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Mitch Rapp #14
The Survivor
Top secret data has been stolen from the CIA, and the only man who knows its hiding place is dead. CIA operative Mitch Rapp must race to find the classified information in this blistering novel that picks up where The Last Man left off in Vince Flynn’s New York Times bestselling series.
Joseph “Rick” Rickman, former boy wonder at the CIA, stole a massive amount of top secret and hugely compromising intel concerning classified operations all over the world, offering it (and himself) to the Pakistani secret forces. Only his plans went awry when CIA director Irene Kennedy sent Mitch Rapp to hunt him down. It turns out that killing Rickman didn’t solve anything—in fact, the nightmare is only intensifying. Rickman stored the potentially devastating data (CIA assets, operatives, agents) somewhere only he knew, and somehow, from beyond the grave, he still poses a mortal threat to America.
Now it’s a deadly race as both the Pakistanis and the Americans search for Rickman’s accomplices and the information they are slowly leaking to the world. Will Rapp outrun and outthink his enemies, or will the Pakistanis find it first and hold America hostage to their dream of becoming the world’s new nuclear superpower?
Joseph “Rick” Rickman, former boy wonder at the CIA, stole a massive amount of top secret and hugely compromising intel concerning classified operations all over the world, offering it (and himself) to the Pakistani secret forces. Only his plans went awry when CIA director Irene Kennedy sent Mitch Rapp to hunt him down. It turns out that killing Rickman didn’t solve anything—in fact, the nightmare is only intensifying. Rickman stored the potentially devastating data (CIA assets, operatives, agents) somewhere only he knew, and somehow, from beyond the grave, he still poses a mortal threat to America.
Now it’s a deadly race as both the Pakistanis and the Americans search for Rickman’s accomplices and the information they are slowly leaking to the world. Will Rapp outrun and outthink his enemies, or will the Pakistanis find it first and hold America hostage to their dream of becoming the world’s new nuclear superpower?
464 pages, Audiobook
First published October 6, 2015
5082 people are currently reading
9131 people want to read
About the author
Vince Flynn
47 books6,920 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 1,370 reviews
June 20, 2015
I was lucky enough to have won an early copy of this long awaited Mitch Rapp novel (Mitch Rapp Ambassador ). Since the unfortunate passing of Vince Flynn, then learning that Kyle Mills would be carrying the Rapp torch I have to admit my expectations were not high. I thought the book would be missing something that only Vince Flynn could bring to life in Mitch Rapp.
Well with that said, fans of this series can rest at ease.
Now I don't know how much of this book was written by Flynn before he passed. All I know is this is a bona-fide Mitch Rapp book.
Hats off to Kyle Mills (keep it up on the next 2 books!)
The best thing I can say about this book is Vince Flynn would be proud!!!!
Get the book and as with all Rapp novels, enjoy the ride!
R.I.P. Mr. Flynn, a true American and God bless your family.
Well with that said, fans of this series can rest at ease.
Now I don't know how much of this book was written by Flynn before he passed. All I know is this is a bona-fide Mitch Rapp book.
Hats off to Kyle Mills (keep it up on the next 2 books!)
The best thing I can say about this book is Vince Flynn would be proud!!!!
Get the book and as with all Rapp novels, enjoy the ride!
R.I.P. Mr. Flynn, a true American and God bless your family.
October 28, 2015
Like many, I was reluctant to read a Mitch Rapp book Vince Flynn hadn't written. Kyle Mills himself confesses to trepidation in writing these iconic characters. And it is eerie to see them on the pages again, given Vince's death.
But, The Survivor is well worth reading. It has the action, the attitude, the same Mitch Rapp fans know and admire. The character of the Senator will be familiar to Vince Flynn readers. Mills has done a wonderful job keeping the characters not just going but evolving, as Vince would have done.
There are a few places where I sense a difference in style--more explanation and slightly smoother dialogue-- but it adds to rather than detracts from the book.
Of course, the book's name is iconic--it is the greatest tribute of all to Vince Flynn that the characters he created continue their exploits in this suspenseful, well-plotted, globally-complex addition to the series.
Jump in.
But, The Survivor is well worth reading. It has the action, the attitude, the same Mitch Rapp fans know and admire. The character of the Senator will be familiar to Vince Flynn readers. Mills has done a wonderful job keeping the characters not just going but evolving, as Vince would have done.
There are a few places where I sense a difference in style--more explanation and slightly smoother dialogue-- but it adds to rather than detracts from the book.
Of course, the book's name is iconic--it is the greatest tribute of all to Vince Flynn that the characters he created continue their exploits in this suspenseful, well-plotted, globally-complex addition to the series.
Jump in.
January 27, 2016
When Vince Flynn died in 2013 I thought it was the end of this series. I can’t quite recall when I was first introduced to Flynn’s hard-as-nails CIA killer Mitch Rapp, but I was pretty much instantly hooked; I think it was as much the way the book was superbly narrated by George Guidall as it was the gripping nature of the story itself. So I was surprised, but delighted, when it was announced that Kyle Mills was going to continue the series, with the continuity of Guidall reading the audio version being maintained.
For those readers yet to cross Rapp’s path - oops, unfortunate phrasing, you certainly wouldn’t want to cross Rapp in any way or form – he works for CIA Director Irene Kennedy and is used as a trouble-shooter, jetting off to all parts of the world to act aggressively and kill or maim (mainly kill) anyone who looks at him in a way he takes exception to. Well, ok, I’m being a bit harsh on him, but you get the picture.
In this, the 14th episode, Rapp and some associates are once again at the sharp end as Kennedy plays her game of global political chess, this time involving a volatile Pakistani leadership, a US President who is somewhat impervious to Kennedy’s charms and a snaky and ambitious US Senator. It’s a direct follow on from the previous book, The Last Man, so it’s obviously best to read these two books in release order.
Ex-CIA Agent, Joe Rickman has set up a series of information dumps that look set to cause havoc and the CIA chief needs to pull the plug on this ASAP. In the meantime, her Pakistani intelligence counterpart sees this as the ideal opportunity to further his career and profit from the inevitably severe consequences for the US should the information release play out in full.
Quite a few characters we’ve met before crop up here, including Rapp’s arch enemy Louis Gould and Rapp’s mentor, the crotchety and short-tempered Stan Hurley. There’s loads of action – all done extremely well – but most of the fun for me is in the conversations that take place involving Rapp, Hurly, Kennedy and Senator Ferris. Humour is just below the surface here as the collective snarl and threaten each other – it’s great stuff and had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Add to this the fact that the plot is as taut and fast paced as fans of the series have come to expect and you have a worthy inclusion to this excellent series.
The only slightly strange inaccuracy in this book came when Rapp brandished a hundred-pound note, in London. As an ex-banker I can vouch for the fact that such instrument exists. A small oversight and one I can quickly forgive.
My understanding is that Mills has signed a three book deal to continue this series, and on this evidence I’d say that’s good news indeed. The transition is seamless, with all characters talking and behaving exactly as you’d have expected were the book to have been written by Flynn himself. Vince Flynn’s premature death was tragic but the action hero he spawned lives on. Great news indeed for fans of this series.
