Separation of Power (5) (A Mitch Rapp Novel) Mass Market Paperback – June 30, 2009

Like many readers of spy/assassin novels I have become quite a fan of the author’s creation of Mitch Rapp. I am working my way through every one of these action-packed novels. As soon as this this 515 page paperback thriller (Separation of Power) arrived I began reading it.Now that Dr. Irene Kennedy, (the woman who recruited Mitch Rapp many years ago), is the CIA Director you would think things would become calmer, but you would be wrong. American’s enemies are always plotting evil deeds to destroy us. It appears Saddam Hussein may be now working with the North Koreans in order to become a nuclear power. Plus, there are internal traitors that must be eliminated. However, our secret weapon Mitch Rapp has been called on again to help solve these problems in his own special way.Like all the books in this series there are plots and subplots within this novel which makes for a great page turning read.I never give away too much information but if you have read other Mitch Rapp novels you will enjoy this this action-packed tale.Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Tactical Principles of the most effective Combative Systems).

Although this iteration in the Mitch Rapp series lags behind its two predecessors (almost a 3.5 rating), the entertainment value generally maintains! The story picks up where "The Third Option" left off with political figures conspiring to shift power balances in the government unbeknownst to our hero and the CIA. Mitch moves on from the previous novel knowing the masterminds of his attempted murder are still out there but does not fully realize how central he is to their grand plans. His instincts tell him to keep following the clues, though, even with the Agency commanding otherwise. Mitch takes his talents back onto the international stage in this one with his past colliding straight into his present.Where this novel struggles is how disjointed the entire plot line feels and the inconsistency of his girlfriend, Anna, now becoming more nuisance than complement to the storyline. For the former, the previous novel went to great lengths to create a universe of antagonists working to undermine the things Mitch so strongly believes in. Rather than capitalizing on that setup, the first half this novel just rides it out on auto-pilot before ramping up for the second half. But even then, the ramp up almost seems to be making up for the wasted motion of the early pages and simply jumps all over the place and almost too conveniently at that. The "climactic mission" near the end is effectively a pointless throw-in that could have just as easily excluded our main character altogether without changing anything in the plot but was basically included to appease anyone that needs a gratuitous set of explosions (see Michael Bay) before the story can conclude.For the latter, Anna's introduction in the first novel delivered a highly intelligent/strong-minded/sharp individual that resonated w/Mitch's otherwise hardened persona; however, over the course of the subsequent books, Anna regresses into a reactive teenager that simply does not fit the character she started out as nor someone you even care to see pages dedicated to as nothing about her aligns with Mitch and the overall plot. Anna is unfortunately marginalized into the equivalent of a small-town high school girlfriend who only understands her own bubble that Mitch married after graduation and stays with no matter how unhappy he is. Flynn did her, the novel, and its readers a disservice by removing all of the formidable qualities that initially made her so great!This novel entertains and provides a good setup for what's to come, but it definitely leaves readers wanting based on what we have otherwise seen from the author. Looking forward to a return to form in the next one!

Always a thriller with Vince Flynn. He has built an amazing character in Mitch Rapp. Vince does get pretty lengthy with character build ups but he keeps you hooked in.Great storyteller, with an amazing character.

Reading Flynn is like watching a movie. Having finished the "The Third Option," with its cliff hanger status of Hank Clark plotting and lurking in the Senate, I just had to plow right in... This was the first book in which Vince had me laughing out loud. He does some fun stuff with the romance between Anna and Mitch as they take a trip to Milan, Italy. What Mitch doesn't want to happen, happens with great gusto! I thought the scene with Donatella being brought to the motel room was the highlight. Of course the action is great, the plot is good enough, and the bad guys get it in the end. There are many books one can pick up at the end of a day. Mitch Rapp continues to be an easy read and a fun distraction. The coming back together of Mitch and Anna near the end of the story lacked some depth. I think Vince's worldview embraced Roman Catholicism, yet doubts the reality of any meaningful relationship with God, and because of this, he reflects our cultural morality in permissive sex outside of marriage, which he seeks to push toward marriage as he writes. The reader can sense his Roman Catholicism knocking at the door. He also doffs his hat to egalitarianism in the character of Anna and in the relationship between Anna and Mitch. Here again, his RC worldview seeks to show how the woman's lib framework can't cover all the bases of his "leading lady." For me, it makes Vince seem to work hard to keep it all together. Nevertheless, I appreciate what his faith does do to temper the color. I've not had to put his book down. Indeed, the action and tight plot, keep me up way later than my own conscience can justify. I guess we're sinners all.

