I've read and enjoyed all of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series books. Mills did a great job continuing the series. I'm not enthused by Don Bentley's Capture or Kill. It seemed as though he wanted it to be a stand alone novel. There was too much blah, blah, blah writing that rehashed all the bios of characters and their traits between dialog and action lines. I found my self skimming and swiping, on Kindle, to get to the dialog and action scenes. The code names and multiple villains were also somewhat confusing. Also, there were numerous typos on the Kindle version which interrupted my reading tempo. The action scenes were exciting, technical and well written. Of course, the plot was predictable; as history dictated. Lastly, I do thank Bentley for his courageous service to America and the war on terror.

In “Capture or Kill,” Bentley takes readers back to 2011, a decade into the War on Terror and a point when Vince Flynn’s literary career was at its zenith. The novel is centered around the real-life raid by U.S. Navy SEALs on Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan on May 2, 2011. When I first heard about the premise for the story, I was curious about how Bentley would handle the narrative structure. Real-life events can be a tricky thing for an author to navigate around — especially an operation this specific. But Bentley — who has written four novels in his Matt Drake series and four Jack Ryan, Jr. novels in the Tom Clancy franchise since 2020 — is able to steer the plot effectively. Bentley’s military experience is present throughout “Capture or Kill.” He went to Ohio State on an ROTC scholarship and spent a decade in the Army as an Apache pilot after graduation. Bentley manages to strike a nice balance between the ballsy tradecraft Flynn’s loyal followers have come to love and the nitty-gritty details on military operations that epitomize some of the great novels in the genre. The overall effect is Mitch Rapp novel that is less shaken and more stirred. Bentley gives Flynn’s Rapp series a shot of retro adrenaline, and the narrative choice pays dividends for readers in the end.

As a Mitch Rapp ambassador, I just finished reading an advanced copy of Capture or Kill. I must say, Don Bentley did a fantastic job carrying on the torch of the Mitch Rapp series. This story is set in 2011 and backtracked a little. But it fills in a lot of elements that went without saying, by saying them. Mitch and his team are in Afganistán kicking ass and taking names like there is no tomorrow. I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to all of Mitch Rapp’s fans both old and new. You’re in for a wild ride!

I’ve read every Mitch Rapp book. I loved Vince Flynn’s writing. I appreciate Kyle Mills taking over and not letting the character die. But Don Bentley…WOW!! He takes the story to a new level. I love authors who expect a lot of the reader. It’s like a Clancy and Ludlum teamed up to write the next Rapp book. So, yeah, I loved it!! Was it technical in parts? YES. Did I care? NO. I appreciate the detail. At least you know the author knows his stuff and wants you to fully appreciate the situation—the risks, the limits, the danger. I highly recommend this book. I’m excited to now read Don Bentley’s other work. Woohoo!

I spent a great deal of time trying to look up the military jargon. It was too thick and too obtuse. I felt a little frustrated that I couldn’t share the insights and a little cheated that I n ever erknew what was being said. I would recommend the author set up special glossary explaining the use of such words for those of us who “are not lifers”!

Unlike some other reviewers, I was thrilled that Bentley set his first Mitch Rapp tale back in the earlier days of the series. Mitch Rapp, the family man, hasn’t been working for me, so seeing this earlier version back in action—more of a rootless lone wolf—was a lot of fun. That said (and as some others have mentioned), the book started off slower than expected, had some actual typos, and Bentley’s continued reuse of “putting steel into” and “running agents” had me wondering whether we’d need to chip in and buy him a thesaurus. I shouldn’t have worried. About halfway through, the pace accelerates and continues to build to a satisfying crescendo. I also was happy to see Mike Nash again—IMO, Mills did him wrong—and the “return” of Stan Hurley, an irreplaceable character who aged out far too soon. By the end, it felt more like Vince Flynn than any of the books since he passed away. Here’s hoping Bentley can not only build on that momentum, but maybe find a way to unload some of the baggage both Mitch Rapp and the series have picked up over the past decade, and get back to basics. Either that, or write more “Untold Tales of Mitch Rapp,” like this one.

Weaving in real events made this even more interesting. Well written, fast paced and an all around good book. Miss Vince but these are almost like he wrote them.

Don Bentley's Capture or Kill continues the legacy of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series with intense action and sharp political intrigue. In this latest installment, Mitch Rapp is entangled in a dangerous conspiracy that challenges his loyalty and forces him to make life-or-death decisions. Bentley captures the essence of Rapp’s character perfectly, delivering a story filled with unexpected twists and moral complexities. Bentley's writing style stays true to Flynn’s legacy, with fast-paced narrative, crisp dialogue, and realistic action sequences that keep the pages turning. The novel’s timely exploration of themes like government corruption and the ethics of espionage adds depth, making it more than just a typical thriller. Capture or Kill is a must-read for long-time Mitch Rapp fans and newcomers alike, offering a compelling mix of adrenaline-pumping action and thoughtful commentary on the modern world of espionage. Don Bentley proves once again that the Mitch Rapp series is far from running out of steam.