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Mitch Rapp #1
American Assassin
What type of man is willing to kill for his country without putting on a uniform? Six months ago, Mitch Rapp was just an ordinary college student. Then the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack stole the lives of two hundred and seventy passengers, leaving thousands grieving. And Mitch Rapp hungry for revenge. Just the material CIA Director Irene Kennedy needs for her new group of clandestine operatives. Now, after months of intense training, Mitch finds himself in Istanbul, where he tracks down the arms dealer who sold the explosives used in the attack. Rapp then moves onto Europe, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. But his final destination is Beirut where, unwittingly, he will walk into a trap - and straight into his enemy's clutches. The hunter is about to become the hunted, and Rapp will need every ounce of skill and cunning if he is to survive ...
514 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2010
7325 people are currently reading
53517 people want to read
About the author
Vince Flynn
42 books6,962 followersThe fifth of seven children, Vince Flynn was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1966. He graduated from the St. Thomas Academy in 1984, and the University of St. Thomas with a degree in economics in 1988.
After college he went to work for Kraft General Foods where he was an account and sales marketing specialist. In 1990 he left Kraft to accept an aviation candidate slot with the United States Marine Corps. One week before leaving for Officers Candidate School, he was medically disqualified from the Marine Aviation Program, due to several concussions and convulsive seizures he suffered growing up. While trying to obtain a medical waiver for his condition, he started thinking about writing a book. This was a very unusual choice for Flynn since he had been diagnosed with dyslexia in grade school and had struggled with reading and writing all his life.
Having been stymied by the Marine Corps, Flynn returned to the nine-to-five grind and took a job with United Properties, a commercial real estate company in the Twin Cities. During his spare time he worked on an idea he had for a book. After two years with United Properties he decided to take a big gamble. He quit his job, moved to Colorado, and began working full time on what would eventually become Term Limits.
Like many struggling artists before him, he bartended at night and wrote during the day. Five years and more than sixty rejection letters later he took the unusual step of self-publishing his first novel. The book went to number one in the Twin Cities, and within a week had a new agent and two-book deal with Pocket Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
Vince Flynn passed away on June 19, 2013 after a three year battle with prostate cancer.
After college he went to work for Kraft General Foods where he was an account and sales marketing specialist. In 1990 he left Kraft to accept an aviation candidate slot with the United States Marine Corps. One week before leaving for Officers Candidate School, he was medically disqualified from the Marine Aviation Program, due to several concussions and convulsive seizures he suffered growing up. While trying to obtain a medical waiver for his condition, he started thinking about writing a book. This was a very unusual choice for Flynn since he had been diagnosed with dyslexia in grade school and had struggled with reading and writing all his life.
Having been stymied by the Marine Corps, Flynn returned to the nine-to-five grind and took a job with United Properties, a commercial real estate company in the Twin Cities. During his spare time he worked on an idea he had for a book. After two years with United Properties he decided to take a big gamble. He quit his job, moved to Colorado, and began working full time on what would eventually become Term Limits.
Like many struggling artists before him, he bartended at night and wrote during the day. Five years and more than sixty rejection letters later he took the unusual step of self-publishing his first novel. The book went to number one in the Twin Cities, and within a week had a new agent and two-book deal with Pocket Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
Vince Flynn passed away on June 19, 2013 after a three year battle with prostate cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,534 reviews
September 3, 2011
They need to hire me to proof for them. I’ve come across more than a few books with an unacceptable amount of typos here lately. Is no one reading this stuff before it goes to press?
And I’m not that much of an anal freak, but 20 typos before page 78 is too many.
The reason for my annoyance is because Vince Flynn is a great writer, and I believe I read he is dyslexic, thus he does not have a dedicated team supporting him. That’s a shame because his Mitch Rapp novels tap into the raw emotion of real America right now, unleashing all our fury against radical Islam.
In this 11th novel we meet the man who trained Mitch, the mentor, and he is a fantastic, larger-than-life character. I laughed so hard during his torture scenes with the terrorists. Terrific drama.
Vince Flynn reminds us of who we’re supposed to be, and what America is supposed to be about. We’re the best, the baddest, the smartest, the meanest mo-fo on the planet.
At least we can still have our fantasies in Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp novels.
And I’m not that much of an anal freak, but 20 typos before page 78 is too many.
The reason for my annoyance is because Vince Flynn is a great writer, and I believe I read he is dyslexic, thus he does not have a dedicated team supporting him. That’s a shame because his Mitch Rapp novels tap into the raw emotion of real America right now, unleashing all our fury against radical Islam.
In this 11th novel we meet the man who trained Mitch, the mentor, and he is a fantastic, larger-than-life character. I laughed so hard during his torture scenes with the terrorists. Terrific drama.
Vince Flynn reminds us of who we’re supposed to be, and what America is supposed to be about. We’re the best, the baddest, the smartest, the meanest mo-fo on the planet.
At least we can still have our fantasies in Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp novels.
August 5, 2011
Some people are addicted to drugs. I am happily addicted to Vince Flynn's books and the exploits of his truly American hero, Mitch Rapp. My wife and daughter share my addiction, but they have not had their fix yet because I got to read Flynn's newest book first. Which is only fair since I bought it. My only complaint is that now I will have to wait another year for the next book. Withdrawal can be tough.
Oh, about the book? C'mon, it's Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp. This one is about how Mitch got his start in the assassin business before he became the star player in the war on terror and before there was an official war on terror. It is set before 9-11 when some in the clandestine services discerned radical Islamic terror clouds approaching and were trying to prepare for it (remember this is fiction). The result was...Mitch Rapp whose name Islamofacists use to frighten their children with into good behavior when they are not strapping suicide vests on them to kill innocent men women and children.
If they ever make a movie based on a Vince Flynn book, this is one I would vote for. That is as long as they were faithful to the book. Otherwise they might tick Vince and Mitch off.
