American Assassin

Written by Vince Flynn

Narrated by George Guidall

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn’s explosive and “captivating” (Glenn Beck) thriller, witness the young Mitch Rapp as he takes on his first assignment.

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.

Two decades of cutthroat partisan politics have left the CIA and the country in an increasingly vulnerable position. Cold War veteran CIA Operations Director Thomas Stansfield knows he must prepare his people for the next war. America must confront Islamic terrorism with full force. Stansfield directs his protégée, Irene Kennedy, and his old Cold War colleague, Stan Hurley, to form a new group of clandestine operatives who will work outside the normal chain of command—men who do not exist.

What type of man is willing to kill for his country without putting on a uniform? Six months of intense training have prepared him to take the war to the enemy’s doorstep, and he does so with brutal efficiency. Rapp starts in Istanbul, where he assassinates the Turkish arms dealer who sold the explosives used in the terrorist attack. Rapp then moves on to Hamburg with his team and across Europe, leaving a trail of bodies. All roads lead to Beirut, though, and what Rapp doesn't know is that the enemy is aware of his existence and has prepared a trap. The hunter is about to become the hunted, and Rapp will need every ounce of skill and cunning if he is to survive the war-ravaged city and its various terrorist factions.

This is “a bold and brawny tale that never wavers or lets up. The voice of today’s postmodern thriller generation, Flynn has never been better” (The Providence Journal) in this unforgettable novel of a young man primed to become an American assassin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 12, 2010
• ISBN: 9781442335233

Vince Flynn

#1 New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn (1966–2013) created one of contemporary fiction’s most popular heroes: CIA counterterrorist agent Mitch Rapp, featured in thirteen of Flynn’s acclaimed political thrillers. All of his novels are New York Times bestsellers, including his stand-alone debut novel, Term Limits.

[Jerry Coon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book nonstop action thanx for introducing me to Mitch Rapp

[Cody Shafer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very Different than the movie but I enjoyed it

[brendasteele47 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read! Little too predicable but good read. Great writer

[John Baker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the best series of books ever written

[krushkelsey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[Andre Rupert · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great read. Full of international intrigue. Action and suspense delivers.

[Mona Woodson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The reader captured the book very well. Lots of action ! A very good read.

[Abrõ Wazir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

so helpful and beautiful app
I've ever seen before this

[Jane McAdory · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Has you on the edge of your seat throughout...a great read.

[Larry Kandel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

LOVE ALL THE RAPPBOOKS,ALWAYS AN EXXICITING ;ISTEN WITH MANY PLOTS-

[mpolino_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to like American Assassin. It's gotten great buzz and I usually like a nice spy thriller but this one left me flat. I jus thad trouble getting into it and I still can't put my finger on why.

[marklsd666 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

fun read if you like a bang bang kinda book

[zare_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Action thrillers for me fall into two categories:

- Action stories with hero/antihero caught in the middle of events that are either out of their control or are results of our heroes actions from the past. They are usually set in criminal underground or behind the scenes spy world - but always a world that is shade of grey, no clear way to figure who is bad and who is good. Using special set of skills (could not resist :) ) our hero manages to find the way out or give his life for a good thing. In this category we have Matt Helm, Frederick Forsyth (older works), David Morell, Kevin Wignall, Richard Stark, Ollen Steinhauer (Tourist novels), Daniel Silva (earlier books on Gabriel Allon and English Assassin), Tom Clancy (also early novels like Without Remorse, Rainbow Six), Greg Rucka (fabuolous Queen and Country), Barry Eisler (everything you can find is excellent imho), Lee Child to name just the few I can remember now.
- Patriotism-infused books that become rather preachy on social political issues and can be summed up as we-good-they-bad-boom-boom-hooray. In this group we can put later Tom Clancy books, later Gabriel Allon's books (this gets so preachy about Europe and politics .... its so yucky, man), Frederick Forsyth's latest works (Fox was .... still the saddest I felt after reading a book, what a disappointment for me) to name the few.

