IN THE NEXT THRILLER IN THE NUMBER ONE 'NEW YORK TIMES' BEST-SELLING MITCH RAPP SERIES, IT'S A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK WHEN ISIS TAKES OUT THE ENTIRE US POWER GRID AND THROWS THE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS.
When Mitch Rapp captures ISIS's top technology expert, he reveals that he was on his way to meet a man who claims to have the ability to bring down America's power grid. Rapp is determined to eliminate this shadowy figure, but the CIA's trap fails.
The agency is still trying to determine what went wrong when ISIS operatives help this cyber terrorist do what he said he could - plunge the country into darkness. With no concept of how this unprecedented act was accomplished, the task of getting the power back on could take months. Perhaps even years.
Rapp and his team embark on a desperate search for the only people who know how to repair the damage - the ones responsible. But his operating environment is like nothing he's experienced before. Computers and communication networks are down, fuel can no longer be pumped from gas stations, water and sanitation systems are on the brink of collapse, and the supply of food is running out.
Can Rapp get the lights back on before America Descends irretrievably into chaos?
This compulsive thriller proves once again that the Mitch Rapp series is "the best of the best when it comes to the world of special ops" (Booklist, starred review).
I 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...
I am one of those people who was disappointed by some recent Mitch Rapp books. To be honest, I wasn't totally enthused when I started reading "Total Power", preparing for another disappointment.
Wrong! This book turns out to be a really good and an exciting one. A believable threat of major blackout across the USA. Only wish there were more Mitch action. If you said that you're done with this series, try this one!!
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kyle Mills, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Kyle Mills continues to impress as he extends the series first created by Vince Flynn. Taking the terror threat to American soil, Mitch Rapp is forced to work against the clock with a weapon few would likely have considered, against a terrorist who holds all the cards. When whispers of a new ISIS threat reaches Mitch Rapp, he and his team slink off to Spain to intercept those who are said to be responsible. Back in Washington, a congressional committee receives a detailed report from the Department of Energy, outlining the ramifications of a complete takeover of the power grid system and a request for additional money to prevent this. While many scoff at the possibility, someone in the shadows has been orchestrating just such an act and is prepared to flip the proverbial switch. When Rapp and his team complete what they hope will be a strong delay tactic for any local strike, they soon learn the sleight of hand has failed. A secondary cell is at work to begin knocking the power grid offline, which could take years to fix and leave the country completely without power. This would not only mean use of candles and generators, but also the need to scour for food, petrol, and even basic plumbing. Americans would surely not survive long after losing this essential part of their lives. As the power goes out on Christmas Day, panic ensues and Rapp is sent in to find the culprit and determine how to fix this. As a Russian operative seeks answers as well, she knows that she will be hunted down, knowing the person behind the entire operation. Things take a nasty turn as the temperature drops and Rapp must race to procure a set of codes to bring things back on-line, or wait like the rest of the country to die a horrible death. Thought-provoking and chilling in equal measure, Mills has certainly outdone himself with this piece. Recommended to those who have long enjoyed the Mitch Rapp series, as well as readers who like terror thrillers with a unique perspective.
Having long enjoyed Mitch Rapp’s adventures, I had hoped that there would be another waiting for me in this book. Kyle Mills did not disappoint at all, choosing something that resonates closer to home and proves to be even more destructive. Mitch Rapp is back in the driver’s seat, serving as a protagonist without humour or patience. He has lived a long life of protecting his country and it is time to do it again. Seeking a quieter life, the reader sees some of his personal life coming together, though there is always the rough exterior that serves as a protective shell. Rapp is here to do a job and that’s what he will do, leaving much character development and backstory to others. The handful of secondary characters serve the story well, offering insights not only into plot development, but also the intricacies of such a unique (and horrific) terror plot. The reader can see how all the perspectives come together, creating a strong story that still has a sense of realistic portrayal. The story itself was quite strong and held my attention throughout. I enjoyed the descriptions of the fallout from power loss and how America (and parts of Canada, connected to the grid) would be completely devastated. Mills has surely done his research and keeps the story on point, sending chills up the spines of those readers who choose to personalise what they read. As the Rapp series continues to inch along and there is surely some discussion about how to tie things off, Mills offers new life to a character who has seen and done most everything. I’m eager to see what transpires in the next few years and how this series will evolve or come to a solid conclusion.
