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Gray Man #1
The Gray Man
Courtland Gentry is a good man. But he’s a great assassin.
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always.
But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness.
But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always.
But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness.
But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
456 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 29, 2009
About the author
Mark Greaney
71 books5,170 followersMark Greaney has a degree in International Relations and Political Science. In researching The Gray Man series he traveled to ten countries and trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close range combative tactics.
Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM
Email Mark at MarkGreaneyBooks@gmail.com
Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM
Email Mark at MarkGreaneyBooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,796 reviews
February 22, 2016
Are you a Jane Austen fan? Are you looking for a calm introspective book that will be like a peaceful walk by a gentle stream, maybe a literary novel beloved of the critics?
Then move on and have some Earl Grey with the other sissies. Men and women who like action only here.
Yes, I gave this 5 stars. Why? Because I like it. While at times I like a deep thoughtful novel or a philosophical exploration of life I also enjoy a good page turner full of gunfire, explosions, daring do and heroics (though the heroics here are of the very violent type).
I finished this a couple of nights ago (and the next day I went to Audible and downloaded the second of this series). I was so involved in it I hated to stop so I stayed up late with Court Gentry (The Gray Man) to complete his mission. The only downside to this? It took me hours the next morning to get the smell of gunpowder, sweat and blood out of the house. The clothes I had on still smell of cordite.
Court Gentry is the Gray Man, possibly the most able assassin in the world. He's an independent operator. He works through a "handler" a "contractor" and he only takes contracts that he approves of. He only kills those whom he believes need killing. The name Gray Man has made it into underworld mythology, his name is whispered and comes up every time a difficult of seemingly impossible hit takes place.
And only a few people in the world know that "The Gray Man" is also Court Gentry. Gentry is an American, he was with the CIA. But he was "burned" and then an "SOS" (Shoot On Sight) order was issued. He's now a man who can't go home, can't rest in any one place too long.
And he doesn't know why.
Since then he's used his talents and training to make a living and "contribute to a better world" the only way he knows how.
So, what's Court gentry like...who is he? Think Jack Ryan's Patriotism and sense of honor meets the talents and abilities of Mitch Rapp... You a graphic novel/comics fan? Think Captain America meets The Punisher.
This thing is a page turning thrill ride of mature brain candy... I like it.
The novel sets up the character of Gentry and we begin to get to know him. No the story isn't deep and some will not enjoy it for it's very simplicity but now and then a straight forward tale of action and adventure is something I like. For what it is this is top of the line and if it's what you're looking for then I think you'll not only like it but be tempted to read it from first page to last in a single sitting. I have both novel 2 (which I'm 3/4 through now) and novel 3 waiting. If the action stays true I'll most likely snatch up each of Mark Greaney's novels as they come out.
5 page turning action adventure brain candy mental junk food stars.
Then move on and have some Earl Grey with the other sissies. Men and women who like action only here.
Yes, I gave this 5 stars. Why? Because I like it. While at times I like a deep thoughtful novel or a philosophical exploration of life I also enjoy a good page turner full of gunfire, explosions, daring do and heroics (though the heroics here are of the very violent type).
I finished this a couple of nights ago (and the next day I went to Audible and downloaded the second of this series). I was so involved in it I hated to stop so I stayed up late with Court Gentry (The Gray Man) to complete his mission. The only downside to this? It took me hours the next morning to get the smell of gunpowder, sweat and blood out of the house. The clothes I had on still smell of cordite.
Court Gentry is the Gray Man, possibly the most able assassin in the world. He's an independent operator. He works through a "handler" a "contractor" and he only takes contracts that he approves of. He only kills those whom he believes need killing. The name Gray Man has made it into underworld mythology, his name is whispered and comes up every time a difficult of seemingly impossible hit takes place.
And only a few people in the world know that "The Gray Man" is also Court Gentry. Gentry is an American, he was with the CIA. But he was "burned" and then an "SOS" (Shoot On Sight) order was issued. He's now a man who can't go home, can't rest in any one place too long.
And he doesn't know why.
Since then he's used his talents and training to make a living and "contribute to a better world" the only way he knows how.
So, what's Court gentry like...who is he? Think Jack Ryan's Patriotism and sense of honor meets the talents and abilities of Mitch Rapp... You a graphic novel/comics fan? Think Captain America meets The Punisher.
This thing is a page turning thrill ride of mature brain candy... I like it.
The novel sets up the character of Gentry and we begin to get to know him. No the story isn't deep and some will not enjoy it for it's very simplicity but now and then a straight forward tale of action and adventure is something I like. For what it is this is top of the line and if it's what you're looking for then I think you'll not only like it but be tempted to read it from first page to last in a single sitting. I have both novel 2 (which I'm 3/4 through now) and novel 3 waiting. If the action stays true I'll most likely snatch up each of Mark Greaney's novels as they come out.
5 page turning action adventure brain candy mental junk food stars.
November 3, 2010
From the author’s bio: “Mark Greaney has a degree in international relations and political science and is pursuing his masters in intelligence studies with a concentration in criminal intelligence. He speaks Spanish and German. In researching, The Gray Man he trained extensively alongside military and law enforcement personnel in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine and close-range combative tactics.”
Two possibilities spring to mind after reading that. Either Greaney is the biggest liar and fraud since James Frey, or he is fully capable of tracking down and killing anyone who gives his book a bad review. I’m going to play it safe and give this one a thumbs up.
If Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s characters in Mr. & Mrs. Smith had a baby boy, and his godfathers were Rambo and Jason Bourne, I’m pretty sure that he would have grown up to be Courtland Gentry. Gentry is a hit man/ mercenary known as the Gray Man in intelligence circles who only targets the worst of international criminals if the price is right. A former CIA operative who was burned, he now does dirty jobs for Sir Donald Fitzroy’s private security firm.
Gentry has just pulled off a hit in the Mid-East and is in the midst of escaping through Iraq when Fitzroy is approached by a lawyer named Lloyd who represents a powerful international corporation. It turns out that the Gray Man’s latest target was the brother of an African despot that Lloyd’s corporation needs to complete a deal worth billions, but the dictator’s price is the death of the Gentry. Fitzroy’s family is threatened, and he’s blackmailed into betraying the Gray Man.
But Gentry is remarkably hard to kill and Lloyd’s corporation brings in their own security expert to flush him out. Exhausted and injured, Gentry is hounded and herded across Europe by numerous international hit teams brought in with the promise of a giant payday for whoever finally kills the Gray Man.
This obviously isn’t going to be winning a National Book Award, but if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced action-adventure story with a stone cold bad-ass fighting his way across the Mid-East and Europe, then there’s a lot of fun to be had with this book. Greaney manages to bring an arsenal’s worth of modern weapons into the story without letting it devolve into gun pornography. There’s a lot of action clichés here, but the story has enough momentum to make you forgive them.
