As a long-time admirer of Tom Clancy’s works, I sought a similar thrill and found it in the pen of Vince Flynn. My journey began with “American Assassin” several years ago, though the precise date has since been lost to time, as it predates my habit of documenting my reading experiences.
Initially, I mistakenly believed “American Assassin” was the first book in the series, only to later learn it was a prequel. This past September, I embarked on a more structured exploration of the series, beginning with the first published novel, “Transfer of Power.” I swiftly progressed through several books until I reached “Consent to Kill,” where I decided to pause. As I delved deeper into the series, I found myself to begin to feel a bit disenchanted. While the initial premise—Mitch Rapp losing his girlfriend in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing—provided a solid foundation for his character’s motivation, the subsequent layers of trauma began to feel somewhat contrived. This was finalized in “Consent to Kill”, with the death of a well-liked character. This plot devices was used to reform Mitch Rapp’s motivation in a way I didn’t appreciate.
Additional note:
In December, I revisited the Mitch Rapp series, embarking from the inception with “American Assassin” and “Kill Shot,” and journeying through to “Memorial Day.” This exploration reinforced my affinity for the series’ initial offerings, notably “American Assassin” and “Kill Shot,” which stand as my preferred entries. It also underscored the enduring re-readability of the series, albeit with certain limitations. While discerning intriguing parallels between Flynn and Clancy, my predilection remains steadfastly aligned with the grander scale and intricate tapestry of Clancy’s narratives.
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