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Mitch Rapp #15
Order to Kill
In a pulse-pounding race to save America, covert operative Mitch Rapp confronts a mortal threat. But this time he might have met his match.
Mitch Rapp is used to winning. But thanks to several scheming and unscrupulous members of the Pakistani secret service, he finds himself chasing false leads from continent to continent in an effort to Pakistani nukes from falling into the hands of terrorists. Together with friend and colleague Scott Coleman, Rapp struggles to prevent the loss of these lethal weapons. Soon it becomes alarmingly clear that the forces in Moscow are bent on fomenting even more chaos and turmoil in the Middle East, and Rapp must go deep into Iraqi territory, posing as an American ISIS recruit. There, he uncovers a plan much more dangerous and insidious than he ever expected—one that could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences.
Written with the same breathless tension and relentless action as Vince Flynn’s greatest novels, Mitch Rapp’s latest adventure is as timely and provocative as ever.
Mitch Rapp is used to winning. But thanks to several scheming and unscrupulous members of the Pakistani secret service, he finds himself chasing false leads from continent to continent in an effort to Pakistani nukes from falling into the hands of terrorists. Together with friend and colleague Scott Coleman, Rapp struggles to prevent the loss of these lethal weapons. Soon it becomes alarmingly clear that the forces in Moscow are bent on fomenting even more chaos and turmoil in the Middle East, and Rapp must go deep into Iraqi territory, posing as an American ISIS recruit. There, he uncovers a plan much more dangerous and insidious than he ever expected—one that could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences.
Written with the same breathless tension and relentless action as Vince Flynn’s greatest novels, Mitch Rapp’s latest adventure is as timely and provocative as ever.
424 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 11, 2016
3810 people are currently reading
6158 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Mills
33 books2,510 followersI grew up in Oregon but have lived all over—D.C., Virginia, Maryland, London,
Wyoming. My father was an FBI agent and I was a bureau kid, which is similar to being an army brat. You tend to spend your time with other bureau kids and get transferred around a lot, though, I fared better on that front than many others.
One positive aspect of this lifestyle is that you can’t help but absorb an enormous amount about the FBI, CIA, Special Forces, etc. Like most young boys, I was endlessly fascinated with talk of chasing criminals and, of course, pictured it in the most romantic terms possible. Who would have thought that all this esoteric knowledge would end up being so useful?
I came into writing from kind of a strange angle. When I graduated from college in the late eighties, I had the same dream as everyone else at the time—a corporate job, a nice car, and a house with lots of square footage.
It turns out that none of that really suited me. While I did go for the corporate job, I
drove a beat-up Jeep and lived in a tiny house in a so-so Baltimore neighborhood. Most of the money I made just kind of accumulated in my checking account and I found myself increasingly drawn to the unconventional, artistic people who lived around me. I was completely enamored with anyone who could create something from nothing because I felt like it was beyond me.
Enter rock climbing. I’d read an article on climbing when I was in college and thought it looked like an incredible thing to do. Someday, I told myself, I would give it a try. So one weekend in the early ’90s, I packed up my car, drove to West Virginia, and spent a
weekend taking lessons. Unknown to me at the time, this would be the start of an
obsession that still hangs with me today. I began dating a girl who liked to climb and we decided we wanted to live somewhere with taller rocks and more open space.
Moving to Wyoming was the best decision we ever made. The place is full of the most amazing people. You might meet someone on a bike ride and find out they were in the Olympics, or climbed Everest, or just got back from two months trekking in Nepal. In a roundabout way, it was these people who made it possible for me to write a novel. They seemed to have no limitations. Everything was possible for them and I wanted to be that type of person, too.
I was working for a little bank in Jackson Hole, spending my days making business loans and my afternoons and weekends climbing. For some reason, it finally occurred to me that I’d never actually tried to be creative. Maybe I could make something from nothing. Why not give it a shot?
My first bright idea was to learn to build furniture. That plan had some drawbacks, the most obvious of which being that I’m not very handy. It was my wife who suggested I write a novel. It seemed like a dumb idea, though, since I majored in finance and had spent my entire college career avoiding English courses like the plague. Having said that, I couldn’t completely shake the idea. Eventually, it nagged at me long enough that I felt compelled to put pen to paper. Eight months later, I finished Rising Phoenix and about a year after that I managed to get it published.
The success of Rising Phoenix and my subsequent books has allowed me to make my living as a writer, which isn’t bad work if you can get it. Other than that, my life hasn’t changed all that much. Aging elbows have forced me to replace climbing with backcountry skiing and mountain bike racing. I got the not-so-smart idea of restoring an old pickup to replace the dying Jeep. And, I still live in Wyoming...
Wyoming. My father was an FBI agent and I was a bureau kid, which is similar to being an army brat. You tend to spend your time with other bureau kids and get transferred around a lot, though, I fared better on that front than many others.
One positive aspect of this lifestyle is that you can’t help but absorb an enormous amount about the FBI, CIA, Special Forces, etc. Like most young boys, I was endlessly fascinated with talk of chasing criminals and, of course, pictured it in the most romantic terms possible. Who would have thought that all this esoteric knowledge would end up being so useful?
I came into writing from kind of a strange angle. When I graduated from college in the late eighties, I had the same dream as everyone else at the time—a corporate job, a nice car, and a house with lots of square footage.
It turns out that none of that really suited me. While I did go for the corporate job, I
drove a beat-up Jeep and lived in a tiny house in a so-so Baltimore neighborhood. Most of the money I made just kind of accumulated in my checking account and I found myself increasingly drawn to the unconventional, artistic people who lived around me. I was completely enamored with anyone who could create something from nothing because I felt like it was beyond me.
Enter rock climbing. I’d read an article on climbing when I was in college and thought it looked like an incredible thing to do. Someday, I told myself, I would give it a try. So one weekend in the early ’90s, I packed up my car, drove to West Virginia, and spent a
weekend taking lessons. Unknown to me at the time, this would be the start of an
obsession that still hangs with me today. I began dating a girl who liked to climb and we decided we wanted to live somewhere with taller rocks and more open space.
Moving to Wyoming was the best decision we ever made. The place is full of the most amazing people. You might meet someone on a bike ride and find out they were in the Olympics, or climbed Everest, or just got back from two months trekking in Nepal. In a roundabout way, it was these people who made it possible for me to write a novel. They seemed to have no limitations. Everything was possible for them and I wanted to be that type of person, too.
I was working for a little bank in Jackson Hole, spending my days making business loans and my afternoons and weekends climbing. For some reason, it finally occurred to me that I’d never actually tried to be creative. Maybe I could make something from nothing. Why not give it a shot?
My first bright idea was to learn to build furniture. That plan had some drawbacks, the most obvious of which being that I’m not very handy. It was my wife who suggested I write a novel. It seemed like a dumb idea, though, since I majored in finance and had spent my entire college career avoiding English courses like the plague. Having said that, I couldn’t completely shake the idea. Eventually, it nagged at me long enough that I felt compelled to put pen to paper. Eight months later, I finished Rising Phoenix and about a year after that I managed to get it published.
The success of Rising Phoenix and my subsequent books has allowed me to make my living as a writer, which isn’t bad work if you can get it. Other than that, my life hasn’t changed all that much. Aging elbows have forced me to replace climbing with backcountry skiing and mountain bike racing. I got the not-so-smart idea of restoring an old pickup to replace the dying Jeep. And, I still live in Wyoming...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,010 reviews
May 20, 2017
If 007 had less humour and a colder heart, then I guess he’d be Mitch Rapp. Oh, and he'd have to be American too, of course. But though Mitch is an agent of America’s foreign intelligence service he’s not someone who protects his country through stealth and the seduction of women, he’s more a barge the door down and shoot ‘em between the eyes type of guy.
I’ve been following this series for years. I used to listen to the audiobook versions, read by the peerless George Guidall, as I completed my three-and-a-half-hour daily commute to and from work. I gasped and hollered as Mitch survived more life threatening moments than a Welsh fan at an England football match. And though some events have seemed as unlikely as the Wales team actually beating England, I’ve always been so drowned in the action and intrigue that I’ve managed to ignore the improbability of it all.
When the author of the series, Vince Flynn, was tragically taken from us in 2013 most people expected the series to end there and then. However, the mantle was taken up by fellow writer Kyle Mills and, I have to say, the transition has been pretty seamless. The pace is the same, the characters have retained the same personalities and quirks I've grown to love and, for audiobook fans, George G is still at the microphone.
In this latest adventure, Mitch is on the trail of six A-bombs, stolen from the Pakistan military. The stolen nukes are in the hands of a group controlled by the Russian president, Maxim Krupin, and he’s hell bent on using them to further his own aims. There’s also an expert killer working for Krupin and it’s odds-on that he and Rapp will face off with each other before this book is over. It’s full on action from the start with the normal cast fully in tow and lots of bad guys to see off. It’s great fun and right up there with the best of the series.
Up there, that is, except for one element. In my view some of the best moments in this series have come when Rapp and/or his boss, Irene Kennedy, have verbally jousted with the political naysayers who are typically anti everything Rapp stands for. The sharp and amusing dialogue has provided an excellent counterpoint to the action sequences. It’s missing form this episode though and it’s the only disappointment.
That said, in truth there is a little humour here too, amongst all the blood and gore. But at its heart it's another brilliantly told, escapist yarn – ideal for anyone who just wants to sit back, feel their pulse racing and enjoy the thrill of a big boy’s adventure.
I’ve been following this series for years. I used to listen to the audiobook versions, read by the peerless George Guidall, as I completed my three-and-a-half-hour daily commute to and from work. I gasped and hollered as Mitch survived more life threatening moments than a Welsh fan at an England football match. And though some events have seemed as unlikely as the Wales team actually beating England, I’ve always been so drowned in the action and intrigue that I’ve managed to ignore the improbability of it all.
When the author of the series, Vince Flynn, was tragically taken from us in 2013 most people expected the series to end there and then. However, the mantle was taken up by fellow writer Kyle Mills and, I have to say, the transition has been pretty seamless. The pace is the same, the characters have retained the same personalities and quirks I've grown to love and, for audiobook fans, George G is still at the microphone.
In this latest adventure, Mitch is on the trail of six A-bombs, stolen from the Pakistan military. The stolen nukes are in the hands of a group controlled by the Russian president, Maxim Krupin, and he’s hell bent on using them to further his own aims. There’s also an expert killer working for Krupin and it’s odds-on that he and Rapp will face off with each other before this book is over. It’s full on action from the start with the normal cast fully in tow and lots of bad guys to see off. It’s great fun and right up there with the best of the series.
Up there, that is, except for one element. In my view some of the best moments in this series have come when Rapp and/or his boss, Irene Kennedy, have verbally jousted with the political naysayers who are typically anti everything Rapp stands for. The sharp and amusing dialogue has provided an excellent counterpoint to the action sequences. It’s missing form this episode though and it’s the only disappointment.
That said, in truth there is a little humour here too, amongst all the blood and gore. But at its heart it's another brilliantly told, escapist yarn – ideal for anyone who just wants to sit back, feel their pulse racing and enjoy the thrill of a big boy’s adventure.
