What do you think?
Rate this book
Mitch Rapp #13
The Last Man
A pulse-pounding thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon Vince Flynn, as Mitch Rapp heads to Afghanistan to track down a missing CIA agent.
The four dead guards didn’t concern Mitch Rapp as much as the absence of the man they’d been paid to protect. Joe Rickman wasn’t just another foot soldier. For the last eight years Rickman had ran the CIA’s clandestine operations in Afghanistan. It was a murky job that involved working with virtually every disreputable figure in the Islamic Republic. More than a quarter billion dollars in cash had passed through Rickman’s hands during his tenure as the master of black ops and no one with a shred of sense wanted to know the details of how that money had been spent.
At first glance it looks as if Rickman has been kidnapped, but Rapp knows certain things about his old friend that cause him to wonder if something more disturbing isn’t afoot. Irene Kennedy, the director of the CIA, has ordered Rapp to find Rickman at all costs. Rapp must navigate the ever-shifting landscape of Afghanistan as the Taliban, Iranians, Pakistanis and Russians all plot to claim their piece of the war torn state.
With Afghanistan crumbling around him, Rapp must be as ruthless as his enemies and as deceitful as people in his own government if he has any hopes of completing his mission.
The four dead guards didn’t concern Mitch Rapp as much as the absence of the man they’d been paid to protect. Joe Rickman wasn’t just another foot soldier. For the last eight years Rickman had ran the CIA’s clandestine operations in Afghanistan. It was a murky job that involved working with virtually every disreputable figure in the Islamic Republic. More than a quarter billion dollars in cash had passed through Rickman’s hands during his tenure as the master of black ops and no one with a shred of sense wanted to know the details of how that money had been spent.
At first glance it looks as if Rickman has been kidnapped, but Rapp knows certain things about his old friend that cause him to wonder if something more disturbing isn’t afoot. Irene Kennedy, the director of the CIA, has ordered Rapp to find Rickman at all costs. Rapp must navigate the ever-shifting landscape of Afghanistan as the Taliban, Iranians, Pakistanis and Russians all plot to claim their piece of the war torn state.
With Afghanistan crumbling around him, Rapp must be as ruthless as his enemies and as deceitful as people in his own government if he has any hopes of completing his mission.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2012
3737 people are currently reading
9323 people want to read
About the author
Vince Flynn
48 books6,859 followersThe fifth of seven children, Vince Flynn was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1966. He graduated from the St. Thomas Academy in 1984, and the University of St. Thomas with a degree in economics in 1988.
After college he went to work for Kraft General Foods where he was an account and sales marketing specialist. In 1990 he left Kraft to accept an aviation candidate slot with the United States Marine Corps. One week before leaving for Officers Candidate School, he was medically disqualified from the Marine Aviation Program, due to several concussions and convulsive seizures he suffered growing up. While trying to obtain a medical waiver for his condition, he started thinking about writing a book. This was a very unusual choice for Flynn since he had been diagnosed with dyslexia in grade school and had struggled with reading and writing all his life.
Having been stymied by the Marine Corps, Flynn returned to the nine-to-five grind and took a job with United Properties, a commercial real estate company in the Twin Cities. During his spare time he worked on an idea he had for a book. After two years with United Properties he decided to take a big gamble. He quit his job, moved to Colorado, and began working full time on what would eventually become Term Limits.
Like many struggling artists before him, he bartended at night and wrote during the day. Five years and more than sixty rejection letters later he took the unusual step of self-publishing his first novel. The book went to number one in the Twin Cities, and within a week had a new agent and two-book deal with Pocket Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
Vince Flynn passed away on June 19, 2013 after a three year battle with prostate cancer.
After college he went to work for Kraft General Foods where he was an account and sales marketing specialist. In 1990 he left Kraft to accept an aviation candidate slot with the United States Marine Corps. One week before leaving for Officers Candidate School, he was medically disqualified from the Marine Aviation Program, due to several concussions and convulsive seizures he suffered growing up. While trying to obtain a medical waiver for his condition, he started thinking about writing a book. This was a very unusual choice for Flynn since he had been diagnosed with dyslexia in grade school and had struggled with reading and writing all his life.
Having been stymied by the Marine Corps, Flynn returned to the nine-to-five grind and took a job with United Properties, a commercial real estate company in the Twin Cities. During his spare time he worked on an idea he had for a book. After two years with United Properties he decided to take a big gamble. He quit his job, moved to Colorado, and began working full time on what would eventually become Term Limits.
Like many struggling artists before him, he bartended at night and wrote during the day. Five years and more than sixty rejection letters later he took the unusual step of self-publishing his first novel. The book went to number one in the Twin Cities, and within a week had a new agent and two-book deal with Pocket Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
Vince Flynn passed away on June 19, 2013 after a three year battle with prostate cancer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,724 reviews
July 23, 2013
I read this book with mixed feelings. Vince Flynn has been one of my favorite authors ever since he started the Mitch Rapp series. With his untimely death this past June from prostate cancer, so begins the death of Mitch Rapp in an unintended way.
With "The Last Man" being released in November 2012 and Flynn passing this past June, you would think that there would be no more "Rapp" thrillers to look forward to. You would be WRONG!!!! "The Survivor" (ironically or appropriately named, depending on your perspective, is scheduled for release October 2013.) So at least there is one more Rapp novel in the pipeline.
However, in no way should my maudlin opening paragraphs deter you from reading "The Last Man." As usual, Flynn and Rapp are at their very best in this story and this truly is a page turner for those of us who have followed this series since its' inception.
The cast of characters is unusually large, but I guess that's what happens over time with a popular series. Flynn developed characters in previous stories that fit a particular need, and in doing so he created "other" supporting characters for the Rapp series who we all grew to expect to show up again as the series moved along. So it is sort of a tour de force of the best characters Flynn developed over the years, working together to make for an excellent story that is easy to read.
Those of you that read my reviews know that I do not include spoilers. Therefore, it is hard to go too far into any plot or outcome without violating this self-imposed rule. But I do want you to pay attention as you move through your read of this book, because this book ends on a slightly different note. I'm not sure how to explain it, however I point it out so that perhaps you might pick up on it and share your thoughts in a future review. Maybe it has to do with Flynn knowing that his writing career was coming to a close? Perhaps it has to do with the underlying differences about how people in general react to "the big C?" I really cannot put it into words. Just pay attention to the "tone" of the story as you enter the last third of the book. There was a perceptible change for me...what do you think?
With "The Last Man" being released in November 2012 and Flynn passing this past June, you would think that there would be no more "Rapp" thrillers to look forward to. You would be WRONG!!!! "The Survivor" (ironically or appropriately named, depending on your perspective, is scheduled for release October 2013.) So at least there is one more Rapp novel in the pipeline.
However, in no way should my maudlin opening paragraphs deter you from reading "The Last Man." As usual, Flynn and Rapp are at their very best in this story and this truly is a page turner for those of us who have followed this series since its' inception.
The cast of characters is unusually large, but I guess that's what happens over time with a popular series. Flynn developed characters in previous stories that fit a particular need, and in doing so he created "other" supporting characters for the Rapp series who we all grew to expect to show up again as the series moved along. So it is sort of a tour de force of the best characters Flynn developed over the years, working together to make for an excellent story that is easy to read.
Those of you that read my reviews know that I do not include spoilers. Therefore, it is hard to go too far into any plot or outcome without violating this self-imposed rule. But I do want you to pay attention as you move through your read of this book, because this book ends on a slightly different note. I'm not sure how to explain it, however I point it out so that perhaps you might pick up on it and share your thoughts in a future review. Maybe it has to do with Flynn knowing that his writing career was coming to a close? Perhaps it has to do with the underlying differences about how people in general react to "the big C?" I really cannot put it into words. Just pay attention to the "tone" of the story as you enter the last third of the book. There was a perceptible change for me...what do you think?
