Into the Fire

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

     do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

     when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

     do not fret – it leads only to evil.

For evil men will be cut off, 

     but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Psalm 37:7-9 (NIV)

"Conspiracy Theories" abound to this day concerning the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01. Most people remember where they were, how they heard about this day of days, and exactly what they were doing at the time. Does anyone know what truly and exactly happened other than the deaths of many who were loved and the destruction that was wrought? Tears, sorrow, terrible losses of lives. Always a day of infamy and sorrow.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. Psalm 34:21 

Father, thank you for Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills and all of those responsible for and connected with the Mitch Rapp series. May each one know you personally. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Posted October 7th, 2019 as "The dual threat of a . . . Lethal Agent", a Mitch Rapp Novel by Kyle Mills. 

Kyle Mills continues the Mitch Rapp legacy created by Vince Flynn with his latest release Lethal Agent. 

I have to say after the hair-raising sequence of events in this quickly read story of bio-weapon terrorism and corrupt politicians, I loved the Epilogue. So much. 

One thing in my mind which makes Mitch Rapp the ultimate hero in literature is his sense of good and evil. He has zero qualms about wiping out evil. He gets frustrated like I'm sure most of the military, espionage, law enforcement servants of this country do, and for the same reason: as soon as you eliminate one or a dozen wicked enemies, there are just as many or more to take their places. However, when you are finally able to send one to judgment, it somehow makes the effort worth it. Wounds are bound, healing takes place, scars remain but get ignored, and the heroes trudge onward to eliminate as many evildoers as possible.To get justice. They're a special breed, and Mitch Rapp encompasses every quality that sets operatives like himself apart. 

Lethal Agent is a no-nonsense story about an ISIS terrorist who has two ruthless plans he wants to unleash after surviving near death at the hands of Mitch Rapp. First, he wants to draw Rapp out so he can be captured and tortured once Rapp learns the terrorist survived the incident which should have killed him. Secondly, he wants to infect the USA with an easily spread and lethal disease transported by his devout volunteers. 

The lengths to which Rapp goes to find a way to pursue the ISIS terrorist is done largely on his own, after securing a secret signature on some documents, until he learns the objective and their means to employ it. Then his team is called in, CIA Director Irene Kennedy, whose hands have been tied, jumps into limited action with the assistance of a bio-hazard team. 

There is superb action, hateful criminals, and a particular politician whose lust for power mirrors certain contemporary females, and of course Mitch is at his best when the stakes are high even when he pays a critical price for his actions.

My favorite line in this novel is given in CIA Director Irene Kennedy's thoughts. It reads: "The human species' ability to believe whatever it wanted was truly incredible." Amen to that.

As a Christian reader, I have only one complaint: using "God" interchangeably with "Allah". That doesn't work for me. If, in fact, Muslims do refer at times to Allah as God, I'd never heard it (which means nothing). Whether or not it was to be in keeping with the currently "politically correct" views of Islam, or to realistically depict what they call Allah at times, the whole of Islamic terrorism was otherwise portrayed with its accurate hatred/intent of destroying infidels (in which they detest the Christian "God") – and Mitch Rapp in particular. 

Mitch Rapp is at a point in his life where he's examining what's ahead for him. His philosophizing can take on a bit of a dark turn at times and his vacillating on his relationship(s) seems ill-defined at this point in his life. This is another reason Mitch Rapp is the best hero: under all the bravado and one-of-a-kind skill master, he's vulnerable and knows there's an endgame. This superman is human, too. And we love that about him.

Some profanity. Shorter story than I'd hoped for but fluid and a quick read. Do read it if you love Mitch Rapp. 

Father, please continue to bless Kyle with his amazing talent, keep him safe from all harm, and supply the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

And there you have them all, the banner of books by the creator of Mitch Rapp, Vince Flynn, and the author who's kept his saga intact, Kyle Mills. 

(Just a reminder: Term Limits is the first of Vince's novels and the only one without Mitch Rapp. Still an enthralling and politically poignant novel to this day.)

Lord, we tend to say that certain people died "too young", but our days are numbered and we can't know how long we have in this world. We know you took Vince home with you, but we miss him. Please continue to reach out to those who don't know you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

One of the great songs from Phil Collins. 

