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Mitch Rapp #17
Red War
The #1 New York Times bestselling series returns with Mitch Rapp racing to prevent Russia’s gravely ill leader from starting a full-scale war with NATO.
When Russian president Maxim Krupin discovers that he has inoperable brain cancer, he’s determined to cling to power. His first task is to kill or imprison any of his countrymen who can threaten him. Soon, though, his illness becomes serious enough to require a more dramatic diversion—war with the West.
Upon learning of Krupin’s condition, CIA director Irene Kennedy understands that the US is facing an opponent who has nothing to lose. The only way to avoid a confrontation that could leave millions dead is to send Mitch Rapp to Russia under impossibly dangerous orders. With the Kremlin’s entire security apparatus hunting him, he must find and kill a man many have deemed the most powerful in the world.
Success means averting a war that could consume all of Europe. But if his mission is discovered, Rapp will plunge Russia and America into a conflict that neither will survive.
“In the world of black-ops thrillers, Mitch Rapp continues to be among the best of the best” (Booklist, starred review).
When Russian president Maxim Krupin discovers that he has inoperable brain cancer, he’s determined to cling to power. His first task is to kill or imprison any of his countrymen who can threaten him. Soon, though, his illness becomes serious enough to require a more dramatic diversion—war with the West.
Upon learning of Krupin’s condition, CIA director Irene Kennedy understands that the US is facing an opponent who has nothing to lose. The only way to avoid a confrontation that could leave millions dead is to send Mitch Rapp to Russia under impossibly dangerous orders. With the Kremlin’s entire security apparatus hunting him, he must find and kill a man many have deemed the most powerful in the world.
Success means averting a war that could consume all of Europe. But if his mission is discovered, Rapp will plunge Russia and America into a conflict that neither will survive.
“In the world of black-ops thrillers, Mitch Rapp continues to be among the best of the best” (Booklist, starred review).
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2018
7867 people are currently reading
5615 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Mills
32 books2,509 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 1,025 reviews
September 30, 2018
I think a bump up from 3.75 stars works here!
Kyle Mills is back with another of Vince Flynn’s classic novels of espionage, where Mitch Rapp finds himself in the middle of yet another international skirmish. After an attack on a prominent Russian in Central America, Rapp and those high-up in the CIA take notice, sure the Russian Government is involved. While they ponder how to handle this, Rapp is left to wonder what else Moscow might be plotting. Little known to most, the current Russian President is ill, terminally so. In what might be his last act of aggression, the president is convinced of an attack on some of his former satellite states, those in the Baltic that have since joined NATO. Sure that this will bring the Americans into yet another bloody war, the Russians begin to maneuver. Rapp and his team posit what might be going on, though many of the military forces of those countries that are potential targets remain unconvinced. It is a race against time and the two re-emerging superpowers may have one last stand-off. For one, it’s all in with nothing to lose. For the other, the world watches, as strategic force serves as a restraining deterrent. Mills does well to continue this series and takes readers on another spellbinding ride through international politics and espionage. Recommended for those who love the work Vince Flynn did before his premature death.
Since taking over the Mitch Rapp series, Mills has done well to promote a strong continuity when it comes to storylines, characters, and overall plot. That is rare, as I have come to see in other series taken over by new authors, who always like to establish their own control and usually leave the series reader deflated. Mitch Rapp remains a highly intriguing character, with his penchant for off-hand jokes, while offering a strong focus when work requires it. He is gritty, but also compassionate and keeps the reader liking this mix, for the most part. I cannot help but wonder if it is almost time for Rapp to switch to another role, thinking his body has taken enough beatings. That said, Bond is still around all these years later, right? The other characters, regulars and new faces, prove to push the story in interesting directions, with a focus on Russia and a political push towards supremacy again. The story is one that I have actually seen recently in another espionage series I read, where Russia is trying to erode the power of NATO through some of its former satellite countries. Funny enough, this may prove to be the new theme in this genre, which is nice after too many years of ISIS battles have surely drawn the ire of the genre reader. I am curious to see what else Mills has in store for this series, as there is surely much that could be developed, though I am also sure Rapp could retire and live a peaceful life once and for all. However, we all know Rapp is not the kind of guy to sit on the porch, sipping sweet tea!
Kudos, Mr. Mills, for another strong book. While not my favourite of your books in this series, it is sure to get others talking and wondering.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Kyle Mills is back with another of Vince Flynn’s classic novels of espionage, where Mitch Rapp finds himself in the middle of yet another international skirmish. After an attack on a prominent Russian in Central America, Rapp and those high-up in the CIA take notice, sure the Russian Government is involved. While they ponder how to handle this, Rapp is left to wonder what else Moscow might be plotting. Little known to most, the current Russian President is ill, terminally so. In what might be his last act of aggression, the president is convinced of an attack on some of his former satellite states, those in the Baltic that have since joined NATO. Sure that this will bring the Americans into yet another bloody war, the Russians begin to maneuver. Rapp and his team posit what might be going on, though many of the military forces of those countries that are potential targets remain unconvinced. It is a race against time and the two re-emerging superpowers may have one last stand-off. For one, it’s all in with nothing to lose. For the other, the world watches, as strategic force serves as a restraining deterrent. Mills does well to continue this series and takes readers on another spellbinding ride through international politics and espionage. Recommended for those who love the work Vince Flynn did before his premature death.
Since taking over the Mitch Rapp series, Mills has done well to promote a strong continuity when it comes to storylines, characters, and overall plot. That is rare, as I have come to see in other series taken over by new authors, who always like to establish their own control and usually leave the series reader deflated. Mitch Rapp remains a highly intriguing character, with his penchant for off-hand jokes, while offering a strong focus when work requires it. He is gritty, but also compassionate and keeps the reader liking this mix, for the most part. I cannot help but wonder if it is almost time for Rapp to switch to another role, thinking his body has taken enough beatings. That said, Bond is still around all these years later, right? The other characters, regulars and new faces, prove to push the story in interesting directions, with a focus on Russia and a political push towards supremacy again. The story is one that I have actually seen recently in another espionage series I read, where Russia is trying to erode the power of NATO through some of its former satellite countries. Funny enough, this may prove to be the new theme in this genre, which is nice after too many years of ISIS battles have surely drawn the ire of the genre reader. I am curious to see what else Mills has in store for this series, as there is surely much that could be developed, though I am also sure Rapp could retire and live a peaceful life once and for all. However, we all know Rapp is not the kind of guy to sit on the porch, sipping sweet tea!
Kudos, Mr. Mills, for another strong book. While not my favourite of your books in this series, it is sure to get others talking and wondering.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
January 31, 2019
A very well-plotted and exciting book in classic Mitch Rapp form adds a suspenseful twist as readers try to ascertain the sympathies of the retired Russian agent on whom Mitch must rely.
Mills has thought carefully about Russian cross-currents and the change in strategy (like Ben Coes' Bloody Sunday) when the dictator is terminal and has nothing to lose by creating extreme mayhem.
Mills sweeps us along with action. My only criticism, and it is miniscule, is that everyone dropped the editing ball on page 358 when the word "disbursed" is used instead of "dispersed." Again--a miniscule point.
Highly recommended. Readers of books by Vince Flynn or Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills, Marc Cameron, Ben Coes, Alex Berenson, Taylor Stevens, Gayle Lynds, and Lee Child will like this book.
Mills has thought carefully about Russian cross-currents and the change in strategy (like Ben Coes' Bloody Sunday) when the dictator is terminal and has nothing to lose by creating extreme mayhem.
Mills sweeps us along with action. My only criticism, and it is miniscule, is that everyone dropped the editing ball on page 358 when the word "disbursed" is used instead of "dispersed." Again--a miniscule point.