There’s your good review. Please don’t kill me, Mr. Greaney…
Two possibilities spring to mind after reading that. Either Greaney is the biggest liar and fraud since James Frey, or he is fully capable of tracking down and killing anyone who gives his book a bad review. I’m going to play it safe and give this one a thumbs up.
If Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s characters in Mr. & Mrs. Smith had a baby boy, and his godfathers were Rambo and Jason Bourne, I’m pretty sure that he would have grown up to be Courtland Gentry. Gentry is a hit man/ mercenary known as the Gray Man in intelligence circles who only targets the worst of international criminals if the price is right. A former CIA operative who was burned, he now does dirty jobs for Sir Donald Fitzroy’s private security firm.
Gentry has just pulled off a hit in the Mid-East and is in the midst of escaping through Iraq when Fitzroy is approached by a lawyer named Lloyd who represents a powerful international corporation. It turns out that the Gray Man’s latest target was the brother of an African despot that Lloyd’s corporation needs to complete a deal worth billions, but the dictator’s price is the death of the Gentry. Fitzroy’s family is threatened, and he’s blackmailed into betraying the Gray Man.
But Gentry is remarkably hard to kill and Lloyd’s corporation brings in their own security expert to flush him out. Exhausted and injured, Gentry is hounded and herded across Europe by numerous international hit teams brought in with the promise of a giant payday for whoever finally kills the Gray Man.
This obviously isn’t going to be winning a National Book Award, but if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced action-adventure story with a stone cold bad-ass fighting his way across the Mid-East and Europe, then there’s a lot of fun to be had with this book. Greaney manages to bring an arsenal’s worth of modern weapons into the story without letting it devolve into gun pornography. There’s a lot of action clichés here, but the story has enough momentum to make you forgive them.
There’s your good review. Please don’t kill me, Mr. Greaney…
June 28, 2022
I have had The Grey Man on my kindle for seems like years & decided to give this series a go , but it’s just not for me, it’s action to the max from beginning to end the writing is good & precise but alquida is not the type of thriller it still gets five stars as the character of Courtland Gentry is well written & enjoyable he is one bad ass assassin who is also known as The Grey Man he is the worlds accomplished & feared assassin once he is given nothing & no one gets in his way! I am disappointed I didn’t enjoy this more, I love David Baldaccitype thrillers I am not saying this is a bad series… it isn’t but at least I have it a go 5 OTT ⭐️
February 17, 2022
This was action packed Audiobook by Mark Greaney In the Grey Man Court Gently also known as the Grey man is a wanted man apparently he killed the Nigerian President brother. And now he is pissed and want him dead. Llyod Hansen former CIA now member of the shady French conglomerate subcontracts assassinations teams from half different countries to kill Court Gentley. Jay Strinder was deadly narrator
September 18, 2020
This is one of the best action thriller series out there. Somewhat over the top, but nail biting exciting action from cover to cover. I have been reading them out of order, but since this book is underdevelopment for Netflix, I am more determine than ever to finish them all. Starring as the Gray Man
Court Gentry, aka Gray Man is a wanted man. Apparently he had killed some guy and that some guy's brother- a Nigerian President is royally pissed and wants him dead.
Lloyd Hansen, former CIA now member of a shady French conglomerate wants a lucrative Nigerian oil and gas contract. Unfortunately, the only way to get it is to deliver the Gray Man's head. Hansen subcontracted assassination teams from half a dozen countries to capture and kill Gentry. Not an easy task!
Court Gentry, aka Gray Man is a wanted man. Apparently he had killed some guy and that some guy's brother- a Nigerian President is royally pissed and wants him dead.
Lloyd Hansen, former CIA now member of a shady French conglomerate wants a lucrative Nigerian oil and gas contract. Unfortunately, the only way to get it is to deliver the Gray Man's head. Hansen subcontracted assassination teams from half a dozen countries to capture and kill Gentry. Not an easy task!
April 14, 2013
As the star rating indicates, I did not like this book. But you might. I'll try to explain why...
The story is pretty much your run-of-the-mill work of action escapism - full of holes but you're probably not going to be looking too closely. As I understand it, the author went to some trouble to ensure accuracy about weapons and battlefield medicine and I had no issues with that aspect of the book.
Unfortunately, while I expect (and enjoy) a certain level of "cheese" in action movies, I look for an action book to be as technically well-written as the book on the shelf next to it. This is where another person may enjoy this book much more than I did.
The writing was really bad. This likely reflects more on the editor than the author, though, or the budget the publisher allowed for editing. Still, it was distracting. The sentence structure was awkward throughout and the dialog was completely unbelievable. Early on in the novel I found myself wondering if the author had ever met a real live British person before writing his British characters.
The "hoo-rah, America is awesome" attitude also prevails throughout, with foreign characters periodically acknowledging the superiority of the American way of doing things. It gives an idea of the intended audience.
If you can look past the awkward prose, stilted dialog, unbelievable story and blatant American ethnocentrism, you might really be able to enjoy this book. :) And that's not a bad thing, because like a classic 80's Arnie movie, it's got its charm.
I think with the right editor this could have been a very different book - tighten up the technical aspects of the writing and you could really have something. Unfortunately, I could not get past that and for myself found it a real chore to finally reach the end.
The story is pretty much your run-of-the-mill work of action escapism - full of holes but you're probably not going to be looking too closely. As I understand it, the author went to some trouble to ensure accuracy about weapons and battlefield medicine and I had no issues with that aspect of the book.
Unfortunately, while I expect (and enjoy) a certain level of "cheese" in action movies, I look for an action book to be as technically well-written as the book on the shelf next to it. This is where another person may enjoy this book much more than I did.
The writing was really bad. This likely reflects more on the editor than the author, though, or the budget the publisher allowed for editing. Still, it was distracting. The sentence structure was awkward throughout and the dialog was completely unbelievable. Early on in the novel I found myself wondering if the author had ever met a real live British person before writing his British characters.
The "hoo-rah, America is awesome" attitude also prevails throughout, with foreign characters periodically acknowledging the superiority of the American way of doing things. It gives an idea of the intended audience.
If you can look past the awkward prose, stilted dialog, unbelievable story and blatant American ethnocentrism, you might really be able to enjoy this book. :) And that's not a bad thing, because like a classic 80's Arnie movie, it's got its charm.
I think with the right editor this could have been a very different book - tighten up the technical aspects of the writing and you could really have something. Unfortunately, I could not get past that and for myself found it a real chore to finally reach the end.
