Unlike last year, when Mills was tasked with fitting a story around the three pages that Flynn had written before his passing (and which also happened to be a direct sequel to 2012’s The Last Man), he now had full creative range to craft his own story from start to finish, and the final product is nothing short of amazing.

Mills knows just what fans want out of a Mitch Rapp book, and he delivers in a big way. 

Between his deep understanding of who the characters are and what makes them tick, and his ability to masterfully weave heart-pounding suspense with nonstop action, Kyle Mills does more than just pick up where Flynn left off, he’s elevated this franchise to another level entirely.

Everyone who claims to enjoy thrillers should read this book. In fact, I dare you to read this book. If you don’t absolutely love it, it’s time for you to try another genre.

The Story

Set just a few weeks after the events of The Survivor, the Central Intelligence Agency is still dealing with some fallout from what went down in Pakistan. With the Rickman files a thing of the past, a new problem revolves around President Chutani’s struggle to thwart an impending coup as one of his top generals continues to threaten his position of power. 

With the situation already dicey and growing worse by the day, Chutani has taken extreme measures to protect his nation’s nuclear arsenal, ensuring that they don’t fall into enemy hands. To do that, though, the nuclear warheads are constantly being transported to and from various bunkers and bases around the country, leaving them vulnerable to an attack.

CIA Director Dr. Irene Kennedy, fully aware of the situation in Pakistan and the possible dangers that could unfold should one of those nukes go missing, has dispatched various teams to help run surveillance and babysit the warheads. But when solid intel suggests that one warhead, in particular, will be targeted by an unknown terrorist group, there’s only one man who can be trusted to oversee an operation to keep that from happening. 

Legendary American assassin Mitch Rapp lands in Pakistan with just enough time to rendezvous with his team and gear up for the planned assault. Their goal is to neutralize anyone who makes a play for the nuke and secure the warhead themselves. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan. 

Unbeknownst to Rapp and his team, one of the world’s elite assassins is working with the Islamic terrorists to set a trap for the famed CIA operative. 

Grisha Azarov has spent his entire career hiding deep in Russia’s shadows for one reason, to stay off of Rapp’s radar until the time was right. Younger, faster, stronger, and better-looking than Mitch, Grisha has literally been molded into a lethal killer with unmatched ability. Seriously, this dude is like the Ivan Drago of contract killers, and he’s eager to finally test himself against Mitch. 

Their showdown, however, is delayed when one of Rapp’s teammates, a face that longtime fans of the series will immediately recognize, accidentally finds himself where Mitch was supposed to be standing and promptly takes a lightning-fast beating at the hands of Grisha Azarov. 

Apart from the fact that Rapp and Kennedy are stunned to learn that Grisha has never previously popped up on their radar, the second takeaway from the entire debacle is that his presence suggests that the Russians are involved. But why?

As Rapp and Kennedy use different means to find answers, they both confirm that the terror group in question is none other than ISIS. When a twist in the story causes further problems and little time to deal with them, Rapp does the most unthinkable and dangerous thing he’s ever attempted. 

He goes undercover to infiltrate the Islamic State. 

When Mitch Rapp enters the picture, bad guys stop breathing in bunches. And in Order To Kill, the body count has never been higher as Rapp leaves behind a bloody trail on his way to trying to stop a nuclear catastrophe–and his inevitable showdown with Grisha Azarov, which is now personal.

Unlike in the past, though, Rapp is shown to be human. He bleeds a lot, and for the first time ever, he may truly be in over his head. With the clock running and an attack that would undoubtedly have global implications looming, Mitch Rapp might have finally found himself in a fight he cannot win. 

Written with the same nonstop action and nail-biting suspense that readers of Vince Flynn have come to expect, Kyle Mills proves once again that there’s no better writer on the planet to steer this franchise moving forward.

Longtime fans of the series can rest assured that Order To Kill doesn’t just meet the high standards set by Vince Flynn, it’s the best book in the series since Consent To Kill (2005).  

Mitch Rapp is back, and he’s on his most dangerous mission yet. 

Why I Loved It

Mills has taken every step to ensure that his books are completely authentic to the characters and universe Flynn created and defined over the course of a brilliant career and fourteen bestselling novels. 

While some fans will get caught up comparing Mills’ work to Flynn’s, my advice is to not even waste your time. Flynn, considered a legend by many, is one of the all-time greats. If he could be so easily replaced and his style replicated, then he wouldn’t have been as special of a talent as he was. 

Instead, look at Mills as representing the second phase of the Mitch Rapp saga. While their style isn’t exactly the same (though Mills has done a terrific job adapting to the way Vince wrote and structured his books), the important stuff remains unchanged. 

It’s sort of like a new director taking over a film franchise. The actors remain, but the creative vision is new and offers a fresh, exciting take on things. Such is the case here, and frankly, it’s a nice change of pace to the somewhat predictable format Flynn had just fallen into with his last few books.

That’s not a knock on Flynn, but rather an honest observation. Readers could easily predict where some of his books would end; it was all about Rapp’s journey getting to that point. It worked, obviously, but Mills has added in more suspense and twists along the way. Especially in this one! 