While I can understand patriotism-inspired books I am always vary of books of such content because after a while they start to read like political pamphlets interspersed with catalogue depictions of guns and ammo. After reading few books that reviewers voted like very similar to Vince Flynn's works I was very hesitant about starting the book. So after a couple of months of postponing it I decided to give it a shot.

And was I surprised. This is fast paced story with very interesting characters. Is there that political aura breaking through - yes, indeed. Author has certain views of Middle East that are not something I encountered before. Good guys are of course proud red, white and blue and Russkies are eternal bad guys but yet it does not get that preachy (or I got old and manage to filter this out :)) Even bad bad guys have some depth and motivations. Our heroes' team is not invulnerable and needs to constantly look behind his back (that hint that he needs to have reserve plan always to avoid being destroyed by his own team due to the nature of job). Movie based on this book was good action flick but it does not do justice to the book. Introduction of Mitch Rapp and him entering the shadowy top secret team was handled very well - Rapp comes around as John Wick of sorts - very dedicated, strong willed individual who dedicated his life to a single goal, avenging death of his dearest. Actions and plans executed by all parties involved, although maybe flashy a bit, sound and feel realistic - characters are tired, stressed, make mistakes, and this what make it a good read.

Is this pinnacle of the literature? No. But again no good thriller is imo. Sometimes they come near (and these are pure gold nuggets) but action thrillers are what makes reading books great - escapades from reality with great characters and action, action, action. And this is where American Assassin shines - this is one of exquisite read that will grip you from page one to the very end. It surely got me hooked to read follow up novels. I hope they get better and better.

So in short, if you are fan of action thrillers and you were vary of the possible political sub-context for this novel give it a shot. It is actually quite a good read and genre fans will undoubtedly enjoy it.

[ssperson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. It's been a while since I've read a thriller, and this reminded me of how much I like them. It was an interesting setting, especially given the current state of our relations with the Middle East and Russia.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Mitch Rapp's story, and to seeing the movie next month (though the previews look like the movie will be quite different from the book).

[jzacsh-533759 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun action flick. Funny number of typos in this book.

[bcrowl399 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have read and loved all of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series. I'm so sad that he has passed away and won't be writing any more books. I love the characters, the suspense and even the violence is written so well.

[susandennis-139327 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am not a fan of prequels. I don't like looking back. But now I have pretty much decided that Vince Flynn can take me where ever he wants and I'll be fine. This story is back to Mitch Rapp's beginning with the government and it's a great tale. One of Flynn's best but for my money they are all his best.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this out of order, so I already knew the outcome for some characters. It would have been more exciting if I read this one first.

[mainrun · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I started LibraryThing 10 years ago! Wow. Before Libarything I kept track of books I read by the notes I took while reading. I added the books to LibraryThing, and it turned out to be 390. Two of the books were by Vince Flynn and in the Mitch Rapp series. My rating of the books were quite a bit lower than the average rating, so thought I would give them another try. I like reading from the beginning so started with this one which I had not read. I enjoyed it.
1,823 members; 3.89 average review; 12/12/2109

[coachtim30 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A solid start to a terrific series. Readers get the backstory on CIA counter-terrorism operative Mitch Rapp in "American Assassin" from the time that he begins under the tutelage of Stan Hurley, Irene Kennedy, and Thomas Stansfield through the completion of his first few missions.

The book develops a large number of memorable characters in a plot that is both believable and exciting. Purists of the series will want to start with this book before plunging into the rest of the stories.

[livelylady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Espionage and suspense at its finest with the introduction of Mitch Rapp.

[buffalogr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

i did not feel it was Flynn's best. A bit hard to believe, This is the 11th book in a series about a CIA assassin named Mitch Rapp. It is the prequel to the other already told stories. Mitch Rapp is a gifted college athlete who lost the love of his life when terrorist put a bomb on Pan Am Flight 103 -- a backstory that's not quite believable.

[tottman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There’s a reason that other thriller writers compare themselves to and are compared to Vince Flynn. It’s because he’s as good as it gets. American Assassin is a great example as tension seeps in from the very beginning and the action scenes crackle.