A couple of late nights happened when I read it

So this novel runs directly from previous book. Essential that you read that first. Otherwise it's a decent thriller that keeps you engaged throughout. Looking forward to reading more from Mitch Rapp

Thank God for Separation of Power. Having read Vince Flynn's previous Mitch Rapp thriller 'The Third Option' I was left with mixed emotion towards this obviously talented writer.On the one hand I appreciated his spare, concise style. Compared to writers like Tom Clancy and Dale Brown, Flynn avoids getting sucked into long descriptive passages detailing the latest in military technology that can slow down the story or detract from the action. As a result his thrillers are truly thrilling, moving along at a rapid pace that barely lets up from the word go.Unfortunately, with The Third Option he managed to annoy the hell out of this reader by giving me half a book. Or at least that is how it felt. All the requisite parts were present. There was action, intrigue and machiavellian plotting aplenty. What it lacked however, was an ending... To my mind the whole thing just felt unfinished.With Separation of Power Flynn is presenting less a sequel to his last novel, than the second half of the same book. Mitch Rapp, Eilleen Kennedy, Senator Clarke and Donatella all return from The Third Option, picking up pretty much where the last book left off and dealing with very much the same plot strands. Rapp is still investigating the death of Peter Cameron, the former CIA officer and Clarke is still there behind the scenes, pulling strings. In other words, rather than setting up an entirely new story, with new supporting characters and new motivations for the central ones, Separation of Power is really about tying up all the loose threads left dangling at the end of The Third Option. As a result the plot regarding Iraqi nuclear warheads, which would seem to be the core of book at first glance, is relegated to a sideshow that is wrapped up in short order and with little or no trouble to allow events back in Washington to resume centre stage. It makes for a somewhat disjointed narrative structure throughout the book.Of course for all that, I still enjoyed it, hence the four stars. Having come across Mitch Rapp in Transfer of Power, I find him a satisfying hero. Brave and skilled as he is, the conflicts between the work he does and the life he wants to make with Anna Reilly lend a solid human dimension to his character that makes him an interesting and emotionally engaging lead. Backed up by solid, well written action, interesting supporting characters and a good understanding by Flynn of the political complexities of Washington, Separation of Power, when combined with The Third Option is a good thriller that keeps the reader engaged.All I hope is that next time we have the opportunity to spend time with Mitch Rapp et al, we are allowed to see the entire adventure through is one sitting.

I’ve read a few of Vince Flynn’s books now and enjoyed them all. Having read the Third Option (the preceding book to Separation of Power) last year, I was looking forward to this one as there were a lot of loose ends at the end of TTO. Who was behind the attempted assassination of Mitch Rapp in Germany and why was the only lead killed by Rapp’s former lover Donatella Rahn, for one?Thomas Stansfield, the CIA Director is now dead and Dr Irene Kennedy is the new head of the CIA, the President Hayes (US President) has hidden enemies in Washington who are determined on bringing about his demise. Meanwhile the Israeli’s have discovered that Saddam Hussein is close to entering the Nuclear Arms race and they have given the US two weeks to deal with the problem, or they will take action themselves, which could see the start of World War 3. Mitch Rapp longs to retire from his role as America’s secret weapon against terrorism and live a normal life with Anna Reilly, but his reputation and unique skills see him dragged into destroying the nuclear weapons and also to find out who is behind the plotting against President Hayes.Vince Flynn has created a character and a series which is a true rival to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. These are well written thrillers, packed with political intrigue and meticulously researched. Flynn clearly has an excellent grip of the field of intelligence and I would guess he has some well placed sources that provide him with his research material. The plot is fast paced and Separation of Power, like the previous Flynn books I have read, is extremely difficult to put down. If I were to level one criticism of Flynn, is that Rapp’s character’s credibility is stretched to the limit on a few occasions. I won’t spoil the plot, but the resolution of the Iraqi nuclear crisis had me cringing at times. The fact that Rapp casually won the Hawaii Ironman in his spare time, whilst defeating America’s enemies also had me smiling. That said, this is a common criticism of the genre and writers from Jack Higgins to Tom Clancy have also been guilty. I would urge readers to put any scepticism aside and enjoy Vince Flynn’s books for what they are, well written thrillers.I was saddened to read about Vince Flynn’s passing away and his books will be missed, particularly as I know a little about how hard it was for him to initially break through. RIP Vince Flynn.

Hooked on Mitch Rapp and his exploits