December 20, 2020
Four bodyguards were assassinated at a CIA safe house in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Mitch Rapp was sent on this dangerous mission to find a kidnapped CIA operative and friend Joe Rickman.
Many twists and turns. So many bad actors and betrayal. So much action as you would expect from one of the finest action thriller writer, the late Vince Flynn.
This is an abridged version read by Armand Schultz (also reads Scot Harvath series) and I enjoy this more than the full version which I started with. After two hours into it I realized I had no clue what was going on as I didn't pay full attention. The unabridged edition was read by George Guidall (I know he has tons of fans...just my preference).
Many twists and turns. So many bad actors and betrayal. So much action as you would expect from one of the finest action thriller writer, the late Vince Flynn.
This is an abridged version read by Armand Schultz (also reads Scot Harvath series) and I enjoy this more than the full version which I started with. After two hours into it I realized I had no clue what was going on as I didn't pay full attention. The unabridged edition was read by George Guidall (I know he has tons of fans...just my preference).
March 2, 2018
Mitch Rapp is back tracking down a kidnapped CIA agent who knows national secrets that cannot fall into enemy hands. The consequences would be the death of numerous undercover agents and the crippling of CIA intelligence operations for ten years.
The situation looks pretty clear cut: four dead guards and a missing CIA leader in a CIA safehouse. But something is squirrelly, at least it seems so to the indefatigable Mitch Rapp, the last man the bad guys should leave standing. And it is Mitch Rapp who sees through the complex subterfuge to the truth. (I can't say more without spoiling the plot.)
If you like virile, tough, soldier-like men, Mitch Rapp is for you. He is always right and his tactics are brutal. He's a killer without much compunction, willing to break jaws or teeth, willing to shoot out people's knees to get the information the USA needs. He's a terrible guy but he's our terrible guy. So, I guess, we like him, because he serves the purpose of protecting the USA. The end justifies the means in this case because Mitch Rapp is always right. His brutality always produces results that save American lives. So, if you like characters dunked in testosterone, Mitch is your kind of guy.
The writing is good, clean, clear. There's a part where Mitch loses his memory and this eventuality seems like an authorial device to prevent Mitch from solving the riddle in the book too quickly. We'd likely have a 175 book instead of a 375 page book if Mitch was Mitch for the first half of the book. Flynn likes to throw in some morons--they're always politicians--who gum up the works as they attempt to forward their own agendas. As in other Flynn books, the politicians go up in flames.
Good plotting. Good writing. Mostly good characters. If this is your first experience with Mitch Rapp, get ready to strap on a pair of cajones. If you know Mitch, it's the same Mitch.
The situation looks pretty clear cut: four dead guards and a missing CIA leader in a CIA safehouse. But something is squirrelly, at least it seems so to the indefatigable Mitch Rapp, the last man the bad guys should leave standing. And it is Mitch Rapp who sees through the complex subterfuge to the truth. (I can't say more without spoiling the plot.)
If you like virile, tough, soldier-like men, Mitch Rapp is for you. He is always right and his tactics are brutal. He's a killer without much compunction, willing to break jaws or teeth, willing to shoot out people's knees to get the information the USA needs. He's a terrible guy but he's our terrible guy. So, I guess, we like him, because he serves the purpose of protecting the USA. The end justifies the means in this case because Mitch Rapp is always right. His brutality always produces results that save American lives. So, if you like characters dunked in testosterone, Mitch is your kind of guy.
The writing is good, clean, clear. There's a part where Mitch loses his memory and this eventuality seems like an authorial device to prevent Mitch from solving the riddle in the book too quickly. We'd likely have a 175 book instead of a 375 page book if Mitch was Mitch for the first half of the book. Flynn likes to throw in some morons--they're always politicians--who gum up the works as they attempt to forward their own agendas. As in other Flynn books, the politicians go up in flames.
Good plotting. Good writing. Mostly good characters. If this is your first experience with Mitch Rapp, get ready to strap on a pair of cajones. If you know Mitch, it's the same Mitch.
October 16, 2024
In 2013, I was a smoker. Hated smoke inside the house, so I would smoke on my porch and read. I was mostly reading David Baldacci then, and I was looking for a new writer because I was almost done with his books. My neighbor recommended Vince Flynn, and I read all of his books in a summer. Mitch Rapp was one of my favorite characters.
I was so saddened to learn when he died. I have no idea who has been keeping up his series after he passed away. Not sure I'd want to continue them. Kind of like Steig Larsson's series, I suspect it will fall short of the author's original vision.
Because I read all these books in 2013, I'll be copying/pasting this review into all of the 13 Mitch Rapp books I read.
I was so saddened to learn when he died. I have no idea who has been keeping up his series after he passed away. Not sure I'd want to continue them. Kind of like Steig Larsson's series, I suspect it will fall short of the author's original vision.
Because I read all these books in 2013, I'll be copying/pasting this review into all of the 13 Mitch Rapp books I read.
January 5, 2013
I must admit. My 3-star review may be a bit sentimental here. The Mitch Rapp series of books is my all-time favorite. But if this book is "worth reading", then it is barely worth it. The Last Man was disappointing, and there's not much to recommend here.
The glaring weakness in The Last Man is how little Mitch Rapp appears. There are precious few scenes of classic Mitch Rapp action and violence. I think it's a good hundred pages before Mitch Rapp gets going at all.
The plot is really weak and, I won't spoil anything, but the primary plot device is pretty hard to swallow. Mr. Flynn refers back to previous Mitch Rapp adventures throughout the book. This leaves two impressions: 1) I wish I was reading those older books, and 2) it almost feels sometimes like you're reading "the best of Mitch Rapp" or a tribute band or something.
QOTD
I know that Vince Flynn has been sick. Also, Mitch Rapp is now 40-something, and there are more than a dozen books already in the Mitch Rapp series. Will this mark the end of really great Mitch Rapp books? I don't know. We shall see.
The glaring weakness in The Last Man is how little Mitch Rapp appears. There are precious few scenes of classic Mitch Rapp action and violence. I think it's a good hundred pages before Mitch Rapp gets going at all.
The plot is really weak and, I won't spoil anything, but the primary plot device is pretty hard to swallow. Mr. Flynn refers back to previous Mitch Rapp adventures throughout the book. This leaves two impressions: 1) I wish I was reading those older books, and 2) it almost feels sometimes like you're reading "the best of Mitch Rapp" or a tribute band or something.
QOTD
"You have no idea who you're screwing with, Mr. Rapp."
"Actually, I have a really good idea. You're some spoiled brat who's gotten her way her entire life." He pointed at her wedding ring and added, "Your husband is miserable. Some poor brow-beaten son of a bitch. You probably keep his balls in a little box on your desk, and based on your selfish attitude this morning I'd say there's a pretty good chance you've been having an affair with the colonel here. The point is I don't give a shit who you are, but you'd better care who I am and understand that I'm the meanest son of a bitch you will ever meet. That's why the president sent me over here. Because he wants results and he knows I won't put up with people like you."
- The Last Man by Vince Flynn
I know that Vince Flynn has been sick. Also, Mitch Rapp is now 40-something, and there are more than a dozen books already in the Mitch Rapp series. Will this mark the end of really great Mitch Rapp books? I don't know. We shall see.
January 22, 2013
I found this book a little disappointing. The plot was ok, but I hate it when a seasoned writer like Flynn makes serious technical errors in his writing.
I would think that a writer would get some authorities to read his manuscript before publishing; after all, this is not Hollywood! I don't mind it with an author creates an object in his/her fiction - like Dale Brown's super-B-52. However, when they talk about real life entities, they should get it right.