American Assassin goes back to a young Mitch Rapp at the very beginning of his career. Even before he has the experience and the reputation, it’s clear that he has nearly unparalleled skills. The death of his girlfriend in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing a year before the events in this book bring him the focus and desire to take the battle to the terrorists.

Assassin takes us back to Rapp’s recruitment and training at an off-book site by the irascible Stan Hurley. Their distrust of each other fuels the early part of the book and the accommodations they each must make to work together pay off as the story unfolds. America has backed off its approach to terrorists in the Middle East and Rapp and Hurley, along with their CIA handlers aim to take the fight back to them. When Rapp’s fellow operatives are taken hostage, he must put to use all his training and all his skills to get them out. With Russian and Syria also wading into the fray, it is a tightrope that only Rapp can walk.

This is a quick enjoyable read with tight pacing, great action and wonderful characters. The intensity and charisma of Rapp leaps off the page, or audio depending on how you encounter it.

The audio version read by George Guidall is outstanding. He seamlessly navigates many different characters, including American, Middle Eastern and Russian ones. The gruff Stan Hurley is a favorite and particularly enjoyable to listen to. Guidall brings the action to life and is a great complement to the story.

If you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp, American Assassin is a great book. The audio version is a nice way to experience the story. Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of the audiobook by the publisher.

[longhorndaniel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good characters ; though some predictability; better than the 1st Bourn book for sure.

[jimgysin_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've probably said this before, but Vince Flynn was one of the few male thriller writers out there whose lead character is written both well and realistically, with little of none of the bulletproof or superhuman or Bond-ish stuff that seems to be far too common from the guys writing in the genre. Flynn is much like Daniel Silva in that regard, although Rapp *is* a bit more likely than Silva's Allon to have the occasional red "S" on his chest. Still, Rapp is a great character, and in this one we get some filler for his backstory. Fans of the series have known all along that Rapp lost the love of his life when a certain Pan Am airliner went down in Scotland, but here we learn more about his recruitment and early days in the C.I.A., along with how some people were a bit too quick to write off the college boy as being too wimpy and inadequate for the role that he was being offered. Instead, those folks learn what we readers have known all along: that Mitch Rapp is one focused and committed and motivated and deadly individual, and a good guy to have on your side when things go pear-shaped.

[diana_long_thomas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love that my library has Overdrive, I can get so many audiobooks to listen to while doing various things during the day. This book has been on my want to read list forever, but it wasn't one that was at the top of my list to actually pick up and read. That's why I was so happy to be able to get the audiobook. I first heard about Mitch Rapp from a fanfiction author I used to read. She put up a list with characters she loved and listed the series they were in. I thought this series sounded interesting and wanted to give it a chance. This was one recommendation that was spot on for me. I enjoyed the book and will definitely be listening/reading more of this series. This book is about why Mitch Rapp decided to follow the path he's on. His training and first assignments as an assassin. This is more of an espionage thriller than a mystery, but still a great book. There is a small relationship in the book but the sex scene is a fade to black rather than something explicit. So that will be a plus for many. I do suggest trying this series, it has a lot of current world events in it, and I felt that it made the book more realistic with what it was portraying.

[bhabeck-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Though written 10 years after the first Mitch Rapp novel, this is actually the first in the timeline. Throughout the later books we’ve read about Mitch’s reason for joining the CIA’s counterterrorism task force and how he’s become a CIA superagent and assassin. This is the story of how he got to where he is – his high school/college sweetheart killed by terrorists on Lockerbie 103, the recruitment by Irene Kennedy and the spy craft/killing techniques taught by Stan Hurley.

Mitch Rapp has, for years, been one of my favorite characters.

Rating: 4.75

[alan1946 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A look back at how Mitch Rapp became the person he is. Gives a good insight into the start of his career.

[brendaklaassen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a book that I enjoyed reading from start to finish. This is one of my favorite authors. The action in this book was believable and I did like learning how one of my favorite characters, Mitch Rapp, came to be doing what he does. The balance between tension and relaxation was done well in this book.

[daffimere · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to reading another in the series.