Child
Killing Floor
✦
Jack Reacher
Lee Child - 29 books
A different kind of lone operator. Reacher works outside the system entirely, while Rapp works inside it with a very long leash. Both deliver satisfying justice and sharp action.
Series - Books in order
Mitch Rapp books in order
by Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills - 22 books - 1999-2023 - Updated June 2026
Mitch Rapp is the CIA's most lethal counterterrorism operative, a man who does what politicians cannot publicly endorse. Vince Flynn created Rapp in 1999, and after Flynn's death in 2013, Kyle Mills continued the series with Flynn's blessing. The books are best read in publication order, though two prequels published later fill in Rapp's origin. The politics lean hawkish, but the plotting is sharp enough to carry readers of any persuasion.
Flynn
Transfer of Power
✦
1
Flynn
Transfer of Power
✦
1
The short answer
Read in publication order, starting with Transfer of Power (1999). publication.
22 books - read in publication order
Show order
Contains affiliate links| # | Book | Published | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transfer of Power Transfer of PowerStart | 1999 | 4.2 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 2 | The Third Option The Third Option | 2000 | 4.2 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 3 | Separation of Power Separation of Power | 2001 | 4.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 4 | Executive Power Executive Power | 2003 | 4.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 5 | Memorial Day Memorial Day | 2004 | 4.4 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 6 | Consent to Kill Consent to Kill Widely considered the best book in the series. | 2005 | 4.5 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 7 | Act of Treason Act of Treason | 2006 | 4.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 8 | Protect and Defend Protect and Defend | 2007 | 4.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 9 | Extreme Measures Extreme Measures | 2008 | 4.2 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 10 | Pursuit of Honor Pursuit of Honor | 2009 | 4.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 11 | American Assassin American Assassin Prequel covering Rapp's recruitment and training. Adapted into a 2017 film. | 2010 | 4.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 12 | Kill Shot Kill Shot Second prequel. Rapp's first solo mission goes wrong in Paris. | 2012 | 4.2 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 13 | The Last Man The Last Man The final book written solely by Vince Flynn. | 2012 | 4.3 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 14 | The Survivor The Survivor First book by Kyle Mills, based on a partial manuscript Flynn left behind. | 2015 | 4.1 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 15 | Order to Kill Order to Kill | 2016 | 4.1 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 16 | Enemy of the State Enemy of the State | 2017 | 4.2 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 17 | Red War Red War | 2018 | 4.1 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 18 | Lethal Agent Lethal Agent | 2019 | 4.1 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $16.00 |
| 19 | Total Power Total Power | 2020 | 4.2 | Kindle $13.99Paperback $10.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $17.00 |
| 20 | Enemy at the Gates Enemy at the Gates | 2021 | 4.0 | Kindle $13.99Paperback $10.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $17.00 |
| 21 | Oath of Loyalty Oath of Loyalty | 2022 | 4.0 | Kindle $14.99Paperback $11.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $18.00 |
| 22 | Code Red Code Red | 2023 | 4.0 | Kindle $14.99Paperback $11.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $18.00 |
Transfer of Power
4.2
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
The Third Option
4.2
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Separation of Power
4.3
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Executive Power
4.3
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Memorial Day
4.4
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Consent to Kill
4.5
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Act of Treason
4.3
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Protect and Defend
4.3
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Extreme Measures
4.2
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Pursuit of Honor
4.3
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
American Assassin
4.3
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Kill Shot
4.2
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
The Last Man
4.3
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
The Survivor
4.1
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Order to Kill
4.1
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Enemy of the State
4.2
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Red War
4.1
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Lethal Agent
4.1
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Total Power
4.2
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Enemy at the Gates
4.0
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Oath of Loyalty
4.0
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Code Red
4.0
KindlePaperbackAudibleBookshop
Our recommended reading order
publication
Flynn
Transfer of Power
✦
Best book to start with
Transfer of Power
Book #1, and still the best on-ramp. It sets up everything that makes this series work.
Similar series
If you love Mitch Rapp, try these next.
Hurwitz
Orphan X
✦
Orphan X
Gregg Hurwitz - 9 books
A black-ops operative who went freelance. Tighter plotting and a more conflicted protagonist, but the same high-stakes action and intelligence-world setting.
Patterson
Along Came a Spider
✦
Alex Cross
James Patterson - 31 books
A D.C. detective and forensic psychologist chasing serial killers. Shorter chapters, faster pacing, and a protagonist who balances lethal skill with a strong family life.
Frequently asked questions
Start with Transfer of Power, the first book published. American Assassin is a prequel written eleven books later and works best after you already know Rapp. Chronological order spoils reveals that Flynn set up carefully in the original books.
Vince Flynn was diagnosed with prostate cancer and handpicked Mills to continue the series. Flynn died in 2013 after completing The Last Man. Mills picked up with The Survivor in 2015 using notes Flynn left behind, and has written every entry since.
American Assassin was adapted into a 2017 film starring Dylan O'Brien as a young Rapp. It received mixed reviews and no sequel was produced.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026