1) (Oxygen tanks used as an explosive at the vet clinic in Kandahar.) Oxygen does not explode as in explosions like gunpowder, TNT, ANFO or C5. Oxygen is not even flammable, but is an oxidizer and thus will make a flame burn very hot. If one were to shoot a smaller aluminum O2 cylinder (one that would likely to be found in a vet clinic,) it would probably fly around the floor like a child's balloon being released. If one were to shoot at one of the old steel "M" size O2 bottles with a 9mm round, it would probably not even penetrate.
2) Head nurse at USAF Hospital Kandahar - "Command Master Sergeant Sanchez." There is no such rank in the USAF. There is a Master Sergeant rank, but it is not associated with the "senior enlisted advisor" A USAF Master Sergeant may be a "First Sergeant," which is a "position." He/She wears a "diamond." The USAF does have a Chief Master Sergeant rank and those personnel can also serve in the "position" as Command Senior Enlisted Advisors. I highly doubt that an enlisted personnel would be in charge of an ICU ward. Nurses in the military are officers and there would have been a senior Capt. or Major on duty in the ward.
3) Author states that the CIA's Grumman Gulfstream 5 could fly non-stop from Dulles to Islamabad is incorrect. Even the USAF's version of the G-5 (C-37a) has a max range of 6300 miles, the great circle distance from Dulles to Islamabad is 7095 miles.
I would think that a writer would get some authorities to read his manuscript before publishing; after all, this is not Hollywood! I don't mind it with an author creates an object in his/her fiction - like Dale Brown's super-B-52. However, when they talk about real life entities, they should get it right.
1) (Oxygen tanks used as an explosive at the vet clinic in Kandahar.) Oxygen does not explode as in explosions like gunpowder, TNT, ANFO or C5. Oxygen is not even flammable, but is an oxidizer and thus will make a flame burn very hot. If one were to shoot a smaller aluminum O2 cylinder (one that would likely to be found in a vet clinic,) it would probably fly around the floor like a child's balloon being released. If one were to shoot at one of the old steel "M" size O2 bottles with a 9mm round, it would probably not even penetrate.
2) Head nurse at USAF Hospital Kandahar - "Command Master Sergeant Sanchez." There is no such rank in the USAF. There is a Master Sergeant rank, but it is not associated with the "senior enlisted advisor" A USAF Master Sergeant may be a "First Sergeant," which is a "position." He/She wears a "diamond." The USAF does have a Chief Master Sergeant rank and those personnel can also serve in the "position" as Command Senior Enlisted Advisors. I highly doubt that an enlisted personnel would be in charge of an ICU ward. Nurses in the military are officers and there would have been a senior Capt. or Major on duty in the ward.
3) Author states that the CIA's Grumman Gulfstream 5 could fly non-stop from Dulles to Islamabad is incorrect. Even the USAF's version of the G-5 (C-37a) has a max range of 6300 miles, the great circle distance from Dulles to Islamabad is 7095 miles.
December 24, 2012
The following could have easily been an passage from the book:
- "Good morning Mr. Rapp".
- Rapp casually took out his gun and shot the man. "I told you not to speak unless spoken to. I told you how dangerous I am. Now you understand I wasn't joking".
- "Rapp!", said the very important Army general, "you can't shoot my men. I am a very important person and I am in charge around here! You can call the head of the CIA and she'll tell you I'm running the show!"
- "You have no idea. The issue I was sent here to handle is very serious. You have no idea how serious it is. You can call the president and he will tell you I am in charge".
- "You have no idea. The other issue is much more important".
- "No. This issue is much much more important. Maybe I'll shoot you - then maybe you'll get it. I'm the guy they send when things are very serious and this is very serious! You have no idea!".
...and on and on.
- "Good morning Mr. Rapp".
- Rapp casually took out his gun and shot the man. "I told you not to speak unless spoken to. I told you how dangerous I am. Now you understand I wasn't joking".
- "Rapp!", said the very important Army general, "you can't shoot my men. I am a very important person and I am in charge around here! You can call the head of the CIA and she'll tell you I'm running the show!"
- "You have no idea. The issue I was sent here to handle is very serious. You have no idea how serious it is. You can call the president and he will tell you I am in charge".
- "You have no idea. The other issue is much more important".
- "No. This issue is much much more important. Maybe I'll shoot you - then maybe you'll get it. I'm the guy they send when things are very serious and this is very serious! You have no idea!".
...and on and on.
April 8, 2022
Really liked this book, complex, devious, great characters. 4 Stars
February 26, 2013
Mitch Rapp is back and at his best!
August 15, 2013
Iron Man has returned….No, not superhero Tony Stark, it’s the CIA’s resident Hitman Mitch Rapp. The novel starts with our protagonist on a trip to Afghanistan investigating the kidnapping of the CIA’s main man on the ground, Joe Rickman who has been the main conduit for bribes in the country. No sooner is he on ground; Rapp is caught up in his toughest mission yet since “Protect and Defend”. What starts out as a typical Flynn terrorism story turns into something much more, a snapshot on where we are in the war on terror and a very personal character study of the now middle aged Mitch. A sociopathic Pakistani ISI director decides to take advantage of the ISAF withdrawal in order to increase Pakistan’s influence over the region and at the same time, gain information on the CIA’S informant networks around the globe in order to burn them, putting hundreds of lives at risk. In order to do so, he has Rickman abducted, has a politician in the US accuse the CIA of corruption and arranges a contract killing on Rapp, sending the one man who came closest to killing the legendary hitman after him. Naturally Rapp won’t stand for this and even when suffering a serious injury during the mission, he now has an extremely competent team he can rely on to help him take apart the ISI’s operation.
Flynn delves into the messed up world of Afghanistan, famously called the graveyard of empires. By discussing the on-going “reintegration” programme where former Taliban militants are bribed into service with the Afghan law enforcement, he illustrates a cautionary point when a group of these “reintegrated” militants conduct a “green on blue” attack on Rapp and his team. As the saying goes, “you can’t buy an Afghan; you can only rent him for a while.” Flynn also explores the love and extreme hate relationship with Pakistan and the ISI. Despite officially being close allies, behind closed doors, Flynn paints a different picture of betrayal, mistrust and downright hatred between the CIA, the moderate ISI elements and the islamist elements in the ISI who were responsible for hiding Osama Bin Laden. Normally for a Vince Flynn book, characters take a backseat to action but here, it’s the opposite. We have several standouts, the main antagonists personal hitman who is extremely relatable, who is essentially a Pakistani version of Rapp and who we just might see more of in future books. Then there’s Director Kenedy, she’s become extremely savvy at her job and with dealing with threats to the CIA and the scene where she takes apart a pesky bureaucrat is a treat. Next there’s the loveable Stan Hurley who’s dying of cancer but still has enough wits about him to spot a key detail which the others have missed. Finally, there’s Mitch. He’s having what would be a midlife crisis and when he’s recuperating from the injury suffered in the story, Flynn delves into his psychological state, motivations examines how far he’s come since the demise of Ann Rapp, his wife. However, throughout all this, there’s an underlying question, does Rapp have anything to live for except his Job?
Overall The Last Man is a fantastic tale of betrayal, revenge and relevant geopolitics for our time. It’s the beginning of a new story arc in the saga of the original Counter Terrorist and I highly recommend you read it.
