Into the Fire

Kyle Mills continues the late Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp saga with the new Enemy of the State, a trying set of circumstances for the operative that requires his resignation from the CIA.

After finishing a harrowing personal obligation in Al-Shirqat, Iraq, Rapp returns home to his uneasy relationship with the woman (Claudia) and her 4 yr. old daughter who occupy his life there. In his house. Relationships don't work well with Rapp. Plus, the still recovering Scott Coleman, Rapp's go-to guy in organizing ops, insists he can't accommodate that role any longer until he's fully well. Scott, Irene Kennedy, and Claudia herself, all want Claudia to take his place. Rapp is not happy with their selection, knowing the risk to her is too great. His objections are somehow overruled.  

Summoned by the POTUS for a secret meeting, it is implied that Rapp could do something but that if he did, the POTUS would pretend he had zero knowledge of it and would turn on him in a New York minute if he was caught. After resigning from the CIA, Rapp assembles a ragtag group of ultra-talented misfits from Rapp's storied past with Claudia running point. Mitch takes his "team" to one hell-hole after another trying to find a Saudi prince who's using his acquired funds to finance terror. However, there's something awry with whoever is helping the despicable prince and until the group discovers who that is, they keep going down confusing paths. When they finally locate him on the Riviera, the plan seems to be working until suddenly chaos explodes.

Rapp manages to extract the surprising source of who's behind the orchestration of getting money to the terrorists and the race is on to eliminate him. However, all their efforts to find different parties attached to this source come to an end with their deaths.

This is a charged chase of politically volatile characters that starts to backfire on Rapp. 

Enemy of the State presents a confounding puzzle with many pieces out of place and not easily attached. Turn the tables on Rapp, and you might get more than you bargained for in results. It's a thriller, and we see Rapp twisted emotionally by his "new" arrangement with Claudia while his life and liberty are being seriously threatened. 

It's an awkward Rapp we see in this novel. He's struggling with the relationship, his future, even his abilities to do this way of life and for how much longer. His go-to guy was seriously injured and isn't coming back as fast as he'd hoped and is uncertain if he can come back at all. Considering Claudia for the organizational aspects of Scott's job adds an entirely different dynamic to his ops. None of it feels right, and Rapp's in a precarious place. It will be interesting to see what Kyle does in the next segment of the Mitch Rapp saga. I can't say I'm entirely comfortable with this vision of Mitch Rapp – and his choice of women. Again.

(Language is a bit excessive in this one.)

Father, please continue to pursue souls. We're in desperate need of your grace and rescue. Always. Please bless Kyle's efforts in carrying on this legacy and give him the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.