Kudos, Mr Mills, for a winner in the midst of a busy series. I hope you have a few more ideas, as I am always eager to see what Mitch Rapp will discover next.
Another un-Vince Flynn like novel featuring Mitch Rapp in an apocalyptic and muddled setting. Where's Fade 2 Kyle Mills? "Fade" is easily your best. 2 of 10 stars
TOTAL POWER (Mitch Rapp Book #19) by Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills is the latest thriller in the Mitch Rapp series and Kyle Mills continues to prove he was the right choice to take on this series after the death of Vince Flynn. The premise of the terror attack in this story is still theorized frequently and it is truly scary to picture the post-apocalyptic world in this book.
As Congress debates the perceived danger and the costs to fix and update the U.S. power grid, an expert in the field is shopping the destruction of that grid to our foreign adversaries. While he has the computer expertise, he needs some armed assistance on the ground in eliminating a few strategic power stations. When Mitch and his team are sent to intercept an international terrorist, they hope the plot is done, but it was only a decoy and the power grid goes off-line over the entire country on Christmas Eve.
Now as the government is in bunkers and the country begins to descend into anarchy as there is no longer a safety structure and it is every man for himself, Mitch and his team work to chase down the man responsible and get the codes that could begin to bring the power back on-line.
I could not put this new Mitch Rapp down! The premise is as realistic as it comes and having lived through the blackout of 2003, I could imagine each sequence of events occurring the longer the power was out. Mr. Mills research is evident throughout the story without it ever overpowering the action/thriller aspect of the story. All of the secondary characters play important roles in this story as they come together to survive the loss of power and work to navigate their new circumstances without all the state-of-the-art help that in one way or another relies on electrical power.
Mr. Mills has Mitch by the end of this book thinking several times about his future or lack thereof. He also shows Mitch becoming more comfortable with his family life and surrounding friends. Will Mitch eventually be able to retire with his loved ones or will he be taken out while once again protecting our freedom and way of life? I hope for the first with a new generation of protectors to take his place, but only Mr. Mills knows.
I highly recommend this action packed and thrilling new Mitch Rapp!
Kyle Mills (Author) - Total Power (Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp Series #19) Audiobook 09:28 Hours - Narrator George Guidall
Kyle Mills has done well, because this book, to me at least, sounds indistinguishable from all the Mitch Rapp books written by Vince Flynn. The gravelly voice of George Guidall helps maintain the myth, but the book is nothing to get excited about. It's lack of credibility means it barely scrapes in as 2.0-Stars. (Edited 30/09/2022 to reflect changing 2.5-Stars down to 2.0-Stars)
The long-awaited Mitch Rapp novel, TOTAL POWER BY Kyle Mills is in bookstores, the perfect birthday or holiday gift. This is definitely one you will want to order. It’s that good! And it could be hard to find copy!
We left Mitch in LETHAL AGENT fighting for his life against a Covid style virus, weaponized to kill massive numbers of Americans. Sound familiar? Perhaps readers should pay stricter attention to what is written in thriller novels.These books are heavily researched,with leading world authorities consulted. It’s not make believe. The same may be said for TOTAL POWER as even I have read the information discussed by Congress on the vulnerability of the electrical grid. General Anthony Tata wrote a couple of books dealing with the electrical grid subject to attack. Many of the facts are real, especially the aftermath. All families should be prepared for emergencies like this.
In the opening chapters, Mitch still has occasional bouts of coughing. Though still in his prime, it’s still a reminder that time is passing. Scott Coleman, lead posse member, took out arch enemy Halabi after this evil spawn of Satan nearly cost Mitch his life. They are now on the hunt for the sub lieutenants. In particular, Muhammad Nahas, one who is US trained as a member of the Iraqi Special Forces. An IT specialist associated with Nahas has appeared on CIA radar in Madrid, and the hunt begins to trace Nahas movements.
Kyle Mills has become talented in creating a visual scene of the scenarios to be played out. The interplay and character description are highly amusing and will please readers. It’s a side not seen in Mills’ writing before- a flippancy.
Mitch has not counted on the Russians coming into play. But they have as evidenced by a Russian secret cell being activated and conducting its own investigation of this genius megalomaniac who seeks to take down the electric grid for revenge and the exquisite pleasure of having TOTAL POWER over the world’s leading nation. TOTAL POWER is not just about taking down the total US electrical grid, it’s the sense of total power experienced by this brilliant,Machiavellian psychopath.
