Oath of Loyalty (A Mitch Rapp Novel Book 21) by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills

Kindle edition

I tore through another Mitch Rapp book - I started this on May 28 and finished it on June 1.

Seriously, these books are so good. They are uncomfortably and concerningly based around things that seem probable enough to happen. I find myself sometimes wondering if these books give "bad guys" too many ideas on how to bad and nefarious things. Just like sometimes I think that news stories that give all of the details on how a bad thing happened may provide too much of a recipe that other bad people can easily pick up and replicate. Hmmmmm...

This Mitch Rapp installment picks up right after Enemy At The Gates leaves off. The new President comes to believe that Rapp is after him and wishes to kill him. This is far from the truth, at least at the beginning. But due to a loyal new director of the CIA, the President's beliefs are twisted and manipulated in believing that truly Rapp is after him. The First Lady and the former CIA director negotiate a truce for the President and Rapp to abide by. Only, the President doesn't. Uh oh.

So, this is where the shit starts to hit the fan, in typical Mitch Rapp book fashion. A lot of shit goes down. And this time, it involves (sort of) someone other than Rapp. But, of course, Rapp is involved and uses many of his contacts (both legitimate and criminal) to help him figure out his way out of this mess. And, it truly is a mess.

This quote from Rapp in this book literally made me laugh out loud at the absurdity and straight-forwardness of it:

"Then can we just kill him?" Rapp asked. Coleman was quick to answer. "I'll handle it."

Another that seemed so apropos for Rapp:

"It was never too soon to learn that either life kicked the shit out of you, or you kicked the shit out of it."

Seems a pretty good summary of Mitch Rapp's entire life. This was another fast-paced, adrenaline-fueld read. Loved it!

There's one more current book - the 22nd Mitch Rapp book - that I'll move into the queue soon!

Enemy at the Gates (Mitch Rapp Book 20) by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills

Kindle edition

Another amazing Mitch Rapp adventure, nightmare, thriller. Much like Lee Child (Jack Reacher), Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch), Julia Quinn (Bridgerton), and countless other authors, there is for sure a recipe for Mitch Rapp that is tried and true. It's definitely not broken and definitely doesn't need any fixing.

I started this book on May 26 and finished it on May 28. These Mitch Rapp books are next to impossible for me to put down. I spent a little extra time at the pedicure place "letting my toes dry" while I read more pages. When I got home, I read while I was eating lunch. And I spent some leisure time in the afternoon while The Husband went to Costco laying down reading. I just couldn't stop. Needed to find out what happened.

This is yet another book that could actually be based in reality. Hell, maybe it IS based in some semblance of reality. That is one of the things I like about this series. They don't seem too far fetched. It isn't too much of a stretch of the imagination that these events and interactions could be real. And with this long-running series, I've really gotten to know the characters. They seem real.

So, this book covers what happens between a new US president, the world's first trillionaire, a brilliant scientist, an African war-lord, "The Saudis", the head of the CIA, and Mitch Rapp, among others. The gist, without giving too much away, is that the trillionaire is funding pharmaceutical research being done by the brilliant scientist to create a cure/vaccine for every corona virus, SARS, and the common cold. This scientist is close. Then an African war-lord busts into the scene in Uganda and all hell breaks loose. The trillionaire wants help and asks the US president. By some twist of fate, Mitch Rapp gets involved, and according to the recipe, all hell breaks out. The shit hits the fan. Spy stuff, spy stuff, spy stuff. And poof, the book is over.

It was gripping, thrilling, intriguing. I like that Mitch is getting older - he's not the same 30-something from the earlier books. He's not stuck in a single point of time. These books follow him through his life. As he gets older, he gets more... crotchety (I'm not sure this is the right word). Rather than running toward everything, he's maybe learning to stay out of everything. But let's be real here. This is Mitch Rapp. Has he ever stayed away?

Another thrilling and exciting book! An enthusiastic two thumbs up from me.

Total Power (Mitch Rapp Book 19) by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills

Kindle Edition

I'm a total Mitch Rapp fan. I'm always so excited to read the next book to see what Mitch gets into next. And I'm always sad when I finish it so fast and have to wait until who knows when until the next one comes out. I'm (thankfully?) a bit behind on these and there are a few more out currently so I won't have to wait quite so long for the next one.