For those readers yet to cross Rapp’s path - oops, unfortunate phrasing, you certainly wouldn’t want to cross Rapp in any way or form – he works for CIA Director Irene Kennedy and is used as a trouble-shooter, jetting off to all parts of the world to act aggressively and kill or maim (mainly kill) anyone who looks at him in a way he takes exception to. Well, ok, I’m being a bit harsh on him, but you get the picture.
In this, the 14th episode, Rapp and some associates are once again at the sharp end as Kennedy plays her game of global political chess, this time involving a volatile Pakistani leadership, a US President who is somewhat impervious to Kennedy’s charms and a snaky and ambitious US Senator. It’s a direct follow on from the previous book, The Last Man, so it’s obviously best to read these two books in release order.
Ex-CIA Agent, Joe Rickman has set up a series of information dumps that look set to cause havoc and the CIA chief needs to pull the plug on this ASAP. In the meantime, her Pakistani intelligence counterpart sees this as the ideal opportunity to further his career and profit from the inevitably severe consequences for the US should the information release play out in full.
Quite a few characters we’ve met before crop up here, including Rapp’s arch enemy Louis Gould and Rapp’s mentor, the crotchety and short-tempered Stan Hurley. There’s loads of action – all done extremely well – but most of the fun for me is in the conversations that take place involving Rapp, Hurly, Kennedy and Senator Ferris. Humour is just below the surface here as the collective snarl and threaten each other – it’s great stuff and had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Add to this the fact that the plot is as taut and fast paced as fans of the series have come to expect and you have a worthy inclusion to this excellent series.
The only slightly strange inaccuracy in this book came when Rapp brandished a hundred-pound note, in London. As an ex-banker I can vouch for the fact that such instrument exists. A small oversight and one I can quickly forgive.
My understanding is that Mills has signed a three book deal to continue this series, and on this evidence I’d say that’s good news indeed. The transition is seamless, with all characters talking and behaving exactly as you’d have expected were the book to have been written by Flynn himself. Vince Flynn’s premature death was tragic but the action hero he spawned lives on. Great news indeed for fans of this series.
January 1, 2016
Firstly thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author Kyle Mills for an advanced copy for an honest review. Apologies for the delay, and my book reading list keeps growing.
Firstly I was a great fan of Mitch Rapp and the author Vince Flynn, and this is my first Kyle Mills book, and great to read another Mitch Rapp, although I know I have missed a few books in between, but the author Kyle Mills seems to me to have filled into Vince Flynn boots very well !
A blistering novel that picks up where The Last Man left off, The Survivor is a no-holds-barred race to save America…and Mitch Rapp’s finest battle.
When Joe “Rick” Rickman, a former golden boy of the CIA, steals a massive amount of the Agency’s most classified documents in an elaborately masterminded betrayal of his country, CIA director Irene Kennedy has no choice but to send her most dangerous weapon after him: elite covert operative Mitch Rapp.
Rapp quickly dispatches the traitor, but Rickman proves to be a deadly threat to America even from beyond the grave. Eliminating Rickman didn’t solve all of the CIA’s problems—in fact, mysterious tip-offs are appearing all over the world, linking to the potentially devastating data that Rickman managed to store somewhere only he knew.
It’s a deadly race to the finish as both the Pakistanis and the Americans search desperately for Rickman’s accomplices, and for the confidential documents they are slowly leaking to the world. To save his country from being held hostage to a country set on becoming the world’s newest nuclear superpower, Mitch Rapp must outrun, outthink, and outgun his deadliest enemies yet.
Kyle Mills brings here a fast paced, word travelling action packed thriller. With many well thought characters, great returning personalities, and a tough as ever Mitch Rapp. A Great read.
To me a great way to finish 2015 with my 61st book of the year Four stars for me
Firstly I was a great fan of Mitch Rapp and the author Vince Flynn, and this is my first Kyle Mills book, and great to read another Mitch Rapp, although I know I have missed a few books in between, but the author Kyle Mills seems to me to have filled into Vince Flynn boots very well !
A blistering novel that picks up where The Last Man left off, The Survivor is a no-holds-barred race to save America…and Mitch Rapp’s finest battle.
When Joe “Rick” Rickman, a former golden boy of the CIA, steals a massive amount of the Agency’s most classified documents in an elaborately masterminded betrayal of his country, CIA director Irene Kennedy has no choice but to send her most dangerous weapon after him: elite covert operative Mitch Rapp.
Rapp quickly dispatches the traitor, but Rickman proves to be a deadly threat to America even from beyond the grave. Eliminating Rickman didn’t solve all of the CIA’s problems—in fact, mysterious tip-offs are appearing all over the world, linking to the potentially devastating data that Rickman managed to store somewhere only he knew.
It’s a deadly race to the finish as both the Pakistanis and the Americans search desperately for Rickman’s accomplices, and for the confidential documents they are slowly leaking to the world. To save his country from being held hostage to a country set on becoming the world’s newest nuclear superpower, Mitch Rapp must outrun, outthink, and outgun his deadliest enemies yet.
Kyle Mills brings here a fast paced, word travelling action packed thriller. With many well thought characters, great returning personalities, and a tough as ever Mitch Rapp. A Great read.
To me a great way to finish 2015 with my 61st book of the year Four stars for me
July 7, 2018
we lost a great writer in vince flynn. so sad that I would be seeing vince's mitch rapp for the last time in this last installment. RIP Vince! you will always be remembered...
December 8, 2015
Having a very difficult time sticking with this one. New author of series just not up to the task, in fact I thought that the Rapp series had run out of inspiration with the pervious book. This one is just a continuation of that one, which I read a year ago and was not interested enough in it to give it more than 3 stars.
In the earlier Rapp books, he was multi-dimensional. He had feelings and a morality. Now he is just another psychotic killer, ready to just shoot people. There seems to be no soul left in the guy.
I'm going to give this one a generous 3 stars and once I finish it, I'll update my rating.
UDATE: I've discovered over time in reading and rating book franchises/series, is that ratings often (not always) tend to improve or stabilize even though the quality of the books deteriorate. This is perhaps because dis-loyal readers tend to fall by the wayside while loyalists tend to keep reading the series. This may tend to skew the ratings toward the positive. I however, just can't give this more than 2 stars. What a sad "ending?" to a really great series.
In the earlier Rapp books, he was multi-dimensional. He had feelings and a morality. Now he is just another psychotic killer, ready to just shoot people. There seems to be no soul left in the guy.
I'm going to give this one a generous 3 stars and once I finish it, I'll update my rating.
UDATE: I've discovered over time in reading and rating book franchises/series, is that ratings often (not always) tend to improve or stabilize even though the quality of the books deteriorate. This is perhaps because dis-loyal readers tend to fall by the wayside while loyalists tend to keep reading the series. This may tend to skew the ratings toward the positive. I however, just can't give this more than 2 stars. What a sad "ending?" to a really great series.
June 16, 2015
I was able to obtain and advanced readers copy of The Survivor, a Mitch Rapp novel by Kyle Mills. I've already written and published a full (spoiler-free) review on my Mitch Rapp fan-site: www.MitchRappfan.com and would encourage you to read it there.
For those just wondering how Kyle Mills does replacing the late Vince Flynn, well, he nails it! As a true Rapp connoisseur, with a hefty Rolodex of notes, I can tell you unequivocally, that there is no disparity between the way Vince and Kyle portray Rapp. Mills does an amazing job stepping in and continuing this franchise.