December 1, 2016
Mills returns to extend the Mitch Rapp series, careful to keep the Vince Flynn voice and sentiment throughout the swift narrative. While Rapp has become use to being in control, he is dealt a curveball when outmanoeuvred in South Africa by a hired killer. Taken into custody, Rapp learns that there is a plot to intercept some warheads from Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and place them in the hands of ISIS. This will surely goad America into an already fluid war, with the stakes much higher and the enemy just as elusive. However, there is a further wrinkle that can make things a great deal more difficult; the Russian President is keen to pull the strings in the background, teaming up with ISIS to eliminate the Americans and reset the World Order. Working alongside Scott Coleman, a friend and colleague, Rapp is able to get his hands on one of the nukes, only to discover that it has been altered in such a way to substantiate the rumours of Russian involvement. Rapp must now work with his boss, CIA Director Irene Kennedy, not only to prevent the weapons falling into the wrong hands, but ensure those in charge of the plot are eliminated, all while trying to prevent a diplomatic disaster. Posing as a potential ISIS recruit, Rapp enters the region and battles his way into learning of the ultimate plan, which could devastate the world and shift power back at least three decades. At a crossroads, Rapp has no choice but to act, though his life could be the ransom paid for tranquility. A seamless continuation of the series that keeps Rapp as interesting as ever, while entertaining series fans who are still saddened by the loss of the great Vine Flynn.
I have long been a Vince Flynn fan and have enjoyed the Mitch Rapp series since its inception. I also admire Kyle Mills and the work he has done to continue these novels in such a way as to keep series regulars from feeling jilted or as if things had been hijacked by an author with a motive all their own. When authors die and their series are continued, it remains a real gamble as to whether a new author can take the reins and be successful. Mills handles the herculean task with aplomb and one might wonder if Flynn were still influencing the plotlines. Mills offers strong characters as he continues to develop the Rapp backstory, which is complex in and of itself. While there has been much that has jaded the CIA operative, Rapp continues to fight for his country and has the scars to prove it. Some who have read my other reviews within this genre will know that I have begun to bemoan the excessive flogging of Islamic terror cells and their attack on America as a means to offer an effective antagonist and keep terror on the front burner. That books still feature this idea drives me mad, though I will admit that Mills's use of ISIS is not quite as bad. Mills pulls the story a little further with a new fork in the road, one that offers the Russians as renewed enemies of America. Teaming with ISIS, these two major enemies are working together to cripple the mighty American juggernaut, which is an impressive plot development, though one can only assume it will be short-lived. Mills uses the acerbic wit of Mitch Rapp and the ever-developing narrative to keep the reader hooked, while tossing the story into a seemingly believable direction with a nuclear arsenal on the line. I found myself connected and intrigued until the very end, though I must ask myself, how much does Mitch Rapp have left? Could we finally have seen his swan song?
Kudos, Mr. Mills for pulling together another stellar story as you guide the beloved Rapp through yet another adventure. I admire your work and know Vince Flynn would be proud.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I have long been a Vince Flynn fan and have enjoyed the Mitch Rapp series since its inception. I also admire Kyle Mills and the work he has done to continue these novels in such a way as to keep series regulars from feeling jilted or as if things had been hijacked by an author with a motive all their own. When authors die and their series are continued, it remains a real gamble as to whether a new author can take the reins and be successful. Mills handles the herculean task with aplomb and one might wonder if Flynn were still influencing the plotlines. Mills offers strong characters as he continues to develop the Rapp backstory, which is complex in and of itself. While there has been much that has jaded the CIA operative, Rapp continues to fight for his country and has the scars to prove it. Some who have read my other reviews within this genre will know that I have begun to bemoan the excessive flogging of Islamic terror cells and their attack on America as a means to offer an effective antagonist and keep terror on the front burner. That books still feature this idea drives me mad, though I will admit that Mills's use of ISIS is not quite as bad. Mills pulls the story a little further with a new fork in the road, one that offers the Russians as renewed enemies of America. Teaming with ISIS, these two major enemies are working together to cripple the mighty American juggernaut, which is an impressive plot development, though one can only assume it will be short-lived. Mills uses the acerbic wit of Mitch Rapp and the ever-developing narrative to keep the reader hooked, while tossing the story into a seemingly believable direction with a nuclear arsenal on the line. I found myself connected and intrigued until the very end, though I must ask myself, how much does Mitch Rapp have left? Could we finally have seen his swan song?
Kudos, Mr. Mills for pulling together another stellar story as you guide the beloved Rapp through yet another adventure. I admire your work and know Vince Flynn would be proud.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 19, 2016
In another astonishingly well-written book, Kyle Mills channels Vince Flynn (sounds weirder than it is) to take Mitch Rapp straight into the middle of ISIS as he tries to determine who attacked his friend, Scott Coleman. Superb action, lots of insight, and Mills doesn't flinch from putting Rapp in danger time and again.
The within-ISIS scenes feel realistic--no false rescues, even when the reader hopes for them, thus no clichés.
Mills delivers Flynn's characters with a tightly-written plot all his own. The Mills/Flynn combination: if best buddies Coleman and Rapp were writers, Order to Kill is what their book would be.
Highly, highly recommended.
The within-ISIS scenes feel realistic--no false rescues, even when the reader hopes for them, thus no clichés.
Mills delivers Flynn's characters with a tightly-written plot all his own. The Mills/Flynn combination: if best buddies Coleman and Rapp were writers, Order to Kill is what their book would be.
Highly, highly recommended.
June 27, 2016
Read this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
Fresh off the heels of last year’s The Survivor, which was praised both by fans and critics on its way to earning #1 triple crown status on the New York Times bestsellers list, Kyle Mills returns with his second contribution to the Mitch Rapp franchise that was originally created by the late Vince Flynn.
Unlike last year, when Mills was tasked with fitting a story around the three pages that Flynn had written before his passing (and which also happened to be a direct sequel to 2012’s The Last Man), he now had full creative range to craft his own story from start to finish, and the final product is nothing short of amazing.
Mills knows just what fans want out of a Mitch Rapp book, and he delivers in a big way.
Between his deep understanding of who the characters are and what makes them tick, and his ability to masterfully weave heart-pounding suspense with nonstop action, Kyle Mills does more than just pick up where Flynn left off, he’s elevated this franchise to another level entirely.
Everyone who claims to enjoy thrillers should read this book. In fact, I dare you to read this book. If you don’t absolutely love it, it’s time for you to try another genre.
THE STORY
Set just a few weeks after the events of The Survivor, the Central Intelligence Agency is still dealing with some fallout from what went down in Pakistan. With the Rickman files a thing of the past, a new problem revolves around President Chutani’s struggle to thwart an impending coup as one of his top generals continues to threaten his position of power.
With the situation already dicey and growing worse by the day, Chutani has taken extreme measures to protect his nation’s nuclear arsenal, ensuring that they don’t fall into enemy hands. To do that, though, the nuclear warheads are constantly being transported to and from various bunkers and bases around the country, leaving them vulnerable to an attack.
CIA Director Dr. Irene Kennedy, fully aware of the situation in Pakistan and the possible dangers that could unfold should one of those nukes go missing, has dispatched various teams to help run surveillance and babysit the warheads. But when solid intel suggests that one warhead, in particular, will be targeted by an unknown terrorist group, there’s only one man who can be trusted to oversee an operation to keep that from happening.
Legendary American assassin Mitch Rapp lands in Pakistan with just enough time to rendezvous with his team and gear up for the planned assault. Their goal is to neutralize anyone who makes a play for the nuke and secure the warhead themselves. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan.
Unbeknownst to Rapp and his team, one of the world’s elite assassins is working with the Islamic terrorists to set a trap for the famed CIA operative.
Grisha Azarov has spent his entire career hiding deep in Russia’s shadows for one reason, to stay off of Rapp’s radar until the time was right. Younger, faster, stronger, and better-looking than Mitch, Grisha has literally been molded into a lethal killer with unmatched ability. Seriously, this dude is like the Ivan Drago of contract killers, and he’s eager to finally test himself against Mitch.
Their showdown, however, is delayed when one of Rapp’s teammates, a face that longtime fans of the series will immediately recognize, accidentally finds himself where Mitch was supposed to be standing and promptly takes a lightning-fast beating at the hands of Grisha Azarov.
Apart from the fact that Rapp and Kennedy are stunned to learn that Grisha has never previously popped up on their radar, the second takeaway from the entire debacle is that his presence suggests that the Russians are involved. But why?
As Rapp and Kennedy use different means to find answers, they both confirm that the terror group in question is none other than ISIS. When a twist in the story causes further problems and little time to deal with them, Rapp does the most unthinkable and dangerous thing he’s ever attempted.
He goes undercover to infiltrate the Islamic State.
When Mitch Rapp enters the picture, bad guys stop breathing in bunches. And in Order To Kill, the body count has never been higher as Rapp leaves behind a bloody trail on his way to trying to stop a nuclear catastrophe–and his inevitable showdown with Grisha Azarov, which is now personal.
Unlike in the past, though, Rapp is shown to be human. He bleeds a lot, and for the first time ever, he may truly be in over his head. With the clock running and an attack that would undoubtedly have global implications looming, Mitch Rapp might have finally found himself in a fight he cannot win.
Written with the same nonstop action and nail-biting suspense that readers of Vince Flynn have come to expect, Kyle Mills proves once again that there’s no better writer on the planet to steer this franchise moving forward.
Longtime fans of the series can rest assured that Order To Kill doesn’t just meet the high standards set by Vince Flynn, it’s the best book in the series since Consent To Kill (2005).
Mitch Rapp is back, and he’s on his most dangerous mission yet.
WHY I LOVED IT
Mills has taken every step to ensure that his books are completely authentic to the characters and universe Flynn created and defined over the course of a brilliant career and fourteen bestselling novels.
While some fans will get caught up comparing Mills’ work to Flynn’s, my advice is to not even waste your time. Flynn, considered a legend by many, is one of the all-time greats. If he could be so easily replaced and his style replicated, then he wouldn’t have been as special of a talent as he was.
Instead, look at Mills as representing the second phase of the Mitch Rapp saga. While their style isn’t exactly the same (though Mills has done a terrific job adapting to the way Vince wrote and structured his books), the important stuff remains unchanged.
It’s sort of like a new director taking over a film franchise. The actors remain, but the creative vision is new and offers a fresh, exciting take on things. Such is the case here, and frankly, it’s a nice change of pace to the somewhat predictable format Flynn had just fallen into with his last few books.
That’s not a knock on Flynn, but rather an honest observation. Readers could easily predict where some of his books would end; it was all about Rapp’s journey getting to that point. It worked, obviously, but Mills has added in more suspense and twists along the way. Especially in this one!
Much like fans of Star Wars were feeling nostalgic watching The Force Awakens, fans of this series will have similar goose bumps and chills as Mills revisits a number of things from earlier books.
Little things like Mitch strapping on a fanny pack to carry his gun, or readers finally getting to see the house he was originally building for him and his wife, adds a compelling infusion of emotions to the steady stream of fireworks and hammer fists.
