Extreme Measures (Mitch Rapp, Book 9)

by Vince Flynn

book data

716 ratings, 4.02 average rating, 172 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		33%
4		40%
3		20%
2		2%
1		1%

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published

October 28th 2008 by Atria

binding

Hardcover, 430 pages

characters

Mitch Rapp

isbn

0743270428 (isbn13: 9780743270427)

description

The latest pulse-pounding thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon Vince Flynn explodes onto the scene with a deadly and charismatic hero ...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1,041)

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12/08/08

Rodger rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in December, 2008

This one is a page turner. It is hard to put down. A third terrorist cell is on its way to the US. Can Rapp and Nash intercept them or will the senate judiciary committee chairman have her way and toss our heroes in the clink, for using extreme measures?

This may help explain the somber look on Obama's face when he exited his first briefing with the president. He needs our prayer because while the book is fiction, the issues are not.

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11/27/08

Jeffrey rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

bookshelves: read-in-2008, thriller

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: Flynn fans, Clancy fans but not one of his bests

Entirely predictable Vince Flynn novel which involves a terrorist raid on America and the efforts of Rapp to make the stupid politicians understand that extreme measures to stop terrorists were necessary to save human life. As an action novel, the book was decent not great but fast moving. As a thriller this is clearly not one of FLynn's gest

However, FLynn's efforts to show how stupid politicians are that do not understand what the efforts of our special policmen and CIA are ...more

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11/11/08

Anthony rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in November, 2008

recommends it for: Mature adult Flynn fans who have real all of his earlier works.

Vince Flynn’s Extreme Measures, his latest addition to a prolific collection of Spy Thriller novels, is not a bad read, but it is not his best. Based on the five Flynn novels I have read to date I have arrived upon a working hypothesis for choosing the best books from his collection. Take a look at the author photo on the back of the dust jacket. If the photo shows an unassuming guy you’d imagine having over for a barbeque with his wife and kids, give the book a shot, you’ll probably en...more

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1 comment

11/26/08

karl rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in November, 2008

recommends it for: someone who wants simple, but violent entertainment

I enjoy Flynn's CIA/terrorist novels. The 400+ pages flew by in less than 2 days. This is his latest book, and I was happy to see my friend England still is the Secretary of Defense in this book (he paid to be in the last one!). The hero continues to be Mitch Rapp, who works in a clandestine group inside the CIA. Liberal politicians and bureaucrats concerned about human rights and dignity are out to hinder/stop the clandestine group from doing its job their "unlawful" way to protect th...more

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3 comments

06/11/09

Kathy rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in June, 2009

I quite enjoy Flynn's books featuring Mitch Rapp. He's the literary equivalent to Jack Bauer - he does the dirty work that no one wants to acknowledge but it's to protect us all.

While Rapp is a prominent character in this book, the focus is on Mike Nash. Nash also does secret stuff for the CIA but he's trying to balance his job with raising a young family. His wife doesn't quite know or understand what he does which makes it even more challenging. I liked the human aspect of the ...more

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02/23/09

Mike rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in February, 2009

recommended to Mike by: I have read and enjoyed this author in the past.
recommends it for: Any mystery fan.

Mitch Rapp and Mike Nash are counterterrorism experts. The CIA has detected and stopped two terrorism cells before they could act against the USA.

Now, a captured terrorist reveals that there is a third cell and when he is about to reveal more, his interrogation by Mitch is stopped by Congressional do-gooders who object to Mike and Mitch's interrogation techniques.

Mitch was going forward with the interrogation anyway but an Air Force Capt. interrupts the questio...more

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12/26/08

Saturn Booksellers added it (review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in December, 2008

Mitch Rapp is in trouble – only this time it’s with the good guys. Caught using “extreme measures” to coax names and dates of a planned terrorist attack out of an Arab prisoner, Rapp is hauled back to the US to explain himself to the Judiciary Committee.
It’s no surprise, then, that while the politicians are having a field day posturing and threatening, the promised attack happens.

In true Vince Flynn form, Rapp, Nash and company behave like superheroes to save the US...more

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01/16/09

Donna rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

bookshelves: 2009

Read in January, 2009

Current events thriller Mitch Rapp is a continuing character in the Vince Flynn series. I am currently librarian in a prison and this is a very popular series with the male inmate population so I thought I would try one. Except for the language which is sad to say prevalent these days in movies and lots of best sellers and is to be expected with CIA, FBI, Congress and terrorists, this is a page-turner - top notch entertainment. Lead characters such as Mitch Rapp and Mike Nash are America's ve...more

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02/11/09

Mark Sturgell rated it:

Read in February, 2009

Vince Flynn obviously seeks to prove a point with Extreme Measures, the latest entry in his thoroughly enjoyable Mitch Rapp series. This is my least favorite in the series, by far. This book explores the politics of violence related to terrorism and our country's response to terrorism, yet relies more on personal angst and interpersonal dialogue of the characters and less on action than his previous Rapp stories.