I started this book on May 7 and finished it on May 11.

I love these books. Some of them seem a little too real and I wonder in the back of my mind if they give bad guys too many ideas of bad things to do. Do bad guys read these books? Maybe.

This one has to do with the power grid in America and a plot to take it down. Not for a day or two. Or even a week or two. But take the whole thing down. Period. For a year or more. This bad person has the knowledge and access to do it. And he's attempting to find the highest bidder (or any bidder) to lend support / take the lead to do this.

In typical government fashion, the red tape, the bureaucracy, the ancient technology, the dispersed systems, the bickering politicians, the too-many-to-number agencies involved all lend to the chaos and inability to really do anything. This seems about right and based in reality.

Enter Mitch Rapp. He can do something. And he does something.

This is a fast read. I usually read before falling asleep, but with any of these books, instead of helping me get to sleep, they amp me up and make me want to read all night to see what happens. I notice I get anxious, my heart-rate increases, I try to read faster and faster to get to the next thing that happens in the book. But I don't care. I love these books.

  Post written on May 25. Publication date reflects date I finished the book.

Red War by Kyle Mills (a Vince Flynn / Mitch Rapp Novel)

So, after finishing Gang Leader for a Day, I started another book, but then the husband brought home the newest Vince Flynn book from the library.  I put the other book on pause and devoured this one.  I started it on December 29 and finished it on January 4.

First - I loved this book

Second - Mitch Rapp books follow a recipe / they are formulaic

Third - I don't care

As I was thinking about what to write about this book, the first thing that came to mind was "the sky is falling."  This book finds the formerly evil turned good(ish) guy Grisha at home in Costa Rica with danger afoot.  Of course Mitch and his boys are there to save the day.

As they try to figure out why danger came after Grisha, we get glimpses into things going amok for the Russian president.  We all know that these things will turn out to be related, and they are, of course.  Over the course of the book, we find out just how bad the sky could fall.  I can't give too much away here (I hate spoilers) but yet again the shit hits the fan and Mitch and team + Grisha are there to not let it hit the fan and splatter too much of a shitstorm.

There is always a political element to the Mitch Rapp books that seems frighteningly founded in reality.  I think to myself, the author definitely researches things for the book, how real are some of the scenarios that are written about?  Maybe I don't want to know.

This book was extremely entertaining, fast paced, somewhat predictable (from the formula/recipe standpoint), but I don't care.  I loved it.

The Crossing by Michael Connelly

After finishing Enemy of the State by Kyle Mills on June 3, I picked up The Crossing by Michael Connelly.  I started this gem on June 24th and finished it on July 4.  This is another of Connelly's Harry Bosch novels, and one of just a few that include Micky Haller (aka The Lincoln Lawyer).

As with spy novels, I love Connelly's Bosch series of books.  Bosh isn't a spy, he's a detective with the LAPD.  So, I guess I love cop novels too.  They are well-written, have a foundation in reality (Connelly uses real places in Southern California), are extremely entertaining, and they are easy to read.  Like with the Mitch Rapp books, these books, especially near their end, do the exact opposite of what I use nighttime reading for - these rile me up and make me stay up way past when I should in order to finish them and see what happens.

This book has Harry, now retired from the LAPD, bamboozled into helping his half brother, Micky Haller, with a case he's working on.  Generally Harry does not work with defense attorneys on cases, but somehow Micky entices Harry to want to learn more about the case.  And, as all of the previous Harry Bosch novels show us, when Harry's interest is piqued, he's in.  That's precisely what happens here and how he ends up working with a defense attorney.  Of course Harry relies on some help inside the LAPD for his investigation into the murder of a woman allegedly by Haller's client.

I'm from Southern California so it is easy for me to imagine the sights and sounds as Connelly writes them.  This helps make the book more vivid and real in my imagination.  Connelly's books are always entertaining, interesting, and thrilling to read.  I've never been disappointed, and keep coming back for more.

