7 Authors Like Vince Flynn (13+ Book Recommendations)

If you like high stakes and supercharged action, then you’ve probably plowed through Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp books.

The 21-strong, bestselling book series follows Mitch Rapp, a CIA operative with lethal skills and a black and white moral code, as he takes on various global threats, from high-level terrorist groups to shadowy cyberhackers.

The series is best known for American Assassin, the 11th book in the series (but the first book that kicks off Mitch Rapp’s story), which was adapted into a 2017 blockbuster movie starring Dylan O’Brien.

The only problem with Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp books is that they always leave you wanting more.

So if you’re all caught up with the books, you’re probably looking for something similar to read.

If only there was someone who could make a list of the best authors like Vince Flynn.

You’ve arrived at the right place, as I’ve done exactly that.

Below, find all the best authors like Vince Flynn complete with book recommendations. These authors are Tom Clancy, Lee Child, Stephen Hunter, Robert Ludlum, Brad Thor, James Patterson, and Kyle Mills.

Books By Vince Flynn

Vince Flynn is best known for his Mitch Rapp book series that centers on the hot-headed, yet highly skilled and deadly, CIA agent Mitch Rapp.

The first book published in the series was Transfer of Power, but the book that starts the story right from the beginning is American Assassin.

Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series, also called the American Assassin series, comprises 21 books – many of which topped book charts on the day of release.

The series has a few fans, needless to say, along with a major blockbuster adaptation behind it.

Along with American Assassin and Transfer of Power, Vince Flynn’s most popular books include Extreme Measures, Kill Shot, Act of Treason, and Consent to Kill.

Spanning genres such as action, thriller, spy, mystery, and espionage, there are a few major themes in Vince Flynn’s books.

Some of these are morality, revenge, compassion, good versus evil, hope, perseverance, loyalty, and betrayal. 

7 Authors Like Vince Flynn

Tom Clancy

First up: Tom Clancy. You might know his name from the Splinter Cell games, but the games were novels long before millennial gamers were taking out enemies from the darkness as Sam Fisher.

That’s right, Tom Clancy wrote books and the best one he wrote was The Hunt for Red October.

It’s the third book in the series based on Jack Ryan – a rational CIA analyst with a Marine background.

The first book in the series is Patriot Games. So if you’re looking to dive into another conflict-heavy world of counterterrorism, you can’t go wrong with Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan books. 

Pros

• The “Ryanverse” comprises 17 books (by Clancy) – plenty to read
• Tom Clancy’s books share similar themes with the Mitch Rapp series

Cons

• Jack Ryan is more political and less “lethal” than Mitch Rapp (which you might not be looking for)

Themes: good versus evil, trust, betrayal, morality

Lee Child

Lee Child created Jack Reacher, the big, brutal ex-Marine in the Jack Reacher series that, so far, totals 26 books. 

The series is what Lee Child is best known for, so if you want to jump straight in, the place to start is Killing Floor.

Like Rapp, Jack Reacher is skilled in hand-to-hand combat with a somewhat black and white moral compass fueled by, you guessed it, revenge.

Die Trying is another must-read Lee Child book, which happens to be the second book in the Jack Reacher series.

And there’s no doubt you’ll want to read it after flying through Killing Floor.

Pros

• Jack Reacher shares similarities with Mitch Rapp
• The Jack Reacher series is popular and has had multiple screen adaptations

Cons

• With 26 books in the series, some readers might find the Jack Reacher books a daunting task

Themes: revenge, morality, good versus evil

Stephen Hunter

If you’ve watched Shooter, the action thriller film starring Mark Wahlberg, then you might know about Stephen Hunter.

He’s the author behind the Bobby Lee Swagger series, which has 12 books.

Shooter was based on Point of Impact – the place to start if you’re new to Stephen Hunter’s work.

It’s the first book in the Bobby Lee Swagger series, well worth reading even if you’ve watched the film.

Fans of Bobby Lee Swagger also love Time to Hunt – the third book in the series, which was also a bestseller. Definitely don’t skip the second book though!

