Ebook481 pages8 hours
American Assassin: A Thriller
By Vince Flynn
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this ebook
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.
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.
Author
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.
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Reviews for American Assassin
Rating: 3.9805680844544096 out of 5 stars
4/5
669 ratings53 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Espionage and suspense at its finest with the introduction of Mitch Rapp.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5this 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.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to reading another in the series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fast 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This 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... but it wasn't one of my favorites from him.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Have 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!
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Cotton 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.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This 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 a riveting read. It's basic stuff butma nice interlude before you embark upon your next War and Peace or Homer.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good characters ; though some predictability; better than the 1st Bourn book for sure.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Macho tale of Testosterone gone wild. A bit hard to believe, but if you go along with it, you will enjoy an entertaining ride of tough guys out-toughing each other under severe circumstances. I liked it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Better 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 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.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5First 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 with the author. Will definitely read the next in the series.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great story and characters and ending. I miss it already and I just finished it this morning.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I 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 books, it might help to read this one first.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 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.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Ending lacked and typos throughout were extremely annoying and distracting.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This 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 other 10 books or so in the Mitch Rapp series.... or else!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Revenge 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. 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'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!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good 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. 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.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I 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 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.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5i 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A look back at how Mitch Rapp became the person he is. Gives a good insight into the start of his career.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good 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.
Book preview
American Assassin - Vince Flynn
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