Into the Fire

Brad Thor is very much like the late Vince Flynn – except he's different. But he writes true thrillers in the same vein as Vince did and he created a hero similar to the amazing Mitch Rapp by the name of Scot ("with one t") Harvath. Code of Conduct is Brad's latest release, and the concept fits right in with today's believable conspiracies and potential horrors created by those utopian-minded elitists who think they're the best humanity has to offer.

The prologue sets the stage for the intense danger to follow. Something horrible has happened at a medical mission's headquarters in the Congo which in and of itself isn't necessarily unusual considering the unrest and military uprisings in country. However, the USA needs to find out exactly what and why this particular place and its people seem to have been targeted for what happened to them. Scot Harvath is dispensed to get information and through trusted channels meets a British team of former Special Ops (SAS) men and a female doctor, once a wartime journalist, to assist him. The British team knows very little about his mission, and the doctor only wants to find out what happened to the men and women she'd worked with at the mission. She becomes a problem almost immediately.

With the discovery at the mission, Harvath is forced to give the British team more information. With the stubborn doctor refusing to leave, arrangements between the Brits and Harvath are made, and he returns to the US. What he and "The Old Man", former CIA operative and founder and leader of the Carlton Group who employs Harvath, learn about the Congo incident is amplified by a Mossad agent's and an asset's trip to the US to track a dual-citizenship holder (Canada and USA) who holds a position at the United Nations. From there it only gets worse as individuals begin to drop dead across the nation.

Thor gives us a wealth of characters in Code of Conduct. One of my favorite repeat characters is ace-hacker Nicholas along with his huge dogs. Although a typical despicable antagonist, Damien fills the bill as the powerful elitist. The reluctant Mossad asset with the sorrow-filled past resents her job and plans her departure. Her handler with his crippled hands is the classic Israeli agent. Nothing and no one comes before love of country.  

There are similarities between Harvath and Rapp. Their reactions to loss and the devastation of the soul, their ability to define evil and eliminate it (much like American Sniper Chris Kyle), these are the markers of specific kinds of operatives and those in Special Forces. You might even call it a code of conduct. If you're a Vince Flynn fan, you'll notice particular events and reactions which will remind you of Vince's work. And that fact is the highest recommendation I can give to Brad Thor's books.

You want a political thriller? Brad Thor begins his series of 15 novels with The Lions of Lucerne. Code of Conduct is his latest. Poignant, powerful, and pervasive.

Some profanity. 

Father, thank you for your people and their commitments. Please continue to bless and direct Brad's life as he does his best to serve you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.