Separation of Power

Rating:
Summary: Not A Bad "Rapp"
Review: Super-agent Mitch Rapp is back in "Separation of Power" and once again trying to save the world from those nasty evil doers. I read an earlier Rapp novel ("Transfer of Power") but did not do my research and realized shortly after I had started that "The Third Option" fell between these two "Power" books. So while I was at a bit of a loss at times, "Separation" gives you enough information to fill in some of gaps since Rapp re-claimed the White House from a gang of terrorists at the end of "Transfer."

In "Separation," Vince Flynn creates another work that is strikingly close to today's "real world" events. Rapp's latest mission, among other things, to uncover and destroy Saddam Hussein's (with help from the North Koreans no less!) secret cache of nuclear weapons. Throw in the setting of Washington DC where backstabbing, blackmail, and murder all seem part of a normal day and you have a highly readable, entertaining, and, at times, very relevant piece of fiction.

My one quibble is Rapp's love life as his relationship with Anna Reilly continues to be a weak point for me in this series. With Rapp being more James Bond than a Clancy Jack Ryan-type, it is hard to fathom him all googly-eyed in love and considering marriage. While the pair's "damsel in distress" meeting in "Transfer" held some appeal, there is simply not much to even like about Anna this time around, much of it caused by her own stubbornness and inability to understand/accept Rapp's "job." Reilly was an unnecessary third wheel in this novel, with two other female characters -- CIA director-elect Irene Kennedy and fellow spy (and Rapp's ex-lover to boot) Donatella Rahn - being far more engaging.

I will definitely be reading more Flynn is the future - hopefully he will just shelf the romance and stick with the action.

Rating:
Summary: one of my favorite thriller writers
Review: One of my favorite thriller writers is Vince Flynn. He has written a series of novels featuring Mitch Rapp, a CIA assassin. They are, in essence the prototypical thriller novels. They all have supercharged high octane plots that compel the pages to fly by. The main character is superhuman and his mission is to save the civilized world.
In this episode, Israel passes on information that Saddam Hussein is developing a nuclear arsonal beneath a hospital in Baghdad. To strike against this threat will require the death of hundreds of innocent lives as the hospital, itself, is bombed. Mitch is asked to help lead a mission to capture the bombs without a preemptive strike at the hospital. At the same time, powerful people in Washington want to stop the confirmation of Irene Kennedy as the new head of the CIA. They will stop at nothing to see her brought down even if it puts the mission into jeopardy.
SEPARATION OF POWER represents another winning entry in the series of political thrillers Vince Flynn is writing. It has everything one could wish for in this subgenre - a compelling plot with lots of action, a hero that lives up to the role as superman with a love interest, lots of mean villains willing to kill to get their way, and the beautiful background scenery. The books are also quite topical.

Rating:
Summary: Character Anna Reilly Almost Spoils This Fine Book
Review: With the exception of Mitch Rapp's girlfriend, Anna Reilly, this book is another exceptional Vince Flynn book. Unfortunately, the "flaky" behavior of Anna Reilly left me shouting (out loud mind you) for Mitch to throw her out of his house and his life. After narrowly escaping assassins in Milan, Mitch brings an injured contact back to his hotel room. While the contact drifts in-and-out of consciousness bleeding from two gunshot wounds, Anna Reilly storms out of the hotel room because the injured woman happens to be Mitch's former girlfriend. Come on. Let's have some perspective. Would (or should) Mitch really tolerate someone who is so obviously self-obsorbed and has so little trust in her boyfriend? Later, there is a brief section where she purposely makes Mitch suffer so that he can experience just what she had felt in Milan. In addition, despite the fact that she knows that Mitch is a CIA operative and that he cannot discuss his work, she continually demands to know everything that he has done and/or is doing on behalf of national security. Mitch's tolerance for such behavior is a glaring contrast to his personality and character traits that have been built up over the course of the previous series of books. In fact, just how low would any man's self esteem have to be to tolerate such treatment? My advice? Read the book but prepare yourself for a huge disappointment over Anna Reilly and this relationship. In the end, it the relationship only gets progressively worse in the next followup book: "Executive Power."