Flynn delves into the messed up world of Afghanistan, famously called the graveyard of empires. By discussing the on-going “reintegration” programme where former Taliban militants are bribed into service with the Afghan law enforcement, he illustrates a cautionary point when a group of these “reintegrated” militants conduct a “green on blue” attack on Rapp and his team. As the saying goes, “you can’t buy an Afghan; you can only rent him for a while.” Flynn also explores the love and extreme hate relationship with Pakistan and the ISI. Despite officially being close allies, behind closed doors, Flynn paints a different picture of betrayal, mistrust and downright hatred between the CIA, the moderate ISI elements and the islamist elements in the ISI who were responsible for hiding Osama Bin Laden. Normally for a Vince Flynn book, characters take a backseat to action but here, it’s the opposite. We have several standouts, the main antagonists personal hitman who is extremely relatable, who is essentially a Pakistani version of Rapp and who we just might see more of in future books. Then there’s Director Kenedy, she’s become extremely savvy at her job and with dealing with threats to the CIA and the scene where she takes apart a pesky bureaucrat is a treat. Next there’s the loveable Stan Hurley who’s dying of cancer but still has enough wits about him to spot a key detail which the others have missed. Finally, there’s Mitch. He’s having what would be a midlife crisis and when he’s recuperating from the injury suffered in the story, Flynn delves into his psychological state, motivations examines how far he’s come since the demise of Ann Rapp, his wife. However, throughout all this, there’s an underlying question, does Rapp have anything to live for except his Job?
Overall The Last Man is a fantastic tale of betrayal, revenge and relevant geopolitics for our time. It’s the beginning of a new story arc in the saga of the original Counter Terrorist and I highly recommend you read it.
November 12, 2012
How do you side with the good guys over the bad guys when you can’t tell who the good guys are? And what if the lines between good and bad keep blurring, so that the bad guys sit on the sidelines and watch the good guys destroy each other?
In Vince Flynn’s upcoming installment in his bestselling Mitch Rapp series, The Last Man (Atria) pits all of Washington against itself, set against the backdrop of the Middle East. The FBI fights the CIA who fights the repatriation of Afghani warlords who have supposedly seen the light of democracy. Through it all, super spies play at a game where human casualties are just a natural part of business.
Interestingly, much like for the key players in the book, the readers’ loyalties might shift in nearly every chapter. When Rapp is injured and his memory--and loyalties--called into question, readers may not be convinced that this is the hero of the tale; the rug is further pulled out from under the reader when another character dies and conveniently reappears, or yet another would-be hero holds a gun to an insurgent’s forehead. Secret meetings are held in blackened SUVs, threats are made in high-ranking offices. The only sure thing in the story is that no one is to be trusted.
This book will play out well for people who are just politically savvy enough to believe that our government may very well be doing things right at this moment that we believe only other governments are capable of. The cast of characters can be a little daunting at times as the reader tries to keep up with the names and their various loyalties, but that can also make the story line all the more intriguing in the world of who do you trust.
In Vince Flynn’s upcoming installment in his bestselling Mitch Rapp series, The Last Man (Atria) pits all of Washington against itself, set against the backdrop of the Middle East. The FBI fights the CIA who fights the repatriation of Afghani warlords who have supposedly seen the light of democracy. Through it all, super spies play at a game where human casualties are just a natural part of business.
Interestingly, much like for the key players in the book, the readers’ loyalties might shift in nearly every chapter. When Rapp is injured and his memory--and loyalties--called into question, readers may not be convinced that this is the hero of the tale; the rug is further pulled out from under the reader when another character dies and conveniently reappears, or yet another would-be hero holds a gun to an insurgent’s forehead. Secret meetings are held in blackened SUVs, threats are made in high-ranking offices. The only sure thing in the story is that no one is to be trusted.
This book will play out well for people who are just politically savvy enough to believe that our government may very well be doing things right at this moment that we believe only other governments are capable of. The cast of characters can be a little daunting at times as the reader tries to keep up with the names and their various loyalties, but that can also make the story line all the more intriguing in the world of who do you trust.
November 19, 2012
Great book. One of Flynn's best, and I have read all of them.
April 17, 2013
Flynn brings his famed character, Mitch Rapp, back on the scene with another explosive thriller. Using the favourite topic of this genre this decade, fighting against terrorist forces, Rapp is sent to Afghanistan to find a recently captured CIA operative, whose knowledge of many spies working for the US could cause a great mark against the Clandestine Service. Rapp’s rescue attempt is hampered, which flips the tables on the entire operation, partially turning the hunter into the hunted. After discovering a key video of the operative’s interrogation, the story changes track as pieces of the operative’s history begin to see the light of day. Rapp is left, working with the highers-up within the CIA, to discover these secrets and tie up the loose ends, before they are targeted themselves. With the reputation of the CIA on his shoulders, Rapp seeks to find the truth, without being snubbed out himself.
Flynn writes of Mitch Rapp (through another character’s description of him in the book) that he is “just like the Energizer Bunny. He keeps going and going.” I could not agree more and have seen Rapp on the precipice of death or elimination on countless occasions. It does seem as though he can always get out of a bind and his 14 years of active work as an assassin has got to put a toll on his body (not to mention some of the latter books that detail his early years). Could Rapp’s time be coming to an end? I was about to say Flynn’s agreed work with Brian Haig on a two-book series would shelve Mitch Rapp for a while, then I saw another Rapp book is due this auturm.
Well done Mr. Flynn. I truly enjoy your fast-paced books and can’t wait to see what’s next on your list.
Flynn writes of Mitch Rapp (through another character’s description of him in the book) that he is “just like the Energizer Bunny. He keeps going and going.” I could not agree more and have seen Rapp on the precipice of death or elimination on countless occasions. It does seem as though he can always get out of a bind and his 14 years of active work as an assassin has got to put a toll on his body (not to mention some of the latter books that detail his early years). Could Rapp’s time be coming to an end? I was about to say Flynn’s agreed work with Brian Haig on a two-book series would shelve Mitch Rapp for a while, then I saw another Rapp book is due this auturm.
Well done Mr. Flynn. I truly enjoy your fast-paced books and can’t wait to see what’s next on your list.
December 2, 2012
A safe house with four men lined up on the living room floor. There was nothing about this mess to give Mitch Rapp any kind of assurance that things would be fine, but it gave him an inkling to something he did not want to consider. The safe house looked like an average run of the mill two-story blockhouse in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. So what happened? Rapp's boss, Irene Kennedy sent him to Afghanistan to find Joe Rickman, the most cunning and brilliant operative he had ever worked with. Was the CIA operative going to have to find and eliminate Rickman - someone he had known for over 16 years. You can bet Rapp is not the only one looking for Rickman.Rapp knows sooner or later Congress would get wind of the disaster and they would want answers.
What a bright and intellectual author Vince Flynn is. I love how he creates his characters and brings them to life or kills them off. Mitch Rapp reminds me of the Rambo character that Sylvester Stallone plays so well in the movies. He is human with deep feelings, especially for his friends.
I am not one to give away spoilers, but can Rapp be as ruthless and underhanded as his hostile and sinister adversaries and complete his mission? I will say Vince Flynn has the knack of writing unpredictable and very moving novels. I think any reader who likes mysteries will like this one. Kudos Vince! You have another great book to take credit for.
Jeannie Walker Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
What a bright and intellectual author Vince Flynn is. I love how he creates his characters and brings them to life or kills them off. Mitch Rapp reminds me of the Rambo character that Sylvester Stallone plays so well in the movies. He is human with deep feelings, especially for his friends.
I am not one to give away spoilers, but can Rapp be as ruthless and underhanded as his hostile and sinister adversaries and complete his mission? I will say Vince Flynn has the knack of writing unpredictable and very moving novels. I think any reader who likes mysteries will like this one. Kudos Vince! You have another great book to take credit for.
Jeannie Walker Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
November 27, 2012
Well, I love Mitch Rapp. He is everybody's answer to taking out revenge against bad guys. And we love him for being such a patriot and cleaning the world of the scum. But ... I think I'm done with this series. I'm not comfortable with the language, but even more so, with the idea that we are supposed to feel great that our hero can kill with such precision, abandon, and perfection. Evidently, he only had one time when he did NOT take the kill shot to the forehead, and that was when he spared Gould's life, even after that assassin killed Rapp's wife and child. So there is a glimmer of hope, kindness, and charity deep inside. It just isn't who he really is. And I'm sad for it. I think the intrigue of the counterspy, mastermind set-up is fun, and kept me reading even until the early morning hours. BUT ... I guess I've outgrown this genre. I just can't find it too fun to contemplate what is really happening to our hero. Is he really any different from the common assassin? Not really. We and he can try to justify this killing with one argument or another, but it doesn't really work. I guess I just don't want to fill my mind with scenes of torture, agony, scheming, and eventually murder. CAN YOU BLAME ME? I think I'll look elsewhere. Maybe back to Penmann's historical fiction pieces. Darn it! Goodbye Mitch Rapp!
August 5, 2018
strong andquick
February 25, 2017
I really liked this book. It had everything that made a clandestine book interesting. I was amazed that I could not put the book down. 3 days to read a book is a little fast for me but I really could not put it down. It is not a book that I would recommend you read unless you had the background of the other books as there are a lot of characters that surface from past books that make the story interesting and help with the plot.
If you have read Mitch Rapp the character of Vince Flynn...you WILL enjoy this one. I did.
If you have read Mitch Rapp the character of Vince Flynn...you WILL enjoy this one. I did.
December 6, 2015
Count down to the next one!!!!!
September 11, 2013
Loved reading this guy. Never reviewed him before because everyone - except lefties - knew how great he was. I'll start re-reading him from beginning to end now.
March 16, 2020
STORY
The Last Man blew me away. I dragged my feet at starting it and reading too much because I knew that when I did, I wouldn't be able to stop, and this being the last novel in the series that Flynn wrote... I wasn't ready to exit this season. But The Last Man didn't just meet my expectations--it shot way past them.
I absolutely loved this novel. I'm pretty good at following a Rapp novel and expecting things and figuring out clues before the veil is lifted. This book had great twists and turns, some I just barely KIND OF figured, some I didn't... I LOVED IT. I was so surprised/horrified at one point and it was a fantastic feeling. Oh my gosh. 11/10.
The story was fast paced and delivered everything--well-motivated characters and a heart-pounding plot. A perfect balance of what I love. The story was amazing. I really saw the author's heart in this one and the character's really inspired me. Nothing like reading a Rapp novel to get your head screwed back on straight.
THEMES
This novel didn't shy away from any tough topics. Betrayal, revenge, patriotism, love, death... Life sucks but, as Stan says, there's always a way out. You have to push on, fight on, never surrender to defeat. The Last Man shows some pretty "hopeless" situations and fates, but this series never stops there. This series stresses the fact that warriors push on, they don't stay in hopelessness.
We all die. I don't know about you, but death has never been something I can easily "handle". I'm not used to losing loved ones. I am always extra cautious and think about death because I know it's real and I want to trust God with my family. It can be hard. No one should live in fear. But we shouldn't live carefree, either, and be thoughtless to how blessed life truly is. This novel was a gentle reminder that, yep, we all die, but that's not truly the end. We don't have to live in grief or fear. Life is still good. We can still find reason to live despite the pain.
And I might just be on a tangent, but this series holds so much meaning and encouragement for me, that I didn't know what to expect with this book. I kept thinking about Flynn, what he was thinking when he wrote it. What if the books I'm writing right now are the last books I ever right? Will I have given the message I want to give for the last time? And I can honestly say, The Last Man had a beautiful message.
CHARACTERS
Rapp, Coleman, Wicker, Hurley, Wicker, Irene, Lewis--literally all (minus two deceased characters) of my favorite characters were in this novel. How do I NOT love this book?
-- Rapp and Hurley always make me laugh till tears come to my eyes. They're so terrible. I love them.
-- Wicker and Coleman are absolutely great.
-- Lewis is the best shrink ever, 10/10 wouldn't mind having him as a shrink but he's in too big of a league for any of us. Shame.
-- IRENE IS LITERALLY AMAZING. One of the BEST characters ever. She's such an inspiration. Tough and loving and so good.
-- Shout out to Kassar by the way, just, nice ending there.
On the topic of great characters...
Super great cast of characters. I loved it all.
CONTENT
R. Heavy swearing, heavy violence and torture, mentions of sex/nudity (nothing on screen this novel), etc. PG-18+.
OVERALL
I loved this book. I can't wait to keep reading but there's this strange sense of awe right now. I'll be starting The Survivor with a surprisingly ready spirit--I know how the next book ends, but that's OK. Sometimes, knowing the ending doesn't have to make us sad.
The Last Man blew me away. I dragged my feet at starting it and reading too much because I knew that when I did, I wouldn't be able to stop, and this being the last novel in the series that Flynn wrote... I wasn't ready to exit this season. But The Last Man didn't just meet my expectations--it shot way past them.
I absolutely loved this novel. I'm pretty good at following a Rapp novel and expecting things and figuring out clues before the veil is lifted. This book had great twists and turns, some I just barely KIND OF figured, some I didn't... I LOVED IT. I was so surprised/horrified at one point and it was a fantastic feeling. Oh my gosh. 11/10.
The story was fast paced and delivered everything--well-motivated characters and a heart-pounding plot. A perfect balance of what I love. The story was amazing. I really saw the author's heart in this one and the character's really inspired me. Nothing like reading a Rapp novel to get your head screwed back on straight.
THEMES
This novel didn't shy away from any tough topics. Betrayal, revenge, patriotism, love, death... Life sucks but, as Stan says, there's always a way out. You have to push on, fight on, never surrender to defeat. The Last Man shows some pretty "hopeless" situations and fates, but this series never stops there. This series stresses the fact that warriors push on, they don't stay in hopelessness.
We all die. I don't know about you, but death has never been something I can easily "handle". I'm not used to losing loved ones. I am always extra cautious and think about death because I know it's real and I want to trust God with my family. It can be hard. No one should live in fear. But we shouldn't live carefree, either, and be thoughtless to how blessed life truly is. This novel was a gentle reminder that, yep, we all die, but that's not truly the end. We don't have to live in grief or fear. Life is still good. We can still find reason to live despite the pain.
And I might just be on a tangent, but this series holds so much meaning and encouragement for me, that I didn't know what to expect with this book. I kept thinking about Flynn, what he was thinking when he wrote it. What if the books I'm writing right now are the last books I ever right? Will I have given the message I want to give for the last time? And I can honestly say, The Last Man had a beautiful message.
CHARACTERS
Rapp, Coleman, Wicker, Hurley, Wicker, Irene, Lewis--literally all (minus two deceased characters) of my favorite characters were in this novel. How do I NOT love this book?
-- Rapp and Hurley always make me laugh till tears come to my eyes. They're so terrible. I love them.
-- Wicker and Coleman are absolutely great.
-- Lewis is the best shrink ever, 10/10 wouldn't mind having him as a shrink but he's in too big of a league for any of us. Shame.
-- IRENE IS LITERALLY AMAZING. One of the BEST characters ever. She's such an inspiration. Tough and loving and so good.
-- Shout out to Kassar by the way, just, nice ending there.
On the topic of great characters...
Super great cast of characters. I loved it all.
CONTENT
R. Heavy swearing, heavy violence and torture, mentions of sex/nudity (nothing on screen this novel), etc. PG-18+.
OVERALL
I loved this book. I can't wait to keep reading but there's this strange sense of awe right now. I'll be starting The Survivor with a surprisingly ready spirit--I know how the next book ends, but that's OK. Sometimes, knowing the ending doesn't have to make us sad.
November 13, 2012
Vince Flynn has done it again! The Last Man is an adrenaline packed thrill ride that has more twists and turns than the world's great roller coasters. The book finds American assassin Mitch Rapp knee deep in a in conspiracy and mystery in post-Bin Laden Afghanistan.
When Joe Rickman, the CIA's top head of clandestine operations in Afghanistan is kidnapped, a tsunami of epic proportions is set off in the various branches of governments and intelligence agencies around the region and in the United States.
Who was behind this coordinated attack and how to recover Rickman becomes the CIA's top priority, for in the head of Rickman lies secrets that could cripple the clandestine operations of America and her allies.
