Vince Flynn is the best-selling author of the Mitch Rapp series. He has an almost cult following it would seem – I’ve never had so many people reach out to me on X to share in my enjoyment at starting the series. This fan base has enabled the series to continue on after his passing, along with the hard work from both Kyle Mills and, most recently, Don Bentley. As a long time reader of Don Bentley, it was his addition to the series, Capture or Kill, that I started with. But I just had to go back to the beginning and really get started with American Assassin:

Mitch Rapp was a gifted college athlete without a care in the world…and then tragedy struck. Terrorists attacked innocent American citizens, and Rapp’s girlfriend was among the murdered. Two hundred and seventy souls perished on that cold December night, and thousands of family and friends were left searching for comfort. Mitch Rapp was one of them, but he was not interested in comfort. Now he wants retribution.

I’ve seen the movie, of course, and that’s one thing the Rapp fans got into with me on X. The movie clearly has a mixed reception. I watched it again while reading the book and felt equally mixed. In my opinion though, the book is better. The characters are just more authentic. And I’m looking forward to how they develop through the 20+ books in the series.

I enjoyed the period the book was set. A time where intel boots on the ground were becoming less common, and the intel community was competing against the idea that satellites could do the job of field officers. Absolutely pre-9/11 and it really dug into that period of time when it should have been obvious to everyone what threats were coming down the pipeline.

Mitch Rapp was the character that so many people wish they could be. A guy who really steps up to the challenge of getting vengeance for what happened to the love of his life. Except this is vengeance on an international level, against terrorists. But only if he can first make it through selection and training with Stan Hurley.

I like the dynamic and evolving relationship between Rapp and Hurley. They start off thinking they don’t need each other, then begrudgingly accept each other, before finally recognising how well they work together. I’m edging around spoilers here, but it’s a great save at the end.

I liked the realism in this book, that things weren’t contrived to make it easy. This gives me hope for the series, because things can become boring if they are too formulaic and become predictable. So yes, I will be continuing and hope to get through them this year. I’m also looking forward to seeing how things go when Kyle Mills takes over. And, of course, to the newest title in the series coming later this year.