Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
New York : Jove Books, c2009.
Description
"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...."--p.[4] of cover.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bridget3420
Gentry is known as The Gray Man because of the stealth and sleekness of a trained assassin. When he's on the job, he's invisible. The victims are dead before they know what hit them. Gentry is a good soldier, he only kills people who deserve to die.
He only has one real friend, Fitzroy who knows
A roller coaster of a thrill ride. This is a book that keeps you on your toes and doesn't let up.
He only has one real friend, Fitzroy who knows
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everything about Gentry. When he almost dies after a job, he finds out that he is alone in this world and has no one to turn to. Will his skills keep him alive or will an even more skilled killer be sent after him?A roller coaster of a thrill ride. This is a book that keeps you on your toes and doesn't let up.
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LibraryThing member PLReader
Unmitigated violence from start to finish with an implausible and fatuous plot!. A complete letdown from Mark Greaney's writing in collaboration with Tom Clancy. Skip it!
LibraryThing member barlow304
A real page-turner, this novel follows the adventures and challenges of the Gray Man, possibly the best assassin in the world. In this first of a series, a malevolent corporate hack is determined to prove to an African dictator that the Gray Man is dead. To lure the assassin into a trap, the
The novel is exciting, but the villains actually have deeper, better described characterizations than the Gray Man himself. And even those character descriptions are pretty shallow.
Recommended for readers who like fast-paced thrillers with lots of action.
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corporate hack kidnaps the family of the Gray Man's mentor and handler and installs them in a heavily guarded chateau. At the same time, the corporate head of security hires 10 or so teams of killers to hunt down the Gray Man before he reaches the chateau.The novel is exciting, but the villains actually have deeper, better described characterizations than the Gray Man himself. And even those character descriptions are pretty shallow.
Recommended for readers who like fast-paced thrillers with lots of action.
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LibraryThing member crazybatcow
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 like 40 people and
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member leducjm
Mark Greaney's first book in the Gray Man series is a fast paced thrill ride. A character driven plot that will hook you from the first page and keep you reading late into the night. I couldn't wait to read the the other two books in the series.
LibraryThing member Perrywilson
This was a free listen on Audible. Narrated really well by Jay Snyder, it was a compelling read (listen). I was surprised that I liked the story, not because I don’t enjoy a good thriller, but because the free ones can be really bad.
The author created a world of strong characters and vital
Can The Gray Man trust anything other than his instincts?
If you like fast paced thrillers that span a continent, you’ll enjoy this one.
The author created a world of strong characters and vital
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stakes. A corporate hit man, a corrupt CEO and a young girl’s courage, take us through a nightmarish world of greed, betrayal, and loyalty. The gray man only wants to be left alone, but his old boss asks for one more job. Is the job real? Is it a set up?Can The Gray Man trust anything other than his instincts?
If you like fast paced thrillers that span a continent, you’ll enjoy this one.
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LibraryThing member bgknighton
Good read, interesting characters, the government is not the enemy now, multi-national companies are. They have the money, so they have the power, and government people can be bought. But Gentry is a man of honor.....
LibraryThing member jlsimon7
What other book might you compare The Gray Man to and why?
It's not so much another book as another character that constantly comes to mind. The protagonist, Court Gentry in my mind looks exactly like Richard Dean Anderson, for those who are to young to know, he is the main character in a 1980s-90s
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The most moving moment in the book was when Court goes to visit his mentor Maurice (an alias but we are never given his real name). Maurice shows true courage in the defense of Court, it gives hope when so much has been lost. It is a turning point for the book.
Any additional comments?
This is an exciting book that sees Court a burned ex-CIA agent fighting first for his own life, then for the lives of others. He faces danger and chaos to rescue children of a man who betrayed him. It is a story of loyalty, friendship concurring evil. This is my favorite kind of suspense novel.
It's not so much another book as another character that constantly comes to mind. The protagonist, Court Gentry in my mind looks exactly like Richard Dean Anderson, for those who are to young to know, he is the main character in a 1980s-90s
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tv show called MacGyver. MacGyver is known to get himself out of all kinds of sticky situations with spit, chewing gum, and paper clips. Anyway, Court is a lot like MacGyver.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The most moving moment in the book was when Court goes to visit his mentor Maurice (an alias but we are never given his real name). Maurice shows true courage in the defense of Court, it gives hope when so much has been lost. It is a turning point for the book.
Any additional comments?
This is an exciting book that sees Court a burned ex-CIA agent fighting first for his own life, then for the lives of others. He faces danger and chaos to rescue children of a man who betrayed him. It is a story of loyalty, friendship concurring evil. This is my favorite kind of suspense novel.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
Despite some terrible writing, I found this surprisingly gripping. The interior dialogue of the main character was appallingly bad but the action was good (even when improbable). I will just add that I think the idea of an assassin with a heart of gold even more unlikely than that of the prostitute
Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration, especially the various accents. The speed and pacing of the narration was also very good.
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with one!Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration, especially the various accents. The speed and pacing of the narration was also very good.