Oh, about the book? C'mon, it's Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp. This one is about how Mitch got his start in the assassin business before he became the star player in the war on terror and before there was an official war on terror. It is set before 9-11 when some in the clandestine services discerned radical Islamic terror clouds approaching and were trying to prepare for it (remember this is fiction). The result was...Mitch Rapp whose name Islamofacists use to frighten their children with into good behavior when they are not strapping suicide vests on them to kill innocent men women and children.
If they ever make a movie based on a Vince Flynn book, this is one I would vote for. That is as long as they were faithful to the book. Otherwise they might tick Vince and Mitch off.
December 9, 2013
Look, here's something about us diehard action-thriller fanboys - we will forgive an author's imprudence with a few weak spots in the plot now and then as long as we get our action-gasm in totality but what we don't do is tolerate preachy one-sided-win story. Two ingredients which this author is dishing out in heaps in this book.
I am not even going to talk about the piss poor editing, its the gross injustice that has been meted out to Mitch Rapp that I am very disappointed with. It took Mr. Flynn exactly three pages to span through Rapp's metamorphosis from a teenager who loses his father to a young adult who loses his first love to become this lethal moral compass all of us have come to love. What? this is Mitch Rapp, the one man army who is that one hope of retribution against the wrong doers, you cannot chalk that up to Irene's exceptional talent hunting skills! all of it justified by making Hurley the bad guy and Stanfield convincing him that he may just have goofed up. NO, you need to take us into the man's head, show us his raw emotions harden into metal and sharpened by balls to the walls kinda training. Instead, what we are shown is that Rapp was an awesome guy all the while. Not to mention the recent trend of brushing a familial touch to justify the loyalty among the characters; Irene thinks of Rapp as her brother, Hurley thinks of Irene as his niece (justifiable by the back-story thankfully provided but come on!) etc., this is not even coming to close Jason Bourne and his son Khan's dismally written about bonding.
One of the praises very prominently printed on my copy of this book said something to the effect that Mr.Flynn has an eye on Lee Child's action-thriller throne. The fact that this book is "trying" (very hard) to draw a parallel to Jack Reacher's phenomenal knuckle crunching early-days context story "The Enemy" is not lost on us and I would like to take this opportunity to call FAIL on that. Not with this book, no sir.
I am not even going to talk about the piss poor editing, its the gross injustice that has been meted out to Mitch Rapp that I am very disappointed with. It took Mr. Flynn exactly three pages to span through Rapp's metamorphosis from a teenager who loses his father to a young adult who loses his first love to become this lethal moral compass all of us have come to love. What? this is Mitch Rapp, the one man army who is that one hope of retribution against the wrong doers, you cannot chalk that up to Irene's exceptional talent hunting skills! all of it justified by making Hurley the bad guy and Stanfield convincing him that he may just have goofed up. NO, you need to take us into the man's head, show us his raw emotions harden into metal and sharpened by balls to the walls kinda training. Instead, what we are shown is that Rapp was an awesome guy all the while. Not to mention the recent trend of brushing a familial touch to justify the loyalty among the characters; Irene thinks of Rapp as her brother, Hurley thinks of Irene as his niece (justifiable by the back-story thankfully provided but come on!) etc., this is not even coming to close Jason Bourne and his son Khan's dismally written about bonding.
One of the praises very prominently printed on my copy of this book said something to the effect that Mr.Flynn has an eye on Lee Child's action-thriller throne. The fact that this book is "trying" (very hard) to draw a parallel to Jack Reacher's phenomenal knuckle crunching early-days context story "The Enemy" is not lost on us and I would like to take this opportunity to call FAIL on that. Not with this book, no sir.
April 29, 2019
After the first quarter of this novel, which is unnecessarily long, the book gets significantly better. It’s good to finally see Vince Flynn back in form with his Mitch Rapp character after a long lull. 9 of 10 stars
October 12, 2017
3.5 Stars
I’m not gonna lie. The majority of the reason why I started this series was because a certain somebody is starring in the movie version out this September. So as a fangirl, it’s only prudent and necessary to see what this is all about. It’s also not a secret that I love me a military spy action thriller, and with the added bonus of DoB?? That combo is just too hard to resist.
Depending on what kind of reader you are, you can start with Transfer of Power, which was the first book published, or here, if you’re a chronological purist. This shows the why and how Mitch Rapp becomes the CIA’s most indispensible, top counter-terrorist agent. What begins as a way to deliver retribution to those responsible for the death of his high school sweetheart, turns into something so much more. Rapp is the whole package of well honed athletic talent, no nonsense attitude, nerves of steel, quick thinking and adaptability, coupled with dogged determination and the ability to think way outside the box. Such an autonomous attitude never goes down easily with those way above his pay grade, but it surely is warranted, making Rapp possibly one of the best that the agency’s seen in… well... never. He’s no cookie cutter company man!
So, see how it all begins with this installment. It makes me happy to know there’s many more to go, which means if the movie is successful, we have a great franchise to look forward to! One can only hope!
I’m not gonna lie. The majority of the reason why I started this series was because a certain somebody is starring in the movie version out this September. So as a fangirl, it’s only prudent and necessary to see what this is all about. It’s also not a secret that I love me a military spy action thriller, and with the added bonus of DoB?? That combo is just too hard to resist.
Depending on what kind of reader you are, you can start with Transfer of Power, which was the first book published, or here, if you’re a chronological purist. This shows the why and how Mitch Rapp becomes the CIA’s most indispensible, top counter-terrorist agent. What begins as a way to deliver retribution to those responsible for the death of his high school sweetheart, turns into something so much more. Rapp is the whole package of well honed athletic talent, no nonsense attitude, nerves of steel, quick thinking and adaptability, coupled with dogged determination and the ability to think way outside the box. Such an autonomous attitude never goes down easily with those way above his pay grade, but it surely is warranted, making Rapp possibly one of the best that the agency’s seen in… well... never. He’s no cookie cutter company man!