Highly recommended. Readers of books by Vince Flynn or Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills, Marc Cameron, Ben Coes, Alex Berenson, Taylor Stevens, Gayle Lynds, and Lee Child will like this book.
September 27, 2018
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
RED WAR (Mitch Rapp #17) is the newest espionage thriller in the Mitch Rapp series started by author Vince Flynn and now carried forward by author Kyle Mills. This is Mr. Mills’ fourth installment in the series. Red War is another edge-of-you-seat thrill ride with a plausible world crisis and all of the geopolitical intrigue, blood, bombs and action I have come to expect in a Mitch Rapp book.
Maxim Krupin, the Russian president, has been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. It must be kept a secret as he receives treatment. He plans to eliminate any of his countrymen who could grab power from him if his condition is known and he plans a distraction with worldwide consequences to cover his absence. Two of the men he trusts to keep him in power are Andrei Sokolov a disgraced war criminal, who he places in charge of Russian armed forces and his young personal assassin, Nikita Pushkin, who he sends to eliminate his predecessor, Grisha Azarov.
No one in the U.S. government knows what to make of the new dangerous unpredictability of Krupin. CIA Director Irene Kennedy learns of Krupin’s illness and now understands the world is facing a man who has nothing to lose and psychopathic general, who believes Russia should rule the world. Mitch and Grisha team up with Scott Coleman and his team to find Krupin and eliminate the threat of World War III and a nuclear holocaust.
I was so excited to be chosen as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador and receive the ARC of Red War from the publisher in advance of publication. I did not want it to end! Kyle Mills has done a great job of continuing the Mitch Rapp character and series. The action, world travel, political intrigue and plot twists just keep coming. I was also very happy to see the return of one of my series favorites in this book. This is a MUST READ thriller series for me. Each adventure can be read as a standalone, but the personal and professional relationships carry forward and add to the interesting backstory that makes the series narrative layered and keeps me coming back for more than just the individual current threat.
This is one of my favorite thriller series and I highly recommend it!
RED WAR (Mitch Rapp #17) is the newest espionage thriller in the Mitch Rapp series started by author Vince Flynn and now carried forward by author Kyle Mills. This is Mr. Mills’ fourth installment in the series. Red War is another edge-of-you-seat thrill ride with a plausible world crisis and all of the geopolitical intrigue, blood, bombs and action I have come to expect in a Mitch Rapp book.
Maxim Krupin, the Russian president, has been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. It must be kept a secret as he receives treatment. He plans to eliminate any of his countrymen who could grab power from him if his condition is known and he plans a distraction with worldwide consequences to cover his absence. Two of the men he trusts to keep him in power are Andrei Sokolov a disgraced war criminal, who he places in charge of Russian armed forces and his young personal assassin, Nikita Pushkin, who he sends to eliminate his predecessor, Grisha Azarov.
No one in the U.S. government knows what to make of the new dangerous unpredictability of Krupin. CIA Director Irene Kennedy learns of Krupin’s illness and now understands the world is facing a man who has nothing to lose and psychopathic general, who believes Russia should rule the world. Mitch and Grisha team up with Scott Coleman and his team to find Krupin and eliminate the threat of World War III and a nuclear holocaust.
I was so excited to be chosen as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador and receive the ARC of Red War from the publisher in advance of publication. I did not want it to end! Kyle Mills has done a great job of continuing the Mitch Rapp character and series. The action, world travel, political intrigue and plot twists just keep coming. I was also very happy to see the return of one of my series favorites in this book. This is a MUST READ thriller series for me. Each adventure can be read as a standalone, but the personal and professional relationships carry forward and add to the interesting backstory that makes the series narrative layered and keeps me coming back for more than just the individual current threat.
This is one of my favorite thriller series and I highly recommend it!
September 25, 2018
As a Mitch Rapp Ambassador, I took my time reading Red War, as I never wanted the experience to end. Well, it finally came to a conclusion tonight, and Kyle Mills did not disappoint.
When Mills first introduced us to Grisha Azarov in Mills' first complete novel since taking over the Flynn franchise, he formed the most formidable opponent Rapp had ever met. The way Mills weaves Grisha into this plot is fantastic and dramatic. As you can see from the other reviews, Rapp is in a race against time, Maxim Krupin's time in order to stop from a Russian takeover. It is fast-paced. The story never lets up, and Rapp is as sharp as ever.
One thing I really like and enjoy about Mills' writing is what he's done with the relationship between Rapp and his friend/comrade Scott Coleman. Coleman and Rapp were always close when Flynn wrote the series, but Mills has developed their relationship even more so. I think a large part of this is due to the fact that Mills has added so much more humor into the novel. The banter between not just Rapp and Coleman but also Rapp and Grisha is hilarious. Mills has allowed this humor to permeate through very intense, dramatic, and thrilling scenes, and it gives the reader a chuckle and reminds you that these battle-hardened men still have a sense of humor. Rapp and Coleman's conversations never cease to make me laugh.
This was, I think, the best novel Mills has ever written. As far as the Rapp series goes, I truly believes this even rivals some of the top Flynn novels like Transfer of Power and Consent to Kill, which is a nearly impossible task. I love the way Mills has moved the series forward. This was a fun, thrilling, and entertaining read. I could've finished it in a few days, but I never wanted the book to end.
Great job, Kyle Mills!
When Mills first introduced us to Grisha Azarov in Mills' first complete novel since taking over the Flynn franchise, he formed the most formidable opponent Rapp had ever met. The way Mills weaves Grisha into this plot is fantastic and dramatic. As you can see from the other reviews, Rapp is in a race against time, Maxim Krupin's time in order to stop from a Russian takeover. It is fast-paced. The story never lets up, and Rapp is as sharp as ever.
One thing I really like and enjoy about Mills' writing is what he's done with the relationship between Rapp and his friend/comrade Scott Coleman. Coleman and Rapp were always close when Flynn wrote the series, but Mills has developed their relationship even more so. I think a large part of this is due to the fact that Mills has added so much more humor into the novel. The banter between not just Rapp and Coleman but also Rapp and Grisha is hilarious. Mills has allowed this humor to permeate through very intense, dramatic, and thrilling scenes, and it gives the reader a chuckle and reminds you that these battle-hardened men still have a sense of humor. Rapp and Coleman's conversations never cease to make me laugh.
This was, I think, the best novel Mills has ever written. As far as the Rapp series goes, I truly believes this even rivals some of the top Flynn novels like Transfer of Power and Consent to Kill, which is a nearly impossible task. I love the way Mills has moved the series forward. This was a fun, thrilling, and entertaining read. I could've finished it in a few days, but I never wanted the book to end.
Great job, Kyle Mills!
August 6, 2018
Kyle Mills opens his fourth Mitch Rapp thriller (since taking over the series following the passing of Vince Flynn in 2013) with Russian President Maxim Krupin standing in his Kremlin office looking down at the protestors filing into Red Square. The growing backlash and constant threat of being overthrown is annoying to Krupin, but it’s the inoperable brain cancer that he was secretly diagnosed with that proves most troubling.
At first, Krupin’s symptoms are fairly minor and easy to hide. However, as the cancer worsens, so too do the neurological issues plaguing him, forcing him to rely on more drastic methods in order to conceal his rapidly declining health from the many threats he faces both at home and abroad. While still strong enough to take action, Krupin preemptively begins assassinating powerful enemies, sending his henchman Nikita Pushkin to kill those he suspects might stand up and oppose him when he’s too weak to fight back.
