (who is also still a bad guy in book 1) and oh yeah... Press, other counter-intelligence agencies, other CIA members, and oh yeah... Senators/Congressmen... Did I mention a theme may have come up, that politicians seem to be the bad guys or helping them through hopes of profit, or upfront bribes, or payments to make things happen, or give information.
Flynn sees the world in 3 spectrums,
1. Believer (This is where I put most of the main characters of the story, or at least re-occurring ones People may have bouts of integrity shine up in odd moments, that place them in this category or throw them in another, but these people are generally those you like, or feel some form of sympathy towards in times of their pain.) (While most of the good guys fall in this category, it can be said that he man captured in the first book, and the terrorist Mitch has a bone with, fall into this category, while they are out for war, they believe what they are doing with twice as much passion as what Rapp does. And while we don't agree with them, we have to admit that things happen and the books are truly intense because the bad guys, have this quality.)
2. Out for yourself (These people are the scum of the story, they believe in themselves or power, and nothing is too far away, to sacred to not be done, or any of that non-sense, these people are often the bad guys who cause the most trouble, while not maybe being the ultimate bad guys)
3. Drone (these people are everyone else, sure they may have their chance to go either way, and they may sway between 1 and 2, but they aren't really who this story is about, just glitter)
In a prolonged spy craft book series. The very fact that such a thing as a living legend in the CIA exists is due to his ability to be no one.
In the first book it states, Mr. President you are about to be brought in on a secret that only 3 people in the world know. This man is IRON MAN... In the course of a year, he went from legend to everyone and their damn dogs knowing who he was.
Literally this is the fault of doing things well. Has anyone else noticed the problems/bad guys. That are the predominate figures in this book series so far?
Book 1 - Terrorist take over the white house. (BY FAR THE BEST PLOTLINE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE BEING TAKEN OVER) Also the first and best book. Sure there is another prequel I haven't read yet, but I am probably going to get fed up with this series if the next book goes how I imagine.
Book 1 - Subplot bad guys. The vice president, his lackey, the Attorney General.... Ummm I am sure there were more, I just can't think of them. Oh yeah, the press...
Book 2 - New baddie list *German guy* (big problem out of 2-3 day job) Hitmen, Senators who are both Biggots, Sexists, Hypocrites & Egotists. They want a government to have transparency, but when asked about activities their first response is to lie. We also have an ex-CIA analyst who is hiring out and way over his head.
On to this book... Bad guy... Saddam (who is also still a bad guy in book 1) and oh yeah... Press, other counter-intelligence agencies, other CIA members, and oh yeah... Senators/Congressmen... Did I mention a theme may have come up, that politicians seem to be the bad guys or helping them through hopes of profit, or upfront bribes, or payments to make things happen, or give information.
Flynn sees the world in 3 spectrums,
1. Believer (This is where I put most of the main characters of the story, or at least re-occurring ones People may have bouts of integrity shine up in odd moments, that place them in this category or throw them in another, but these people are generally those you like, or feel some form of sympathy towards in times of their pain.) (While most of the good guys fall in this category, it can be said that he man captured in the first book, and the terrorist Mitch has a bone with, fall into this category, while they are out for war, they believe what they are doing with twice as much passion as what Rapp does. And while we don't agree with them, we have to admit that things happen and the books are truly intense because the bad guys, have this quality.)
2. Out for yourself (These people are the scum of the story, they believe in themselves or power, and nothing is too far away, to sacred to not be done, or any of that non-sense, these people are often the bad guys who cause the most trouble, while not maybe being the ultimate bad guys)
3. Drone (these people are everyone else, sure they may have their chance to go either way, and they may sway between 1 and 2, but they aren't really who this story is about, just glitter)
October 2, 2022
Audiobook.
Book 3 stars 😕.
Narration 4 stars.
This is the 5th book in the series. I've been barreling through them for the last week or two, up to now they've been solid 4 stars with one absolutely outstanding 5 star.
This book didn't involve me until more than half way through. If it had been earlier in the series, it would probably have been DNF. For the most part, it felt like the middle book in a trilogy where it's simply moving it's characters from a strong start to a strong finish. I will say, the second half did finally give me some plot and character development to sink my teeth into. But the end was a little pat and trite, like he had something else to do and just wanted to get it done.
I'll definitely come back to the series, but after a break. Oh well, a little disappointed.
Book 3 stars 😕.
Narration 4 stars.
This is the 5th book in the series. I've been barreling through them for the last week or two, up to now they've been solid 4 stars with one absolutely outstanding 5 star.
This book didn't involve me until more than half way through. If it had been earlier in the series, it would probably have been DNF. For the most part, it felt like the middle book in a trilogy where it's simply moving it's characters from a strong start to a strong finish. I will say, the second half did finally give me some plot and character development to sink my teeth into. But the end was a little pat and trite, like he had something else to do and just wanted to get it done.
I'll definitely come back to the series, but after a break. Oh well, a little disappointed.
October 8, 2016
Alright alright- you know I am a Flynn fan by now. But this is by far my favorite in the series. The story is keen on plot and deep on characters as we learn more and more about them all. Mitch Rapp continues as a force to be wary of but now with this new closeness with Kennedy as she takes the reins from Stansfield.. and how the trust builds between them--
Flynn gives a glimpse of the intelligence world as well--
This espionage thriller never slows down and neither does your finger as you turn the pages as fact as you can--
If you are a Mitch Rapp series follower-- DO NOT MISS THIS ONE--
Flynn gives a glimpse of the intelligence world as well--
This espionage thriller never slows down and neither does your finger as you turn the pages as fact as you can--
If you are a Mitch Rapp series follower-- DO NOT MISS THIS ONE--
November 11, 2020
Well, I guess you could say that my review of the book is best summed up in the form of a limerick:
Between Love and work Rapp is torn,
when a trip to Milan goes terribly wrong.
Displeasure not discreet,
when Donatella and Anna meet.
Rapp’s focused on the mission all along.
Dropping into Baghdad, Flynn sets the scene,
A badass covert op executed so clean,
Games within a game,
Hank Clark is to blame,
And revenge on Ben Friedman unforeseen.
Full review available in podcast audio format on Ep. 26 and 27 of "No Limits: A Mitch Rapp Podcast".
Between Love and work Rapp is torn,
when a trip to Milan goes terribly wrong.
Displeasure not discreet,
when Donatella and Anna meet.
Rapp’s focused on the mission all along.
Dropping into Baghdad, Flynn sets the scene,
A badass covert op executed so clean,
Games within a game,
Hank Clark is to blame,
And revenge on Ben Friedman unforeseen.
Full review available in podcast audio format on Ep. 26 and 27 of "No Limits: A Mitch Rapp Podcast".
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