So, see how it all begins with this installment. It makes me happy to know there’s many more to go, which means if the movie is successful, we have a great franchise to look forward to! One can only hope!
August 8, 2018
Twenty-three-year-old Mitch Rapp was recruited by Irene Kennedy into a group of highly trained yet clandestine operatives, a division of the CIA. A top athlete, Rapp was incredibly fit and after six months of intense training, he was on his way to his first job in Istanbul. He gave a final thought to the more than two hundred passengers who had lost their lives that day in the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack – retribution was looking good.
As Rapp worked his way across Europe, he finally found himself in Beirut on a mission of recovery. But would it all go wrong? Would he find himself in the hands of the terrorists himself? The skills he had learned; the devious nature of the hunt – could he survive and achieve his goal? Mitch Rapp was the new kid on the block…
American Assassin is the first in the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn and I enjoyed it very much. Fast paced, intense and chilling, this spy thriller has plenty of twists and turns, loads of action, and a hero who is worth reading about. Highly recommended.
As Rapp worked his way across Europe, he finally found himself in Beirut on a mission of recovery. But would it all go wrong? Would he find himself in the hands of the terrorists himself? The skills he had learned; the devious nature of the hunt – could he survive and achieve his goal? Mitch Rapp was the new kid on the block…
American Assassin is the first in the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn and I enjoyed it very much. Fast paced, intense and chilling, this spy thriller has plenty of twists and turns, loads of action, and a hero who is worth reading about. Highly recommended.
June 30, 2021
I'm half done through the book, one word, wow!
I have enjoyed the storyline and definitely a new fan of Mitch Rapp series. I am looking forward and hope the new author will continue the series Mr. Flynn started.
The bad: Did they hire a new editor for the new book. The number of typos would have given me a C in college if not worse. I borrowed this book from the library and it is the first time I saw people corrected all the mistakes.
I have enjoyed the storyline and definitely a new fan of Mitch Rapp series. I am looking forward and hope the new author will continue the series Mr. Flynn started.
The bad: Did they hire a new editor for the new book. The number of typos would have given me a C in college if not worse. I borrowed this book from the library and it is the first time I saw people corrected all the mistakes.
August 17, 2014
Ok, so it's really mindless macho action from beginning to end, but you know what you're getting and Flynn does it well. For me, it's a break from research & writing, so it serves a useful purpose.
February 19, 2024
Oh Dylan, Dylan, Dylan my good dude why.
Where do I start? The character development is piss poor. Our good MC, named Mitch Rapp (wtf is this name? it sounds so dumb??) lost both his father to a heart attack and his highschool sweetheart to a terrorist attack so he's super familiar with death (ok?) and his heart is bursting with REVENGE. Coincidentally he's personally picked out by Langlsey which is like, a branch of the CIA (sure), even thought he didn't do anything to get noticed (ok??) and he's sent off to a six-months training of the death where he excells at everything and learns super fast because he's an athlete yknow, he was super good at lacrosse in highschool, he can run at the speed of the light (ok????) and then wooish he's flown off to Beirut to do his first kill (ok???????).
Really.
Though it has to be noted that the book actually follows 4 POVs : the Russians', switching between Ivankov and his subaltern, the Libyans' with Sayyed (who's the most developped I think, the character was gimmicky but not outrigh cliché), and two Americans : Mitch Rapp's- pfffrh that name- and Hursley's. The latter is the most dumb and grossly written character of the book, but at least he's entertaining (like, at the end of his very first chapter, we learn that he pisses in the bush of his very cool estate. ok? I don't give a damn? I guess that makes him..."cool" or "real"...? I don't know what that adds to the story.). I think it says a lot that I thought Mitch Rapp's -honhonhon- POV was the most boring of all.
There's one thing the book does right I think : a lot of the usually faceless muslims villains are actually named, and we do follow them a good chunk of the book. So if the upcoming film (why did you think I read this book in the first place) follows the same pace and storylines, maybe we'll have actors with names and talent playing them, and they'll have screentime, and wouldn't that be a nice change ?
Thought I read somewhere they cast a turkish actress I think, and I have no idea what her role will be, since the only two named female characters of this book are both white and blonde.
The writing isn't that great either, I did spot typos and a lot of weird phrasing like "you’d expect from someone who was expected to". This book wasn't edited properly. Also I could have started a new drinking game where you take a shot every time the words "trained/training" appear (spoiler : a lot). There were a lot of gimmicky phrases such as "million years of survival instincts embedded into the human brain like gene".
Annnnd the two main things I didn't like about it : this book was very, and I mean very, Black & White, Bad Guys vs. Good Guys (there's even a character saying this exact phrase "well, let's just say I believe in good guys and bad guys" wow). The second point is : the author's opinions is always interfering in the book, like "he saw communism for the sham it was" or a phrase about stupid people covering their women with sheets (funny reading that in a book where the word "pussy" is written a least 6 times, talk about sexism ahahah).
Now, i haven't read a lot of books of this genre. Maybe it's the norm, it's suppposed to make the americans readers feel like the baddest mofo in the planet. As an europpean one though, it felt laughable and super cliché, we always make fun of this type of movies where the white dude is super badass and kill everything. That's why I giggled in the more ridiculous parts.
I won't mention the plotholes because, welp, but I will add that there weren't even that much of action scenes. I expected to feel at least some tension, but I wasn't pumped up in the slightest.
So yeah, Dylan, I hope the script is better than this, I keep imagining something à la "The Raid" like the whole film is about the rescue mission (but it's only like ~20pages in the book). I don't understand why you'd sign another franchise, but you know, good luck my dude, have fun.
