As the book opens, Mitch Rapp and Mike Nash are sent to Afghanistan to interrogate two highly placed terrorists one of whom is ready to reveal information about an imminent attack on America. They are interrupted by well-meaning politicians led by Wade Kline, the chief privacy and Civil Liberties appointee whose position was created to appease ACLU, and thus are unable to learn that Karim Nour-al-din is the leader of a third cell of terrorists (the other two were captured).

Karim who has aspirations of becoming a key al-Qaeda leader and unseating the Saudi Royal Family, including more than 10,000 of their relatives, is training his elite group of terrorists in South America and with the help of his childhood friend Hakim travels to Washington to complete their mission.  

Extreme Measures also tries to show the humanistic side of CIA agents. Mike Nash takes time out from his work to solve some family problems his son is having at an elite prep school. Flynn also introduces Stan Hurley, and uses the 78 year old retired CIA philosopher to whom Nash is sent for counseling to tell us that 90% of politicians either think there is no war on terror or if we were nice to the zealots they would leave us alone.

Thankfully, Flynn becomes the Vince Flynn we all love at the conclusion of the book which has the action and excitement we are used to seeing in his books. If last impressions truly are lasting impressions, this salvages a three star review. Vince, please bring back the original Mitch Rapp.

--Jerry Solot