Denied Access

A Mitch Rapp Novel

De: Vince Flynn, Don Bentley

Narrado por: Steven Weber

“[A] callback to what makes Rapp such a special character, and a white-knuckle reminder of why this series remains the gold standard of the political thriller genre.”—The Real Book Spy

Don Bentley completes the trilogy begun with American Assassin by taking Mitch Rapp back to his fledgling assassin days, picking up where Kill Shot ended, on a mission to save the woman he loves amid a CIA showdown with the Russian intelligence services in a new thriller from the author of Vince Flynn’s #1 New York Times bestselling series.

The Central Intelligence Agency is in crisis.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Congress is questioning the organization’s necessity. Interim CIA director Thomas Stansfield must fight for his agency’s survival while explaining why the previous candidate for his job was found murdered in a French hotel—surrounded by booze, cash, and dead men. Worst yet, a brilliantly run sting operation in Moscow has resulted in the arrest of America’s most prized Russian asset and the expulsion of his CIA handler.

With the CIA’s Moscow Station now paralyzed by the catastrophic intelligence failure, Stansfield seeks help from Mitch Rapp, a newly minted assassin in the secretive Orion program. But Rapp has problems of his own: when his Swiss girlfriend Greta’s grandfather receives a box containing the head of a former Cold War comrade along with a note promising that Greta’s head will be next, Rapp finds himself on the frontlines in a war between the American and Russian intelligence services. To protect the woman he loves and save the CIA from destruction, Rapp must be willing to risk everything.

©2025 Vince Flynn, Don Bentley (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Great story and narration

I loved sth storyline, but I wish there would have been more Mitch Rapp.

Insite into Mitch Rapp and the main character in the series!

I tweeted that Don was running a big risk writing this book. If he did it right it would payoff big! He did it right you should own this one!

The narrative surrounding Mitch Rapp provides a humanizing perspective often absent in his other accounts. As the quintessential operative, Rapp's daring and decisive actions introduce the reader to the realm of international espionage and illicit financial practices. The storyline effectively concludes the Cold War era while simultaneously establishing the origins of Rapp's character. The action is fast-paced and mostly credible, resulting in a satisfying conclusion to the Rapp prequel trilogy.

I liked the beginning with detail of Stansfields WWII experience and the way his action then came back into the story later.

The beginning of the book was a little slow. I felt it jumped around a lot. At times I set the story aside and I did not pick it up for 5 to 7 days. Rapp books usually start out with action and they are hard to put down.

Reader was excellent

Parts were a little slow but overall the book was an excellent Mitch Rapp novel

Too many unnecessary details and characters

This book had way to many characters and way to much detail making it kind of hard to follow. I wish we’d go back to the main story lines and stop doing books about the past. I’m a huge Mitch Rapp fan and will read all of his books but this was not my favorite

Lots of backstory, but bounces around 30+ years

Denied Access takes us back to the beginning, to a time when Mitch Rapp was still finding his footing as America’s most lethal weapon. Don Bentley handles this early-career story with care, showing us not just the ruthless operative Rapp will become, but the human being he starts out as — passionate, impulsive, and driven by a fire that isn’t yet tempered by years of hard lessons. For longtime fans, it’s fascinating to see the origins of his tradecraft, instincts, and personal code taking shape.

The character development here is what sets the novel apart. Rapp isn’t yet the unshakable figure we meet in Flynn’s later works; he’s still being tested, still making mistakes, and still learning what lines he’s willing to cross. Supporting characters, too, are given weight, offering glimpses into the people and decisions that will mold Rapp into the man we know. The moral complexity — loyalty versus duty, vengeance versus restraint — is alive and sharp, even this early in his journey.

As the conclusion to this prequel trilogy, the ending lands with both closure and momentum. It ties off the immediate arc in a way that feels complete, while pointing toward the larger legend that Flynn began decades ago. Bentley manages the delicate balance of writing “backward” into a well-established universe: making it suspenseful for new readers while satisfying veterans who already know where Rapp’s road will ultimately lead.

For fans, Denied Access is more than just another installment — it’s a bridge. It honors Vince Flynn’s legacy by filling in the formative years, adding new depth to a character we thought we already knew, and showing that even legends have beginnings.

Perfect continuation for Mitch

This filled the gap Perfectly, between missions for Mitch. Great Storyline, flow does Not skip a beat and Characters continue to be Spot On!
Hard corp Mitch Rapp fan here, and to be honest, I was prepared not to like it. But, listened to it twice already.
Thought the entire storyline filled in a lot of holes you didn’t even think about until you hear it. Then It was like, “No Shit! Now that makes sense”. Ha Ha
Narrator was the absolutely spot on choice.
If you’re a Rapp fan, then all I can say is, The Story Continues!

Enjoyed the past characters

It had a good pace and a good storyline not an edge of your seat book but a good listen

A Mitch Rapp Revival

Dan Bentley did a masterful job at getting back to the earlier years of Mitch Rapp where we all fell in love with him

Outstanding…keep them coming

A perfect dose of Mitch. Please keep writing them. This last unnecessary sentence is simply so that I can submit this review due to Audible’s unnecessary review length rule.