Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
New York : Atria Books, c2010.
Description
Follow Mitch Rapp, as he takes on his first, explosive counterterrorism assignment.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Jarratt
Vince Flynn’s “American Assassin” was a much better read than some of his more recent Mitch Rapp novels, which had either gotten too preachy and/or redundant. While I never read the jacket covers of new books by beloved authors, I did know that “American Assassin” was a prequel—it tells
But how to write a novel about a character the reader knows doesn’t get killed? Granted, the main character rarely gets killed (especially recurring ones), but in this case it’s a given because it’s a prequel. Flynn’s answer is to put others in harm’s way and see how the newly minted assassin, Rapp, deals with it.
After we get through the recruitment and training, we delve deeper into the story, most of which takes place in Beirut and Moscow, with a few small stops in Germany and Switzerland. Flynn’s grasp of spy craft continues to be impressive. The action scenes were well thought out, and the bad guys weren’t quite as cookie cutter as many similar antagonists of the genre.
One reason I had to knock a star off of this review was the incredibly poor editing. Someone of Flynn’s stature should get a better editor. There were missing and misspelled words galore, and even a case where Characters A and B are talking about C, who’s missing, yet during the conversation, C’s name is used as one of the speakers. Major editing lapse there.
Nonetheless, I’ll be interested to see if Flynn returns Rapp to “current day” or if we’ll get more stories of him that take place more directly after this one. Either way, my enjoyment of this series has been renewed. Plus, I just read that Flynn will be co-writing with another of my favorite writers Brian Haig. Can’t wait to see what comes of that!
Show More
the story of how Rapp was recruited, his motivations, and how he got trained. We also travel with him through his first several missions.But how to write a novel about a character the reader knows doesn’t get killed? Granted, the main character rarely gets killed (especially recurring ones), but in this case it’s a given because it’s a prequel. Flynn’s answer is to put others in harm’s way and see how the newly minted assassin, Rapp, deals with it.
After we get through the recruitment and training, we delve deeper into the story, most of which takes place in Beirut and Moscow, with a few small stops in Germany and Switzerland. Flynn’s grasp of spy craft continues to be impressive. The action scenes were well thought out, and the bad guys weren’t quite as cookie cutter as many similar antagonists of the genre.
One reason I had to knock a star off of this review was the incredibly poor editing. Someone of Flynn’s stature should get a better editor. There were missing and misspelled words galore, and even a case where Characters A and B are talking about C, who’s missing, yet during the conversation, C’s name is used as one of the speakers. Major editing lapse there.
Nonetheless, I’ll be interested to see if Flynn returns Rapp to “current day” or if we’ll get more stories of him that take place more directly after this one. Either way, my enjoyment of this series has been renewed. Plus, I just read that Flynn will be co-writing with another of my favorite writers Brian Haig. Can’t wait to see what comes of that!
Show Less
LibraryThing member MikeD
This is the book all Mitch Rapp fans have been looking for! We finally learn how he gets involved with the govenment to become one of their best operatives. His recruitment by Irene Kennedy, training by Stan Hurley, and mentoring by Stansfield and Lewis!
Whoever reads this will quickly go get the
Whoever reads this will quickly go get the
Show More
other 10 books or so in the Mitch Rapp series.... or else! Show Less
LibraryThing member emlzcole
Great book that tells the story about Mitch Rapp's entry in to secret fighting organization that is the backbone to all the other books in the Mitch Rapp series.
LibraryThing member PatrickJIV
Have read ALL of the previous books by this author and ALL have been outstanding. Love this tale about Mitch Rapp's very beginning, his training, and very likable ending. This is another GREAT read from Vince Flynn!
LibraryThing member DBower
Vince Flynn is one of my favorite authors and Mitch Rapp is one of my favorite characters. This book, while the 11th in the series, traces the beginning of how Mitch Rapp became who is he. While I really do not like reading books out of order this one worked for me. If you are a Vince Flynn/Mitch
Show More
Rapp lover you will not be disappointed. If you have never read Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp I think this would be a great first book, then go on and read the rest in order. Show Less
LibraryThing member repb
The training of a one man killing machine: quick summary of this book which is fast-paced, well-written and expected. Still I enjoyed it quite a bit and plan to sample more of Mr. Flynn's efforts.
