The more I discovered about Don Bentley, the more I appreciated him as an author and patriot. Some say you should never meet your heroes, meaning you shouldn’t examine the people you respect or admire too closely. Still, Bentley is the genuine article: an accomplished author, combat veteran, and a dedicated former FBI agent. A close inspection of his personal history and his capability as a writer of captivating stories will only broaden your appreciation for his service and craft.
Bentley has taken on a daunting task by stepping into the universe of Mitch Rapp and the colossal legacy of Vince Flynn. From the outset, he understood the scale of the work placed before him. Most writers would balk at the challenge of bearing forward the work of their most highly regarded author. But Bentley is no stranger to daunting challenges and has produced a book that not just fits in the Vince Flynn arc but is crafted into the warp and woof of Flynn’s universe.
Capture or Kill is as much a creation of the spirit of Flynn as Term Limits.
Bentley has succeeded in unlocking the essence of Mitch Rapp and creating living, breathing entities from the same creative matter that Flynn made animate. Craft at this level of execution doesn’t come without a great deal of work. Bentley told Townhall, “I’ve read almost nothing but Vince’s books over and over again while writing this book.” Flynn’s catalog contains fourteen novels, and Bentley went to great lengths to completely assimilate all of Flynn’s books in preparation for Capture or Kill. “I immersed myself in his books, in his world over and over again, because I wanted to saturate my subconscious with how he describes Mitch. The way he writes Mitch. The way his characters interact. Because that’s what you’re trying to do as a writer — to capture the spirit of the person who created that universe.”
One aspect of Bentley’s creativity that makes Capture or Kill work so well is his smart decision to place the setting of this story in 2011, just before the elimination of Osama bin Laden. It’s a book that skillfully fills a gap in Rapp’s history. And I love how Capture or Kill creates a sense of nostalgia, a classic of Mitch Rapp lore. Bentley told Townhall, “Vince Flynn is my favorite, ever, author…In my mind, Vince and Afghanistan have always been connected…Capture or Kill, at its heart, is an answer to the question that Vince Flynn fans have been asking for the last thirteen years, which is ‘What role did Mitch Rapp play in the mission to capture or kill Osama bin Laden?’”
Bentley is a war on terror veteran; he served his country honorably in Afghanistan at the stick of an Apache attack helicopter. He began his military career by conquering an extremely challenging flight school, in which fifty percent of all trainees are recycled at some point. The Apache attack helicopter is one of the most complex rotary wing platforms fielded by the Army, and Bentley mastered the challenging flight, navigation, and combat systems.
His first deployment was to Korea, which prepared him as a leader and honed his skills as an aviator in advance of the combat he’d face in Afghanistan as an Air Cavalry troop commander. No mere desk jockey, Bentley led fellow gunship pilots into combat, and participated in the fateful Red Wings operation that tested the resilience of his spirit in the forge of personal tragedy.
Capture or Kill is a destination location within the thriller topography, among the other lofty summits created by Fleming, le Carrie, Forsyth, Ludlum, Clancy, Hunter, Hayes, Flynn, Mills, Greaney, Thor, and Carr.
Perhaps the highest praise I can formulate for Capture or Kill is to say that any fan of Vince Flynn will be convinced that the story flowed from his long, inert pen. All you must do is follow Mitch Rapp as he infiltrates subterranean caverns in the remote and forbidden Spin Ghar mountains. Evil is his prey, and Bentley is adept at ricocheting AK-47 rounds off the page and into your favorite reading space. You’ll probably catch yourself ducking a time or two. Capture or Kill is great fun, great writing, and a masterful tribute to an author who continues to mean a great deal to his fans.
Bentley is not just a talented author but also an adjunct professor at the Seton Hill Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program. Recently, Bentley sat down with New York Times best-selling author Jack Carr for Carr’s Book Club Podcast. During the fascinating conversation about the writing of Capture or Kill, Bentley shared some of the best writing advice I’ve heard. As is true of most good advice, it was succinct. Bentley told Carr that if you (as an aspiring author) can’t tell me where you’d place your novel among other authors in your genre, you haven’t done enough research of that genre.
Capture or Kill is easily placed with the novels of great thriller writers today. More importantly, Bentley’s latest book would be picked up by Flynn and placed among his treasured works — proudly giving place to the handiwork of a true successor.
You can find my complete podcast interview with Don Bentley at The First Draft Podcast. Capture or Kill is available today from your favorite bookseller!