The Third Option

Amazon.com Review Rancorous political infighting surrounds the selection of a successor to the dying head of the CIA just as Mitch Rapp, the agency's top operative, embarks on a dangerous mission to take out a well-known German industrialist believed to be supplying Middle East terrorists with highly sensitive equipment critical to constructing a nuclear bomb. When Rapp's ultimately successful mission is compromised from within, ailing CIA director Thomas Stansfield puts his imprimatur on the efforts of his chosen successor, Irene Kennedy, director of the agency's Counterterrorism Center, to identify the powerful interests both inside and outside the agency that wanted Rapp to fail. The motive soon becomes clear; there are people who'll stop at nothing to remove Kennedy from the helm of the agency after Stansfield dies. One thing they didn't count on was Rapp's survival, and now he's a lethal weapon whose sights are fixed directly on the most powerful among them. This is a strong, swift thriller, a bit predictable (the senator in the black hat has dogs named Caesar and Brutus) but nonetheless involving. Author Vince Flynn sustains the dramatic tension from the opening paragraph to the last; in Mitch Rapp, he's got the makings of a promising series hero. --Jane Adams From Publishers Weekly A CIA counterterrorist gets caught in the middle of a deadly Beltway power play in Flynn's (Balance of Power) latest political thriller. Long on one-dimensional characters, action scenes and espionage details, it falls short on comprehensible plotting. Battle-scarred protagonist Mitch Rapp returns to take on a sensitive new assignment in Europe, only to have things go awry when his two CIA colleagues turn on him following the assassination of a wealthy German count who has been selling arms to Saddam Hussein. Rapp survives their double-dealing, but he is forced to go underground to decipher the labyrinthine chain of political connections and to learn who was trying to have him killed. Back in Washington, a similar game of spy-versus-spy is being conducted by the elderly, dying director of the CIA and his chosen successor. Rapp eventually surfaces to help his bosses, but things get personal for the ace counterterrorist when Rapp's bride-to-be is kidnapped as part of the ongoing political maneuvers. Flynn sweats the small stuff to bring his conspiracy to life, but he also introduces enough secondary characters to populate two novels, and he frequently stalls the narrative momentum by providing an overwhelming level of detail regarding various high-tech gadgets and espionage operations. The biggest disappointment, though, comes at the end, when the book is exposed as a shameless setup for a sequel. Flynn is a popular writer, but his third thriller won't do much to enhance his critical reputation or his sales. 9-city author tour. (Nov.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

the Third Option Is The Dark, Dangerous World Of Covert Operations Where Governments Use Agents To Kill Their Enemies Without Sanctioning Their Activities. Mitch Rapp, A Member Of The Orion Team, Has Abided By The Rules Of The Game For A Decade. Now That He Is In Love, Mitch Wants To Resign After Years As A Patriotic Universal Soldier.

His Last Assignment Calls For Him To Assassinate A German Industrialist Helping Saddam Hussein Rebuild The Iraqi Nuclear Arsenal. After Completing The Mission, One Of His Peers Tries To Eliminate Mitch, But Fails To Kill The Operative. Alone And Hunted, Mitch Manages To Return To The States To Attempt To Uncover The Identity Of The Individual Paying The Assassination Bills. When His Enemy Grabs His Beloved Girlfriend, Mitch Vows To Kill Everyone Who Might Be Involved, Even If It Means Raiding The Halls Of Congress And The White House.

publishers Weekly

a Cia Counterterrorist Gets Caught In The Middle Of A Deadly Beltway Power Play In Flynn's (balance Of Power) Latest Political Thriller. Long On One-dimensional Characters, Action Scenes And Espionage Details, It Falls Short On Comprehensible Plotting. Battle-scarred Protagonist Mitch Rapp Returns To Take On A Sensitive New Assignment In Europe, Only To Have Things Go Awry When His Two Cia Colleagues Turn On Him Following The Assassination Of A Wealthy German Count Who Has Been Selling Arms To Saddam Hussein. Rapp Survives Their Double-dealing, But He Is Forced To Go Underground To Decipher The Labyrinthine Chain Of Political Connections And To Learn Who Was Trying To Have Him Killed. Back In Washington, A Similar Game Of Spy-versus-spy Is Being Conducted By The Elderly, Dying Director Of The Cia And His Chosen Successor. Rapp Eventually Surfaces To Help His Bosses, But Things Get Personal For The Ace Counterterrorist When Rapp's Bride-to-be Is Kidnapped As Part Of The Ongoing Political Maneuvers. Flynn Sweats The Small Stuff To Bring His Conspiracy To Life, But He Also Introduces Enough Secondary Characters To Populate Two Novels, And He Frequently Stalls The Narrative Momentum By Providing An Overwhelming Level Of Detail Regarding Various High-tech Gadgets And Espionage Operations. The Biggest Disappointment, Though, Comes At The End, When The Book Is Exposed As A Shameless Setup For A Sequel. Flynn Is A Popular Writer, But His Third Thriller Won't Do Much To Enhance His Critical Reputation Or His Sales. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Mitch Rapp, the CIA's most lethal and efficient counterterrorism operative, is putting into play a meticulous plan to take out a notorious sponsor of terrorism--when he falls prey to government forces with an agenda of their own. Dr. Irene Kinnedy is named the successor to dying CIA Director Thomas Stansfield--a Choice that enrages many inside the world's most powerful intelligence agency. And her detractors will resort to extreme measures to prevent her from taking the reins. But what the Washington conspirators and backstabbing insiders do not know is that Mitch Rapp won't tolerate being their pawn After retaking the White House following a terrorist attack on the president, CIA counter-terrorism expert Mitch Rapp is sent on a mission to stop a noted German industrialist selling sensitive materials to a terrorist sponsor, unaware that he is being set up by powerful forces in Washington who will do anything to see him fail. Reprint.