Where do I start? The character development is piss poor. Our good MC, named Mitch Rapp (wtf is this name? it sounds so dumb??) lost both his father to a heart attack and his highschool sweetheart to a terrorist attack so he's super familiar with death (ok?) and his heart is bursting with REVENGE. Coincidentally he's personally picked out by Langlsey which is like, a branch of the CIA (sure), even thought he didn't do anything to get noticed (ok??) and he's sent off to a six-months training of the death where he excells at everything and learns super fast because he's an athlete yknow, he was super good at lacrosse in highschool, he can run at the speed of the light (ok????) and then wooish he's flown off to Beirut to do his first kill (ok???????).
Really.
Though it has to be noted that the book actually follows 4 POVs : the Russians', switching between Ivankov and his subaltern, the Libyans' with Sayyed (who's the most developped I think, the character was gimmicky but not outrigh cliché), and two Americans : Mitch Rapp's- pfffrh that name- and Hursley's. The latter is the most dumb and grossly written character of the book, but at least he's entertaining (like, at the end of his very first chapter, we learn that he pisses in the bush of his very cool estate. ok? I don't give a damn? I guess that makes him..."cool" or "real"...? I don't know what that adds to the story.). I think it says a lot that I thought Mitch Rapp's -honhonhon- POV was the most boring of all.
There's one thing the book does right I think : a lot of the usually faceless muslims villains are actually named, and we do follow them a good chunk of the book. So if the upcoming film (why did you think I read this book in the first place) follows the same pace and storylines, maybe we'll have actors with names and talent playing them, and they'll have screentime, and wouldn't that be a nice change ?
Thought I read somewhere they cast a turkish actress I think, and I have no idea what her role will be, since the only two named female characters of this book are both white and blonde.
The writing isn't that great either, I did spot typos and a lot of weird phrasing like "you’d expect from someone who was expected to". This book wasn't edited properly. Also I could have started a new drinking game where you take a shot every time the words "trained/training" appear (spoiler : a lot). There were a lot of gimmicky phrases such as "million years of survival instincts embedded into the human brain like gene".
Annnnd the two main things I didn't like about it : this book was very, and I mean very, Black & White, Bad Guys vs. Good Guys (there's even a character saying this exact phrase "well, let's just say I believe in good guys and bad guys" wow). The second point is : the author's opinions is always interfering in the book, like "he saw communism for the sham it was" or a phrase about stupid people covering their women with sheets (funny reading that in a book where the word "pussy" is written a least 6 times, talk about sexism ahahah).
Now, i haven't read a lot of books of this genre. Maybe it's the norm, it's suppposed to make the americans readers feel like the baddest mofo in the planet. As an europpean one though, it felt laughable and super cliché, we always make fun of this type of movies where the white dude is super badass and kill everything. That's why I giggled in the more ridiculous parts.
I won't mention the plotholes because, welp, but I will add that there weren't even that much of action scenes. I expected to feel at least some tension, but I wasn't pumped up in the slightest.
So yeah, Dylan, I hope the script is better than this, I keep imagining something à la "The Raid" like the whole film is about the rescue mission (but it's only like ~20pages in the book). I don't understand why you'd sign another franchise, but you know, good luck my dude, have fun.
April 16, 2017
Let me start with a couple of important points before I get knee deep in my review. First, this is my first time reading a Vince Flynn “Mitch Rapp” book. I have a friend who enjoys reading Lee Child’s “Reacher” series like I do, and he recommended this series to me. Second, I understand there was a less than stellar editing work done on this book in the series as noted in several of the Goodreads reviews I read online. I agree with these points, but am moving past them.
Now for my review… Wow! I was pleasantly surprised. To be honest, I think that I was expecting a hardcore military hero that was invincible and boring. Well, that is not the case. It must be noted that this is not the first book written in the series, but part of two prequel books that help explain the main character, Mitch Rapp’s, evolution into the strong character he is in the other books. I chose to start here so I could see his beginning. And what a beginning he has… Mitch Rapp gets recruited into an “off book” group of American assassins who help the U.S. government do what it cannot openly admit to publicly. This includes meeting his trainer and mentor, his first mission, and the set-up of his organizational team during the growth of terrorism in the middle east.
Why did I like the book? The characters, plotting, and fast moving intertwining plot lines that come together at the end were all strong points of the book. The establishment of the aging and experienced Hurley as Rapp’s trainer and mentor was one the most interesting things in the book. Hurley’s character stole the show at times and demanded the reader’s attention. Rapp’s growth and development in his first couple of missions was engrossing and tough to stop reading. There were some preachy moments, but the three-pronged - American / terrorist jihad / Russian - storylines built well and came to an exciting and tension filled climax.
Overall, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this first Mitch Rapp adventure. So much so, I immediately bought the second prequel book, “Kill Shot” on my Amazon Kindle. I love reading suspense and thriller authors like Lee Child and David Baldacci, and am now adding Vince Flynn to my list. If you haven’t, maybe you should give Flynn’s “Mitch Rapp” a try too.
Now for my review… Wow! I was pleasantly surprised. To be honest, I think that I was expecting a hardcore military hero that was invincible and boring. Well, that is not the case. It must be noted that this is not the first book written in the series, but part of two prequel books that help explain the main character, Mitch Rapp’s, evolution into the strong character he is in the other books. I chose to start here so I could see his beginning. And what a beginning he has… Mitch Rapp gets recruited into an “off book” group of American assassins who help the U.S. government do what it cannot openly admit to publicly. This includes meeting his trainer and mentor, his first mission, and the set-up of his organizational team during the growth of terrorism in the middle east.
Why did I like the book? The characters, plotting, and fast moving intertwining plot lines that come together at the end were all strong points of the book. The establishment of the aging and experienced Hurley as Rapp’s trainer and mentor was one the most interesting things in the book. Hurley’s character stole the show at times and demanded the reader’s attention. Rapp’s growth and development in his first couple of missions was engrossing and tough to stop reading. There were some preachy moments, but the three-pronged - American / terrorist jihad / Russian - storylines built well and came to an exciting and tension filled climax.
