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.
From the dust-jacket: An excellent read...CIA director Thomas Stansfield is dead -- a fact many individuals in and around the nation's capital are pleased to hear. But their happiness proves to be short-lived once they learn that Stansfield's successor is the late director's close friend and protégé, Dr. Irene Kennedy. Her plan of action is to pursue the very goals Stansfield established -- something Stansfield's fiercest enemies don't want to hear. And something they refuse to accept. Meanwhile, Israel has discovered that Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race -- and they've vowed to stop the Iraqi madman before he can get his hands on the ultimate weapon. With the Middle East teetering on the precipice of chaos and devastation, the president of the United States is forced to act. The commander in chief's secret weapon? None other than the CIA's top counter terrorism operative, Mitch Rapp. But the window for action on this crucial mission is incredibly tight. Israel has given the United States only two weeks to take the nukes out. After that, they'll do whatever it takes to destroy the weapons themselves. With the haunting specter of World War III looming, Rapp races against time and impossible odds -- navigating the deadly alleys of Baghdad, tearing through the corruption-riddled streets of Washington, D.C., and taking drastic measures against anyone who gets in his way.
What do You think about Separation Of Power (2002)?
One of the better Mitch Rapp books, involving the U.S. and Iraq and the latter's attempt to obtain nuclear weapons. Flynn does a great job of integrating his hero's quest to attain a personal, private love life while fulfilling his perceived duty to his country. Flynn works hard to incorporate contemporary intra-government and inter-branch rivalries as well as the ongoing disagreements between the U.S. and Israel. As usual, his portrayal of characters is strong, although as usual for the genre, the characters are sharp-edged and type-representative, rather than full blown humans. The books in this series continue to explore the use of non-government contractors to fulfill government roles, a tendency which should worry Americans who worry about democracy and militarism. But, one cannot expect much in the way of complex politics in the military-techno genre.
—David Rubin
This book is going to get three stars from me. Comparing this to some of Flynn's other books such as American Assassin or even The Third Option, the plot was very big on politics and the battle in Washington. It did have some great twists and had some good action moments, but there were times that were rather dull and seemed to be a bit drawn out. Like usual though, Flynn keeps you entertained and wanting to read more, I just can't say this was as great a book as some of the other Mitch Rapp novels!
—Damien
I have read almost every Vince Flynn novel and have loved all of them with exception to Separation of Power. This was not Flynn's best work. Very slow start and I did almost everything I could from tossing the book aside as a result of loss of interest. You might as well skip over the first 300 pages before hitting any action. All of Flynn's books are full of action, mystery, and suspense. This one was void of any of these qualities until the last 50 pages or so. It read more like a romance novel and back room dealings than a typical Mitch Rapp "kick some terrorist butt" novel. If you are looking for suspense and adventure in the typical Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp fashion don't rush out to get this one. You'll be severely disappointed.
—Animal
