Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: The Gray Man by Mark Greaney

Mark Greaney co-wrote the last three Jack Ryan books that Tom Clancy authored and then he continued the series by writing four more titles. He created the Gray Man thrillers about a former CIA operative turned international hit man, which so far has 10 books. Netflix has optioned the character for a feature film with Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and Billy Bob Thornton, scheduled for release in 2022.

The Gray Man (Berkley, 2009) introduces Courtland Gentry, whose skill at taking out his assignment and then disappearing is so pronounced he’s considered nearly invisible. After a falling out with the CIA, he left their employ and became a skilled assassin for hire, working through an English security services firm that ostensibly provides bodyguards for high placed executives and consults on organizational security issues. The firm’s less savory services are advertised via word of mouth.

Unfortunately the Gray Man’s latest assignment in the Middle East, successfully executed of course, has caused a ripple in certain circles and pressure is brought to bear on his handlers to give him up. When the team sent to extract him from Iraq turns on him, the Gray Man does not know why but he evades their attempt to restrain him and goes on the run. Then his handler’s family becomes the focus of pressure and Gentry has to decide whether to give himself up or call the kidnappers’ bluff.

The relentless motion ranges from the Middle East to England to France. It reminded me a good deal of The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth (Viking, 1971). Gentry is just as cold-blooded as the Jackal, but where the Jackal took his victims out one at a time, Gentry is far more efficient, killing three or four or five at once. Gentry’s ability to fight wounded defies credibility and the plot is nothing out of the ordinary, but it’s a great piece of nonstop action with some carefully choreographed fight scenes. It will be interesting to see how the story transfers to screen. Fans of Orphan X and similar thrillers are especially among the target audience for these books. Definitely a binge-worthy series.

·         Publisher: ‎ Berkley; Original edition (September 29, 2009)

·         Language: ‎ English

·         Paperback: ‎ 464 pages

·         ISBN-10: ‎ 051514701X

·         ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0515147018 

 

Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2021

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.