Father, only you. Thank you for all of your musicians and singers, music makers. May they each one know from whom their talents come. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Book 2 Splashback follows Failure Drill in the John Phault Series by James Tarr and is filled with gunfire, explosives, profanity, and friends helping friends in life and death circumstances.

Private Investigator John Phault gets a call from his young friend Ron with a cryptic "We have a situation here" alert. When John arrives at his house, the yard and driveway are littered with cop cars and law enforcement officers. It seems Ron's dad George has been kidnapped. Nobody, including Ron and his mom, knows exactly what George does other than where he works, but in a private inquiry from John to Ron, Ron reveals his dad could be a spook (CIA employee). As if that's not shocking enough, neither Ron nor his mom reveal this to the FBI who takes over the investigation.

Needless to say, the hunt is on for George when it's discovered there's an encrypted file on a USB drive. Joined by Jerry, Steve, and Bob, now a decorated Green Beret home on leave and surprisingly engaged, John fails to break through the encryption so Bob suggests his mom might have enough skills due to her job to get it decoded. None of these young men have yet to reach 23 years of age and yet they, along with John, won a gun battle with Mafia types in Failure Drill to rescue Jerry. During that bizarre search and rescue of Jerry, they bonded and became a "family" of sorts. So now they're determined to find George and all-in even when they realize they're probably up against the CIA. 

Between the five them, they have an arsenal, but before they get to where they need to go to rescue George even though they can't confirm for sure where he is, all kinds of tragedy strikes. John is forced to send his very pregnant wife into hiding and his friend of 20 years in the sheriff's department helps her escape. Bob does something incredible to deal with his pain, and the danger amps up quickly as they plan their attack. 

If you're a "John Wick" fan either in books or films, picture that kind of action and destruction, language and pursuit, wounds and injuries. 

And the twist at the end is a perfect conclusion, but the sorrow and heartache doesn't end there.

Splits and Transitions, Book 3 in the John Phault Series picks up in the aftermath of Splashback. 

Private Investigator John Phault is going through the agony of divorce because of the horror that occurred in Splashback. Bob is almost recovered from his extensive injuries, having died more than once, but he can't lift weights yet which has him frustrated. He's heading back to base soon after months of rehab. Jerry is doing some surveillance for John and drawing a paycheck while he waits for the US Marshal Service to contact him, Steve is moving faster into law enforcement, and Ron is completing his final year at college. George, Ron's dad, has a gathering for all of them before he heads out to who knows where so they can regroup after the turmoil of rescuing George from his captors. 

John has a new client but questions the surprising death of the object of surveillance of another client. The new client is being stalked but can't prove it, and John figures out the surprising former client might not be who he thought she was. This particular problem he passes along to a police detective along with all of his notes. Both of these inevitably lead to gunfire and death as John survives still more near-fatal encounters. 

As I noted in my review of Failure Drill, this trilogy contains stories which are typically for men who love guns, action, cussing, and sarcasm. Not a lot of interaction with females unless it's bodily awareness, if you get my drift, although this novel puts a female veterinarian directly in John's path. Because James Tarr is an expert on firearms and writes for first rate gun magazines, the repertoire of guns in these stories is impressive and massive. 

The title to this one is especially poignant in multiple ways. I'm not sure if this is the end of the John Phault Series, but it did end rather abruptly on a hopeful note. Very entertaining but a lot of profanity. 

Lord, only you know hearts and only you save souls. Please continue to bless James and all of his various writing endeavors. May he know the One who's given him his many talents. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2 (NIV) 

There are always new covers if a series or a novel sticks around long enough. And Vince Flynn's books will continue to be around for a long, long time. Kyle Mills has taken up the huge mantle to carry on the Mitch Rapp saga, the character who, in my opinion transcends them all in the thriller/espionage genre. 

Pictured above is the "revised" or current cover of the older novel (Book 8) in the series, still my favorite of them all. Why is that? Well, for me it's because the thing that separates Mitch Rapp from every other wonderful thriller character is his succinct and unwavering, although often underlying or buried, moral fiber and distinct definition of good and evil. When he kills, it's because he sees only evil in the target, a danger that is like a cancer that will spread without elimination. In Consent to Kill you see Rapp's humanity in its rawest form, bare bones of a ravaged man – not just the primo operative using every one of his skills to locate a special killer, but a broken man who has laid aside all that hinders him from seeking to kill the monster who has devastated Rapp's life. However, one thing changes that raw rage for Mitch when he reaches his goal, and that single action makes Mitch Rapp the greatest character ever created in this genre.

