If you're trying to figure out the mitch rapp order of books, you've probably realized it's not as simple as checking the publication dates on the back covers. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. You have the original masterpieces by Vince Flynn, the high-octane transition years by Kyle Mills, and now the Don Bentley era, which has thrown a massive wrench into the timeline by jumping back to the past.
Most people just grab whatever is on the shelf at the airport. Don't do that. You’ll end up reading about Mitch as a seasoned, cynical legend before you've even seen him survive the tragedy that turned him into a killer in the first place. Whether you want to see the character evolve year-by-year as Vince Flynn wrote him, or you want the "true" chronological experience from his college days to the modern day, you need a plan.
The Chronological Order (The "Story" Timeline)
This is the way to go if you want to watch Mitch Rapp grow up. It starts with his recruitment and training—long before he was the guy the President had on speed dial.
The biggest change for readers in 2026 is where the new Don Bentley books fit. Bentley didn't just pick up where Kyle Mills left off; he went back to fill in the gaps. For example, his newest 2025 release, Denied Access, actually slots in right after the early prequels.
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- American Assassin (The origin story. Mitch loses his girlfriend in the Lockerbie bombing and joins the CIA.)
- Kill Shot (Mitch is a young hitman in Paris, and things go sideways.)
- Denied Access (The new 2025 release that finishes the "prequel trilogy" vibes.)
- Transfer of Power (This was the first book ever written, but it happens here chronologically. Terrorists take the White House.)
- The Third Option
- Separation of Power
- Executive Power
- Memorial Day (A nuclear plot that still feels terrifyingly relevant.)
- Consent to Kill (Widely considered the best book in the series. It’s personal, brutal, and game-changing.)
- Act of Treason
- Protect and Defend
- Extreme Measures
- Pursuit of Honor
- Capture or Kill (Don Bentley’s 2024 debut. Even though it's a new book, it takes place in 2011 during the hunt for bin Laden.)
- The Last Man (The final book Vince Flynn fully finished before his death.)
- The Survivor (Started by Flynn, finished by Kyle Mills.)
- Order to Kill
- Enemy of the State
- Red War
- Lethal Agent
- Total Power
- Enemy at the Gates
- Oath of Loyalty
- Code Red (Kyle Mills' final contribution to the series.)
Why the Order Actually Matters
You might think, "It’s an action series, does the order really change much?"
Yeah, it does.
If you read Consent to Kill before Transfer of Power, you’re losing the weight of Mitch's relationships. The series isn't just about shooting bad guys; it’s about the revolving door of politicians in D.C. and how Mitch’s handler, Irene Kennedy, has to navigate the swamp to keep him in the field. Watching their bond grow over twenty books is half the fun.
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The Publication Order: Reading It Like We Did
Some purists argue you should read them in the order they hit the shelves. There’s a logic to this. When American Assassin came out in 2010, fans had already spent a decade with an older Mitch. Reading his "origin" felt like a reward—a way to finally see the ghosts he’d been talking about for years.
If you go this route, you start with Transfer of Power (1999) and just follow the years. You'll hit the prequels (American Assassin and Kill Shot) much later. It’s a bit of a trip to go from a veteran Mitch back to a twenty-something rookie, but it works if you like that "flashback" style of storytelling.
Who is writing Mitch Rapp now?
Vince Flynn passed away in 2013, which was a huge blow to the thriller community. Kyle Mills took over for nine books and did an incredible job keeping the "Flynn voice" alive while updating the tech and the geopolitical threats.
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As of 2024, Don Bentley is the man behind the keyboard. Bentley is a former Army Apache pilot and FBI agent, so the tactical stuff is incredibly sharp. He’s the one responsible for the "throwback" books like Capture or Kill, which revisit the early 2010s.
The Term Limits Confusion
There is one book you’ll see mentioned in every mitch rapp order of books discussion that isn't actually a Mitch Rapp book: Term Limits.
It was Vince Flynn’s first novel. Mitch isn't in it. However, almost every other major character is—Irene Kennedy, Thomas Stansfield, and Scott Coleman all make their debuts here. If you’re a completionist, read Term Limits first. It sets the stage for the entire political universe Mitch operates in. It’s basically the "Pilot Episode" of the series.
Tactical Advice for New Readers
Honestly, don't get bogged down in the publication vs. chronological debate too much. The most important thing is to read the "original" Flynn run at some point. There is a grit to those early 2000s books that defined the modern political thriller.
- Start with American Assassin if you like a linear story.
- Start with Transfer of Power if you want to see why the series became a phenomenon in the first place.
- Don't skip the Don Bentley books just because they are "new" and set in the "past." They fill in crucial gaps about Mitch’s mindset.
If you're looking to start the journey today, pick up the "Prequel Trio" (American Assassin, Kill Shot, and Denied Access) to get the foundation of the character before diving into the main D.C. political drama. This gives you the best sense of who Mitch Rapp is before the world tries to break him.