Enemy of the State by Kyle Mills

After finishing The Last Unicorn on May 15, I started Enemy of the State by Kyle Mills on May 24 and finished it on June 3.  This is the 3rd book by Kyle Mills in the Mitch Rapp series, originally written by Vince Flynn.  The series is now written by Kyle Mills since Flynn's passing.  I've read the other 2 books by Mills and have enjoyed them both:  The Survivor, and Order to Kill.

I love a good spy novel, and I have loved every Mitch Rapp novel so far.  Enemy of the State did not disappoint.  This book finds Mitch going rogue and operating outside the CIA to find and destroy an enemy of the state (hence the title).  Mills brings in some characters, both friend and foe, Rapp works with on this rogue operation.

While outlandish, the escapades and capers that unfold in this novel really do have a foundation in reality.  I love the action and the drama that unfold in this book.  I find myself really able to visualize the details as Mills (and Flynn before him) paint elaborate and vivid pictures with their words.  I usually read before bed to clear my mind and wind down.  But Mitch Rapp books sort of do the opposite - I get riled up and anxious to see what happens next.

If you like spy thrillers, you'll like this book.  I'd recommend reading the books either in publication order or chronological order - either will work.  It is definitely best to read the books in either of those two orders as there is so much character development and relevant information in previous books that you may be lost a little if you read them out of order.  Two thumbs up for me!

Order to Kill: A Mitch Rapp Novel by Kyle Mills

I love a Mitch Rapp novel, and this one didn't disappoint.  I read the last book in the series The Last Survivor in November 2015, and loved it.  This was no different.  I started this on December 27 and finished it on the 31st.  Definitely a quick read - 5 days!  

It's funny - sometimes formulaic, series books can get old.  But not Mitch Rapp books (or at least not yet - here's hoping they never get old).

These books are in the realm of possibility given the current political world climate we find ourselves in.  This one follows Rapp addressing a crisis with his team of black ops professionals.  The shit hits the fan a number of times, but of course, the good guys win.

I like how the characters interact with each other, I like that Flynn and now Mills develop the characters so you really feel like you know them.  They seem believable and they act with a realistic passion to do the right thing and save the day.  I also like how the good guys don't always win easily - they encounter some crazy shit that they need to get through - from their own and from external forces.

It's hard to describe all of the plot-lines in this book - partially because I don't want some black ops government agency to come after me if certain keywords appear in this blog (it is sad I'm paranoid about that - you an read a synopsis here), and also it's hard because there is so much going on in this book. 

Bottom line - it's great.  It's action-packed.  It's well written.  It's a page turner.  It goes by quick.  As I mentioned before, it is important to read these books in order.  You could go in publication order (which I did) or in story chronological order - but don't jump around.  So much of these books build on what happens in previous books that I think you'd be lost if you don't go in order.

Two thumbs up from me!

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

So, after reading The Survivor, by Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills, I needed a book to read.  I spent Halloween with my brother, sister-in-law, and 10 year-old niece Sophia, and 12 year-old nephew, Alex.  Alex and I were talking about the Alchemyst book series he recommended and how much I liked it.  He asked if I had started the Inheritance Cycle trilogy he gave me a while back, and I said that I'd probably start that next.  Sophia asked if she could give me a book to read, and of course I said yes.  So, she picked out Shiloh for me.  How could I refuse my niece and a book with an adorable little dog on the cover.

I fell asleep Halloween night before I even got through 1 page, so I brought it home with me and started for real reading it on November 1 and finished it around November 14.

This book is about a little boy with 2 younger sisters who encounters a little dog one day when he was out walking near his house.  

"...he licks all my fingers and jumps up against my leg, making little yelps in his throat.  He can't get enough of me, like I'd been saying no all along and now I'd said yes, he could come.  It's a he-dog like I thought.  'Hey, boy! You're really somethin' now ain't you?' I'm laughing as the beagle makes circles around me.  I squat down and the dog licks my face, my neck.  Where'd he learn to come if you whistled, to hang back if you didn't?  I'm so busy watching the dog I don't even notice it's started to rain.  Don't bother me.  Don't bother the dog, neither.  I'm looking for the place I first saw him.  Does he live here?  I wonder.  Or the house up on the road?  Each place we pass I figure he'll stop - somebody come out and whistle, maybe.  But nobody comes out and the dog don't stop.  Keeps coming even after we get to the old Shiloh schoolhouse.  Even starts across the bridge, tail going like a propeller.  He licks my hand every so often to make sure I'm still there - mouth open like's he smiling.  He is smiling."