Not only did he write a story that Vince would be proud of, but The Survivor is one of the best Mitch Rapp books yet.
Read my FULL REVIEW here:
http://mitchrappfan.com/2015/06/15/my...
For those just wondering how Kyle Mills does replacing the late Vince Flynn, well, he nails it! As a true Rapp connoisseur, with a hefty Rolodex of notes, I can tell you unequivocally, that there is no disparity between the way Vince and Kyle portray Rapp. Mills does an amazing job stepping in and continuing this franchise.
Not only did he write a story that Vince would be proud of, but The Survivor is one of the best Mitch Rapp books yet.
Read my FULL REVIEW here:
http://mitchrappfan.com/2015/06/15/my...
November 21, 2016
Ex-CIA agent, the deceased Joe Rickman has set up a series of information dumps to destabilize the CIA, especially Irene Kennedy and Mitch Rapp. In the meantime, Pakistan is gearing up to become the first Islamic superpower, and the sneaky head of its intelligence agency (ISI) is working to become the next President. To stop the leaks, Mitch has to enlist the help of fellow assassin Louis Gould, who killed the love of Rapp's life. Lots of the usual mayhem, in exotic locations: Switzerland, Russia, Pakistan, Rome. I am glad that Kyle Mills will continue Vince Flynn's work, but I found his version of Mitch Rapp to be more hard headed. 3.5 stars.
November 29, 2025
LONE SURVIVOR
“You know the rules of the game; you've been playing it long enough.” — Olivia Mansfield, Skyfall
“You've come across me so many times, yet you never saw me. What took you so long?” — Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Spectre
During the last decade, the undisputed king of American spy fiction was Vincent J. Flynn. While other authors were panicking about losing the story material the Cold War had provided, Flynn identified and began writing about the next great political and geopolitical bugbears that have come to define this century: Islamic extremism and the terrorists who further it by any means necessary, and the curse of the modern, self-serving 21st-century politician. His 13-book series was a glorious tapestry of the evolving war on terror and the threats it posed to the civilized world.
The star of the show was Mitch Rapp, the CIA’s resident hitman. The original 21st-century counterterrorism operative—whom many authors have tried to imitate with varying degrees of success—Rapp was a government assassin in the literary Ian Fleming mold. The blunt instrument of American foreign policy, Rapp channelled the hopes and fury of a generation wounded by the opening salvos of Islamic terrorism. A hard man taking the simplest solution to a big problem, Rapp—like James Bond—was the ultimate wish-fulfilment character for a shadow war where many wished the direct approach could be used, niceties and rules be damned.
Alas, Flynn tragically passed away, having completed only a single chapter of what was to be his 14th book, The Survivor. Trapped in literary limbo, the series appeared frozen in time—until Flynn’s family and publisher decided to bring in a continuation writer. This job is perhaps the most thankless in all of fiction. One enters a series with a devoted fan base who firmly believe they know what the “right” book should look like. Deviate from that vision and a torrent of angry reviews is almost guaranteed. Consider Kingsley Amis and Colonel Sun—despite being well-versed in the Bond world, Amis still received unfair, disappointing reviews from critics and hardcore Fleming loyalists.
There are two ways a continuation author can approach the task:
A) Try to replicate the original author’s style as much as possible. This was done by Anthony Horowitz with the Bond novel Trigger Mortis, which received near-unanimous acclaim.
B) Be brave and impose your own style and vision on the series. This has seen mixed results for E.V.L. in the Bourne saga, and far greater success for Mark Greaney in the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series.
So who, you may ask, is the lucky man? The writer with the eyes of millions upon him? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Kyle Mills. The son of the FBI legal attaché in the UK who led the Lockerbie investigation—the very real act of terror that pushed Rapp into counterterrorism—Mills cut his teeth on edgy crime and political thrillers and later wrote for the Ludlum Covert One series. Not the most obvious candidate to resurrect a 21st-century spy-fiction icon, some cried. Yet Mills achieved the rare feat of executing both approaches simultaneously when completing book 14. The result is spectacular.
The Survivor is many things: a sharply written spy novel about an epic clash between two of the world’s most powerful intelligence agencies; a tale about the one thing all spies truly fear; and, perhaps most importantly, a story about facing the past, coming to terms with it, and ultimately letting go. From a thematic and writing standpoint, that last element is essential. Now, to the review. What happens when it turns out the loose ends have not been tied up?
We begin in Istanbul, the city where Mitch made his bones. Rapp’s partner-in-crime Scott Coleman and two of his employees are conducting surveillance on the company’s primary asset inside the SVR. They identify potential hostiles and begin planning. In Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, DCI Irene Kennedy and Mike Nash argue about Rapp and the aftermath of book 13, which left several threats to the CIA’s HUMINT capabilities unresolved. And several thousand miles away, the man himself steps off a private jet and heads to work.
Moving quickly, Rapp extracts the asset, kills a Russian counterintelligence officer, and kidnaps another—all within a few pages. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Director-General of the ISI decides to execute a scheme he has been planning since the previous book. Back in America, Rapp is forced to bring along a man he loathes for an operation seemingly intended to sabotage him. Soon, he is forced to reckon with the one thing all intelligence services fear, racing from London to southwestern Russia in a covert war for the ultimate intelligence prize. When the bullets stop flying and the backstabbing ends, only one question remains: will Mitch Rapp be the survivor?
In terms of plot, The Survivor is a rare continuation novel done right. Continuing the threads of book 13—one of Flynn’s finest—it efficiently spins a tale encompassing many of the issues the Rapp series has explored for more than a decade: government corruption, the importance of strong military and intelligence capabilities, and the defense of freedoms the public takes for granted. Mills also adds his own themes.
Chief among them is Pakistan—the Harvey Dent of geopolitics. Nominally an ally of the West, yet a haven for Islamic terrorists; a weak democracy with a nuclear arsenal and one of the most cunning intelligence services on the planet. Mills demonstrates how even a superpower like the U.S. can find itself in deep trouble with such a volatile combination. Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile is a particular source of dread, but in this book, the ISI takes center stage. Though it cannot match the CIA in resources, it is staffed with highly skilled officers—worthy adversaries who give even Mitch Rapp a serious challenge.
As for faithfulness, look no further than the writing style. Mills has said he compiled an enormous library of notes on the previous 13 books—details on Mitch and his associates, and even Flynn’s characteristic word-choices and sentence structure. The result is uncanny. While differences exist, they are subtle, and Mills eases even the most fanatical Rapp reader into the story with consummate skill, scattering Easter eggs and callbacks that will delight longtime fans.
Yet beneath all the nostalgia is the true theme of the novel: change—coming to terms with the past and breaking free of its shackles. Rapp, the indomitable government assassin married to the job, is forced to take stock of his life as the pillars of his world come under attack. From his seemingly indestructible mentor finally facing mortality, to Kennedy’s political firewall suffering its first breach in more than a decade, to confronting the most competent enemy of his career, Mills shakes up the unofficial rules of the Rapp series. By stripping Rapp of Kennedy’s near-impenetrable political shield and introducing an antagonist who comes closer than any other Flynn villain to destroying both Mitch and Irene, Mills symbolically portrays a demigod of espionage fiction who must evolve if he wishes to survive the second, cruel decade of the war on terror.