Rating:
Summary: Another Winner For Vince Flynn!
Review: This is another good book from Vince Flynn.The CIA Director
Thomas Stanfield has died.Dr. Irene Kennedy has been nominated to be his replacement by President Hayes.Senator Hank Clark and other forces set out to sink her nomination.In the meantime Israel tell the United States that Saddam Hussein is close to
building an atomic weapon.Mitch Rapp is called upon to destroy
Iraq's plan.Once again you have a book full of nonstop action.
There are many unusual twists and turns in this exciting book.
The end of the book is a show stopper.Buy this book and read it.
You will not be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: Picking up where The Third Option left off, Vince Flynn has another winner on his hands. Mitch Rapp and Dr. Irene Kennedy are back, along with the other characters from his previous two books, in a very compelling political thriller. Separation of Power is clearly another fast-paced page turner, bringing together several storylines with more than ample amounts of action, suspense, and geopolitical intrigue. Mitch Rapp desires to move on with his life, while simultaneously attempting to bring closure to the turmoil and lingering danger that carried over from the previous book. Dr. Kennedy is facing scheming politicians and business moguls who oppose her confirmation as the head of the CIA and desire to embarrass the President. The President must deal with Saddam Hussein and Iraq who are just weeks away from operational nuclear weapons. Flynn grabs the reader in the first few pages and doesn't let go. This is a must read!!! (But don't start with this. First read Balance of Power and The Third Option.)

Rating:
Summary: Separation of Power
Review: I started with Transfer of Power, and since then I got caught up in The Third Option and moved onto Separation of Power. Separation of Power is Vince Flynns 4th work, it is his 3rd work with Mitch Rapp. Mitch Rapp continues his work with the CIA as Vince Flynn supplies the reader with multiple plot lines that form at the end. You are always thinking and sometime you will find it hard to finish a page because your so interested in what is going on. Vince Flynn holds your eyes on the page as the continue his magnificant series. (I recommend you start with Term Limits or Transfer of Power if you wish to begin reading Minnesotan's Vince Flynns Political Thriller Novels.

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad
Review: it was fairly engrossing although i do have one problem with the book. the characters are so simplistic, each character is absouteley good or asolutely evil, with no capability for committing and act against what they stand for. some moral ambiguity in the characters, especially mitch, would make the characters more human and therefore easier to identify with. flynn's use of two dimensional is either a trademark of his literary genre or a sign of a sophomoric writing level.

Rating:
Summary: Review of audi book version. Rating of 4.5 stars
Review: STORY: Mitch Rapp, Anna Riley and Irene Kennedy are back. This time forces are at work to stop Irene Kennedy from being confirmed to the position of Director of the CIA and Mitch is torn between his work and settling down with the love of his life, Anna Riley. Not to mention someone has to find if Saddam Hussein has access to weapons of mass destruction and if he does, then someone has to stop him.

MY FEEDBACK:
1) SETTING: Again we are in a current day world where spies, assassins and government conspiracies prevail. The world created is believable and functional but nothing super great or memorable.

2) CHARACTERS: I'm glad that Mr. Flynn is sticking with a working formula and brining the continuing adventures of characters we have grown to love. Thus if you have read the other books prior to this one there are no real surprises. The characters stay true to form though by now there is very little new to reveal about them. They work and they are still fun to read about.

3) PLOT: No major surprises, suspense or red herrings, but Mr. Flynn still develops a solid story that keeps you wanting to know what happens next. You know the good guys are going to win, but there is enough mystery to not know exactly how they will prevail above the opposition. Some may consider this formularic but it works and is still an enjoyable read.

4) READER: Armand Schultz is the reader of the audio book version and he does a good job. He has different accents and reflections for different characters, but not nearly the same "impersonation" ability as Roddy McDowell or some other readers. This was most noticeable when the female characters would speak. His very masculine voice was a bit distracting at such times. But he has a great Mitch Rapp voice.

OVERALL: If you enjoyed any of his previous Mitch Rapp stories you'll enjoy this one. I almost didn't bother since it was such a long duration between reading the previous book and getting my hands on this one. But I'm glad I continued with the storyline and characters.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!! Mighty Mitch to the Rescue
Review: 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. Don't get me wrong. This is not even close to as bad as The Shadowbox by John R. Maxim. Now that's a real contender for the fireplace. Maybe we can team up Mitch Rapp with Kay Scarpetta. Mitch could kill someone. Kay could figure it out even if Mitch weren't in the book. And then Kay could kill Mitch when he breaks into her house. Oh wait. That plot has been used over and over and over and over again by Patricia Cornwell. Would rid us of one nuisance anyway.

Rating:
Summary: Wraps up some "loose ends!"
Review: Before you read this book, you must read its "prequel," "The Third Option."

CIA Agent Mitch Rapp is on a quest to find out who tried to put a hit on him (in "The Third Option"). What he finds is that the conspiracy goes deeper than he ever imagined.

In addition to this, it is brought to the President's attention that Saddam Hussein is in the final stages of building a nuclear weapon. Rapp is sent into Iraq to foil his plans.

(Obviously, this book was written before the US bombed the camel snot out of Hussein. . .)

I thought this book started a little slower than some of Flynn's other novels. I also thought he could have written a little more about the operation in Iraq. . . it seemed to be over too quickly.

Anyway. . . it's a pretty good read, if you can stomach the PG-13 language throughout.