Please share some of your background: I originally came to Dubai, UAE from Pakistan and now I study in Arlington, Texas. I am an only child and I am an avid fan of political and action thriller genre in both novels and movies. I am a tactical nut, paying special attention to and appreciating the details of the weaponry and tactics used in a novel or a movie, a skill instilled in me by my Father who served in the Navy. I spend most of my time reading political intrigue/action filled novels like the Mitch Rapp series, which is truly my favorite one. My parents and loved ones support my love for reading, which is more of a passion than a hobby that began with my reading of American Assassin. It was the first novel that rejuvenated my passion for reading and it hasn't declined since then. I am now a proud Mitch Rapp Ambassador, with the sole mission of presenting the legend of Mitch Rapp to the entire world.
When did you start reading Mitch Rapp? I started reading Mitch Rapp when I saw an online news page, announcing the casting and synopsis of American Assassin movie adaption. I was fascinated by the plot and I looked up the Mitch Rapp series which immediately hooked me in from the first sight of the American Assassin book cover, which conveyed a sense of political grittiness coupled with high octane action and I was not wrong. I purchased my copy of American Assassin that very day from the bookstore in Dubai and from that moment on, it was one Mitch Rapp novel after another without any breaks or obstacles. Mitch Rapp became my life essentially. American Assassin is a novel I never get tired of reading, as I have read it more than three times.
Which book is your favorite/why? My favorite book of all time would be a tie between Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn and Order to Kill by Kyle Mills. Both are Mitch Rapp novels written by two brilliant writers and both have a very special place in my heart, even though every single Mitch Rapp novel has a special place in my favorite list above all others. Consent to Kill was not the most action packed Mitch Rapp novel but it showed my icon in a new vulnerable light and a side of him that the bad guys rightfully fear. I admire that side of Mitch Rapp. The feral nature of Rapp at the end of the novel was the highlight. As for Order to Kill, it was fast paced with Mitch Rapp as a beautiful beast, one that the world needs now more than ever. I can't deny myself the pleasure of Mitch Rapp shooting his way in spectacular fashion with utmost realism.
Do you have a favorite character and why? My favorite character is and always will be Mitch Rapp hands down. He is a man with strong moral principles that do not always insist on following the rules if the rules impede the victory of the good guys. I appreciate the darkness within him, brought on by the loss of his loved ones, but furthermore I appreciate his dedication to his missions and pushing ahead despite all the obstacles in his path. He is always willing to put his life on the risk for the greater good, and it doesn't hurt that he is a brilliant gun fighter with all the necessary skills to take down the baddest of his opponents.
If you could be any character in Vince's novels, who would it be and why? If I had the opportunity to be any character, I would choose to be Mitch Rapp. I understand it comes with an unbearable amount of personal loss and darkness, but I have always wanted to explore Mitch's life. Not only is he a certifiable fighter which would quench my thirst for adrenaline filled activities, but it would also get me front row seat to a day in the life of Mitch Rapp, someone I admire and relate to more than anyone else. Mitch Rapp is about as real to me as my own family is.
Is there anything else you would like to share relating to Mitch Rapp, Vince or Kyle? I was very concerned when I read that Kyle Mills had taken over the reins of Vince Flynn after his untimely and upsetting death. Even though The Survivor by Kyle Mills was already out, I was still on Mr. Flynn's novels. But my fear was misplaced as Mr. Mills took the bull by the horns and wrote one of the best Mitch Rapp novels. It did not even feel like Mr. Flynn had left us, his work clearly echoing in Mr Mills' writing with his own panache in it. I owe a great load of gratitude to Mr. Mills for doing a tremendous job and I will always be looking forward to more and more Mitch Rapp.
