Transfer of Power

"Transfer of Power," Vince Flynn's second novel, introduces Mitch Rapp, the CIA counterterrorist who has since been the main character in another nine Flynn thrillers. Those just discovering the Mitch Rapp series are likely to find the earliest novels in the series (this one was published in 1999) to be even more poignant than those who read them prior to the murders of September 11, 2001. New readers will also notice how Flynn's style has changed over the years as he, thankfully, lost most of his "Tom Clancy style" and streamlined his novels into even better thrillers. The White House is under the control of a small band of Arab terrorists led by the notorious Rafique Aziz. Although President Robert Hayes makes it to the relative safety of his basement security bunker, he is, in effect, trapped inside the building along with at least 80 other hostages. The country can only watch in horror as Aziz executes a man and a woman on live television and promises to kill one additional hostage each hour until his demands are met by the United States government. Rafique Aziz is no ordinary terrorist. He has specific goals in mind and he does not intend to blow himself up along with his hostages unless the U.S. military attempts to retake the White House by force. Aziz understands that most ordinary Americans, and some inside the government, have no stomach for witnessing the systematic slaughter of another 80 hostages, and he counts on the media to apply so much pressure on the government to negotiate that all of his demands will be met. And in the person of Vice President Sherman Baxter, now acting President, Aziz has just the man in place to make it all work out just as he planned it. Sherman Baxter is the worst kind of politician, a weak-willed, almost cowardly man with an intense desire to be President of the United States. He wants to appear strong but he is afraid to make any kind of mistake because he realizes that his handling of the hostage standoff will very likely make or break his political career. Much to the disgust of the Pentagon, FBI and CIA, Baxter is more willing to listen to advice from his amoral chief-of-staff than he is to what his counterterrorist experts tell him. If the President and other hostages are to be rescued, it will have to happen without the knowledge or cooperation of the Vice President. Vice President Baxter agrees to allow Mitch Rapp, an "off the books" CIA counterterrorism operative, to sneak into the White House but, when Rapp reports that the White House will have to be taken back by force, and soon, the Vice President refuses to give the order to do so. Rapp, along with a civilian volunteer and a female hostage he manages to snatch from her captors, negotiates his way through secret passages, tunnels and hidden rooms inside the White House gathering the intelligence needed by those planning the President's rescue. "Transfer of Power" is a good political thriller and Vince Flynn successfully increases the reader's tension as the book draws nearer and nearer its exciting conclusion. The action does stall on occasion, however, because of the excessive amount of technical detail Flynn includes about weaponry and the like, detail that, though it may add authenticity to the storyline, will be meaningless (or even boring) to most readers. Despite this handicap, something the later Mitch Rapp books do not suffer as much from, "Transfer of Power" is a satisfying thriller that clearly displays the promise of a decade-younger Vince Flynn. Rated at: 3.5

After seeing the author, Vince Flynn, on a t.v. interview I decided to check out his books featuring Mitch Rapp. Although he has 12 or more books with Rapp as the main character, most readers suggested reading the pre-quals he recently published before the actual series list. The first is American Assassin which tells how and why Mitch became a CIA operative. The second pre-qual, Kill Shot, was a year in time after he was recruited. Both of these novels grabbed my interest and were exciting reads for someone who does not normally read activist, political thrillers. Flynn is a very good writer, flushing out his characters and giving enough technical detail, but not too much, to educate the reader about the actions.Transfer of Power was actually the first published novel about Mitch Rapp. Of the three I have read so far, it is the best and I can see why so many readers wanted the author to write the pre-quals to flush out the background on Mitch. I loved all three books but this one is very exciting and Mitch is definitely a strong, intelligent, patriotic hero. I am looking forward to the remaining books in the series.

Excellent book somehow i listened to the shortened version of it I wasn’t too impressed, however, when I found the full version.. just amazing highly recommended a wonderful read or listen

I loved listening to it as I drive around in my car

Did Vince Flynn let someone else write this? I made myself finish this because it was Mitch. (Now gloriously visualized in my mind as Dylan O’Brien)

How the hell does a CIA agent have the time to train for an Ironman? Five top five finishes? And he won it? And he owns a beach house? Um no , no and no.
And don’t get me started about the bumbling that happens when the White House is attacked. It was embarrassing. Do yourself a favor and read I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, the Gray Man series by Mark Greaney and the Ophan X series by Greg Hurwitz- all fantastic spy thrillers.