Oh, and the epic showdown between Rapp and Grisha is seriously one for the ages. A combination of the fight between Dwayne Johnson’s and Vin Diesel’s characters in Fast Five and Sherlock Holmes taking on Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the two assassins meet in a battle of brute force, precision, intellect, and battlefield instincts.
Taking you inside the minds of both men as it all goes down, it’s not only Kyle Mills’ best scene in the book, it’s quite possibly the best several pages of his entire writing career.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
Mitch Rapp is a character like no other, who stands king of the hill against the genre’s other series protagonists. There are only two types of readers–those who are fans of Mitch Rapp, and those who have yet to meet him.
Kyle Mills makes his presence felt, yet still manages to stay true to the characteristics and details that made Mitch Rapp a household name. A bona fide superstar, Order To Kill signals the completion of Kyle Mill’s ascent towards the very top of the thriller genre, where he now sits with Brad Thor and Daniel Silva.
BOOK DETAILS
Author: Kyle Mills
Pages: 374 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: October 11, 2016 (Order now!)
Fresh off the heels of last year’s The Survivor, which was praised both by fans and critics on its way to earning #1 triple crown status on the New York Times bestsellers list, Kyle Mills returns with his second contribution to the Mitch Rapp franchise that was originally created by the late Vince Flynn.
Unlike last year, when Mills was tasked with fitting a story around the three pages that Flynn had written before his passing (and which also happened to be a direct sequel to 2012’s The Last Man), he now had full creative range to craft his own story from start to finish, and the final product is nothing short of amazing.
Mills knows just what fans want out of a Mitch Rapp book, and he delivers in a big way.
Between his deep understanding of who the characters are and what makes them tick, and his ability to masterfully weave heart-pounding suspense with nonstop action, Kyle Mills does more than just pick up where Flynn left off, he’s elevated this franchise to another level entirely.
Everyone who claims to enjoy thrillers should read this book. In fact, I dare you to read this book. If you don’t absolutely love it, it’s time for you to try another genre.
THE STORY
Set just a few weeks after the events of The Survivor, the Central Intelligence Agency is still dealing with some fallout from what went down in Pakistan. With the Rickman files a thing of the past, a new problem revolves around President Chutani’s struggle to thwart an impending coup as one of his top generals continues to threaten his position of power.
With the situation already dicey and growing worse by the day, Chutani has taken extreme measures to protect his nation’s nuclear arsenal, ensuring that they don’t fall into enemy hands. To do that, though, the nuclear warheads are constantly being transported to and from various bunkers and bases around the country, leaving them vulnerable to an attack.
CIA Director Dr. Irene Kennedy, fully aware of the situation in Pakistan and the possible dangers that could unfold should one of those nukes go missing, has dispatched various teams to help run surveillance and babysit the warheads. But when solid intel suggests that one warhead, in particular, will be targeted by an unknown terrorist group, there’s only one man who can be trusted to oversee an operation to keep that from happening.
Legendary American assassin Mitch Rapp lands in Pakistan with just enough time to rendezvous with his team and gear up for the planned assault. Their goal is to neutralize anyone who makes a play for the nuke and secure the warhead themselves. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan.
Unbeknownst to Rapp and his team, one of the world’s elite assassins is working with the Islamic terrorists to set a trap for the famed CIA operative.
Grisha Azarov has spent his entire career hiding deep in Russia’s shadows for one reason, to stay off of Rapp’s radar until the time was right. Younger, faster, stronger, and better-looking than Mitch, Grisha has literally been molded into a lethal killer with unmatched ability. Seriously, this dude is like the Ivan Drago of contract killers, and he’s eager to finally test himself against Mitch.
Their showdown, however, is delayed when one of Rapp’s teammates, a face that longtime fans of the series will immediately recognize, accidentally finds himself where Mitch was supposed to be standing and promptly takes a lightning-fast beating at the hands of Grisha Azarov.
Apart from the fact that Rapp and Kennedy are stunned to learn that Grisha has never previously popped up on their radar, the second takeaway from the entire debacle is that his presence suggests that the Russians are involved. But why?
As Rapp and Kennedy use different means to find answers, they both confirm that the terror group in question is none other than ISIS. When a twist in the story causes further problems and little time to deal with them, Rapp does the most unthinkable and dangerous thing he’s ever attempted.
He goes undercover to infiltrate the Islamic State.
When Mitch Rapp enters the picture, bad guys stop breathing in bunches. And in Order To Kill, the body count has never been higher as Rapp leaves behind a bloody trail on his way to trying to stop a nuclear catastrophe–and his inevitable showdown with Grisha Azarov, which is now personal.
Unlike in the past, though, Rapp is shown to be human. He bleeds a lot, and for the first time ever, he may truly be in over his head. With the clock running and an attack that would undoubtedly have global implications looming, Mitch Rapp might have finally found himself in a fight he cannot win.
Written with the same nonstop action and nail-biting suspense that readers of Vince Flynn have come to expect, Kyle Mills proves once again that there’s no better writer on the planet to steer this franchise moving forward.
Longtime fans of the series can rest assured that Order To Kill doesn’t just meet the high standards set by Vince Flynn, it’s the best book in the series since Consent To Kill (2005).
Mitch Rapp is back, and he’s on his most dangerous mission yet.
WHY I LOVED IT
Mills has taken every step to ensure that his books are completely authentic to the characters and universe Flynn created and defined over the course of a brilliant career and fourteen bestselling novels.
While some fans will get caught up comparing Mills’ work to Flynn’s, my advice is to not even waste your time. Flynn, considered a legend by many, is one of the all-time greats. If he could be so easily replaced and his style replicated, then he wouldn’t have been as special of a talent as he was.
Instead, look at Mills as representing the second phase of the Mitch Rapp saga. While their style isn’t exactly the same (though Mills has done a terrific job adapting to the way Vince wrote and structured his books), the important stuff remains unchanged.
It’s sort of like a new director taking over a film franchise. The actors remain, but the creative vision is new and offers a fresh, exciting take on things. Such is the case here, and frankly, it’s a nice change of pace to the somewhat predictable format Flynn had just fallen into with his last few books.
That’s not a knock on Flynn, but rather an honest observation. Readers could easily predict where some of his books would end; it was all about Rapp’s journey getting to that point. It worked, obviously, but Mills has added in more suspense and twists along the way. Especially in this one!
Much like fans of Star Wars were feeling nostalgic watching The Force Awakens, fans of this series will have similar goose bumps and chills as Mills revisits a number of things from earlier books.
Little things like Mitch strapping on a fanny pack to carry his gun, or readers finally getting to see the house he was originally building for him and his wife, adds a compelling infusion of emotions to the steady stream of fireworks and hammer fists.
Oh, and the epic showdown between Rapp and Grisha is seriously one for the ages. A combination of the fight between Dwayne Johnson’s and Vin Diesel’s characters in Fast Five and Sherlock Holmes taking on Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the two assassins meet in a battle of brute force, precision, intellect, and battlefield instincts.
Taking you inside the minds of both men as it all goes down, it’s not only Kyle Mills’ best scene in the book, it’s quite possibly the best several pages of his entire writing career.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
Mitch Rapp is a character like no other, who stands king of the hill against the genre’s other series protagonists. There are only two types of readers–those who are fans of Mitch Rapp, and those who have yet to meet him.
Kyle Mills makes his presence felt, yet still manages to stay true to the characteristics and details that made Mitch Rapp a household name. A bona fide superstar, Order To Kill signals the completion of Kyle Mill’s ascent towards the very top of the thriller genre, where he now sits with Brad Thor and Daniel Silva.
BOOK DETAILS
Author: Kyle Mills
Pages: 374 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: October 11, 2016 (Order now!)
August 7, 2016
As a Mitch Rapp Ambassador, I’ve had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Order To Kill by Kyle Mills. Let me start of by saying that I was very skeptical of the character Vince Flynn created when Kyle took over writing duties. Even more so in October of 2014 when they released the first 3 pages or the first chapter. Mitch was outside with Stan Hurley smoking and drinking… I was thinking, is this Mitch Rapp? He’s not having to blend in inside a hostile environment, he’s perfectly safe with Dr. Irene Kennedy and Mike Nash inside the house talking about him. So as a “slightly obsessive fan” that I am, I decided to write Kyle Mills an email. I was cordial, but also firm in asking where are you going with this. Kyle Mills, being the awesome guy he is to all us longtime fans, replied back within a day. He told me that it was actually Vince Flynn that wrote those three pages and took the time to write me a brief description of where he thought Vince was going and which way he will take the character, in regards to following in the footsteps of Stan Hurley and then of course realizing he needs to make serious changes in his life in order to not end up on that same path. That right there sold me on Kyle as what type of person he is and I was very much looking forward to his efforts in the Mitch Rapp series.
I would describe The Survivor as Kyle Mills hitting a game winning home run in the bottom of the ninth. With Order To Kill, he hit a game winning grand slam at the world series. It’s THAT good.
Grisha Azarov is a formidable opponent unlike anyone Rapp has ever gone up against. He doesn’t come off as an arrogant prick with mental issues like Louis Gould who keeps on trying to become the best by attempting to take out the best. He is cool and collected, with only one significant drawback. He doesn’t have complete operational control. That is where the ruthless Russian President Maxim Krupin comes into play, attempting to control every aspect by not keeping everyone informed. Grisha tells us that the best play would be to go up against Rapp in Russia, where he has the advantage, but due to Krupin’s agenda and control issues, their plans to take out Mitch Rapp always fail.
Mitch Rapp is focusing on making those hard changes in his life we read about in The Survivor. The home his late wife Anna and he started to build is finally finished and he is inching slowly towards a romantic relationship with the most unexpected character. But one who I think is perfect for Mitch. Throughout majority of the book, Mitch is running around with more than a few bruises, black eyes, and an almost nonexistent nose. Who did this to Mitch is what you’re probably wondering, huh!? Well the answer may surprise you.
Besides Mitch, our favorite former Navy Seal, Scott Coleman is back and he has a run in with Grisha which makes for one hell of a read. Also, Dr. Irene Kennedy, Mike Nash and Joe Maslick aka Mas are all back to support our favorite counterterrorism expert do what he does best. Along with those well-known characters, Kyle Mill’s introduces us to a new, relatively minor character Craig Bailer. Craig was awesome, if not for anything else, his sense of humor.
My good friend Ryan The Rappologist has gone on record to say that this is the best Mitch Rapp book since Consent To Kill. Well I’m here to tell you that is he 100% right. This is one of the best, most thrilling Mitch Rapp books to date. To say that it’s a MUST READ would be an understatement. This is the type of book that will have you staying up late at night to finish it on your second and third time reading it. It’s just too difficult to put down.
I would describe The Survivor as Kyle Mills hitting a game winning home run in the bottom of the ninth. With Order To Kill, he hit a game winning grand slam at the world series. It’s THAT good.