Overall, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this first Mitch Rapp adventure. So much so, I immediately bought the second prequel book, “Kill Shot” on my Amazon Kindle. I love reading suspense and thriller authors like Lee Child and David Baldacci, and am now adding Vince Flynn to my list. If you haven’t, maybe you should give Flynn’s “Mitch Rapp” a try too.
January 12, 2019
I have read a couple of the other books in the Mitch Rapp series in the order they were published. Those books came later in the story timeline than American Assassin. When I found out that they published a couple of prequel books, I figured I would go back and give them a try.
American Assassin is just about what you would expect from a political/military/spy thriller. That is not a bad thing! You get all kinds of plotting, action, and badassery. As this is a prequel in the series, it is not in the post 9/11 era, but closer to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Soviet Union, and the terrorist bombing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland.
A couple things about these types of books that is not a complaint or a praise. Just an observation of two common tropes for this genre:
Torture: They really like their torture in these books. The nastier, more uncomfortable, the more painful, the better. So, if you like description of fingernails being ripped out and electrodes being attached to genitals, then this is the genre for you.
Confusion: Since deception and undercover work is the name of the game, many times I get lost with these books. Who is on which side? What is the ultimate endgame of the current mission behind enemy lines? Isn't he talking to a guy who just killed his friend in the previous scene but now they are on the same side? It's something I have come to expect and it usually all makes sense in the end.
What it comes down to is this: you like this genre, you will like this book.
American Assassin is just about what you would expect from a political/military/spy thriller. That is not a bad thing! You get all kinds of plotting, action, and badassery. As this is a prequel in the series, it is not in the post 9/11 era, but closer to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Soviet Union, and the terrorist bombing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland.
A couple things about these types of books that is not a complaint or a praise. Just an observation of two common tropes for this genre:
Torture: They really like their torture in these books. The nastier, more uncomfortable, the more painful, the better. So, if you like description of fingernails being ripped out and electrodes being attached to genitals, then this is the genre for you.
Confusion: Since deception and undercover work is the name of the game, many times I get lost with these books. Who is on which side? What is the ultimate endgame of the current mission behind enemy lines? Isn't he talking to a guy who just killed his friend in the previous scene but now they are on the same side? It's something I have come to expect and it usually all makes sense in the end.
What it comes down to is this: you like this genre, you will like this book.
July 28, 2011
A decent prequel to the entire MITCH RAPP series, though i did not feel it was Flynn's best. It introduces us to the renegade agent that RAPP becomes and how he got that ice water running through his veins.
January 16, 2011
This was exceptional with one disclaimer... it was obviously rushed to publishing with little editing. While waiting for my copy to arrive I read that other fans had noticed more than the occasional typos in the text and were bothered by them. I wondered if perhaps they were being a little over the top. Unfortunately, I found myself equally bothered. It is understandable that sometimes a "i" will be replaced with an "l" (as in the word "cabbie" being written as "cabble" in the last portion of the book) but in one area an entire name was substituted with the name of a different primary character who was most certainly not present in the room - this kind of error attacked the rhythm and flow of the book and distracted me on too many occasions. It is a shame that such a great story was marred by so many glaring errors.
I saw the interview with Vince Flynn after the release of the book and remembered him saying that in this prequel even he "learned things about Mitch Rapp" that he did not previously know. I was struck, while reading, about how true that is. Rapp is a great character who has always been easy to root for. This book only furthers my affection for him and my desire to know him more.
The end of the book left a number of things teased or unanswered leaving me wondering if there are more prequels to come.
Without question I enjoyed the story, was angry and unnerved by the realistic implications of the plot and my gratitude for real American Black Ops was furthered. While reading this I cannot help but think of Winston Churchill's famous quote: "never was so much owed by so many to so few."
Between Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, The Unit and 24, I do hope that our culture will embrace the ugly reality that the face of war has changed and what we hold most dear is not nearly as safe as we would hope.
I saw the interview with Vince Flynn after the release of the book and remembered him saying that in this prequel even he "learned things about Mitch Rapp" that he did not previously know. I was struck, while reading, about how true that is. Rapp is a great character who has always been easy to root for. This book only furthers my affection for him and my desire to know him more.
The end of the book left a number of things teased or unanswered leaving me wondering if there are more prequels to come.
Without question I enjoyed the story, was angry and unnerved by the realistic implications of the plot and my gratitude for real American Black Ops was furthered. While reading this I cannot help but think of Winston Churchill's famous quote: "never was so much owed by so many to so few."
Between Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, The Unit and 24, I do hope that our culture will embrace the ugly reality that the face of war has changed and what we hold most dear is not nearly as safe as we would hope.
September 12, 2020
This has been on my TBR list for a long time, I had been reluctant to read it as there are so many comparisons to Lee Child that I expected to be disappointed. However, I can now see why the comparisons have been made as this was just as good!
As with Reacher we have a hero that is the complete package. Smart, strong and not too arrogant. The story unfolded beautifully but was violent and described a lot of torture (best to avoid if you find this off putting). I will definitely be continuing with this series! Highly recommended.
As with Reacher we have a hero that is the complete package. Smart, strong and not too arrogant. The story unfolded beautifully but was violent and described a lot of torture (best to avoid if you find this off putting). I will definitely be continuing with this series! Highly recommended.
July 19, 2011
This is good tough American male stuff. I enjoyed as much as some of you women readers enjoy a romance novel with handsome vampires and whatnot. It made me almost laugh to read it, like going back in time to the joy of reading my first three or four Ludlum novels.