January 15, 2021
Reread on audiobook completed in November 2020
It's been a while since I read this, so it was a good opportunity to listen to this again on audiobook. The narrator is good. He has a very formal way of reading, which takes some getting used to. I'm already starting to have favorites, *cough*Scott Brick*cough*, so my bar is kind of high. Nevertheless, he wasn't distracting and I did like the way he inhabited the role of Court Gentry.
Even on reread, I am very impressed with Gentry, aka The Gray Man. I like that even as a killer, he has a strong sense of integrity, but he's extremely lethal. The odds are against him for most of the book, but he manages to pull through based on his well-honed skills, sense of preservation, and a little bit of luck and help along the way. The villains are a bit less developed than I would like, although I wouldn't necessarily call them cardboard. The action scenes are fantastic. I'd definitely keep Court in my top ten of badass heroes for posterity.
**********************************************************
The Gray Man is an action-packed, suspenseful ride that I didn't want to put down. Court Gentry is the kind of hero I am always looking for. He is resourceful, driven to get the job down, and a stone cold survivor. As I read this book, I was thinking, "Really? Did that just happen? I'd be so dead now!" Of course, I wouldn't want a wimpy heroine like myself in Court's shoes. Which is why I read these books, because I love seeing a tough character get himself out of some highly sticky situations that I'd be so dead meat in. And Mark Greaney through Court Gentry more than delivers on that front.
The storyline had me holding my breath, and muttering things I probably shouldn't be saying under my breath. Court is placed in a very tough situation, with many people out to kill him, and limited resources. The fun of this story is being along with Court on the ride as he faces all these top level death-bringers and gets himself hurt again and again, but manages to do some serious damage to the bad guys. I didn't enjoy him getting hurt so bad, but I did enjoy seeing this Energizer bunny keep taking his licks and keep on ticking. I love these kinds of characters. Although Court is a series bad*ss, he's also very moral in his own way. He believes in doing the right thing, and only kills bad people or to protect himself. I liked that even in the desperate situation he faces, Court doesn't lose sight of what he values. He's definitely the kind of guy I'd want on my side.
For readers who enjoy an adrenaline-infused story, but one that also engages the brain, I'd recommend this novel. The whys and wherefores take this story to higher level. I am officially adding Court Gentry to my roster of certified Grade A Kickbutt Artists, along with Scarecrow Shane Schofield, Joe Pike, The GhostWalkers, The Prakenskiis, Anne Stuart's Ice heroes and Jack Reacher. Believe me, that's a huge compliment!
It's been a while since I read this, so it was a good opportunity to listen to this again on audiobook. The narrator is good. He has a very formal way of reading, which takes some getting used to. I'm already starting to have favorites, *cough*Scott Brick*cough*, so my bar is kind of high. Nevertheless, he wasn't distracting and I did like the way he inhabited the role of Court Gentry.
Even on reread, I am very impressed with Gentry, aka The Gray Man. I like that even as a killer, he has a strong sense of integrity, but he's extremely lethal. The odds are against him for most of the book, but he manages to pull through based on his well-honed skills, sense of preservation, and a little bit of luck and help along the way. The villains are a bit less developed than I would like, although I wouldn't necessarily call them cardboard. The action scenes are fantastic. I'd definitely keep Court in my top ten of badass heroes for posterity.
**********************************************************
The Gray Man is an action-packed, suspenseful ride that I didn't want to put down. Court Gentry is the kind of hero I am always looking for. He is resourceful, driven to get the job down, and a stone cold survivor. As I read this book, I was thinking, "Really? Did that just happen? I'd be so dead now!" Of course, I wouldn't want a wimpy heroine like myself in Court's shoes. Which is why I read these books, because I love seeing a tough character get himself out of some highly sticky situations that I'd be so dead meat in. And Mark Greaney through Court Gentry more than delivers on that front.
The storyline had me holding my breath, and muttering things I probably shouldn't be saying under my breath. Court is placed in a very tough situation, with many people out to kill him, and limited resources. The fun of this story is being along with Court on the ride as he faces all these top level death-bringers and gets himself hurt again and again, but manages to do some serious damage to the bad guys. I didn't enjoy him getting hurt so bad, but I did enjoy seeing this Energizer bunny keep taking his licks and keep on ticking. I love these kinds of characters. Although Court is a series bad*ss, he's also very moral in his own way. He believes in doing the right thing, and only kills bad people or to protect himself. I liked that even in the desperate situation he faces, Court doesn't lose sight of what he values. He's definitely the kind of guy I'd want on my side.
For readers who enjoy an adrenaline-infused story, but one that also engages the brain, I'd recommend this novel. The whys and wherefores take this story to higher level. I am officially adding Court Gentry to my roster of certified Grade A Kickbutt Artists, along with Scarecrow Shane Schofield, Joe Pike, The GhostWalkers, The Prakenskiis, Anne Stuart's Ice heroes and Jack Reacher. Believe me, that's a huge compliment!
May 31, 2020
Book 1 of The Gray Man series published 2009.
If you like your thrillers action packed and I mean action packed then this is the book for you. But for me the book had one major flaw that flaw being that it stretched reality so far that it became farcical.
Courtland Gentry ‘AKA the Gray Man’ is the worlds most accomplished and feared assassins. Once given an assignment nothing gets in his way or stops him.
When he is told that two young girls, girls that he knows and cares for, are being held hostage somewhere near Paris he knows what needs to be done. The reason for the girls’ abduction is to lure Gentry to them so that he can be terminated with malice.
Gentry has two overriding problems, 1 a narrow time frame and 2 an army of hit men lining his route to Paris and each one has an itch to be the one that gets the Gray Man.
Along the way he is shot, his feet are lacerated, his ribs are broken, his wrist almost broken, he has a close encounter with death in the river Seine and last but not least he is stabbed several time causing him to bleed copiously. But as I said earlier, nothing gets in his way or stops him. By this point I’m on auto pilot and the good news is the end is in sight.
I can see that it would have an appeal for some but alas I’m not one of them.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
If you like your thrillers action packed and I mean action packed then this is the book for you. But for me the book had one major flaw that flaw being that it stretched reality so far that it became farcical.
Courtland Gentry ‘AKA the Gray Man’ is the worlds most accomplished and feared assassins. Once given an assignment nothing gets in his way or stops him.
When he is told that two young girls, girls that he knows and cares for, are being held hostage somewhere near Paris he knows what needs to be done. The reason for the girls’ abduction is to lure Gentry to them so that he can be terminated with malice.
Gentry has two overriding problems, 1 a narrow time frame and 2 an army of hit men lining his route to Paris and each one has an itch to be the one that gets the Gray Man.
Along the way he is shot, his feet are lacerated, his ribs are broken, his wrist almost broken, he has a close encounter with death in the river Seine and last but not least he is stabbed several time causing him to bleed copiously. But as I said earlier, nothing gets in his way or stops him. By this point I’m on auto pilot and the good news is the end is in sight.