The little dog wouldn't stop following the boy, Marty.  The little dog followed Marty home, and that's when the story takes off.  Marty and his dad figure out that the dog belongs to a mean man who lives nearby, who Marty suspects mistreats his dogs.  Marty has obviously fallen in love with the dog, whom he named Shiloh, and is torn up about having to return the dog to his owner.

All Marty can think about is getting Shiloh back and being able to call the dog his own.  When Shiloh shows up at his house once again, Marty sees this as his opportunity to keep Shiloh.  He creates a pen for Shiloh up on a hill a ways away from his house.  He sneaks food to him, plays with him at every opportunity, and just loves Shiloh to no end.  Of course, something happens, and Marty is faced with several decisions to try and rectify the situation. 

This little book is very sweet, and you can't help but fall in love with Shiloh too.  A quick and entertaining read, any kid would love this.  But be careful, after reading it, they might keep bugging you to get a dog!

The Survivor: A Mitch Rapp Novel, by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills

So, after reading two short little eBooks by Michael Scott, I needed a new book to read.  I took a little break, and then when I was at the airport flying down to Southern California for a friend's baby shower, I saw something on a shelf in the airport bookstore that made me stop dead in my tracks.  Literally stopped in my tracks when I saw this:

Why did this book stop me in my tracks?  Well, I'll tell you.  The author, Vince Flynn, died in June 2013 after a 3-year battle with prostate cancer, and I thought his Mitch Rapp book series died with him.  So, it was a complete surprise to me to walk by a bookstore and see a Vince Flynn novel front and center - how could it be?  Another author, Kyle Mills, finished the book after Flynn's passing.  

The Husband and I are trying not to buy books, but rather check them out from the public library, but since I was book-less on this trip, I decided to sidestep our new practice and buy this book.  I started reading it on October 11 and finished it on October 28.

This book did not disappoint.  I honestly couldn't really tell that this was written by someone other than Flynn.  Flynn started this book before he passed and Mills finished it.  I don't know where in the book Flynn left off and Mills picked up.  I really wonder how an author with their own voice and style can pick up and write in the same style and voice as another author.  But, thankfully some can - I was very sad at the prospect of not having any more Mitch Rapp novels to read.

So, before I go further, if you decide you want to read Mitch Rapp novels, you really really really should start at the beginning and read them in order:

Yes, you could pick them up and read out of order, but they will make SO MUCH more sense if you do read them in order.  Characters are introduced, back stories are explained, and each book builds on the previous.  It will be worth it to read them in order.

So, if you are new to Vince Flynn and his Mitch Rapp character - here's the skinny:  Mitch Rapp is a black-ops CIA agent, total bad ass, ruggedly good looking dude who gets into and out of a lot of shit.  He works directly with the director of the CIA and generally tries to keep the shit from hitting the fan in the world, in Washington, D. C., for politicians, for the President.  He's not without his own shortcomings or skeletons in the closet or tragic life events.  But trust me, if he was real, I'd want him on my side if anything bad or dangerous was going on.

The Survivor picks up where The Last Man left off - shit is hitting the fan (not surprisingly) and Mitch needs to clean it up.  The main CIA guy in the Middle-East has died but not without leaving a mess for Mitch and the CIA to deal with.  I really can't say too much more without giving things away, and I detest spoilers, so sorry - you'll just have to read this series.  Trust me, it is GREAT.

The books are extremely well-written.  The characters are believable.  The story lines are plausible.  Mitch Rapp is super bad-ass and you'll want him on your side too.

I hope hope hope that Kyle Mills or another author continues with this series. 

An aside:  American Assassin, the first book in the series, is currently being made into a movie!!!  Hallelujah that they are starting with the first book rather than picking one in the middle like other series (Jack Reacher, etc.)  CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT!