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  • The Gray Man (A Gray Man Novel Book 1)
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
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The Gray Man (A Gray Man Novel Book 1)

The Gray Man (A Gray Man Novel Book 1)

byMark Greaney
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Top positive review

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Lorraine Phillips
5.0 out of 5 starsI liked it as a vehicle for Court Gentry's entrance into our world
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2017
I think those that post less than 5 stars are jaded on this genre. I read Geary's 6th GrayMan book 1st and then came back to purchase the start of the series. Why? Because I wanted more! Greaney writes with a certain style, a tempo, that for me, pushes the narrative forward and doesn't get bogged down in too much technical detail. If I want that? I go to another author like Dale Brown or even Oliver North (w/Musser). Sometimes you want a fast past thriller (which the Gray Man gives you) and sometimes you want deep state or military - it just depends on what you're feeling like reading today. To pan this book is nonsense. I've read bad books. This has a good plot, good pacing, is suspenseful, & develops the GrayMan character from scratch. Is it truly believable? Of course not. But neither was Ludlum's Bourne, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, or Ian Fleming's Bond. Yet they are all good to read.

Now for The Gray Man - the 1st book in the Gray Man series
Read it over two days. I first bought book 6 and thought to myself if this author has any talent I can read book 6 without books 1-5. He has that talent. I decided to buy the 1st book to see how the series started and wasn't disappointed in this book. The author has matured over 6 books (plus his work on Clancey's channels). The Gray Man book starts out fast and ends with me wanting more. There is a linear (A to B to C) writing to the book which is nice for a first book that lays the ground work for the character of Court Gentry. We know what the objective is, we follow the character through his struggles to obtain the objective, and what happens after he achieves his objective. There are lots of bad guys that are straight forward, a few that are doublecrossers, a limited number of helpers to our hero, lots of weapons, an smattering of medical jargon, heaps of over-the-top "popcorn" worthy scenes that would never work in real life but our hero? No problems! So yeah - it was a fun book to read that establishes the GreyMan's bona fide's as having no equal. On to book #2 in the series...
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78 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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James H. Thomas
3.0 out of 5 starsAlmost Too Much
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2018
Couldn't decide on 1 star ot 5 stars. Like a couple of other reviews I've read, The Gray Man is so much deadlier than Jack Reacher or Mitch Rapp it's almost ridiculous. Fast Moving? As fast as a book can be. Realistic? About as unrealistic as a book can be. The problem is I really liked the book. I think I'm going to read the series but I have to look at it as more of a superhero book than a political thriller based on reality. I don't believe I've ever read a book that has any more action or a hero who absorbs as much serious injury and not only lives but keeps on winning battles. One man against hundreds of other men trying to kill him? Insane yet I did enjoy reading it in about 3 or 4 hours. The Gray Man is hard to resist. Author Greaney is probably not the author Lee Child is. Add David Baldacci, Vince Flynn or Nelson DeMille but is excitement is what you want and a book which is an incredible page turner with action which never lets up. The Gray Man is almost closer to Batman or some kind of real superhero but I'll admit this book was impossible to put down. Wild and violent? If that's your cup of tea this one is a must!
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146 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Michael G Kurilla
4.0 out of 5 stars The Gray Man is pretty black and white about things
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2017
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Mark Greaney's The Gray Man is the 1st offering in the long running Gray Man series. A former bad boy and special ops train operator, the Gray Man was discharged from the CIA with extreme prejudice. Existing in the shadows, he works special jobs for a former British intelligence officer with his own private security operation. When a large multinational corporation is looking to salvage an investment gone sour, they must deliver the head of the Gray Man and pull out all the stops to succeed. Operating with his own brand of a moral code, the Gray Man never lets up ans sees every mission to the end, usually a bitter end for everyone on his receiving end.

Tradecraft is a bit muted or at least takes a backseat to the action and physicality on display. There are some truly despicable individuals to despise and some honor among this sordid occupational class. Some degree of suspension of belief is required especially around the use of pavement artists; it would hard to believe any reasonable number could pick out individuals in large European cities so reliably (not to mention the effort involved in amassing such a devoted and qualified army).

For traditional summer beach escape reading, this hits the sweet spot.
13 people found this helpful
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vegasbill
VINE VOICE
4.0 out of 5 stars Action packed thriller
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2018
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The Gray Man, Court Gentry, is a retired CIA operative who has gone into the business of being an assassin for hire. He has his own set of rules and feels that murder is OK if it's justified in his eyes by the evil ways of his proposed victim. This is not necessarily an original concept, but one that generally gets the attention of readers of thrillers, and thrill this book does. From a stunning mid-air double cross as Court is being extracted from a job the action is absolutely non-stop. He begins running for his life, then learns he must save the lives of the the only real family he ever knew by knowingly walking into a trap full of the best killers from all over the world who are competing for the $20 million price on his head. Along the way Court is chased by a myriad of killers, is double crossed by old friends and saved by new ones. He is shot, knifed, tortured, beaten and almost drowned but somehow endures. He never faces a killer mano a mano, there are always way more bad guys and no one to help him. This is a 5 star book based upon its high energy and excitement. It loses a star based upon the improbable and impossible ability of Court to heal, recover and carry on the fight in almost no time at all. That was a leap of faith with which I had trouble. Read this book for lots of great fight scenes and non-stop action.
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Literary Rebel
4.0 out of 5 stars A decent opening salvo
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2018
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The first gray man book is good enough to pass the time. It starts out strong and the story moves along at a rock n roll pace but you’ll have to suspend your disbelief to get to the end. Court Gentry takes more punishment than James Bond, Rambo, and Jack Bauer all rolled into one. It’s not just that Court is an action hero, he’s superhuman and not in a good way. He sustains more damage than any mortal could and just keeps killing bad guys. After a while that gets old.