Now to the action and settings. Flynn was never overly focused on settings, but Mills—well travelled and detail-oriented—lets them shine. From the rain-soaked extraction in Istanbul, to a devastating assault on a Swiss banker’s mansion, to a blizzard-swept Russian village, and culminating in a desperate race to stop a geopolitical catastrophe inside Pakistan’s Aiwan-e-Sadr, Mills matches and elevates the action sequences fans expect while enriching the environments that frame them.
Research? For the most part, excellent. Two small details stand out, which I’ll address in the constructive criticism section. But Mills clearly did his homework. From the advantages and disadvantages of hollow-point ammunition to winter survival techniques, readers will appreciate the technical detail. A highlight is a character’s trip into part of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal; the information shared is both fascinating and unsettling, and one wonders whether Mills unearthed CIA Pakistan Desk files or accessed Flynn’s legendary D.C. rolodex.
Next, the characters. For brevity, I’ll focus on three: Mitch, Irene, and the antagonist.
Mitch Rapp:
Unlike Eric Van Lustbader, who turned Jason Bourne from a fallible, crazy badass into a hapless milquetoast, Kyle Mills understands exactly who Mitch is. The badass, fanatical patriot who defends his country and organization by any means necessary—Geneva Convention and enemy rights be damned. Mills completely preserves the essence of Rapp and avoids the landmine that has destroyed many continuation writers. His Mitch is fearless, defiant toward REMFs, and dominant in combat. Yet Mills does subtly evolve him: Mitch begins to realize that being married to the job may not be sustainable, and he begins to confront the psychological toll it has taken.
Irene Kennedy:
Mills does something fascinating with her: he puts her under genuine threat. For 13 books, she has been the consummate schemer, constructing a political firewall that has devoured her enemies. In The Survivor, that firewall cracks. One of her assets does the unthinkable—escapes her control and tries to burn down her world and Mitch’s. Her damage-control chapters are among the tensest in the entire series, showcasing what I consider Irene’s finest hour. Faced with ruin, she does not panic—she prepares, fights, and goes to war.
General Ahmed Taj (villain):
Let me be clear: Taj is the most competent enemy Mitch Rapp has ever faced. I would argue he is the greatest villain of the series. Flynn’s antagonists, apart from a select few, often bark more than bite. Not Taj. He is not an Islamic terrorist but a professional spymaster with Islamist leanings. He possesses strategic abilities superior to Rapp’s and equal to Kennedy’s, allowing him to stay two steps ahead as he pursues the grand prize of the intelligence world. More alarmingly, he is the first antagonist to come within minutes of achieving a genuinely devastating victory.
Constructive Criticism:
First, a certain denomination of pound note is mentioned in one chapter—one that does not exist. Second, a character uses a Desert Eagle handgun. Vince Flynn would never have used such a weapon in a million years, and its appearance—complete with a suppressor, which is mechanically impossible due to calibre—feels jarring. A custom M1911, a classic Flynn choice for a “hand cannon,” would have been far more appropriate. Lastly, a minor gripe: a character wears a trilby hat. In the 21st century, this is unnecessary and unintentionally comedic; it makes the British spy look like a Monty Python extra.
Verdict:
Worried no continuation novel could match the original? Missing the original counterterrorist operative? Fear not. Kyle Mills keeps Vince Flynn’s legacy alive in the 14th entry of the Mitch Rapp series. With a plot that expertly weaves real-world issues into one of the most complex narratives in the saga, action scenes that keep you perched on a knife’s edge, and a cast of characters thrust into surprising situations, this is continuation fiction done right.
In the 25th Bond film, Skyfall, M gives perhaps the greatest defense of HUMINT in an age when spying is increasingly loathed:
“I suppose I see a different world than you do, and the truth is that what I see frightens me. I'm frightened because our enemies are no longer known to us. They do not exist on a map, they aren't nations. They are individuals… It’s in the shadows—that’s where we must do battle.”
We are now well into the second decade of the war on terror. Like Mitch in this outing, we are more world-weary, cynical, perhaps even despairing that Islamic terrorism endures despite everything thrown at it—while certain segments of society try to tie the hands of its defenders. Yet even in a changing world, every nation needs its blunt instruments, the men willing to risk their lives so others may live. Men like Mitch Rapp, who, facing a changing world of his own, proves he’s not done—and that he fully intends to survive whatever comes next.
TOTALLY RECOMMENDED.
“You know the rules of the game; you've been playing it long enough.” — Olivia Mansfield, Skyfall
“You've come across me so many times, yet you never saw me. What took you so long?” — Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Spectre
During the last decade, the undisputed king of American spy fiction was Vincent J. Flynn. While other authors were panicking about losing the story material the Cold War had provided, Flynn identified and began writing about the next great political and geopolitical bugbears that have come to define this century: Islamic extremism and the terrorists who further it by any means necessary, and the curse of the modern, self-serving 21st-century politician. His 13-book series was a glorious tapestry of the evolving war on terror and the threats it posed to the civilized world.
The star of the show was Mitch Rapp, the CIA’s resident hitman. The original 21st-century counterterrorism operative—whom many authors have tried to imitate with varying degrees of success—Rapp was a government assassin in the literary Ian Fleming mold. The blunt instrument of American foreign policy, Rapp channelled the hopes and fury of a generation wounded by the opening salvos of Islamic terrorism. A hard man taking the simplest solution to a big problem, Rapp—like James Bond—was the ultimate wish-fulfilment character for a shadow war where many wished the direct approach could be used, niceties and rules be damned.
Alas, Flynn tragically passed away, having completed only a single chapter of what was to be his 14th book, The Survivor. Trapped in literary limbo, the series appeared frozen in time—until Flynn’s family and publisher decided to bring in a continuation writer. This job is perhaps the most thankless in all of fiction. One enters a series with a devoted fan base who firmly believe they know what the “right” book should look like. Deviate from that vision and a torrent of angry reviews is almost guaranteed. Consider Kingsley Amis and Colonel Sun—despite being well-versed in the Bond world, Amis still received unfair, disappointing reviews from critics and hardcore Fleming loyalists.
There are two ways a continuation author can approach the task:
A) Try to replicate the original author’s style as much as possible. This was done by Anthony Horowitz with the Bond novel Trigger Mortis, which received near-unanimous acclaim.
B) Be brave and impose your own style and vision on the series. This has seen mixed results for E.V.L. in the Bourne saga, and far greater success for Mark Greaney in the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series.
So who, you may ask, is the lucky man? The writer with the eyes of millions upon him? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Kyle Mills. The son of the FBI legal attaché in the UK who led the Lockerbie investigation—the very real act of terror that pushed Rapp into counterterrorism—Mills cut his teeth on edgy crime and political thrillers and later wrote for the Ludlum Covert One series. Not the most obvious candidate to resurrect a 21st-century spy-fiction icon, some cried. Yet Mills achieved the rare feat of executing both approaches simultaneously when completing book 14. The result is spectacular.
The Survivor is many things: a sharply written spy novel about an epic clash between two of the world’s most powerful intelligence agencies; a tale about the one thing all spies truly fear; and, perhaps most importantly, a story about facing the past, coming to terms with it, and ultimately letting go. From a thematic and writing standpoint, that last element is essential. Now, to the review. What happens when it turns out the loose ends have not been tied up?
