Memorial Day - Vince Flynn - Reviewed by Nick Kalfas

Vince Flynn’s book Memorial Day (2004) is the 5th book in the electrifying, action series involving CIA counter terrorism agent ‘Mitch Rapp.’ The book is set in the dry deserts of Afghanistan and in the city of Washington D.C. The book is mainly aimed at teenagers or even to young adults looking for a good, exciting read. The book mainly reflects loyalty and doing whatever must be done to protect the ones you love and your country.

When a spike in CIA intelligence suggests a major terrorist attack Washington D.C. planned for Memorial Day, the president sends in his top counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp to pull out all the stops. Rapp immediately leaves for Afghanistan with a team of highly trained secret service commandos, the target: an al-Qaeda stronghold. With a treasure trove of maps, computers, files and bills for multiple freighters heading to United States ports-all leading to a catastrophic attack on Washington D.C. CIA director- Dr. Irene Kennedy, is proud of her successful agent brings him to a meeting with the president in the oval office. Rapp is in no mood to take glory so he simply tells the president that he is underestimating the enemy and what’s needed to combat them- “We pulled five prisoners out of that village in Pakistan, sir, and none of them were willing to talk. I lined them all up, and started with a man named Ali Saed al-Houri. I put a gun to his head, and when he refused to answer my questions I blew his brains out, Mr. President... after I killed a second one, the third one started to sing like a bird. That's how we found out about the bomb, sir. That's what it takes to win this war on terror.”But to Rapp the mission seemed a bit too easy, so Rapp decides to investigate a bit further; in his investigation Rapp discovers a chilling secret. Another nuclear bomb is being smuggled into Washington D.C. and is set to go off for Memorial Day. Rapp must track down and kill the enemy quickly and effectively.

One of the most significant events on the book is when Rapp finds the second nuclear bomb and immediately after the green light from Kennedy tracks it down. It is interesting to see how he tracks it down, what desperate risks he takes to protect himself and his country. The risks that Rapp takes are selfless. Another significant event in the book is when Rapp leads a team of secret service commandos on the al-Qaeda stronghold. It is a significant event because that is when Rapp finds out about the nuclear bombs.

Vince Flynn writes in perspective, he writes in ‘parts’ one part is from the view of the terrorists another from Rapp’s, another from Kennedy’s. Although it doesn’t feel like a novel when you’re reading it but slowly, slowly chapter by chapter you start to grasp the main concept of the story. Flynn is one of the gifted talent’s of the twenty first century, when he writes it feels like you‘re actually there.

The major issue that Memorial Day focuses on is loyalty. Mitch Rapp is so loyal to his country that he is willing to put his life at risk for random people. He is loyal to his work, doing whatever it takes to win the war against terrorism. Another issue looked at is bravery, Rapp is so brave that he would put himself in front of a bullet for a random stranger. Mitch Rapp is a role model for all to look up to. His bravery and loyalty is something to aspire to achieve.

Memorial Day is the 5th book in the Mitch Rapp series. A series is usually a group or a number of related or similar things, events, etc., arranged or occurring in temporal, spatial, or other order or succession; sequence, but the Mitch Rapp series is different. The only things the series have in common are the characters in the book (i.e. Mitch Rapp, Irene Kennedy etc.) and the purpose: the war on terror/terrorism. If you pick up Memorial Day and just read it not knowing about any series (I did this), you will have no trouble whatsoever understanding the book. Each book in the series has a beginning and an end; there is no: to be continued... in the whole series. You can even read one book every couple of months a have no trouble understanding the book.

Memorial Day is a great book for everyone to read. It is action packed and has received many praise from other many other great writers and magazines. ‘Sizzles with inside information, military muscle and CIA secrets’- Dan Brown. ‘Moves at the speed of a stinger missile’- People magazine. Memorial Day was a great read for me personally, I think most teenagers would pick it up, read it and enjoy it thoroughly. I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for an action packed, great read.