Formerly, Grisha Azarov, the world-class athlete turned deadly assassin, served as Krupin’s errand boy, a job that once put him on a collision course with Mitch Rapp. Already one of the only men to ever go toe-to-toe with Rapp and live to talk about it, Grisha later joined another exclusive club when he lent Rapp a hand after Mitch took on an especially dangerous assignment that required him to go outside his normal circle of backup operators for support and forgo all ties to the CIA. That mission earned Azarov an IOU, and Rapp settles the bill by. . .
Read the rest of the review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/08/05...
At first, Krupin’s symptoms are fairly minor and easy to hide. However, as the cancer worsens, so too do the neurological issues plaguing him, forcing him to rely on more drastic methods in order to conceal his rapidly declining health from the many threats he faces both at home and abroad. While still strong enough to take action, Krupin preemptively begins assassinating powerful enemies, sending his henchman Nikita Pushkin to kill those he suspects might stand up and oppose him when he’s too weak to fight back.
Formerly, Grisha Azarov, the world-class athlete turned deadly assassin, served as Krupin’s errand boy, a job that once put him on a collision course with Mitch Rapp. Already one of the only men to ever go toe-to-toe with Rapp and live to talk about it, Grisha later joined another exclusive club when he lent Rapp a hand after Mitch took on an especially dangerous assignment that required him to go outside his normal circle of backup operators for support and forgo all ties to the CIA. That mission earned Azarov an IOU, and Rapp settles the bill by. . .
Read the rest of the review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/08/05...
January 4, 2019
Finally, a decent story in the Mitch Rapp genre by Kyle Mills. 8 of 10 stars
September 26, 2018
Mitch Rapp stories worked because of Rapp's character, which was in equal measure superhero-isque and genial. Mr Mills is unable to take good advantage of either of these qualities. Red War is a classic Wag the Dog kind of tale, that is not only too predictable and illogical (characteristics of most of Flynn's books too), but also excessively focussed on stereotypical and uninteresting bad guys. The story and action scenes have hardly any twists while the deadline pressure is visible in all aspects of books including the book-length and language.
May 23, 2019
MitchRappAmbassador review
I absolutely loved this Mitch Rapp thriller from Kyle Mills. He has done a tremendous job of carrying on Rapp from the Vince Flynn era and he continues to create amazing, from the headlines Thrillers!
Mitch is still himself and it’s clearly vivid and amazing how awesome Mills is at storytelling. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t have thought of a better storyline for this one. I don’t like to give spoilers so I’ll just leave it at you won’t be disappointed! I saw reviews that said it slowed down in the middle and I didn’t see that at all. It continues to build at a good pace and you find yourself wondering why/how Mitch teams up w who he does!
Bravo on another amazing story Kyle Mills!!
I absolutely loved this Mitch Rapp thriller from Kyle Mills. He has done a tremendous job of carrying on Rapp from the Vince Flynn era and he continues to create amazing, from the headlines Thrillers!
Mitch is still himself and it’s clearly vivid and amazing how awesome Mills is at storytelling. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t have thought of a better storyline for this one. I don’t like to give spoilers so I’ll just leave it at you won’t be disappointed! I saw reviews that said it slowed down in the middle and I didn’t see that at all. It continues to build at a good pace and you find yourself wondering why/how Mitch teams up w who he does!
Bravo on another amazing story Kyle Mills!!
December 11, 2018
I have read all the Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills "Mitch Rapp" books. This was my least favorite. It was also my husband's least favorite. To me the conversation just didn't flow. I felt the author tried to inject some depth into Grisha's personality (or make a personality out of what he was) and it failed and Mitch and Coleman were along for the ride as fighting machines. Bleh...
July 14, 2022
A cliche, but true--this one is almost ripped from today's headlines. A Russian president initiates a war to protect his power and divert attention from his troubles. 4 Stars
October 2, 2018
What a great disappointment. I purchased this book and the accompanying audiobook so I could enjoy another adventure with Mitch Rapp. WTH? Mitch was nothing but a tag-along character. This should have been name Azarov Adventure #1! We spent most of the book the the Russian G. Azarov from the previous novel.
I did not want to follow Azarov. I wanted more Mitch.
This was a fine action story but it was NOT a Mitch Rapp novel.
Since Vince Flynn died and Kyle Mills has taken over the reins of the Rapp novels, they have progressively gotten further and further away from Mitch and have become just another group of action/adventure novels.
I'm done following the novels written by Kyle Mills.
I'm not only disappointed, I'm angry that the legacy of Vince Flynn has gotten so tarnished.
I did not want to follow Azarov. I wanted more Mitch.
This was a fine action story but it was NOT a Mitch Rapp novel.
Since Vince Flynn died and Kyle Mills has taken over the reins of the Rapp novels, they have progressively gotten further and further away from Mitch and have become just another group of action/adventure novels.
I'm done following the novels written by Kyle Mills.
I'm not only disappointed, I'm angry that the legacy of Vince Flynn has gotten so tarnished.
October 6, 2018
I'm torn between 1 and 2 stars. It's difficult to rate a book in a favorite series this low. Red War is a mediocre thriller at best. It's the worst of Mitch Rapp books, and I read all except Vince Flynn's last two.
Red War main stars are the Russians, a terminal Putin, I mean Krupin and Russian superhuman assassins. I feel Kyle Mills really loves the character he created in book #15, Grisha Azarov and decided to bring him back as a main while Mitch & team tag along.
After waiting a year for this book to come out, it's an extreme disappointment and almost didn't care to finish it.
Red War main stars are the Russians, a terminal Putin, I mean Krupin and Russian superhuman assassins. I feel Kyle Mills really loves the character he created in book #15, Grisha Azarov and decided to bring him back as a main while Mitch & team tag along.
After waiting a year for this book to come out, it's an extreme disappointment and almost didn't care to finish it.
October 17, 2018
I liked that this Mitch Rapp novel explored a geopolitical scenario (a Russian leader risking world war in attempt to maintain control). it was interesting as it delved into all the behind the scenes moves by the Russians. Unfortunately. what the book needed more than anything else was more Mitch Rapp.
October 6, 2018
I was sure that when Vince Flynn passed away, I'd be fare welling my favorite counter terrorist operative for the CIA too, but thankfully the series is in very safe hands with Kyle Mills.
I've read all the books in this series and am still like a kid in a candy store, every time a new installment comes out.
Grisha Azarov, once was Russia's foremost assassin is targeted by his boss president Krupin after he retires, the CIA intervene and Rapp saves Azarov from assassination, but Azarov's girlfriend is seriously injured,
Azarov is one pissed off Russian assassin whose out for revenge. Krupin;s actions are troubling enough for the CIA to sanction a mission into Russia to take out Krupin.
Mitch and Azarov, know that if their caught or captured the CIA will disavow any knowledge of there mission, Its a high stakes race to stop Krupin from starting a war that could have global ramification. Love love loved this book - lots of action, deadly threats neutralized and a very high body count.
5* stars
I've read all the books in this series and am still like a kid in a candy store, every time a new installment comes out.
Grisha Azarov, once was Russia's foremost assassin is targeted by his boss president Krupin after he retires, the CIA intervene and Rapp saves Azarov from assassination, but Azarov's girlfriend is seriously injured,
Azarov is one pissed off Russian assassin whose out for revenge. Krupin;s actions are troubling enough for the CIA to sanction a mission into Russia to take out Krupin.
Mitch and Azarov, know that if their caught or captured the CIA will disavow any knowledge of there mission, Its a high stakes race to stop Krupin from starting a war that could have global ramification. Love love loved this book - lots of action, deadly threats neutralized and a very high body count.
