SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group discussion

Who do you think is the badest of the bad in this genere?

My list:
Mitch Rapp,Memorial Day
John Rain, Rain Fall
Gabriel Allon, The Kill Artist

I do like Rapp, Rain, and Allon. I like Rain most.

Another "badass" character, a Russian by the name of Volkovoy or "Volk" also comes to mind. His author is Brent Ghelfi and the series (3 books so far) is about the character, Alexi Volkovoy. The first book may be a little confusing what with all Russian characters but they do grow on you.
But I must admit, it is still hard to beat Jason Bourne in the books. The movies are okay but can't beat books. Jason is one clever guy.

Just thought of another favorite, Atticus Kodiak. He starts as a body guard but through 7 books he changes considerably and ends as an assassin. His author is that prolific writer Greg Rucka. Start with the first book Keeper to meet Atticus and his friends.

Michael wrote: "Who do you think is the badest of the bad in this genere?

My list:
Mitch Rapp,Memorial Day
John Rain, Rain Fall
Gabriel Allon, The Kill Artist"

Answering this question today it would have to be Mitch Rapp. However, I am really new to this type of charater so I will need to read some more spy novels to really be able to answer this without reservation. But I have to say that I think it will be hard to beat Mitch. I almost think that Jack Bauer was created from this character. Very cool. Thanks for letting me be a part of the group.

Willie

I would like to add John Clark from the Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy. He set the standard for 'badass'.

All good characters.

What about Jack Reacher?

I think Mitch Rapp but don't forget about Harry Bosch

Sue wrote: "I think Mitch Rapp but don't forget about Harry Bosch"

Mitch Rapp and Harry Bosch are two of my all time favorites. I can't get enough,

1) Mitch Rapp
2) Scott Harvath (auth Brad Thor)
3) Centurion Marco ( auth Simon Scarrow)

I'm all for John Rain.

Landb wrote: "Sue wrote: "I think Mitch Rapp but don't forget about Harry Bosch"

Mitch Rapp and Harry Bosch are two of my all time favorites. I can't get enough,"

Yup! And I would add Jack Reacher to this list! I am a Reacher Creature! Particularly from Persuader.

My nod goes to:

Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp and Scott Harvath as kickass characters.

I would add Joe Pike to the list of kickass characters.

Rapp and Harvath to be sure, but I think Jack Higgins' character, Sean Dillon, is my favorite. Also, if anyone has been reading Alex Berenson, John Wells is near the top of the list. Catherine Coulter's Dillon Savitch gets the job done, too.

Michael wrote: "Who do you think is the badest of the bad in this genere?

My list:
Mitch Rapp,Memorial Day
John Rain, Rain Fall
Gabriel Allon, The Kill Artist"

Kirk McGarvey in book series by David Hagberg is as bad as Mitch Rapp. Start with Soldier of God.

I would add Jonathan Quinn in the Brett Battles series

Sally wrote: "I would add Joe Pike to the list of kickass characters."

Thanks for the tip. I started the series and they are great

Michael wrote: "My nod goes to:

Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp and Scott Harvath as kickass characters."

I agree, read all the Thor and Flynn's books but only one Lee Child book "Worth Dying For" and instantly became a fan of Jack Reacher, he takes no prisoners...

I have way too many, but I love:
-Harry Bosch
-Mitch Rapp
-Scot Harvath
-Joe Pike

From the already mentioned group and I'd like to add that I think Lucas Davenport (John Sandford Prey series) is a badass in the way of Harry Bosch cop novel. I also like Shane Scofield (Matthew Rielly) in a just plain badass character and then there is the war veteran Bob Lee Swagger (Stephen Hunter) whom I have just recently been acquainted with and I think he is a great character.

If I had to pick just one as "the baddest of the bad" it would be John Rain. My all time favorite however is Gabriel Allon. John Wells (Alex Berenson) is gaining points fast though!

I think RL's Bourne (from the first four books) is the baddest because he never had a cadre of tech or other agents helping him. In fact, he was always out numbered and working against a team of assets with an unlimited budget trying to bring him down. In the end, Bourne always finds a way to outwit and out maneuver the antagonists by himself.

Jake wrote: "I think RL's Bourne (from the first four books) is the baddest because he never had a cadre of tech or other agents helping him. In fact, he was always out numbered and working against a team of as..."

I made the mistake of watching the movies first. They were good but afterwards I wasn't very motivated to read the books "again".

Mitch Rapp for sure but I have to add Win Lockwood from the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. He's awesome.

After 24 ended I started reading Vince Flynn novels and couldn't stop. I finished all of them and would have to agree with the previous post: The Jack Baur character is very similar to Mitch Rapp. Presently I'm about half way through the John Wells series but find his character a little more confused and liberal: tough but in a much more patient way.

I started reading the 24 novels after the series ended. Maybe it was just me, but e novelized version of Bauer was a bit watered down from the television series.

Growing up I loved Buckskin Lee Morgan and Mack Bolin.

