Protect and Defend: A Thriller

After "Act of Treason," which I found disappointing, I was concerned that Vince Flynn's newest offering might also fall short of his earlier Mitch Rapp novels. Fortunately, Vince Flynn is back in the saddle and has delivered yet another good book - not up to his best efforts, but good nonetheless.

I just love Mitch Rapp. He's a terrific character unburdened by PC constraints. The remarkable thing about Mitch Rapp is that this outrageously un-PC protagonist was conceived BEFORE 9-11!! Mitch Rapp was killing Islamic terrorists in at least three books before 9-11. While most of us were contentedly sitting back and enjoying our lives oblivious to the extremes to which Islam and its adherents would eventually take us Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp was fighting the good fight. To say that Vince Flynn was prescient would be an understatement.

In Flynn's previous novel, "Act of Treason" there were a few loose ends that needed to be wrapped up. "Protect and Defend" begins with the simultaneous resolution of those loose ends as well the present day conundrum of what to do with the Iranian nuclear capability. Flynn's writing style is engaging as always and draws the reader rapidly into the story line. If you like Jack Bauer from "24" you will love Mitch Rapp.

In "Protect and Defend" the indomitable Mitch Rapp is enlisted by CIA director Irene Kennedy to investigate the destruction of Iran's nuclear production facility. The usual intrigue ensues and Kennedy and Rapp end up traveling to Iran to defuse a geopolitical crisis. Kennedy is abducted, and in Rapp's indomitable manner she is rescued. Rapp, as is usual, is willing to do anything to protect his country and those with whom his loyalties lie.

Again, absolutely no sop to PC aficionados in this book or from this character who Flynn has developed over several books. I guess you could argue that Flynn's books and Rapp are somewhat predictable, but I don't care one iota.

The book is a relatively short read and the story moves at a rapid pace from beginning to end. Due to its brevity, you kind of get the idea that Flynn is once again mining the Rapp franchise for all it is worth, but in this case the book manages to deliver. While not quite as good as his earliest efforts it is a good read.

This book begins in Iran. The United States and Israel are very concerned about Iran gaining nuclear power. With the crazy leadership in Iran the two countries feel a nuclear attack would be imminent. Israel
has a source working in the Isfahan Nuclear Facility. This inside source
who is also a Mossad agent has a plan to destroy the facility. The agent
sets off an explosion that utterly destroys the facility. There is a
nuclear and enviromental disaster left behind.
The Iranians are screaming bloody murder and blaming Israel and the
United States for the destruction of the nuclear facility. CIA director
Irene Kennedy and Iran's intelligence chief Azad Ashani agree to meet in Mosul Iraq and try to resolve their differences. Mitch Rapp accompanies
Kennedy to the meeting. Iran calls upon Hezbollah master terrorist Imad
Mukhtar to kidnap CIA ditector Irene Kennedy. After the kidnapping Iran sinks an Iranian ship and blames the United States. The two countries are perched on the edge of war. Mitch Rapp holds no barriers in his search
for Irene Kennedy.
This is an exciting book from beginning to end. Once again Vince Flynn
has written an outstanding book. Be sure to read it.

Flynn has a great facility for writing political thrillers that are also rip-snorting action-adventures, featuring his signature Mitch Rapp character. He also has an uncanny knack for dealing with the hot topics of the day -- in this case a nuclear-armed Iran and torture -- which is quite a feat when you consider the lead time involved in writing and publishing a novel.

In "Protect and Defend", Flynn's pulled it off yet again, as these are two of the hottest topics on the political scene today.

This book moves like a runaway train, fast paced, exciting, and very involving for me; I enjoyed it very much.

The action is covered, from the Oval Office to the Supreme Council of Iran, to the gritty backstreets of Mosul in Iraq, to naval engagements in the Straight of Hormuz.