Certainly, we have mixed emotions in this country - and sometimes short...more

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12/27/08

Ryan rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Another quick read with recurring character Mitch Rapp. This time, there are two enemies: liberal politicans and a terrorist cell in the United States. The politcians are too weak to let Mitch beat up and use "extreme measures" on the terrorists that were found because they want to hold up American values and the Constitution. It does make you think for just a minute about what the United States is turning into and how far we want to go to prevent additional terrorist attacks. I'm ...more

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11/22/08

Roy rated it:

(review of isbn 0743568737)

Read in November, 2008

My first day here on goodreads! And my first time reading Vince Flynn. I find it difficult to walk into a bookstore, pick up a book, and walk out again. I have eclectic tastes and can read almost anything. But often, I have no idea what to read as I have exhausted many of my favorite authors or just wish to try something new.

I picked up Extreme Measures from the 'Bargain' bin at one of the local Big Box book stores. Why, I have no clue. Perhaps it was misplaced. Nonetheless,...more

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01/05/09

Chad rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in January, 2009

I have to admit that I do love this kind of material. Covert operatives chasing terrorists all over the globe seems to hold my attention every time. Questions are left unanswered for most of the book, which leaves your mind chasing the answers as much as the operatives are pursuing the bad guys. The twist in this one is that the US government seems to struggle to land on the right side of the fence. Vince Flynn pulled from current headlines and from files that may or may not exist for his ma...more

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11/18/08

Marcie rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Don't you hate sitting through an entire movie that has no intention of wrapping itself up, instead priming you for the sequel. I guess the Mitch Rapp franchise is rolling.

Two terrorist cells meant to attack on American soil have been derailed. A third is training under Krazy Karim in the jungle of South America or somewhere.

The bulk of the book CIA anti-terrorism agent Rapp battles politicians for the right to torture information from prisoners about the third cell. Mean...more Don't you hate sitting through an entire movie that has no intention of wrapping itself up, instead priming you for the sequel. I guess the Mitch Rapp franchise is rolling.

Two terrorist cells meant to attack on American soil have been derailed. A third is training under Krazy Karim in the jungle of South America or somewhere.

The bulk of the book CIA anti-terrorism agent Rapp battles politicians for the right to torture information from prisoners about the third cell. Meanwhile, they're on the move toward the USA. Rapp sits in prison cells three different times, testifies before committees, goes toe-to-toe with the Justice Department lawyers, locks horns with one particular female Senator Lonsdale. He almost gets the vital terrorist information on two occasions.

His new buddy and protege Mike Nash meanwhile battles his nutty wife over the elite schools their four kids attend, bad words the baby has learned, the school principal, changing diapers, who has the more important job and can take the baby to work with them that day, etc. He's meeting with fellow operatives in the Homeland grocery store aisle.

Point being: They're fighting everybody but who they need to be fighting. Okay, point taken. You don't have to turn into the right-wing Republican version of Oliver Stone. Well, maybe you do.

In the end, the third cell successfully blows up three DC restaurants, killing several Senators and aides, then goes right into the workplace of Rapp and Nash with their martyr vests, killing several co-workers. Senator Lonsdale pledges her support and protection and charges Rapp and Nash to go find the responsible parties and kill them.

All in all, a very frustrating book. I get it, that it is a realistic picture of how we are "fighting the war on terrorism" right now. The pattern seems to be that Flynn uses every other book to set up the next book...or something like that. Guess I'll eagerly await the next one, when Rapp is let loose to go kick some terrorist ass.

Has a few satisfying Rapp moments, though -- when Rapp walks right up to a bureaucrat and coldcocks him without listening to any of his crap (hey, problem solved), and at the end, when he is pitching the dead terrorists out a window he has quickly shot a hole into (oops, the crime scene is defiled, now we have no evidence). Can't wait to see the special end he has in store for Karim when he catches up to him in the next book.

Don't get me wrong, I love Vince Flynn's imagination and the scenarios he creates -- terrorist screams 'I want to speak to my lawyer!', Rapp response: boom in the face...'I know my Geneva Convention rights,' Rapp response: swift kick to the nuts...

