5 of 5 stars
Series: Mitch Rapp 15
My version: Hardback
Fiction Terrorism
Simon & Schuster
2016
Bought
Mitch Rapp is used to winning. But now the CIA operative finds himself chasing false leads from continent to continent in an effort to keep nukes from falling into the hands of terrorists. Together with friend and colleague Scott Coleman, Rapp struggles to prevent the loss of these lethal weapons, and soon it becomes alarmingly clear that forces in Moscow are hell-bent on creating even more chaos and turmoil in the Middle East. Rapp must go deep into Russian territory, posing as and American ISIS recruit, to stop a plan much more dangerous than he ever expected.
Written with breathless tension and heart-pounding action, Mitch Rapp’s latest adventure is as timely and provocative as ever.
Well, first off, I couldn’t quite believe he (Kyle Mills) called the Pakistani source Redstone. He’s read the Bourne books, or at least seen the film? I can understand the publishers wanting, liking, to be able to make a link to a best-selling series, but surely this is a product placement too far. As another nod to ‘reality’ the Russian president is clearly supposed to be Putin. That really is appropriate and ‘timely’ as the cover blurb put it.
There was at least a possible explanation/solution for the ten year gap I’ve rambled on about so often before (in the early part of the series, he goes from rookie, to experienced ten years later on, operative, in between books. Without any kind of explanation from Vince Flynn, as to why this was so). Maybe the ten year gap was so he can, as here, say that Mitch Rapp worked with him down the years. To refer obliquely to past work, experiences, etc, etc, without having to go into detail. It’s something others have done – see Jack Reacher – allowing some coming and going in the timeline, or here, as a handy way to explain how Rapp came to know a person we haven’t seen before.
The question is, as in my estimation this is the first one totally written by Kyle Mills, does he do a good job of being Vince Flynn? The answer has to be a resounding yes. It’s a well thought-out story, a good pace, with some very tense sections, a lot of new nuances and all in all it is very well done indeed. I couldn’t see the joins anyway.
Maybe he has lightened Rapp up a little. Added a few greys to the previous black and white. Why I say nuances above. Rapp is even in great danger of developing a sense of humour here in Kyle Mills’ hands, for instance.
With the film of American Assassin due out later in the year, it will be really interesting to read the next Kyle Mills/Mitch Rapp, and see if he can follow it all home.
You can buy Order To Kill at Booksplea.se
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