Separation of Power (Mitch Rapp, #5) in SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group

May 03, 2013 Samuel rated it really liked it

IN WITH THE NEW

“Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.”- Anonymous.

Vince Flynn's second book, "The Third Option" ended anti-climatically. Dealing with a home invasion by three trigger happy contract killers is admittedly a step down from Islamic terrorists rampaging through the White House. But also, it's because it was merely the first act in what I like to call the "Saddam arc", the part of the series before Rapp became the legendary blunt instrument IN WITH THE NEW

“Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.”- Anonymous.

Vince Flynn's second book, "The Third Option" ended anti-climatically. Dealing with a home invasion by three trigger happy contract killers is admittedly a step down from Islamic terrorists rampaging through the White House. But also, it's because it was merely the first act in what I like to call the "Saddam arc", the part of the series before Rapp became the legendary blunt instrument for the war on terror we've all grown to love and know. Separation of power is the closing act of this story arc. Read back to back with The Third Option makes it a far better story. While not as bloody as future entries in the Rapp series will get, it still has its share of complications for the main characters. Now to the review. What happens when the wolves who were scared away, return?

The novel begins with Irene Kennedy weeping over the grave of her surrogate father figure and boss, Thomas Stansfield. Having died in-between books, she acknowledges the fact she needs to step up to the plate, and walks off to the political war that will make or break her career. Meanwhile, Senator Clark who survived the events of the previous novel holds a conference at his property in the Bahamas with one of his patrons. The man, who has been using Clark to abuse American foreign intelligence for his personal gain, isn't happy that Kennedy will become DCI, believing she'll lock him out of a lucrative resource. This convinces Clark to take another shot at a woman he came close to destroying. In Washington, the President gives a statement about his choice for the next director for the CIA. At Langley, Rapp and Kennedy discuss his future career. He wants to leave and she doesn't want to lose a valuable resource. Kennedy however has an ace up her sleeve, a new lead regarding the assignment Rapp was on in the last book. He promises to follow it up and is sucked into a conspiracy stretching from Washington to Rome and even Tel Aviv.

First the plot. If you read The Third Option and Separation Of Power back to back, what you get is one of Flynn's more serious attempts at a political conspiracy, one created by perhaps the most intelligent politician in the Mitch Rapp series. From the Israeli Embassy in Washington, to a surprisingly brutal home invasion in Rome, and a heist in Baghdad which could put Oceans 11 to shame, in some respects, Separation Of Power is a far more complex beast compared to the preceding act. Regarding themes, Flynn explores the always fascinating relationship between America and Israel one which could be described as a game of chess between two vitriolic friends, each trying to take as much as possible from each other and give back as little as possible. Finally, we have the general research. From bureaucratic procedures to surveillance trade-craft and covert assault tactics, this book continues to demonstrate why Flynn was considered the heir to Clancy in his time.

Now characters, four standouts this time around.
First, Mitch. He continues to develop as a character, showing some vulnerability this time around, as America's top government assassin grapples with the problems us mere mortals have. Balancing personal and professional lives, something which is unfamiliar to him. Nevertheless, despite a massive setback in the former department, he continues soldiering on.
Next, we have Irene Kennedy. With Stansfield gone, she comes into her own as a character, fending off several schemes by the opposition and creating a decent strategy to get her, Rapp and the President out of a titanic avalanche sent their way by their enemies, the enemy in question being Clark.
Speaking of Clark, he continues to impress. In the list of Flynn antagonists, he's one of the all time greats and by far the most intelligent "domestic" enemy Rapp and Kennedy had to face. Screwing over friend and foe alike with style, class and elegance, he even had me cheering by giving one of the more unpleasant officials to feature in a Flynn book a helping hand out of a window. But all good things have to come to an end. If his business partner hadn't squealed on him, he would have escaped the highly satisfying death he mets. Finally, we have Rahn. A killer working for Mossad, and Mitch Rapp's one time girlfriend, she runs into a big problem, when her boss decides he can turn her from a deniable asset into a disposable one. Big mistake as the men he borrowed from the Kidon unit learn. Using some quick thinking, and several self defense moves that would put a Quentin Tarantino film to shame, she damn well stole the show from Mitch Rapp. It's a tragedy that Flynn never brought her back after this book....but Mr Mills, has said he might. Time will tell.

So, my verdict is this. Read Separation Of Power back to back with the Third Option. It makes for a surprisingly good political thriller and is a good, surprisingly prophetic look at spy fiction and the Pre-9/11 espionage/geopolitics in general.

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