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Gray Man #13
The Chaos Agent
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.
752 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2024
2163 people are currently reading
2753 people want to read
About the author
Mark Greaney
59 books6,171 followersMark Greaney has a degree in International Relations and Political Science. In researching The Gray Man series he traveled to ten countries and trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close range combative tactics.
Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM
Email Mark at MarkGreaneyBooks@gmail.com
Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM
Email Mark at MarkGreaneyBooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 604 reviews
February 23, 2024
Mark Greaney brings together a contemporary topic, diverse characters, multiple settings, and plenty of action in the thirteenth novel in the Gray Man series. In this latest book artificial intelligence leads to a shocking and alarming scenario. Someone is killing the world’s leading experts on artificial intelligence and robotics. Is it a tech company eliminating the competition, a country intent on military superiority, or something even more ominous?
The Gray Man - Court Gentry and Zoya Zakharova have assumed new identities and are living together in Guatemala. Both have governments and individuals as their enemies and are trying to keep a low profile. Unfortunately, that is about to change. They’re tracked down and offered a job by an acquaintance of Zoya’s. Despite rejecting the offer, being seen with him is enough to have assassins pursue them. On the run they realize that whoever wants them dead seems to be one step ahead of them. It’s time to fight back.
Court, a former CIA operative, is drawn to danger, misses making an impact, and suffers from insomnia. Zoya is motivated by causes and mainly wants to survive. There are a host of additional characters, but it was easy to keep track of them. Readers get various points of view throughout the novel with the initial chapters introducing many of them and their situations.
Greaney is an excellent storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat with gripping scenes, action, a superb plot, and fantastic writing. In preparation for this series, he not only traveled to multiple countries but trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close-range combative tactics. The dynamic plot came alive and felt all too possible with real-world issues around artificial intelligence incorporated into the story highlighting the societal and political differences.
A constant sense of urgency, a state of uneasiness, and lots of action combined with great characters and a well-written plot make this suspenseful novel a must read. My only quibble was one aspect of the ending. However, this undoubtedly sets the stage for the next book in the series. Themes include artificial intelligence, deception, trust, industrial espionage, violence, differing political and social ideologies, murder, and much more.
Overall, this is a gripping, gritty, and chilling story with complex characters. It’s intense and dramatic and kept this reader turning the pages. I recommend this series to those who like political, action, and military thrillers. While this series is best read in order to fully understand the backstories of the main characters, this one worked as a standalone novel for me.
Berkley Publishing Group and Mark Greaney provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 20, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.2 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
The Gray Man - Court Gentry and Zoya Zakharova have assumed new identities and are living together in Guatemala. Both have governments and individuals as their enemies and are trying to keep a low profile. Unfortunately, that is about to change. They’re tracked down and offered a job by an acquaintance of Zoya’s. Despite rejecting the offer, being seen with him is enough to have assassins pursue them. On the run they realize that whoever wants them dead seems to be one step ahead of them. It’s time to fight back.
Court, a former CIA operative, is drawn to danger, misses making an impact, and suffers from insomnia. Zoya is motivated by causes and mainly wants to survive. There are a host of additional characters, but it was easy to keep track of them. Readers get various points of view throughout the novel with the initial chapters introducing many of them and their situations.
Greaney is an excellent storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat with gripping scenes, action, a superb plot, and fantastic writing. In preparation for this series, he not only traveled to multiple countries but trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close-range combative tactics. The dynamic plot came alive and felt all too possible with real-world issues around artificial intelligence incorporated into the story highlighting the societal and political differences.
A constant sense of urgency, a state of uneasiness, and lots of action combined with great characters and a well-written plot make this suspenseful novel a must read. My only quibble was one aspect of the ending. However, this undoubtedly sets the stage for the next book in the series. Themes include artificial intelligence, deception, trust, industrial espionage, violence, differing political and social ideologies, murder, and much more.
Overall, this is a gripping, gritty, and chilling story with complex characters. It’s intense and dramatic and kept this reader turning the pages. I recommend this series to those who like political, action, and military thrillers. While this series is best read in order to fully understand the backstories of the main characters, this one worked as a standalone novel for me.
Berkley Publishing Group and Mark Greaney provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 20, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.2 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
February 21, 2024
“Hasta La Vista, Baby”
T800, Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Court Gentry or The Gray Man is one of my favorite heroes. Court is an assassin with a conscience and once a deadly operator for the CIA. He's been on the run for some time after being framed. He now has a companion, Zoya Zakharova, a former SVR hiding from the country she served.
While Court and Zoya are staying in the beautiful but stormy Panajachel, Guatemala under new identities, Zoya's "uncle" tracks her down and pleads for her help with extracting a scientist in Mexico who's on a kill list. World-renowned robotics and AI experts are killed off one by one, professionally orchestrated by an unknown authority.
Zoya gets involved and so Court gets involved.