The author is more attuned to the real feelings Special Ops experience while positioned, waiting for their prey to appear for takedown. The reader sees what site selection and preparation entails, the carefully considered layout of how to take the enemy out, examining a variety of scenarios playing out. Then there is the endless wait, seated in one position, scope to eye, waiting, sometimes up to 24-30 hrs regardless of weather conditions or terrain. It’s a realistic portrayal of what an operation entails, the hyper attention paid to every sound, every flicker of movement, the icy cold or smothering heat endured, the crap nourishment or lack thereof.
The tracking, tracing, and stalking of the enemy plays out. At one point, the roles are reversed, the Hunter becomes the hunted. Mitch is going to have to learn how to dodge and duck better if he is to make it to the end of this mission.
A Russian sleeper agent plays an interesting and integral role as she inadvertently discovers the true identity of this treasonous American, tracks him to his lair and does the unexpected. An interesting, personal scenario arises with one of the Posse.
As expected in such a crisis, all hell breaks loose when the electrical grid goes down and stays down. People are fleeing, running out of food and water, running out of gas; rioting starts with roving gangs attacking, killing, stealing everything they can. Anarchy. This is the future we all will experience if the electrical grid goes down due to any kind of catastrophe and it behooves us to read carefully, pay attention, and prepare. Now.
As expected, Washington DC thinks only of itself. The President, Cabinet and Congressmen have retreated to underground bunkers in West Virginia. It is the Leona Helmsley syndrome of entitlement - the “do you know who I am?” at its finest. I got a certain vicarious thrill from Mitch laying out a Senator with a well placed punch, then locking the gates and driving off without a backward glance.
How does the outgoing American President handle a situation like this? He determines who can profit the most and puts pressure on the Russians who ultimately roll over. The hunt really begins now for the treasonous psychopath and the desperate need to keep him alive. From the mountains of western Virginia to the Deep South, it is an arduous journey filled with death, misery, injury and a determination to rebuild the downed electrical grid, bit by bit.
Some may find Rapp’s end solution to be unsettling, and wrong. Not me! I came to the exact same conclusions as Mitch. The nation has endured enough.
Mills has perfected the art of sardonic, sarcastic, smart ass side comments we all love. He has developed a deeper sense of character in each of the individuals, revealing their thoughts, feelings, and shortcomings. Most of all, the satisfaction of mission success. And even every now and then, a surprise- an old lady who really knows how to kick ass as well as Scott or Mas.
TOTAL POWER is everything you read a thriller for - a villain to despise, the realities of execution of a mission, the tracing, tracking, the hunt, attack and takedown. There are firefights, death, loss of friends, triumphs and regrets. Even a little sidebar romance.
Mitch Rapp continues on to the next thriller adventure. Even with some of the darker moments, I loved this superb novel! I await with anticipation to see where Kyle Mills leads us next. Sheer entertainment and an exceptional job in preparing Americans for their worst nightmare. Kudos!
Well, I guess you could say that my review of the book is best summed up in the form of a limerick:
Rightfully named Total Power, This book keeps you up past the hour. Turning the lights on above, with the friends we readers love, Mitch Rapp makes the mastermind cower.
A book to be devoured, Mills delivers raw power. Not to be passed, this book's message will last: Without Rapp, the future looks dour.
The publication of Total Power is no doubt one of the best things to happen in 2020! You can here our full two-episode review of the book on No Limits: A Mitch Rapp Podcast on all podcast players!
Total Power was my most awaited action thriller of 2020, and I couldn’t have imagined it to be this spectacular. I burned through the pages in essentially one sitting and I have not done that for any book yet. The incredibly well-handled fast pace of the book deserves a one-sitting read.
Mitch Rapp books are no strangers to scaring readers with plausible horrific scenarios, some often taking shape in reality in some form or way (Lethal Agent and Coronavirus). What if this time around Mitch Rapp couldn’t stop the horrible event from happening? THAT is Total Power. The sheer brilliance of the story and the events that unfold are testament to Kyle Mills’ praiseworthy efforts to keep Mitch Rapp on the throne of the action thriller genre. Total Power involves a sinister plot to target the US power grids which end up plunging the entire country into darkness and utter chaos. Mitch Rapp operates in the dark quite literally this time around, no longer in the sun baked deserts of Middle East, but on his home turf in US. This time around Mitch Rapp can’t prevent the attack, but he must fix it. How he does it, is quite unconventional and an absolute mind-blowing experience to read. The mission parameters are unlike any before. The hiccups and difficulties in restoring the power of an entire country before it all implodes make Rapp's life all the more difficult.