5* stars
February 23, 2019
Kudos to Kyle Mills for another literary grand slam: captivating hook, round, complex characterizations, intriguing and exhilarating ( if not timely!) plot, perfect pacing, exciting climax and satisfying denouement! The storyline is enthralling and so plausible, it’s scary. Mr. Mills has stayed true to the vision of this series’ creator, the late Vince Flynn. The protagonist, Mitch Rapp, is true to form in every aspect of his character. The Vince Flynn estate scored when passing the baton to Kyle Mills! Again, kudos to Kyle Mills!
September 9, 2018
Red War, the seventeenth Mitch Rapp thriller and fourth penned by Kyle Mills, finds the CIA assassin on a mission to execute the Russian president, Maxim Krupin. Recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Krupin has grown ever more unpredictable and uses his final months to further consolidate his power, executing his enemies and political rivals, as he takes the world to the brink of World War III.
As with Tom Clancy before him, Vince Flynn's series has always been rather timely in its reflections on current events. Red War is no different, with Mills setting Krupin's actions and the CIA's response in the wake of Russian hacking efforts to disrupt US elections. One would have to be blind to miss the real-world context Mills uses as a spring broad to launch into his story of black ops and Krupin is most certainly a familiar character right from the book's opening pages.
Described as a president who keeps his citizens blinded with nationalism and memories of his country's glorious past, Krupin's behavior is irrational and erratic, his power built on a platform of lies he has told both enemies and allies in order to erode trust in anyone or anything beyond himself. If Krupin is not immediately recognizable to American readers as a Trump analogue, in addition to an obvious riff on Vladimir Putin, then he is most certainly the kind of dictator the United States's manchild of a president openly worships and models his own behaviors upon. With regular reminders that this physically and mentally ill state-head is in possession of nuclear arms, Krupin is broadcast as a legitimate threat (and by association, his real-world counterparts that so clearly served as an inspiration here) to democratic norms and the safety of the free world.
Mills gives us a nice bit of escapism in Mitch Rapp gunning for Krupin, aided by former Russian assassin Grisha Azarov, who is violently pulled out of retirement to aid the CIA's efforts, particularly after the last several years of the US falling victim to Russian hacking efforts. As Rapp notes at one point, Russia will never be an ally to the US but they can at least be contained. The promise of the CIA delivering justice in fiction is a soothing and necessary, if short lived, balm, especially since our real-world government is content to simply maintain complicity in exchange for power. It's safe to say Mitch Rapp is needed now more than ever.
Mills continues to build on Flynn's characterization of Rapp, as well, helping to move the assassin away from the buffoonish conservative cartoon he was becoming in Flynn's later novels, edging him closer and closer to the methodical and thoughtful man of action audiences were first introduced to in Transfer of Power nearly twenty years ago. Mitch has survived a lot since then; those experiences have helped to both age and wisen him, and he's been a significant player on the global stage. It's refreshing to see Mills break away from the typical Arab threat that has been the backbone for so many of Rapp's stories, moving him into strange and unfamiliar territory with this book's Russian theater of opposition.
Red War arrives at a crucial juncture in American history, and carries with it a decidedly appropriate title. Particularly given that this book's biggest problem, potentially, may lie in convincing those Trump supporters who read it to accept Russia as a legitimate threat, even if only fictionally. Clearly, we've come a long way since the "Better Dead Than Red" days of the Cold War, but with Emily Bestler Books planning national ad campaigns to put Red War in front of the audiences of Fox & Friends and Rush Limbaugh, one must wonder just how receptive they'll be of Mills' very thinly-veiled repudiation of their red hatted leader and their likely-stained "I'd Rather Be A Russian Than A Democrat" t-shirts. Are MAGA readers willing to accept government operatives as heroes after being spoonfed so many reports of so-called fake news in regards to Russian meddling in US affairs and attacks on the various justice agencies by their Dear Leader? On the other hand, if the publisher is merely looking for an audience already lost in a fantasy world, you can't do much better than consumer's of Limbaugh and Fox News.
[Note: I received an advance reader's copy of Red War from Emily Bestler Books after being selected as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador. This is my third year as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador, however this status conveyed upon me by the publisher has in no way swayed my opinion of this work or prevented me from delivering an honest review of this title. Many thanks to the publisher for once against selecting me and providing me with this ARC.]
As with Tom Clancy before him, Vince Flynn's series has always been rather timely in its reflections on current events. Red War is no different, with Mills setting Krupin's actions and the CIA's response in the wake of Russian hacking efforts to disrupt US elections. One would have to be blind to miss the real-world context Mills uses as a spring broad to launch into his story of black ops and Krupin is most certainly a familiar character right from the book's opening pages.
Described as a president who keeps his citizens blinded with nationalism and memories of his country's glorious past, Krupin's behavior is irrational and erratic, his power built on a platform of lies he has told both enemies and allies in order to erode trust in anyone or anything beyond himself. If Krupin is not immediately recognizable to American readers as a Trump analogue, in addition to an obvious riff on Vladimir Putin, then he is most certainly the kind of dictator the United States's manchild of a president openly worships and models his own behaviors upon. With regular reminders that this physically and mentally ill state-head is in possession of nuclear arms, Krupin is broadcast as a legitimate threat (and by association, his real-world counterparts that so clearly served as an inspiration here) to democratic norms and the safety of the free world.
Mills gives us a nice bit of escapism in Mitch Rapp gunning for Krupin, aided by former Russian assassin Grisha Azarov, who is violently pulled out of retirement to aid the CIA's efforts, particularly after the last several years of the US falling victim to Russian hacking efforts. As Rapp notes at one point, Russia will never be an ally to the US but they can at least be contained. The promise of the CIA delivering justice in fiction is a soothing and necessary, if short lived, balm, especially since our real-world government is content to simply maintain complicity in exchange for power. It's safe to say Mitch Rapp is needed now more than ever.
Mills continues to build on Flynn's characterization of Rapp, as well, helping to move the assassin away from the buffoonish conservative cartoon he was becoming in Flynn's later novels, edging him closer and closer to the methodical and thoughtful man of action audiences were first introduced to in Transfer of Power nearly twenty years ago. Mitch has survived a lot since then; those experiences have helped to both age and wisen him, and he's been a significant player on the global stage. It's refreshing to see Mills break away from the typical Arab threat that has been the backbone for so many of Rapp's stories, moving him into strange and unfamiliar territory with this book's Russian theater of opposition.
Red War arrives at a crucial juncture in American history, and carries with it a decidedly appropriate title. Particularly given that this book's biggest problem, potentially, may lie in convincing those Trump supporters who read it to accept Russia as a legitimate threat, even if only fictionally. Clearly, we've come a long way since the "Better Dead Than Red" days of the Cold War, but with Emily Bestler Books planning national ad campaigns to put Red War in front of the audiences of Fox & Friends and Rush Limbaugh, one must wonder just how receptive they'll be of Mills' very thinly-veiled repudiation of their red hatted leader and their likely-stained "I'd Rather Be A Russian Than A Democrat" t-shirts. Are MAGA readers willing to accept government operatives as heroes after being spoonfed so many reports of so-called fake news in regards to Russian meddling in US affairs and attacks on the various justice agencies by their Dear Leader? On the other hand, if the publisher is merely looking for an audience already lost in a fantasy world, you can't do much better than consumer's of Limbaugh and Fox News.
[Note: I received an advance reader's copy of Red War from Emily Bestler Books after being selected as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador. This is my third year as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador, however this status conveyed upon me by the publisher has in no way swayed my opinion of this work or prevented me from delivering an honest review of this title. Many thanks to the publisher for once against selecting me and providing me with this ARC.]
September 6, 2018
Full Disclosure Notice - I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher as part of their Mitch Rapp Ambassador program.