The Chaos Agent hooked me right from the start. I love the beginning of it and not knowing the direction of the story kept me invested. The action started quite early too so it was an adrenaline rush from early on. Although it was action-packed, the middle part gave me so much trouble keeping interest. There are MANY characters and they ended up in Cuba. Somehow the story wasn't moving forward much, it felt long. Wait, it is long ~ 560 pages. The reveal was unexpected but I should've seen it coming. I love that feeling and want to kick myself for missing it. The ending was good and hints at where the Gray Man will be in the next one. 🫨
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the DRC.
Available Feb 20, 2024
February 29, 2024
Brilliant. 10 of 10 stars
August 14, 2024
This was a good book. It could have hit 5 stars…too long drawn out fighting scenes for me. If you like Grey Man, you’ll enjoy this one.
December 28, 2023
A pulse-pounding thriller that taps into the zeitgeist of our tech-driven era…..
Book Information
Mark Greaney's upcoming thriller, "The Chaos Agent," spans 560 pages and is set to hit shelves on February 20, 2024. This highly anticipated novel marks the 13th installment in the gripping Grey Man series. Special thanks to the Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.
Summary
In search of a quiet life, the Gray Man and his partner, Zoya Zakharova, have assumed new identities in Central America. Their peace is shattered when an old acquaintance proposes a risky mission—to rescue a Russian scientist targeted for assassination. Despite refusing initially, their association draws deadly attention. They quickly find themselves pursued by assassins and facing enemies from billionaires to governments. With no place to hide and with the world hanging in the balance, the Gray Man confronts the inevitable, acknowledging that in this deadly game, fighting is the sole choice.
My Thoughts
Mark Greaney's "The Chaos Agent" is a classic Grey Man tale that showcases the author's mastery of storytelling. As the plot unfolds, Greaney unleashes a literary adrenaline rush, making 'The Chaos Agent' a rollercoaster from which readers won't want to disembark.
The novel is filled with a lot of familiar names from Greaney's previous stories, adding an extra bonus for longtime fans. It also includes several good twists, ensuring that the book holds the reader's attention from beginning to end.
One of the strengths of "The Chaos Agent" lies in its interesting premise, which is not too far-fetched and remains very current to our times. In a digital dance of danger, the narrative serves as a timely warning about the dark allure of artificial intelligence, painting a vivid picture of a world where technology becomes both savior and nemesis. The exploration of AI's potential to assume control of defense-related computer systems and manipulate human assets raises thought-provoking questions about morality and reaction time when these elements are removed from the equation. The novel delves into well-thought-out details on how AI might be weaponized, adding depth to the storyline.
While the book may have been slightly longer than necessary, it is highly enjoyable, especially for those who love action-adventure thrillers. Greaney also delivers a solid ending, successfully tying a bow on the story while skillfully setting up the groundwork for the next installment. This ability to both conclude and pave the way for future developments is a skill that many authors struggle to achieve simultaneously in my reading experience.
Recommendation
"The Chaos Agent" is a gripping and well-crafted novel that captivates readers with its fast-paced plot, familiar characters, and a compelling exploration of AI's potential consequences. With the precision of a master chess player, Greaney maneuvers characters and plot twists like pieces on a board, creating a literary game that keeps readers turning pages until the final move. If you relish action-adventure thrillers, this book deserves a spot on your reading list.
Rating
4 Grey Stars
Book Information
Mark Greaney's upcoming thriller, "The Chaos Agent," spans 560 pages and is set to hit shelves on February 20, 2024. This highly anticipated novel marks the 13th installment in the gripping Grey Man series. Special thanks to the Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.
Summary
In search of a quiet life, the Gray Man and his partner, Zoya Zakharova, have assumed new identities in Central America. Their peace is shattered when an old acquaintance proposes a risky mission—to rescue a Russian scientist targeted for assassination. Despite refusing initially, their association draws deadly attention. They quickly find themselves pursued by assassins and facing enemies from billionaires to governments. With no place to hide and with the world hanging in the balance, the Gray Man confronts the inevitable, acknowledging that in this deadly game, fighting is the sole choice.
My Thoughts
Mark Greaney's "The Chaos Agent" is a classic Grey Man tale that showcases the author's mastery of storytelling. As the plot unfolds, Greaney unleashes a literary adrenaline rush, making 'The Chaos Agent' a rollercoaster from which readers won't want to disembark.
The novel is filled with a lot of familiar names from Greaney's previous stories, adding an extra bonus for longtime fans. It also includes several good twists, ensuring that the book holds the reader's attention from beginning to end.
One of the strengths of "The Chaos Agent" lies in its interesting premise, which is not too far-fetched and remains very current to our times. In a digital dance of danger, the narrative serves as a timely warning about the dark allure of artificial intelligence, painting a vivid picture of a world where technology becomes both savior and nemesis. The exploration of AI's potential to assume control of defense-related computer systems and manipulate human assets raises thought-provoking questions about morality and reaction time when these elements are removed from the equation. The novel delves into well-thought-out details on how AI might be weaponized, adding depth to the storyline.
