Separation of Power

Mitch Rapp Series

By: Vince Flynn

Narrated by: Ken Kliban

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Newly appointed CIA director Dr. Irene Kennedy is the target of an inside plot to destroy her and prematurely end the American President's term. To make matters worse, Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race - something Israel has vowed to stop. With the haunting specter of World War III looming, the president calls on his secret weapon: top counter-terrorism operative Mitch Rapp. But with only two weeks to take out the nukes, Rapp is up against a ticking clock - and impossible odds.

Take another thrill ride with Mitch Rapp.

©2002 Vince Flynn (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"First-class political intrigue from a master storyteller." ( Booklist)

Good story, hard to listen to

I've read all of Vince Flynn's books and liked most of them. This particular book is good but I didn't care for the narrator. In fact, I had to pysch myself up to listen to the book (I'm one of those that makes the purchase, I'm going to listen to it no matter what!). I'm not sure I can put my finger on the narration. Incorrrect word inflection and pitch of voice are what stands out. It could just be me so I would recommend listening to the sample recording before purchase. You might agree with me.

It's a real shame that the narrator decided to disrespect the character and the series.

As a narrator you have a responsibility to paying readers to research your character before you portray them. Have some self respect as a performer. What makes Rapp a great hero, and something that is CONSTANTLY stressed in every book is how he is always cool, calm and collected, regardless of the situation. He is a killer with nerves of steel. Ken Kliban makes Mitch Rapp sound like the dim-witted husband in a 1950's sitcom. He comes off as anxious, whiny and frantic. Every time he speaks he sounds like the butt end of a punch line. Please Mr Kliban, do a bit of research next time you accept a role, for your own sake. And to the producers of the audio version, what in the hell were you thinking.

ken kill-ban

Who was your favorite character and why?

well who do you think !

Would you be willing to try another one of Ken Kilban’s performances?

never

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

irritated - only because if killer kilban

Any additional comments?

this is a great mitch rapp story absolutely ruined by this ken fellow - i was wondering why for the first time I was being irritated by the great stories from vince flynn - and thank you ken killban for killing this great book - he just was completely annoying- nasal ,totally unaware of emotion or anything else that was the story

Story marred by terrible narration

Tone and delivery of the author was like nails on a chalkboard to me. The text was over read and over dramatized. Even basic dialogue became yelled and melodramatic. Gave up after 7 hours. Very bad casting in my opinion.

Terrible narrator

This is a terrific book, as are all Vince Flynn books, but the narrator, Ken Kilban, hasn't a clue as to how to interpret the author's charactors so as to give us the sounds approriate to the story.
It is so disappointing. I read the book and enjoyed it enormously, then I waited a long time for the unabridged audio version to come out (I do not buy abridged books), and then the whole book was ruined by a rotten reader.
Kilban has been chosen to read "Executive Power" too. Bah! This means that I will not buy that one. What were the producers thinking? Don't they interview and listen to a reader before they hire him or her to do the book? Vince Flynn should be insulted by what the producers of this audio version have done to his great book.
Fooey!!

Narration

Would you consider the audio edition of Separation of Power to be better than the print version?

I don't think so.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It did with its fast moving pace.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He was my biggest problem with this book. The voice he used for Rap was whiney. It was like several other characters in the book. Mitch should have had a distinct voice like the first 3 books. Lou Diamond Phillips would be a much better choice. I wish subsequent books could be re-read and produced. I like this author a lot but it is hard to listen to my hero talk like something less than a real hero.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

To save the white house and the American constitution.

Any additional comments?

No I am sure you did the best that you could.

Good read but...

I think my standards are so high after reading four other books in the series that this one was a bit of a letdown. the whole book seemed too slow and never really had me on the edge of my seat like the other ones I have read. However, it is still a good book and I enjoyed listening to it.

Disastrous Naration For - An Otherwise 5 Star Book

Each of Vince Flynn's books can be read as a standalone and can be completely satisfying. However, to listen to the Mitch Rapp series in order is an experience I would recommend. The evolution of Mitch Rapp it's absolutely fascinating to this listener.

Mitch Rapp is at a crossroads, does he want a normal life? One where he can marry his beautiful girlfriend, live in the suburbs and have children? Is a man who answers only to the president of the United States able to walk away from what he knows best? If he chooses not to, how many more missions to the accomplish? What are the sacrifices to his personal life each time he accepts the mission? Will Riley put up with him and try to have a future - as he protects the country as accepts and completes each mission? He knows the answer to the final question and that is what he must decide.

This book is filled with politics as we know it. Shady deals, personal aspirations at any cost. The unknown heroes who protect us at home & abroad, in an utterly selfless way and the inner grind that is Washington DC, in a somewhat [well deserved] cynical way.

If you decide to listen to this book you will find action-packed scenarios, complex dialogues, a bit of romance and a lot of cloak and dagger.

As with all the Vince Flynn books I have reviewed that's far, I highly recommend it. Five outstanding stars for the writing.

However, I had a hard time with by Ken Kliban performance. At times his voice was one squealing with excitement. There is nowhere in this book that that would be appropriate. I am comparing him to the past two narrators, so he did have big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, I don't think that he came close. An average performance at best.

Notes: Strong language, a violent dialogue

If this were to become a movie, it would be rated R, for the violence.


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Terrible Narration

I tried to listen to this book several times. I could no longer listen to the narrator portray each character in every setting as a snippy-toned, angry person (regardless of the interaction) yelling every word. It was difficult to discern who was speaking at times because it was all so clipped and similar. Really disappointing.

Payback

Vince Flynn once again developed a story full of twists and turns. The narrator wasn't that good.