LibraryThing member MSWallack
Better than Flynn's last effort. I liked the chance to Mitch Rapp in the beginning of his career, though frankly I wish that Flynn had started the book with Kennedy's approach to Rapp rather than with Rapp already committed to becoming an operative. I also found the entire
Show More
Russian-Syrian-Palestinian-Hezbollah plot both tedious and, at times, overly confusing. Too much time was spent with those characters at the expense of time spent with Rapp and the other good guys. Show Less
LibraryThing member bitsy08
I got 5 books from the library and was trying to figure out which one to read when I saw the picture of Vince Flynn on the back and said - ha! Good looking man deserves the first read. I know, I know. Not a good reason by which to choose a book but I'd already made that decision to choose this book
Show More
because I know Vince Flynn is a good, reliable writer. I wasn't disappointed. The fact that each chapter was about something different has a tendency to irritate me, but I muddled through and was delighted with the read. One thing that did irritate me, though, were the mistakes made in the printing. What happened to proof reading? A couple of mistakes are unusual, but this book had a LOT. I know Mitch Rapp fans will enjoy this book, as I did. Show Less
LibraryThing member RistoZ
Great plot even though the political attitudes presented are (as always) unbearable. How about a spoiler: a captured and naked American to be ûbersuperhero beats single handed an overwhelming group of islamic/terrorist/russian enemies. Well ... :) ... enjoyed the book anyhow.
LibraryThing member theedge77
This book goes all the way back to Rapp's beginning. In that sense, it was really interesting... but I found the whole of the book to be much slower moving than a normal Mitch Rapp novel. The end felt rushed and less satisfying than normal. An average Vince Flynn novel is still better than most...
Show More
but it wasn't one of my favorites from him. Show Less
LibraryThing member TomWheaton
I really enjoyed this book. Having read all of the previous Mitch Rapp books, it was fun to read how he got sarted in the spy business. It was a page-turner and I found my self getting involved in the plight of the minor charaters. Would they all get rescued? If you haven't read any of the Rapp
Show More
books, it might help to read this one first. Show Less
LibraryThing member Randall.Hansen
First book I have read by Vince Flynn -- and the first in the Mitch Rapp series. Found the book well-written and fast-paced... the story of a man with natural abilities who is trained to become a major counter-terrorism weapon/assassin. A bunch of typos in this edition, but that has nothing to do
Show More
with the author. Will definitely read the next in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Chiefe7
Outstanding. Really enjoyed going back to the start of Mitch Rapp. Learning more about Stan Hurley and Thomas Stansfield was very interesting and I would like to see a book about them. Maybe at the start in WWII or the start of the Cold War.
LibraryThing member taylorsteve
Good background book on Mitch Rapp. A different style than the rest of the series, but I found it very enjoyable. You could see the developing maturity of the character over the passage of time.
LibraryThing member spawnof
This book was given to me as a free offer and it's far removed from the type of thing I would usually pick up. Imagine then my surprise when I found myself enjoying it! Not just enjoying it but finding it one of the better reads I've had in the last 12 months. It's not cerebral nor clever, but it's
Show More
a riveting read. It's basic stuff butma nice interlude before you embark upon your next War and Peace or Homer. Show Less
LibraryThing member Caspaulding
Fast paced novel set in the US and middleEast. Mitch Rap joins an elite fighting group and has his first few 'kill' assignments as part of this group.
LibraryThing member kmmt48
I usually resist reading CIA/spy thrillers but I saw the author on a cable news channel and he was quite impressive with his knowledge of the Middle East. The talk show reps were also quite enthusiastic about his other books so thought I would give him a try. In researching the author I found that
My one complaint is the same as several other reviewers. The editing of the book is quite apalling in too many places. Hard to believe publishers still employ editors - or maybe they don't!! It can be a distraction.