Every time I read a Mitch Rapp book, I tell myself this is the most awesome Mitch Rapp can get. Total Power continues the tradition of dissuading me of this illusion. Total Power is all the evidence one needs to realize Mitch Rapp is still on top of the game. The action sequences are top-notch with adrenaline-inducing descriptions of the sequences and WOW factors throughout. Mitch Rapp is still just as lethal with his trusty suppressed Glock 19. There are moments of sheer awe where Rapp deals with his adversaries in some of the coolest and badass ways I have ever read.
One of the many enjoyable aspects of Total Power is the bond between Scott and Mitch. Total Power depicts their friendship and camaraderie wonderfully with great dialogues and conversations between the characters. Even with so many moving parts in the story, the interactions between Rapp and his allies make up a strong emotional anchor in a story about a wildly scary scenario.
The plot is an ingenious one with so many cogs working simultaneously to create the bigger picture. The cogs all connect as the pages fly by, combining each piece of the puzzle without overwhelming readers. The puzzle pieces are put together through a great combination of investigative works and careful deductions on the good guys’ part instead of convenient coincidences. The deductions and investigations allow for a great display of Mitch Rapp’s mental ingenuity in addition to his physical prowess and skills with firearms.
Total Power is undoubtedly a top contender for the best action thriller of 2020. The fast-pace, jarring narrative, heart-pumping action, sadistic plot, and legendary Mitch Rapp to put an end to the evil, all collectively make for an incredible read that will reverberate through the foreseeable future. Mitch Rapp is back and better than ever.
The DOE has hired a consultant to help identify weaknesses in the electric power grid, and our elected officials are too cheap to spend the $5 billion needed to protect it. So, an enterprising soul decides to offer America's doom to its competitors and adversaries, just for the satisfaction of seeing it done, eventually finding one. The culprit has infected the power companies computer systems with malware and his ally has sabotaged critical hardware, plunging the U.S. into darkness. Mitch is asked by the President to leave his haven to help find and punish the responsible parties, who themselves are bunkered down while America burns, planning to run to Mexico. Mitch rescues an unlikely source, who knows but has been unable to share the identity of the culprit with the FBI. The radio broadcaster is a great character in this one, commenting on the nation's collapse.
Each year I wait like a kid for Christmas for the new Mitch Rapp book. Once I have it, I’m of two minds: Do I rush through it, or do I savor it, like a fine wine, enjoying it in small sips. This year I was determined to take my time with Total Power, and I did for three days until I reached the point of I-can’t-put-this-down. So I stayed up until 4 a.m. because I had to finish the book. I’m not proud for yielding to my weaker self, but I am glad I did. Total Power concerns a plan to plunge America into prolonged darkness by bringing down the country’s power grid. We’ve all lived through brown-outs and blackouts that lasted a few hours, maybe even a few days. This plan would knock out everything for at least a year. Think of it: no computers, no communications, food and clean water would quickly become scarce commodities, and law enforcement would be virtually helpless. Kyle Mills has constructed a Doomsday scenario that is not all that far removed from reality. In an author’s note Mills states: “The terrifying thing about this book was how little I had to make up.” After Rapp and his team capture an ISIS tech expert, he learns of the diabolical plan, but before he can act, the scheme is set in motion. With neither time nor circumstances on their side, Rapp and his crew set out to find those responsible. I have read all the Mitch Rapp books, and this is the most frightening because it hits so close to home. The truly terrifying aspect of this book is that the picture it paints is not of some distant future America. Rather it is quite possibly the America of an hour from now. For anyone unfamiliar with Mitch Rapp, he is a CIA operative who knows only one way to do things – his way. The plots are tight, the characters well-developed and the resolutions realistic. Bottom line: If you’re not reading Mitch Rapp, you should be.