Grisha Azarov is a formidable opponent unlike anyone Rapp has ever gone up against. He doesn’t come off as an arrogant prick with mental issues like Louis Gould who keeps on trying to become the best by attempting to take out the best. He is cool and collected, with only one significant drawback. He doesn’t have complete operational control. That is where the ruthless Russian President Maxim Krupin comes into play, attempting to control every aspect by not keeping everyone informed. Grisha tells us that the best play would be to go up against Rapp in Russia, where he has the advantage, but due to Krupin’s agenda and control issues, their plans to take out Mitch Rapp always fail.
Mitch Rapp is focusing on making those hard changes in his life we read about in The Survivor. The home his late wife Anna and he started to build is finally finished and he is inching slowly towards a romantic relationship with the most unexpected character. But one who I think is perfect for Mitch. Throughout majority of the book, Mitch is running around with more than a few bruises, black eyes, and an almost nonexistent nose. Who did this to Mitch is what you’re probably wondering, huh!? Well the answer may surprise you.
Besides Mitch, our favorite former Navy Seal, Scott Coleman is back and he has a run in with Grisha which makes for one hell of a read. Also, Dr. Irene Kennedy, Mike Nash and Joe Maslick aka Mas are all back to support our favorite counterterrorism expert do what he does best. Along with those well-known characters, Kyle Mill’s introduces us to a new, relatively minor character Craig Bailer. Craig was awesome, if not for anything else, his sense of humor.
My good friend Ryan The Rappologist has gone on record to say that this is the best Mitch Rapp book since Consent To Kill. Well I’m here to tell you that is he 100% right. This is one of the best, most thrilling Mitch Rapp books to date. To say that it’s a MUST READ would be an understatement. This is the type of book that will have you staying up late at night to finish it on your second and third time reading it. It’s just too difficult to put down.
October 16, 2017
I liked this Mitch Rapp book better than the first one written by Kyle Mills, The Survivor, which I rated 3.5 stars. Mitch is working in Islamabad to try to thwart extremists as the government and Army are playing hide and seek with its nuclear arsenal. Mitch jets off to South Africa to save his close friend Claudia and her daughter, after being tipped by an unlikely source. Meanwhile, Russian president Krupin is under enormous pressure to restore his country's presence on the world stage and launches an audacious plan, with his personal assassin Grisha Azarov in charge. He is a formidable opponent for Rapp, getting the drop on Rapp's main support, Scott Coleman, with his physical prowess enhanced by PEDs. I am disappointed that Mills dropped this physical advantage of Azarov when the two go head-to-head in an abandoned oil refinery. Good plot and pacing.
December 2, 2016
Kyle Mills continues the travels of Mitch Rapp with aplomb
The author has taken full control of Mitch Rapp and I am happy to say that Vince himself would love the result! From the opening to the scene where Rapp's cohort Scott Coleman is severely injured we continue to grow and learn with our hero. New bad guys are introduced as Rapp learns that Pakistan's nuclear warheads are being constantly moved,with ISIS involved but there seems to be another person making the deals. As Rapp heads to find what is happening we meet again Irene Kennedy,CIA director, and others who have been to battle with Rapp before. The story is fast paced,but had to take my time reading to make sure I missed nothing! There is one man who seems to be equal to Rapp in athleticism,and the story following their paths is very interesting. I can't wait for the next book!!
The author has taken full control of Mitch Rapp and I am happy to say that Vince himself would love the result! From the opening to the scene where Rapp's cohort Scott Coleman is severely injured we continue to grow and learn with our hero. New bad guys are introduced as Rapp learns that Pakistan's nuclear warheads are being constantly moved,with ISIS involved but there seems to be another person making the deals. As Rapp heads to find what is happening we meet again Irene Kennedy,CIA director, and others who have been to battle with Rapp before. The story is fast paced,but had to take my time reading to make sure I missed nothing! There is one man who seems to be equal to Rapp in athleticism,and the story following their paths is very interesting. I can't wait for the next book!!
November 27, 2016
A better effort than "Survivor," and more in line with the late Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp voice. 8 of 10 stars
April 10, 2017
KILL ORDERS
“Is killing a known terrorist wrong? I ask this, did the terrorist allow any of his victim’s quarter? No, then allow him no quarter, and hoist the black flag.”- TR Wallace.
“The flames are silent, Peace is violent, Tears are frozen ’cause massacre was chosen”. - Ankita Singhal.
“These idiots will eventually wake up to the threat, but by then it might be too late.”- Stan Hurley.
State sponsored terrorism is a tactic as old as the concept of political violence itself. Whether you’re a filthy rich Sunni fanatic or a respectable nation state that wants to keep its hands squeaky clean, sweet talking some nihilistic militant into terrorizing your enemies through bloody mayhem has proven a popular cost effective method to wage global covert war in a cost-effective fashion. One country which historically found this tactic useful was Russia.
Long before Pakistan and Iran gained infamy for the horde of fanatics they used to flood their neighbours with with, what was then the USSR was attempting to shatter the foundation of democracy with world revolution. Helping train militant groups and handing out Kalashnikovs like they were going out of style, the KGB and GRU were, until the rise of Iran, the biggest state sponsor of terrorism on the globe. While times have changed, the KGB chopped into the SVR and FSB and the new objective to hunt terrorist like the Chechens, Russia is a country ruled by former intelligence officers who have never forgotten the tricks of the trade that served them well during the cold war.
What if Russia got back into the terrorism business? That’s the plot concept which “Order to Kill”, the 15th Mitch Rapp novel and 2nd continuation novel by Kyle Mills revolves around. With the great loss of Vince Flynn, the man who singlehandedly shaped Post 9/11 American spy fiction with his counter – terrorism thrillers, Mills was handed a great and terrible privilege, of keeping the original American Assassin alive, even with his creator dead. Millions of fans around the world were watching as the 14th novel, “The Survivor”, was released. Many breathed a sigh of relief and then some. Serving as a perfectly executed metaphorical closure to the original era of the Mitch Rapp series, the book, while staying faithful to Mitch Rapp’s character delightfully deconstructed many of the elements that have been taken for granted for too long by readers, thus making the story far more, dynamic, unpredictable and putting Mills stamp on the series, while at the same time, respecting Flynn’s original vision. A NYT No. 1 bestseller spot was achieved and soon, the sequel was green lit. Order to Kill is that sequel, and the second stage of the evolution in the world of Mitch Rapp. Once, Rapp, exclusively killed Islamist terrorists and the occasional meddlesome politician. But in this book, Mills puts him up against a powerful totalitarian nation that seeks to sponsor an act of terrorism that would save it from total annihilation. Now to the review. What happens when the world’s top government assassin meets his opposite number?
We start the review somewhere in Siberia. We are introduced to Grisha Azarov, trouble shooter for the Russian President Maxim Krupin. He’s been sent by his master to murder an annoying Oligarch who has seen the wretched, depraved reality of Russian and been talking to Krupin’s enemies abroad. Entering the man’s property, Krupin and the oligarch have a blunt, honest conversation. At the end, Azarov is led out, and proceeds to kill the oligarch’s bodyguards, return to the man’s office and execute him with a bullet to the brain. We then cut to Mitch Rapp, who is down in a continent we’ve never seen him operate in. Africa. He’s in Fransschhoek, and hurrying towards the residence of Claudia Gould, the wife of the Frenchman who murdered Anna Rapp. Having set up Claudia and her daughter with a comfortable new life away from the cruel games of spies and killers that she once inhabited, Rapp has gotten wind that a hit has been put out on the Gould’s and desires to begin mailing bits and pieces of the kill team to their employer once he gets his hands on them. Too late to stop the bulk of the team breaching the security of the Gould’s home, Rapp manages to get one of the contract killers, an American on side and wipes out nearly all of the hit – squad, save the onsite commander, a terrified Russian Mafia criminal.
Attempts to interrogate him fail due to one of the hitters, an wounded Islamist militant letting off a final burst with his Kalashnikov and hitting his handler in the fusillade. Back in Moscow, Azarov meets with Krupin who discuss the failure of the South African trap they tried to spring on the American Assassin, the only man who can stop a foreign policy initiative that Krupin is desperate to see succeed for his own survival. Keeping his plan compartmentalized, all Grisha knows is that he, and a group of ISIS fanatics are to head to Pakistan and steal a portion of its nuclear arsenal. With the country in chaos and the Chief of The Army making menacing moves to usurp the moderate, corrupt government, the heist should be a piece of cake. Rapp however also gets wind of the heist and after ensuring the safety of the Gould’s, heads down to Faisalbad to try stop something that would cause all hell to break loose in South Asia. Meeting with his partner in crime Scott Coleman and several of the man’s mercenaries, Rapp proceeds to mount an attack on an industrial manufacturing plant which is being used to offload the nuke that’s about to be moved out of the country. Azarov proceeds to spring another trap, hoping to get a lucky shot off in the chaos of Rapp shooting his way through ISIS fanatics. Alas, Rapp manages to dodge several bullets and make off with the nuclear warhead via helicopter, but not before Azarov proceeds to bushwhack Coleman and leave him comatose. It’s this action which sets Rapp off on one of the strangest and most complex assignments he’s undertaken, one that takes him from one of the final CIA black sites in Pakistan, to the corpse strewn deserts of Iraq and a medium sized war across the Saudi Arabian Gawar oil field. Older, wiser and stalked by the first true equal he’s gone up against, only one question remains. Who will be left alive to carry out their Order to Kill?
In terms of plot Order to Kill is full blown fun and games. After a book which systematically tore apart Rapp by putting him up against the most competent, dangerous adversary of his career who pushed Iron Man to breaking point, Mills has decided to sharpen the blunt instrument of American foreign policy and get him back on top form. Here, in the 15th novel, Rapp is at the height of his powers. There’s no meddlesome politicians at the rear trying to stab him in the back, and while the circumstances of the mission are something he’s never really had any experience with, namely doing intelligence gathering and undercover work, he manages to adapt to the knife edge circumstances that he finds himself in and flourish. The story itself is a fine reflection of how dangerous the Post 9/11 world has gotten since Flynn died. The Mills era reflects this. The villains in the Rapp universe are far more dangerous than in the past, the plots are more terrifying and some of the certainties of the old days, like Mitch getting the political protection in the past are no longer guaranteed. The result is what could be considered a splendid, evolution in the series, one that while staying true to the heart of Flynn’s vision, also allows it to develop and grow in a new, interesting direction.
Action and setting, quite possibly the best in the series. While not able to quite match the down to earth realism of Flynn, Mills shines by taking a different approach. Large scale violence, which reflects the far greater danger Rapp faces in this new era. This large scale, combined with Mills superior utilization of the backdrops Rapp finds himself in is one of the highlights of the book. From the chaotic, explosive nuclear heist in Pakistan where Rapp dodges bullets in a three-way cross – fire, to a ballet of stealthy violence in an ISIS sex slave dungeon, and finishing with a pitched gun battle across the sandy ocean of the world’s largest oilfield, the most famous post 9/11 government hitman, travels into some very unexpected and surprising places during the course of the story. One of Mills welcome strengths, is that he utilizes the backdrops of his novels to great effect, and Order to Kill is no exception. Whether it be stalking a sniper through some of the most beautiful countryside in South Africa, or feeling the fear and fanaticism in a Daesh sex slave auction, the immersive factor of the Rapp books in the Mills era has risen significantly. You feel you’re alongside Rapp as he goes about dealing justice in the form of 9mm hollow points from his Glock 19, and nothing can be better than seeing the blunt instrument of American foreign policy prove he’s not done yet despite the towering odds against him.