This is the 11th book in a series about a CIA assassin named Mitch Rapp. It is the prequel to the other already told stories and I was told I may as well read it first. It's not quite as sophisticated as Jack Bauer and "24", but it has that same tough agent willing to do what it takes even if it means ignoring the more politically correct bosses, attitude. Here is a simple, likable, extremely tough athletic guy willing to sacrifice his limbs and life to beat the terrorists. The toughest and most pure quarterback you'll ever meet. And he's able, as a young guy, to show the leaders at the top how it needs to be done and how they have strayed from their real missions and directives by being too politically correct.
Sort of like the warnings the drug companies have to give us on TV, there is extreme violence, graphic killing, the toughest, worst, sob drill sergeant ever, a little romance but nothing you women will enjoy, and other such fun and games.
I loved it and will now go to the first in the series.
I'd give it five stars, but I'm afraid some of my old English Professors may be reading this and, the book certainly isn't literature. But it is efficient, has some great moments and will give you a vicarious thrill here and there, although, sometimes, perhaps, a little over the top. But I'd never cut anything out if I were the editor.
This is the 11th book in a series about a CIA assassin named Mitch Rapp. It is the prequel to the other already told stories and I was told I may as well read it first. It's not quite as sophisticated as Jack Bauer and "24", but it has that same tough agent willing to do what it takes even if it means ignoring the more politically correct bosses, attitude. Here is a simple, likable, extremely tough athletic guy willing to sacrifice his limbs and life to beat the terrorists. The toughest and most pure quarterback you'll ever meet. And he's able, as a young guy, to show the leaders at the top how it needs to be done and how they have strayed from their real missions and directives by being too politically correct.
Sort of like the warnings the drug companies have to give us on TV, there is extreme violence, graphic killing, the toughest, worst, sob drill sergeant ever, a little romance but nothing you women will enjoy, and other such fun and games.
I loved it and will now go to the first in the series.
I'd give it five stars, but I'm afraid some of my old English Professors may be reading this and, the book certainly isn't literature. But it is efficient, has some great moments and will give you a vicarious thrill here and there, although, sometimes, perhaps, a little over the top. But I'd never cut anything out if I were the editor.
August 7, 2012
I was curious about the Vince Flynn series featuring Mitch Rapp since the books do well on the NY Times Bestseller list and I like thrillers. I was less than thrilled to see endorsements by folks of the Glenn Beck ilk. Nevertheless, I read this book, and likened it to a "less well-written-than-the-Bourne-series" book. In other words, I prefer the writing of Robert Ludlum. This is a spy versus spy story, with the requisite close calls, seemingly impossible dilemmas, and shoot-outs. A bit too much torture for me, and I think the characters are two-dimensional. I also didn't like the fact that virtually all the Russians and Arabs are super-evil and all the Americans are the white-hat guys and gals. Stereotypes and nationalism are to be expected, but I would have found this book to be better if the characters and cultures weren't portrayed in such a cardboard manner. That being said, it did pass the time and was mildly entertaining. I hear that this book is the basis of an upcoming film. I hope the film avoids such broad sweeps.
October 30, 2017
This is an excellent book, and Mr. Flynn was an exceptionally gifted writer. May he rest in peace.
May 10, 2023
“Retribution is a punishment that is morally right and fully deserved.”
This was even better than expected! It’s Tom Clancy minus the infodumps, James Bond with out the misogyny and absurdity, Jason Bourn without all the mystery - This. Was. Good.
Mitch Rapp is a gifted college athlete who lost the love of his life when terrorist put a bomb on Pan Am Flight 103- it exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. This transformed Rapp and he came to the notice of Irene Kennedy, CIA, who had been looking for a special assassin due to the US’s escalating Middle East issues.
I need to take a minute to admire Vince Flynn for daring to mention Iran Air Flight 655 Tom Clancy never had balls that big.
I can now say the movie was an excellent update to the book and I hope they make many more. All Vince Flynn is officially TBR!
Best of the espionage action thriller genre. Five stars.
February 23, 2011
Flimsy. Wholly lacking merit, even in the mindless "beach book" world that Flynn inhabits. Where it not for the brand he created among knuckle-draggers years before publishing became impoverished/selective, this author would never break through with this claptrap. I'm trying earnestly to write a political thriller with a modicum of merit. Flynn's only value to me is to demonstrate what to avoid.
December 31, 2017
Hoo boy. First things first: If you're interested in reading this because of the upcoming film, you'll likely be disappointed. The plot of this book and the plot of the movie seem completely different, with the only similarity being the presence of the main character.
Now the book itself is pretty much a handbook on toxic masculinity. It starts out pretty spectacularly, with the author likening a lack of honor to "emasculat[ion]" and "questioning the size of [one's] balls for as long as [one] lived" in the prologue. From there, it's basically a fever dream of wish fulfillment. Rapp goes from living with his mother to an "efficient, badass killing machine" in six months, without any prior military training. He becomes an expert marksman, learns several languages, and becomes an expert at hand-to-hand combat after a few months in - I'm not even kidding - a strip mall dojo. He understands that a civilized society is weak, the media is working against the country's safety, and emotions are bad.
Well, except when they're not. Rapp's transition into a lethal operative is built on the grief resulting from his girlfriend's death. His love for her is portrayed as something incredibly meaningful, given that his life revolves around killing people to avenge her death. That is, until a stereotypical blonde beauty appears in the narrative, at which point he can't wait to get her into bed and move on from his girlfriend. Grief and vengeance seem to be the only acceptable emotions in this world, as his mentor's grief own grief causes him to "go running off half-cocked killing whomever he wanted." And that's another weakness in the plot: this team of elite, highly-trained, infallible super soldiers do some epically stupid things that would surely get them killed by their own superiors if this world had any internal consistency.
And, of course, there's your smattering of casual misogyny: calling men ladies and pussies as motivational insults and the good guys sleeping with sex-trafficked prostitutes. And my favorite gem: "You piss and moan like some miserable woman who's mad at her husband because she's no longer young and beautiful."