Show More
American Assassin was actually a prequal but several readers encouraged reading it first to understand who the main operative, Mitch Rapp, was as a character. I am glad I did!! The book was well written, informative, and sets up a serious and dangerous but likeable character who has a very clandestine job in the shadows of the CIA. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will look for the next in line which I believe is Kill Shot. Not my usual type of reading but I am encouraging others to give it a try. The author has an uncanny understanding of the complexities of the Middle East.My one complaint is the same as several other reviewers. The editing of the book is quite apalling in too many places. Hard to believe publishers still employ editors - or maybe they don't!! It can be a distraction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member RebeccaGraf
Revenge simmers in the heart and soul of a young man who has lost the love of his life at the hands of terrorists. His only goal is to see them die. That works out perfectly when he is recruited by a covert group under the CIA to take out terrorists one by one, even those that help the terrorists.
This is a generally fast paced story. Most of it is not cloak and dagger, but it goes through this recruitment and training as well as the plans of his first assignment. Nothing slows down too much. Even with the backstories being revealed, you'll want to keep reading and not put it down.
The storyline is great. It kept me hooked. I read a lot of espionage type of books and usually enjoy them all. Sometimes you find one that seems to be too much like the others. This book is not one of those. I could easily compare it to many of my favorite espionage authors, but it is still unique enough to stand on its own.
The characters are wonderfully developed. I found myself falling in love with Mitch, the main character, but also enjoying the others he came in contact with. They were realistic enough to be drawn to yet were unique enough to be fictional. I think Hurley was my favorite despite his bad attitude and arrogance toward Mitch. As the real Hurley came out, you found a man that was much more than you had originally seen.
There is a lot of violence in this book. Executions occur. Torture is described in such detail that I actually had to skip a couple of paragraphs because I was about to scream out in my pain myself. Sorry, but having my nails pulled out doesn't feel good to me.
I only mention editing issues when I'm reading a published version of a book. I was rather shocked at the amount of editing issues I found in this hardcover book. Periodically, words would be missing from a sentence which would require me to read it several times to figure out what was meant to have been said. The worst was when I found the wrong names used. One man is being held prisoner and tortured, but he was suddenly speaking in another scene across town. That was rather disappointing.
If you like spies, cloak and dagger, and secrets, you'll love this book. Yes, there is language. There are no explicit scenes. There is violence. Oh, and you'll find a great read. If you like this genre, go for it. You won't regret it. Despite the editing issues, I loved this so much that I have the rest of the author's books on my wish list.
Note: I received this book from a colleague with no expectation of a positive review.
Show More
What he finds in the covert operation is an older version of himself who is not keen on having him on board. What will the new recruit do to show them that he has what it takes and then some? Rebellion and blood.This is a generally fast paced story. Most of it is not cloak and dagger, but it goes through this recruitment and training as well as the plans of his first assignment. Nothing slows down too much. Even with the backstories being revealed, you'll want to keep reading and not put it down.
The storyline is great. It kept me hooked. I read a lot of espionage type of books and usually enjoy them all. Sometimes you find one that seems to be too much like the others. This book is not one of those. I could easily compare it to many of my favorite espionage authors, but it is still unique enough to stand on its own.
The characters are wonderfully developed. I found myself falling in love with Mitch, the main character, but also enjoying the others he came in contact with. They were realistic enough to be drawn to yet were unique enough to be fictional. I think Hurley was my favorite despite his bad attitude and arrogance toward Mitch. As the real Hurley came out, you found a man that was much more than you had originally seen.
There is a lot of violence in this book. Executions occur. Torture is described in such detail that I actually had to skip a couple of paragraphs because I was about to scream out in my pain myself. Sorry, but having my nails pulled out doesn't feel good to me.
I only mention editing issues when I'm reading a published version of a book. I was rather shocked at the amount of editing issues I found in this hardcover book. Periodically, words would be missing from a sentence which would require me to read it several times to figure out what was meant to have been said. The worst was when I found the wrong names used. One man is being held prisoner and tortured, but he was suddenly speaking in another scene across town. That was rather disappointing.