Madmen are rarely credited with making rational decisions. When they are global leaders like Russian president Maxim Krupin, the absence of rational thought processes is magnified because of their effect on the rest of the world.
So it is little surprise that when he learns that he has inoperable brain cancer, he lashes out in what seems like completely insane ways. He moves to kill any of his rivals that may present a threat to him. And that is where Mitch Rapp eventually comes into the story.
The new Mitch Rapp thriller from Kyle Mills, 'Red War' marks another stunningly entertaining entry into this remarkably assured continuation of the Vince Flynn series.
With Krupin lashing out at those he considers rivals to his maniacal grasp on the power of the Russian leadership position, one of the first people marked for death is his former private assassin Grisha Azarov. Still living in Costa Rica, Grisha and his live in girlfriend are surprised to find themselves under attack by his successor as Maxim's assassin and then subsequently rescued by Mitch Rapp. But it comes at a cost and Grisha's girlfriend is seriously hurt.
Bent on revenge, he sets out to kill Krupin. But the CIA doesn't understand what the Russian leader is doing because his moves make no sense and are completely out of character, even for him.
Meanwhile, his condition growing worse, Krupin turns to an old ally to help implement a desperate gambit that could bring the world to another global war.
Once the CIA learns what's really going on with Krupin, Mitch is tasked to go undercover in Russia, find Krupin and kill him in order to avoid a death total numbering in the millions. A task easier said than done when the Russian leader has hidden himself away in as isolated a part of the country as possible.
The action scenes in the book are on an ever rising peak. When the bullets are flying, you feel like you are in the middle of the action. Kyle Mills does such a grand job of characterization that you can almost see the story unfolding through whichever character happens to be providing the point of view for the chapters.
Reprehensible as he is, Krupin is given such attention that you can't help but be repulsed by his actions both political and medical. He's aided/guided/led by Andrei Sokolov, an old communist still stuck on the idea of returning to the glory days of the Soviet Union. Presented with a fascinating sense of immediacy, you watch as things inevitably devolve in the face of the growing reality of their situation.
As for Mitch, the work Kyle Mills continues to do on Rapp is amazing. Now stuck somewhere between being the greatest special ops man in history and a surprisingly growing domestic side with Claudia Gould and her young daughter, the evolution of this character keeps bringing me back for more on both sides of the storytelling ledger. Despite all the obstacles he faces in trying to save the world yet again, it struck me funny that his most stubborn opposition in this story was Anna, Claudia's 7 year old horse obsessed daughter.
All in all, Kyle Mills has once again come up with a story that maintains the series position at the top of the spy thriller genre. And frankly, widens the lead between itself and every other series out there.
This is the perfect read for those of us who can't get enough of the "blood, bodies and bullets" thriller genre!
Madmen are rarely credited with making rational decisions. When they are global leaders like Russian president Maxim Krupin, the absence of rational thought processes is magnified because of their effect on the rest of the world.
So it is little surprise that when he learns that he has inoperable brain cancer, he lashes out in what seems like completely insane ways. He moves to kill any of his rivals that may present a threat to him. And that is where Mitch Rapp eventually comes into the story.
The new Mitch Rapp thriller from Kyle Mills, 'Red War' marks another stunningly entertaining entry into this remarkably assured continuation of the Vince Flynn series.
With Krupin lashing out at those he considers rivals to his maniacal grasp on the power of the Russian leadership position, one of the first people marked for death is his former private assassin Grisha Azarov. Still living in Costa Rica, Grisha and his live in girlfriend are surprised to find themselves under attack by his successor as Maxim's assassin and then subsequently rescued by Mitch Rapp. But it comes at a cost and Grisha's girlfriend is seriously hurt.
Bent on revenge, he sets out to kill Krupin. But the CIA doesn't understand what the Russian leader is doing because his moves make no sense and are completely out of character, even for him.
Meanwhile, his condition growing worse, Krupin turns to an old ally to help implement a desperate gambit that could bring the world to another global war.
Once the CIA learns what's really going on with Krupin, Mitch is tasked to go undercover in Russia, find Krupin and kill him in order to avoid a death total numbering in the millions. A task easier said than done when the Russian leader has hidden himself away in as isolated a part of the country as possible.
The action scenes in the book are on an ever rising peak. When the bullets are flying, you feel like you are in the middle of the action. Kyle Mills does such a grand job of characterization that you can almost see the story unfolding through whichever character happens to be providing the point of view for the chapters.
Reprehensible as he is, Krupin is given such attention that you can't help but be repulsed by his actions both political and medical. He's aided/guided/led by Andrei Sokolov, an old communist still stuck on the idea of returning to the glory days of the Soviet Union. Presented with a fascinating sense of immediacy, you watch as things inevitably devolve in the face of the growing reality of their situation.
As for Mitch, the work Kyle Mills continues to do on Rapp is amazing. Now stuck somewhere between being the greatest special ops man in history and a surprisingly growing domestic side with Claudia Gould and her young daughter, the evolution of this character keeps bringing me back for more on both sides of the storytelling ledger. Despite all the obstacles he faces in trying to save the world yet again, it struck me funny that his most stubborn opposition in this story was Anna, Claudia's 7 year old horse obsessed daughter.
All in all, Kyle Mills has once again come up with a story that maintains the series position at the top of the spy thriller genre. And frankly, widens the lead between itself and every other series out there.
This is the perfect read for those of us who can't get enough of the "blood, bodies and bullets" thriller genre!
September 16, 2018
Mitch Rapp is back in Red War in what I believe to be Kyle Mills’ best work yet. A task I didn’t think was possible after my personal favorite Order to Kill since taking over writing duties in 2014 for the series. Red War starts off with the Russian President Maxim Krupin watching his country evolve into something a little more daring, something that just a few years ago would have been unthinkable. The “pampered” new generation is growing stronger and their numbers increasing while Krupin barely sees through blurred vision and the increasing waves of nausea he keeps experiencing literally force him to sit down as he loses his balance. All due to health issues he is forced to hide from his country, his government, even those closest to him as to not show any weakness they may be able to exploit. All of this to paint a desperate man utilizing drastic measures to cling to power.
Starting off with Grisha Azarov, the Russian super-soldier created by Kyle Mills in OTK returns and is quite a changed man. No longer is he taking performance enhancing drugs and training regularly, no longer is he a calculating killer we met in OTK. Still very dangerous, but clearly not in peak physical shape. Or I should say not in the peak physical shape he is used to. Once in the book, due to all the events that have occurred, Grisha is questioning his ability to operate. Mitch is trying to get to the bottom of it, attempting to see if this is pure mental drawback or if he is truly lacking in the physical arena. So, Mitch asks him something along the lines of… “What are we talking about here, Grisha. Could you still run a marathon? Grisha responds with “Of Course.” “How fast?” Mitch asks. Grisha does his terminator thing and calculates a precise time that is literally 50% faster than the average time of U.S. marathon runs in 2016, and 13 minutes slower than the current marathon record holder. (yes, I googled that for this review). Suffice to say, he is still one of the top operators in the world and I look forward to more of Grisha Azarov in future Mitch Rapp thrillers.
Now, on to the main guy, Mitch. Kyle does a wonderful job keeping the attention on him and keeping our favorite American Assassin at the top of his game. In Red War, we get to see Mitch do something he hasn’t done in a very long time. He goes toe-to-toe with a very strong adversary, and our hero does not disappoint. All that training we read about so long ago in American Assassin, then mentioned briefly again in Act of Treason, his skills are still there, and Kyle does not disappoint. His humor, his tactics, his training are all explored and there is absolutely no sign of him slowing down any time soon.