Plus, there are issues of repetitive writing and poor pacing. All in all, I'm going to take my "PC bullshit" and read other authors whose writing doesn't make me roll me eyes so hard I feel like I'm going to break something.
Now the book itself is pretty much a handbook on toxic masculinity. It starts out pretty spectacularly, with the author likening a lack of honor to "emasculat[ion]" and "questioning the size of [one's] balls for as long as [one] lived" in the prologue. From there, it's basically a fever dream of wish fulfillment. Rapp goes from living with his mother to an "efficient, badass killing machine" in six months, without any prior military training. He becomes an expert marksman, learns several languages, and becomes an expert at hand-to-hand combat after a few months in - I'm not even kidding - a strip mall dojo. He understands that a civilized society is weak, the media is working against the country's safety, and emotions are bad.
Well, except when they're not. Rapp's transition into a lethal operative is built on the grief resulting from his girlfriend's death. His love for her is portrayed as something incredibly meaningful, given that his life revolves around killing people to avenge her death. That is, until a stereotypical blonde beauty appears in the narrative, at which point he can't wait to get her into bed and move on from his girlfriend. Grief and vengeance seem to be the only acceptable emotions in this world, as his mentor's grief own grief causes him to "go running off half-cocked killing whomever he wanted." And that's another weakness in the plot: this team of elite, highly-trained, infallible super soldiers do some epically stupid things that would surely get them killed by their own superiors if this world had any internal consistency.
And, of course, there's your smattering of casual misogyny: calling men ladies and pussies as motivational insults and the good guys sleeping with sex-trafficked prostitutes. And my favorite gem: "You piss and moan like some miserable woman who's mad at her husband because she's no longer young and beautiful."
Plus, there are issues of repetitive writing and poor pacing. All in all, I'm going to take my "PC bullshit" and read other authors whose writing doesn't make me roll me eyes so hard I feel like I'm going to break something.
May 17, 2017
Ok, how in the world have I missed this author, these characters, these books?! You know that feeling you get when you realize you found a new (to you) outstanding author and he/she has piles of books you have not yet read? I think I may have teared up a little, but if not an actual tear, I at least danced. At the risk of oversimplifying... this book rocked! It reminded me a bit of a Lee Child book where the main character is still affiliated with the military. Great characters, deep courage and non-stop action.
I cannot wait to read the next in this series!
I cannot wait to read the next in this series!
August 31, 2011
I like Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp Character. You get action but the character is more fully imagined than some. Of course it took a few books to fill him out and it seems that he may be somehow distantly related to the Cartwright family of the Ponderosa.
Anyway, here we drop back and get a prequel (not a big fan of prequels in general, but this one works and I like it). We've seen Rapp's life in the trenches so to speak now we drop back to his enrollment in "government service". Then we launch out and accompany him on his first missions.
No spoilers needed here if you like "actioners" and/or your already a fan of Rapp then I'd say you'll like this one. From his first day and his "personality conflict" (understatement is a wonderful thing) to his first meeting with the "Company shrink" and on to his first "kill", this is the Mitch Rapp "origin story".
Enjoy.
Anyway, here we drop back and get a prequel (not a big fan of prequels in general, but this one works and I like it). We've seen Rapp's life in the trenches so to speak now we drop back to his enrollment in "government service". Then we launch out and accompany him on his first missions.
No spoilers needed here if you like "actioners" and/or your already a fan of Rapp then I'd say you'll like this one. From his first day and his "personality conflict" (understatement is a wonderful thing) to his first meeting with the "Company shrink" and on to his first "kill", this is the Mitch Rapp "origin story".
Enjoy.
August 4, 2018
#1 in the Mitch Rapp Series.
This book was first published in 2010 and 8 years later it is to be released as a movie.
I can see why producers would turn this into a movie as it is one heart pumping adrenalin rush from page one onwards.
Mitch Rapp is one young man with a huge chip on his shoulders that verges on a death wish. Mitch lost the love of his life in a cruel, mindless act of terrorism. In the book it was the bombing of Pan AM flight 103 in Lockerbie Scotland. The movie no doubt will be different.
Mitch now lives for one purpose and one purpose only to take revenge on the people who perpetrated this unspeakable act.
Mitch comes to the attention of Irene Kennedy a top of the line recruitment officers for the CIA.
When Director Kennedy tells Mitch what she has in mind Mitch starts salivating. Six months of intensive training and Mitch is ready to be released on an unsuspecting terrorist world.
By the time the terrorists know what has happened they have lost millions in funds. The factions start blaming each other of stealing the money. High placed agents are turning up dead. The terrorists are being terrorised.
The pace is frenetic. The tension is nail bitting and a lot of Zealots get a quick passage to paradise.
Recommended if you like your reading with more than a touch of violence.
This book was first published in 2010 and 8 years later it is to be released as a movie.
I can see why producers would turn this into a movie as it is one heart pumping adrenalin rush from page one onwards.
Mitch Rapp is one young man with a huge chip on his shoulders that verges on a death wish. Mitch lost the love of his life in a cruel, mindless act of terrorism. In the book it was the bombing of Pan AM flight 103 in Lockerbie Scotland. The movie no doubt will be different.
Mitch now lives for one purpose and one purpose only to take revenge on the people who perpetrated this unspeakable act.
Mitch comes to the attention of Irene Kennedy a top of the line recruitment officers for the CIA.
When Director Kennedy tells Mitch what she has in mind Mitch starts salivating. Six months of intensive training and Mitch is ready to be released on an unsuspecting terrorist world.
By the time the terrorists know what has happened they have lost millions in funds. The factions start blaming each other of stealing the money. High placed agents are turning up dead. The terrorists are being terrorised.
