American Assassin Book Review

Bill said I would like American Assassin because it's like the Jack Reacher novels. And I liked it. This is the story of how Mitch Rapp becomes a hard core doesn't even exist spy or killer or whatever he is. The back story to all of the previous books. I think Mitch Rapp looks like this:
So it was pretty easy to get into the book. (Mitch Rapp could have been described as a stocky red head for all I care- I imagined him looking like Hawaii Five-0 guy.) Rapp is out for retribution for the Pan Am Terrorist bombing in which his girlfriend was killed. He balls up all of his feelings deep into his belly, stamps it all down with anger and goes into the woods to train to become a killer and then he comes out killing.

This book was fast paced and a good read. The bad guys were bad mix of Russians (historically former bad guys) and Jihadists (current bad guys) which Mitch and his 'handler' Stan Hurley work over. There's some torture and fingernail pulling out and one guy looses an ear. Now I have to wait for Bill to let me borrow the other Mitch Rapp books he has.

Brief comparison of Mitch Rapp and Jack Reacher: Mitch Rapp and Jack Reacher have many significant differences. First, Mitch Rapp is hot and Jack Reacher does not come across as hot. I mean, the guy wears the same clothes until he buys new ones. That is not hot. Second, Jack Reacher works alone. He does not have friends. He does not collaborate with anyone. He has no need for a radio because he doesn't talk to anyone. Mitch Rapp is working with the CIA even if he officially does not exist. Jack Reacher works solely in the USA kicking the ass of home grown bad guys. His passport is expired. Mitch Rapp is a world traveler and therefore has many a passport to choose from. Apples and oranges my friends, apples and oranges.