Research? Outstanding and significantly improved over the previous book. In Order To Kill, Mills manages to reach proper Vince Flynn levels of real world detail that would impress the most fanatical fans of the master himself. Whether it be a crash source on the place where half the world’s oil comes from, battlefield and firearms tactics, and tradecraft, Mills has found his groove with the second Rapp continuation novel. He even gives us a very chilling insight into the Pakistani Nuclear program’s security measures and what separates us from being immolated by a stolen nuke from the Harvey Dent of South Asia. One highlight that I found particularly impressive was the dead-on analysis of contemporary Russia. Mills portrays an insecure, crumbling nation that while scary and dangerous, is ultimately weak and rotting on the inside. While manipulating and conning millions of westerners by supposedly kicking Islamist arse and standing up for the that laughable buzzword, “traditional values”, make no mistake, Russia is a full blown autocratic state that possesses an impressive paramilitary capability and the willingness to use in in destroying anyone who turns against them in a petty fashion and seeks to cause chaos and succeed where the USSR failed by destroying the very concept of Democracy itself. Mills also captures the economic issues that will rip the country to shreds in real life, and how such factors like runaway inflation and incinerated financial reserves could turn the ruling elite against the big man at the top.
Characters? Very good stuff. For berevity’s sake, I’ll focus on three. Rapp, Grisha and Irene. First, Mitch. Now, I’ve noticed many readers have had, what could charitably be called complaints. These complaints can be divided into two camps. Some have accused Mills of turning Rapp into a superhuman who is invulnerable. Others have claimed that Mitch has gone soft. I would like to rebut those claims here. Firstly, to those who haven’t been paying attention for the first 13 books, Rapp has always been super human. He’s a wish fulfilment character at heart, the idealized version of what we want to see in the real-life soldiers who fight the counter – terrorism battle across the world. It helps that he’s a practical fellow who uses the element of surprise to kill his enemies and prevent them responding, but until The Survivor and Order To Kill, Rapp has been the apex predator, at the top of the food chain. One lone man, free from any political interference, given superb training and enough firepower to destroy the Islamofacists of the world half a dozen times over. Mills understands that vision Flynn had and takes it to new heights. This is Rapp at the height of his powers, with no domestic enemies trying to ruin him, the master assassin gets to do what he does best, which leads me neatly onto my second point. Has Mitch gone soft? I can categorically say no, he has not. Sure, he’s not swearing as much, nor is he angrily yelling like he was back in the original Flynn era. But this is because of the aftermath of book 14, where he suffered a mid – life crisis, was forced to take stock of his life and decide to make a few changes to save his sanity and soul. Mills Rapp is someone who has mellowed out and become wiser, more mature, more cunning and perhaps even more dangerous than he used to be. No longer is he an unguided bazooka. Now, he’s a proverbial laser guided hellfire missile. Two examples of this newfound cunning can be seen in Order To Kill. In the first instance, with nothing but a knife, and a few well-placed stabs, he causes a riot in an ISIS sex slave holding prison, sowing chaos and discord. In the second instance, he shoves a powerful Saudi Arabian official to his death from a speeding helicopter. Now you try telling me with a straight face that Rapp has gone soft.
Next, we have Grisha Azarov, the Mitch Rapp killer. Introduced as the secret foil to Iron Man that the Russians have developed specifically to destroy America’s tip of the spear, Grisha is a fascinating character and one who averts many stereotypes and tropes inherent with the cold-hearted Slavic gunman. A mix of polite professionalism, youthful ego and a titanic level of malicious jealousy thrown into the mix, Grisha wants to make his mark on the world and prove himself to be the best, after coming from some wretched origins as a nobody in the USSR 2.0. He’s not insane, nor is he sociopathic, approaching things with a logical, pragmatic perspective unlike his paranoid petty boss, the Russian president. He also is a man who wants to build a life for himself and break free from the chains the Russian oligarchy has shackled him with. Unfortunately for Mitch Rapp, Grisha’s ego has warped him into a prideful, envious man who won’t stop until the espionage demigod is at death’s door from acute lead poisoning.
Finally, we have Irene Kennedy. While she has a little less to do than the frantic events of The Survivor where she was faced with the near destruction of her career, I’d like to mention Irene in the context of the evolution of the Rapp series. In the wake of “The Survivor”, the old certainties in her world, namely that she would be able to protect Mitch from the legion of busybodies in Capitol Hill who would burn her top man at the stake given half the chance, are no longer certain. Despite surviving The Survivor and patching up the massive hole that General Taj put in her political firewall, she knows that there’s not a lot of time left and the future needs to be prepared for. Whether it be coming to appreciate Mike Nance and deciding to groom him as the next DCI, or understanding that the relationship she has with the President has gradually cooled and lost the reverential air it once possessed in the past, the metaphorical den mother of the Rapp saga understands the world is changing and being the sharpest tool in the shed, knows to prepare for the day the storm comes. She even has a standout moment where for the first time in more than a decade, she manages to get Rapp under control, away from the office and back towards his house, in one of the funniest chapters of the book.
Constructive criticism? Well, maybe one. Firstly, in one of the chapters, Azarov is training with two custom built automatics. Unfortunately, he’s using guns akimbo. While Russians criminals have been known to use what is known as “Macedonian shooting”, particularly the legendary killer Alexander Solonik, dual wielding is a very melodramatic gesture, out of place in the Rapp series and something that Vince would have never been caught including. Furthermore, as Grisha demonstrates during his story arc, such a gesture was not necessary in displaying his competence and skill as a murderer. Thankfully, Azarov uses only one gun in his climactic confrontation with Rapp like any true professional would. Apart from that, Order To Kill was very good.
Overall, my verdict is this. Kyle Mills continues to take Mitch Rapp into new and exciting directions in the chaotic second decade of the post 9/11 era. Boasting the grandest plot of the Rapp saga, a cast of old hands and new stars who are beginning new journeys and fighting new battles in a war that’s changed beyond all recognition, an impressive level of real world detail and authenticity that has made the Rapp series renowned, and some serious impressive action scenes, Order To Kill is a novel that takes a series that has defined espionage fiction for more than 10 years to the next level. One of Vince Flynn’s peers, said that “the war on terror has changed”. And a series that was born at the very start of a conflict which has defined the current state of the world, needs to change with the times, and Mr Mills has provided that change. With the recent announcement of “Enemy Of The State”, where Mitch Rapp shall resign from the CIA to execute the biggest string of assassinations he’s undertaken in his career, expect to see the original American Assassin in some of the darkest places we never expected he’d be. And I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
RECOMMENDED.
“Is killing a known terrorist wrong? I ask this, did the terrorist allow any of his victim’s quarter? No, then allow him no quarter, and hoist the black flag.”- TR Wallace.
“The flames are silent, Peace is violent, Tears are frozen ’cause massacre was chosen”. - Ankita Singhal.
“These idiots will eventually wake up to the threat, but by then it might be too late.”- Stan Hurley.
State sponsored terrorism is a tactic as old as the concept of political violence itself. Whether you’re a filthy rich Sunni fanatic or a respectable nation state that wants to keep its hands squeaky clean, sweet talking some nihilistic militant into terrorizing your enemies through bloody mayhem has proven a popular cost effective method to wage global covert war in a cost-effective fashion. One country which historically found this tactic useful was Russia.
Long before Pakistan and Iran gained infamy for the horde of fanatics they used to flood their neighbours with with, what was then the USSR was attempting to shatter the foundation of democracy with world revolution. Helping train militant groups and handing out Kalashnikovs like they were going out of style, the KGB and GRU were, until the rise of Iran, the biggest state sponsor of terrorism on the globe. While times have changed, the KGB chopped into the SVR and FSB and the new objective to hunt terrorist like the Chechens, Russia is a country ruled by former intelligence officers who have never forgotten the tricks of the trade that served them well during the cold war.
What if Russia got back into the terrorism business? That’s the plot concept which “Order to Kill”, the 15th Mitch Rapp novel and 2nd continuation novel by Kyle Mills revolves around. With the great loss of Vince Flynn, the man who singlehandedly shaped Post 9/11 American spy fiction with his counter – terrorism thrillers, Mills was handed a great and terrible privilege, of keeping the original American Assassin alive, even with his creator dead. Millions of fans around the world were watching as the 14th novel, “The Survivor”, was released. Many breathed a sigh of relief and then some. Serving as a perfectly executed metaphorical closure to the original era of the Mitch Rapp series, the book, while staying faithful to Mitch Rapp’s character delightfully deconstructed many of the elements that have been taken for granted for too long by readers, thus making the story far more, dynamic, unpredictable and putting Mills stamp on the series, while at the same time, respecting Flynn’s original vision. A NYT No. 1 bestseller spot was achieved and soon, the sequel was green lit. Order to Kill is that sequel, and the second stage of the evolution in the world of Mitch Rapp. Once, Rapp, exclusively killed Islamist terrorists and the occasional meddlesome politician. But in this book, Mills puts him up against a powerful totalitarian nation that seeks to sponsor an act of terrorism that would save it from total annihilation. Now to the review. What happens when the world’s top government assassin meets his opposite number?
We start the review somewhere in Siberia. We are introduced to Grisha Azarov, trouble shooter for the Russian President Maxim Krupin. He’s been sent by his master to murder an annoying Oligarch who has seen the wretched, depraved reality of Russian and been talking to Krupin’s enemies abroad. Entering the man’s property, Krupin and the oligarch have a blunt, honest conversation. At the end, Azarov is led out, and proceeds to kill the oligarch’s bodyguards, return to the man’s office and execute him with a bullet to the brain. We then cut to Mitch Rapp, who is down in a continent we’ve never seen him operate in. Africa. He’s in Fransschhoek, and hurrying towards the residence of Claudia Gould, the wife of the Frenchman who murdered Anna Rapp. Having set up Claudia and her daughter with a comfortable new life away from the cruel games of spies and killers that she once inhabited, Rapp has gotten wind that a hit has been put out on the Gould’s and desires to begin mailing bits and pieces of the kill team to their employer once he gets his hands on them. Too late to stop the bulk of the team breaching the security of the Gould’s home, Rapp manages to get one of the contract killers, an American on side and wipes out nearly all of the hit – squad, save the onsite commander, a terrified Russian Mafia criminal.