Breakneck pace and nonstop action eventually overwhelm the story. This book could have done with some editing and a little breather for the hero and the audience. As is we never develop any attachment to the characters, they are just guys with guns shooting at each other. That said, it’s a fun tale and the beginning of a series that improves with each book.

If you are a picky reader and prefer more realism, start with book 2. Greaney definitely improved as a writer and story teller between book 1 and 2. In later adventures Gentry comes down to earth some, not all the way, but enough that you won’t be rolling your eyes as you read.
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Boyd L. Randolph
4.0 out of 5 stars An appropriate introduction to a troubled character.
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
The 4 star rating was for the generous plot thickness that kept being folded over and into itself like cookie dough. My first Greany book so I held my review til I read the second installment (which have me more insight into the character and the author's plan for developing the storyline.
This novel contains sufficient quantities of the requisite technical margins as well as some lines of dialogue regarding international politics and finance. These were balanced sufficiently against the main plot.
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Riley1
4.0 out of 5 stars The Gray Man
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2017
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I am absolutely in love with the Tom Clancy books especially the ones which star John Clark and Jack Ryan JR and his friends Ding and Dom. These led me to the Mark Greaney books about Gray Man. I have read the first four in Greaney's series of 5 books about Gray Man and am on the 5th book now. They obviously have me hooked. I wish Gray man would have some friends---other characters in the book that support him. Also I have to say some of the things Gray Man does are almost unbelievable meaning a little far fetched---like taking down six highly trained men by himself or taking down another assassin when he (Gray Man) has a broken arm and a knife wound to his leg. Having said that, I will keep on reading about him. The stories are fast paced and the books are hard to put down. I think they are very well written.
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Andy McKinney
VINE VOICE
4.0 out of 5 stars Hero Court Gentry is smart, tough and unstoppable. I like him.
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2014
Verified Purchase
Author Mark Greaney has created in his character Court Gentry the world's foremost special operator. He can do the job, no matter what the difficulties or what the personal risk to himself-or personal damage for that matter. In this first of the Grey Man series of books Gentry faces a significant challenge. He must travel across Europe while fending of a series of hit team assembled from the finest operatives of the third world. When he reached his goal, he has even more killers to combat. Can he do it? Can anyone realistically survive such an onslaught?
Greaney knows his spy craft and his close combat. If non stop action lights your fuse, this one will do the trick.
There are now four Grey Man novels in print. I fully expect to have devoured them all by spring. Winter is good for reading.
Greaney has also either authored or co-authored five Jack Ryan books invented by the legendary Tom Clancy. His latest, “Full Force and Effect” comes to book sellers on Dec. 2, 2014.
A film version of the Grey Man books is currently under development by Sony Pictures.
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MG
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2019
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Gray Man is a one man army and woe to those who go against him. Former CIA and a "righteous" assassin and now hired out by a private security firm he shows no mercy to the terrorist, despot, mercenary or operator who seeks him out. Falsely on the CIA's termination list this finds him pursued by the Agency but other national security operatives as he seeks to rescue his handler' s family. There is murder, kidnapping, loyalty, betrayal, trust, friendship along with a surprise ending. I look forward to Book two.
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John Halajko
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read lots of action!
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2021
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Now that Gentry has taken out most of the top hit squads in the world what’s he going to do now? Most guys with all his wounds would have cashed it in! Some of the action was repetitive…another hit squad another injury! But all in all it kept my interest..
Will try next book to see how it goes!
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K Foster
4.0 out of 5 stars Like Nothing Else You Have Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2012
Verified Purchase
Mark Greaney has created a character that you will not soon forget. The synopsis of the Gray man doesn't do Courtland Gentry justice. He is so much more than a former CIA operative turned paid assasin. After the first three books you have yet to tap into the depth of this character. With each assignment you learn something about this man that draws you unexplainably. For those not looking very hard, they will find the action and adventure they are looking for. And then some. For the rest, they will see the heart of a man almost too honest with himself who sees the world through the clearest of vision and deals with it. He's not a superhero by any means. He's not even the baddest guy out there. He is a realist and arguably the most honest person when it comes to who he really is. It is this humility that hooks you. This guy has incredible skills, yes, but he will be the first to show you that it takes so much more than that to survive in his world, and he's got it. In spades. . .
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Dragonmac52
4.0 out of 5 stars 'The Gray Man' begins the Court Gentry legend of a man's fight against 'pure evil.'
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
'The Gray Man' is Court Gentry's first installment of nonstop lethal action against targeted victims whom he's determined to neutralize. Expect a lot of bloodletting, to others and upon himself. The odds of his survival against a host of elite watchers, hunters, and assassins should be zero, but he's the Gray Man, and there are at least seven more episodes to keep him in the game of 'just eliminations'. Fasten your seatbelt for the ride.
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