Book 14: Extreme Measures

TITLE: Extreme Measures
AUTHOR: Vince Flynn
STARTED: April 19, 2009
FINISHED: April 28, 2009
PAGES: 430
GENRE: Fiction

FIRST SENTENCE: Mike Nash glanced anxiously at his watch and then eyed the twin flat-screen monitors.

SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] Counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp and his colleague Mike Nash may have met their match. The CIA has detected and intercepted two terrorist cells, but a third is feared to be on the loose. Led by a dangerous mastermind obsessed with becoming the leader of al-Qaeda, this determined and terrifying group is about to descend on America.

Rapp needs the best on this assignment, and Nash, who has served his government honorably for sixteen years, is his choice. Together, they have never wavered in the fight against the jihadists and their culture of death. Both have fought the war on terrorism in secret without accolades or acknowledgment of their personal sacrifices. Both have been forced to lie to virtually every single person they care about, and both have soldiered on with the knowledge that their hard work and lethal tactics have saved thousands of lives. But the political winds have changed in America, and certain leaders on Capitol Hill are pushing to have men like Rapp and Nash put back on a short leash. And then one spring afternoon in Washington, DC, everything changes.

THOUGHTS: Bring back the shades of gray! Seriously, Mr. Flynn you used to be so good, why have you devolved into a mass of "I'm selling for the movie to be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer." Not cool man. Not cool at all.

Your best character was the terrorist. I don't think you meant to write it this way, but you made me sympathize with a terrorist. He had thoughts, feelings, and second-guessed himself. You know, he was human. He lived in a world where he had to make reasoned decisions and live to see how those decisions changed others and, in turn, changed his character. That is so unlike your main characters who are so macho and American that we just HAVE to trust them when they act. Puh-leeze. American does not equal good. I know your writing for a certain type of audience these days, but don't forget you have loyal readers who read your series before 9/11.

I am tired of your books coming across like you want to play the action hero who knows whats best. You use to be so much better.

But god dammit if I won't read the next book. You leave just enough intrigue to make me want to see what happens next.

RATING: 6/10 [Good]