Vince Flynn Books in Order: Publication & Chronological

Mitch Rapp is at the center of one of the most popular thriller series of the last few decades, but figuring out the Vince Flynn books in order can get a little confusing. Between Flynn’s original novels and the continuation books that followed, there are two main ways to read the series: publication order and chronological order.

Rapp is a ruthless CIA counterterrorism operative thrown into a world of espionage, revenge, and political power. That mix of action, intrigue, and high-stakes missions is what made Flynn’s books such a hit. Below, you’ll find the Vince Flynn books in publication order first, followed by a chronological Mitch Rapp reading order.

Jump to:

• Vince Flynn Books in Order of Publication
• Mitch Rapp Books in Chronological Order
• Vince Flynn Adaptations
• About the Authors
• Vince Flynn Books FAQ

Vince Flynn Books in Order of Publication

The best way to read the Vince Flynn books is in publication order. It lets you follow the series the way readers originally experienced it and see how the world, characters, and stakes develop over time.

This list starts with Term Limits, Flynn’s only standalone novel. It isn’t part of the Mitch Rapp series, but many readers still choose to begin there since it was Flynn’s first published book and helps introduce parts of the political world that carry into the novels that follow.

Standalone Novel

1. Term Limits (1997)

Mitch Rapp Books in Publication Order

1. Transfer of Power (1999)
2. The Third Option (2000)
3. Separation of Power (2001)
4. Executive Power (2003)
5. Memorial Day (2004)
6. Consent to Kill (2005)
7. Act of Treason (2006)
8. Protect and Defend (2007)
9. Extreme Measures (2008)
10. Pursuit of Honor (2009)
11. American Assassin (2010)
12. Kill Shot (2012)
13. The Last Man (2012)
14. The Survivor by Kyle Mills (2015)
15. Order to Kill by Kyle Mills (2016)
16. Enemy of the State by Kyle Mills (2017)
17. Red War by Kyle Mills (2018)
18. Lethal Agent by Kyle Mills (2019)
19. Total Power by Kyle Mills (2020)
20. Enemy at the Gates by Kyle Mills (2021)
21. Oath of Loyalty by Kyle Mills (2022)
22. Code Red by Kyle Mills (2023)
23. Capture or Kill by Don Bentley (2024)
24. Denied Access by Don Bentley (2025)
25. Double Tap by Don Bentley (2026)

Mitch Rapp Books in Chronological Order

The second way to read the Mitch Rapp books is in chronological order. The difference is small, but it lets you start with Rapp’s origin story before moving into the main run of the series.

After spending years writing Mitch Rapp, Flynn went back and told the beginning of his career in American Assassin and Kill Shot. Those books add important context to Rapp’s motivations, his training, and the choices he makes later in the series.

Because of that, many readers prefer to start with those two novels before continuing on with the rest of the Mitch Rapp books. Even though they were published later, they fit naturally at the beginning of the story.

1. American Assassin
2. Kill Shot
3. Denied Access by Don Bentley
4. Double Tap by Don Bentley
5. Transfer of Power
6. The Third Option
7. Separation of Power
8. Executive Power
9. Memorial Day
10. Consent to Kill
11. Act of Treason
12. Protect and Defend
13. Extreme Measures
14. Pursuit of Honor
15. Capture or Kill by Don Bentley
16. The Last Man
17. The Survivor by Kyle Mills
18. Order to Kill by Kyle Mills
19. Enemy of the State by Kyle Mills
20. Red War by Kyle Mills
21. Lethal Agent by Kyle Mills
22. Total Power by Kyle Mills
23. Enemy at the Gates by Kyle Mills
24. Oath of Loyalty by Kyle Mills
25. Code Red by Kyle Mills

Vince Flynn Adaptations

Vince Flynn’s best-known screen adaptation is the 2017 film American Assassin, based on the Mitch Rapp novel of the same name. The movie stars Dylan O’Brien as Mitch Rapp and Michael Keaton as Stan Hurley, and it brings Flynn’s most famous character to the screen through Rapp’s early origin story.

Like a lot of book-to-film adaptations, American Assassin does not follow the novel exactly. It keeps the core idea of Rapp’s early recruitment and training, but changes major plot details, character dynamics, and story beats along the way.

That means the movie works best as a separate take on Flynn’s world rather than a scene-by-scene version of the book. It captures the action-heavy tone and the basic setup of Mitch Rapp’s rise, but readers should not expect the same story they get on the page.

About the Authors

Vince Flynn

Vince Flynn created Mitch Rapp and built the series into one of the biggest names in modern political thrillers. After struggling to break in as a novelist, Flynn self-published Term Limits, a move that launched his career and led to a traditional publishing deal.

He went on to write the original Mitch Rapp novels, along with the prequels American Assassin and Kill Shot. Although Term Limits is a standalone, it is still often mentioned alongside Flynn’s Mitch Rapp books. Flynn died in 2013 while working on The Survivor, but the series continued after his death.

Kyle Mills

After Flynn’s death, Kyle Mills was chosen to continue the Mitch Rapp series. Mills wrote the continuation novels from The Survivor through Code Red, carrying the series forward for nearly a decade while keeping the tone and style readers expected.

Don Bentley

Don Bentley took over the series after Mills stepped away. Before joining the Mitch Rapp franchise, Bentley had already written his own thrillers and contributed to the Tom Clancy universe, making him a natural fit for another established espionage series.

Bentley’s Mitch Rapp books include Capture or Kill, Denied Access, and Double Tap. His run is especially important because those books do not simply continue the series at the end. Capture or Kill fits between Pursuit of Honor and The Last Man, while Denied Access and Double Tap slot in after Kill Shot and before Transfer of Power.

Vince Flynn Books FAQ

Do you need to read the Mitch Rapp books in order?

No, you do not have to read the Mitch Rapp books in order to enjoy them, since most of them still work as standalone thrillers. That said, publication order is usually the easiest path for new readers because it lets you follow the series the way it was originally released, while chronological order works better for readers who want to start with Mitch Rapp’s origin story first.

Is Term Limits a Mitch Rapp book?

No, Term Limits is not a Mitch Rapp book. It was Vince Flynn’s debut novel and is officially labeled as “Not A Mitch Rapp Book,” even though many readers still mention it alongside Flynn’s main body of work and choose to read it before the series.

Did Vince Flynn finish the Mitch Rapp series?

No, Vince Flynn did not finish the Mitch Rapp series himself. Flynn died in 2013, and the series continued after his death, first with Kyle Mills and later with Don Bentley.

Is American Assassin based on a Vince Flynn book?

Yes, American Assassin is based on Vince Flynn’s novel of the same name. The 2017 film adapts Mitch Rapp’s early story, although it makes a number of changes from the book rather than following it exactly.

Looking for more books in order?

If you want more thriller authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Thriller Books in Order index.

• Books in Order (Full Index)
• Gabriel Allon Books in Order
• Jack Ryan Books in Order
• Brad Thor Books in Order