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LibraryThing member RistoZ
Enough fast pace at least :)
LibraryThing member susandennis
This was a most satisfying book. An assassin is hunted by the world's second best assassins. I would hate the movie but the book was great. A lot of McGyvering and maneuvering with precious little emotion or sentiment. And, at the risk of spoiling, an extremely satisfying end. Also interestingly...
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I generally gravitate towards series which on the upside provide a life for characters you love but, on the downside, necessitate that the lead character stay alive to live in another book. This turns out to be book 1 of a series but I did not find that out until I finished it. So I had no clue as to the fate of the Gray Man. A true twist for me! Show Less
LibraryThing member antao
I enjoyed these twelve in previous summers:
"Trill" - Jinty Clasp
"100 Films to Watch While You Die" (collection) - Faber vs Faber
"Voyage around My Cat" - Rod Nil
"My Best Griefs"- Janet Beeftrip
"The Soviet Postal Service 1911-1913" - Lord Simon Livid II
"But it’s Harder For me" - Babs Bostrich
"How
"Science Christ" - Bob Warfab
"My Child My Child Oh No My Child" - Joan Policy
"Time with My Cattle" - Arthur Pitt
"How to Look Like You Are Reading On the Beach" - Susan St. Ambulance
"Eat and You Will Live" - Florida Castle
"Be frugal this summer: How to Live on £4 a Day" (ironically, it cost £12.95).
“How you too can be beach-body ready” – Tomboy Teeter
If you think you'd sooner walk around with a soiled bottom than grant any of the above-mentioned the accolade of being used as toilet paper, you are probably right! I had planned on reading the rollickingly Court Gentry novels starting with "The Grey Man" by Mark Greaney on my sunlounger in Monte Serrado in Alentejo which I dutifully did.
Bottom-line: iI was daft, trashy and utterly engaging, and set in my least favourite part of the world.
"Trill" - Jinty Clasp
"100 Films to Watch While You Die" (collection) - Faber vs Faber
"Voyage around My Cat" - Rod Nil
"My Best Griefs"- Janet Beeftrip
"The Soviet Postal Service 1911-1913" - Lord Simon Livid II
"But it’s Harder For me" - Babs Bostrich
"How
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Gay Was My Dickens - Aspen Plough" (how gay was my Dickens is a classic and does not get the coverage it should; Aspen Ploughs other classic "Big nose/small face" is also a must for the beach)"Science Christ" - Bob Warfab
"My Child My Child Oh No My Child" - Joan Policy
"Time with My Cattle" - Arthur Pitt
"How to Look Like You Are Reading On the Beach" - Susan St. Ambulance
"Eat and You Will Live" - Florida Castle
"Be frugal this summer: How to Live on £4 a Day" (ironically, it cost £12.95).
“How you too can be beach-body ready” – Tomboy Teeter
If you think you'd sooner walk around with a soiled bottom than grant any of the above-mentioned the accolade of being used as toilet paper, you are probably right! I had planned on reading the rollickingly Court Gentry novels starting with "The Grey Man" by Mark Greaney on my sunlounger in Monte Serrado in Alentejo which I dutifully did.
Bottom-line: iI was daft, trashy and utterly engaging, and set in my least favourite part of the world.
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LibraryThing member bcrowl399
This book took me on a roller coaster ride. The story started with a bang and never let up. I will need to rest my heart a little bit before I tackle any more of the Gray Man's adventures. Loved it.
LibraryThing member TobinElliott
Wow, Greaney really beats the shit out of his titular character in this first outing. Almost to the point of ridiculousness. And that pretty much gives you the full scope of what this introductory novel sets up.
This is what I usually refer to as Big Dumb Fun. It's almost non-stop action, it's guns
Don't think about the plot too much, or it begins to fall apart (how much are they spending globally to put down one unputdownable guy?), but if you just put on your seatbelt, put on your protective headgear, and retain a firm grip on the holy shit bars, you'll definitely have some fun with this novel.
I just wonder how much more Greaney can put his hero through before I can't suspend my disbelief anymore.
This is what I usually refer to as Big Dumb Fun. It's almost non-stop action, it's guns
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and knives and grunting, fighting men using their fists first, each man doing his damndest to prove he has the bigger dick. But through all of it runs the insanely moral Gray Man, who has no interest in dick measurement, he just wants to ensure all the good dicks live, and the bad dicks die. And he respects anyone else who displays a hint of a similar life goal.Don't think about the plot too much, or it begins to fall apart (how much are they spending globally to put down one unputdownable guy?), but if you just put on your seatbelt, put on your protective headgear, and retain a firm grip on the holy shit bars, you'll definitely have some fun with this novel.
I just wonder how much more Greaney can put his hero through before I can't suspend my disbelief anymore.
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LibraryThing member Jarratt
Very good thriller! I'm excited to find a new series.