What begins as a simple mission gets more and more complicated as Rapp and his team get further into the operation.
What makes this and every other Vince Flynn novel so good is the detail and realism that Flynn brings to the project. There have been many in the government, military and clandestine organizations over the years who have questioned where Flynn gets his information, because it is startlingly accurate.
Flynn's novel shows some of the serious pitfalls in the U.S. government's current policy of reintegration in post-Bin Laden Afghanistan. While reading my pre-release copy of The Last Man, from Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya was brutally attacked. Flynn's novel helps readers understand some of the current tensions in the Middle East, with a look at the Taliban, Iranians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Russians, Swiss banks, and the United States.
The Last Man is a welcome reunion of Mitch Rapp and our current day. Flynn's last two novels, American Assassin, and Kill Shot, were essentially prequels to the story of Rapp, and a very welcome addition to the narrative. Fans of Mitch Rapp will enjoy seeing what the assassin has been up to and enjoy catching up with a number of favorite characters along the way.
The Last Man isn't Flynn's best novel, but it certainly a great read and a wonderful addition to the Mitch Rapp library.
As in all of Flynn's novels the language is a bit rough with plenty of military bravado and assassin angst thrown in. The detailed descriptions of torture and assassinations may make some readers squeamish. All in all, The Last Man, is a great read that opens the eyes of readers into the complexities of the continuing war on terror.
I received a complimentary e-book of The Last Man, from Atria Books, a division of Simon & Shuster for purposes of this review.
When Joe Rickman, the CIA's top head of clandestine operations in Afghanistan is kidnapped, a tsunami of epic proportions is set off in the various branches of governments and intelligence agencies around the region and in the United States.
Who was behind this coordinated attack and how to recover Rickman becomes the CIA's top priority, for in the head of Rickman lies secrets that could cripple the clandestine operations of America and her allies.
What begins as a simple mission gets more and more complicated as Rapp and his team get further into the operation.
What makes this and every other Vince Flynn novel so good is the detail and realism that Flynn brings to the project. There have been many in the government, military and clandestine organizations over the years who have questioned where Flynn gets his information, because it is startlingly accurate.
Flynn's novel shows some of the serious pitfalls in the U.S. government's current policy of reintegration in post-Bin Laden Afghanistan. While reading my pre-release copy of The Last Man, from Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya was brutally attacked. Flynn's novel helps readers understand some of the current tensions in the Middle East, with a look at the Taliban, Iranians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Russians, Swiss banks, and the United States.
The Last Man is a welcome reunion of Mitch Rapp and our current day. Flynn's last two novels, American Assassin, and Kill Shot, were essentially prequels to the story of Rapp, and a very welcome addition to the narrative. Fans of Mitch Rapp will enjoy seeing what the assassin has been up to and enjoy catching up with a number of favorite characters along the way.
The Last Man isn't Flynn's best novel, but it certainly a great read and a wonderful addition to the Mitch Rapp library.
As in all of Flynn's novels the language is a bit rough with plenty of military bravado and assassin angst thrown in. The detailed descriptions of torture and assassinations may make some readers squeamish. All in all, The Last Man, is a great read that opens the eyes of readers into the complexities of the continuing war on terror.
I received a complimentary e-book of The Last Man, from Atria Books, a division of Simon & Shuster for purposes of this review.
May 9, 2015
After writing two prequels in the Mitch Rapp series, author Vince Flynn returned to the original timeline in this 13th novel in the series. I was happy to see that because I enjoy the mature, take-no-prisoners Rapp a little more than the younger brash but fallible version.
Once again Mitch has his work cut out for him and his associates as somebody or some organization is out to ambush the CIA’s mission in Afghanistan. An invaluable CIA asset has gone missing, and with him, secrets that in the wrong hands could prove disastrous. Rather than just another save-the-world thriller, this novel allows Rapp to confront some of the ghosts of his past and find a way to deal with them. As always, not all characters are wholly good or wholly bad people but rather have different points of views on the right course of action to take. And of course it is always good to spend time with characters like Irene Kennedy, Stan Hurley, Mike Nash, and Scott Coleman.
Vince Flynn was taken from us far too early and this is his last complete novel. I understand author Kyle Mills (one of the authors of the Robert Ludlum Covert One series) was selected to continue writing the Mitch Rapp series beginning with “Survivor” set to be published in October of 2015. Two more books should follow. I have not read anything by Mills and have mixed feelings about trying a Rapp book by anybody besides Flynn. On the other hand I have just enough curiosity that I may take a stab at it.
To Vince Flynn: RIP my friend. Thanks for the ride.
Once again Mitch has his work cut out for him and his associates as somebody or some organization is out to ambush the CIA’s mission in Afghanistan. An invaluable CIA asset has gone missing, and with him, secrets that in the wrong hands could prove disastrous. Rather than just another save-the-world thriller, this novel allows Rapp to confront some of the ghosts of his past and find a way to deal with them. As always, not all characters are wholly good or wholly bad people but rather have different points of views on the right course of action to take. And of course it is always good to spend time with characters like Irene Kennedy, Stan Hurley, Mike Nash, and Scott Coleman.
Vince Flynn was taken from us far too early and this is his last complete novel. I understand author Kyle Mills (one of the authors of the Robert Ludlum Covert One series) was selected to continue writing the Mitch Rapp series beginning with “Survivor” set to be published in October of 2015. Two more books should follow. I have not read anything by Mills and have mixed feelings about trying a Rapp book by anybody besides Flynn. On the other hand I have just enough curiosity that I may take a stab at it.
To Vince Flynn: RIP my friend. Thanks for the ride.
December 2, 2012
Another outstanding book in the Mitch Rapp series. An agent, Joe Rickman, is kidnapped in Afghanistan leaving behind 4 dead bodyguards in a safehouse that was supposed to be impregnable, not a normal agent, but one who knows most of the CIA's secrets. The question is, can they get him back before he breaks and spills those secrets to the kidnappers? There are many questions, most significantly, who has Rickman and how did they defeat the state of the art security system intended to protect him? Anyone familiar with the series knows that there is only one asset that can be brought to bear with any chance of solving the mystery behind the kidnapping, Mitch Rapp.
There are many twists in the story and it soon becomes clear that there are other players in the game and it is not certain which side many of them are on...maybe even both sides. At some point, a video appears on a terrorist website...a video of Rickman being tortured. Game over? Not with Rapp still standing.
Well worth the read...if you have not gotten to know Rapp, this is as good a place to start as any...then go back and read the rest.
There are many twists in the story and it soon becomes clear that there are other players in the game and it is not certain which side many of them are on...maybe even both sides. At some point, a video appears on a terrorist website...a video of Rickman being tortured. Game over? Not with Rapp still standing.
Well worth the read...if you have not gotten to know Rapp, this is as good a place to start as any...then go back and read the rest.
November 28, 2012
Excellent. Read as an audiobook. A complex plot that is well organized and fluid. The action starts on the first page and continues throughout the book. One of the few books on Afghanistan and related to Pakistan that really explores the complex relationship of the sectarian and the pious coordinating with the Washington power of the alphabet agencies. Although the reason for Rickman ultimate reasoning for what he did is not fully explained, there was not a need - many times what people do is just because.
December 20, 2021
Битката с тероризма продължава с още по-мащабен размах в тази част от поредицата. Мрежата на ЦРУ в Афганистан е заплашена от разбиване след изчезването на координатора Джо Рикман, но както винаги екипът от професионалисти се мобилизира до краен предел и доброто побеждава. Заплетен и динамичен шпионски трилър, който се чете на един дъх.
March 30, 2019
As much as I enjoyed this entry in the action-packed Mitch Rapp series, I was very sad when is was over, because Vince Flynn sadly passed away and this was the final book written in his words. I know ghost writer Kyle Mills is continuing on with the Rapp franchise as we speak, and I plan to continue reading it. RIP Mr. Flynn, you will be missed!