Tough-guy heroes - you know, the kind who get shot three times and have one broken arm but still can take down a cadre of well-armed ne'er-do-wells with only a length of rope and a pea shooter - always make great characters in my book. But I've never cared much when the action takes place in sandy, desolate and far-off countries like Afghanistan or Pakistan. So it is that for a while now, I've put two of my favorite authors - Brad Thor and Vince Flynn - on the back burner. Recently, I tried again, finishing Brad Thor's latest Near Dark and giving it a 5-star rating. Next up? This latest Vince Flynn - and it gets 5 stars as well.
Of course, Flynn didn't write it; the popular author passed away in 2013. Since then, the legacy has fallen under the pen of Kyle Mills, this being his sixth in the series featuring government-approved assassin Mitch Rapp. Honestly, I haven't read the other five, but if this is any example, he's doing an exemplary job. And this time, he picked a topic that's long been of considerable concern to me personally: the vulnerability of America's electric power grid. It's been speculated by those who know such things that if it were to be attacked in exactly the right (or maybe I should say wrong) way, the fallout (maybe I should say blackout) has the potential to bring the country to its knees.
And that's exactly the plan here. As the story begins, a man who has connections in high places is soliciting help from governments bent on causing harm to the United States; he has the means to put the power grid totally out of commission for the foreseeable future, but he needs the strong-arm help of a handful of willing individuals to pull it off. Meanwhile, Mitch is trying to capture another bad guy - and as it turns out, a bad guy who was on the way to meet up with the would-be grid destroyer.
The situation ends up taking a turn for the worse, though, and the lights go out. That's bad enough; but with no electrical power, not much of anything works. Not computers, not gasoline pumps, not ATMs and not refrigerators or sewage processing plants. Worse, the powers-that-be in Washington have no plan for bringing the system back to life. Enter Mitch and his crew, who are now charged with (pun intended) doing what the government can't: get to the bottom of the situation before half of the country gets hungry enough to start chowing down on the other half.
Needless to say, it's an action-packed adventure every step of the way, making for a very entertaining and engrossing 380 pages - and prompting my promise to myself not to miss the next one.
I loved reading it, Mitch Rapp is back and brings a different flavour to the series - credit to Kyle Mills for keeping the spirit running! My review can be found here https://rb.gy/qsygjj please visit, read and let me know your thoughts...
With all the action and excitement we've come to expect of a Mitch Rapp novel, Kyle Mills brings his absolutely best to Total Power.
America is thrown in to chaos when the weaknesses inherent in the modern world's dependency electricity is exposed. With the federal government handcuffed and hamstrung, individuals are left to their own survival and things spiral out of control exponential.
Like all great books in the thriller genre, Total Power not only bring the heat of incredible action sequences, but it gently forces the reader to examine what their response would be when faced with similar circumstances. As is Kyle Mills almost prophetic way, he establishes a very probable potential future and then takes Mitch on a physical and mental roller coaster ride with the reader buckled in next to him.
With hints of the philosophical dilemma of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" and the question of self reliance and resourcefulness we've come to expect from a Jack Carr novel, Kyle Mills continues to impress and amaze in every book he writes.
This is a fantastic book and you definitely want to get your hands on it.
A bit of a callback to Flynn's first novel, Term Limits, as congress fails to do its job, and creates a crisis. In this case, an insane technocrat takes down the electrical grid. The country nearly collapses. Mitch Rapp has to find the one responsible, even though he tends to be a lot better at killing than capturing.
Pretty good, but not as action packed as some books in the series.
Kyle Mills has done it again. This book actually scared me to death and still scares me. The truth is that our power grid is vulnerable to attack and this book made me want to write letters to lawmakers to make them read this and ensure more funds go to keeping our power grids secure. Absolutely wonderfully written book and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes books with a lot of action.
Really great plot idea. America is going dark and only Mitch Rapp can turn the lights back on. Kyle Mills writes a near-apocalyptic thriller that once again does the Rapp series justice. Highly recommended!
First of all as a long time Mitch Rapp fan I was happy to again be selected for the Mitch Rapp Ambassador program and be provided an ARC of this book due out on 9.15.20. Now into the review.
I knew going in that the newer entries into the series by Kyle Mills have been kind of up and down for me. I really liked last year's Lethal Agent, but I thought Red War was maybe the weakest in the series. Total Power is somewhere in between.