The Gray Man is an elite, former CIA assassin who now does contract work but only targets people who need eliminating. Very few know who he really is but his reputation for impossible mission success earns him the nickname The Gray Man. His
While nowhere near as fast paced as a Matthew Reilly novel, Mark Greaney writes action sequences very well. But just like Reilly stories, you've got to put reality aside and just enjoy the ride.
The Gray Man is an elite, former CIA assassin who now does contract work but only targets people who need eliminating. Very few know who he really is but his reputation for impossible mission success earns him the nickname The Gray Man. His
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handler, Fitzroy, is a Brit who runs a security company in London. Unfortunately for Fitzroy and TGM (real name Court Gentry), another former CIA operative who works for a French company that has a major deal in the balance, blackmails Fitzroy into giving Gentry up. Basically elite soldiers from numerous nations are sent to find an kill Gentry. Meanwhile Court must rescue Fitzroy and his family.While nowhere near as fast paced as a Matthew Reilly novel, Mark Greaney writes action sequences very well. But just like Reilly stories, you've got to put reality aside and just enjoy the ride.
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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
Court Gentry - the Gray Man, assassin for hire. And the president of Nigeria wants him dead. Easy to want…
The Gray Man is a smart character, and the book moves along at a nice, crisp pace. And the plot is pretty dang good - until it becomes, well, just too much. Is he hard to kill? Try improbably
The Gray Man is a smart character, and the book moves along at a nice, crisp pace. And the plot is pretty dang good - until it becomes, well, just too much. Is he hard to kill? Try improbably
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impossible... He just can't be beat, like the comic book character Superman, which after a while becomes kind of boring. Ten highly trained kill teams between him and a house? No problem for the Gray Man, even after losing oodles of blood and being stitched up by a veterinary's assistance while you drive to said house. Literally. I was going to read this whole series, but I'm cool with this one only. One and done. Show Less
LibraryThing member BDartnall
Great example of the hired assassin/undercover mercenary thriller; if you want a book's focus to be on action: assignment launches, escapes, & killings, including details on gun hardware, etc...look no further. Not much on character development or nuanced insights but it delivers on hard driving,
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tense plot development. Show Less
LibraryThing member leslie.98
2.5 stars. Despite some terrible writing, I found this surprisingly gripping. The interior dialogue of the main character was appallingly bad but the action was good (even when improbable). I will just add that I think the idea of an assassin with a heart of gold even more unlikely than that of the
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prostitute with one! Show Less
LibraryThing member muddyboy
This is an absolute fantasy about a free lance assassin who is on his former superiors hit last. They gather teams of assassins from all over the world to kill this troublemaker. To lure him in they kidnap a family with two young daughters as bait that he needs to rescue. His journey starts in
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Eastern Europe to where they are held hostages thousands of miles away, Why a fantasy? He kills off roughly three dozen crack assassins all by himself along the way. Show Less
LibraryThing member breic
Ludicrously over the top, but with no sense of humor. Awful.
LibraryThing member Zare
What a ride.
First thing first, this story is as close as possible to John Wick as I could find. Even the physicality of the story is on the same level - our protagonist needs to go through such an ordeal that I could see stuntmen doing their magic. I haven't seen someone get beaten this much from
Our hero, Sigma Six (Sigma Lean :D), aka Gray Man, is even on notoriety level of John Wick (I had to giggle every time when they ask him about his mission in East Europe - was it him?), Baba Yaga to the bone. What I especially like is that actions of our hero and his enemies are logical (Gentry's attempts to get to the weapons and documents will get you to the point of despair). Hero finds a way through but not without losses (when that doctor told him she just needs to forget what happened, and leaves him, it stung, truly did).
This was excellent, highly enjoyable action ride, from start to finish. From dialogue to action scenes I have nothing but words of praise.
If you are into cynical heroes that have seen the good and (lots of) bad in the world but still have some morals to guide their lives and actions, and you in general love great action stories, look no further, this book is for you.
Highly recommended.
First thing first, this story is as close as possible to John Wick as I could find. Even the physicality of the story is on the same level - our protagonist needs to go through such an ordeal that I could see stuntmen doing their magic. I haven't seen someone get beaten this much from
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Willie Garvin storming Gabriel's mansion to save Modesty, and of course John Wick fighting his way to the High Table.Our hero, Sigma Six (Sigma Lean :D), aka Gray Man, is even on notoriety level of John Wick (I had to giggle every time when they ask him about his mission in East Europe - was it him?), Baba Yaga to the bone. What I especially like is that actions of our hero and his enemies are logical (Gentry's attempts to get to the weapons and documents will get you to the point of despair). Hero finds a way through but not without losses (when that doctor told him she just needs to forget what happened, and leaves him, it stung, truly did).
This was excellent, highly enjoyable action ride, from start to finish. From dialogue to action scenes I have nothing but words of praise.
If you are into cynical heroes that have seen the good and (lots of) bad in the world but still have some morals to guide their lives and actions, and you in general love great action stories, look no further, this book is for you.
Highly recommended.
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Subjects
Language
Physical description
365 p.; 19 inches
ISBN
051514701X / 9780515147018