The Last Man is featured here because of the clever title to depict Rapp's words and the condition of meeting up with him when you least expect it. Another great story in this series.

I recommend you read them all. From prequels to Book 20 Enemy at the Gates, Vince's continued legacy written by Kyle Mills. You won't be disappointed. 

Father, you know the love you have for humanity in spite of our horrible sins. I pray each one gifted with your talents and gifts would know the Way, the Truth, and the Life that is your Son Jesus Christ and turn to Him. Bless your writers/authors, Lord, and turn their hearts to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

To catch you up to the new release coming on September 14th, this is the story that precedes Enemy at the Gates. 

Consumed with . . . Total Power (published 09/20/20)

Total Power, a Mitch Rapp novel by Kyle Mills, tells a terrifying tale that is even more terrifying because of the Author's Note at the beginning of the story. 

A smug condescending genius (John Alton) who works as a consultant, goes by the handle "Power Station", has made bundles of money at his job, put in five years of excruciatingly detailed study to set up his attack on America's power grid, and since the government hearing he attends doesn't take the ridiculously unstable condition of the country's electrical power facilities seriously enough, he's decided to peddle his abilities to totally put the United States of America in the dark . . . forever . . . to its enemies, aka the highest bidder. Or at least for long enough to exterminate its existence. And not so much for any monetary reward. John Alton wants total power and is capable of making it happen. 

A Russian sleeper agent is called up by her government from whom she hasn't heard in eons to meet with Alton in a remote location to assess whether or not what he claims he can do can be done. She is then reluctantly transported back to Russia to give her report. The Russian leadership chooses to ignore his claims and her report of his incredible abilities much like the USA had done in their assessments. 

Much as Alton wants nothing to do with any ISIS goons, he soon realizes they seem to be his only choice. Clever as he is, he senses a trap that results in an involuntary death and two suicides plus overall mayhem at a diner. This leaves him with the second in command of the ISIS contingent sent to participate in the downfall of America and three of his associates. It's definitely an unlikely match, but it's all any of them have to make this happen. 

Mitch and Coleman's team are dispatched to discover who's threatening what, but the resulting mayhem doesn't go well. And following that, the real abilities of this genius are discovered.

What's terrifying in this novel is the apparently fragile thread that is deeply frayed and unraveling within our country's power grid. Rapp and his group along with the retiring president and every alphabet department of the USA including Irene Kennedy and the CIA are facing the huge failings of neglecting the power grid for so long. There do not seem to be any immediate answers, and people are dying or killing each other just to grab whatever they can to survive.

When a discovery of Alton's whereabouts becomes a possibility, Rapp finds out quickly how little is available to help him do what he has to do. The remaining government is in chaos and provisions are limited. 

Total Power is a harrowing adventure against a despicable antagonist with a brilliant brain, but his brain capacity is all wrapped up in his super powers and he fails to note the old adage of "pride comes before the fall".

My two favorite parts of this novel are the scene where Mitch confronts a senator who insists on entering a compound that he doesn't have credentials to enter and Mitch makes it abundantly clear to the senator that he won't be entering, and another scene where Mitch explains to Irene why he's not cut out for a particular approach to a place where Alton might be. What he says to her is priceless. 

In this story Mitch is recognizing once again that his age and occupation have incurred the ever present fate of all kinds of body pain and aches and perhaps the hints of slowing down. His live-in girlfriend and her daughter have become increasingly important to him and that scares him. He's experiencing those life-defining moments more frequently, and they continue to make him uncomfortable. It seems the only emotional place where he can fully be himself is wherever his singular job that's he's done since he was just out of college takes him. It's who he is, and he "owns it". And there are ample opportunities for him to do his job in this story, none more satisfying than his final assignment.

(Plenty of profanity in this one.) 

Father, thank you for this incredible series, for the late great Vince Flynn, and for the talented efforts of Kyle Mills to continue this legacy. May you continue to bless Kyle as he writes and creates, providing all that he needs to tell the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.