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

Least favorite of all Mitch Rapp

It’s almost like you knew where the story was going a few pages into it. There was not a lot of depth or substance to the book. Certainly not my favorite Mitch Rapp novel. In fact it was my least favorite.

Engaging....

The non-stop action. Another well thought out thriller. At first, it took a min to identify where in the series book 24 belong . Nevertheless, Mitch Rapp novels are an interesting

A very average Mitch rap novel

The story was very slow moving; not enough action. Also, the author used the same voice for multiple characters, so it was hard to figure out who was speaking.

Fitting end to the trilogy

The addition of Bentley to the Flynn/Mills Rappverse produced a fitting ending to trilogy of the prequel that started the Mitch Rapp saga. The twists and turns of the storyline and the return of many of the favorite characters such as Stanfield and Hurley made for an enjoyable arc that filled in many details. This is a must read for all Rapp fans young and old!

Commitment

I’ve always enjoyed Vince Flynn’s books. He is articulate and accurate in his descriptions. I’m sorry to see that this book is the last of this series.

Denied Access

Written in the same vain of all other Mitch Rapp books. It didn’t disappoint, once started, hard to put down until finished!

Another great Mitch Rapp story!.

I’ve read all the Mitch Rapp novels and this one did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the way all the main characters had their own stories and then you brought it together with a very nice ending! Thank you!

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.

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

Love this origin novel

I am going to go back and re-listen to American Assassin and Kill Shot before re-listening to this novel. I could have listened to them before Denied Access but I was too eager to listen to this novel. NOT DISAPPOINTED!! I am sure many will say ‘they just broke up?’ But she did witness the horrific murder of her beloved grandparents. I bought it. She did give him a choice to quit. Rapp's response was not surprising. He stayed in the game. Love, love, love the return of Hurley and Stansfield. They were such great characters. Don Bentley has done a terrific job in continuing this series. He continues Vince Flynn vision while giving with his own twist.
Also, I love Steven Weber. An awesome choice to continue narrating the Mitch Rapp novels.