One of the great things about Flynn's books is that you're not just involved in the front-line action, taking place in a vaguely-defined crisis, but like in Tom Clancy's works you're reading about all the political decisions and ramifications right up to the top.

Rapp is also a delight, kind of a modern American James Bond, except more lethal and brutal, a character more suited to today's era than the created-in-the-50s Bond.

I read this book almost in one non-stop sitting. I really enjoyed it and always look forward to the new Flynn book.

Get it.

I don't read much fiction. But I love a real explosive political thriller. I loved this book. It's action-packed. You'll learn a lot about the middle east. You'll discover how they think and react to things and how it's so totally different than us.

This is a realistic and compelling story of different countries going through the minefield of international intrigue.

If you like action and adventure and lots of it, you should enjoy this book.

Highly recommended.

While the names are changed to protect the "innocent", so much of this book is a timely analysis of current events and a realistic approach to dealing with them. A great read with so many relevant overtones.

Mr. Flynn's latest is too short to capture the complexities of plot that his previous titles had. One gets the impression that style has taken over for substance, or his writing was using the same formula that the publishers liked but his heart really wasn't in.

I finished this book in record time and man, did it feel rushed. It built up a bit of a backstory, but the ending just seemed to have no real thrill to it.

I don't know if Flynn rushed this out, but in comparing it to my HC of Executive Power, the fonts were double the size making the book seem even shorter.

A Vince Flynn novel is a very special thing. It is a very guy thing; but most especially, it is a very American thing. If you love your country, and you want to see it strong in the world - if you want to see the bad guys get theirs - Vince Flynn is definitely for you.

With `Protect & Defend', CIA Counterterrorism Specialist, Mitch Rapp (a type of American James Bond), is called upon by the President. After the destruction of Iran's nuclear facility, and their incessant blaming of the U.S. and Israel, the President, using a football analogy, is tired of playing defense. He wants to go on offense.

Unfortunately, there are more parties involved here than the U.S. government is aware, leading to a disastrous kidnapping of CIA director Irene Kennedy. This action was hard for me to swallow, as I personally can't see the terrorists sharp enough to pull off such a feat. However, once I began looking at Kennedy as Rapp's boss and friend, rather than as the CIA Director, the reality of is was easier to believe. It also pushed the truth of what the fight against terrorism entails - and how dearly the country needs more Mitch Rapps involved to lead that fight

I have liked all of Flynn's previous books. They were fast moving, well written and believable. This one was not. It read like a first draft. There were so many typo's I couldn't believe that the editor at Atria would let it go out like that. The dialog was phony and contrived, as was the plot. And I don't need Flynn to shove it down my throat, what his politics is. Vince, we get it buddy. You're a devout neocon. That's fine, but don't lecture me through bad omniscient writing. It was pathetic. The storyline between the characters was NOT believable. The only believability for me came from the first two characters; Maria Rivera, the special ops gal Rapp was with in the beginning and the long time Israeli spy, Shoshan. We never heard from them again in the story. Instead we get this heavy-handed diatribe from silly caricatures of Iranian despots, especially Amatullah. I knew how the story was going to end once Flynn introduced us to these unbelievable characters and the one dimensional Hezbollah leader, Imad Mukhtar. And finally, our hero in these stories, Mitch Rapp came across like a one-dimensional demented street thug. Not the greatest secret ops guy ever.

In sum, this book was VERY disappointing. For those who haven't read Flynn's books in the past, I do recommend TERM LIMITS, ACT OF TREASON, CONSENT TO KILL, SEPARATION OF POWER and TRANSFER OF POWER.

When I saw this new Vince Flynn novel, I bought it and put all my other reading on hold. However, I was a little disappointed. Mr. Flynn created an incredible story that is certainly in today's headlines, but in my humble opinion failed to tell the story that he could have. It almost seems that he was in a hurry to finish the story. I will definitely buy more of Mr. Flynn's books, but I hope that the next one will be better. I still like his first, Term Limits, the best.