#1 New York Times bestselling author of American Assassin —soon to be a major motion picture Following up Vince Flynn’s The Third Option , this electrifying Mitch Rapp thriller delivers “first-class political intrigue from a master storyteller” ( Booklist ). The confirmation of Dr. Irene Kennedy as the CIA’s new director explodes into chaos as a deadly inside plot to destroy her and prematurely end the president’s term emerges. Meanwhile, as a dangerous world leader gains power in the nuclear arms race, Israel forces the president’s hand with a chilling ultimatum. With the specter of World War III looming, the president calls on top counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, who scours the alleys of Baghdad and the avenues of Washington for America’s enemies. But with only two weeks to take out the nukes, Rapp is up against a ticking clock—and impossible odds. Mitch Rapp, topnotch CIA counterterrorism operative (e.g., The Third Option), has a near-impossible task: secure peace in the Middle East even as the CIA implodes. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. In the wake of the horrific events that occurred on September 11, Flynn's novels have moved from terrific but unbelievable stories about domestic attacks by terrorists to unfathomable reality (Flynn's 1999 novel Transfer of Power was about an Arab takeover of the White House). Here, we find Irene Kennedy, currently head of the CIA's counterterrorism division, about to be named CIA director. But there are many on the Hill out to stop her appointment for both ideological and political reasons. Unlikely bedfellows emerge, pairing a leftist congressman, who doesn't like the secrecy of the CIA, with a conservative senator, who has a special pecuniary interest in Ms. Kennedy's demise. The key to derailing her confirmation is to out the CIA's covert operation dubbed the Orion Team, made up of licensed-to-kill unofficial rogue agents, the most competent of which is Mitch Rapp. While the political mess continues on the domestic front, Rapp is sent on an assignment like no other, where the lives of millions hang in the balance. First-class political intrigue from a master storyteller. Mary Frances Wilkens Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved #1 New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn (1966–2013) created one of contemporary fiction’s most popular heroes: CIA counterterrorist agent Mitch Rapp, featured in thirteen of Flynn’s acclaimed political thrillers. All of his novels are New York Times bestsellers, including his stand-alone debut novel, Term Limits . The Mitch Rapp story begins with American Assassin , followed by Kill Shot , Transfer of Power , The Third Option , Separation of Power , Executive Power , Memorial Day , Consent to Kill , Act of Treason , Protect and Defend , Extreme Measures , Pursuit of Honor , The Last Man , The Survivor, Order to Kill, Enemy of the State, and Red War. American Assassin was released as a major film in 2017. Chapter One BAHAMAS, FRIDAY EVENING Williams Island was one of hundreds of tiny land masses that made up the Bahamas. But unlike other similar islands in the Bahamas, it had a new landing strip capable of handling executive jets. This was due to a prominent inhabitant who owned a private compound on the island's western end. With the sun less than an hour away from setting, the distinctive whine of turbine engines could be heard in the distance. A gleaming Gulfstream personal jet suddenly appeared with the bright orange orb of the Caribbean sun as its backdrop. The plane steadily descended, its approach looking like a mirage as the heat shimmered off the runway. With barely a noise, the wheels gently touched down and rolled along the runway. There was no control tower at the small airport, just a hangar and maintenance shed. The plane came to a stop in front of the hangar and the engines were silenced. A shiny new Range Rover was parked by the hangar, the driver standing next to the vehicle, hands clasped in front of him in kind of a nonmilitary version of parade rest. The native Bahamian had been sent by Senator Hank Clark, the man who owned the compound at the other end of the island. He was also the man who had helped to secure financing and donations for the new runway. The door of the glistening jet opened and out stepped a man and woman in business attire, both of them in their early thirties, both of them with black leather Tumi laptop bags over their shoulders. The two were barely on the tarmac and out came the phones. They punched the numbers in as fast as they could and waited impatiently for the phones to connect with the nearest satellite. After a moment a third individual appeared in the plane's doorway. This man was not dressed in standard business attire. Mark Ellis stood perched in the doorway for a moment and surveyed the scene through a pair of black Revo sunglasses. He had a well-trimmed brown beard that helped hide the acne sc