Attempts to interrogate him fail due to one of the hitters, an wounded Islamist militant letting off a final burst with his Kalashnikov and hitting his handler in the fusillade. Back in Moscow, Azarov meets with Krupin who discuss the failure of the South African trap they tried to spring on the American Assassin, the only man who can stop a foreign policy initiative that Krupin is desperate to see succeed for his own survival. Keeping his plan compartmentalized, all Grisha knows is that he, and a group of ISIS fanatics are to head to Pakistan and steal a portion of its nuclear arsenal. With the country in chaos and the Chief of The Army making menacing moves to usurp the moderate, corrupt government, the heist should be a piece of cake. Rapp however also gets wind of the heist and after ensuring the safety of the Gould’s, heads down to Faisalbad to try stop something that would cause all hell to break loose in South Asia. Meeting with his partner in crime Scott Coleman and several of the man’s mercenaries, Rapp proceeds to mount an attack on an industrial manufacturing plant which is being used to offload the nuke that’s about to be moved out of the country. Azarov proceeds to spring another trap, hoping to get a lucky shot off in the chaos of Rapp shooting his way through ISIS fanatics. Alas, Rapp manages to dodge several bullets and make off with the nuclear warhead via helicopter, but not before Azarov proceeds to bushwhack Coleman and leave him comatose. It’s this action which sets Rapp off on one of the strangest and most complex assignments he’s undertaken, one that takes him from one of the final CIA black sites in Pakistan, to the corpse strewn deserts of Iraq and a medium sized war across the Saudi Arabian Gawar oil field. Older, wiser and stalked by the first true equal he’s gone up against, only one question remains. Who will be left alive to carry out their Order to Kill?
In terms of plot Order to Kill is full blown fun and games. After a book which systematically tore apart Rapp by putting him up against the most competent, dangerous adversary of his career who pushed Iron Man to breaking point, Mills has decided to sharpen the blunt instrument of American foreign policy and get him back on top form. Here, in the 15th novel, Rapp is at the height of his powers. There’s no meddlesome politicians at the rear trying to stab him in the back, and while the circumstances of the mission are something he’s never really had any experience with, namely doing intelligence gathering and undercover work, he manages to adapt to the knife edge circumstances that he finds himself in and flourish. The story itself is a fine reflection of how dangerous the Post 9/11 world has gotten since Flynn died. The Mills era reflects this. The villains in the Rapp universe are far more dangerous than in the past, the plots are more terrifying and some of the certainties of the old days, like Mitch getting the political protection in the past are no longer guaranteed. The result is what could be considered a splendid, evolution in the series, one that while staying true to the heart of Flynn’s vision, also allows it to develop and grow in a new, interesting direction.
Action and setting, quite possibly the best in the series. While not able to quite match the down to earth realism of Flynn, Mills shines by taking a different approach. Large scale violence, which reflects the far greater danger Rapp faces in this new era. This large scale, combined with Mills superior utilization of the backdrops Rapp finds himself in is one of the highlights of the book. From the chaotic, explosive nuclear heist in Pakistan where Rapp dodges bullets in a three-way cross – fire, to a ballet of stealthy violence in an ISIS sex slave dungeon, and finishing with a pitched gun battle across the sandy ocean of the world’s largest oilfield, the most famous post 9/11 government hitman, travels into some very unexpected and surprising places during the course of the story. One of Mills welcome strengths, is that he utilizes the backdrops of his novels to great effect, and Order to Kill is no exception. Whether it be stalking a sniper through some of the most beautiful countryside in South Africa, or feeling the fear and fanaticism in a Daesh sex slave auction, the immersive factor of the Rapp books in the Mills era has risen significantly. You feel you’re alongside Rapp as he goes about dealing justice in the form of 9mm hollow points from his Glock 19, and nothing can be better than seeing the blunt instrument of American foreign policy prove he’s not done yet despite the towering odds against him.
Research? Outstanding and significantly improved over the previous book. In Order To Kill, Mills manages to reach proper Vince Flynn levels of real world detail that would impress the most fanatical fans of the master himself. Whether it be a crash source on the place where half the world’s oil comes from, battlefield and firearms tactics, and tradecraft, Mills has found his groove with the second Rapp continuation novel. He even gives us a very chilling insight into the Pakistani Nuclear program’s security measures and what separates us from being immolated by a stolen nuke from the Harvey Dent of South Asia. One highlight that I found particularly impressive was the dead-on analysis of contemporary Russia. Mills portrays an insecure, crumbling nation that while scary and dangerous, is ultimately weak and rotting on the inside. While manipulating and conning millions of westerners by supposedly kicking Islamist arse and standing up for the that laughable buzzword, “traditional values”, make no mistake, Russia is a full blown autocratic state that possesses an impressive paramilitary capability and the willingness to use in in destroying anyone who turns against them in a petty fashion and seeks to cause chaos and succeed where the USSR failed by destroying the very concept of Democracy itself. Mills also captures the economic issues that will rip the country to shreds in real life, and how such factors like runaway inflation and incinerated financial reserves could turn the ruling elite against the big man at the top.
Characters? Very good stuff. For berevity’s sake, I’ll focus on three. Rapp, Grisha and Irene. First, Mitch. Now, I’ve noticed many readers have had, what could charitably be called complaints. These complaints can be divided into two camps. Some have accused Mills of turning Rapp into a superhuman who is invulnerable. Others have claimed that Mitch has gone soft. I would like to rebut those claims here. Firstly, to those who haven’t been paying attention for the first 13 books, Rapp has always been super human. He’s a wish fulfilment character at heart, the idealized version of what we want to see in the real-life soldiers who fight the counter – terrorism battle across the world. It helps that he’s a practical fellow who uses the element of surprise to kill his enemies and prevent them responding, but until The Survivor and Order To Kill, Rapp has been the apex predator, at the top of the food chain. One lone man, free from any political interference, given superb training and enough firepower to destroy the Islamofacists of the world half a dozen times over. Mills understands that vision Flynn had and takes it to new heights. This is Rapp at the height of his powers, with no domestic enemies trying to ruin him, the master assassin gets to do what he does best, which leads me neatly onto my second point. Has Mitch gone soft? I can categorically say no, he has not. Sure, he’s not swearing as much, nor is he angrily yelling like he was back in the original Flynn era. But this is because of the aftermath of book 14, where he suffered a mid – life crisis, was forced to take stock of his life and decide to make a few changes to save his sanity and soul. Mills Rapp is someone who has mellowed out and become wiser, more mature, more cunning and perhaps even more dangerous than he used to be. No longer is he an unguided bazooka. Now, he’s a proverbial laser guided hellfire missile. Two examples of this newfound cunning can be seen in Order To Kill. In the first instance, with nothing but a knife, and a few well-placed stabs, he causes a riot in an ISIS sex slave holding prison, sowing chaos and discord. In the second instance, he shoves a powerful Saudi Arabian official to his death from a speeding helicopter. Now you try telling me with a straight face that Rapp has gone soft.
Next, we have Grisha Azarov, the Mitch Rapp killer. Introduced as the secret foil to Iron Man that the Russians have developed specifically to destroy America’s tip of the spear, Grisha is a fascinating character and one who averts many stereotypes and tropes inherent with the cold-hearted Slavic gunman. A mix of polite professionalism, youthful ego and a titanic level of malicious jealousy thrown into the mix, Grisha wants to make his mark on the world and prove himself to be the best, after coming from some wretched origins as a nobody in the USSR 2.0. He’s not insane, nor is he sociopathic, approaching things with a logical, pragmatic perspective unlike his paranoid petty boss, the Russian president. He also is a man who wants to build a life for himself and break free from the chains the Russian oligarchy has shackled him with. Unfortunately for Mitch Rapp, Grisha’s ego has warped him into a prideful, envious man who won’t stop until the espionage demigod is at death’s door from acute lead poisoning.
Finally, we have Irene Kennedy. While she has a little less to do than the frantic events of The Survivor where she was faced with the near destruction of her career, I’d like to mention Irene in the context of the evolution of the Rapp series. In the wake of “The Survivor”, the old certainties in her world, namely that she would be able to protect Mitch from the legion of busybodies in Capitol Hill who would burn her top man at the stake given half the chance, are no longer certain. Despite surviving The Survivor and patching up the massive hole that General Taj put in her political firewall, she knows that there’s not a lot of time left and the future needs to be prepared for. Whether it be coming to appreciate Mike Nance and deciding to groom him as the next DCI, or understanding that the relationship she has with the President has gradually cooled and lost the reverential air it once possessed in the past, the metaphorical den mother of the Rapp saga understands the world is changing and being the sharpest tool in the shed, knows to prepare for the day the storm comes. She even has a standout moment where for the first time in more than a decade, she manages to get Rapp under control, away from the office and back towards his house, in one of the funniest chapters of the book.
Constructive criticism? Well, maybe one. Firstly, in one of the chapters, Azarov is training with two custom built automatics. Unfortunately, he’s using guns akimbo. While Russians criminals have been known to use what is known as “Macedonian shooting”, particularly the legendary killer Alexander Solonik, dual wielding is a very melodramatic gesture, out of place in the Rapp series and something that Vince would have never been caught including. Furthermore, as Grisha demonstrates during his story arc, such a gesture was not necessary in displaying his competence and skill as a murderer. Thankfully, Azarov uses only one gun in his climactic confrontation with Rapp like any true professional would. Apart from that, Order To Kill was very good.
Overall, my verdict is this. Kyle Mills continues to take Mitch Rapp into new and exciting directions in the chaotic second decade of the post 9/11 era. Boasting the grandest plot of the Rapp saga, a cast of old hands and new stars who are beginning new journeys and fighting new battles in a war that’s changed beyond all recognition, an impressive level of real world detail and authenticity that has made the Rapp series renowned, and some serious impressive action scenes, Order To Kill is a novel that takes a series that has defined espionage fiction for more than 10 years to the next level. One of Vince Flynn’s peers, said that “the war on terror has changed”. And a series that was born at the very start of a conflict which has defined the current state of the world, needs to change with the times, and Mr Mills has provided that change. With the recent announcement of “Enemy Of The State”, where Mitch Rapp shall resign from the CIA to execute the biggest string of assassinations he’s undertaken in his career, expect to see the original American Assassin in some of the darkest places we never expected he’d be. And I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
RECOMMENDED.
March 20, 2017
Mitch Rapp is in great hands with Kyle Mills! This is the second novel after the death of Vince Flynn and both have been 5 stars IMHO. Action from start to finish!
November 8, 2023
I loved this book! I saw it as a prequel to Red War, my favourite book.
November 1, 2025
I must admit, the more I read this series, the more I like it. In this iteration, Mitch takes on a Russian asset who nearly outdoes his skill set. Spoiler alert: Mitch wins; he always wins. The plot revolves around some stolen nuclear fissile material that has gone missing. Mitch and his team are tasked with locating and securing said material. Overall a very compelling story and quite a page turner.
September 30, 2016
Following the tragic news of Vince Flynn’s passing, fans were dismayed over the future of the world-renowned CIA operative, Mitch Rapp’s, future. A character whom Vince had brought to life in such a dramatic way that you could immerse yourself in his dark world and feel like you were living it. After a few year’s hiatus, Kyler Mills took the reins and did an admirable job with The Survivor. There was high praise, of which some was mine, but he also had the unenviable position of filling big shoes, much like the up and coming football coach that replaces a retiring legend. Kyler stepped up his game in, “Order to Kill.” From the unexpected opening to a gut-wrenching scene with Rapp’s cohort, Scott Coleman, the action is non-stop and riveting.