Irene Kennedy is of course back, and she deserves a shout out due to a very impressive spy maneuver she executes that I did not see coming. When I am reading, there is nothing more fulfilling then being surprised in a scene. Kyle manages to do that quite a few times in Red War, however one of the most surprising scenes involve Irene visiting a traveling Russian politician in his hotel room.
Red War is a fast moving, action filled thriller that takes us from the jungles of Costa Rica, to the beaches in Latvia, to the dangerous terrains in Russia’s mountainous no man’s land while delivering constant surprises, action, and suspense. Kyle Mills has once again delivered what I believe to be this year’s number one thriller. Pre-order your copy today and set aside a day, this is one of those must-read thrillers that you cannot put down and must finish in one sitting.
Starting off with Grisha Azarov, the Russian super-soldier created by Kyle Mills in OTK returns and is quite a changed man. No longer is he taking performance enhancing drugs and training regularly, no longer is he a calculating killer we met in OTK. Still very dangerous, but clearly not in peak physical shape. Or I should say not in the peak physical shape he is used to. Once in the book, due to all the events that have occurred, Grisha is questioning his ability to operate. Mitch is trying to get to the bottom of it, attempting to see if this is pure mental drawback or if he is truly lacking in the physical arena. So, Mitch asks him something along the lines of… “What are we talking about here, Grisha. Could you still run a marathon? Grisha responds with “Of Course.” “How fast?” Mitch asks. Grisha does his terminator thing and calculates a precise time that is literally 50% faster than the average time of U.S. marathon runs in 2016, and 13 minutes slower than the current marathon record holder. (yes, I googled that for this review). Suffice to say, he is still one of the top operators in the world and I look forward to more of Grisha Azarov in future Mitch Rapp thrillers.
Now, on to the main guy, Mitch. Kyle does a wonderful job keeping the attention on him and keeping our favorite American Assassin at the top of his game. In Red War, we get to see Mitch do something he hasn’t done in a very long time. He goes toe-to-toe with a very strong adversary, and our hero does not disappoint. All that training we read about so long ago in American Assassin, then mentioned briefly again in Act of Treason, his skills are still there, and Kyle does not disappoint. His humor, his tactics, his training are all explored and there is absolutely no sign of him slowing down any time soon.
Irene Kennedy is of course back, and she deserves a shout out due to a very impressive spy maneuver she executes that I did not see coming. When I am reading, there is nothing more fulfilling then being surprised in a scene. Kyle manages to do that quite a few times in Red War, however one of the most surprising scenes involve Irene visiting a traveling Russian politician in his hotel room.
Red War is a fast moving, action filled thriller that takes us from the jungles of Costa Rica, to the beaches in Latvia, to the dangerous terrains in Russia’s mountainous no man’s land while delivering constant surprises, action, and suspense. Kyle Mills has once again delivered what I believe to be this year’s number one thriller. Pre-order your copy today and set aside a day, this is one of those must-read thrillers that you cannot put down and must finish in one sitting.
October 24, 2018
Kyle Mills has written another quality Mitch Rapp thriller. Russian president Krupin is ill, and when he finds out it could be terminal, he decides to create a legacy. First, he has his new enforcer try to kill his former enforcer, Azarov, who barely escapes from his Costa Rican home, with Rapp's assistance, leaving Azarov's girlfriend clinging to life. Then, Krupin recruits a disgraced military man to lead an attack on the Baltics, to undermine NATO and restore some semblance of Russian glory. Mitch and Azarov go to see one of the Russian oligarchs to gather intelligence only to find themselves fighting an elite division of killers. Irene Kennedy, Mitch & Company, manage to figure out Krupin's game, and after a brief appearance in the war zone, Mitch heads to Russia to help Azarov remove Krupin, which is accomplished by backtracking doctors and patients. Would have been 4 stars, but a few too many leaps of faith and escapes from certain death for my taste.
September 28, 2018
Full disclosure I was given a free advance copy of this book for an honest review. I was super excited to get this book in my hands, and it didn’t disappoint. Russian President Maxim Krupin has a brian tumor that threatens his control of Russia. He is out to eliminate his competition while drawing the West into World War III. Mitch Rapp is called on to save the day.
Mr. Mills wastes no time getting into the action as there is a major action scene twenty pages in. This book is a page turner. I didn’t want to put it down. I love that Mr. Mills brought Grisha Avarov (the former Russian version of Mitch Rapp) back for a third straight book. He is an extremely interesting and fun character that only adds to tthe readers enjoyment.
The plot was amazing. I love the idea of Maxim Krupin having a brain tumor that makes him even more aggressive and ruthless. Thrusting Rapp and Scott Coleman into the middle of the war was a great storyline. I also loved the Grisha Avarov story. I know I like everyone else had concerns with someone taking over the series, but Mr. Mills has maintained and possibly elevated the series.
Fans of the Mitch Rapp series will not be disappointed picking up this book. If you haven’t read any of the series, no time is better than the present. If you are looking for an intense action filled thriller, Red War is the book for you.
Mr. Mills wastes no time getting into the action as there is a major action scene twenty pages in. This book is a page turner. I didn’t want to put it down. I love that Mr. Mills brought Grisha Avarov (the former Russian version of Mitch Rapp) back for a third straight book. He is an extremely interesting and fun character that only adds to tthe readers enjoyment.
The plot was amazing. I love the idea of Maxim Krupin having a brain tumor that makes him even more aggressive and ruthless. Thrusting Rapp and Scott Coleman into the middle of the war was a great storyline. I also loved the Grisha Avarov story. I know I like everyone else had concerns with someone taking over the series, but Mr. Mills has maintained and possibly elevated the series.
Fans of the Mitch Rapp series will not be disappointed picking up this book. If you haven’t read any of the series, no time is better than the present. If you are looking for an intense action filled thriller, Red War is the book for you.
September 26, 2018
With all that’s going on in Russia today, Kyle Mills delves into a relevant and frightening scenario. What if the Russian President is diagnosed with an inoperable brain cancer, with unfulfilled visions of the Motherland being brought back to her previous glory? If the illness is going to take him down, then what’s to stop him from confronting Europe in a ground war or even strategic nuclear missiles?
Yes, the only thing that might be able thwart these plans are the three most feared black ops men in the world… Mitch Rapp, Scott Coleman, and Grisha Azarov. Unlike previous encounters where, CIA Deputy Director, Irene Kennedy, can send her favorite operatives against rogue leaders or the Taliban, this time the enemy is stronger and the stakes are much greater… a potential World War 3 and a confrontation that could leave millions dead.
Kyle Mills is at his best in carrying on Vince Flynn’s legendary CIA counterterrorism agent, Mitch Rapp, in one of his most thrilling missions to date. If you are new to the series start with American Assassin. The good news is that you have 14 books in the series, the bad news is that you will have lots of sleepless nights!
Yes, the only thing that might be able thwart these plans are the three most feared black ops men in the world… Mitch Rapp, Scott Coleman, and Grisha Azarov. Unlike previous encounters where, CIA Deputy Director, Irene Kennedy, can send her favorite operatives against rogue leaders or the Taliban, this time the enemy is stronger and the stakes are much greater… a potential World War 3 and a confrontation that could leave millions dead.
Kyle Mills is at his best in carrying on Vince Flynn’s legendary CIA counterterrorism agent, Mitch Rapp, in one of his most thrilling missions to date. If you are new to the series start with American Assassin. The good news is that you have 14 books in the series, the bad news is that you will have lots of sleepless nights!
November 15, 2018
As Mills writes more books, they stray continually further away from the source material. Mills tries to shield this by removing Rapp from his own series. He seems blurrier and blurrier with every book.