We begin in Istanbul, the city where Mitch made his bones. Rapp’s partner-in-crime Scott Coleman and two of his employees are conducting surveillance on the company’s primary asset inside the SVR. They identify potential hostiles and begin planning. In Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, DCI Irene Kennedy and Mike Nash argue about Rapp and the aftermath of book 13, which left several threats to the CIA’s HUMINT capabilities unresolved. And several thousand miles away, the man himself steps off a private jet and heads to work.
Moving quickly, Rapp extracts the asset, kills a Russian counterintelligence officer, and kidnaps another—all within a few pages. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Director-General of the ISI decides to execute a scheme he has been planning since the previous book. Back in America, Rapp is forced to bring along a man he loathes for an operation seemingly intended to sabotage him. Soon, he is forced to reckon with the one thing all intelligence services fear, racing from London to southwestern Russia in a covert war for the ultimate intelligence prize. When the bullets stop flying and the backstabbing ends, only one question remains: will Mitch Rapp be the survivor?
In terms of plot, The Survivor is a rare continuation novel done right. Continuing the threads of book 13—one of Flynn’s finest—it efficiently spins a tale encompassing many of the issues the Rapp series has explored for more than a decade: government corruption, the importance of strong military and intelligence capabilities, and the defense of freedoms the public takes for granted. Mills also adds his own themes.
Chief among them is Pakistan—the Harvey Dent of geopolitics. Nominally an ally of the West, yet a haven for Islamic terrorists; a weak democracy with a nuclear arsenal and one of the most cunning intelligence services on the planet. Mills demonstrates how even a superpower like the U.S. can find itself in deep trouble with such a volatile combination. Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile is a particular source of dread, but in this book, the ISI takes center stage. Though it cannot match the CIA in resources, it is staffed with highly skilled officers—worthy adversaries who give even Mitch Rapp a serious challenge.
As for faithfulness, look no further than the writing style. Mills has said he compiled an enormous library of notes on the previous 13 books—details on Mitch and his associates, and even Flynn’s characteristic word-choices and sentence structure. The result is uncanny. While differences exist, they are subtle, and Mills eases even the most fanatical Rapp reader into the story with consummate skill, scattering Easter eggs and callbacks that will delight longtime fans.
Yet beneath all the nostalgia is the true theme of the novel: change—coming to terms with the past and breaking free of its shackles. Rapp, the indomitable government assassin married to the job, is forced to take stock of his life as the pillars of his world come under attack. From his seemingly indestructible mentor finally facing mortality, to Kennedy’s political firewall suffering its first breach in more than a decade, to confronting the most competent enemy of his career, Mills shakes up the unofficial rules of the Rapp series. By stripping Rapp of Kennedy’s near-impenetrable political shield and introducing an antagonist who comes closer than any other Flynn villain to destroying both Mitch and Irene, Mills symbolically portrays a demigod of espionage fiction who must evolve if he wishes to survive the second, cruel decade of the war on terror.
Now to the action and settings. Flynn was never overly focused on settings, but Mills—well travelled and detail-oriented—lets them shine. From the rain-soaked extraction in Istanbul, to a devastating assault on a Swiss banker’s mansion, to a blizzard-swept Russian village, and culminating in a desperate race to stop a geopolitical catastrophe inside Pakistan’s Aiwan-e-Sadr, Mills matches and elevates the action sequences fans expect while enriching the environments that frame them.
Research? For the most part, excellent. Two small details stand out, which I’ll address in the constructive criticism section. But Mills clearly did his homework. From the advantages and disadvantages of hollow-point ammunition to winter survival techniques, readers will appreciate the technical detail. A highlight is a character’s trip into part of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal; the information shared is both fascinating and unsettling, and one wonders whether Mills unearthed CIA Pakistan Desk files or accessed Flynn’s legendary D.C. rolodex.
Next, the characters. For brevity, I’ll focus on three: Mitch, Irene, and the antagonist.
Mitch Rapp:
Unlike Eric Van Lustbader, who turned Jason Bourne from a fallible, crazy badass into a hapless milquetoast, Kyle Mills understands exactly who Mitch is. The badass, fanatical patriot who defends his country and organization by any means necessary—Geneva Convention and enemy rights be damned. Mills completely preserves the essence of Rapp and avoids the landmine that has destroyed many continuation writers. His Mitch is fearless, defiant toward REMFs, and dominant in combat. Yet Mills does subtly evolve him: Mitch begins to realize that being married to the job may not be sustainable, and he begins to confront the psychological toll it has taken.
Irene Kennedy:
Mills does something fascinating with her: he puts her under genuine threat. For 13 books, she has been the consummate schemer, constructing a political firewall that has devoured her enemies. In The Survivor, that firewall cracks. One of her assets does the unthinkable—escapes her control and tries to burn down her world and Mitch’s. Her damage-control chapters are among the tensest in the entire series, showcasing what I consider Irene’s finest hour. Faced with ruin, she does not panic—she prepares, fights, and goes to war.
General Ahmed Taj (villain):
Let me be clear: Taj is the most competent enemy Mitch Rapp has ever faced. I would argue he is the greatest villain of the series. Flynn’s antagonists, apart from a select few, often bark more than bite. Not Taj. He is not an Islamic terrorist but a professional spymaster with Islamist leanings. He possesses strategic abilities superior to Rapp’s and equal to Kennedy’s, allowing him to stay two steps ahead as he pursues the grand prize of the intelligence world. More alarmingly, he is the first antagonist to come within minutes of achieving a genuinely devastating victory.
Constructive Criticism:
First, a certain denomination of pound note is mentioned in one chapter—one that does not exist. Second, a character uses a Desert Eagle handgun. Vince Flynn would never have used such a weapon in a million years, and its appearance—complete with a suppressor, which is mechanically impossible due to calibre—feels jarring. A custom M1911, a classic Flynn choice for a “hand cannon,” would have been far more appropriate. Lastly, a minor gripe: a character wears a trilby hat. In the 21st century, this is unnecessary and unintentionally comedic; it makes the British spy look like a Monty Python extra.
Verdict:
Worried no continuation novel could match the original? Missing the original counterterrorist operative? Fear not. Kyle Mills keeps Vince Flynn’s legacy alive in the 14th entry of the Mitch Rapp series. With a plot that expertly weaves real-world issues into one of the most complex narratives in the saga, action scenes that keep you perched on a knife’s edge, and a cast of characters thrust into surprising situations, this is continuation fiction done right.
In the 25th Bond film, Skyfall, M gives perhaps the greatest defense of HUMINT in an age when spying is increasingly loathed:
“I suppose I see a different world than you do, and the truth is that what I see frightens me. I'm frightened because our enemies are no longer known to us. They do not exist on a map, they aren't nations. They are individuals… It’s in the shadows—that’s where we must do battle.”
We are now well into the second decade of the war on terror. Like Mitch in this outing, we are more world-weary, cynical, perhaps even despairing that Islamic terrorism endures despite everything thrown at it—while certain segments of society try to tie the hands of its defenders. Yet even in a changing world, every nation needs its blunt instruments, the men willing to risk their lives so others may live. Men like Mitch Rapp, who, facing a changing world of his own, proves he’s not done—and that he fully intends to survive whatever comes next.
