Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Time For Rapp To Retire, 15 Dec 2007
I have enjoyed all of Vince Flynn's novels featuring Mitch Rapp. Some I prefer more than others, but they all offer something to readers looking for a solid combination of action, political intrigue and adventure.
With Protect & Defend however, I fear that Flynn is trying to flog goods that are past their best. Although not a bad book in any critical respect, this latest Rapp adventure simply feels tired. After an attempt at rebooting the character and franchise by killing off his wife two novels earlier I had hoped that both the author and his hero would rediscover the form of their early books, but after two further novels including this latest one it would seem that my hopes are destined to be dashed.
As a character Mitch Rapp has simply run his course. Nothing that happens in Protect & Defend feels new or fresh. It does nothing interesting with Rapp, any of the supporting cast or the formula itself because there is nothing new that can be done. There are only so many ways to dress up the same 'Rapp defeats another one-dimensional master terrorist' plot and and Flynn has used them all. Similarly Rapp's 'rebellious government agent & killer' schtick also has nowhere new to go. Flynn tried humanising him and ended up neutering him. Having had him revert back to an ice cold killing machine what new angle is there? None that I can see.
As a result of all all these limitations this latest book, whilst efficient, well paced and in places exciting, feels like it has been written by a computer program running a 'Mitch Rapp adventure template'. Its soulless and formulaic to the point where it becomes almost entirely predictable.
As Tom Clancy discovered with Jack Ryan and other authors have with their recurring heroes, after a while, when the new ideas of what to do with them run out, you've just got to bite on the bullet and retire them. If the recycled ideas featured in Protect & Defend are anything to go by Vince Flynn has reached that moment with Mitch Rapp. Flynn is a talented thriller author. I can only hope that he will apply his skills to a new concept and leave Mitch Rapp to a well deserved retirement.
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0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Vince Flynn's "PROTECT AND DEFEND" is a mover and without ruining it for you, it takes place in the water., 4 Nov 2007
It also takes place on land. Several characters don't speak English, but Flynn deftly ki11s them off. If you read this amalgam of words and expected a review, then you're in luck. I am only writing to commemorate my love for all of Flynn's books. If you have not read them, do so. I would not steer you wrong.
Mitch Rapp is a world heralded "secret" agent. Yes, it's possible because Rapp is THAT good. He is responsible for dealing with the menaces of the world that are conspiring to attack America. Without fail, the conspiracies run deep and blur your mind with their wow factor. Did you ever read a book and think, Thank God this guy's a writer. If he wasn't he'd be very good at being a bad guy. Ever wonder what he'd be doing with all of these sick ideas in his head is he wasn't merely writing them down? That's how powerful Flynn. The conspiracies are so tight and believable they seem like they were pulled from the headlines. The characters are built without boring the reader while simultaneously providing the level of detail that makes you feel like you really know them. So, in our post-9/11 lives, it is pertinent and palpable to envision the conspiracies Flynn so deftly knits, wrong word - I meant WEAVES into the plot to cozy up his vivid characters and action sequences that will have your eyes bouncing like you're watching a tennis match. Vince Flynn is one of the best writers out there today and certainly the best in the Spy Thriller genre. Protect and Defend go get it now!
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Super Hero Role for Mitch Rapp, 27 Dec 2007
Mitch Rapp out thinks, out fights, out shoots, and out negotiates all the bad guys in Protect and Defend. If you enjoy seeing the villains get their just desserts, this is the book for you.
Israeli intelligence has placed an agent inside of Iran's nuclear weapons facility who pulls off a stunning act of sabotage. Naturally, Iran's leaders want to engage Israel and the United States.
Into the breach comes Mitch Rapp who conceives of a plan to use the sabotage to weaken America's enemies in Iran. But executing the plan is easier said than done after Arab terrorists pull a deadly surprise on the CIA. Racing against time, it's all up to Mitch to hold things together.
This story has a lot of suspense and moves forward at a breakneck pace. I found myself racing to reach the end. My heart was pounding while I did.
Naturally, the story is more than a little over the top . . . so you'll find credibility being bent and mangled here and there. But just go along with the fun and you'll have a good time.
Don't make the mistake of looking too closely at the details. Some of them don't work.
If you are concerned about things being done according to Hoyle in your thrillers, this isn't the book for you.
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