I can see that it would have an appeal for some but alas I’m not one of them.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
August 22, 2020
I enjoyed the first of "The Gray Man," series thanks much in part to my good friend Terence' strong recommendations. This story is a hero with a heart, unscrupulous bad guys and few needless innocent deaths. 9 of 10 stars
January 1, 2018
An action packed read. The Gray Man is a "bad ass."
![Profile Image for Terence M - [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1712357414i/6658001._UY200_CR4,0,200,200_.jpg)
October 25, 2021
New Review - Second Listen/Read - 10 Dec 2020
4.5/5.0 ^ to 5.0 Stars - “I Really Liked It, a Lot!”
Audiobook - 10:39 hours - Narrator Jay Snyder
Revised, explanatory review of re-listen to come.
25/10/2021 - Well, obviously I have forgotten to write an "explanatory review" covering my re-listening of "#1, The Gray Man", so I will simply make the comment that, after listening to "The Gray Man Series, #2 to #8", and enjoying them all thoroughly, I decided to review my 3-Stars rating for "#1, The Gray Man" and I am very glad that I did!
This is a very fine audiobook that I re-rated at 4.5/5.0 and please don't ask me why I had rounded the 4.5 down to 4.0, because I cannot remember the reason, and whatever it was it doesn't matter, because I am rounding my 4.5 UP to 5.0!
Original Review:
Audiobook - 10:39 hours - Narrator Jay Snyder
2.5 ^ to 3.0 out of 5.0 stars - Read/Listened to in 2014
My first book for 2018 and it was just so-so. Mark Greaney went out of his way in the early stages of the book to tell us that the protagonist, "Court Gentry" aka "The Gray Man", is the most capable, most feared, most competent assassin in the world - absolutely no other assassin even comes close - The Gray Man is simply the best. He is also a former CIA hitman who has been 'burned' and now designated 'SOS', 'Shoot On Sight', by his former employer. AND, these days he works for another former super-spy and now Court only assassinates the baddest of the bad, the worst of the worst, the most criminal of the criminals, the most egregious of the egregious - you get what I'm saying here, don't you?
I concede that the story moves at a fair pace, but the plot, if I can call it that, goes everywhere and nowhere. Because of one of Court's previous killings, the bad guys have been tasked with catching and killing Court, and removing his head and handing it on a platter to *African/Arabic-sounding-name* who has retained the services of the baddies, who have access to unlimited numbers of other baddies from all over the world, plus unlimited number of "watchers" (they had special name but I have forgotten it) keeping a lookout for the elusive Gray Man.
Although Court suffers many gunshot wounds, bashings, knife wounds, bashings and being sutured by a veterinarian's nurse, he survives to fight the final battle. Ultimately there are lots of crash-bang-wallop-bang-bang and the baddies are dead, some of the goodies survive and Court lives to fight another day. The ending seems quite sudden and a little unsatisfactory until I realised that this is but the first of seven books in The Gray Man series with an eighth due for publication this year.
I usually quite like books from the "Lone Assassin" genre, but this one didn't really grab me, hence the 2.5 stars rounded to 3.0. Nonetheless, I have already loaded #2 "On Target" and #3 "Ballistic" onto my iPod as I am happy to give "The Gray Man" a second and maybe a third chance to live up to the reputation crafted by Mark Greaney in the early stages of this book.
4.5/5.0 ^ to 5.0 Stars - “I Really Liked It, a Lot!”
Audiobook - 10:39 hours - Narrator Jay Snyder
Revised, explanatory review of re-listen to come.
25/10/2021 - Well, obviously I have forgotten to write an "explanatory review" covering my re-listening of "#1, The Gray Man", so I will simply make the comment that, after listening to "The Gray Man Series, #2 to #8", and enjoying them all thoroughly, I decided to review my 3-Stars rating for "#1, The Gray Man" and I am very glad that I did!
This is a very fine audiobook that I re-rated at 4.5/5.0 and please don't ask me why I had rounded the 4.5 down to 4.0, because I cannot remember the reason, and whatever it was it doesn't matter, because I am rounding my 4.5 UP to 5.0!
Original Review:
Audiobook - 10:39 hours - Narrator Jay Snyder
2.5 ^ to 3.0 out of 5.0 stars - Read/Listened to in 2014
My first book for 2018 and it was just so-so. Mark Greaney went out of his way in the early stages of the book to tell us that the protagonist, "Court Gentry" aka "The Gray Man", is the most capable, most feared, most competent assassin in the world - absolutely no other assassin even comes close - The Gray Man is simply the best. He is also a former CIA hitman who has been 'burned' and now designated 'SOS', 'Shoot On Sight', by his former employer. AND, these days he works for another former super-spy and now Court only assassinates the baddest of the bad, the worst of the worst, the most criminal of the criminals, the most egregious of the egregious - you get what I'm saying here, don't you?
I concede that the story moves at a fair pace, but the plot, if I can call it that, goes everywhere and nowhere. Because of one of Court's previous killings, the bad guys have been tasked with catching and killing Court, and removing his head and handing it on a platter to *African/Arabic-sounding-name* who has retained the services of the baddies, who have access to unlimited numbers of other baddies from all over the world, plus unlimited number of "watchers" (they had special name but I have forgotten it) keeping a lookout for the elusive Gray Man.
Although Court suffers many gunshot wounds, bashings, knife wounds, bashings and being sutured by a veterinarian's nurse, he survives to fight the final battle. Ultimately there are lots of crash-bang-wallop-bang-bang and the baddies are dead, some of the goodies survive and Court lives to fight another day. The ending seems quite sudden and a little unsatisfactory until I realised that this is but the first of seven books in The Gray Man series with an eighth due for publication this year.
I usually quite like books from the "Lone Assassin" genre, but this one didn't really grab me, hence the 2.5 stars rounded to 3.0. Nonetheless, I have already loaded #2 "On Target" and #3 "Ballistic" onto my iPod as I am happy to give "The Gray Man" a second and maybe a third chance to live up to the reputation crafted by Mark Greaney in the early stages of this book.
May 15, 2020
The times call for a hero, and whom better than the indestructible Court Gentry who braves multiple injuries (that would have killed a lesser man multiple times) to save twin girls from certain death. We meet the hired assassin when he has just completed his most recent mission. Unfortunately, the victim’s brother wants revenge—specifically Court’s head delivered to him—and he has the resources to hire killers from all over the world to do so. Suspend belief, overlook the sinkhole-sized holes in the plot, and cheer on our bonafide hero as he travels from Syria/Iraq through to Prague, Zurich, Paris and beyond while encountering highly trained kill teams.
