OK, I'm prejudiced. I like Vince Flynn's books. Based on his prior work, I can't imagine not liking his latest, whatever it is. When I saw that Extreme Measures was due out in late October, I immediately put my name on the reserve list at the library...I was number 5 on the list. with the library buying 70 copies of the book, that meant I was on the first group to get it. Then my travel schedule showed I'd be on the road and I groaned....now i'd be put at the bottom of the list and I might come back to the top by December if I was lucky (there are over 300 requests on the list as of today). While at the library checking out books for this latest trip, I told the librarian my dilemma and was told no problem, they'd put my request on hold until a specific date when it would go active and I'd probably be at the top of the list. Sure enough, I got home on Saturday Nov 1 and on Tuesday I got the call. Good system.
For those guys who don't know (Flynn writes man fiction, can't ever see a woman reading his stuff), Flynn's stories revolve around a CIA counter terrorist operative Mitch Rapp whose view of the world could be summed up as 'kill them all before they kill us'. Two high level Taliban operatives are captured in Afghanistan and held on a US air force base. Mitch impersonates an Air Force officer and does what he does best...convince the bad guys it's in their best interest to cooperate. problem is a limp dick panty waist AF captain doesn't like what he's doing and draws down on Rapp...not a good idea and Rapp none-too-gently disarms the guy who then decides to press charges. This sets in motion a series of congressional hearings on Rapp, the CIA, counter terrorism, while a previously unknown al Qaeda cell prepares for a big strike inside the US and Rapp is stuck on Capitol Hill rather out than finding the bad guys.
In Flynn's prior books, we follow the trail of clues and events that eventually lead to Rapp sending the terrorists off to Paradise earlier than expected, thwarting the plot and saving the day...and you silently cheer Rapp's every move, decision, and action as he gets closer and closer to the source. In this one, the main protagonist is a liberal Senator from New England who has the neanderthal knuckle draggers at the CIA in her crosshairs. As the the hearings get closer and closer, you can't wait to see the verbal sparring that will ensue with her committee. That the terror cell is getting closer and closer to carrying out their plan is almost secondary. The one difference with this book vs other Flynn books is that there is an obvious connection to the next novel. I can see the upcoming book picking up 'the next day.'
Also read that the first Flynn book to be green-lighted by Hollywood is Consent to Kill. Flynn has 9 novels out and this CTK is about novel #6 or 7, well into the character, but the only one with a love interest as a major player...guess H'wood thought that was necessary. I thought they should've started with earlier stories, but they didn't ask me. If you are new to Flynn, start at the beginning, which I think was Transfer of Power.
An interesting sidelight. When doing some work for US Soccer some years ago, the coaching/training staff were all sitting around drinking some beers when the trainer, a woman from Minneapolis, asked what kinds of books I like. i said political thrillers and crime. She asked if I had read anything by a relative newcomer named Vince Flynn and I said 'Oh yeah, Mitch Rapp is the baddest character going. It was right about then I put 2 and 2 together and realized this trainer, Vicki Flynn, was Vince's sister. Needless to say, Vince Flynn is a hit amongst the US national soccer team.
A solid 'A' in my book. but remember, I'm prejudiced.
East Coast Don
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