While the book may have been slightly longer than necessary, it is highly enjoyable, especially for those who love action-adventure thrillers. Greaney also delivers a solid ending, successfully tying a bow on the story while skillfully setting up the groundwork for the next installment. This ability to both conclude and pave the way for future developments is a skill that many authors struggle to achieve simultaneously in my reading experience.
Recommendation
"The Chaos Agent" is a gripping and well-crafted novel that captivates readers with its fast-paced plot, familiar characters, and a compelling exploration of AI's potential consequences. With the precision of a master chess player, Greaney maneuvers characters and plot twists like pieces on a board, creating a literary game that keeps readers turning pages until the final move. If you relish action-adventure thrillers, this book deserves a spot on your reading list.
Rating
4 Grey Stars
February 28, 2024
Artificial Intelligence is the future and the first to perfect it will have a great advantage. Someone is systematically assassinating the world’s leading A.I. minds. China? Some asshole billionaire? Feathers are sufficiently ruffled around the world. Meanwhile, Court and Zoya are laying low in Central America minding their own business when an old associate of Zoya shows up asking for her help protecting a Russian A.I. genius. This meeting puts Court and Zoya in the crosshairs of and forces them into the hunt. Dodging robotic soldiers, armed drones and narcissistic billionaires are just the start in what could be the Gray Man’s most personal mission to date.
Mark Greaney continues to pen hit after after. A.I. is all the rage at the moment and is a main topic for fiction writers. Yet, Greaney is able to offer a fresh take on A.I. that is fairly bananas. Is it plausible? No clue. I’m skeptical but reserve the right to change my mind if the shit hits the fan in the future.
Court and Zoya’s relationship –maybe not necessarily their relationship but Court’s evolution – is what propels The Gray Man series forward. Without that emotional undercurrent and growth the series is just a dude running around blowing shit up.
The Chaos Agent is a timely, intelligent thriller and shows why Greaney is one of the best in the genre.
Muchas gracias to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Chaos Agent!
Mark Greaney continues to pen hit after after. A.I. is all the rage at the moment and is a main topic for fiction writers. Yet, Greaney is able to offer a fresh take on A.I. that is fairly bananas. Is it plausible? No clue. I’m skeptical but reserve the right to change my mind if the shit hits the fan in the future.
Court and Zoya’s relationship –maybe not necessarily their relationship but Court’s evolution – is what propels The Gray Man series forward. Without that emotional undercurrent and growth the series is just a dude running around blowing shit up.
The Chaos Agent is a timely, intelligent thriller and shows why Greaney is one of the best in the genre.
Muchas gracias to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Chaos Agent!
January 4, 2024
Another bombtastic addition to the series! This author loves to scare the sh*t out of his readers! ~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you love fast-paced reads that make you question everything you think you know about world politics and players, this is the book for you.
Greaney cannonballs us right into AI for military use and its full attempt to start a world domination plot. Buckle up for this ride that is nothing short of scary and crazy!
All of the main players are included in this edition; Court, Zoya, and Zack, plus so many more that you will recognize from other books. The interactions are wild and unbelievable! And hang on for the messed-up twist at the end that plows us right into the next book.
If you are looking for a methodical thriller and suspense-type of espionage story, this is not it. Greaney packs in so much action and twists that you need to clear a weekend for this book. Once you start reading, it is tough to stop!
The Chaos Agent is controlled chaos throughout and you will not want to miss this one!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-chaos-ag...
If you love fast-paced reads that make you question everything you think you know about world politics and players, this is the book for you.
Greaney cannonballs us right into AI for military use and its full attempt to start a world domination plot. Buckle up for this ride that is nothing short of scary and crazy!
All of the main players are included in this edition; Court, Zoya, and Zack, plus so many more that you will recognize from other books. The interactions are wild and unbelievable! And hang on for the messed-up twist at the end that plows us right into the next book.
If you are looking for a methodical thriller and suspense-type of espionage story, this is not it. Greaney packs in so much action and twists that you need to clear a weekend for this book. Once you start reading, it is tough to stop!
The Chaos Agent is controlled chaos throughout and you will not want to miss this one!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-chaos-ag...
February 26, 2024
Terminal Code
For a while there I was actually afraid that Mark Greaney had lost sight of the Gray Man after he started writing his new character in Armored. In fact, Court Gentry, a.k.a. the Gray Man looked like he was looking for a way out and a quiet life, if a life on the run, with his one true love Zoya Zakharova. It was impossible for Court and Zoya to miss the tech giants in the field of artificial intelligence that were being killed all over the world, but little did they know the same entity was gunning for the two of them. With real time overwatch intelligence in the sky, facial recognition worldwide, hits are being made one after another.
Unknown to him, Court’s old buddy from his operator days, Zack Hightower has been brought on by the head of security to guard one of the lead geniuses in artificial intelligence who already had a failed attempt on his life and lost his last body guard. Anton Hinton says he knows all the people who have been killed and fear he is next and wants to hide out at his lab in Cuba.
