# Mitch Rapp
**Mitch Rapp** is a fictional CIA counterterrorism operative and the protagonist of a political thriller series created by the American author [Vince Flynn](https://www.edgepedia.org/vince-flynn) in 1999 with *Transfer of Power*, a novel in which terrorists seize the White House.[1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/) The series has grown to 24 novels as of *Denied Access* (2025), written by three authors: 13 by Flynn, 9 by Kyle Mills, and 2 by Don Bentley, with a 25th, *Double Tap*, scheduled for September 22, 2026.[1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/) • [2](https://bingerun.com/order/mitch-rapp/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appearance | *Transfer of Power* (1999), in which terrorists seize the White House[1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/) |
| Creator | Vince Flynn, who wrote 13 Rapp novels before his death in June 2013 at age 47[3](https://www.vinceflynn.com/books/) |
| Bestseller record | Every one of Flynn's 13 Rapp novels reached the *New York Times* bestseller list[4](https://www.krsmalta.com/Members/PROD%20NOTES/AmericanAssassin_IntlProductionNotes.pdf) |
| Continuation authors | Kyle Mills (9 novels, from *The Survivor*, 2015), then Don Bentley from *Capture or Kill* (2024)[1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/) • [5](https://dadnology.com/hub/mitch-rapp) |
| Series length | 24 novels as of *Denied Access* (September 30, 2025); *Double Tap* is number 25[1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/) • [2](https://bingerun.com/order/mitch-rapp/) |
| Film adaptation | *American Assassin* (September 2017), starring Dylan O'Brien as Rapp and Michael Keaton as his mentor Stan Hurley[6](https://www.booksonboard.com/book-series-in-order/mitch-rapp/) |
| Sales | Flynn sold more than 15 million books in the U.S. alone[7](https://bookseriesinsights.com/series/mitch-rapp) |
## Character and premise
Rapp is described as the CIA's top counterterrorism operative, confronting threats to America and the world across the series.[8](https://www.simonandschuster.net/series/A-Mitch-Rapp-Novel) The novels' plots move through nuclear smuggling, Saudi intrigue, and moles inside Langley, and the series rewards reading in sequence: Rapp's personal history, his losses, his relationships with figures such as Irene Kennedy, and the evolution of his moral position accumulate in ways later books assume the reader knows.[1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/) • [9](https://gotbookseriesinorder.com/characters/mitch-rapp)
Flynn's standalone debut *Term Limits* (1997) shares characters with the series but does not feature Mitch Rapp himself.[10](https://theses.cz/id/dafpek/34733217) • [1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/)
## Publication order versus chronological order
The series has two distinct reading orders, and the difference between them is unusually large for a thriller series. In publication order, the series opens with *Transfer of Power* (1999), which presents Rapp already at the height of his powers; this is how original readers encountered him.[1](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/) In 2010, Flynn published *American Assassin*, an origin story of Rapp joining the CIA, followed by *Kill Shot* (2012), and these prequels must be slotted into earlier timeline positions for a chronological reading.[6](https://www.booksonboard.com/book-series-in-order/mitch-rapp/)
The chronological sequence begins with *American Assassin*, followed by *Kill Shot*, *Transfer of Power*, *The Third Option*, *Separation of Power*, *Executive Power*, *Memorial Day*, *Consent to Kill*, *Act of Treason*, *Protect and Defend*, *Extreme Measures*, *Pursuit of Honor*, *The Last Man*, *The Survivor*, *Order to Kill*, *Enemy of the State*, and later entries.[11](https://www.vinceflynn.com/s/vinceflynnchronologicalorderbooklist-6kzw.pdf) Later continuation authors have also inserted books into gaps in the timeline: the official chronological list places Don Bentley's *Capture or Kill* between *Pursuit of Honor* and *The Last Man*, and his *Double Tap* immediately after *Kill Shot*, returning to Rapp's early days.[3](https://www.vinceflynn.com/books/) [Simon & Schuster](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-and-schuster) describes *Double Tap* as continuing the *American Assassin* storyline, taking the young CIA operative on his first deep-cover mission, infiltrating a jihadi organization bent on unleashing a weapon of mass destruction.[8](https://www.simonandschuster.net/series/A-Mitch-Rapp-Novel)