September 29, 2016
**I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.**
As I sit here contemplating what I should put in this review my mind keeps throwing out “50 SHADES OF GRAY MAN” like it is the funniest damn thing in the world. I type a sentence and there it is:
This was a ridiculous and unbelievable action-packed read. “50 SHADES OF GRAY MAN”
Ugh. I can be so immature ALL of the time.
So hopefully getting that out in the open will clear it from the main mental screen…here goes:
I would usually turn away from this type of book but stepping out of my reading zone is what I’m all about right now. It’s not that I am searching for something new or that I am tired of the old, just decided it was time to open some windows to let some different thoughts in.
The pacing was perfect so I really struggled with putting the book down when my attention was required elsewhere. I imagine it is extremely difficult for an author to master the chapter formula of number of pages plus content equals edge of your seat reading. So double thumbs up to this guy for making it look easy. I mean seriously, this isn’t even close to my comfort zone and I couldn’t put the damn thing down.
All of the characters had a generic cardboard feel to them. I only really liked one (ahem…MR. 50 SHADES OF GRAY MAN) but the above mentioned formula was magic enough, so not caring for any of the rest quickly became a no matter issue. Which was another amazing balls moment for me because I am more of a character driven reader. I like to be able to relate to them or actually give a flying French door that they exist. So in addition to the two thumbs up I already gave, here is two big toes!
DISCLAIMER: This review is most definitely skewed to the positive side because I have not read much of anything from this genre. If you have recommendations regarding other books like this that I should invest my time in, then by all means share. Though, the odds of me actually reading them is pretty low which might make for future awkward convos if you ever ask.
As I sit here contemplating what I should put in this review my mind keeps throwing out “50 SHADES OF GRAY MAN” like it is the funniest damn thing in the world. I type a sentence and there it is:
This was a ridiculous and unbelievable action-packed read. “50 SHADES OF GRAY MAN”
Ugh. I can be so immature ALL of the time.
So hopefully getting that out in the open will clear it from the main mental screen…here goes:
I would usually turn away from this type of book but stepping out of my reading zone is what I’m all about right now. It’s not that I am searching for something new or that I am tired of the old, just decided it was time to open some windows to let some different thoughts in.
The pacing was perfect so I really struggled with putting the book down when my attention was required elsewhere. I imagine it is extremely difficult for an author to master the chapter formula of number of pages plus content equals edge of your seat reading. So double thumbs up to this guy for making it look easy. I mean seriously, this isn’t even close to my comfort zone and I couldn’t put the damn thing down.
All of the characters had a generic cardboard feel to them. I only really liked one (ahem…MR. 50 SHADES OF GRAY MAN) but the above mentioned formula was magic enough, so not caring for any of the rest quickly became a no matter issue. Which was another amazing balls moment for me because I am more of a character driven reader. I like to be able to relate to them or actually give a flying French door that they exist. So in addition to the two thumbs up I already gave, here is two big toes!
DISCLAIMER: This review is most definitely skewed to the positive side because I have not read much of anything from this genre. If you have recommendations regarding other books like this that I should invest my time in, then by all means share. Though, the odds of me actually reading them is pretty low which might make for future awkward convos if you ever ask.
July 27, 2022
This is non-stop action and you really have to suspend belief. I'm sure the movie will be better with hottie Ryan Gosling in the lead. Update: The movie is great. It deviates from the book.
December 2, 2014
Trash, garbage, waste, feces... It doesn't get much worse than this book. Ethnocentric-murderporn for Americans pretty much sums it up. The writing is atrocious. The dialog isn't just wooden, it's barkingly bad. The only thing this writer gets right are weapon descriptions. I just wish he stuck to his Guns n' Ammo reviews instead of excreting a novel. I really, really, really shouldn't trust the star ratings of books on GoodReads. I mean what am I thinking... Twilight makes the crowd-sourced top 100 books of all time here. That should pretty much tell me everything. Sadly, I enjoy thrillers and action-adventure. I can take action movies when they are self-consciously over the top and suffused with humor, if they lack nuance and intelligence. At least a Stallone or Arnie flick doesn't take itself seriously. This turd of a book makes me wonder what the hell everyone else who rated this 5 stars actually read. Ugh.
August 2, 2022
There have been a veritable truckload of espionage/ black ops thrillers out there over the last fifty years, each one more implausible than the last and each one featuring a virtually indestructible hero. So of course Mark Greaney thinks he will do them all one better and create a hero so awesomely formidable that not one, but a dozen kill teams from across the world will all go after him at once in a contest with a twenty million dollar prize. Indeed, the Gray Man survives the battlefield across Europe like no one could possibly realistically do, but you know what, it is written in such a believable manner that with all the comicbook violence circling around him, you as the reader buy into it. In short, the Gray Man, now a twelve book series and full length movie loosely based on this novel, is a rollicking great thrill ride that you just can’t put down even if you already watched the movie.
June 9, 2018
The "likeable" assassin! I found myself rushing through the pages cheering for the "Gray Man!" A perfect book while traveling because it kept me awake and smilingly entertained.
August 22, 2021
I add looked forward to reading this book for some time and, having finished it, I can unequivocally say that it was an enormous disappoint. The plot was interesting and Greaney could have done quite a bit with it. The writing was mediocre, at best - phrasing and sentence construction was simplistic, words were, from time to time, misused and the dialogue was often comic bookish.
The two greatest problems with this book, were, to my mind, the preposterousness of many of the things that happened and the author's inconsistency. For example, in the beginning of the book, the hero, the "gray man" was described as a very serious, highly focussed man with extraordinary physical skills. The author stated that the gray man spoke little and never without a good reason. Then, through the book our hero continued to jabber on with the other characters to an extent that they may have found annoying.
The gray man (the character, not the book) also made many mistakes from a tactical point of view yet he had been described as a tactical genius who was totally focussed on the task at hand. In one case, he spent time with a mentor from many years ago and the two continued to "chat" while numerous bad guys with vicious intent were within a hair's breath of catching our hero. Given the circumstances, the prolonged chat was an absurdity.
This was Greaney's first book on his own - previously, he had written in support of well known authors, - so he certainly has the opportunity to redeem himself although there are many other books that I will read before pulling another "Gray Man" story from the shelf.
The two greatest problems with this book, were, to my mind, the preposterousness of many of the things that happened and the author's inconsistency. For example, in the beginning of the book, the hero, the "gray man" was described as a very serious, highly focussed man with extraordinary physical skills. The author stated that the gray man spoke little and never without a good reason. Then, through the book our hero continued to jabber on with the other characters to an extent that they may have found annoying.
The gray man (the character, not the book) also made many mistakes from a tactical point of view yet he had been described as a tactical genius who was totally focussed on the task at hand. In one case, he spent time with a mentor from many years ago and the two continued to "chat" while numerous bad guys with vicious intent were within a hair's breath of catching our hero. Given the circumstances, the prolonged chat was an absurdity.