In this one, the ruler of Russia finds out he is dying. Desperate to hang on to power, and having failed to appoint a successor, he hides his condition. He needs a distraction, so he decides to invade the Baltic countries, and recruits another madman to help.
Mitch and company have to figure things out and stop the war from escalating to a nuclear exchange.
In this one, the ruler of Russia finds out he is dying. Desperate to hang on to power, and having failed to appoint a successor, he hides his condition. He needs a distraction, so he decides to invade the Baltic countries, and recruits another madman to help.
Mitch and company have to figure things out and stop the war from escalating to a nuclear exchange.
October 11, 2018
review will follow shortly
July 10, 2021
Very timely subject matter. Setting that aside, I'm glad to see Russia become the villains of recent novels again. I'm beyond tired of religious extremists being the go-to antagonists of the genre. Maybe I'm showing my age—maybe it's just time to mix things up again.
In any case, Rapp is back. He's more of a team player than ever before. That seems like an evolution for the character as well. Some of the recent character shifts and turns become absolutely pivotal in this book. Mills manages this with a skill that demonstrates his intimate understanding of characters, some of which were his and some who predate his work on the series by many years. This is an interesting challenge for an author and I'm continually impressed.
Another 5-star release for the series!
In any case, Rapp is back. He's more of a team player than ever before. That seems like an evolution for the character as well. Some of the recent character shifts and turns become absolutely pivotal in this book. Mills manages this with a skill that demonstrates his intimate understanding of characters, some of which were his and some who predate his work on the series by many years. This is an interesting challenge for an author and I'm continually impressed.
Another 5-star release for the series!
November 23, 2021
I was given an advanced readers copy of Red War as part of the Mitch Rapp Ambassador program. I have been asked for a spoiler and quotation free honest review.
This novel written by Kyle Mills continues the Mitch Rapp series that was created by the late great Vince Flynn. Kyle Mills has done what I never thought could be done; he has continued the series without missing a beat. This book has it all and I can't wait for longtime fans and new readers to experience it. The book will be released on September 25th, but I urge you to preorder so you get your copy on release day.
This novel written by Kyle Mills continues the Mitch Rapp series that was created by the late great Vince Flynn. Kyle Mills has done what I never thought could be done; he has continued the series without missing a beat. This book has it all and I can't wait for longtime fans and new readers to experience it. The book will be released on September 25th, but I urge you to preorder so you get your copy on release day.
October 17, 2018
Pretty good but a little drawn out. Not bad considering it's not Vince!
April 9, 2022
I’ve been a fan of the Mitch Rapp series since I was a teenager, and had been putting off getting a copy of Red War for a few years as it’s different from most of the usual Mitch Rapp books, and I was amazed by it when I read it this year. It’s not the usual Rapp fare of counterterrorism thriller and takes a very Clancy-esque approach to the geo-political threat of Russia and NATO. What surprised me is that Red War faced the many real-world issues of the growing political divide in the top democratic countries in the world, and emerging rise of fascism and the polarization of internal politics in the US and the world. Kyle Mills handles it perfectly, without taking any sides, but valuing it as a real, existential issue that’s affecting everything in the world. The Mitch Rapp series has always been a reflection of the uncomfortable things in the real world, showing hard-edged tough yet smart heroism in the face of complex problems, without taking any sides or simplifying it in a bi-partisan manner.
In terms of plot, Red War has the fictional Russian president, Maxim Krupin, dying of cancer, who starts a war with his neighboring NATO countries to boost nationalistic agenda in order to stay in power amidst the chaos. Though that doesn’t sound like a Rapp story, he’s involved due to his connection to Grisha Azarov, Krupin’s former personal assassin, who has a complete character arc and feels like the protagonist in his own right. Azarov steals the show in multiple scenes and I’d happily read a spin-off series based on him.
Scott Coleman, Rapp’s longtime sidekick and tactical support, is recovering from the damage he suffered from Azarov a few books earlier, and is back in the fray in this book. He’s involved and in the action on full throttle in the Balkans, and has many hilarious moments. The action starts in Costa Rica where Rapp and Coleman’s operators intervene to save Azarov’s life from Krupin’s new super-assassin, and then moves completely to the Balkans and Russia. The Russian assassin who’s escaped his life of violence, suffers a personal tragedy and goes on a vengeful warpath against his former master at the Kremlin, but is faced with a younger, tougher, meaner version of himself in the form of Nikita Pushkin. Another major character, Andrei Sokolov, an exiled war criminal put in charge of Krupin’s war efforts, is a treat to read. He’s a badass, brilliant, psychotic, and yet a stoic and calculating tough villain, who’s probably more dangerous than Krupin in this book.
Though Rapp and Coleman are sent to Eastern Europe to help their guerrilla warfare strategy against the Russians, the ending has Rapp and Azarov teaming up to assassinate Krupin to put an end to the war. Dr. Irene Kennedy, Rapp’s boss and the legendary spymaster of this series has a vital role and memorable moments in this thriller where her smarts are as important as Rapp’s brawl to solve a delicate powder keg. Though this book has more action than most Rapp books combined, the drama is ever-present, and Rapp’s tough, no-bullshit personality that fans have come to love is still the same. Kyle Mills’ Rapp books tend to be more actiony and fast-paced compared to Vince Flynn’s drama-heavy narratives, but I’ve come to enjoy both for their strengths. The one-liners, dry comedy, and the emotionally heavy moments that could be found in Flynn’s writing are still present in Red War and they’re developing for the better.
The book was short compared to some of the action thrillers I’ve recently read, but a lot happens in it. Rapp’s relationship with Claudia and his attempts at a domestic life with her and Anna is weird but fun to read. He balances his civilized and warrior side, despite all the problems he faces and it’s portrayed quite well. Though I’d like to see more of Rapp and Coleman working together, Azarov is an amazing well fleshed out character who is an awesome antihero I’d be interested to read more about if there ever was a spin-off series. Fans of the old Mitch Rapp books and new readers of actions thrillers alike will love Red War and have a good time with it.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
In terms of plot, Red War has the fictional Russian president, Maxim Krupin, dying of cancer, who starts a war with his neighboring NATO countries to boost nationalistic agenda in order to stay in power amidst the chaos. Though that doesn’t sound like a Rapp story, he’s involved due to his connection to Grisha Azarov, Krupin’s former personal assassin, who has a complete character arc and feels like the protagonist in his own right. Azarov steals the show in multiple scenes and I’d happily read a spin-off series based on him.
Scott Coleman, Rapp’s longtime sidekick and tactical support, is recovering from the damage he suffered from Azarov a few books earlier, and is back in the fray in this book. He’s involved and in the action on full throttle in the Balkans, and has many hilarious moments. The action starts in Costa Rica where Rapp and Coleman’s operators intervene to save Azarov’s life from Krupin’s new super-assassin, and then moves completely to the Balkans and Russia. The Russian assassin who’s escaped his life of violence, suffers a personal tragedy and goes on a vengeful warpath against his former master at the Kremlin, but is faced with a younger, tougher, meaner version of himself in the form of Nikita Pushkin. Another major character, Andrei Sokolov, an exiled war criminal put in charge of Krupin’s war efforts, is a treat to read. He’s a badass, brilliant, psychotic, and yet a stoic and calculating tough villain, who’s probably more dangerous than Krupin in this book.