Kyle Mills is clearly developing his own style disinct from Vince's but it doesn't always work for me. I thought in this book the action was too tamed down with no really big battle scenes and a lot of the time Mitch not even doing that much. Part of the problem is the premise of the book. In an effort to be different this story has the big attack unfold at the beginning (not a spoiler cause it's in the blurb) so a lot of the tension is sucked out right away. Also, I found our big bad very underwhelming with his motivations not clearly explained. Also it felt like everyone was kind of dumb for not figuring out who was behind the attack right away.
All that being said there are still some nice Rapp moments here and there, and it was still a quick read. I never felt like quitting it. The premise was different and it takes place almost completely on US soil. It just felt like a weaker entry into the series.
I read this novel in two sittings and I could have easily done it in one, but I had to get up early the next day!
First, the release date is September 15, 2020 - so pre-order now! I received this advance reader copy in return as a Mich Rapp Ambassador, that I will read and give my honest opinion.
Kyle Mills has easily continued the Vince Flynn legacy (yet again) with an amazing story and has kept the Mich Rapp legend alive. However, for the first time I think the STORY and the premise, drew attention away from Rapp... but in a good way!
I will not post spoilers, especially before the release date, but the possibility of the sequence of events within the novel are plausible and not outrageous - and the consequences would be very real. That alone kept me turning pages, coupled with Mich Rapp... an amazing combination that will make this one of the top thriller novels for 2020 and definitely one of my favorite novels in the nineteen-book series.
So a lot of reviewers I respect did not give this book a very good review. And I guess I could see why, but that was last summer/fall.
Since then, we just lived through Texas' winter power outage than got scary/hairy with folks out just 24-48 hours in the frigid snow/ice. People, leaders, and agencies totally unprepared. The scenario in the book was a similar nationwide power outage that lasted for weeks, and forecasted for months that effected water, food, power, heat, travel....I thought the author, Mills, did a good job of capturing the utter helplessness of the government to help, fix, monitor, or govern in such a scenario and how quickly normal regular people will resort to crime and/or taking and scavenging when resources get scarce.
The pandemic and Texas' recent power issues have brought to light how precarious our communities sit on a vulnerable infrastructure. Also one of the final major scenes was a power plant in Bryan, TX where we used to fish in college (near Texas A&M), so even that and the description hit home to me personally.
So this one was more personal for me, I liked the book a lot.
I was lucky enough to be selected as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador and received an early copy of this book.
Kyle Mills continues to deliver home runs since taking over the Rapp series for the late Vince Flynn.
Total Power is a plausibly terrifying story of terrorists taking down America's power grid, and keeping it down. With rioting in major cities, water and sanitation systems failing, people are dying and the Government is not prepared to provide assistance. Mitch Rapp and his team must hunt down the terrorists responsible and try to reverse the damage before America descends into total chaos.
Without a doubt this is Mills best entry in in the Rapp universe and it will keep you up at night thinking "What if"...
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this book through the Mitch Rapp Ambassador Program. I thought it would be tough for Kyle Mills to "Up the Ante" after last year's Lethal Agent. Total Power is the "Real Deal" and is probably his best work, in the six books, he has penned in the Mitch Rapp series. Arguably, one of the best books of the year. I wrote that with Lethal Agent, Kyle had really found his voice in the series, and had hit his stride. With Total Power, he has shifted into overdrive and he is flying! This book hits you from the get go, and I challenge any fan of Mitch Rapp, or the thriller genre, to not read it in one sitting. There is plenty of action, intrigue and lots of Mitch.
It is eerie how close to home Kyle Mills hits with the topics of his stories. With the correlation from last year's Lethal Agent, and the COVID Pandemic we are currently facing, I hope that the topic of this one never comes to fruition. In Total Power, America is under a complete shutdown of the Nationwide electrical grid, brought about by a ruthless individual, who had some help from some external forces. No spoilers, but thank goodness Mitch Rapp is on our side.
This book is frighteningly real in concept, and according to some experts, could be a real-life scenario. I have a hard time if we lose power for a day or two. I can't imagine what it would be like to have it down for a year or more. Makes me want to watch a couple of those "prepper" shows.
Total Power is a great read, with a character we have all come to know and love in Mitch Rapp. Kyle Mills has taken this to a level that Mitch Rapp fans could have never imagined. It is timely, well written and I am so glad that he will continue to do so for, at least, three more books. Don't waste any time people. Go buy this book!