TOTALLY RECOMMENDED.
August 22, 2015
Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for supplying this book in exchange for a honest review.
This is my 2nd book in this series but obviously my first by author Kyle Mills who has taken over the series following the sad death of author Vince Flynn.
The book is a very good effort from a talented author that is facing a very tough act to follow on with this series. Lots of the trade mark signs are present in this book, action, suspense and very strong characters. I have given this book a very solid 3 star rating but it could could have easily been a 4 star rating on another day. My honest opinion is that Kyle Mills has made an excellent start to this very difficult task and the signs are there that it will only get better.
This is my 2nd book in this series but obviously my first by author Kyle Mills who has taken over the series following the sad death of author Vince Flynn.
The book is a very good effort from a talented author that is facing a very tough act to follow on with this series. Lots of the trade mark signs are present in this book, action, suspense and very strong characters. I have given this book a very solid 3 star rating but it could could have easily been a 4 star rating on another day. My honest opinion is that Kyle Mills has made an excellent start to this very difficult task and the signs are there that it will only get better.
December 13, 2015
I'm so glad to hear this book (and the Mitch Rapp series) will be completed even after Vince Flynn's untimely death. I recently (9/2014) read on VinceFlynn.com that author Kyle Mills was selected to complete the book and series. Estimated publish date for this book is sometime in 2015. Many thanks to Vince's wife, estate and publishers for allowing the beloved series to continue!
March 24, 2023
I'm a fan of Kyle Mills so I thought he might be a good one to carry on the Rapp series. I'm not sure he is. The sequence of events seems so stretched with seemingly near instantaneous travel between the US, Europe, Russia, Pakistan and elsewhere. The idea of two teams of special forces types running around in Russia outside of view of the Russian security forces really didn't work for me. I'll give it barely 3 Stars just because it did tie up the Rickman betrayal.
June 20, 2015
I received an advanced reader's copy from MitchRapp.com. Consider me an official Mitch Rapp ambassador. No character compares.
I 've never before read a Mitch Rapp book in more than 1 sitting. This time I did, due to personal stuff going on in my own life, but it feels fitting that doing so means I finished the Survivor on the anniversary of Vince's death. A great author, American, and man, may he rest in peace.
The first Rapp book since Vince's passing, I was anxious that I would be able to notice differences in Mills' writing all the way through. That fear was almost entirely unfounded! (2 or 3 sentences in the whole book that felt off.) Mostly, I couldn't tell what was Vince and what was Mills. That's a huge accomplishment and my kudos and thanks go to Mills for taking this project on!
Can't wait to share this book with fellow Rapp fans, and win over new readers as well.
I 've never before read a Mitch Rapp book in more than 1 sitting. This time I did, due to personal stuff going on in my own life, but it feels fitting that doing so means I finished the Survivor on the anniversary of Vince's death. A great author, American, and man, may he rest in peace.
The first Rapp book since Vince's passing, I was anxious that I would be able to notice differences in Mills' writing all the way through. That fear was almost entirely unfounded! (2 or 3 sentences in the whole book that felt off.) Mostly, I couldn't tell what was Vince and what was Mills. That's a huge accomplishment and my kudos and thanks go to Mills for taking this project on!
Can't wait to share this book with fellow Rapp fans, and win over new readers as well.
October 22, 2015
3.5 stars
This is my second Mitch Rapp series book and it was not a page turner compared to the American Assassin. I still love the character but was having a hard time getting into the book. Towards the end seems like the bad guys gave up too easy.
This is my second Mitch Rapp series book and it was not a page turner compared to the American Assassin. I still love the character but was having a hard time getting into the book. Towards the end seems like the bad guys gave up too easy.
June 21, 2018
A typical Mitch Rapp book. Follows the series and was fun to read. Don't start the series with this book. Too many references to the past events that you would not understand if you began here.
June 20, 2015
If you are concerned about Kyle Mills' continuing Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp books, any apprehensions can be laid to rest. 'The Survivor' is an excellent addition to the series. Mills has clearly immersed himself in Vince Flynn's writing. The settings, pacing, and characterizations are (to this long time Rapp fan) virtually indistinguishable from those of Vince Flynn's volumes.
The 13 previous books in the series left a wealth of backstory for a writer picking up the Flynn mantle to utilize, and Mills does it skillfully. Main characters from earlier adventures come into play in 'The Survivor': Irene Kennedy, Stan Hurley, and Scott Coleman all have roles in this resolution of scenarios set in motion in 'The Last Man.' The portrayal of Rapp is thoroughly consistent with the portrait Vince Flynn created in the earlier books.
Vince Flynn died almost exactly two years ago (6/19/2013) and after the initial outpouring of grief and sympathy over his untimely passing concerns over the continuation of the Mitch Rapp story were voiced. Kyle Mills has created the best possible memorial to Vince Flynn in this newest volume of the beloved series. Any fans of previous Mitch Rapp adventures should have no hesitation at all in picking up 'The Survivor' when it hits bookshelves on Oct. 6, 2015.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was selected to receive an Advance Readers Copy of 'The Survivor' from the publisher.
The 13 previous books in the series left a wealth of backstory for a writer picking up the Flynn mantle to utilize, and Mills does it skillfully. Main characters from earlier adventures come into play in 'The Survivor': Irene Kennedy, Stan Hurley, and Scott Coleman all have roles in this resolution of scenarios set in motion in 'The Last Man.' The portrayal of Rapp is thoroughly consistent with the portrait Vince Flynn created in the earlier books.
Vince Flynn died almost exactly two years ago (6/19/2013) and after the initial outpouring of grief and sympathy over his untimely passing concerns over the continuation of the Mitch Rapp story were voiced. Kyle Mills has created the best possible memorial to Vince Flynn in this newest volume of the beloved series. Any fans of previous Mitch Rapp adventures should have no hesitation at all in picking up 'The Survivor' when it hits bookshelves on Oct. 6, 2015.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was selected to receive an Advance Readers Copy of 'The Survivor' from the publisher.
December 2, 2015
It took me 4 weeks to slog through this book. I love the series, but that love is the only reason that I slogged through to the end.
November 5, 2015
In the long-awaited return of Mitch Rapp, Kyle Mills tries to fill the enormous shoes left with the passing of Vince Flynn. When former CIA ace Agent Rick Rickman stole a large collection of highly classified documents, panic ensued. The identities of a number of agents and missions spanning all four corners of the earth were now in the hands of a man who sacrificed himself to the Pakistanis. Director Irene Kennedy has little choice but to release her star field agent, Mitch Rapp, to intercept Rickman and get the files back. However, little does she know that even with Rickman's death, the headaches are far from over. Somehow, documents are being released electronically, through some timed release format. While Rapp and his team have been highly reactive, trying to protect those in grave danger, they are unable to proactively ascertain the location of the files and how to stop this ever-growing headache. As Rapp searches the world for the documents, he must also deal with the Pakistanis, whose impetus for learning and obtaining this mountain of secrets could put them in a position to become the first Muslim superpower, with nuclear capabilities. As Rapp works diligently and Kennedy's hold on the CIA lessens, the reader is left to wonder if Rapp has finally met his match and will go down with guns blazing. Mills does a wonderful job at the helm, injecting the same sass and gumption into the Rapp character as ever before.
