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Chronological Order of the Mitch Rapp Series

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2018

Chronological Order of the Mitch Rapp Series: American Assassin (2010), Kill Shot (2012), Transfer of Power (1999), Third Option (2000), Separation of Power (2001), Executive Power (2002), Memorial Day (2004), Consent to Kill (2005); Act of Treason (2006), Protect and Defend (2007), Extreme Measures (2008), Pursuit of Honor (2009), The Last Man (2012), The Survivor (2015), Order To Kill (2016), Enemy Of The State (2017), Red War (2018). Term Limits (1997) is not part of the Mitch Rapp series. All book in the series starting with The Survivor (2015) have been written by Kyle Mills, who took over the series from the late Vince Flynn.

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R Rated

Not great but better than recent efforts

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2010

I've read all of Vince Flynn's novels but the first of them, Term Limits, is still by far his best work. American Assassin is a little different than those he's cranked out over the past few years in that it offers a retrospective look at the beginning of his main character, Mitch Rapp. It's interesting and the introduction of Stan Hurley, the tough as nails aging commando/instructor adds something not present in past works but the story overall still smacks of the old and increasingly tired themes that Flynn has milked to death to the point of boredom and predictability.

It's the government and Rapp's disdain for authority. It's Islamic terrorists planning dastardly deeds that need undoing, and on it goes. So why do I continue to buy Flynn's work when I have a good idea of what I'm about to get? Good question. Perhaps familiarity has its place in that I know I'll get a good but not great read which is more than I can say about many authors. I would advise Flynn to broaden his writing base and try a new theme for his next novel.

He is a skilled writer, has a vivid imagination and interesting ideas. Why limit these skills to the same old/same old type novel after novel? This latest work is okay but if one has read many of Flynn's past works, don't expect much in the way of new material, just a freshening of a familiar old theme.

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Keljen4327

Chronological Order of the Mitch Rapp Series

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2018

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106 people found this helpful

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M Ghost

Start of a new thriller franchise series (hopefully)

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017

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Waited for two years for this film interpretation of the brilliant writer Vince Flynn's "American Assassin". This flick did not disappoint.

There were some plot and event changes in this movie, but generally the important elements of Mitch Rapp's entry into the clandestine world of unsanctioned missions were intact. Combining the intoxicating character styles of James bond and Jack Reacher, Michael Cuesta (Director) did a credible job of bringing this popular character (Rapp was played by Dylan O'[Brien) onto the world stage as the next tough guy agent provocateur acting on the behest of a determined government elite who need a more effective means to fight back against new and increasingly powerful world threats.

One aspect that I found intriguing was the youthful "kid" look and demeanor introduced in this new Rapp. This was an effective juxtaposition against the character played by Michael Keaton (Stan Hurley), and came off quite well, and should give fans of O'Brien joy as they watch him mature and develop in real time as the series moves forward. Keaton showed shades of his "Beetlejuice" zaniness at times, and this added some humor during what otherwise were difficult scenes to experience (torture). All-in-all an entertaining and promising start to what should become a classic series...

11 people found this helpful

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Missy G. - Kindle Customer

Incredible CIA black ops thriller!

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2017

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I cannot possibly give enough praise to Vince Flynn for his Mitch Rapp series. This review is relevant to the series as a whole. These novels are more than just action packed CIA black operations. Mr. Flynn has a unique understanding of Washington's political culture along with real world terrorist threats to the U.S. and abroad.
This novel, although written as a prequel, gives the reader an introduction to Mitch Rapp, the new and most lethal weapon introduced into the CIA's black ops program. He is truly unique, and if you like spy thrillers, Mitch Rapp just might become your new favorite character. I cannot get enough of this series!!
** to readers that are just discovering Mitch Rapp because of the upcoming movie release... just know that this novel took place around 1990, so many main plot developments may be different than the movie. I've seen the trailer, and they have definitely updated the movie plot to fit current events. ** Don't let that deter you from the books tho!! I'd give every single one 5 stars!

9 people found this helpful

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Flynn explores how Mitch Rapp gets started as a spy in wartorn Beirut

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2014

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Flynn takes readers of this successful series back to Mitch Rapp’s roots – how he got started in the intelligence biz.

Rapp, a star college athlete, is changed forever when his longtime girlfriend is killed in the midair bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 at Lockerbie, Scotland. And so he is amenable, shortly after college, when carefully approached by CIA recruiter Irene Kennedy to become, not just an agent, but an assassin.

In the early 1990s, the CIA is reeling in Beirut, among other places –from the bombings and kidnappings that have claimed many of its agents, including station chief Bill Buckley, and from the burdensome Congressional oversight it now faces.

CIA director Thomas Stansfield and Kennedy move to establish the proverbial “off-the-shelf” unit – one totally black, preferably self funded, and aimed squarely to putting fear back into the terrorists who lately have shown they haven’t got any where Americans are concerned.

