{{short description|American novelist}} {{Infobox writer | image = | caption = | alt = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1974|08|25}} | birth_place = Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | children = | occupation = Writer | period = | genre = Thriller, war fiction | notableworks = {{Plainlist| * ''Without Sanction'' * ''Tom Clancy: Target Acquired'' * ''Capture or Kill'' }} | website = {{URL|http://donbentleybooks.com}} }}
'''Don Bentley''' (born August 25, 1974) is an American novelist. He is known for the Jack Ryan Jr. novels, which are part of the Ryanverse featuring characters created by Tom Clancy, as well as his own Matt Drake series. He is currently the writer of the Mitch Rapp series of novels, originally by Vince Flynn.
==Early life== Bentley graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Bio |url=https://donbentleybooks.com/bio/ |website=DonBentleyBooks.com |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> He also graduated from Seton Hill University with a master's degree in fine arts.<ref name="bio" />
==Career== Bentley served as a United States Army Apache helicopter pilot while stationed in South Korea, Germany, and Texas.<ref name="bio" /> He also served in Afghanistan.<ref name="stars and stripes">{{cite web |last1=McElhiney |first1=Brian |title=Episode 5: How Don Bentley's Army and FBI experience inspired his thriller novels |url=https://www.stripes.com/multimedia/podcasts/military_matters/2023-06-27/don-bentley-military-thriller-clancy-10548794.html |website=Stars and Stripes |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> After his military service, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a special agent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Don Bentley, Former Apache Pilot, SWAT Member, and Author of 'Capture or Kill' |url=https://sofrep.com/sofrep-radio/episode-696-don-bentley-former-apache-pilot-swat-member-and-author-of-capture-or-kill/ |website=Sofrep.com |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>
Bentley released his debut novel, ''Without Sanction'', in 2020. Featuring the character Matt Drake, it was based on Bentley's own experiences in the military and the FBI.<ref name="stars and stripes" /> It was followed by ''The Outside Man'' (2021), ''Hostile Intent'' (2022), and ''Forgotten War'' (2023).
Bentley was approached by Tom Clancy’s longtime editor Tom Colgan about writing the Jack Ryan Jr. series of novels, succeeding Mike Maden. His debut, ''Tom Clancy: Target Acquired'', was released in 2021.<ref name="stars and stripes" /> It was followed by ''Tom Clancy: Zero Hour'' (2022), ''Tom Clancy: Flash Point'', and ''Tom Clancy: Weapons Grade'' (both 2023). In 2024, Bentley exited the series and was succeeded by M. P. Woodward.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steck |first1=Ryan |title=TOM CLANCY SHADOW STATE: M.P. Woodward's First Jack Ryan Thriller Due Out this August |url=https://therealbookspy.com/2024/02/15/tom-clancy-shadow-state-m-p-woodwards-first-jack-ryan-thriller-due-out-this-august/ |website=The Real Book Spy |access-date=11 July 2025}}</ref>
Bentley took over for Kyle Mills as the author of the Mitch Rapp series of novels, originally written by Vince Flynn. His debut, ''Capture or Kill'', was released in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Jon |title=Don Bentley talks about his first Mitch Rapp thriller, “Capture or Kill” |url=https://www.wect.com/2024/08/30/don-bentley-talks-about-his-first-mitch-rapp-thriller-capture-or-kill/ |website=WECT |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> It was followed by ''Denied Access'' (2025).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steck |first1=Ryan |title=DENIED ACCESS: Don Bentley to Finish Vince Flynn's Prequel Trilogy with New Book this Fall |url=https://therealbookspy.com/2025/03/08/denied-access-don-bentley-to-finish-vince-flynns-prequel-trilogy-with-new-book-this-fall/ |website=The Real Book Spy |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>
==Bibliography==
===Matt Drake series=== *''Without Sanction'' (2020) *''The Outside Man'' (2021) *''Hostile Intent'' (2022) *''Forgotten War'' (2023)
===Jack Ryan Jr. series=== Featuring characters created by Tom Clancy *''Tom Clancy: Target Acquired'' (2021) *''Tom Clancy: Zero Hour'' (2022) *''Tom Clancy: Flash Point'' (2023) *''Tom Clancy: Weapons Grade'' (2023)
===Mitch Rapp series=== Featuring characters created by Vince Flynn *''Capture or Kill'' (2024) *''Denied Access'' (2025)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://donbentleybooks.com Official Website]
{{Ryanverse}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bentley, Don}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American novelists Category:American male novelists Category:American military writers Category:American thriller writers Category:Techno-thriller writers Category:21st-century American male writers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)