In a recent review, I spoke about Kyle Mills and his ability to take on a series whose foundation was laid by a great author. Here, as Mills is handed the Mitch Rapp series, he must not only continue with the CIA-themed plot, but also fit himself behind the control panel that IS Mitch Rapp. With countless nuances within the Rapp character, Mills must deliver to a collection of fans who have been ravenous for a novel depicting their beloved Rapp. As the title suggests, Mills did complete his task with his head held high and is assured of being adopted into the larger Vince Flynn fan club.With fast-paced action and a great attention to detail, Mills write a seamless fourteenth novel in the series, whose authorship is unclear, the novel reads so well. A must-read for series fans, especially those concerned about the transition, for few will find fault in what they are presented.
Kudos, Mr. Mills for this novel with does immortalise Vince Flynn and the Mitch Rapp character so completely. Please do continue with the storytelling and, in true character development fashion, begin to morph things and shake things up where you can.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In a recent review, I spoke about Kyle Mills and his ability to take on a series whose foundation was laid by a great author. Here, as Mills is handed the Mitch Rapp series, he must not only continue with the CIA-themed plot, but also fit himself behind the control panel that IS Mitch Rapp. With countless nuances within the Rapp character, Mills must deliver to a collection of fans who have been ravenous for a novel depicting their beloved Rapp. As the title suggests, Mills did complete his task with his head held high and is assured of being adopted into the larger Vince Flynn fan club.With fast-paced action and a great attention to detail, Mills write a seamless fourteenth novel in the series, whose authorship is unclear, the novel reads so well. A must-read for series fans, especially those concerned about the transition, for few will find fault in what they are presented.
Kudos, Mr. Mills for this novel with does immortalise Vince Flynn and the Mitch Rapp character so completely. Please do continue with the storytelling and, in true character development fashion, begin to morph things and shake things up where you can.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 8, 2016
Kyle Mills did a great job taking over for Vince Flynn! Mitch Rapp is alive and well!!
Want to read
January 27, 2014May he rest in peace.. A great writer looked forward to reading his books.. Not the same without him now..
May 14, 2016
The major problem I have with this story are the multitudes of innocent deaths without much recompense. I believe in an eye for an eye. Despite the fact some claim a seamless transition between Mitch Flynn & Kyle Mills, I contend Flynn's evil doers got theirs through Mitch Rapp justice which is missed in Survivor. My favorite Kyle Mills story is Fade. Survivor is no Fade. Flynn didn't always hit home runs either, (nor did Babe Ruth). While I feel Last Man is excellent, I feel Kill Shot is not and reflected similarly in my Survivor rating. 4 of 10 stars
July 3, 2015
Kyle Mills did a wonderful job balancing the tasks of adopting a pre-existing series with pre-existing character arcs and pushing the series forward. He wrote this is an incredibly respectful way that showed a great deal of dedication to Flynn's work. He also made it his own and took some risks. I loved it and couldn't put it down. Go get yourself a copy when it is released in October.
November 28, 2016
I'm not sure what happened to my prior review, but I remember that I did not find this story to be closely reminiscent of Vince Flynn. I found this story tame by comparison and unexciting overall. Not characteristics one typically associates with Flynn's stories. 4 of 10 stars
May 3, 2016
Here's to hoping for a Mitch Rapp #15 and more! Well done with all the testosterone fueled action, political jousting, international espionage I love. I was missing Mr. Rapp.
August 24, 2022
Book 60/60 for my 2022 Reading Challenge. Another fine Mitch Rapp novel. He truly is a survivor. Rickman's revenge is hurting the CIA and must be stopped. He's coming back from the dead through videotapes to leak contacts, operatives, and CIA secrets. Rapp, Hurley, Kennedy, and Nash enlist the help of Louis Gould (the guy who killed Rapp's wife Anna) to get a Swiss banker but he double crosses them. The Pakistani ISI are involved and their "simpleton" director has aims to steal the complete Rickman dossier and files from an Italian Law firm, bring the CIA to it's knees along with help of dickhead US Senator Ferris. Their objectives are that Ferris gets elected President of the USA, Taj becomes President of Pakistan, rule as a dictator, and control Middle East oil. Will Taj succeed? Not if Mitch Rapp has a say.
Here's the Spoiler:
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Stan Hurley RIP.
Here's the Spoiler:
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Stan Hurley RIP.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2022
Сбогувам се с невероятния разказвач на шпионски трилъри с политически и военен привкус - Винс Флин- ужасно ще ми липсва.
Тази последна, четеринадесета част от историята за Мич Рап е все така увлекателна и динамична. Блестяща работа на писателя,довършил книгата след неочакваната смърт на Флин. Не се усеща къде е поел "топката" и в края заслужено отбелязва 5 "точки" в моята клаация за преживени емоции.
Тази последна, четеринадесета част от историята за Мич Рап е все така увлекателна и динамична. Блестяща работа на писателя,довършил книгата след неочакваната смърт на Флин. Не се усеща къде е поел "топката" и в края заслужено отбелязва 5 "точки" в моята клаация за преживени емоции.
January 7, 2016
After Vince Flynn's death in 2013, his publishers entrusted thriller author Kyle Mills to carry on with the long-running Mitch Rapp series. The Survivor is the fourteenth entry and, after Flynn's last two prequel novels, returns readers to the present-day, following up on the enormous amount of fallout from the finale of The Last Man.
A CIA turncoat has, in the wake of his death, begun unleashing data that could cripple America's intelligence community and end the careers of CIA Director Irene Kennedy and uber-assassin Mitch Rapp. Their enemies are pining for this data, chasing any lead they can, with the hopes of usurping the United States. Naturally, Rapp isn't going to allow that.
Series creators leave a long shadow in the wake of their passing, and die-hard fans can be hard to please when the torch is passed. For his part, Mills writes a solid continuation and builds a novel that fits well with what came before, sufficiently tapping into the same voice of each character and expected levels of violence and American rah-rah-rah jingoism as previously written by Flynn.
While it's an entertaining enough read, I can't help but find Mitch Rapp growing increasingly one-dimensional as the years go on. Fans expect a big, heroic tough-guy, of course, but the level of fervor and almost-fundamentalist mentality that's been bred into the man over time has reached increasingly pscyhopathic levels in the years following his wife's murder. Rapp is no longer a man content with eliminating only America's enemies abroad, but at home as well, to the point that virtually anyone that dares disagree with, or even simply annoys, him is construed as needing a bullet to the back of the head.
The fact that Mills is able to interject some degree of self-reflection in Rapp is a bit of a win. I don't think we're in any danger of Rapp suddenly turning into a cuddly comedian, but the man is ripe for some personal growth and much-needed maturity before he descends into pure caricature. While I've liked, and at times even loved, this series under Flynn's guiding hand, I'm hopeful that Mills can put his own stamp on the series and give these character some fresh perspectives and breathe new life into them in subsequent entries.
Nobody will ever mistake Mitch Rapp for the calm, cool, collected CIA pros of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series, but if you're looking for a fun bit of fictional sabre-rattling, these books, and The Survivor in particular, are certainly enjoyable enough reads.
