Memorial Day is a political thriller that is almost frightening to read. In this novel, CIA operative Mitch Rapp goes to great lengths to prevent a terrorist attack within the United States. However, his method of operation is so controversial that I almost wonder if he is going too far. And the terrorist plot turns out to be far more complex than anyone had suspected.

Background
This is the sixth novel written by Vince Flynn featuring Mitch Rapp as a trained assassin who operates at the behest of the US President and CIA Director. I have read each one of these books and enjoyed them a great deal. Part of my interest in this series of novels is the fact that I have met the author at local book signings a few times. He lives in the same area that I do.

Plot
Opening Scenes
The novel opens with Mitch Rapp interrogating an al Qaeda sympathizer at a secret location known only as “The Facility”, near Washington DC. Using methods of interrogation that fall just short of torture, Rapp gets vital information about a terrorist network that was hiding along the lawless Pakistan/Afghanistan border.

US commandos soon raid a remote Pakistani village, and they uncover documents that detail a terrorist plot. The plan is so horrific that Rapp, who is an advisor during the raid, takes matters into his own hands to stop the attack.

Flynn’s style of writing is taunt and direct with few wasted words. There is just enough detail to comprehend each scene, but he does not linger over the specifics of military equipment or explain arcane military rituals.

Political fallout
President Hayes and Irene Kennedy are the main characters on the political scene. Hayes is a moderate Democrat who is looking forward to a re-election campaign. And Kennedy is the head of the CIA. They both work closely with Mitch Rapp and marvel at his ability to execute a plan. But they fear his direct, take-no-prisoners approach to solving problems. Especially since his enemies usually end up dead.

They are often at odds over how to use Rapp effectively without inviting meddling from the Congress and media. However, they also fear a terrorist attack on US soil would cause even more political upheaval than either of them could handle.

Most of the characters in this book are only fleshed-out to the extent needed to understand their role, basic personality traits, and political persuasions. However, they are not cardboard cutouts. Each character has deeply held convictions (or lack of convictions) that fit well with their placement into the storyline.

Added to this mix of characters is Peggy Stealey, the deputy assistant Attorney General. Her approach is direct and fiery. Here is the scene introducing Peggy to readers as she speaks to her boss:

“This Patriot Act is a f*** disaster! She chopped her hand through the air as if she were about to cut his desk in half. “And if you’re still holding on to that fantasy of yours that your’re going to occupy the White House…in case you haven’t noticed, America does not elect fascists…” [p. 23]

Throughout the book, Stealey, Kennedy, Hayes and a few others frequently clash over how to balance civil liberties as practiced in the US against preventing Islamic terrorists from staging an attack. The book allows the reader to see, in fiction of course, how the Islamic terrorists will use our sense of fairness as a means to destroy us. I was often left wondering if adhering to high civic principles can be justified if they allow terrorist sympathizers to operate with impunity within our borders.

Plan of Terror
Using interrogation methods that would make G. Gordon Liddy’s hair stand on end, Rapp is soon extracting information from terrorist operatives. Although his tactics are extreme, he coaxes out a confession of a horrible plan of terror that will decapitate the US Government and send the Western nations into economic calamity. The result will be the ascension of an Islamic hegemony over most of the world. Here’s are brief quotes from two of the scenes:

“Rapp placed the stainless-steel barrel a mere two feet from his head and said, ‘Ali Saed al-Houri, your deeds have damned you to Hell, and that is where I am sending you.’…Rapp squeezed the trigger” [p. 101]

“The lifeless body of al-Houri lay beside them, the blood draining from his head…It served as a vivid reminder of where this interrogation could lead.” [p. 103]

Using information from Rapp’s interrogation, US authorities halt the shipment of an atomic bomb into the country. They believe that disaster has been averted only to discover that a truck driver has dropped dead from radiation poisoning after making a delivery in Georgia. The race is on again to track down elements of a terror network that is both elusive yet highly organized.

The terrorists
Flynn draws a portrait of the terrorists as men who are fanatically devoted to their cause, yet have many fears as they interact with each other. And at times doubts about executing a violent clash with America creep in. But frequently, they again convince themselves that they are the only true Islamic believers. Here’s a brief quote of the thoughts of one of the terrorists:

“Al-Adel was shocked that his relatives even bothered to call themselves Muslims. They had been so corrupted by America and its vices that he was certain every last one of them was on the express lane to Hell…They went out in public unaccompanied by a male relative and made no effort to cover their faces.” [p. 122]

Overall Impressions
As the novel progresses, Mitch Rapp works diligently with other US law enforcement branches while railing against the bureaucratic and politically charged atmosphere in the Washington DC. His philosophy is to stop the terrorists at all costs. Again, I felt compelled to think through which is more important – protecting long standing American principles or brushing aside citizenship rights if it prevents the murder of thousands of innocent citizens. I tend to come down in favor of the latter.

In this novel, Rapp is a somewhat a one-dimensional figure – a secret CIA operative. His wife and family connections are scarcely mentioned. From previous Flynn novels I knew that Rapp’s wife was a Washington DC reporter who is beautiful, inquisitive, deeply in love, yet suspicious about her husband’s activities. The strength of their relationship is not evident in this book, which detracts from the overall quality of the novel by a small degree.

However, the book is still very compelling and interesting. Flynn has managed to construct a narrative that is eminently believable and he tells it in a straightforward manner. I highly recommend it.

Recommended: Yes