This is a very timely thriller, and even though I admit to having kind of guessed what was going on in advance, it was both an exciting and frightening story, especially the closer it got to the end. Mark Greaney writes his former and current military with such a compassionate understanding of them that I know that in his research or maybe his life, he has spent a great deal of time with men and women who have “been there” and when their time in the military is over they’re lost. They show up over and over in his books, and like all of his characters, big players or small, they live and breathe and you remember their names. I gave this an 4.5 and ended on a cliff hanger. I would have given it five stars, but there were places that the action and the complexity started to get hard to follow and it slowed the pace to pay attention. This can be read as a standalone, but then you are missing a great series and characters if you don’t read them in order.
For a while there I was actually afraid that Mark Greaney had lost sight of the Gray Man after he started writing his new character in Armored. In fact, Court Gentry, a.k.a. the Gray Man looked like he was looking for a way out and a quiet life, if a life on the run, with his one true love Zoya Zakharova. It was impossible for Court and Zoya to miss the tech giants in the field of artificial intelligence that were being killed all over the world, but little did they know the same entity was gunning for the two of them. With real time overwatch intelligence in the sky, facial recognition worldwide, hits are being made one after another.
Unknown to him, Court’s old buddy from his operator days, Zack Hightower has been brought on by the head of security to guard one of the lead geniuses in artificial intelligence who already had a failed attempt on his life and lost his last body guard. Anton Hinton says he knows all the people who have been killed and fear he is next and wants to hide out at his lab in Cuba.
This is a very timely thriller, and even though I admit to having kind of guessed what was going on in advance, it was both an exciting and frightening story, especially the closer it got to the end. Mark Greaney writes his former and current military with such a compassionate understanding of them that I know that in his research or maybe his life, he has spent a great deal of time with men and women who have “been there” and when their time in the military is over they’re lost. They show up over and over in his books, and like all of his characters, big players or small, they live and breathe and you remember their names. I gave this an 4.5 and ended on a cliff hanger. I would have given it five stars, but there were places that the action and the complexity started to get hard to follow and it slowed the pace to pay attention. This can be read as a standalone, but then you are missing a great series and characters if you don’t read them in order.
February 28, 2024
I have completely enjoyed this entire series. This is book #13 in this series. The Gray Man is such a dynamic character. He is not like the cliche MC of this genre...and that is always nice to see.
AI played a central role in this. I liked though that the author kept it reigned in and didn't let that aspect go wild. Well I guess it did get a little crazy when it came to the "worse case scenario", but it was definitely controlled. The characters were the real highlight in this one.
The action scenes were also well done. I think the narrator of the audio helped keep the pace racing at a fair clip. So while AI isn't a draw for me, I still really liked this one. So 4 stars.
AI played a central role in this. I liked though that the author kept it reigned in and didn't let that aspect go wild. Well I guess it did get a little crazy when it came to the "worse case scenario", but it was definitely controlled. The characters were the real highlight in this one.
The action scenes were also well done. I think the narrator of the audio helped keep the pace racing at a fair clip. So while AI isn't a draw for me, I still really liked this one. So 4 stars.
March 16, 2024
The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney is a thriller with a plot that is very current, AI is it good or is it bad? Where will it lead us and will it end us? I really liked this book but Sierra Six is still one of the best in the Gray Man series featuring Court Gentry but we also encounter some characters from previous books. It is a well written and fast paced story that is hard to put down despite it being one of the longer books. Who is behind the killing of scientists and who can you trust? That is some of the problems Court faces in this book. Still we find ourselves wanting more when this one is over especially because of how it ended. For those out there that feels it will be a long wait then you might want to check out Sentinel out later this year by Greaney, it is also an awesome series and I for one can't wait to get my paws on it.
February 28, 2024
I love the Gray Man character and I waited all year for this to come out. Not my favorite Gray Man by far. Too Sci-fi for me and not enough Gray Man. A poor excuse of a book in my opinion. Terminator .01. Yuck. If you’re going to spend a year writing a book and you have a good reputation, write a good one or your reputation suffers. Greaney’s reputation has faltered big time for me.
April 4, 2024
The Chaos Agent is the 13th book in Mark Greaney’s thrilling spy series The Gray Man. Even if you haven’t read the other 12 books, you can still enjoy this one. I haven’t read them all either but I never have a problem following along although I might not know a few characters that have been added along the way.