Much like fans of Star Wars were feeling nostalgic watching The Force Awakens, fans of this series will have similar goose bumps and chills as Mills revisits a number of things from earlier books.

Little things like Mitch strapping on a fanny pack to carry his gun, or readers finally getting to see the house he was originally building for him and his wife, adds a compelling infusion of emotions to the steady stream of fireworks and hammer fists. 

Oh, and the epic showdown between Rapp and Grisha is seriously one for the ages. A combination of the fight between Dwayne Johnson’s and Vin Diesel’s characters in Fast Five and Sherlock Holmes taking on Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the two assassins meet in a battle of brute force, precision, intellect, and battlefield instincts. 

Taking you inside the minds of both men as it all goes down, it’s not only Kyle Mills’ best scene in the book, it’s quite possibly the best several pages of his entire writing career. 

Why You Should Read It

Mitch Rapp is a character like no other, who stands king of the hill against the genre’s other series protagonists. There are only two types of readers–those who are fans of Mitch Rapp, and those who have yet to meet him. 

Kyle Mills makes his presence felt, yet still manages to stay true to the characteristics and details that made Mitch Rapp a household name. A bona fide superstar, Order To Kill signals the completion of Kyle Mill’s ascent towards the very top of the thriller genre, where he now sits with Brad Thor and Daniel Silva. 

Order To Kill is everything you want in a Mitch Rapp novel, and then some. 

Book Details

Author: Kyle Mills

Pages: 374 (Hardcover)

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Release Date: October 11, 2016 (Order now!)

The post Featured Review: ‘Order To Kill’ by Kyle Mills first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

The Mitch Rapp Ambassador program, brilliantly thought up by the publicity department at Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, will return for the second straight year following the success of last year’s novel, The Survivor. 

As many fans of the genre already know, Vince Flynn, creator of Mitch Rapp and author of fifteen bestselling novels, passed away in 2013 . In 2014 it was announced that fellow bestselling author Kyle Mills, whose career started the same year as Flynn’s, had been chosen by Vince’s family and publisher to continue the wildly popular Mitch Rapp franchise. 

As a way to get fans involved and acclimated to Kyle Mills leading into his first Rapp novel, Atria rolled out the Ambassador program and sent tons of free advance copies of The Survivor out to diehard Flynn/Rapp fans. Fans loved it, and the program proved fruitful when The Survivor debuted on The New York Times bestsellers list at #1 in all three fiction categories: Hardcover, eBook, and Print/eBook combination. 

Either to reward fans for last year’s successful run or to try and duplicate those sales numbers again in 2016 (honestly, does the reason really matter? Not for fans!), the Ambassador program is back. 

The first thing you’ll notice once you head over to Vince Flynn’s official website, are three questions followed by additional instructions: 

Have you read all of Vince’s books?

When people ask for reading recommendations, do you suggest the Mitch Rapp series?

Are you anxiously awaiting the publication of Order To Kill?

If you answered yes to these questions, you might have what it takes to be a Mitch Rapp Ambassador.  Just complete the form below and you will automatically be entered to be selected as an ambassador.

Each month until October, Mitch Rapp Ambassadors will be selected to receive a free galley of Order To Kill (a galley is a pre-publication draft of a book).

Ambassadors must be willing to provide their feedback on the book and consent to have their image and name used for marketing purposes.

**US Residents Only**

If you were selected as an Ambassador for The Survivior, you are automatically entered to win a galley of Order To Kill.

A couple fine print things to clear up: To be an Ambassador your must be a resident of the United States of America. Also, if you were part of the program last year, you’re automatically eligible to win an ARC of Order To Kill. 

This is just my own little reminder, but for those lucky enough to win an ARC of Order To Kill, please treat the process and prize like the privilege it is. It’s standard procedure for publishers to print “not for sale” right on the cover of their advance copies, which are typically sent out to media members for reviews ahead of the book’s release. Even still, some people have taken to selling their copies online.

In this case especially, Atria has set up a unique, special opportunity for fans. Please don’t ruin it for the loyal, rule-abiding fans who genuinely appreciate and take pride in being a Mitch Rapp Ambassador.

I guess the only thing left to ask is, do you have that it takes to be a Mitch Rapp Ambassador? Click here to sign up today. Good luck! 

Order To Kill

Order To Kill is the fifteenth novel in the bestselling Mitch Rapp series created by Vince Flynn, and the second entry from Kyle Mills. It’s scheduled to hit bookstores everywhere on October 11, 2016, and is available for pre-order here.

Scroll down for the official plot info. 

“In the next thrilling novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Mitch Rapp series, the anti-terrorism operative heads to Pakistan to confront a mortal threat he may not be prepared for. In fact, this time he might have met his match.

Mitch Rapp is used to winning.

But in this follow-up to #1 New York Times bestselling The Survivor, the CIA operative finds himself chasing false leads from continent to continent in an effort to keep Pakistani 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, particularly because Russia is also interested in the nukes, though not for the same reason as Rapp and Coleman.

