“Denied Access is more than just the conclusion to the prequel trilogy . . . It’s 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.” — Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy and Author of Gone Dark
(Note: See this review, plus additional exclusive thoughts and info on TRBS Substack)
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Fierce, uncompromising, and expertly plotted, Denied Access delivers the Mitch Rapp origin story finale fans have been waiting for—and then some.
While the bulk of the story picks up not long after the events of Kill Shot (2012), the second prequel novel written by Vince Flynn (following American Assassin, 2010), New York Times bestselling author Don Bentley first takes readers back in time to May of 1945, where longtime fans will relish the opportunity to reunite with Thomas Stansfield, a onetime fan-favorite regular—and mentor to Irene Kennedy, Mitch Rapp’s closest friend and boss—who’s not made an appearance since Flynn’s 2,000 bestseller, The Third Option.
After the stage-setting prologue in Germany with Stansfield (whom diehard fans may recall was born on a farm in the fall of 1920, near Stoneville, South Dakota before one day becoming an iconic spymaster and the eventual director of the CIA), the action shifts to the present day Spain, although in this case, the “present day” is actually the early 1990s, where Mitch Rapp, still in his mid-20s, finds himself surrounded by an endless string of trouble. Going back in time proves to be a solid move from Bentley, who merges real historical events with hard-hitting fiction, plunging readers into the high-stakes, cutthroat world of a young, fledgling CIA assassin fighting not only for his agency’s survival but also for the woman he loves.
That’s right, Greta Ohlmeyer, granddaughter of Swiss banker Carl Ohlmeyer, is also back. Rapp’s second love, after the loss of his high school sweetheart, Maureen Elliot (who was killed in the Pan AM Flight 103 terrorist attack over Lockerbie, an event that ultimately led to Rapp joining the CIA a handful of years prior to Denied Access), is with him in Barcelona. Still, it’s not all sightseeing and date nights for the happy couple. Then again, nothing about their relationship—which began just after the two met in Zurich, following the “Hamburg Operation,” one of Rapp’s very first missions—has been easy. Or, well, normal, for that matter. And while fans are split on whether or not Greta was a good match for Rapp, the one thing everyone has been asking since Kill Shot hit bookstores thirteen years ago is: what happened to her?
Hang with me for a second . . .
Due to the fact that Flynn wrote his novels out of order, having already become a massive, #1 New York Times bestselling author of nine novels before then going back to tell his hero’s origin story, ironically, Greta herself didn’t technically exist within the Rappverse until 2010. Confusing? Kind of. But essentially, Flynn began his career writing modern-day novels that followed Rapp in his 30s and 40s, before then going back to explore the character’s earlier life in his 20s (with the prequel novels American Assassin and Kill Shot). The thing is, during the modern timeline, set in today’s current world—from the Transfer of Power to Code Red (written by Kyle Mills in 2023)—Greta is never mentioned a single time. The issue, of course, would have been resolved had Flynn been able to finish the prequel trilogy he started, but tragically, he passed away in 2013. And thus, fans have been wondering all this time what, exactly, happened to Greta Ohlmeyer.
No spoilers here, but Bentley tackles that question head-on, and in the end, readers can expect a resolution, though not everyone (including me) will accurately predict the final outcome.
Back to the review . . .
The Cold War may be over, but the battlefield is as dangerous as ever. And with Congress questioning the need for and relevance of the Central Intelligence Agency, especially after a high-profile scandal, the CIA is starting to teeter on the brink of collapse. Things go from bad to worse, though, when a disastrous sting operation in Moscow cripples the agency’s most valuable Russian network, forcing interim director Thomas Stansfield to call in—who else?—Mitch Freaking Rapp, the American assassin himself, to save the day before it’s too late.
For Mitch, though, things are personal. A gruesome threat against Greta forces Rapp into a deadly collision course with the Russian intelligence services, where every move is a gamble and every mistake could mean her death—or his. With the stakes set and the plot primed, Bentley charges into a blistering fusion of spycraft, political intrigue, and pulse-pounding action that finally answers decade-old questions, slamming the door shut on Vince Flynn’s prequel series once and for all.
As a longtime, diehard fan, I was both excited to read this book and torn between not wanting a resolution, knowing that once we got one, it would likely mean the end of seeing Mich Rapp in his 20s. (Though, now that I’m onto Bentley’s shtick, I’m going to officially file my prediction that his next book will be set between Denied Access and Transfer of Power, as a way to explore where Rapp was during the events of Term Limits, and to show exactly how Ryapp came face-to-face with his arch nemeiss, Rafique Aziz. Real fans will know exactly what I’m talking about. That’s the book I would write if I stood in Bentley’s shoes. Just remember you heard it here first!) There’s a ton of fan service, some nicely planted Easter eggs, and, really, nothing not to love about this book. My only real gripe is that this era of Mitch Rapp stories appears to be over, and that’s such a shame, because you’d be hard pressed to find a better one-two punch in print today than American Assassin and Kill Shot, but Bentley serves up a worthy conclusion, and his efforts should be applauded.
My advice? Clear a day or two before you start this one so you can really savor it.
Don Bentley sticks the landing with this one, honoring Vince Flynn’s vision while injecting his own brand of gritty realism and breakneck pacing. Denied Access is more than just the conclusion to the prequel trilogy . . . it’s 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.
(For more of my thoughts on Denied Access, including my public note to Don Betley, and exclusive character profiles on Mitch Rapp and Thomas Stansfield, check out TRBS Substack here.)
Book Details
Author: Don Bentley
Series: Mitch Rapp #24
Pages: 432 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 1668045877
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor in addition to running TRBS. He is the author of FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” LETHAL RANGE, OUT FOR BLOOD, GONE DARK, and TED BELL’S MONARCH. For more information, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and BookBub. For even more content and book news, subscribe to The Real Book Spy Substack!