The Third Option

Mitch Rapp Series

By: Vince Flynn

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan

Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

CIA counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp falls prey to government forces with an agenda of their own after Dr. Irene Kennedy is named the successor to dying CIA Director Thomas Stansfield—a choice that enrages many inside the world’s most powerful intelligence agency. Her detractors will resort to extreme measures to prevent her from taking the reins—which makes Rapp an expendable asset. But Mitch Rapp is no one’s pawn, and he will stop at nothing to find out who has set him up.

Hear Mitch Rapp, the CIA's top operative, battle global terrorism in more of Vince Flynn's political thrillers.

©2011 Vince Flynn (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Flynn hits his stride in this thriller about high-end Washington politics...[he] has an exciting, Ludlum-like series going here." ( Booklist)

"Flynn's latest thriller...is an old-school spy story...updated with heavy helpings of international intrigue and domestic politicking and betrayal." ( Library Journal)

"Fans of Ludlum and Clancy will want to check it out.' ( Pioneer Press)

I miss you George Guidall!

If you happen to be reading the series out-of-order, I should mention that the next book in the Mitch Rapp series, Separation of Power (Book 5), is an immediate continuation of the story in this one, The Third Option.

In fact, The Third Option doesn't even have a concrete ending. You have to suck it up, take the pseudo-cliff hanger for what it's worth, and continue on to the next book to learn what happens. Lot's of people (evidenced by the many reviews I've read), get quite upset with the lack of an ending. Not me. By this time, I'm already deeply invested in the characters and story, so I know I'm going to read the rest of the series in short order. Besides, Vince Flynn is hardly the first author (or maybe the editor is to blame) to employ the cliff-hanger tactic to keep readers coming back. No skin off my back...well maybe a little. I'm no sadomasochist, but I actually enjoy the anticipation of waiting on the next book of a riveting series to come out. Fortunately for all of us, the whole series (13 books anyway), is already published.

A distinct lack of an ending doesn't detract much from what I got out of the book as a whole. Characters are important here, and not just the main one. Aside from being introduced to Scott Coleman (Navy Seal extraordinaire), we get lots of interesting input from DCI (Director of Central Intelligence) Stansfield, his underling Irene Kennedy, President Hayes, General Flood (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) and a plethora of senators, chairpersons and aides that keep the political intrigue pegged in the red. There's lots going on here, and lots more to learn in the next installment.

Keep on going Mitchell.

loved it. I need to get back to the first in the series. Thank you.

Loved the surprise ending

First in series without closure but I found it adding to the complexity of the series. I thought it a perfect stopping point and look forward how the next will open.
Overall, I love the style of the author and find his stories engrossing

Edge of your seat listen

Would you consider the audio edition of The Third Option to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version so I cannot compare to the audio book, but I can say that this 4th installment of the Mitch Rapp series is a winner. I started listening when I was getting my audio books from Barnes and Nobel so I got what they had and read the series out of order. Even so, this thriller was so exciting that it did not impact the effect of reading it after later books. I am glad to fill in the story line.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is of course Mitch Rapp who is middle aged, but fit, and brilliant. I wish I could think that fast.

Have you listened to any of Nick Sullivan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to this narrator before, and I prefer Dick Hill as a narrator for these books, but Sulilvan held his own and pulled off a reasonably good performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I always have strong emotions when listening to Vince Flynn books. After 22 years in the Navy, the ineptness of bureaucracies is all too familiar. Stupid rules that prevent people from doing their jobs abound, and I love it when Mitch adapts, improvises, and overcomes. We have met the enemy and we are they all too often.

Another good Rapp

I was bit doubtful about getting this due to negative feedback about the narrator but I am glad I got it. Good story and narration .... Just different from Guidall. You get used to the change in narrator after very short while especially if the last Rapp book you heard was a while ago. I m not going to plunge into Separation of Power whose narrator has worse feedback than Nick Sullivan....fingers crossed. After this one I will have completed whole Rapp series to-date.

Excellent plot

Very well plotted with lots of twists and turns. Ending was excellent; can’t wait to read the next in the series! 👍👍

It was good, real good

I liked the hot air balloon chase at the end. Crazy with the bazooka fire!

If it had an ending, I'd give it a 5.

I can't get enough of the Mitch Rapp series, and this is no exception. My only complaint is that I could not believe this installment ended when it did. I was convinced that I failed to download a segment. Alas, the narrative was at an end. Fortunately, I have already downloaded Vince Flynn's next book. Great series Mr. Flynn!

Rapp fans won't be disappointed

There are apparently three options to solve problems: political, military and covert operations. Mitch Rapp is the ultimate overt operator...although he leaves quite a wake of violence, death and destruction in his activities - hard to call it 'covert'. This is a story of a race between several cells of terrorists that plan to bomb different places along the east coast in a short period of time. It falls onto a combination of military, intelligence agents and Rapp to stop these bombs - did I mention they were nuclear bombs? The method of smuggling in the bombs was plausible as was the general terrorist plans..in fact, they were all to real given what happens in real life now....

The book was first released in 2001 so it was eerie that some of the actions of the terrorists turn out to be close to what they do in real life.

There's lot of action and everybody's rights get trampled as Rapp is hell bent on stopping an atomic bomb from going off in DC. Interesting story on line on how key people in the government are dispersed when DC is threatened.

If you like action political thrillers and especially if you like Mitch Rapp - you will like this earlier offering by Vince Flynn.

The Third Option

Good book.
I really can't understand how someone with the name of Sullivan , can't seem to be able to pronounce another Irish surname correctly. Every time he pronounced Reilly incorrectly, just had me shaking my head.