Soon, it becomes alarmingly clear that the forces in Moscow are bent on fomenting even more chaos and turmoil in the Middle East, and Rapp must go deep into Russian territory, posing as an American ISIS recruit. There, he uncovers a plan much more dangerous and insidious than he ever expected, one that could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences.

Written with breathless tension and heart-pounding action, Mitch Rapp’s latest adventure is as timely and provocative as ever.”

The post Atria Books Brings Back Their Popular Mitch Rapp Ambassador Program, Giving Fans The Opportunity To Read ‘Order To Kill’ Ahead Of Its Publication Date! first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

Betley originally signed a two-book deal with Emily Bestler Books, an imprint of Atria Books at publishing powerhouse Simon & Schuster. His second book, Oath of Honor, is scheduled for release sometime in March of 2017. 

New Deal

News just broke today that Betley, who many in the industry consider to be a superstar in the making, has agreed to a new two-book deal with Emily Bestler Books, ensuring fans will get their Logan West fix for years to come. Books three and four of his series will hit bookstores everywhere in 2018 and 2019, respectively. 

I reached out to Matthew Betley, who is repped by Will Roberts at The Gernert Company, for comment. He had this to say:

“I am absolutely thrilled to reach a deal with Emily Bestler Books at Simon & Schuster.  I could not be happier – there is no other home for the Logan West thrillers.  I’ve been blessed from the beginning with fantastic editors, a great publicist, and an overall awesome support staff I call ‘Team West.’  Buckle up sports fans and enjoy the ride!”  

Buckle up, indeed, thriller fans… The Logan West saga is just getting started!

If you haven’t read Overwatch yet, then you’re missing out on the best, most action-packed debut novel of the year. Change that now, click here to order your copy today! 

The post Matthew Betley Signs New Two-Book Deal With Emily Bestler Books first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

Today, of all days, just happens to be Vince Flynn’s birthday. He would have been the big 5-0 today, God rest his soul. For those unaware, Flynn passed away in 2013 after battling prostate cancer. Kyle Mills, the bestselling author of thirteen prior books, was hired to finish the last novel Flynn had started working on and to continue the series into the future. 

Writing all but the first chapter, Mills released The Survivor last year, which was a smash hit and went on to earn Triple Crown status on the New York Times bestsellers list, coming in at #1 in all three fictional categories–erasing any doubt that Kyle Mills was up to the task of continuing a legendary character such as Mitch Rapp. 

This time out, Mills is on his own. The Survivor was a direct sequel to The Last Man (2012), so even though Flynn hadn’t mapped out the plot before Kyle took over, there was really only one direction the story could have gone. But now, with this new book, Kyle isn’t just in the driver’s seat–he’s the only one in the car! I for one have complete faith in him moving forward and know just how much he cares about getting the characters and stories right. I appreciate that, and I’m excited to see what he has up his sleeve for us this year. 

While the book is still untitled (though I expect we’ll have an announcement on that front very soon) we do have our first true plot details, which you can also see on the book’s official Amazon page:

In the next thrilling novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Mitch Rapp series, the anti-terrorism operative heads to Pakistan to confront a mortal threat he may not be prepared for. In fact, this time he might have met his match.

Mitch Rapp is used to winning.

But in this follow-up to #1 New York Times bestselling The Survivor, the CIA operative finds himself chasing false leads from continent to continent in an effort to keep Pakistani 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, particularly because Russia is also interested in the nukes, though not for the same reason as Rapp and Coleman.

Soon, it becomes alarmingly clear that the forces in Moscow are bent on fomenting even more chaos and turmoil in the Middle East, and Rapp must go deep into Russian territory, posing as an American ISIS recruit. There, he uncovers a plan much more dangerous and insidious than he ever expected, one that could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences.

Written with the same breathless tension and heart-racing action as Vince Flynn’s greatest novels, Mitch Rapp’s latest adventure is as timely and provocative as ever.

My thoughts

Yes, yes, and more YES! I love it, and can’t wait to sink my teeth into this book–whatever it ends up being titled. I previously wrote an article detailing six things we already know about the next Mitch Rapp book–and several of those things stand out here. 

For instance, we already knew Rapp was going to take on ISIS in some capacity. However, I never would have guessed he’d be infiltrating them by going undercover and working from inside their operations. That is seriously cool, and it has a Separation of Power-type of vibe to it, slightly reminiscent of when Mitch posed as Uday Hussein. 

We also know that Rapp takes on a powerful antagonist named Grisha Azarov, who has a skill set similar to Mitch’s. This guy is like Louie Gould on steroids, so that will be a ton of fun to watch! 

Can’t it just be October already?!

Of all the books coming out this year, this is, without question, the one I’m most excited about. Check back for updates, because I’ll be all over this one leading up to October. In the meantime, go pre-order the fifteenth Mitch Rapp novel right away, and then make sure to flood social media and let the world know that Mitch Rapp is back! 

The post Mitch Rapp is Back: Untitled Mitch Rapp Novel Set to Hit Bookstores in October! (With Plot Details) first appeared on The Real Book Spy.