The modern-day political thriller gets a bad reputation sometimes, with some authors awash in all these technobabble terms or, even worse, making a plot so overreaching that it loses its audience. Vince Flynn’s ACT OF TREASON is the complete antithesis to those kind of books. Yes, there are little forays into the technology of spying, but nothing too heady. This is part of Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series – he’s a CIA operative who’s a bit of a lone wolf. While reading the book, all that kept popping into my mind was: “Wow, Rapp reminds me so much of another CIA spy I’m a fan of.”
The basic premise takes place a month before the presidential election, when the Democratic canidates’ caravan is blown up, killing the wife of presidential nominee Josh Alexander, a Southern governor type, while he and vice presidential nominee Mark Ross – a multiterm senator – were in the car in front of it. Fast forward several months late, when they win the election in a landslide. Terrorists are blamed for the car bombing, until some unforseen information makes an appearance: Alexander’s wife was not as wholesome as she potrayed. Photographs of her and a Secret Service agent having sexual relations turn up on the CIA director’s lap.
I won’t give away much more plot, but it becomes very apparent who is behind the car bombing right away. But now it’s up to Mitch Rapp to do what he does best: Get down to buisness and find out the who’s and why’s behind the tragic event, doing it all with his one-man-war bravado. Rapp is the type to shoot first and ask questions later. Yes, folks, Mitch Rapp is pretty much Edward S. Aarons’ ASSIGNMENT hero Sam Durell in a updated form – a man who will not be stopped in his investigation and plays only by his own rules.
Flynn gives us a great modern-day spy series with the Rapp adventures. For those craving a thriller they will be able to fly through, grab this before your next flight. You probably won’t put it down until you’re all finished. –Bruce Grossman
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I am an avid fan of Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Larry Bond, Dale Brown, et cetera: After reading several Vince Flynn novels including Act of Treason and just finishing ‘Protect and Defend’, he not only is added to my ‘favorite author’ list, but appears near the top. Vince Flynn is able to thrill, chill, and intelligently rivet a reader without forcing us to wade through hundreds of dull description pages as often does writer Tom Clancy (Clancy’s best books [my opinion], Without Remorse, Rainbow Six, and Red October). Vince Flynn has an incredibly brilliant future and I so look forward to his next thriller (I’m a reader, not a TV viewer).
I am a huge Flynn fan but just finished ‘Protect and Defend’, I cannot find another great author of the modern genre…. Any suggestions?