Into the Fire

Mitch is still Mitch in Red War, the latest in the Mitch Rapp/Vince Flynn legacy written by Kyle Mills. However, there is too little of Rapp in this current edition of the series. And although Grisha Azarov is a fascinating character, he's not as fascinating as Mitch Rapp. Understanding the need to lay the groundwork for the bones of the story, Rapp is the character most of us diehard fans want to continue to experience so when he's absent for a significant part of the story, we – well, I – tend to flip through the pages with less interest until I get to his parts. This is not particular to Kyle Mills. Vince Flynn also did this in a couple of his stories. In fact, many authors do this in a long running series to add variety with their more interesting characters to complement their heroes, but when you've created and reinforced the best hero-type personality ever written in this genre, readers want to indulge in him as often as possible.

The very ill leader of Russia (Krupin) has his sights set on eternal power over the country he rules with his short list of loyalists. Capturing his personal physician and demanding every form of treatment be tried and evaluated, he elicits everything possible to appear in control as he takes leave of Moscow to hide out in a secured and secret modified treatment center. Employing an exiled military devotee ensures he can still operate as he desires. However, Krupin's one final need is to eliminate the possibility of challenges from his former assassin and superhero and to exact revenge for his departure. Only one way that doesn't happen: Irene Kennedy and Mitch Rapp.

Every means of discovering what's happening with Russia's leader are exacted by Irene, and she and the POTUS determine the outcome of their investigations warrants intervention. When there is an aggressive move in the Baltics, Rapp, Coleman (almost fully recovered leader of Rapp's operational team), and Azarov are sent to neutralize the situation. During this operation, Rapp observes just how "relaxed" in his retirement Azarov has become, clearly no longer the elite killer he once was. The philosophic admissions coming from Grisha as they're in the middle of the op prove uncomfortable for the strong, silent, focused, Mitch, and Kyle writes them just right. 

The final scenes in Red War are the thriller-exciting we're accustomed to with a little One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest flair.

I fear this series might be coming to an end, and, frankly, that worries me. I'm not ready for that and doubt I ever will be. I know Mitch is aging, he is a known commodity by every world enemy, and he's still able to strike fear into those wicked hearts, but as with us all, he has personal desires yet to be accomplished and realized, and he has slowed down some but not much really. He's living with a woman, who is now the logistics leader of his ops, and her young, precocious (and often obnoxious) daughter – but not sure he knows if it's love. (And I of course hope it doesn't last because as is somehow always the case with his love interests, I don't like her. Plus there seemed to be a possible connection between her and Coleman during his convalescence.)

Father, you know the hearts and minds of authors, what inspires and drives us, how we operate, our flaws and characters. Please continue to bless each of us with your instruction and desires. Please bless Kyle with your presence and abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.