Pros

• Bobby Lee Swagger is a battle-hardened ex-Marine that Mitch Rapp fans will relate to
• You’ll love the books if you enjoyed Shooter

Cons

• The Bobby Lee Swagger books are not as fast-paced as Flynn’s Mitch Rapp books

Themes: good versus evil, identity, morality, betrayal 

Robert Ludlum

Robert Ludlum wrote a host of thriller novels during his career, three of which included The Bourne Trilogy.

With over 300 million books in print and, of course, five smash-hit movie adaptations, Ludlum is definitely an author worth checking out if you like Vince Flynn.

Start with The Bourne Identity if you want to see if the Jason Bourne books are as good as the movies (spoiler alert: they are).

Robert Ludlum is also famous for The Matarese Circle, a thriller-slash-mystery novel packed with espionage, assassins, betrayal, and plenty of page-turning action.  

Pros

• Fans of the Mitch Rapp series should read The Bourne Trilogy
• Robert Ludlum’s books serve up as much action-packed conflict as Flynn’s novels

Cons

• If you’ve watched the Jason Bourne movies, you’ll already know the general plot of the books

Themes: identity, morality, trust, betrayal

Brad Thor

If there’s anyone who knows how to write a good thriller story, it’s Brad Thor.

The man behind the Scot Harvath series has shifted countless book sales and has even contributed a short story to James Patterson’s (no big deal) anthology, Thriller.

Brad Thor’s most popular work is The Lions of Lucerne – the first in his acclaimed series that follows ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath on a rescue mission involving the president. No pressure there.

State of the Union is the next most popular Brad Thor book, the third novel in the Scot Harvath series. It was released in 2004, one year after the second book, Path of the Assassin.

Pros

• Brad Thor’s writing style is similar to Vince Flynn’s
• Mitch Rapp fans will feel right at home following Scot Harvath’s high-stakes missions 

Cons

• There are 21 books in the Scot Harvath series – so there’s a lot to get through

Themes: humanity and morality, good versus evil, democracy

James Patterson 

James Patterson… Where to start? One of the world’s bestselling authors (I’m talking more than 400 million copies) is no stranger to writing crime-thriller books.

He’s published multiple book series, plus a handful of standalone books, with his most famous work being the Alex Cross series.

It follows Detective Alex Cross as he tackles different cases while trying to keep those around him safe.

There’s a whole bag of nail-biting plots and interesting antagonists in the series, which starts with Along Came a Spider.

If you’ve read that, the Michael Bennett series is worth checking instead, starting with Step on a Crack.

James Patterson has inspired many thriller authors who have followed after him, so he’s definitely worth reading. 

Pros

• James Patterson is one of the world’s bestselling authors
• The Alex Cross series is just as thrilling as the Mitch Rapp books

Cons

• The Alex Cross series is massive (in fact, it’s still going) so it can be a daunting read

Themes: justice, humanity, morality, good versus evil

Kyle Mills

This list would not be complete without Kyle Mills. Kyle Mills has single-handedly carried the Mitch Rapp books since The Last Man (2012).

Flynn was unable to write the book and sadly passed away in 2013, but it’s fair to say that Mills has done the series justice, having written a total of nine books that were all well-received.

So it goes without saying that if you like Vince Flynn, you’ll like Kyle Mills.

He also took over the writing for Robert Ludlum’s Covert-One series, starting from The Ares Decision.

But if you’re interested in reading “his own” work, the five-part Mark Beamon series, which begins with Rising Phoenix, won’t disappoint.

Pros

• Kyle Mills has written the last nine books of Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series
• Kyle Mills’ own Mark Beamon series is just as good as the Mitch Rapp books

Cons

• If you’re looking for something “different”, Kyle Mills’ books might feel too similar in style to the Mitch Rapp series

Themes: good versus evil, morality, identity, trust

Bottom Line

And that wraps up my list of must-read authors like Vince Flynn! 

Like Flynn’s bestselling Mitch Rapp series, the above authors each have an action-packed book series with protagonists similar to Mitch Rapp, touching on common themes like morality, identity, and good versus evil.

So if you’re looking for books that are just as adrenaline-charged as the Mitch Rapp series.

These authors and the book recommendations I’ve included are sure to have you flipping through the pages from start to finish. Get reading!

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