Rating: 
Summary: (4 1/2 ) Mitch Rapp Fights Terrorism and the Bureaucracy
Review: This is a fast paced, violent, well plotted thriller devoted to the topic du jour - a terrorist plot directed by Islamic extremists to launch a covert nuclear attack within the United States. It is written utilizing the same style as Flynn's other books featuring Mitch Rapp (see 7/31/03 review of EXECUTIVE POWER); it consists of rapid fire action sequences mixed with occasional detailed technical discussion of various aspects of intelligence work and weapons systems and coupled with frequent asides concerning Mitch's extreme frustration with the political interference which he encounters. The plot is relatively straightforward, with just enough feints to keep it mildly interesting. The author retains the reader's interest through the detailed storyline which he weaves combined with the compelling nature of Rapp's character and the timeliness of the tale.The story begins shortly before MEMORIAL DAY 2004, when Mitch uncovers evidence of a plot by a cell of al Queda terrorists which leads to a highly secret Army raid across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Detailed files and maps are unearthed which inescapably lead to the conclusion that the terrorists are planning an attack on DC. Information is gradually assembled that indicates that the attack is to being planned so as to inflict the maximum number of casualties of high ranking political figures by being timed to coincide with the Memorial Day dedication of the new WWII Memorial on Washington Mall. (I don't consider this a spoiler since the title effectively reveals this fact.) As the terrorists and their weapons are tracked to the US through a combination of high tech means and the old fashioned technique of torture, plot complications soon arise. Perhaps there is more than one terror cell operating, with each one having no knowledge of the actions or goals of the others. (Compartmentalization being one of the key methodologies employed by terrorists to keep detailed knowledge of their plans from falling into the hands of their adversaries if one of them is captured.) The clock is ticking, the pace is quickening, and Rapp's frustration is mounting. The usual cast of characters from previous novels is all here, including old friends from the FBI and CIA and Mitch's sympathetic boss Irene Kennedy. There are plenty of new DC operatives too, including super lawyer Peggy Stealy, who turns out to be a formidable roadblock in Mitch's attempts to elicit crucial information from a captive terrorist. President Hayes is still grateful to Mitch for saving his life, but as an election year approaches he is constantly advised by his political operatives, especially his Chief of Staff Valerie Jones, to distance himself from Mitch, who she regards as a political landmine. (As an aside, the political timing is off here, since part of the plot regards some machinations regarding who Hayes will choose as his running mate.) And, of course, there are enough al Queda operatives and sympathizers that I found it convenient to keep a pencil and paper handy to keep track of them. I enjoyed the story, and found much of it to be a very timely cautionary tale regarding the United States' current situation. And I certainly share the sentiments frequently expressed by the author through Mitch and his allies concerning the impact of the political bureaucracy upon our efforts to fight terrorism. While I rounded my rating up to five stars, there are a few criticisms that are worth including in this review. First, as I stated previously, with a few clever exceptions this is a very straightforward plot with very few surprises. Second, as in many novels of this genre, many the characters are so type cast that they approach caricatures with almost no nuances in their actions and beliefs. While this is understandable with regard to the terrorists, it is true of almost everyone - either hero or villain, good guy or pure evil. Last, the author's preaching is way overdone with regard to the controversy regarding the impact of the Patriot Act on the balancing act which is necessary between our civil liberties and the actions necessary to preserve our freedom. This is a very nuanced question about which individuals who consider themselves patriots can disagree, yet at times I almost felt as if the whole purpose of the book was to present the author (using the voice of Mitch Rapp) with a platform for his political diatribe in favor of a no holds barred, anything goes, approach toward our enemies. So, enjoy the book, but don't expect subtlety. Tucker Andersen
Rating: 
Summary: Page Turner of a Spy Novel
Review: This is a thriller of a spy novel - good enough for four and a half. Mitch Rapp, super CIA agent who gives no quarter to terorists, uncovers an al queda mission center in Pakistan. After the special forces take the village they find plans for the ultimate terrorist attack against America and the chase is on.
Flynn weaves a great plot. Like many of Follett's better works, Flynn narrates the story of both Rapp and the terrorists so you get to see what each is doing and try to figure out who is winning at any given time. Flynn masterfully holds back just enough from the terrorists so the reader is never very far ahead of Rapp.
The author also mixes in a bevy of interesting extra characters so the reader gets to watch the politicoes as well as the hunter and the hunted.
There is also a fair amount of political philosophy in the book - pro and anti Patriot Act, what should a terrorist hunter be allowed to do, how do our laws hamper the terrorist fight, etc. It is clear Flynn will not be invited to many Ted Kennedy cocktail parties, but the political themes do not insult the reader nor take away from the plot.
The plot is a good one and keeps getting better all the way to the end. Not only is this a fun spy thriller, it is a sobering look at what terrorists are capable of achieving. A very timely book as well as an entertaining one.
Rating:
Summary: great story
Review: This is my first book by Vince Flynn and I am quite impressed. It is a quick paced novel full of action and excitement. It deals with a topic of great importance to all Americans and the scenario is certianly scary and quite plausible. There are many interesting characters, some more well developed than others but an ample sampling of good guys and bad guys. This one is hard to put down. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Do we have the will to fight terrorists?
Review: This is Vince Flynn's best since Transfer of Power. You'll have a hard time putting this one down. The terrorists are despicable, the bureacracies obtuse, and Mitch Rapp is the action figure we would all like to be.
