|
The Survivor, a Mitch Rapp novel, by Kyle Mills, brings back the beloved
Vince Flynn characters. All Flynn books are based upon action,
suspense, and very strong character development. It appears
that at least with this book the torch has been passed to
Mills while the light still shines on Mitch and Dr. Irene
Kennedy.
Mills has the mannerisms of the characters down pat. Although
fans might spot some transition in that Mitch uses more psychology
than enhanced interrogation to get the terrorists to talk
and Irene is referred to as a “bitch” instead
of a manipulator and controller. Many readers might try to
spot where Vince left off and Kyle’s writing begins.
But that is an attempt in futility since Vince only wrote
three pages of this novel.
The characters can be seen as role models since Irene is described
as “unemotional in public and would allow people to
see what she wanted them to. She would not bow down to anyone.
As described in the book, she was seen as an icy intellectual
who made decisions not based on her gut, but her head. She
believed in getting the job done.” Mitch is seen as
“having no discernible physical or mental weaknesses
with uncanny instincts and no remorse. He’s a survivor.”
The Survivor picks up where Vince’s last book,
The Last Man left off. In the previous novel, Joseph
“Rick” Rickman staged his own kidnapping and beating,
to make it look as though Islamic terrorists tortured him.
A video of the staged event was later posted on the Internet
and featured what appeared to be Rickman breaking at the hands
of his tormentors to reveal secrets. To cover his tracks,
he conjured up a plan to kill Mitch Rapp, the one person he
feared. But Mitch and Irene figured out Rickman’s scheme
and thought they could permanently plug the leak of information
by having Mitch kill him. Unfortunately even from the grave
Rickman is imposing his revenge by releasing tidbits of information
that include top secret CIA intelligence of classified operations
and assets. Kennedy, the CIA Director, uses her skills to
connect the dots while using Rapp’s skills to find those
tasked with leaking the information. Mitch finds himself up
against Ahmed Taj, the power hungry Pakistani ISI Director,
who wants to bring down the CIA, specifically his nemesis
Dr. Kennedy. Mitch must also work briefly with his adversary,
Louis Gould, who has his own plans for Rapp’s demise.
Mills told blackfive.net, “My father was an FBI agent
most of his life who went on to become the Director of Interpol.
He was a good friend with the head of the FBI and MI6. I guess
I am pretty well connected in that world and found it very
interesting. When I decided to write my own novels I decided
to write about what I knew, the CIA, FBI, and MI6. The CIA
has to work within certain parameters. In the Mitch Rapp universe
they are broader than in the real world. Because I grew up
in that world I did not want to take that storyline farther.
I did not want it to feel unrealistic. I did some soul searching
when I started because Mitch is always doing something above
the law. In the books there was always a great benefit that
came out of torturing without any costs. But I do not think
torture is a super effective way to get information. My father
has done a lot of interrogation work at the FBI and said torture
doesn’t work. In The Survivor I used a more sophisticated
technique similar to what the FBI will do. Having Mitch torture
is not something I will strive for.”
One of the reasons readers loved Vince Flynn books is that
his main characters always had one goal in mind, the safety
of Americans. He was able to break down this complicated world
into good guys and bad guys where in the end the good guys
win. It was very satisfying to read how the bad guys get their
just punishments, which many times includes death. Kyle Mills
does a good job in continuing this style of writing. Now that
Mills has taken over the storyline it is gratifying to know
that Vince will live on through his characters Mitch Rapp
and Irene Kennedy as he rests in peace.
Reviews
of other titles in this series:
Protect
and Defend #8
American
Assassin #11
The
Last Man #13
The
Survivor #14
Enemy
Of The State #16
|
