Book Review: "The Hard Line" by Mark Greaney

 

Family means different things to different people, but in the Gray Man’s world, family is defined by blood—the blood you share with some and the blood you shed with others.

Court Gentry’s current family operates out of an office park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Ghost Town is an off-the-books direct action team run by Matt Hanley, former CIA Deputy Director. They take on the jobs the Agency needs handled “discretely,” and those jobs are rolling in.

Somewhere at the top of the US Intelligence apparatus, security experts and intelligence operations worldwide are threatened. 

It starts with a blown safe house in Tunis. Then Court himself barely escapes from an ambush in the jungles of Nicaragua. Now key members of the U.S. counterintelligence community are being assassinated in their own neighborhoods. With the feds compromised, it’s up to Court and his team to stop the hit squads. 

But eliminating professional kill teams may be the least of the Gray Man’s worries when he finds himself targeted by the legendary assassin codenamed Whetstone—a man driven out of retirement by a very personal quest to rain down hellfire on Court and everyone he’s ever loved, starting with the father he hasn’t seen in twenty years. - from Netgalley.com 

This eARC was provided by Netgalley.com and I am giving an unbiased review.

This is book number 15 in 'The Gray Man' series by this author. Again, Greaney has surprised me with a story line that he has been able to further on a great character. After the last book, where Court rescued his love, he is now pulled back into Ghost Town with Hanley, his old Sierra Six leader, and some other office operatives. This time there is a threat to US agents/teams around the world as somehow information of their whereabouts are being released and they are being murdered. As Court and his team investigate outside of any US agency protocol to find the leak, they discover more intrigue. 

This has got to be the least action-oriented novel in this series, and concentrates more on intelligence info, deductive reasoning, and how the other World Powers work against each other. I found myself drawn more into the story as the alleged fictional happenings just sound believable in today's current times of crisis. At times it felt like the smokescreens were more than three deep, as they work to unravel the plot.

Kudos to Greaney! Another great read, and I am so hoping for at least a few more stories of Court and his retinue, even if we step out of the government-type intrigue and maybe just something like protecting their lives (and lives of the children). I'm throwing out 4.5 stars, though most sites only let me go to whole numbers.

Book Review: "Midnight Black" by Mark Greaney

 

With his lover imprisoned in a Russian gulag, the Gray Man will stop at nothing to free her in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

A winter sunrise over the great plains of Russia is no cause for celebration. The temperature barely rises above zero, and the guards at Penal Colony IK22 are determined to take their misery out on the prisoners--chief among them, one Zoya Zakharova. Once a master spy for Russian foreign intelligence, then the partner and lover of the Gray Man, she has information the Kremlin wants, and they don't care what they have to do to get it.

But if they think a thousand miles of frozen wasteland and the combined power of the Russian police state is enough to protect them, they don't know the Gray Man. He's coming, and no one's safe. - from Netgalley.com

This eARC was provided by NEtgalley.com and I giving an unbiased review.

This is the fourteenth novel in the 'Gray Man' series by this author, and continues the story a short time after the last novel. Zoya has been "traded" off to the Russians, and is in a  prison facility, and Court wants to get her out, but has no idea where in Russia she is. Original reports were that she was killed, but he holds out with hope. Not knowing where she might be (if she lives) Court is trying anyway he can to get into the country, often making some messes while doing so. Finally, proof is found by the US Gov't, that Zoya is alive, and where she is being held, which happens to be near yet another prison facility that is holding a Russian that can help overthrow the current regime. With the help of the US, and the renegades that stand for a free Russia, Court is able to get in-country.

During all this, Matt Hanley, our lowly CIA guy that was delegated from his lofty position, now in Brazil, gets involved, and brings in Hightower. With a large favor owed to his higher-up replacement, Matt and Hightower end up in the Ukraine, who is launching an attack to cover, and rescue the Russian delegate in the prison. The trick is to get him out, but Court, Zoya, and the delegates wife have to escape the women's prison 17 kilos away, and get to their location before they, too, are able to leave.

Written in the classic 'Gray Man' style, there is plenty of killing going on, and espionage-type things happening at every corner. Greaney brings back into play three of the main characters that have lasted these several novels, and makes it sound convincing. Not sure how much further this series will go, but Greaney does have another series starting that looks pretty good as well.