A CIA turncoat has, in the wake of his death, begun unleashing data that could cripple America's intelligence community and end the careers of CIA Director Irene Kennedy and uber-assassin Mitch Rapp. Their enemies are pining for this data, chasing any lead they can, with the hopes of usurping the United States. Naturally, Rapp isn't going to allow that.
Series creators leave a long shadow in the wake of their passing, and die-hard fans can be hard to please when the torch is passed. For his part, Mills writes a solid continuation and builds a novel that fits well with what came before, sufficiently tapping into the same voice of each character and expected levels of violence and American rah-rah-rah jingoism as previously written by Flynn.
While it's an entertaining enough read, I can't help but find Mitch Rapp growing increasingly one-dimensional as the years go on. Fans expect a big, heroic tough-guy, of course, but the level of fervor and almost-fundamentalist mentality that's been bred into the man over time has reached increasingly pscyhopathic levels in the years following his wife's murder. Rapp is no longer a man content with eliminating only America's enemies abroad, but at home as well, to the point that virtually anyone that dares disagree with, or even simply annoys, him is construed as needing a bullet to the back of the head.
The fact that Mills is able to interject some degree of self-reflection in Rapp is a bit of a win. I don't think we're in any danger of Rapp suddenly turning into a cuddly comedian, but the man is ripe for some personal growth and much-needed maturity before he descends into pure caricature. While I've liked, and at times even loved, this series under Flynn's guiding hand, I'm hopeful that Mills can put his own stamp on the series and give these character some fresh perspectives and breathe new life into them in subsequent entries.
Nobody will ever mistake Mitch Rapp for the calm, cool, collected CIA pros of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series, but if you're looking for a fun bit of fictional sabre-rattling, these books, and The Survivor in particular, are certainly enjoyable enough reads.
September 22, 2015
In terms of iconic action heroes, Mitch Rapp is up there with the likes of Jack Reacher. Through Vince Flynn’s excellent thrillers, Rapp has grown into the CIA’s greatest weapon. Sadly Vince Flynn passed away far too early and we thought we had seen the last of his great creation.
Then it was announced that Kyle Mills would be writing a new novel I think fans were pleased to see a continuation of the series, but many thought Mr Mills was an…odd….choice.
But the proof is in the reading. I was delighted to get an advance copy through NetGalley and equally delighted to have enjoyed this so much. Kyle Mills does an excellent job providing continuation of some of the threads from the last books (both in the “current” timeline but with nods back to the younger Rapp we were also introduced to. The greatest compliment I can give is that this feels like a proper Vince Flynn novel.
In Survivor we have the CIA being damaged by releases of data and their very existence is threatened as this gives opportunities to enemies both within the US Government and those who seek to gain control in Pakistan. And for one the bad guy is cunning and playing the long game rather than the usual rabid extremist.
So we have Rapp and chums chasing leads to close down the leakage while trying to see the bigger picture. All the characters are here and act like we would hope and expect them to. The pace is there as is the politics that sit behind the action. Rapp continues to be the one that everyone is scared of and readers will be utterly delighted to have him back just how they would have wanted.
Great job Mr Mills. Great job.
Then it was announced that Kyle Mills would be writing a new novel I think fans were pleased to see a continuation of the series, but many thought Mr Mills was an…odd….choice.
But the proof is in the reading. I was delighted to get an advance copy through NetGalley and equally delighted to have enjoyed this so much. Kyle Mills does an excellent job providing continuation of some of the threads from the last books (both in the “current” timeline but with nods back to the younger Rapp we were also introduced to. The greatest compliment I can give is that this feels like a proper Vince Flynn novel.
In Survivor we have the CIA being damaged by releases of data and their very existence is threatened as this gives opportunities to enemies both within the US Government and those who seek to gain control in Pakistan. And for one the bad guy is cunning and playing the long game rather than the usual rabid extremist.
So we have Rapp and chums chasing leads to close down the leakage while trying to see the bigger picture. All the characters are here and act like we would hope and expect them to. The pace is there as is the politics that sit behind the action. Rapp continues to be the one that everyone is scared of and readers will be utterly delighted to have him back just how they would have wanted.
Great job Mr Mills. Great job.
June 20, 2015
If you are concerned about Kyle Mills' continuing Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp books, any apprehensions can be laid to rest. 'The Survivor' is an excellent addition to the series. Mills has clearly immersed himself in Vince Flynn's writing. The settings, pacing, and characterizations are (to this long time Rapp fan) virtually indistinguishable from those of Vince Flynn's volumes.
The 13 previous books in the series left a wealth of backstory for a writer picking up the Flynn mantle to utilize, and Mills does it skillfully. Main characters from earlier adventures come into play in 'The Survivor': Irene Kennedy, Stan Hurley, and Scott Coleman all have roles in this resolution of scenarios set in motion in 'The Last Man.' The portrayal of Rapp is thoroughly consistent with the portrait Vince Flynn created in the earlier books.
Vince Flynn died almost exactly two years ago (6/19/2013) and after the initial outpouring of grief and sympathy over his untimely passing concerns over the continuation of the Mitch Rapp story were voiced. Kyle Mills has created the best possible memorial to Vince Flynn in this newest volume of the beloved series. Any fans of previous Mitch Rapp adventures should have no hesitation at all in picking up 'The Survivor' when it hits bookshelves on Oct. 6, 2015.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was selected to receive an Advance Readers Copy of 'The Survivor' from the publisher.
The 13 previous books in the series left a wealth of backstory for a writer picking up the Flynn mantle to utilize, and Mills does it skillfully. Main characters from earlier adventures come into play in 'The Survivor': Irene Kennedy, Stan Hurley, and Scott Coleman all have roles in this resolution of scenarios set in motion in 'The Last Man.' The portrayal of Rapp is thoroughly consistent with the portrait Vince Flynn created in the earlier books.
Vince Flynn died almost exactly two years ago (6/19/2013) and after the initial outpouring of grief and sympathy over his untimely passing concerns over the continuation of the Mitch Rapp story were voiced. Kyle Mills has created the best possible memorial to Vince Flynn in this newest volume of the beloved series. Any fans of previous Mitch Rapp adventures should have no hesitation at all in picking up 'The Survivor' when it hits bookshelves on Oct. 6, 2015.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was selected to receive an Advance Readers Copy of 'The Survivor' from the publisher.
June 26, 2018
Perhaps this book suffers from the passing of Flynn and Mills coming in and finishing maybe a draft that Flynn had been working on. I am looking forward to the next.
Politicians working for and against their countries. I was reminded of John Kerry, who became a US Senator, Sec. of State, and an indirect heir to the late John Heinz' wealth. Kerry did some things in Vietnam that should have resulted in a courts martial. Then, while still in the USNR, meets with representatives of North Vietnam; undermining the peace talks. Also, perennial US Senator Patrick Leahy, who more than once released classified info that resulted in the execution of some of our intelligence assets.
Politicians working for and against their countries. I was reminded of John Kerry, who became a US Senator, Sec. of State, and an indirect heir to the late John Heinz' wealth. Kerry did some things in Vietnam that should have resulted in a courts martial. Then, while still in the USNR, meets with representatives of North Vietnam; undermining the peace talks. Also, perennial US Senator Patrick Leahy, who more than once released classified info that resulted in the execution of some of our intelligence assets.
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