Tuesday, May 10, 2022

May 10, 2022 - Staff Reviews


Enemy at the Gates
By Kyle Mills/Vince Flynn
Release Date: September 14, 2021
Audiobook Available from WV Reads!


3.5 Stars - Another fast paced thriller that showcases Mills' deft touch with Flynn's characters. Mitch Rapp's contracted to help rescue one of the world's most essential biologists out of the African plains and jungle. He's trying to step away from the dangerous life the CIA offers again but baby steps...

A few things kept this from being an exceptional story. But overall, it was entertaining from the first page to the last. Mills can write in almost seemless transition from Flynn's style. Mitch Rapp's not exactly retired from CIA missions but he's getting dragged into the fray this time from a few different people. He can't trust anyone of course from his new rich benefactor to the new president of the United States. But we do get to enjoy the further adventures of Irene Kennedy, Scott Coleman, and Claudia and Anna as well.

A couple ideas in this were pure testosterone that had me rolling my eyes. Such as an explosive planted on the bad guy's groin. Inventive but slightly ridiculous. And there's a few violent details that will have squeamish readers flipping pages. But hey, it's probably all pretty memorable. Rapp's rescue of a team of scientists in Uganda is central to the story. I sort of found myself rooting for David Chisom, a leader in the world of vaccine research, has an interesting background, for lack of a better word, and his team of researchers.  But there's a lot more happening outside of that mission. Back in the US, Irene Kennedy and Marcus Dumont are tracking a compromise at the CIA, that might be a powerful hacker or might be a mole. I would have liked to feel this all weaved together with a bit stronger ties actually. And I think Mills left a lot on the table. There were a lot of different ways I saw the story could go, and it seems like he kinda just played it safe and kept it simple. Nothing wrong with that, I just think I personally wanted a little more. Mills is writing/walking a fine line between real life economic and political meltdowns and fictional ones. It's quite the ride.

(NS)

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