Though Rapp and Coleman are sent to Eastern Europe to help their guerrilla warfare strategy against the Russians, the ending has Rapp and Azarov teaming up to assassinate Krupin to put an end to the war. Dr. Irene Kennedy, Rapp’s boss and the legendary spymaster of this series has a vital role and memorable moments in this thriller where her smarts are as important as Rapp’s brawl to solve a delicate powder keg. Though this book has more action than most Rapp books combined, the drama is ever-present, and Rapp’s tough, no-bullshit personality that fans have come to love is still the same. Kyle Mills’ Rapp books tend to be more actiony and fast-paced compared to Vince Flynn’s drama-heavy narratives, but I’ve come to enjoy both for their strengths. The one-liners, dry comedy, and the emotionally heavy moments that could be found in Flynn’s writing are still present in Red War and they’re developing for the better.
The book was short compared to some of the action thrillers I’ve recently read, but a lot happens in it. Rapp’s relationship with Claudia and his attempts at a domestic life with her and Anna is weird but fun to read. He balances his civilized and warrior side, despite all the problems he faces and it’s portrayed quite well. Though I’d like to see more of Rapp and Coleman working together, Azarov is an amazing well fleshed out character who is an awesome antihero I’d be interested to read more about if there ever was a spin-off series. Fans of the old Mitch Rapp books and new readers of actions thrillers alike will love Red War and have a good time with it.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
July 30, 2019
Probably three and a half stars for me. The only problem for me the slow ending otherwise a good read . Mitch Rapp has been my first spy that I enjoy, so any book in the series is a great one for me personally. Recommended for action spy thriller fans.
April 7, 2020
STORY
High-stakes, fast-paced, and intriguing premise. I enjoyed the idea of Russia stirring up World War III and it was well-executed, I think.
While the story was solid, I still had a hard time enjoying the actual premise because of the new characters helping run the show. So, yes, I enjoyed the story, but still have squabbles with how it came to play.
THEMES
Like Enemy of the State, this novel didn't resonate too deeply with me, which is uncommon. The themes were there--patriotism, loyalty, courage--but still felt underplayed by more mindless drama, in my opinion.
CHARACTERS
I feel like this novel put Grisha up front and center... I'm not here for Grisha. I'm here for Rapp and his team. It kinda felt like we were following Grisha and he couldn't do things alone, so, since he was loyal, Rapp teams up to help. I loved the mission of killing Krupin. But I wasn't a fan of Grisha's drama along the way.
I mean, don't get me wrong. Grisha having his own series, sure, sounds cool. But when he came onto the scene, I expected an epic enemies trope--he and Rapp clashed heads, fought, maybe not ending in one dead, but the tension was there. Instead, they're buds, they work together, and it's not what I expected out of Rapp... Especially when we lost a bit of Rapp's POV in this novel.
We also kinda lost a lot of Irene's thunder, too. I kind of miss her.
Claudia is still very annoying. The gaping issue is how ironic that Grisha was ready to turn away from the fight because he might endanger things... Meanwhile, Claudia is in the playing field, as if Rapp and Co. hasn't risked everything to keep her out of danger. It just doesn't make much sense to me. It is frustrating. It feels like Claudia has to be some perfect balance and perfect character, not Anna, not Donatella, and it's just annoying because... I mean, she was the FIRST one in Consent to Kill to WANT a different life. I don't get why she's turning back. Especially when it can risk Anna. And, once again, Rapp isn't one to meddle personal life with business and that's what's happening.
I guess none of the team remembers how Rapp left 'em in the last book? No hard feelings--but dang, isn't brotherhood about teasing and pranks? They're missing opportunities to show the love! That said, the Team was by far the best part of the book, of course. Coleman had me dying (page 256-7 are ICONIC) and I just love my boys. Goodness.
On the note of characters... Krupin was interesting. I would've liked Pushkin to live on (and it didn't make sense for ) but alas.
CONTENT
R. Heavy swearing. Descriptions of violence, gore, nudity, blood.
OVERALL
Pretty good. At this point, though, I'm really only interested in Coleman and Co. If they die, so do I.
High-stakes, fast-paced, and intriguing premise. I enjoyed the idea of Russia stirring up World War III and it was well-executed, I think.
While the story was solid, I still had a hard time enjoying the actual premise because of the new characters helping run the show. So, yes, I enjoyed the story, but still have squabbles with how it came to play.
THEMES
Like Enemy of the State, this novel didn't resonate too deeply with me, which is uncommon. The themes were there--patriotism, loyalty, courage--but still felt underplayed by more mindless drama, in my opinion.
CHARACTERS
I feel like this novel put Grisha up front and center... I'm not here for Grisha. I'm here for Rapp and his team. It kinda felt like we were following Grisha and he couldn't do things alone, so, since he was loyal, Rapp teams up to help. I loved the mission of killing Krupin. But I wasn't a fan of Grisha's drama along the way.
I mean, don't get me wrong. Grisha having his own series, sure, sounds cool. But when he came onto the scene, I expected an epic enemies trope--he and Rapp clashed heads, fought, maybe not ending in one dead, but the tension was there. Instead, they're buds, they work together, and it's not what I expected out of Rapp... Especially when we lost a bit of Rapp's POV in this novel.
We also kinda lost a lot of Irene's thunder, too. I kind of miss her.
Claudia is still very annoying. The gaping issue is how ironic that Grisha was ready to turn away from the fight because he might endanger things... Meanwhile, Claudia is in the playing field, as if Rapp and Co. hasn't risked everything to keep her out of danger. It just doesn't make much sense to me. It is frustrating. It feels like Claudia has to be some perfect balance and perfect character, not Anna, not Donatella, and it's just annoying because... I mean, she was the FIRST one in Consent to Kill to WANT a different life. I don't get why she's turning back. Especially when it can risk Anna. And, once again, Rapp isn't one to meddle personal life with business and that's what's happening.
I guess none of the team remembers how Rapp left 'em in the last book? No hard feelings--but dang, isn't brotherhood about teasing and pranks? They're missing opportunities to show the love! That said, the Team was by far the best part of the book, of course. Coleman had me dying (page 256-7 are ICONIC) and I just love my boys. Goodness.
On the note of characters... Krupin was interesting. I would've liked Pushkin to live on (and it didn't make sense for ) but alas.
CONTENT
R. Heavy swearing. Descriptions of violence, gore, nudity, blood.
OVERALL
Pretty good. At this point, though, I'm really only interested in Coleman and Co. If they die, so do I.
October 11, 2018
Copy received from publisher for an honest review
This is the first book I have read of this series, so I know I am going to have missed a lot of the nuances of the Vince Gill/Kyle Mills/Mitch Rapp universe.
I was intrigued with the mad Russian leader, the dealings with the Ukraine and the baltic states. Very today's world, and with those in charge at the moment, WW3 could be around the corner.
I was kept on the edge of my seat, wondering with the turn of each page how Rapp and his men would fare.
Now, I don't know if it is like this in other books, however it did feel more like an Azarov story than a Rapp story? Grisha Azarov was very much front and centre of this story and at times it was like Rapp was not there at all -this could just be me though since I have come to the story so late?
Suspenseful and action packed, I did enjoy my first foray into Mitch Rapp-landia, and I will read more in the future (and eventually get back to where it all began).
This is the first book I have read of this series, so I know I am going to have missed a lot of the nuances of the Vince Gill/Kyle Mills/Mitch Rapp universe.
I was intrigued with the mad Russian leader, the dealings with the Ukraine and the baltic states. Very today's world, and with those in charge at the moment, WW3 could be around the corner.
I was kept on the edge of my seat, wondering with the turn of each page how Rapp and his men would fare.
Now, I don't know if it is like this in other books, however it did feel more like an Azarov story than a Rapp story? Grisha Azarov was very much front and centre of this story and at times it was like Rapp was not there at all -this could just be me though since I have come to the story so late?
Suspenseful and action packed, I did enjoy my first foray into Mitch Rapp-landia, and I will read more in the future (and eventually get back to where it all began).
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