Courtland Gentry and Zoya Zakharova have been living off the grid for several months to avoid their respective governments. This is nothing new for Court since he has always been America’s stepson. One minute they want him dead, the next they need him to save the world. Nothing different this time around. Someone has been killing off the world’s most brilliant AI innovators and no one can figure out why. When Zoya’s Uncle inadvertently gets her and Court involved in the fight, everything escalates and the situation becomes something right out of a Terminator movie. There are powered drones, robot attack dogs, and a talking A.I. To top it all off, it’s hard to tell who or what is actually in control. Several of Court's former comrades show up to assist in this global fight and it’s definitely a worldwide rollercoaster. The Chaos Agent provides plenty of action, intrigue, and twists that will keep you on your toes til the very end.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Chaos Agent and its very real portrayal of what’s going on in our world today. The story really makes you think about how we are testing the boundaries of technology and humanity. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. It’s sure to be another riveting thriller.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
Courtland Gentry and Zoya Zakharova have been living off the grid for several months to avoid their respective governments. This is nothing new for Court since he has always been America’s stepson. One minute they want him dead, the next they need him to save the world. Nothing different this time around. Someone has been killing off the world’s most brilliant AI innovators and no one can figure out why. When Zoya’s Uncle inadvertently gets her and Court involved in the fight, everything escalates and the situation becomes something right out of a Terminator movie. There are powered drones, robot attack dogs, and a talking A.I. To top it all off, it’s hard to tell who or what is actually in control. Several of Court's former comrades show up to assist in this global fight and it’s definitely a worldwide rollercoaster. The Chaos Agent provides plenty of action, intrigue, and twists that will keep you on your toes til the very end.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Chaos Agent and its very real portrayal of what’s going on in our world today. The story really makes you think about how we are testing the boundaries of technology and humanity. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. It’s sure to be another riveting thriller.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
November 5, 2023
Good basic premise, but overly complicated with too many characters,(each apparently requiring their own detailed storyline). Way too much unnecessary description (do we really need to know the wall colors of every room?). Would have benefited from a stronger hand by the editor. A well edited version would have been half as long, much tighter, and better paced. The last disappointment was the ending which is only a set up for the next novel in this series.. Now I remember why I thought The Gray Man movie was so trite and cliched.
February 12, 2025
Started off great. Lagged in middle. Beyond WAY over-the-top ending. I knew it was AI material, but the fight sequence was sooo tiresome to read. The whole book became laborious. The fun and intriguing read lost its appeal because of its complexity, numerous characters and LENGTH. I know I am in the minority here with this mediocre rating. I love the Gray Man series; this particular installment was an outlier for me.
March 11, 2024
This book is a TOME. There is no earthly reason for this book to be over 530 pages long. The original James Bond books were about 160 pages, if not shorter. I applaud the fight against shrinkflation, but come on!
The Gray Man, Court Gentry, and his assassin girlfriend, Zoya, are travelling under the radar in Latin America, when Zoya is approached by her old boss. He asks her to help a scientist specializing in AI. She turns him down.
Soon enough, as AI pioneers are being murdered, Court and Zoya are drawn into the games of deceit and death as everyone tries to figure out who is behind the killings, and how they are happening.
A lot of action and suspense, but more editing, please.
The Gray Man, Court Gentry, and his assassin girlfriend, Zoya, are travelling under the radar in Latin America, when Zoya is approached by her old boss. He asks her to help a scientist specializing in AI. She turns him down.
Soon enough, as AI pioneers are being murdered, Court and Zoya are drawn into the games of deceit and death as everyone tries to figure out who is behind the killings, and how they are happening.
A lot of action and suspense, but more editing, please.
February 28, 2024
Ripping adventure. Less espionage than prior stories, and much more a James Bond style adventure, with the evil villain plotting world domination from the secluded lair. Enjoyed a lot, and the cliffhanger ending has me wanting more.
May 12, 2024
Holy cow! I'm hooked. I know it's a no no to see the movie before reading the book, but I've been bad. I saw The Gray Man a year or so ago and, consequently, I became captivated with the sophisticated action-packed thriller and jumped on the chance to read Mr. Greaney's latest novel in the series.
While Courtland Gentry, aka The Gray Man, and his partner Zoya Zakharova, aka Anthem, are running for their lives from the governments they worked for, several artificial intelligence experts are being murdered one by one. And by a chance meeting with a former colleague, Court and Zoya are next.
This book creates tension and suspense from the very beginning and the idea of machines working together to destroy humans is incredible as well as terrifying. We have heard lots about artificial intelligence in the media and it's not going away. From smart phones to autonomous Smart Cars, it's in our daily lives, but what about our finances, our healthcare, and our defense systems? Greaney explores the idea that all of that information is dangerously floating out there in mass quantities and can be hacked and used against us in an alarming and devastating way.
It's been a while since I read a terrific thriller and Mr. Greaney has raised the bar for me. His attention to detail is superb as he educates the reader about the ins and outs of AI while developing incredible characters who are conflicted and challenged with their morals and beliefs.
From the first nail-biting action scene to the final battle for humanity, I could not put this 556-page fast-paced book down. If you love political and military thrillers filled with gripping and chaotic action, don't hesitate to pick up this book. It is a terrifying and tangled look into the world's future and I'm shaking in my boots.
Thank you to Mr. Greaney for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectations of a positive review.
While Courtland Gentry, aka The Gray Man, and his partner Zoya Zakharova, aka Anthem, are running for their lives from the governments they worked for, several artificial intelligence experts are being murdered one by one. And by a chance meeting with a former colleague, Court and Zoya are next.
This book creates tension and suspense from the very beginning and the idea of machines working together to destroy humans is incredible as well as terrifying. We have heard lots about artificial intelligence in the media and it's not going away. From smart phones to autonomous Smart Cars, it's in our daily lives, but what about our finances, our healthcare, and our defense systems? Greaney explores the idea that all of that information is dangerously floating out there in mass quantities and can be hacked and used against us in an alarming and devastating way.
