2008

CIA director Thomas Stansfield is dead -- a fact many individuals in and around the nation's capital are pleased to hear. But their happiness proves to be short-lived once they learn that Stansfield's successor is the late director's close friend and protégé, Dr. Irene Kennedy. Her plan of action is to pursue the very goals Stansfield established -- something Stansfield's fiercest enemies don't want to hear. And something they refuse to accept.

Meanwhile, Israel has discovered that Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race -- and they've vowed to stop the Iraqi madman before he can get his hands on the ultimate weapon. With the Middle East teetering on the precipice of chaos and devastation, the president of the United States is forced to act. The commander in chief's secret weapon? None other than the CIA's top counterterrorism operative, Mitch Rapp. But the window for action on this crucial mission is incredibly tight. Israel has given the United States only two weeks to take the nukes out. After that, they'll do whatever it takes to destroy the weapons themselves. With the haunting specter of World War III looming, Rapp races against time and impossible odds -- navigating the deadly alleys of Baghdad, tearing through the corruption-riddled streets of Washington, D.C., and taking drastic measures against anyone who gets in his way. ( )

I probably should have given this one better than 3 stars, but it wasn't quite good enough for 4, and I still refuse to make things more complicated for myself by giving half stars of any sort to any book.

There are better spy novels, and better action novels, and better political novels. But this one is just fun. There's just enough detail to convince you that Flynn really knows what he's talking about without being so much that it slows things down. He's not trying to go down the dark path that le Carre did before him, but is trying to write a good action story with clear good guys and clear bad guys. In doing so, he probably exaggerates a bit, and his characters are sometimes weak, but they do have real motives and real emotions.

This is one I wouldn't recommend to everyone, but if you like political thrillers, check it out. ( )

I love spy books. This was a very good spy novel set right before 9/11. This was my first Vince Flynn read and I am going to need to get more. The main caracter Mitch Rapp is 95% bad ass, and 5% compassionate human. The chapters that do not have him involed were not as interesting and I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter and hopefully more of Mitch. ( )

After CIA director Thomas Stanfield death, Dr Irene Kennedy his successor is targeted by an inside plot to discredit her and end President Hayes’ term. To make matters worse, the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad provides the President with irrefutable proof that Saddam Hussein has acquired nuclear weapons and has positioned the factory beneath a Baghdad hospital. He has to be stopped, it calls for a covert operation, who best to pull this off but Mitch Rapp. Irene calls him into action and with his team of SEALS he sets off on a risky mission and infiltrates Iraq…...

This sequel to “The Third option” is a continuing adventure of Mitch Rapp who plays the role of a superman with a love interest. The characters we have grown to love in the previous novels have stayed true to themselves and are still fun to read about. The plot is compelling, lot of twists and turns and intense action, no shortage of villains and political corruption. This is a great political/espionage story, a highly satisfying read. ( )