## Authorship succession
**Vince Flynn** created the character and wrote thirteen Rapp novels, from *Transfer of Power* (1999) through *The Last Man* (2012), the last Rapp novel he completed before his death in June 2013 after a long battle with prostate cancer.[9](https://gotbookseriesinorder.com/characters/mitch-rapp) • [3](https://www.vinceflynn.com/books/) The Flynn estate chose Kyle Mills, a *New York Times* bestselling thriller writer, to continue the series.[9](https://gotbookseriesinorder.com/characters/mitch-rapp) Mills began with *The Survivor* (2015), which continues the plot of *The Last Man* directly, so the author handoff is not a reset point for readers.[2](https://bingerun.com/order/mitch-rapp/) Kirkus's review of *Order to Kill* (2016), the 15th chronicle, called Mills "a worthy successor to carry on the series."[12](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/vince-flynn/order-to-kill/)
Mills wrote nine Rapp novels in total, ending with *Code Red*. In his notes on that book he described closing out the arc Flynn started in *The Last Man*, pitting Rapp against an opponent nearly his equal, and staging a race to stop a Russian invasion of Europe; he deliberately left Rapp's next custodian a solid platform without locking him into a particular course.[13](https://www.kylemills.com/books/code-red/) Don Bentley, a former Army Ranger and *New York Times* bestselling author, took over the series in 2024 with *Capture or Kill*.[9](https://gotbookseriesinorder.com/characters/mitch-rapp) • [5](https://dadnology.com/hub/mitch-rapp)
## Film adaptation
The prequel novel *American Assassin* was adapted into a major motion picture released in September 2017, directed by Michael Cuesta, with [Dylan O'Brien](https://www.edgepedia.org/dylan-obrien) as Mitch Rapp and [Michael Keaton](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-keaton) as his mentor Stan Hurley.[6](https://www.booksonboard.com/book-series-in-order/mitch-rapp/) • [14](https://eapmovies.com/news/142-american-assassin-writer-on-changes-from-book-to-movie-real-life-similarities) The film keeps the book's coming-of-age story but changes the motivating tragedy: in the novel it is the 1988 [Lockerbie](https://www.edgepedia.org/lockerbie) bombing, while the film opens with a terrorist attack on a beach.[14](https://eapmovies.com/news/142-american-assassin-writer-on-changes-from-book-to-movie-real-life-similarities) Earlier adaptation plans had centered on *Consent to Kill* at CBS Films, until Flynn said he would write the origin story instead; Edward Zwick was at one point announced to direct.[15](https://www.thewrap.com/edward-zwick-direct-american-assassin-28054/)
## References
1. [Mitch Rapp Books in Order — All 24 Books, The Well Bookshop](https://www.thewellbookshop.com/series/mitch-rapp/)
2. [Mitch Rapp Books in Order: Publication vs Chronological, Bingerun](https://bingerun.com/order/mitch-rapp/)
3. [The Mitch Rapp Saga — VinceFlynn.com](https://www.vinceflynn.com/books/)
4. [The Mitch Rapp Series Timeline (American Assassin production notes), KRS Malta](https://www.krsmalta.com/Members/PROD%20NOTES/AmericanAssassin_IntlProductionNotes.pdf)
5. [Mitch Rapp series explained: Who wrote which books, Dadnology](https://dadnology.com/hub/mitch-rapp)
6. [Mitch Rapp Books in Order, Books on Board](https://www.booksonboard.com/book-series-in-order/mitch-rapp/)
7. [Mitch Rapp Books in Order, Stats & Facts, Book Series Insights](https://bookseriesinsights.com/series/mitch-rapp)
8. [A Mitch Rapp Novel, Simon & Schuster](https://www.simonandschuster.net/series/A-Mitch-Rapp-Novel)
9. [Mitch Rapp Books: The Complete Character Journey, Book Series in Order](https://gotbookseriesinorder.com/characters/mitch-rapp)
10. [Bachelor thesis on the Mitch Rapp series, Masaryk University (theses.cz)](https://theses.cz/id/dafpek/34733217)
11. [Chronological Order of the Mitch Rapp Storyline, VinceFlynn.com (PDF)](https://www.vinceflynn.com/s/vinceflynnchronologicalorderbooklist-6kzw.pdf)
12. [Order to Kill review, Kirkus Reviews](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/vince-flynn/order-to-kill/)
13. [Code Red — Behind the Book, Kyle Mills](https://www.kylemills.com/books/code-red/)
14. [American Assassin writer on changes from book to movie, EAP Films](https://eapmovies.com/news/142-american-assassin-writer-on-changes-from-book-to-movie-real-life-similarities)
15. [Edward Zwick to Direct CBS Films' American Assassin, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/edward-zwick-direct-american-assassin-28054/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Creative written works and worlds › Prose fiction › Novel series and sagas › Crime, mystery, and thriller novel series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license