Rating:
Summary: Back on Top
Review: Thriller writing is an art few have really mastered. Most thriller writers, especially those in the espionage/action thriller hits have a lot more misses than they do hits. In my opinion, this dearth of great thrillers is because almost everything has been done before. Memorial Day proved to me that Vince Flynn is a very good thriller writer, because the story itself centers on a storyline that has been done about ten million times. Middle Eastern terrorists. Nuclear bomb. Enough said, we've seen the book/movie/TV drama enough to know everything about this disturbing real world possibility. I was leery picking up the book for this reason along with the fact that I felt Flynn's last book was absolutely dreadful. Still, because I remembered Term Limits and the beginning of the Mitch Rapp storyline with fondness, I decided to give this clichéd storyline a try, and I am very glad I did. While not breaking any new ground on the idea per say, Flynn delivers a very exciting and dramatic plot that hits on some time worn but still enjoyable thriller tricks to pull in the interested reader. At the end of the book, I was glad to have "Iron Man" back after all. Memorial Day follows the continuing exploits of CIA agent Mitch Rapp, codenamed IronMan. His formidable code name, along with his legendary status within the intelligence community, stems from the fact that Rapp is a killing machine, having been involved in the close up rubouts of dozens of international terrorists and other various baddies. His protector, DCI Irene Kennedy, watches over her most prized asset as various politically correct forces try to get away from "wet" jobs that Rapp specializes in. In this book, Rapp takes part in a special forces raid on an Al-Qaeda camp in Pakistan. Intelligence from the raid points to a nightmarish plot in which the terrorist organization is going to use a nuclear weapon on the United States in the near future. Rapp goes all out to discover the plot, as the government begins its evacuation process. This is a great part of the book because it is so relevant and Flynn makes it all seem very real and well researched. The battle writing is also exciting, as are the terrorists, who are not the carbon copies you see in other books. These guys have some life to them, and Flynn should be commended for that. Just as those in the know in Washington breathe a sigh of relief, Rapp's gut begins to tell him that there is more to this plot that meets the eye. A senior Al-Qaeda lieutenant is in the US, and Rapp wants to know why. The why is just as frightening as the first plot, and Rapp struggles to discover this murkier cabal just as he faces a political challenge within the White House. His old enemy, Valerie Jones, the President's chief of staff, teams up with a new femme fetale to edge out Rapp, for political reasons. To do this, they put up the familiar social and judicial road blocks in front of Rapp's hard charging investigation. Well, IronMan has seen worse than that, and needless to say, by hook or by crook, he's going to find out what he wants to know. The ending is very good and excellently written, with Rapp taking the law and his own abilities to the limit in order to make sure this Memorial Day is no more memorable than the others. This book had a good kick to it, and I loved it. There are shades of Dirty Harry here, with Rapp cutting through all the political red tape in order to stop a nuclear attack on the US. While I consider a lot of his actions and lines a little over the top, it was no less fun to read. In a way, Flynn is writing what you wish would happen, he writes of a world where idiotic bureaucrats are put in their place while real men and women of action succeed. The characters are very well fleshed out, and Rapp is such a good character because he seems almost as much a fanatic as the terrorists. One thing I think Flynn should do is give back Rapp the darker edge we saw in some previous books, as he is a man operating from vengeance as much as anything else. To his credit, Flynn dumped the dreadfully dull Rapp and his wife storyline that dragged down his last book. Flynn is a truly talented writer and I can't wait to read more from him. Welcome back Vince!
Rating:
Summary: Mitch Rapp is back!
Review: Vince Flynn has brought back Mitch Rapp for another all to real action packed thriller. Let's hope that people like Mitch Rapp are really out there fighting the war on terror. I'm already waiting for the next book!
Rating:
Summary: Chilling!
Review: Vince Flynn is the best writer of action thrillers in the world today. Mitch rapp is a true patriot, who is willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I do question some of his tactics, and would hate to see them become reality, but in this post 9/11 world we can't have to question things. In conclusion, this is a book that will keep you guessing until the end and is more frightening than any terror story because the plot very well could happen!
Rating:
Summary: Memorable and Terrifying - Flynn Scores Again
Review: Vince Flynn's books are essentially primers on what is needed to combat and defeat terrorisim and the "bad guys." It will not be everyone's cup of tea, because it is painfully honest in it's assessment of where our problems lie and unfortunately they often lie with some of us. If you genuflect to the altar of political correctness, this will be a tough read. Mitch Rapp returns. Flynn introduces him bluntly to those who have not read his prior novels as he prepares to interrogate five al Qaeda operatives who have been captured in a raid on a secret stronghold: "Calling Rapp a counterterrorism operative was essentially a polite way of ducking the truth. When everything was stripped away, the reality was that that he was an assassin. He has killed, and killed often, for his country, and in his mind 9/11 was proof that he hadn't killed enough." His interrogation produces the picture of a terrorist attack on the United States that involves a nuclear weapon. The picture is clear enough to cause alarm, but fuzzy enough to make the entire plan a puzzle. Slowly the puzzle seems to be solved and just when it looks like the threat is past, well, it isn't. This is vintage Flynn. It is an absolute page turner. It will make you think. It may cause some angst. It should. This is a realistic picture of where we are and what we are doing, both the good and the bad. That's where the angst comes in.
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