Rapp is getting up in years, and while his experience is unparalleled in his line of work, time marches on for all man physically. Feared the world over, Rapp’s newest rival will be his biggest challenge yet. While the storyline is both plausible and awesome, what I enjoyed most about the book was the frank dialogue between the key players and Rapp’s flippant remarks to everyone he encounters. My sudden outbursts of laughter were experience by everyone within earshot. “Order to Kill” is another masterpiece to be added to the Vince Flynn collection.
Rapp is getting up in years, and while his experience is unparalleled in his line of work, time marches on for all man physically. Feared the world over, Rapp’s newest rival will be his biggest challenge yet. While the storyline is both plausible and awesome, what I enjoyed most about the book was the frank dialogue between the key players and Rapp’s flippant remarks to everyone he encounters. My sudden outbursts of laughter were experience by everyone within earshot. “Order to Kill” is another masterpiece to be added to the Vince Flynn collection.
July 10, 2021
Honestly released to see the series is in good hands. This is the second book by Mills and it's as good as Flynn. Mr. Flynn will be missed, and he will never be forgotten, but his characters live on.
September 22, 2022
Pretty good story even though not written by Vince Flynn. ISIS attempts to detonate 5 dirty bombs as part of Russian leader Krupin's (Putin?) plan to destabilize the oil industry to benefit Mother Russia. Mitch Rapp must go head to head with Russian super agent Grisha Azarov. Can he survive? Who will win?
August 13, 2016
Full disclosure, I received this book as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador from the publisher. I received my copy two weeks ago in the mail, and was disappointed it took me two weeks to read due to a crazy work schedule. Now that I am through with it, I can say that I loved this book. I liked The Survivor, but it was a notch below the rest of the series. The same can not be said for Order to Kill. Mills hits a home run with his second attempt on carrying on Vince Flynn legacy.
Mills really crafted a fast paced action packed story. The story revolves around Mitch trying to keep Pakistan's nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of ISIS. Which leads Mitch to going under cover. As he digs deeper, it eventually becomes clear that Russia is behind the play. Mills' creation of Rapp's main adversary is nothing sort of sheer genius. Grisha Azarov is the Russian Mitch Rapp from twenty years ago on steroids!!! Mills uses a lot of switching between chapters of the two adversaries that cause me to read an extra chapter or two every sitting because I wanted to find out what was happening. He filled the story with action, and also brought in some nice twists and turns that had us worrying about the safety of at least one long time character in the series.
I also really enjoyed how Mills brought out another side of Rapp. He becomes more human and caring about a lot of things. That is not to say he has gone soft, a certain helicopter scene in the book comes to mind, but it just makes him more of a complete character. As I mentioned in my review of The Survivor, Mills started to move Mitch on past some of his losses over the years to a better life and future. This trend continues in Order to Kill. I think it is a good move, and keeps Mitch in the Hero realm while still keeping his win at all cost edge.
The action in this book was nonstop. From Rapp racing around towns with a motorcycle to a helicopter flight in a sandstorm. Mills does not disappoint. There is not a lot of down time in this book, so if you like action this is a must read.
Overall, I can't say enough good things about this book. It is a five rating all the way, and is on par with any of the Flynn written books in the series. I would recommend this book to everyone, unless you don't like violence. I am sure this book will be a huge hit. The only downside to getting an advanced copy, is now I have a longer wait until the next book in the series.
Mills really crafted a fast paced action packed story. The story revolves around Mitch trying to keep Pakistan's nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of ISIS. Which leads Mitch to going under cover. As he digs deeper, it eventually becomes clear that Russia is behind the play. Mills' creation of Rapp's main adversary is nothing sort of sheer genius. Grisha Azarov is the Russian Mitch Rapp from twenty years ago on steroids!!! Mills uses a lot of switching between chapters of the two adversaries that cause me to read an extra chapter or two every sitting because I wanted to find out what was happening. He filled the story with action, and also brought in some nice twists and turns that had us worrying about the safety of at least one long time character in the series.
I also really enjoyed how Mills brought out another side of Rapp. He becomes more human and caring about a lot of things. That is not to say he has gone soft, a certain helicopter scene in the book comes to mind, but it just makes him more of a complete character. As I mentioned in my review of The Survivor, Mills started to move Mitch on past some of his losses over the years to a better life and future. This trend continues in Order to Kill. I think it is a good move, and keeps Mitch in the Hero realm while still keeping his win at all cost edge.
The action in this book was nonstop. From Rapp racing around towns with a motorcycle to a helicopter flight in a sandstorm. Mills does not disappoint. There is not a lot of down time in this book, so if you like action this is a must read.
Overall, I can't say enough good things about this book. It is a five rating all the way, and is on par with any of the Flynn written books in the series. I would recommend this book to everyone, unless you don't like violence. I am sure this book will be a huge hit. The only downside to getting an advanced copy, is now I have a longer wait until the next book in the series.
February 26, 2017
Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed w/ this 2nd attempt to emulate the MASTER, Vince Flynn. Mills' 1st novel was a bit better, but, this 2nd is pure Mills. IMHO, Mills' style: short, terse, NO-detail writing style, rather action-filled, simple plot with few sub-plots, NO character depth, No emotion, no character relationships. The MASTER, Flynn (excluding his last 2, which felt a bit "rushed"), was the opposite: Compelling plot, and intertwined sub-plots, with lots of detail, lots of character development, reasonable amount of character relationships, given Rapp's personality/mindset. What I disliked in both of Mills' attempts: Rapp's cursing; every other utterance contained a swear word-I don't have anything against swearing- just that he originally rarely swore, NO personal relationship w/ Irene, who is his sole real friend in his work environment, and was carefully developed and continued in all Flynn books, and rare occurrences of any other emotion but anger/urgency; eg, shallow/inadequate emotional response to Coleman's near-death condition. As the very few reviews here say - Mills is not even a poor substitute for Flynn. I reiterate: already in this 2nd attempt, Mills is really just writing as himself - the character names are the only change from any of his interchangeable novels. (Vince Flynn - RIP)
August 31, 2016
I received an early copy as part of the ambassador program, which I was very excited about. I thought the book was good bordering on excellent. my first issue was how long it took me to read a Mitch Rapp novel. Granted I have been reading and enjoying a different genre lately. usually a Rapp book is 2-3 days, this one was a couple weeks.
My biggest hang up was when Rapp locates an American extremist who is being held captive. Rapp's plan is to get lumped up and then become embedded with the enemy acting as the American. Even though Rapp has no background on the American he able to pull this off.
At times Rapp seemed more like a fictional superhero rather than a cia / spec ops hero imho.
Don't get me wrong this was still a strong effort in the genre and would recommend to be read by all. However I did not feel as much enthusiasm while reading this Rapp novel. Looking forward to the next one. 3.5 stars
My biggest hang up was when Rapp locates an American extremist who is being held captive. Rapp's plan is to get lumped up and then become embedded with the enemy acting as the American. Even though Rapp has no background on the American he able to pull this off.
At times Rapp seemed more like a fictional superhero rather than a cia / spec ops hero imho.
Don't get me wrong this was still a strong effort in the genre and would recommend to be read by all. However I did not feel as much enthusiasm while reading this Rapp novel. Looking forward to the next one. 3.5 stars
February 9, 2017
is it weird that this is one of my favorite mitch rapp books so far? kyle mills has done a wonderful job taking vince flynns place, bravo! full review to come
November 13, 2016
Not bad, it moved along nicely, there really weren't any big surprises, but it was an enjoyable escape.
February 10, 2025
Mitch Rapp is HIM.
Vince Flynn (RIP) and Kyle Mills have once again delivered a literary adrenaline shot straight into my bloodstream. Mitch Rapp is out here operating at a level of violence so surgical, it makes SEAL teams look like mall cops. There are explosions. There are betrayals. There are very bad people getting what they deserve. And Rapp? The man is an absolute menace to the enemies of America and my sleep schedule.
The pacing? Breakneck. The tension? Palpable.*The body count? Higher than my caffeine intake. Every time I think Rapp might slow down, he just reloads. I don’t read these books—I experience them, like a fever dream fueled by espresso and righteous fury.
And now, because I contain multitudes, my pre-order for "This Inevitable Ruin" by Matt Dinniman drops tomorrow, so I’ll be switching genres for a bit! From black ops chaos to whatever madness Dinniman has cooked up—it’s gonna be a ride.
Vince Flynn (RIP) and Kyle Mills have once again delivered a literary adrenaline shot straight into my bloodstream. Mitch Rapp is out here operating at a level of violence so surgical, it makes SEAL teams look like mall cops. There are explosions. There are betrayals. There are very bad people getting what they deserve. And Rapp? The man is an absolute menace to the enemies of America and my sleep schedule.
The pacing? Breakneck. The tension? Palpable.*The body count? Higher than my caffeine intake. Every time I think Rapp might slow down, he just reloads. I don’t read these books—I experience them, like a fever dream fueled by espresso and righteous fury.
And now, because I contain multitudes, my pre-order for "This Inevitable Ruin" by Matt Dinniman drops tomorrow, so I’ll be switching genres for a bit! From black ops chaos to whatever madness Dinniman has cooked up—it’s gonna be a ride.
August 5, 2021
God Bless Kyle Mills for keeping the Mitch Rapp character alive, I think Vince Flynn would be proud!
Mitch Rapp is in for his toughest fight yet when traveling the globe to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of ISIS. But when it becomes clear that the corrupt Russian President has a different agenda, intending to bring chaos and destruction to the Middle East, Rapp must go behind enemy lines, deep into Iraqi territory, posing as an ISIS member, uncovering a more deadly plan than he or anyone expected, also facing a deadly Russian assassin who just may be Rapp's deadliest adversary yet.
Nothing really new with this entry, but it has that classic Vince Flynn edge-of-your-seat feel to it, with Mitch Rapp kicking ass for his country and taking no prisoners!
Mitch Rapp is in for his toughest fight yet when traveling the globe to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of ISIS. But when it becomes clear that the corrupt Russian President has a different agenda, intending to bring chaos and destruction to the Middle East, Rapp must go behind enemy lines, deep into Iraqi territory, posing as an ISIS member, uncovering a more deadly plan than he or anyone expected, also facing a deadly Russian assassin who just may be Rapp's deadliest adversary yet.
Nothing really new with this entry, but it has that classic Vince Flynn edge-of-your-seat feel to it, with Mitch Rapp kicking ass for his country and taking no prisoners!
October 4, 2016
When Mitch Rapp returned last year with the help of a new author following the death of his creator, Vince Flynn, I was initially skeptical. Kyle Mills proved to be an adept writer fully capable of handling Flynn’s characters though, and The Survivor won me over pretty quickly. Order to Kill proves that Mill’s prior effort was hardly a fluke or one-off. Mills is not only capable of taking on Flynn’s rough-and-ready CIA assassin, but shows he’s the natural heir apparent to continue this series for the foreseeable future.