It's been a while since I read a terrific thriller and Mr. Greaney has raised the bar for me. His attention to detail is superb as he educates the reader about the ins and outs of AI while developing incredible characters who are conflicted and challenged with their morals and beliefs.
From the first nail-biting action scene to the final battle for humanity, I could not put this 556-page fast-paced book down. If you love political and military thrillers filled with gripping and chaotic action, don't hesitate to pick up this book. It is a terrifying and tangled look into the world's future and I'm shaking in my boots.
Thank you to Mr. Greaney for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectations of a positive review.
February 22, 2024
4.5 Stars 🌟 (maybe)
Hmmmm……… I really don’t know how I feel at the moment. Seriously, I need to let this sit for a bit. Never thought I’d be conflicted after a Courtland Gentry book.
______________________________________________
Okay. Let's see if I can put my thoughts in order. Let me start by saying this (and anyone who has read any of my reviews for this series already knows that I ADORE the Gray Man / Court Gentry / Sierra Six / Violator - you can choose a name..) So, yes, I am always so very excited when Mr. Greaney's annual book is released, and this time was no different.
I am in awe of the world that Mr. Greaney has built - the characters, the storylines, well, every single piece of it. To top off everything....Court is one of my top 5 male MC's from ANY genre. For someone who reads as much as I do, that is one of the biggest compliments that I can give. So, why am I saying all of this? Well, because there were a few things in this book that were a bit outside the norm. You know what, let's just get to the book.
First of all, since we are at the 13th book in this series, characters are very well established and while there are characters that we as readers have come to love...there are also some that we REALLY do not like. This book takes off about 4 months later after the ending of the last book and finds Court and Z lying low and trying to stay off the grid. Russia is after Zoya and the CIA is back on their constantly changing merry go round and has decided that Court is a bad guy once again, hence the need for the two of them to stay moving while on the run.
Through really no fault of their own, they find themselves in the middle of a situation that is occurring worldwide with the assassinations of several prominent scientists who are leaders in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The beginning starts of fairly consistent in terms of just jumping right into the story, but there are some pacing issues after the first quarter of the book and we see the middle begin to drag just a bit. I probably would not have even mentioned this, but this is something that I cannot ever remember thinking while reading in any of the prior books.
In true Greaney fashion though, as the book gets to the last quarter or so, things really begin to pick up. From there on it is a mad dash to the finish with hold your breath type events, nonstop action, incredibly intense suspense drama, and lots of crazy shenanigans. So, what was the problem?
Well, I'm not sure if "problem" is even the right word, and without going into spoilers, it is going to be harder for me to explain but let me try. There are a LOT of characters in this book and many of them are scientists. There are also many, many POV's that we only get for a short paragraph or two and then get bits and pieces about when we jump to their portion of what is going on (usually before we got to witness or hear about their assassination). The various characters along with the actual instances of some info dumping made it a little confusing at times.
Another thing that was a little different was that this book did not spend as much page time as we have come to expect with the focus being on Court. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to see Zoya and Court working together, and we all know that they are a fantastic working duo, but there was also quite a bit of time when they were not on page. It was GREAT to see Zack Hightower back, and we even got to see Matt Hanley return, along with Chris Travers and the newest person at the CIA who might have Court's back - Angela Lacy (I think that's her name). Oh, and I almost forgot...Sir Don Fitzroy too (LOVED that!)
But when you start to think about the storyline itself, there were many situations that seemed to push the believability scale and maybe even could be considered plot holes. I don't mean the subject itself of the AI situation. I mean about people just happening to be at the same place at the same time as someone about to be attacked and murdered, or someone just happening to be exactly where they needed to be to impact a certain situation. Again, without going into spoilers, let me just say - the situation in Tulum. What an UNBELIEVABLE coincidence it had to be for the events that occurred there to happen when they did. I mean, what were the odds that those specific people were all going to be together at that time? And because they were, that changed everything going forward because now there was important knowledge gained that furthered the story arc. There really are a couple of these situations.
This was also the first time that I found myself being pulled out of the story at times. There were circumstances when there was an absolutely crazy level of abilities of/with surveillance; unheard of drone capabilities (along with other new advanced tech) that were just downright scary. Abilities to not only track and find the people on the list ( and some who weren't even initially on the list), but to also have almost 100% drone coverage in major metropolitan cities with instant facial recognition, to listen to their conversations, and to make it appear so very easy. Yet in another breath, our guys - at least the ones added to the list - were able to escape the net on many, many occasions. I can't really delve into the specifics but the level of consistency with the omnipotence seemed to wax and wane at times.
The ending was where I began to really have a problem. Let's just say that I was upset. Upset with certain decisions made by certain people (who used the excuse "orders"), VERY upset with the treatment of 2 (really 3) characters that I seem to be protective of - when they had just risked their lives for a country and agency that has done NOTHING for them in recent history, and the very last event that is really just a HUGE cliffhanger. A cliffhanger that is going to drive me crazy to have to wait a year to resolve. Patience is not and has never been my strong suit.....