If you like spies, cloak and dagger, and secrets, you'll love this book. Yes, there is language. There are no explicit scenes. There is violence. Oh, and you'll find a great read. If you like this genre, go for it. You won't regret it. Despite the editing issues, I loved this so much that I have the rest of the author's books on my wish list.
Note: I received this book from a colleague with no expectation of a positive review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MashaK99
I'm a sucker for backstories, and this one does not disappoint. Seeing other characters from later books as younger and more active is great too. Could have done without the prolonged torture scenes, though- definitely not for the faint of heart!
LibraryThing member wrk1
Cotton candy for the action-addicted reader: a one-dimensional recently-graduated college student is trained to kill for the United States government, then blows away a bunch of one-dimensional enemies in the Middle East.
LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
I have read other Mitch Rapp novels and was now going back to the original. It was interesting to see his origin after having read of his exploits in other novels. This novel starts off with Mitch being recruited for a black ops, off the book role as an assassin, taking out the worst of the bad guy
This is an enjoyable novel in many ways. Most of it centers around the Mitch Rapp character. He is a complex and fascinating character, far more interesting than his contemporaries Jack Ryan and Jason Bourne. The pace was a little slower than most of Rapp’s novels, since he has to go through a good deal of training before he becomes who he is. The plot was strong and ended with a bang. The writing is not as tight as it is in future novels. I wasn’t fond of the universal point of view that Vince Flynn employed. All in all, this was a good novel that fans of action thrillers will enjoy.
Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth
Show More
terrorists. Mitch immediately develops a hate/hate relationship with his mentor Stan Hurley, who thinks that Mitch must be lying about his background, since he is so far advanced for where he should be. He rapidly moves through the training program, even besting Hurley in hand to hand combat in their first encounter. Before long he moves off to working with Hurley in assassinating targets abroad, until Hurley and his other partner are captured by terrorists in Beirut. In a suicidal mission, Mitch lets himself be captured in order to rescue them.This is an enjoyable novel in many ways. Most of it centers around the Mitch Rapp character. He is a complex and fascinating character, far more interesting than his contemporaries Jack Ryan and Jason Bourne. The pace was a little slower than most of Rapp’s novels, since he has to go through a good deal of training before he becomes who he is. The plot was strong and ended with a bang. The writing is not as tight as it is in future novels. I wasn’t fond of the universal point of view that Vince Flynn employed. All in all, this was a good novel that fans of action thrillers will enjoy.
Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth
Show Less
LibraryThing member mreed61
It was a good book for quite a while. Then, about 3/4 of the way into it, I was seeing the same thing over and over and over again. I got tired of it.
LibraryThing member dekan
this is the newest vince flynn "mitch rapp" series. it is a prequel as to how it all got started. i found it fascinating. one advantage of doing the begining now is you can lay the ground work ot explain current characterizations. i don't know if it's really a 5 star book or not. it is highly
Show More
possible it was to me and would be to others engrossed in the series but not to everyone. either way, even if my view is somewhat tainted i have to say it was an excellent book. it brought to life and really made the series complete even down to the begining of irene kenedy and it is interesting to see that she always wasn't so completely cool and unreactive but had to learn and grow into it. showing stansfield really had groomed her from the begining. i couldn't put it down and was completely enthralled. thank you. sometimes they try to fit to much in or to little in a prequel. this was pretty much the right amound. Show Less
LibraryThing member utbw42
Good book, but that's it. I guess my expectations were too high for this book, but I thought there would be more Mitch Rapp development and a little less time on the characters involved in the financing of the Pan Am airliner bombing. I need to work on tempering my expectations in the future.
Show More
Supposedly, Mitch Rapp was motivated by the fact his girlfriend and future wife was killed in the Pan Am bombing. This book included to some degree his desire to revenge her death by getting involved with the CIA and killing terrorists abroad, but not quite enough for me. Still a good read, but near the bottom of the Vince Flynn novels. Show Less
LibraryThing member Papa51
Great story and characters and ending. I miss it already and I just finished it this morning.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2010-10-12
Physical description
403 p.; 25 inches
ISBN
141659518X / 9781416595182