This was Greaney's first book on his own - previously, he had written in support of well known authors, - so he certainly has the opportunity to redeem himself although there are many other books that I will read before pulling another "Gray Man" story from the shelf.
October 16, 2021
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο (όπως και τα υπόλοιπα της σειράς) το είχα σε μια λίστα κατασκοπευτικών θρίλερ/περιπετειών που θα ήθελα κάποια στιγμή να διαβάσω στα ελληνικά, και να που οι εκδόσεις Anubis το έφεραν στη χώρα μας, έστω απλά με αφορμή την επικείμενη ομότιτλη ταινία του Netflix, σε σκηνοθεσία των αδερφών Ρούσο. Λοιπόν, ήταν ένα περιπετειώδες θρίλερ που το απόλαυσα από την πρώτη μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα, μιας και κατάφερε να με καθηλώσει από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος με την τρελή δράση, τα φοβερά σκηνικά και την αγωνιώδη ατμόσφαιρα. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι σε μερικά σημεία τείνει λίγο προς την υπερβολή με όλο τον χαμό που γίνεται, ενώ δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ο συγγραφέας έδωσε ιδιαίτερο βάθος στον πρωταγωνιστή του (αν και ίσως αυτό συμβεί σε κάποιο από τα επόμενα βιβλία), όπως και να 'χει όμως, το κατευχαριστήθηκα, ήταν ακριβώς όπως το περίμενα με βάση την περίληψη της ιστορίας και τ��ς διάφορες κριτικές αναγνωστών που διάβασα πριν το πιάσω στα χέρια μου. Αν μη τι άλλο, οι λάτρεις του είδους θα περάσουν ιδιαίτερα ευχάριστα την ώρα τους, ενώ όσοι αντιμετωπίζουν reader's block, με αυτό το βιβλίο πιθανότατα θα το ξεπεράσουν σε λίγα λεπτά. Μακάρι να μεταφραστούν και κάποια από τα επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς.
March 29, 2023
If you liked the reasonably fast/furious pace of the epic spy novel Beyond Enkription in #TheBurlingtonFiles series, you'll love Anthony Russo's The Gray Man (if you can stand its relentless pace) but do note that Beyond Enkription is a fact based novel full of real characters!
March 30, 2020
5 Stars (Awesome)
I've been searching for an excellent cia-action-thriller to replace the amazing 'I am pilgrim' which I've read almost 4 years ago- and still waiting on the sequel. I bumped into the 'Gray Man' as a chance encounter with my 'prime kindle' membership, and thought of giving the first 50 pages a go.
This book rocked the world, and I was instantly hooked from the first 20 pages!
The Gray Man, known as 'Gentry' is a 'blacked list' ex-CIA operative who has to fend for himself after being 'double-crossed' by the CIA. He now does individual 'kill' jobs to mostly eratdicate dictators, killers, rapist and douchebags around the world!
The action was incredible, the prose fluid and ever building on the crescendo of Gentry's story. The uninterrupted sequence of events in the first 3 chapters left me tachycardic, and wanting more. Gentry is dark, but deep inside a good guy who's been wronged and now survives job to job. For this style of book there's excellent characterization, and there's lots more to Gentry than the eye can see.
The weaponry, and fight sequences are almost cinematic, and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a more 'modern' 'Bourne' agent.
I've been searching for an excellent cia-action-thriller to replace the amazing 'I am pilgrim' which I've read almost 4 years ago- and still waiting on the sequel. I bumped into the 'Gray Man' as a chance encounter with my 'prime kindle' membership, and thought of giving the first 50 pages a go.
This book rocked the world, and I was instantly hooked from the first 20 pages!
The Gray Man, known as 'Gentry' is a 'blacked list' ex-CIA operative who has to fend for himself after being 'double-crossed' by the CIA. He now does individual 'kill' jobs to mostly eratdicate dictators, killers, rapist and douchebags around the world!
The action was incredible, the prose fluid and ever building on the crescendo of Gentry's story. The uninterrupted sequence of events in the first 3 chapters left me tachycardic, and wanting more. Gentry is dark, but deep inside a good guy who's been wronged and now survives job to job. For this style of book there's excellent characterization, and there's lots more to Gentry than the eye can see.
The weaponry, and fight sequences are almost cinematic, and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a more 'modern' 'Bourne' agent.
December 31, 2013
The biggest problem was cardboard characters.
Nonstop action. A dozen teams of top notch assassins are trying to find and kill one man Court Gentry, the Gray Man. Court is attacked, fights, wins, and escapes, and continues on his journey. Each time Court has some new body part injured. The whole book is this. I enjoyed the action scenes. I enjoyed the suspense. But when I stopped reading to do other things, I did not feel eager to get back to it.
It lacked multidimensional characters and relationship development. Nobody changes, grows, learns. The main bad guy is Lloyd a former CIA employee. His dialogue and actions - think cartoon villain with a mustache tying the lady to the train tracks. One dimensional. Everyone was one dimensional. This was not a rich reading experience. It might be appropriate as a movie script.
The best part was the beginning in Iraq, before the main plot kicks in.
The narrator Jay Snyder was very good except for his little girl voice. It was artificial and weird.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 10 hrs and 44 mins. Swearing language: strong. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day various European and Mid-East locations. Book copyright: 2009. Genre: suspense thriller.
Nonstop action. A dozen teams of top notch assassins are trying to find and kill one man Court Gentry, the Gray Man. Court is attacked, fights, wins, and escapes, and continues on his journey. Each time Court has some new body part injured. The whole book is this. I enjoyed the action scenes. I enjoyed the suspense. But when I stopped reading to do other things, I did not feel eager to get back to it.
It lacked multidimensional characters and relationship development. Nobody changes, grows, learns. The main bad guy is Lloyd a former CIA employee. His dialogue and actions - think cartoon villain with a mustache tying the lady to the train tracks. One dimensional. Everyone was one dimensional. This was not a rich reading experience. It might be appropriate as a movie script.
The best part was the beginning in Iraq, before the main plot kicks in.
The narrator Jay Snyder was very good except for his little girl voice. It was artificial and weird.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 10 hrs and 44 mins. Swearing language: strong. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day various European and Mid-East locations. Book copyright: 2009. Genre: suspense thriller.
January 3, 2020
Re-Read - December 30, 2019
Just as amazing the second time around.
I don't know where to start with this one, I feel like I'm still trying to catch my breath!
The Gray Man was one of the best action-suspense-Assasin books I've read. As the action was moving along and Gentry was mowing down TEAMS of top tier assassins; I kept playing the BadAss VS BadAss game in my head. Court Gentry VS Jack Bauer or Court Gentry VS Jason Bourne - sweet lord, Gentry never ripped a guy's jugular out with his teeth ala Jack but jeez louise I think he might kick both the Bs' asses!