With that being said, if Mr. Greaney hadn't already created a world where I ADORE his characters (and definitely one certain MC more than anyone else), then none of this would have bothered me. I would not have the ABSOLUTE level of investment I have in this series, and with these characters. And I for sure would not have had the swarms of butterflies in my stomach as I tried to steady my nerves. See, these are all the signs of a great author and a fantastic series :)
So, after a couple of hours to settle down, I am getting over my irritation with the events that occurred with our guy, well, actually with the events that occurred with the three of them.
Okay, after all of that, I am going to keep my rating at 4.5 stars. I just needed to put my thoughts down so they could sort themselves out. Oh, and before I forget...Jay Snyder knocked it out of the park with his narraton....but that is nothing new either. He is a solid and consistent narrator for this series, and I cannot imagine anyone else trying to take his place.
Hmmmm……… I really don’t know how I feel at the moment. Seriously, I need to let this sit for a bit. Never thought I’d be conflicted after a Courtland Gentry book.
______________________________________________
Okay. Let's see if I can put my thoughts in order. Let me start by saying this (and anyone who has read any of my reviews for this series already knows that I ADORE the Gray Man / Court Gentry / Sierra Six / Violator - you can choose a name..) So, yes, I am always so very excited when Mr. Greaney's annual book is released, and this time was no different.
I am in awe of the world that Mr. Greaney has built - the characters, the storylines, well, every single piece of it. To top off everything....Court is one of my top 5 male MC's from ANY genre. For someone who reads as much as I do, that is one of the biggest compliments that I can give. So, why am I saying all of this? Well, because there were a few things in this book that were a bit outside the norm. You know what, let's just get to the book.
First of all, since we are at the 13th book in this series, characters are very well established and while there are characters that we as readers have come to love...there are also some that we REALLY do not like. This book takes off about 4 months later after the ending of the last book and finds Court and Z lying low and trying to stay off the grid. Russia is after Zoya and the CIA is back on their constantly changing merry go round and has decided that Court is a bad guy once again, hence the need for the two of them to stay moving while on the run.
Through really no fault of their own, they find themselves in the middle of a situation that is occurring worldwide with the assassinations of several prominent scientists who are leaders in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The beginning starts of fairly consistent in terms of just jumping right into the story, but there are some pacing issues after the first quarter of the book and we see the middle begin to drag just a bit. I probably would not have even mentioned this, but this is something that I cannot ever remember thinking while reading in any of the prior books.
In true Greaney fashion though, as the book gets to the last quarter or so, things really begin to pick up. From there on it is a mad dash to the finish with hold your breath type events, nonstop action, incredibly intense suspense drama, and lots of crazy shenanigans. So, what was the problem?
Well, I'm not sure if "problem" is even the right word, and without going into spoilers, it is going to be harder for me to explain but let me try. There are a LOT of characters in this book and many of them are scientists. There are also many, many POV's that we only get for a short paragraph or two and then get bits and pieces about when we jump to their portion of what is going on (usually before we got to witness or hear about their assassination). The various characters along with the actual instances of some info dumping made it a little confusing at times.
Another thing that was a little different was that this book did not spend as much page time as we have come to expect with the focus being on Court. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to see Zoya and Court working together, and we all know that they are a fantastic working duo, but there was also quite a bit of time when they were not on page. It was GREAT to see Zack Hightower back, and we even got to see Matt Hanley return, along with Chris Travers and the newest person at the CIA who might have Court's back - Angela Lacy (I think that's her name). Oh, and I almost forgot...Sir Don Fitzroy too (LOVED that!)
But when you start to think about the storyline itself, there were many situations that seemed to push the believability scale and maybe even could be considered plot holes. I don't mean the subject itself of the AI situation. I mean about people just happening to be at the same place at the same time as someone about to be attacked and murdered, or someone just happening to be exactly where they needed to be to impact a certain situation. Again, without going into spoilers, let me just say - the situation in Tulum. What an UNBELIEVABLE coincidence it had to be for the events that occurred there to happen when they did. I mean, what were the odds that those specific people were all going to be together at that time? And because they were, that changed everything going forward because now there was important knowledge gained that furthered the story arc. There really are a couple of these situations.
This was also the first time that I found myself being pulled out of the story at times. There were circumstances when there was an absolutely crazy level of abilities of/with surveillance; unheard of drone capabilities (along with other new advanced tech) that were just downright scary. Abilities to not only track and find the people on the list ( and some who weren't even initially on the list), but to also have almost 100% drone coverage in major metropolitan cities with instant facial recognition, to listen to their conversations, and to make it appear so very easy. Yet in another breath, our guys - at least the ones added to the list - were able to escape the net on many, many occasions. I can't really delve into the specifics but the level of consistency with the omnipotence seemed to wax and wane at times.