Kevyn wrote: "1) Mitch Rapp
2) Scott Harvath (auth Brad Thor)
3) Centurion Marco ( auth Simon Scarrow)"

I love Scot Harvath! Reading Brad Thor introduced me to this genre, but I have to admit that I like Flynn novels more than Thor. Something about Mitch Rapp, I can't get enough! I am re-reading all Rapp books right now in chronological order since I didn't originally. I can't wait to find more books that are comparable!

let us not forget John Corey by Nelson DeMille. Not only John is a total badass but he is also funny (though in a sexist sort of way)

If I had to pick a badass character that inspired my writing, it would have to be Flint by Louis L'Amour. I realize that Flint is from another genre, but he inspired me to write in this genre, so I include him here. Another favorite of mine is Jason Bourne.

I love Mitch Rapp, as well as Lucas Davenport. But my all time favorites have to be John Clark(Clancy's all-purpose black ops character) and Jason Bourne. Of course, the movies just don't do either one any justice at all. You have to read the books in order to find the real strength in either one.

Along those lines, does anyone else feel that Eric Van Lustbader turned Jason a little mushy since he took over the Bourne series for the RL estate?

If you like the character, Joe Reacher, you may like John Puller in Zero Day by David Baldacci. It's the first book with this character and I'm hoping the first in a series.

I have to go with, 1. Jack Reacher, 2. John Rain, 3. Mitch Rapp, 4. Scot Harvath.

I have just started Griffins Presidential Agent series and so far like the character Castillo.

Reading all these posts gives me a whole lot of books to read now:)

John Wells (The Faithful Spy) Novel by Alex Berenson

After Mr. Rapp i would say Court Gentry (Gray Man) is next. Mr. Greaney puts him into the toughest situation i have ever read. Is put up against 50 killers in the first book. I also appreciated the fact he was given the flaw of opiate addiction in the second (and third) books. Love my protagonist killers to have flaws. :) I would suggest these books highly. Check it out.

Forgot about John Wells. Damn. I guess its a three way tie for me, Rapp, Gentry and Wells. Had to get my second "two cents" in. ;)

i agree court gentry is it

Painter Crowe, Scot Harvath and Mitch Rapp. All kick but!

Landb wrote: "What about Jack Reacher?"

I agree here

Kolt Raynor from the Delta Force series that Dalton Fury just started is fantastic. Anyone who knows Fury knows he himself is a bad@ss and he shows it in Raynor. Nothing against Flynn or Thor, but Fury was an actual operator and brings that knowleded to craft an exciting work of fiction. Operators, Spooks, Terrorists, and plenty of boom boom.

I just read all of the Jonathan Grave series by John Gilstrap and found his to be a most badass addition to the likes of Mitch Rapp, Scott Harvath, Jack Reacher, Jonathan Quinn and John Wells.

Absolutely, this is the best discussion i have read so far. Thanxs for all the great recommendations. Since most of all the bad asses have been mentioned I will just add my list.

I find it hard to break this tie for the top warrior:
Mitch Rapp, Court Gentry, and John Wells.

I would also like to note Clancy's John Clark, especially from "Without Remorse".

There seems to be a lot of "bad asses" with names that start with "J":
John, Jonathan, Jack...

Thanks again for the great posts....you all just gave me a year worth or reading!!

Hey. Mitch is my favorite but Court Gentry "The Gray Man" is no one to be messed with. I was surprised he wasn't mentioned earlier unless I missed it, but he's new with just 3 books under his wing. A MUST READ!!!

Ben Coes has a kickass Ex-Delta in Dewey Andreas. Ben has three books with Dewey so far.

Beth wrote: "Has anyone read books by Stephen Hunter? I was thinking about getting one but don't know where to start?"

Hey Beth: I've read all of the books with Bob Lee Swagger as the hero. I read "Point of Impact" first because it was the basis for the movie "Shooter" with Mark Wahlberg which I loved. While, as with all screenplays, the movie and book diverge, I loved the book and all of the other Bob Lee Swagger books. He is not your typical "bad-ass", but Mr. Hunter really knows how to write about snipers. I would certainly recommend his books and starting with "Point of Impact". Next on my list are the books related to Bob Lee Swagger's father, Earl. Hope this helps!

'Jakob Kuisl -The Hangman' in Oliver Potzch's Hangman series.

Beth wrote: "Has anyone read books by Stephen Hunter? I was thinking about getting one but don't know where to start?"

Yes. I did and I couldn't stop once I started. You can start off with Point of Impact. Here's a website that list them out in chronological order

Dylan Hunter? Hunter: A Thriller

Terri wrote: "Beth wrote: "Has anyone read books by Stephen Hunter? I was thinking about getting one but don't know where to start?"

Hey Beth: I've read all of the books with Bob Lee Swagger as the hero. I re..."
I started reading Stephen Hunter with his books about Earl Swagger: "Hot Springs", "Pale Horse Coming", and "Havana." These are set from 1946 - 1953, and Bob Lee Swagger, Earl's son appears first as a baby, then, by the end of "Havana" as a 10 year old. Bob Lee Swagger is the protagonist for an ongoing Hunter series, beginning with, "Point of Impact" and his relationship with his then disappeared, now-deceased father is part of Bob Lee's "legend." Also part of the legend is how Earl dies, and the perps are very much still around in Bob Lee's day. Suggest you start with the Earl books, then read, in order: "Point of Impact", "Dirty White Boys", "Black Light", "Time to Hunt."

Marc Camerons's Jericho Quinn is another, he's a Air Force OSI, BMW GS 1200 riding Badass.