Not bad, but the ending of the last action sequence is abrupt, and I feel like the epilogue should just have been a continuation, not something separate. I genuinely thought I had accidentally skipped ahead a few chapters!

Also, was this ripped from a CD? A different voice other than the narrator reports “end of track” periodically...

Best of the first three and definitely enjoyed the narration better on this one

Although this book is about 10 years old, the theme and events are still timely. The book was fast paced and I found I didn't want to put it down.

Excellent thank you for a great audio story about the cia

Having perhaps come late to Mitch Rapp I am working through the books in chrono order
Enjoyable but not quite to the same level of detail that a Clancy novel would reach but I am sticking with the series.

Excellent story full of suspense and planty of thrilling situations

Fantastic, suspense story, White House setting and great, great audio book!!!

Another great book showing the intrigue in the political world.

As with all books in this genre, I do suspend my sense of belief. Once that is done, I can judge the book for what it is. I found this entertaining. I can never give this type of book more than 3 stars.

This is not spy fiction. It is a Hollywood action movie in novel-form. It’s like a season of 24 or the movie con air. Nothing cerebral here. Boring. Too long. Shallow stereotypes for characters. A waste of time.

Good, although lengthy political thriller.

Read the book, now listened to audiobook. Fast paced, good story.

Good book but the political drama was ho hum.

while a hard novel to start the series out with, this is probably one of my all time favorite vince Flynn novels, and one of the main reasons for this is because it hits so close to home. While a little nerve racking, and not for the faint of heart (especially in regards to the infiltration of the white house) it is definitely one of flynn's best novels out there, and is the perfect book/series for someone who craves the constant thrill and adventure of mitch, who really can perform the mission impossible. This is a great series to get into, with the only bad thing being the constant cliffhangers. NOTE: read term limits before this, and continue reading throughout the specified series order is reccomended.

Mitch Rapp. The larger than life clandestine CIA operative who will just not answer the prays of the terrorists, and die. This may be Flynn's finest novel involving the rogue agent. The White House is brilliantly taken over by Muslim terrorists with a vendetta to resolve. The story line is quite plausible, and the texture rich. The action is fantastically chaotic, and never slows. The deceptive plotting by both sides of the battle is rivetingly laid out for the reader's view. As always, the good guys win, but not free of costs.

Non-stop intrigue and action. The best I've read thus far from Vince Flynn.

Great details of the operation, all the action I like to read and a little romance. Vince Flynn researches the weapons well.

What if America's most powerful leader was also its prime target?On a busy Washington morning, the stately calm of the White House is shattered as terrorists gain control of the executive mansion, slaughtering dozens of people. The president is evacuated to an underground bunker, but not before nearly one hundred hostages are taken. One man is sent in to take control of the crisis. Mitch Rapp, the CIA's top counterterrorism operative, determines that the president is not as safe as Washington's power elite had thought. Moving among the corridors of the White House, Rapp makes a chilling discovery that could rock Washington to its core: someone within his own government wants his rescue attempt to fail.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? Yes, I could easily recommend not only this book but the entire series of book involving Mitch Rapp and his no nonsense and no BS way with dealing with anything that can lessen the safety of America or its allies. Who was your favorite character and why? Mitch Rapp of course who is the main character so he is and sure be my favorite character of this book. But Irene Kennedy is a close second. Rapp has a way about him. He became an assassin for the CIA because he lost his girlfriend from terrorists, so now that terrorists are back and hurting the US he going to kick some ass. He doesn't care what the politicians who don't know s**t about the real world care about his actions. He is here to protect the US and its allies. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? Yes, if I had no responsibilities I would have listened to this and probably several of the other books in the series in a continuous listening episode

Action packed. The White House is taken over by terrorists. Over 100 hostages and the president are trapped inside. It's up to Rapp to lead the stealthy rescue and regain control. Has villians you will love to hate, and a hard as nails hero. Mitch does have a soft spot, and that's for Anna Reilly whom he meets in this book. It's interesting to see how this will progress in the later books. Excellent read, highly recommended for those who love lots of action, espionage, political thrillers.