Our supersoldier CIA operative Mitch Rapp is called in to investigate the capture and disappearance of Joe Rickman, the director of clandestine operations in Afghanistan, who holds vital information to the US and the CIA. But it turns out Rapp isn't the only one looking for Rickman, a crooked FBI special agent is also looking for him, determined to blame Rapp and CIA Director Irene Kennedy for his disappearance.
As the plot thickens, Rapp discovers that there is more to the disappearance, and knowing that the information and government secrets that Rickman contains, if it falls into the wrong hands, it spells certain doom for the United States. Rapp returns to uncover the secret agenda of his enemy in this fun, action-packed thriller!!
Even though Vince Flynn is sadly no longer with us, I want to give a big thanks to Kyle Mills for continuing on with the series, because I feel it would've been a disservice to Mr. Flynn if it was just to end here. There's still so much more of Mitch Rapp that we have yet to see! Tomorrow jumping into
!
LONG LIVE MITCH RAPP!!!
Our supersoldier CIA operative Mitch Rapp is called in to investigate the capture and disappearance of Joe Rickman, the director of clandestine operations in Afghanistan, who holds vital information to the US and the CIA. But it turns out Rapp isn't the only one looking for Rickman, a crooked FBI special agent is also looking for him, determined to blame Rapp and CIA Director Irene Kennedy for his disappearance.
As the plot thickens, Rapp discovers that there is more to the disappearance, and knowing that the information and government secrets that Rickman contains, if it falls into the wrong hands, it spells certain doom for the United States. Rapp returns to uncover the secret agenda of his enemy in this fun, action-packed thriller!!
Even though Vince Flynn is sadly no longer with us, I want to give a big thanks to Kyle Mills for continuing on with the series, because I feel it would've been a disservice to Mr. Flynn if it was just to end here. There's still so much more of Mitch Rapp that we have yet to see! Tomorrow jumping into
! LONG LIVE MITCH RAPP!!!
December 23, 2012
How do you like your action hero. Is it the wise cracking Die Hard hero, who fights hard and spouts funny quips in the face of death, or is the suave James Bond, whose hair is never disheveled, and whose suit is spotless.
Mitch Rapp has been nearly invincible. Maybe wounded. Maybe captured and tortured, but never seriously hurt. His buddies, maimed and killed. His wife and baby, maimed or killed. Superman is boring. We know that he survives if only so Flynn can write another book. It used to be that the journey to how Rapp prevents the terrorist act was worth reading and it still is because Flynn's villains and terrorists are well drawn, but it now seems that Flynn also thinks that having an invincible, unassailable agent might just be a little boring too.
So in American Assassin and Kill Shot, the last two books in this series, Flynn journeyed back to Rapp's beginnings as a counter terrorism agent, when he was not so invincible and told how Rapp became the super agent. American Assassin was excellent, but Kill Shot was not as good.
Now in The Last Man, Joe Rickman, a clandestine agent who runs numerous American agents in the world has disappeared. His guards are dead, although in a slightly questionable way. Kennedy, the head of the CIA, has dispatched Rapp and his team to find Rickman, rescue him if he has been kidnapped and to secure his secrets. We quickly find that Rickman is being tortured by unknown assailants.
Rapp follows the clues and head to a part of Kabul. Gould, an assassin is already there. His target -- Rapp. However, Gould realizes that he has been set up as there are other agents there as well, and Gould could be in danger. So he joins forces with Rapp and his team, but while Rapp is considering the situation, he and his team come under fire from a large contingent of Afghani police and riot police. Rapp sustains a serious head injury during the assault, and while he convalesces, Kennedy questions Gould about who hired him.
Kennedy must also protect him from Flynn's typical other target of his novels -- the inept "bad politician" who never understand what is necessary to stop terrorism. In this case, the flunky is Joseph Wilson, a FBI agent who tries to arrest Rapp because of some odd evidence that he got from an unnamed source. I wonder if the name "Joseph Wilson" was chosen by Flynn as a slap in the face to the real Joseph Wilson, who was married to Valerie Plume, the spy who was outed by the Bush administration. It seems too close a name to be accidental. In any event, the Wilson idiot does lead Rapp and his team to some clues as to who is holding Rickman.
In the end Rapp recovers enough from his injuries and is able to track down the kidnappers of Rickman.
This is a good quick thriller with an exciting plot. Flynn's Rapp is less of a superman, and as a result, its a better story and a better read.
Mitch Rapp has been nearly invincible. Maybe wounded. Maybe captured and tortured, but never seriously hurt. His buddies, maimed and killed. His wife and baby, maimed or killed. Superman is boring. We know that he survives if only so Flynn can write another book. It used to be that the journey to how Rapp prevents the terrorist act was worth reading and it still is because Flynn's villains and terrorists are well drawn, but it now seems that Flynn also thinks that having an invincible, unassailable agent might just be a little boring too.
So in American Assassin and Kill Shot, the last two books in this series, Flynn journeyed back to Rapp's beginnings as a counter terrorism agent, when he was not so invincible and told how Rapp became the super agent. American Assassin was excellent, but Kill Shot was not as good.
Now in The Last Man, Joe Rickman, a clandestine agent who runs numerous American agents in the world has disappeared. His guards are dead, although in a slightly questionable way. Kennedy, the head of the CIA, has dispatched Rapp and his team to find Rickman, rescue him if he has been kidnapped and to secure his secrets. We quickly find that Rickman is being tortured by unknown assailants.
Rapp follows the clues and head to a part of Kabul. Gould, an assassin is already there. His target -- Rapp. However, Gould realizes that he has been set up as there are other agents there as well, and Gould could be in danger. So he joins forces with Rapp and his team, but while Rapp is considering the situation, he and his team come under fire from a large contingent of Afghani police and riot police. Rapp sustains a serious head injury during the assault, and while he convalesces, Kennedy questions Gould about who hired him.
Kennedy must also protect him from Flynn's typical other target of his novels -- the inept "bad politician" who never understand what is necessary to stop terrorism. In this case, the flunky is Joseph Wilson, a FBI agent who tries to arrest Rapp because of some odd evidence that he got from an unnamed source. I wonder if the name "Joseph Wilson" was chosen by Flynn as a slap in the face to the real Joseph Wilson, who was married to Valerie Plume, the spy who was outed by the Bush administration. It seems too close a name to be accidental. In any event, the Wilson idiot does lead Rapp and his team to some clues as to who is holding Rickman.
In the end Rapp recovers enough from his injuries and is able to track down the kidnappers of Rickman.
This is a good quick thriller with an exciting plot. Flynn's Rapp is less of a superman, and as a result, its a better story and a better read.
March 23, 2013
This was a surprisingly good read. There's plenty of intrigue, plenty of action, and, surprisingly, there's a lot more nuance and complexity than Flynn's previous thrillers, which I welcomed.
Vince Flynn has done it again! "The Last Man" is an adrenaline packed thrill ride that has more twists and turns than the world's great roller coasters. The book finds American assassin Mitch Rapp knee deep in a in conspiracy and mystery in post-Bin Laden Afghanistan.
When Joe Rickman, the CIA's top head of clandestine operations in Afghanistan is kidnapped, a tsunami of epic proportions is set off in the various branches of governments and intelligence agencies around the region and in the United States.
Who was behind this coordinated attack and how to recover Rickman becomes the CIA's top priority, for in the head of Rickman lies secrets that could cripple the clandestine operations of America and her allies.
What begins as a simple mission gets more and more complicated as Rapp and his team get further into the operation.
What makes this and every other Vince Flynn novel so good is the detail and realism that Flynn brings to the project. There have been many in the government, military and clandestine organizations over the years who have questioned where Flynn gets his information, because it is startlingly accurate.