Back to the story, this is a non-stop action ride and you can not believe the number of lives and luck Gentry has. This was filled with great action scenes and one over the top super creep. Gentry's focused has insane skills and will only kill if the other guy deserves it - He's a principled assassin that you don't feel bad rooting for despite the number of bodies lying in his wake.
I can't wait to read his next story!
Just as amazing the second time around.
I don't know where to start with this one, I feel like I'm still trying to catch my breath!
The Gray Man was one of the best action-suspense-Assasin books I've read. As the action was moving along and Gentry was mowing down TEAMS of top tier assassins; I kept playing the BadAss VS BadAss game in my head. Court Gentry VS Jack Bauer or Court Gentry VS Jason Bourne - sweet lord, Gentry never ripped a guy's jugular out with his teeth ala Jack but jeez louise I think he might kick both the Bs' asses!
Back to the story, this is a non-stop action ride and you can not believe the number of lives and luck Gentry has. This was filled with great action scenes and one over the top super creep. Gentry's focused has insane skills and will only kill if the other guy deserves it - He's a principled assassin that you don't feel bad rooting for despite the number of bodies lying in his wake.
I can't wait to read his next story!
November 13, 2021
3,5 / 5
Gray man için köpeksiz John Wick, hafızasını kaybetmemiş Jason Bourne, ekibi olmayan Ethan Hunt diyebilir miyiz 😏
Kitabın ilk sayfasından sonuna kadar heyecan, aksiyon bitmedi. Ancak ben bu kadar vurdu, kırdı, silahlar vs yi kitapta okumaktan ziyade filmlerde seyretmeyi seviyorum sanırım. Ama serinin devamı TR de çıkarsa alır okurum 🤗
Gray man için köpeksiz John Wick, hafızasını kaybetmemiş Jason Bourne, ekibi olmayan Ethan Hunt diyebilir miyiz 😏
Kitabın ilk sayfasından sonuna kadar heyecan, aksiyon bitmedi. Ancak ben bu kadar vurdu, kırdı, silahlar vs yi kitapta okumaktan ziyade filmlerde seyretmeyi seviyorum sanırım. Ama serinin devamı TR de çıkarsa alır okurum 🤗
May 17, 2018
Action packed engaging thriller. A page turner that kept me reading non-stop.
The Gray Man is a unique character. If you like Jack Reacher, then you will The Gray Man.
4.5/5
The Gray Man is a unique character. If you like Jack Reacher, then you will The Gray Man.
4.5/5
August 3, 2022
This has a somewhat disappointing start, with very blah, workmanlike writing. Think "Harlequin espionage." Three times in just the first page we are reminded that the driver is "blood-soaked" or "blood-stained" - ok! we get it! (Number of times the word "blood" is used, just in the first chapter: 9. Nine times, we are told how blood-covered everyone is. And this isn't even a zombie book! This book needed zombies.)
Ooooh .... so badass! I tremble at your badassery!
Then it gets worse (still in Chapter 1):
Well, well, well. Someone doesn't think much of Al Jazeera news, and enjoys belittling the Islam faith. I mean, don't get me wrong: I'm an American, I hate terrorists, and I think all religions are ridiculous. But this was too much.
And then there are plain old confusing passages like this one:
Plot twist: Sir Donald and Fitzroy are the same person.. No, really. His full name is Sir Donald Fitzroy. This dual-naming carries on through the entire section. So ... wtf? Was Greany unable to choose which name he wanted to use?? I mean, I know mixing it up through the book keeps things fresh and non-repetive.... but this was in the same sentence. Dude. No. Just, no.
And Greaney's knowledge of international whatever is lacking. For example, regarding Nigeria:
Uh, no, Nigeria is not the most corrupt country in the world. It's not even in the top twenty five, not now in 2017 and not in 2009 when this was published. C'mon.
Badass American Lloyd puts a hit out on our badass boy Gentry. His tech guy has a nose ring, a pony tail, and heavy rimmed glasses. Nice, way to lazily use stereotypes. Lloyd gives a stirring speech to his teams of prospective assassins:
So you just know Gentry is going to kill him.
I couldn't finish. I slogged through 101 pages (the first eleven chapters) and then threw in the towel. I did skip ahead to see if I was correct about Lloyd's demise. ()
I'm so sorry that I convinced my library to buy this (but glad I didn't waste my own money on it). No one should read this trash.
ETA (8/2/22): I just watched the Netflix movie with Ryan Gosling & Chris Evans and it was fantastic!!! It was barely even recognizable as the same story.
Through the big scope he saw body parts spin through the air as another huge bullet found the midsection of a masked gunman.
This was simple revenge, nothing more. Gentry knew his actions altered little in the scope of things, apart from changing a few sons of bitches from solids into liquids.
Ooooh .... so badass! I tremble at your badassery!
Then it gets worse (still in Chapter 1):
The camera crew from Al Jazeera had been smuggled over the border from Syria a week earlier with the sole purpose of chronicling an Al Qaeda victory in northern Iraq. The videographer, the audio technician, and the reporter/ producer had been moved along an AQ route, had slept in AQ safe houses alongside the AQ cell, and they’d filmed the launch of the missile, the impact with the Chinook, and the resulting fireball in the sky.
Now they recorded the ritualistic decapitation of an already dead American soldier. A middle-aged man with handwritten name tape affixed to his body armor that read, “Phillips—Mississippi National Guard.” Not one of the camera crew spoke English, but they all agreed they had clearly just recorded the destruction of an elite unit of CIA commandos.
The customary praise of Allah began with the dancing of the fighters and the firing of the weapons into the air.
Well, well, well. Someone doesn't think much of Al Jazeera news, and enjoys belittling the Islam faith. I mean, don't get me wrong: I'm an American, I hate terrorists, and I think all religions are ridiculous. But this was too much.
And then there are plain old confusing passages like this one:
Fitzroy first noticed the handsome young man’s suit. This was a local custom in London. Identify the tailor, and know the man. It was a Huntsman, a Savile Row shop that Sir Donald recognized, and it told Fitzroy much about his guest. Sir Donald was a Norton & Sons man himself, dapper but a tad less businessy.
Plot twist: Sir Donald and Fitzroy are the same person.. No, really. His full name is Sir Donald Fitzroy. This dual-naming carries on through the entire section. So ... wtf? Was Greany unable to choose which name he wanted to use?? I mean, I know mixing it up through the book keeps things fresh and non-repetive.... but this was in the same sentence. Dude. No. Just, no.
And Greaney's knowledge of international whatever is lacking. For example, regarding Nigeria:
“But you are dealing with the most corrupt nation on earth.”