This fifteenth installment, which picks up mere weeks after the finale of The Survivor, finds Mitch Rapp squaring off against a Russian assassin who is not only Rapp’s equal, but may be even better. This is framed within a story of rogue Pakistani nukes and ISIS idiots, and a particularly violent, and personal, attack that strikes close to Rapp’s heart when a mission goes awry.
The most important element here for me, and one that I think Mills did a superb job with, was making Rapp a bit more three dimensional and human. In his latter books, Flynn was turning Rapp into very nearly a caricature of his former self, with his with-me-or-against-me attitude and desire to kill anybody who dared to disagree with him. Mills, thankfully, has dialed that way back and we see a Mitch Rapp who may finally be emerging from the darkness brought on by his wife’s death and who isn’t afraid to feel. While this certainly is not a guy who will soon be crying into his cup o’ tea anytime soon, there are certain events that occur here to remind Rapp that he is at least human and we see a man now seeking to reconnect with the people around him after so many devastating losses.
It’s these losses that I feel also highlight Mills work over these last two books. The operators and assassins of these novels are certainly men and women who fit into the Hero Worship mold pretty easily, and there’s a lot of extrajudicial fantasy stuff that goes into them (somebody says something about the Constitution you don’t like? Well, just snap their neck and grab a can of Coke afterward! And while we’re on the fantasy aspect, the next time one of these jihadist morons refers to our "Christian" Constitution, could we please have Rapp correct that erroneous, much too-widespread misunderstanding of this secular document before cracking their skull apart?), but too often they feel like larger-than-life superheroes. Mills has been working hard to make these people human, and while the characters are unquestionably adept and skilled at their jobs, they can still be hurt (and quite badly, at that) and killed. The Survivor presented a big shake-up to the status quo, and Order to Kill packs a certain punch of its own kind with a long-time series regular in serious danger.
Thanks to Kyle Mills, Order to Kill is one of the best, and certainly most satisfying, Mitch Rapp novels in quite some time. With high-stakes action and some much-needed emotional development, and perhaps even a hint of romance to come, for our series hero, fans of Vince Flynn can rest easy with Mills at the helm.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title for review from the publisher, as part of their #MitchRappAmbassador Program.]
This fifteenth installment, which picks up mere weeks after the finale of The Survivor, finds Mitch Rapp squaring off against a Russian assassin who is not only Rapp’s equal, but may be even better. This is framed within a story of rogue Pakistani nukes and ISIS idiots, and a particularly violent, and personal, attack that strikes close to Rapp’s heart when a mission goes awry.
The most important element here for me, and one that I think Mills did a superb job with, was making Rapp a bit more three dimensional and human. In his latter books, Flynn was turning Rapp into very nearly a caricature of his former self, with his with-me-or-against-me attitude and desire to kill anybody who dared to disagree with him. Mills, thankfully, has dialed that way back and we see a Mitch Rapp who may finally be emerging from the darkness brought on by his wife’s death and who isn’t afraid to feel. While this certainly is not a guy who will soon be crying into his cup o’ tea anytime soon, there are certain events that occur here to remind Rapp that he is at least human and we see a man now seeking to reconnect with the people around him after so many devastating losses.
It’s these losses that I feel also highlight Mills work over these last two books. The operators and assassins of these novels are certainly men and women who fit into the Hero Worship mold pretty easily, and there’s a lot of extrajudicial fantasy stuff that goes into them (somebody says something about the Constitution you don’t like? Well, just snap their neck and grab a can of Coke afterward! And while we’re on the fantasy aspect, the next time one of these jihadist morons refers to our "Christian" Constitution, could we please have Rapp correct that erroneous, much too-widespread misunderstanding of this secular document before cracking their skull apart?), but too often they feel like larger-than-life superheroes. Mills has been working hard to make these people human, and while the characters are unquestionably adept and skilled at their jobs, they can still be hurt (and quite badly, at that) and killed. The Survivor presented a big shake-up to the status quo, and Order to Kill packs a certain punch of its own kind with a long-time series regular in serious danger.
Thanks to Kyle Mills, Order to Kill is one of the best, and certainly most satisfying, Mitch Rapp novels in quite some time. With high-stakes action and some much-needed emotional development, and perhaps even a hint of romance to come, for our series hero, fans of Vince Flynn can rest easy with Mills at the helm.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title for review from the publisher, as part of their #MitchRappAmbassador Program.]
May 31, 2017
Vince Flynn died early from cancer, leaving the future of his Mitch Rapp series in doubt. Kyle Mills took over for this book at least, and I have to say, it was better than the previous Rapp book.
In Order To Kill, Mitch Rapp is on the hunt in Pakistan. The government and the army are at odds, and the military is keeping their nuclear arsenal on the move, supposedly to foil terrorists. What actually happens is agents of Maxim Krupin, power-mad leader of Russia. Krupin has an elaborate plan to use stolen nuclear material to change certain world balances in his favor. He also has Grisha Azarov, a highly trained assassin who might be Mitch's equal. Mitch ends up undercover in an ISIS terror group as he and his boss, Irene Kennedy, try to figure out what's actually happening. Mitch's long time comrade in arms, Scott Coleman, figures prominently and is seriously, maybe fatally, wounded by Grisha Azarov. Claudia Gould, wife of the assassin that killed Mitch's wife, also shows up for a large part. What will be the outcome when Azarov and Rapp collide? Will the nuclear disaster be averted? And will the designer ever finish Mitch's new house?
This book, while still notably lacking in humor, is an improvement over several previous Rapp books. There are female characters that aren't just window dressing, for one thing. Rapp doesn't come across like a bully to the people that are on his side. Overall, I thought it was better written.
It's still the book version of a mindless action flick (a term I use with affection) but it's a decent read with international intrigue and high stakes. The plot device that allows Mitch to go undercover is a bit of a large coincidence, but it's not horrible. A good read.
In Order To Kill, Mitch Rapp is on the hunt in Pakistan. The government and the army are at odds, and the military is keeping their nuclear arsenal on the move, supposedly to foil terrorists. What actually happens is agents of Maxim Krupin, power-mad leader of Russia. Krupin has an elaborate plan to use stolen nuclear material to change certain world balances in his favor. He also has Grisha Azarov, a highly trained assassin who might be Mitch's equal. Mitch ends up undercover in an ISIS terror group as he and his boss, Irene Kennedy, try to figure out what's actually happening. Mitch's long time comrade in arms, Scott Coleman, figures prominently and is seriously, maybe fatally, wounded by Grisha Azarov. Claudia Gould, wife of the assassin that killed Mitch's wife, also shows up for a large part. What will be the outcome when Azarov and Rapp collide? Will the nuclear disaster be averted? And will the designer ever finish Mitch's new house?
This book, while still notably lacking in humor, is an improvement over several previous Rapp books. There are female characters that aren't just window dressing, for one thing. Rapp doesn't come across like a bully to the people that are on his side. Overall, I thought it was better written.
It's still the book version of a mindless action flick (a term I use with affection) but it's a decent read with international intrigue and high stakes. The plot device that allows Mitch to go undercover is a bit of a large coincidence, but it's not horrible. A good read.
May 16, 2017
Although no one could-or would- ever replace the late Vince Flynn as a person, Kyle Mills does an impeccable job of emulating him as he continues the legacy Mr. Flynn began in the Mitch Rapp series. Undoubtedly, Mr. Mills has captured the essence of the Mitch Rapp character. He has seamlessly maintained the integrity and voice of the protagonist, and does so spot on. In this latest installment in the series, Mitch must match wits with the most skilled opponent he has ever confronted. The conflict is realistic with a well researched back story.The plot moves along swiftly, with action and suspense throughout, and builds to a thrilling climax and very satisfying denouement. Kyle Mills is a great writer in his own right (). His skill as an author is even more evident in taking a character conceived in another's mind and staying so true to form. Kudos to Mr. Mills!
September 5, 2016
Kyle Mills does it again, breathing new life into Mitch Rapp. This might be one of my favorites in the series thus far, and almost definitely some of Mitch's biggest personal growth moments. Also at least two of those "Mitch Rapp don't take no shit" moments.
April 20, 2020
Fast-paced, exciting, great read for entertainment.
March 14, 2017
What a bunch of drivel! I've become completely disenchanted with Kyle Mills & am officially done with anything further that he may do.
This is NOT Mitch Rapp!!! It's some sniveling foul mouthed idiot who can't decide if he's in love or a CIA assassin. The whole part of him trying to figure out how to rescue the Muslim girl was simply painful to read. Kyle went to unreasonable lengths to make the whole thing unbelievable & ridiculous. Furthermore, his puny attempt to neuter Scott Coleman is pathetic. I found myself pulling for the bad guy & the final confrontation between Mitch & Grisha made me nauseous.
The book began in such a way that nobody should ever again need a sleep aid. This book will most certainly do it for you. Vince Flynn has to be rolling in his grave! All of his books were fast paced from the very 1st word. Disappointing is a poor description of this garbage.
There is barely a plot. There's NO subplots. It was all I could muster to hold my attention & simply finish the book. There's no relationship anymore (at least that he's willing to share) between Mitch, Irene, & any of the other characters that Vince had spent so much time developing. Irene's son (whom Mitch was so protective of & close to) has all but ceased to exist.
This isn't even a vague attempt to be interesting, & I'm no longer interested in Kyle's lame parody of Mitch Rapp!
This is NOT Mitch Rapp!!! It's some sniveling foul mouthed idiot who can't decide if he's in love or a CIA assassin. The whole part of him trying to figure out how to rescue the Muslim girl was simply painful to read. Kyle went to unreasonable lengths to make the whole thing unbelievable & ridiculous. Furthermore, his puny attempt to neuter Scott Coleman is pathetic. I found myself pulling for the bad guy & the final confrontation between Mitch & Grisha made me nauseous.
The book began in such a way that nobody should ever again need a sleep aid. This book will most certainly do it for you. Vince Flynn has to be rolling in his grave! All of his books were fast paced from the very 1st word. Disappointing is a poor description of this garbage.
There is barely a plot. There's NO subplots. It was all I could muster to hold my attention & simply finish the book. There's no relationship anymore (at least that he's willing to share) between Mitch, Irene, & any of the other characters that Vince had spent so much time developing. Irene's son (whom Mitch was so protective of & close to) has all but ceased to exist.
This isn't even a vague attempt to be interesting, & I'm no longer interested in Kyle's lame parody of Mitch Rapp!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2016
(3) I was not thrilled by the first attempt by Kyle Mills to continue this wonderful franchise, and I was feeling the same way after the first 100 or so pages of this one. But I am glad to report that from about that point on this book is pretty darn solid. I felt like we really did have the real Mitch Rapp back, and he always has been on of the most fun, badass operators on the planet. I found a lot of familiar themes here, including a very worthy adversary who helps make this story much more exciting and interesting as well. I am now looking forward to the next installment in this series. Good fun.
November 15, 2016
Another great Mitch App novel, good plot, great action, enjoyable read. Can't wait for the next installment. Kyle Mills does an excellent job of carrying on the Vince Flynn tradition
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