Leading training is legendary, aging and ornery CIA op Stan Hurley, who takes an instant dislike to the young and green Rapp, who has never even served in the military. He makes Rapp’s training a hell, and goes ballistic when on his first mission Rapp deviates from an elaborate and extensive plan to instead take out a target alone.

What it’s hard for Hurley to realize is how similar to him in his prime Rapp is, a tremendous fighter with a great capacity for pain and an ability to calculate his every move and expression with the mission in mind.

The two must go to Beirut to deal with a growing mess wherein an American businessman is being held hostage and a CIA agent sent to negotiate for him is himself kidnapped. Beirut’s fragile peace is holding but it’s still full of bombed out buildings and dominated by competing warlords beholden to different masters – Iran, Syria, Palestinian terror groups and a corrupt spymaster of the barely post-Soviet Russia.

Rapp’s coolness all the way through his training and his first missions, and on into Beirut, makes him compelling. It's also a writing challenge to make an assassin a sympathetic character, but Flynn manages it. Hurley’s character is enjoyable not only in his rollicking non-PC attitude - smoking and drinking and whoring, oh my! - but in the way that fuses with him when he's in action. When he gets tortured in a Beirut basement – well, read it yourself, but I guarantee it’s unlike any torture scene you have previously read.

6 people found this helpful

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Ma De

Mitch is the new hero

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2021

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It’s fun to read about the training regimen for new recruits for the clandestine groups who are stationed around the globe. It’s agonizing to read the details of the various situations they encounter. Author Flynn cleverly describes capturing some of our men along with describing their torture; the tension and the hurt keep the reader turning pages hoping for some resolution in favor of our side. This story is amazing. You have to read this one!

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Flying Lady 76

These were recommended to me by a lady I spent a day ...

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2014

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I'm late coming to the Vince Flynn novels. These were recommended to me by a lady I spent a day with in the waiting room of our local teaching hospital (that was in 2012 and Vince Flynn was still alive). She had read all of his books and said there wouldn't be any more. I moved this to a back burner in my mind and then promptly forgot about it.

Fast forward to 2014 and after reading every book David Baldacci, Craig Johnson, Kathy Reichs and Michael Connelly have ever written I finally read this one. Mitch Rapp is an interesting character and someone is constantly trying to kill him. I am now on book 6 and still enjoying them even though they are a bit outdated. Still, great reads. Interesting perspective of the middle east considering the date of publication (post first Gulf War pre 9/11).

I don't think these books are for everyone, but for an author who created and shared his mind and concerns through Mitch Rapp they are very worth while reading. They are not timeless like Ken Follet novels or heart stopping thrillers like David Baldacci or Michael Connelly. At times there is almost too much technical information about aircraft, history of how military units were founded and weapons, but for some readers they may love this. I like a little less chatter about these things, but that aside I think Vince Flynn and his character Mitch Rapp's lives were cut way too short.

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JAH2

Well Witten.

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015

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Vince Flynn, whom I just discovered in the last year, was a great author. In case you didn't know, he died recently at a fairly young age. The world lost a very good writer and I'll miss any new books he would have written. Luckily, he was a fairly prolific writer so there are quite a few of his books still available, which I'm going to read in order (except of course the first one I read that my granddaughter got me as a Christmas present). This book is the first of the Mitch Rapp series, which is an excellent series. Flynn's writing style is a little similar to Lee Child, who wrote the book, "Reacher" which was made into a movie, starring Tom Cruise. IMO, Flynn's the better writer of the two. I guess it's really a matter of opinion and the same may not be true for other people. But I think this is an outstanding book. Well written, very good character development and great plot/story. Highly recommended.

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Amazon Customer

Great characters, high action and intrigue

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2015

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I'm sorry I waited so long to read Vince Flynn's work. Not only are his books a page-turner, he does series fiction very well. Some authors of series fiction gyp you by stringing you along and not providing an actual ending to one story before putting the next one on the market. While in the world of intrigue Vince Flynn has built nothing ever gets wrapped up in a neat little bow, he does conclude the current novel well enough even though you know there will be repercussions coming in the next book. Let's face it, writing novels is hard. But to write them so well that beginning, middle, and end never lose a step, that is AMAZING.

The minute I finished Mitch Rapp #2 (this one) I immediately bought and downloaded the next one. What a breath of fresh air to read a real page turning book. He's the best thriller writer I've read.

3 people found this helpful

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Tim S

Engaging Action Story

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2021

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Mitch Rapp is an appealing hero/assassin and this story is a page turner. There are some "no way" moments but overall it's as believable as any other fiction in the field. While this is book 1, book 3, which I'm reading now, was written more than ten years earlier so there is a disconnect between this story, the story in #2 and #3.

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Patricia Bumpass

3rdTime Through

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2021

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This is my third time reading American Assassin and I fell in love with Mitch Rapp and Stan Hurley all over again. I picked it up because I forgot where I left off in the series many years ago so I figured I’d just start over. Few books keep me intrigued after a first or even a second reading. Vince Flynn did not disappoint.

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