Sorry for the spoilers, but how else am I going to remember the back story for the next book out next year or whenver?
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10/21/08

Kelley Anne rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

bookshelves: action, audiobooks, vince-flynn

Another great book by Vince Flynn! I've loved every book that he's had out so far! He did seem to be moving towards having a new main character in this one though. The current main character in all of his books (except the first one) has been Mitch Rapp. Well, Rapp played quite a large part in this book but he introduced a new character, Mike Nash, who played just about as big a part. I liked Mike, and enjoyed what he brought to the book, but I really hope that Flynn doesn’t move too far ...more

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10/01/08

Steven Hummer rated it:

(review of isbn 0743574818)

bookshelves: thrillers

Read in October, 2008

recommends it for: Fans of the show 24

I have always loved Vince Flynn's book but Extreme Measures was somewhat disappointing. Mitch Rapp tortures a few bad guys and that was nice to see that Rapp was back and up to his useual tricks to do whatever it takes to protect America, but he gets dragged into a hearing because the positions had assured the two terrorist that Rapp tortured the snot out of that they would be well cared for, treated with respected not harmed and that the US would abide by the Geneva Convention.
Of course t...more I have always loved Vince Flynn's book but Extreme Measures was somewhat disappointing. Mitch Rapp tortures a few bad guys and that was nice to see that Rapp was back and up to his useual tricks to do whatever it takes to protect America, but he gets dragged into a hearing because the positions had assured the two terrorist that Rapp tortured the snot out of that they would be well cared for, treated with respected not harmed and that the US would abide by the Geneva Convention.
Of course the poLitions fail to acknowledge that terrorists never signed the Geneva convention and do not bother to uphold it when they have their own POWs.
So Rapp is stuck in a hearing with these poLitions meanwhile a terrorist cell makes its way to Washington DC to launch attacks on a unimaginable scale.
The hearing that Rapp is caught up in goes on for several CDs and it's only in the last 3 CDs that the action started to pick up and the led started to fly.
The story-line with Mike Nash wasn't that exciting and Vince just threw in a little sub plot dealing with Nash's family life that was not entertaining and irrelivent to the main story plot I'd have rather heard more about Rapp.
The plot picks up the pace in the 9th CD and the led started to fly and I was very entertained but then the book ended with 3 terriorist still at large and I'll have to wait until next years book to be able to finish the story kind of dissapointing the way Flynn just ended the story because I really want to see these 3 guys meet their demise coourtsay of Mitch Rapp.
You will notice that Rapp's kill count in this book is significantly reduced from other books not quite up to his usual standards in the kill department but he does take care of a few dad guys so it's ok.
Vince Flynn is a great author and writes great action packed thrillers I would highly recommend his books to fans of the TV show 24.
I still liked the book and wouldn't object to re reading it but Vince has some better more action packed thrillers out there.
George Goydell is the narrator for the Vince Flynn audiobooks he has done a really good job he's not as amazing as Jim Dale (the reader of the Harry Potter audiobooks) or Garrad Doyle (the voce of the Eragon audiobooks) but I still enjoy hearing him read books.

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06/02/09

Maureen rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in June, 2009

Wow - what can I say - this is the CIA of all CIA books - it left me on the edge of my seat throughout most of the book. I never was one for novels but have felt the need to "relax" my mind with a little over the top fiction, and this was the book to do that. I would not recommend this book to some as I was quite put off by the language in it. The words are oft times descriptive which I found unsettling, but the novel was so well written other than that.

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12/30/08

Tom rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in December, 2008

Vince Flynn is no one's whipping boy and he proves it in this fast paced thriller. This has a great mix of terrorists and narcissistic politicians. Mitch and his protege, Mike Nash, show us how to take care of those types of issues.

By the way, Flynn lets it be known there are at least 4 more books and maybe a few movies on the way. Olivia and I were discussing who should play Mitch Rapp. Any suggestions? And don't say George flippin Clooney!

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4 comments

03/27/09

Joyce rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in April, 2009

I really enjoy Flynn's books and have read them sequentially, something I would recommend to all since there are continuing characters and all the protagonists mature and age with each novel, some in better ways than others. This is the story of terrorists who come to the US to hold their own jihad and Rapp and Nash's attempts to stop them. Additionally there is Congress (as in most of the novels) trying to tie their hands and possibly incarcerate them. There is more than enough plot and acti...more

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05/02/09

Barbara rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in April, 2009

I listened to this on an audiobook, which may have detracted from my normal enjoyment of a Vince Flynn book, but I just didn't find this very exciting. The normal terrorism component was fairly predictable and not particularly terrorizing. What Flynn does do in this book, though, is focus on the total hypocrisy of those in Congress who claim they want to protect us, yet tie the hands of those who are trying to do just that.

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02/22/09

Joy rated it:

(review of isbn 1416599398)

Read in February, 2009

Great story and I love the character of Ripp. The first couple of chapters hard to get through (especially as I was listening to an audio book)but key to understanding how wrong the politicians turn out to be. It certainly underlined my belief that politicians have no business determining the safeguards to use for interrogation for agencies such as the CIA unless they have a military background.

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