Hands down one of the best books of 2020!! This subject about our power grid can be pretty scary. Kyle Mills gave us a fictional yet plausible account as to what could happen if terrorists took out our power. At times I found myself using the internet and reading articles regarding our infrastructure. While reading this book, blackouts are occurring in spots all across the country, due to weather, storms and hurricanes, or rolling blackouts due to heat waves because civilians are overloading the grid just to stay cool.
This book is intense as it is fun! To see how Rapp and company handle this situation just shows that no matter what, whether it be a Lethal Agent (bioweapon) or a national power outage, they can still get the job done and save us all once again!
I can't recommend this book enough as well as the books that came before it! Mitch Rapp is still one of the baddest, and I was fortunate enough to get to read this one in advanced! Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills, and Mitch Rapp are headed for the #1 spot yet again once many more get the opportunity to read this book once it is released on September 15th!
I remember reading a short story in a general science textbook when I was in elementary school about the impact on the earth the moments after the sun is extinguished which haunted me for some time afterwards. The scenario presented in this book just finished made me reexperience that same anxiety, fear, and dread.
The premise of this thriller involves a massive cyberattack that cripples the entire U.S. power grid, plunging the nation into darkness and chaos. CIA agent and assassin Mitch Rapp must race against time to stop the culprits and find a way to restore power before the country collapses into total anarchy. The "what if" scenario is made so much more harrowing by the real-world vulnerabilities in the nation's power infrastructure.
If wasn't for this book being chosen by the book discussion group that I participate in, I would not have chosen this book, especially since it the 19th in a series, of which I have never read a single book. This genre isn't my cup of tea. Although I could read it as a standalone there is a much of the protagonist's and other characters' backstory that I missed not having read this series in order.
The search for the terrorists and the ongoing action kept me reading and I enjoyed the book, but not to the degree that I would read any others in this series.
This is the 19th in Vince Flynn's (continued very successfully by Kyle Mills after Flynn's passing) Mitch Rapp series. I have read them all and this is one of the best. Some series lose steam after awhile, but not Mitch Rapp. If you liked Rapp before, you'll like him even better in this book.
Mitch Rapp is awesome. Kyle Mills continues to impress on so many levels.
There are always the movies and books that you've read or watched that just seem to be eerily possible. We all know Hollywood spices things up, writers take certain things into their realm although they might not be that possible. What did you think of Red Dawn? Do you think the United States could be invaded, much less so easily? What about the simple things in life that you depend on day in and out. Have you ever considered how you would live without electricity, water, and food? Would you be able to survive the days, week and months that follow the initial loss of things so vital to you?
Kyle Mills presents this issue to us vividly, wide screen if you'll see it that way. What one thing does Mitch have that enables him to be the steely eyed killer of terrorists and the like? Electricity. It's his communications, transportation, ability to see things far away. He's now on a more even playing field without the ability to find what he's looking for in real time without his normal tools.
Mills is able to pull on his version of Rapp while blending in the humble and violent Flynn Rapp. This one is so believable that after reading I wanted to work on my families go bag, emergency kit, and food and water ration supply.
With the curiosity of how something like this could potentially happen, especially in America, just think of how many people are critical, highly sensitive, top tier jobs. They know things that would probably cause overwhelming panic among American citizens. Now think if just one person decided to take their knowledge and harm the United States. It's not that this storyline is just believable, it makes you think!!!
It makes you think, How will Mitch Rapp save us? How will Mitch Rapp rain down hell on these bad men. Then it all becomes clear. With the team that Rapp has worked with for years, his dedication to making this country safe, and to the people that have backed him up and given him the right tools to be the 'tip of the spear' he will make things right. Rapp is a unique character, he's been all over the world, today he's in his backyard, saving America.
5 stars and you couldn't convince it was any less!!!
Wow, all I can say is wow! Before I get to deep into Total Power, I must first let you know that I was chosen as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador. This means I received an ARC for an honest review of Total Power. If I was able to give more than five stars, I would. This is easily the top book of the sixty-three I have read or listened to so far this year.
America’s Power Grid is ancient and not well protected from physical or cyber terror. When Mitch captures a top ISIS tech guru, he finds out he was on his way to America to meet with a person who claims they can take down the power grid. Shortly after an attempt to ensnare this mysterious person in a trap fails, America goes dark. Mitch is left to track down the person responsible in an America that no one has ever seen with limited time to reverse the damage done before America ceases to exist.