Flynn's novel shows some of the serious pitfalls in the U.S. government's current policy of reintegration in post-Bin Laden Afghanistan. While reading my pre-release copy of "The Last Man" from Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya was brutally attacked. Flynn's novel helps readers understand some of the current tensions in the Middle East, with a look at the Taliban, Iranians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Russians, Swiss banks, and the United States.
The Last Man is a welcome reunion of Mitch Rapp and our current day. Flynn's last two novels, "American Assassin," and "Kill Shot," were essentially prequels to the story of Rapp, and a very welcome addition to the narrative. Fans of Mitch Rapp will enjoy seeing what the assassin has been up to and enjoy catching up with a number of favorite characters along the way.
"The Last Man" isn't Flynn's best novel, but it certainly a great read and a wonderful addition to the Mitch Rapp library.
As in all of Flynn's novels the language is a bit rough with plenty of military bravado and assassin angst thrown in. The detailed descriptions of torture and assassinations may make some readers squeamish. All in all, "The Last Man," is a great read that opens the eyes of readers into the complexities of the continuing war on terror.
This is extremely well-written and is probably the best thriller set in Afghanistan that I've read since Berenson's "The Shadow Patrol."
Vince Flynn has done it again! "The Last Man" is an adrenaline packed thrill ride that has more twists and turns than the world's great roller coasters. The book finds American assassin Mitch Rapp knee deep in a in conspiracy and mystery in post-Bin Laden Afghanistan.
When Joe Rickman, the CIA's top head of clandestine operations in Afghanistan is kidnapped, a tsunami of epic proportions is set off in the various branches of governments and intelligence agencies around the region and in the United States.
Who was behind this coordinated attack and how to recover Rickman becomes the CIA's top priority, for in the head of Rickman lies secrets that could cripple the clandestine operations of America and her allies.
What begins as a simple mission gets more and more complicated as Rapp and his team get further into the operation.
What makes this and every other Vince Flynn novel so good is the detail and realism that Flynn brings to the project. There have been many in the government, military and clandestine organizations over the years who have questioned where Flynn gets his information, because it is startlingly accurate.
Flynn's novel shows some of the serious pitfalls in the U.S. government's current policy of reintegration in post-Bin Laden Afghanistan. While reading my pre-release copy of "The Last Man" from Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya was brutally attacked. Flynn's novel helps readers understand some of the current tensions in the Middle East, with a look at the Taliban, Iranians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Russians, Swiss banks, and the United States.
The Last Man is a welcome reunion of Mitch Rapp and our current day. Flynn's last two novels, "American Assassin," and "Kill Shot," were essentially prequels to the story of Rapp, and a very welcome addition to the narrative. Fans of Mitch Rapp will enjoy seeing what the assassin has been up to and enjoy catching up with a number of favorite characters along the way.
"The Last Man" isn't Flynn's best novel, but it certainly a great read and a wonderful addition to the Mitch Rapp library.
As in all of Flynn's novels the language is a bit rough with plenty of military bravado and assassin angst thrown in. The detailed descriptions of torture and assassinations may make some readers squeamish. All in all, "The Last Man," is a great read that opens the eyes of readers into the complexities of the continuing war on terror.
This is extremely well-written and is probably the best thriller set in Afghanistan that I've read since Berenson's "The Shadow Patrol."
November 18, 2012
After a two book diversion to look at Mitch Rapp’s back-story, here we are back in the present. In fact very much the present as a top CIA asset is kidnapped in Afghanistan and the knowledge he holds could put a great deal of the CIA’s intelligence gathering at risk. Mitch Rapp is sent out with a small advance team to try to track down the kidnappers before it is too late. After a while it appears there is another agenda at play although what it is and who is behind it, is not obvious.
Mitch Rapp is a force of nature and as readers it is always a pleasure to see him ‘go off on one’ but I think author Vince Flynn has realised his books must be more than Rapp confronting people aggressively. This book is not all about Rapp and has a fair taste of politics and duplicity in there. Pakistan’s intelligence agency and it’s relationship with the USA is painted in an interesting way that exposes the conflicts and agenda, and wisely does not make this about another big terrorist plot.
Have to say I enjoyed this, it was an intelligent and complex novel. Some interesting changes by the author, Rapp is injured and there is some interesting exploration of his character, Mike Nash is very much pushed into a back seat, and Irene Kennedy is now far more confident in her role and her leadership.
One minor slip up (a character is discussed in a meeting Rapp attends and whose name has been withheld from him, but Rapp doesn’t react, but later in the book he does react as if hearing for the first time – just a continuity error but it did confuse me at the time) and some opportunities not fully followed up but this remains a well rounded and intelligent novel.
Mitch Rapp is a force of nature and as readers it is always a pleasure to see him ‘go off on one’ but I think author Vince Flynn has realised his books must be more than Rapp confronting people aggressively. This book is not all about Rapp and has a fair taste of politics and duplicity in there. Pakistan’s intelligence agency and it’s relationship with the USA is painted in an interesting way that exposes the conflicts and agenda, and wisely does not make this about another big terrorist plot.
Have to say I enjoyed this, it was an intelligent and complex novel. Some interesting changes by the author, Rapp is injured and there is some interesting exploration of his character, Mike Nash is very much pushed into a back seat, and Irene Kennedy is now far more confident in her role and her leadership.
One minor slip up (a character is discussed in a meeting Rapp attends and whose name has been withheld from him, but Rapp doesn’t react, but later in the book he does react as if hearing for the first time – just a continuity error but it did confuse me at the time) and some opportunities not fully followed up but this remains a well rounded and intelligent novel.
October 13, 2013
When Joe Rickman disappeared, seemingly kidnapped, Mitch Rapp was immediately on the case. Joe was head of CIA clandestine operations in Afghanistan, and had a phenomenal memory – he didn’t need to take notes, everything was stored in his head. The opportunity for catastrophe if Joe had been kidnapped by the Taliban was unthinkable. They needed to get him back yesterday!
With the execution style murders of Joe’s four bodyguards the first sign that something more was afoot, Mitch and his team of men began digging deeply. Irene Kennedy who was director of the CIA, gave Mitch full resources. But it appeared the FBI was also after Joe – were their motives the same as the CIA’s? With false trails being laid, suddenly Mitch was taking some heat. It seemed that someone wanted him dead.
With the evidence leading Mitch in one direction, he also found himself in danger for his life. There were strange things happening – weren’t they all on the same side? With the Afghanistan police also in the mix and the CIA in crisis, the secrets, treachery and lies added up to a complex mission. Would Mitch succeed in finding Joe, or would there be more deaths within the horrors of a country at war?
What an absolutely gripping thriller! My first Vince Flynn, I picked it up as a tribute to him after his recent death. I will definitely be reading more of his work, heading back to the beginning. Mitch Rapp is a very likeable character, tough, capable, strong and violent – but he gets the job done!
Highly recommended to thriller lovers!
With the execution style murders of Joe’s four bodyguards the first sign that something more was afoot, Mitch and his team of men began digging deeply. Irene Kennedy who was director of the CIA, gave Mitch full resources. But it appeared the FBI was also after Joe – were their motives the same as the CIA’s? With false trails being laid, suddenly Mitch was taking some heat. It seemed that someone wanted him dead.
With the evidence leading Mitch in one direction, he also found himself in danger for his life. There were strange things happening – weren’t they all on the same side? With the Afghanistan police also in the mix and the CIA in crisis, the secrets, treachery and lies added up to a complex mission. Would Mitch succeed in finding Joe, or would there be more deaths within the horrors of a country at war?
What an absolutely gripping thriller! My first Vince Flynn, I picked it up as a tribute to him after his recent death. I will definitely be reading more of his work, heading back to the beginning. Mitch Rapp is a very likeable character, tough, capable, strong and violent – but he gets the job done!
Highly recommended to thriller lovers!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,724 reviews