The pace is frenetic. The tension is nail bitting and a lot of Zealots get a quick passage to paradise.
Recommended if you like your reading with more than a touch of violence.
June 6, 2013
Shallow and predictable. Don't bother, you've seen this character and read this story a hundred times before.
June 1, 2018
Great read. Highly recommend (for this type of book). Great character, fast pace, held me in the story to the end.
April 4, 2019
Review of the audiobook narrated by George Guidall.
I'm impressed. I've watched plenty of spy thriller movies, but this was my first novel in the genre. I was expecting dumbed-down action with one dimensional characters and that was not at all what I got. Mitch Rapp is intriguing, exciting and likable, yet has some real flaws. Hurley is a bad-ass, I loved that character. Flynn narrowing avoids making the bad guys too cliche and we are left with a fast moving plot with a great pay-off.
I wasn't aware that this was written as a prequel until afterwards. It is meant to be read first in the series though. I'll definitely be reading more of this series!
George Guidall provides an impressive narration. I understand now why he's in Audible's Narrator Hall of Fame. Looking forward in the series I see he is not the narrator of books 3-5 so that may be a tough decision to skip them or not once I get there.
Final verdict: 5 star story, 5 star narration, 5 stars overall
I'm impressed. I've watched plenty of spy thriller movies, but this was my first novel in the genre. I was expecting dumbed-down action with one dimensional characters and that was not at all what I got. Mitch Rapp is intriguing, exciting and likable, yet has some real flaws. Hurley is a bad-ass, I loved that character. Flynn narrowing avoids making the bad guys too cliche and we are left with a fast moving plot with a great pay-off.
I wasn't aware that this was written as a prequel until afterwards. It is meant to be read first in the series though. I'll definitely be reading more of this series!
George Guidall provides an impressive narration. I understand now why he's in Audible's Narrator Hall of Fame. Looking forward in the series I see he is not the narrator of books 3-5 so that may be a tough decision to skip them or not once I get there.
Final verdict: 5 star story, 5 star narration, 5 stars overall
September 13, 2017
4 Stars
Fast-paced with a tight plot, American Assassin is the introductory story (in a long and ongoing series) following CIA counter-terrorist super-spy Mitch Rapp.
Although the 11th published release of the series, American Assassin is set first, chronologically speaking, and showcases how (and why) young Mitch was originally recruited by the CIA.
I enjoyed the hell out of this story! Here, Flynn created an impressively written action/thriller story, featuring some damn cool characters.
I'll most certainly be back for more!
Fast-paced with a tight plot, American Assassin is the introductory story (in a long and ongoing series) following CIA counter-terrorist super-spy Mitch Rapp.
Although the 11th published release of the series, American Assassin is set first, chronologically speaking, and showcases how (and why) young Mitch was originally recruited by the CIA.
I enjoyed the hell out of this story! Here, Flynn created an impressively written action/thriller story, featuring some damn cool characters.
I'll most certainly be back for more!
November 14, 2024
11/2024. Just reread this. Love the prequel. Flynn’s improvement as a writer makes it harder to go back and read them in chronological order. Still, Mitch Rapp is a great character and I have enjoyed reading him over the years.
First read was in 2018.
First read was in 2018.
January 28, 2011
Although I don't think many people actually follow what I say, I have to retract the criticism I made of Flynn's last few books. Actually, I'm not going to retract them, because they were true--Flynn was letting his ideology get in the way of the storytelling. Rather, I will say that he's returned to the stuff that made his earlier work great--compelling characters, amazing story lines, and a breathtaking adventure that leaves you sorry when the book ends.
Flynn takes his hero, Mitch Rapp, back to the beginning, when he is a 23 year old who's just lost the love of his life to tragedy. Mitch's reasons for becoming who we know him to be--the American Assassin--are compelling and believable. There's also some interesting moral analysis between the idea of revenge and retribution. We also get to see other characters from the series younger, and, in the case of Thomas Stansfield, still alive.
If you like the Mitch Rapp series, you'll adore this book. If you've never read a Mitch Rapp novel, this is a terrific place to start.
Well done, Mr. Flynn.
Flynn takes his hero, Mitch Rapp, back to the beginning, when he is a 23 year old who's just lost the love of his life to tragedy. Mitch's reasons for becoming who we know him to be--the American Assassin--are compelling and believable. There's also some interesting moral analysis between the idea of revenge and retribution. We also get to see other characters from the series younger, and, in the case of Thomas Stansfield, still alive.
If you like the Mitch Rapp series, you'll adore this book. If you've never read a Mitch Rapp novel, this is a terrific place to start.
Well done, Mr. Flynn.
June 26, 2025
Rapp made his move. He'd sawed most of the way through the tape around his wrists while he was back in the holding cell. Now, not sure the tape would break, he went for a two-handed grab around the barrel of the gun. (PG 494)
I love a good spy or political thriller but this was not a good one. Boring. Took forever to get to the point and it was so corny at some points. The fight scenes were laughable, like I wrote the book and know nothing of a proper fighting style.
Moral of the story?-- Your government (ALL of them) is always involved in the worst Shit while they pretend A, B, C- With the current situation in the United States this hits home. We all need to wake up and think for ourselves.
What happens when he wakes up one day and realizes some of the bad guys are right here? Living in America, working for the CIA, working on Capitol Hill. (Preview for Kill Shot)
I love a good spy or political thriller but this was not a good one. Boring. Took forever to get to the point and it was so corny at some points. The fight scenes were laughable, like I wrote the book and know nothing of a proper fighting style.
Moral of the story?-- Your government (ALL of them) is always involved in the worst Shit while they pretend A, B, C- With the current situation in the United States this hits home. We all need to wake up and think for ourselves.
What happens when he wakes up one day and realizes some of the bad guys are right here? Living in America, working for the CIA, working on Capitol Hill. (Preview for Kill Shot)
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