The plot for Total Power is downright scary. It is like The Walking Dead without the zombies. Mitch is forced to work in a country that is thrown into chaos where it is survival of the fittest and laws are a thing of the past. It is a fascinating setting that Mr. Mills takes full advantage of. Imagine gangs running around cities with no law enforcement to keep them in check, water and food shortages, and no gas to drive your car.
I’m sure Vince is looking down and smiling with how Mr. Mills has carried on, and in some cases dare I say it, raised the bar for the Mitch Rapp series. I loved the balance Mr. Mills brought between action scenes (of which there are many) and the thrilling behind the scenes chase to find the responsible party. Both types of scenes kept the pages turning. The characters are well developed, and each have a well thought out purpose in the book or in some cases possibly setting up a role in a future book.
If you love a good thriller, pick this book up when it is available on September 15th. If you like a page turner, pick this book up when it is available on September 15th. If you have a pulse, pick this book up when it is available on September 15th. No matter what category you fall into, you won’t be disappointed!
Kyle Mills has done it again! A well-paced thriller of insane yet painfully believable proportions. If you enjoy thrillers with cool twists and relatable characters, look no more. The Rapp series delivers!
I enjoyed this plot and it was intriguing. C'mon! A post-apoc Rapp novel? I'm 100% game!
I also enjoyed the post-apoc vibes vs. the usual "government is the Biggest Baddie", which is the quota for thrillers, so this was a fun change!
THEMES
I adore the Rapp novels because of how strong the themes are. While the series went a bit apolitical since Mills took it over, I think because that's what's hot these days, Rapp really hit some tough points in this novel. The themes were stellar. The baddie was intriguing.
I looove the brotherhood bonds and this book was up to bar! I especially loved That Scene with Wicker. You know the one.
Also, the themes were really raised because of the situation. We see Mitch save people every day. We see him take lives. But this book pushed the point of... not everyone can be saved. What then? It was really enjoyable and moving!
CHARACTERS
Aaah. My favorite crew. All together and in immense danger. I love seeing the Rapp crew work together! This book didn't let me down!
I'm stilllll not sold on Claudia. *covers face* I know she's beloved in the Rappverse but I still wish that arc had been left alone after Consent to Kill so she's still driving me super insane. But I can put up with her, ha.
OVERALL
I loved this book! I was honored to be part of the Mitch Rapp Ambassador program in 2020 for this release. Super great thriller!
First off, thank you to Atria Books for selecting me as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador and allowing me to read an Advance Reader edition before the book is released on 9-15-20. Secondly, thank you Kyle Mills for the amazing work you are doing in continuing the Mitch Rapp saga. Well done!
Total Power for me was a two for one. Being a fan of both the Military/Political Thriller and the Post Apocalypse/WROL genres, Total Power was a grand slam on both counts.
On the Military/Political Thriller front, Kyle Mills continues to bring the reader back into the pulse pounding, adrenaline spiking, nerve wracking world of Mitch Rapp that Vince Flynn created.
On the Post Apocalypse/WROL front, Mr. Mills creates a scenario that is all too believable and will have the reader contemplate, "what if" in a completely understandable way.
I would highly recommend Total Power to anyone that is a fan of both the Military/Political Thriller and the Post Apocalypse/WROL genres, because Kyle Mills brings the best of both worlds into one book that will keep anyone up late at night, wanting to find out how Mitch Rapp is going to once again save the day, and bring America back from the brink of a truly Apocalyptic future.
A special thanks to Kyle Mills, Atria Mystery and BTS design for allowing me to have an Advanced Readers Copy of Total Power.
Trust me, you want to PreOrder. This book is available 9/15/20.
Kyle Mills does a superb job on writing and continuing on the Mitch Rapp thrillers.
This time, Mitch Rapp, Scott Coleman, and Irene Kennedy are too late to stop the attack on the US Power Grid. We have all lost power due to a storm, but what would you do if power wasn't restored in a couple of hours or even days?
I love this plot, and have looked for books similar to this in the past. This time it involves Mitch Rapp, so you know it's gonna be good.
A fun read for this type of adventure. Not your traditional Mitch Rapp story. You don't need to read previous books for this one. It came very close to being just 2 stars but there were some intelligent scenes that brought it up to 3 (barely).