Kyle Mills culminates his journey with Mitch Rapp on a terrific note that feels bittersweet; on one hand Mitch Rapp will undoubtedly be in good hands with Don Bentley, but at the same time Code Red is a stark reminder of how phenomenally Kyle Mills has evolved Rapp over the years with spectacularly- stylish action sequences and spine-chilling stories that tend to make you paranoid and calm at the same time. Code Red is the perfect sendoff for Kyle Mills.
When Damian Losa, world’s most powerful crime lord, calls in his marker with Mitch Rapp, Rapp has no choice but to settle his debt. In conflict with the Syrian government which is producing a highly addictive narcotic with plans to distribute it throughout Europe, Losa’s territory is threatened and who better to send to a war-ravaged country to deal with unsavory characters than CIA’s most formidable assassin. Without knowing the full picture, Rapp ventures into the hostile country and soon finds himself swallowing a bitter pill; the drug is produced by none other than Russia’s asymmetrical warfare unit with side effects that are aimed at destabilizing the Western world in the most horrifying manner. With so much more at stake than Damien’s image, Rapp must find a way to survive long enough to get his team in-country to stop the diabolical plan from bearing fruit. Backstabbing killers, lack of resources, and broken spirits are all in store for Mitch Rapp but he doesn’t need much, does he?
Code Red packs spectacular action as Rapp gets into armed skirmishes all over Syria. The action sequences carry tremendous waves of energy and enthusiasm for fans to lose themselves in the symphony of gunpowder and unbridled violence. The kinetic flow makes the narrative super smooth to cruise through. At the same time, there’s a side to Rapp I wouldn’t have imagined seeing during his mission, a less brutal one. His cover as a lawyer for Damian Losa requires him to play the part of someone for whom breaking necks isn’t the first thought in negotiations. It’s an intriguing development in his character progression as we’ve seen him be slightly vulnerable with his family but his operational demeanor has always been more unforgiving. This time however we get to see some subtlety to his interactions which add a new layer to his character and to the overall narrative as Rapp demonstrates restraint when we’d least expect him to. Kyle Mills skillfully dissuades the notion of this being any sort of weakness, rather it becomes a source of strength and courage for him and those who follow him into the hellfire of warfare. Fret not, there’s still a great amount of carnage that Rapp causes, with one particular scene seeing him enter a room through the window in a badass roll before he snaps a headshot with his suppressed pistol. Like I said, badass.
I’m quite emotional about this being Kyle Mills’ final Mitch Rapp thriller, but I’m truly grateful for him ending his run on such a high note and leaving Rapp in a truly exciting place for Don Bentley to continue from. Code Red speaks to all that readers have come to revere about Mitch Rapp as a man, hero, warrior, and a kickass inspiration. Not only is the story timely in the motivations of both good and evil characters but it’s also charming enough to break away from straightforward plot devices to give readers a distinctive reading experience with an adventure that entertains as much as it educates. Every time I’ve read a Mitch Rapp book by Kyle Mills, it has been an instant favorite immediately and Code Red does it once again.
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