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Act of Treason

Review

Act of Treason



ACT OF TREASON, Vince Flynn's latest (and best) novel featuring
maverick CIA agent Mitch Rapp, is properly classified as a
thriller. But Flynn plays with the concept of the genre here,
rearranging the blocks, if you will, with electrifying and riveting
results.

The story does not concern a terrorist plot about to take place
that will change the course of the nation and that must be
discovered and prevented before all is lost. Instead, the major
action --- an explosive attack upon a motorcade carrying
presidential candidate Josh Alexander, his wife and
vice-presidential candidate Mark Ross --- is successfully carried
out at the very beginning of the book. Alexander's wife is killed,
and Alexander and Ross, behind in the polls with the election only
weeks away, are unexpectedly swept to victory by a sympathetic
electorate.

When the identity of the bomber is revealed through a combination
of luck, dogged investigation and high technology, Rapp leads a
team of CIA agents to capture him, only to discover that the
apprehension of the assassin is but one thread in a tapestry that
presents a picture of deceit and dishonor that leads to the highest
corridors of the White House.

There aren't many secrets in ACT OF TREASON --- it becomes fairly
obvious early on where Flynn is going with this --- but the unknown
factors, such as what Rapp will discover, how he will do so, and,
ultimately, what he is going to do about it, is what makes the book
a finger-burning page-turner. His major strengths --- plotting and
pacing --- are let out at full throttle so that the 400+
story-packed pages literally fly by.

Flynn's profile rises with the publication of each new novel, and
there is no doubt that ACT OF TREASON will bring him to even
loftier heights. Rapp is a hero for our age, a rougher, more
independent and ultimately more effective Jack Ryan for the 21st
century. He may, or may not, exist as a clandestine force in the
real world; here's hoping that he does. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub on January 11, 2011

Act of Treason
by Vince Flynn

  • Publication Date: August 28, 2007
  • Genres: Fiction, Thriller
  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket
  • ISBN-10: 1416542264
  • ISBN-13: 9781416542261