The Gray Man

By: Mark Greaney

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a Netflix film starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas

The first Gray Man novel from number one New York Times best-selling author Mark Greaney.

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. 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....

Get ready for white-knuckled listening. Greaney's debut novel introduces the enigmatic and elusive Court Gentry, a former CIA operative and a legendary hired gun. With a terrifying ability to vaporize targets and a strict moral code, he stalks the gray margins of the world, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible, then fading away. When his government and former employers turn on him, there is no safehouse to run to, no way to lie low. In a constant state of escape and pursuit, Gentry tears through the Middle East and Europe in a riveting life-or-death race against time.

©2009 Mark Greaney (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Through the carnage, Gentry remains an intriguing protagonist with his own moral code. Comparisons will be made to Jason Bourne, but the Gray Man is his own character. The ending screams for a sequel, but it will be difficult to maintain the intensity level of this impressive debut." (Booklist)

"Hard, fast, and unflinching – exactly what a thriller should be." (Lee Child)

"Bourne for the new millennium." (James Rollins)

Utterly unbelievable, but very good...

If there is an espionage counterpart to Peter Benchley's "Jaws", this would seem to be it. The author serves up an unpretentious, fast-paced thriller featuring Court Gentry, a white knight assassin with more lives than Rasputin. Don't look for a lot of nuance here. But if you are going for a page turner, capably executed from beginning to end, this is it...

Maybe bias but I'm a fan...

This was the first novel I'd read from this author. I'd just listened to all 60 whiny wheedling ear-bleeding hours of Atlas Shrugged, so hearing Snyder's manly voice, narrating for an impossible super-hero who uses current colloquialisms like '*sshat' and 'sh*tstorm' was extremely refreshing. If you're expecting a story where the protagonist needs a Dora the Explorer band-aid, and a group hug after every bruise he receives, you may want to pass this book by. The Gray Man is definitely the epitome of the a-hole hero that walks away from explosions without looking back.

I play high impact sports and work at a gym, and can say honestly that I'll take a handful of big bruises and cuts over muscle soreness any day, so it always bothers me when the men in a book can't seem to suck it up. A very fun read, very fast pace, I highly recommend.

Good story

Well narrated, realistic enough enjoyable book.
4.5 stars for end of part1
looking forward to part 2

Exciting and ridiculous at the same time

It was action-filled and entertaining. It did go WAY over the top - especially at the end where Court has been shot, beaten, injured, stabbed, and drugged and yet still manages to kill everyone. That... and the main bad guy was beyond ridiculous... after a guy you're hunting kills 40 people and yet doesn't show up on time you're gonna "punish" him because "he didn't try hard enough"... what on earth is that?

The premise is a bit contrived too - why go through all the hassle of getting 12 "hit teams" to kill one guy for the cost of 35 plus million dollars when you could have hired the guy you're trying to kill to take out the guy who wants him killed for practically free? Just doesn't make much sense, really.

If you accept the ridiculousness of the story, it is quite entertaining... and passes the time without making you have to think about anything. The narration is good. The only books I've read that I could compare this to are the Alex Hawke series books.

An new elite espionage thriller author emerges

This is a book I listened to in 2010 and failed to write a review.

There are many espionage thriller writers, and a few great ones. In his first Gray Man/Court Gentry Mark Greaney demonstrated he would join the elite group immediately. The Gray Man is a 5 star thriller. There are now 5 novels in the series and I have previously written reviews of Books 4 and 5 in the Gray Man series.

People who enjoy fiction are able to at least partially suspend disbelief as some other reviewers have pointed out.

Jay Snyder does a wonderful job of narration. I love this series!

The Action is Non-stop

Overall this is an engaging book and one that was very addictive. A few times I had to suspend my disbelief but I still enjoyed the action.

Move Over Mitch, Dirk & Jack .....

Court Gentry is THE BEST NEW Action Hero I've met in months. He is a combo of Mitch Rapp, Dirk Pitt and Jack Reacher.... YES, THAT GOOD! The author "jumps the shark" a bit with some of the dilemmas he gets Court in&out of; but that's OK.
I downloaded Greaney's 2nd book in the series as soon as I finished this first one. Keep'em coming Mr Greaney.

UNREAL

To be the meanest most lethal man in his field, Gray Man is more lucky than trained!

The Gray Man Novels are the Best

If you could sum up The Gray Man in three words, what would they be?

Relentless, Intent, Caring

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Absolutely

What about Jay Snyder’s performance did you like?

Yes, once I like a narrator I look for more books by them. Jay Snyder is among my favorites. Easy listening and gripping when leading into action. Makes a story come alive.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I wish there were more Gray Man novels. I would buy all of them

Good action book

Easy to read. Lots of action. A bit immature but good all the same. Worth a credit. :)