Book Review: "The Chaos Agent" by Mark Greaney

 Artificial intelligence leads to shockingly real danger for the Gray Man in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

A car accident in Japan.

A drowning in Seoul.

A home invasion in Boston.

Someone is killing the world’s leading experts on robotics and artificial intelligence. Is it a tech company trying to eliminate the competition or is it something even more sinister?

After all, artificial intelligence may be the deadliest battlefield gamechanger since the creation of gunpowder. The first nation to field weapons that can act at the speed of computer commands will rule the battlefield.

It’s an irresistible lure for most, but not for the Gray Man. His quest for a quiet life has led him to Central America where he and his lover, Zoya Zakharova, have assumed new identities. With a list of enemies that  includes billionaires, terrorists, and governments, they need to keep a low profile, but the world’s deadliest assassin can’t expect to hide out forever.

Eventually, they’re tracked down and offered a job by an old acquaintance of Zoya’s. He needs their help extracting a Russian scientist who is on the kill list. They reject the offer, but just being seen with him is enough to put assassins on their trail.

Now, they’re back on the run, but no matter which way they turn, it's clear that whoever's tracking them is always going to be one step ahead. Since flight’s no longer possible, fight is the only option left, and no one fights dirtier than the Gray Man. - from Netgalley.com

I received this eARC from Netgalley.com and providing an unbiased review.

This is the 13th book in the Gray Man series by this author, continuing the exploits of our MC, Court Gentry a.k.a. Sierra Six, as he eludes capture not only from the US agencies, but other world orders, mafias, et cetera. This time around, while trying to enjoy time together with his girl, Zoya, gets interrupted by someone from her past. Long story short, they are drawn into an event to keep anyone from allowing someone to use AI to arm the highest bidder.

I really like this character, and though having another story of his to read, it is starting to get a little old, as is our characters. The storyline is good, and very current to our times, so believable. If there are more books in this series, I would definitely read them, as I hate leaving an open ending, but am starting to think this MC needs retirement.

Book Review: "Burner" by Mark Greaney

 

Court Gentry is caught between the Russian mafia and the CIA in this latest electrifying thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling Gray Man series.

When you kick over a rock, you never know what's going to crawl out. 
 
Alex Velesky is about to discover that the hard way. He's stolen records from the Swiss bank that employs him, thinking that he'll uncover a criminal conspiracy. But he soon finds that he's tapped into the mother lode of corruption. Before he knows it, he's being hunted by everyone from the Russian mafia to the CIA. 
 
Court Gentry and his erstwhile lover, Zoya Zakharova, find themselves on opposites poles when it comes to Velesky. They both want him but for different reasons. 
 
That's a problem for tomorrow. Today they need to keep him and themselves alive. Right now, it's not looking good. - from Netgalley.com

This ARC was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost and I am providing an unbiased review.

This is about book twelve in the series about 'The Gray Man' by this author. In fact, I beleive there is a movie out called that, based on the main character. Anyways, I was happy to delve back into this action series and see what Court has been up to. It wasn't much. Our action-oriented main character was basically sinking some expensive yachts/cruisers of money-hungry Russians, until he is asked to help on a case from his old handler, Brewer. Needless to say, when one of the groups from governmental ABC organizations get involved, things get messed up. They send him after a target to bring in alive, with the information he allegedly possesses. Little known at the time, his previous lover, Zoya, has been hired by a different foreign orginization to do the same thing.

There has been a time difference since the previous novel, and the two lovers have been apart for some time. The splitting wasn't easy, and each has handled it their own way: Court doing stoic, Zoya drowning in the bottle. The author has brought the story more into modern times, as the Ukrainian War with Russia has been going on, and Zoya feels guilt about it - as she is Russian, even though she has played no part in the war. 

So there isn't a lot of time to get all mushy when they run into each other, and Zoya has the target. They decide to work together, and find out that no government agency should have this info, and work to get it released to the world. Well, yes, there is quite a bit of action in the midst of them doing this, and even a nice ending. I don't know if we will see Gray Man come around again or not. It may be time he retired and settled down.