“Third most corrupt, actually, but your point is valid,” said Lloyd.
Uh, no, Nigeria is not the most corrupt country in the world. It's not even in the top twenty five, not now in 2017 and not in 2009 when this was published. C'mon.
Badass American Lloyd puts a hit out on our badass boy Gentry. His tech guy has a nose ring, a pony tail, and heavy rimmed glasses. Nice, way to lazily use stereotypes. Lloyd gives a stirring speech to his teams of prospective assassins:
“Let me finish by saying this. Do what it takes to get the job done. I could not possibly care less about collateral damage. If you can’t stomach a few dead kids or dead pensioners or dead puppy dogs, then don’t get on my goddamn airplane. Your job is to kill Court Gentry. Do that, and you will make millions for your organization and garner the thanks of the Central Intelligence Agency. Fail, and you will most likely die by his hand. You would be well served to avoid worrying about anything else.
“Any questions?”
So you just know Gentry is going to kill him.
I couldn't finish. I slogged through 101 pages (the first eleven chapters) and then threw in the towel. I did skip ahead to see if I was correct about Lloyd's demise. ()
I'm so sorry that I convinced my library to buy this (but glad I didn't waste my own money on it). No one should read this trash.
ETA (8/2/22): I just watched the Netflix movie with Ryan Gosling & Chris Evans and it was fantastic!!! It was barely even recognizable as the same story.
April 1, 2022
7/26/2020: My husband and I planned a cross-country road trip and The Gray Man on Audible was the perfect Companion. Jay Snyder is a wonderful narrator and really brought the story to life. A great way to pass the time in a long road trip.
WOW! That was a very fast-paced action-thriller. Court Gentry, also known as the Gray Man, is an absolute bad a$$! He is the perfect blend of Mitch Rapp, Dewey Andres and McGuyver(the original). While there were some flaws (this is the first book in the series), they are easily overlooked. I found this so compelling that I spent all extra moments reading a few pages...I just couldn't wait to see how Court was going to work it all out. The ending was a little scmaltzy, but it was perfect. I can't wait to pick up the next one!
WOW! That was a very fast-paced action-thriller. Court Gentry, also known as the Gray Man, is an absolute bad a$$! He is the perfect blend of Mitch Rapp, Dewey Andres and McGuyver(the original). While there were some flaws (this is the first book in the series), they are easily overlooked. I found this so compelling that I spent all extra moments reading a few pages...I just couldn't wait to see how Court was going to work it all out. The ending was a little scmaltzy, but it was perfect. I can't wait to pick up the next one!
November 23, 2015
This is one of those bad-ass super spy books. Up to about 80% of the way through, it was pretty good. The good guy was super tough, but mortal in a super focused, almost robotic way. Still, he got hurt, tired, & still clawed his way through the obstacles. At the 80% mark, it just got stupid, so far over the top that it became a comic book. The very end was pretty good, although the lead in to a series was obvious. I won't bother reading any more.
June 14, 2021
Having finished the Orphan X series,I was looking for a replacement until the next installment arrives. The Gray Man filled the bill nicely. One bad mutha taking down team after team of bad actors. Not as much humour as the Nowhere Man and not as big and mean as Jack Reacher, but he does the job. The body count was staggering, but I did not keep track of the numbers. He incurred a lot of damage. I wonder how effective he is when he's really healthy.
December 11, 2018
Everybody knows James Bond who is always good for a bit of chaos and some general mayhem, then there is Jason Bourne a assassin who lost his memory but can still be as awesome as any. These two fellows were the originals in their genres. Both Fleming and Ludlum are owed so much.
Anyhow enter Court Gentry also known as a former CIA special enforcer who has been disowned and is working for somebody else when he kills a Nigerian business man, whose brother does not accept that kindly. He has a major international cooperation who wants the gas rights by their tail and wants them to kill the killer by the nam the Gray Man. So quite a lot of corporate power and money is aimed at killing this infamous killer. And in doing so they rather go for the overkill by inviting several international kill teams to take down this single man who is used to be an unknown entity were it not that the man in charge hunting him has his CIA files and opens a world of hurt for this single assassin who needs to cross Europe in order to save his boss' family.
With Bond, Bourne you can easily suspend your disbelieve and be actually inpressed with the skill of their trade. With the Gray man in his forst tale you feel at times that he must be family of a Terminator (the one from the second movie who is "kinder" killing machine). This man gets betrayed and hurt beyond any reasonable doubt. He is like the Craig Bond form Skyfall who get shot and fall from a train crossing a high bridge and still the bugger is not death.
The story while well written and being high octane does lose its believe-ability about halfway through the book. You can applaud the writer skill in entertaining that you keep reading way beyond any reasonable suspension of disbelieve. It is a fun an unrealistic adventure that keeps you reading. He makes the whole cadre of spies/assassins in literature look like absolute wimps.
It is the kind of stuff you enjoy reading when you are traveling from work to your home easy to lay down and pick up whenever you want. Even if I rate quite few writers in this genre who write far better and believable characters a lot higher this book delivers a devilish sense of fun so therefor I do rate it 3 stars for sheer entertainment. I am sure that Sly Stallone would have taken the part to cinema had he been younger.
Anyhow enter Court Gentry also known as a former CIA special enforcer who has been disowned and is working for somebody else when he kills a Nigerian business man, whose brother does not accept that kindly. He has a major international cooperation who wants the gas rights by their tail and wants them to kill the killer by the nam the Gray Man. So quite a lot of corporate power and money is aimed at killing this infamous killer. And in doing so they rather go for the overkill by inviting several international kill teams to take down this single man who is used to be an unknown entity were it not that the man in charge hunting him has his CIA files and opens a world of hurt for this single assassin who needs to cross Europe in order to save his boss' family.
With Bond, Bourne you can easily suspend your disbelieve and be actually inpressed with the skill of their trade. With the Gray man in his forst tale you feel at times that he must be family of a Terminator (the one from the second movie who is "kinder" killing machine). This man gets betrayed and hurt beyond any reasonable doubt. He is like the Craig Bond form Skyfall who get shot and fall from a train crossing a high bridge and still the bugger is not death.
The story while well written and being high octane does lose its believe-ability about halfway through the book. You can applaud the writer skill in entertaining that you keep reading way beyond any reasonable suspension of disbelieve. It is a fun an unrealistic adventure that keeps you reading. He makes the whole cadre of spies/assassins in literature look like absolute wimps.
It is the kind of stuff you enjoy reading when you are traveling from work to your home easy to lay down and pick up whenever you want. Even if I rate quite few writers in this genre who write far better and believable characters a lot higher this book delivers a devilish sense of fun so therefor I do rate it 3 stars for sheer entertainment. I am sure that Sly Stallone would have taken the part to cinema had he been younger.
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