The ending was where I began to really have a problem. Let's just say that I was upset. Upset with certain decisions made by certain people (who used the excuse "orders"), VERY upset with the treatment of 2 (really 3) characters that I seem to be protective of - when they had just risked their lives for a country and agency that has done NOTHING for them in recent history, and the very last event that is really just a HUGE cliffhanger. A cliffhanger that is going to drive me crazy to have to wait a year to resolve. Patience is not and has never been my strong suit.....
With that being said, if Mr. Greaney hadn't already created a world where I ADORE his characters (and definitely one certain MC more than anyone else), then none of this would have bothered me. I would not have the ABSOLUTE level of investment I have in this series, and with these characters. And I for sure would not have had the swarms of butterflies in my stomach as I tried to steady my nerves. See, these are all the signs of a great author and a fantastic series :)
So, after a couple of hours to settle down, I am getting over my irritation with the events that occurred with our guy, well, actually with the events that occurred with the three of them.
Okay, after all of that, I am going to keep my rating at 4.5 stars. I just needed to put my thoughts down so they could sort themselves out. Oh, and before I forget...Jay Snyder knocked it out of the park with his narraton....but that is nothing new either. He is a solid and consistent narrator for this series, and I cannot imagine anyone else trying to take his place.
March 3, 2024
Thirteen books into this series, and Greaney just keeps hitting home runs.
That kind of shocks me, as I'm terrible for getting fatigued with any long running series (say, anything over about six books). I can, off the top of my head, really only think of James S.A. Corey's 10-book Expanse series, the constantly expanding Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry, Joe R. Lansdale's Hap & Leonard series, and the phenomenal 41 books in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.
And this one. Five series, out of likely hundreds that I've started and quit. So, that's saying something about both Greaney's storytelling ability.
This one's really fun, even if I did figure out what was going on far earlier than I was likely supposed to. It's the same stuff...Court gets yoinked into an impossible situation that he then has to fight his way out of.
The strength here is, the impossible situations are always different, and the cast of characters that inhabit Court's world are always a lot of fun.
And this one also happens to be quite topical, so bonus marks for that.
Another winner in the series.
That kind of shocks me, as I'm terrible for getting fatigued with any long running series (say, anything over about six books). I can, off the top of my head, really only think of James S.A. Corey's 10-book Expanse series, the constantly expanding Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry, Joe R. Lansdale's Hap & Leonard series, and the phenomenal 41 books in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.
And this one. Five series, out of likely hundreds that I've started and quit. So, that's saying something about both Greaney's storytelling ability.
This one's really fun, even if I did figure out what was going on far earlier than I was likely supposed to. It's the same stuff...Court gets yoinked into an impossible situation that he then has to fight his way out of.
The strength here is, the impossible situations are always different, and the cast of characters that inhabit Court's world are always a lot of fun.
And this one also happens to be quite topical, so bonus marks for that.
Another winner in the series.
October 13, 2024
Court and zoya have been off the grid for 4 months, now in Guatemala. A Russian comes and tells zoya that there is a Russian that has taken military AI secrets from the US. He says there’s going to be some kind of killing software about to be used in a weapon and wants to get back to Russia but folks are trying to kill him. Russian guy wants Zoya to go save him and bring him to Russia, ostensibly to prevent this knowledge from getting into the world but Zoya knows Russia just wants it. some shady folks running some killing program from Singapore using drones and hitmen seem to want to kill zoya and the Russian after they Face ID them with a drone. They’re also killing military AI types and don’t really know why their leader is taking out these folk. They send a hitman Lancer to take care of Zoya
Zoya and court escape on a boat, the Russian left to go meet up wiry the guy in Mexico City that he told Zoya about. Lancer was hurt but recovers, he’s a US guy former military working for this mysterious outfit, all of whom work for this unknown guy Cyrus. Lancer identifies court and Cyrus tells lancer and the observation team in Singapore to go after court still, plus the two now in Mexico City, plus another 2 in the US.
Another attack on an AI billionaire guy fails because his security is good. After one of them calls up Zach Hightower, they used to operate together, SAS and US military. He gets Zach to come to London to replace the head of security who was killed in the attempted assassination.
Analyst Jim Pace briefs the CIA on the killings. 10 so far in 36 hours. They know Scott Kincaid is involved (Lancer) who was on trial for killing civilians when he was in the SEAL team, but let go without jail time. Angela Lacy is there, special assistant to the DDO. Pace wants to go talk to all the friends of the people who’ve been killed, to get the story together, and Chris travers and the rest of a ground branch team go with him.
Court calls Fitzroy and learns who employs Lancer, fitz offers to broker a meeting between jack Tudor and court in Mexico. Fitz knows Tudor would love to have court working for him, Tudor does similar stuff to Fitz a while back, hiring out people like Court. The meeting is ambushed by autonomous shooting robots, Fitzroy escapes to a hospital and court and zoya escape, Jack Tudor is killed.
Lancer kills another AI guy in Boston, pace goes to investigate. Lancer is now off to Toronto for another one, and Zach and Anton and group all go to one of his compounds in Cuba. He survives another assassination attempt while there, Hightower protecting him.
Court and Zoya go to Colombia where Matt Hanley has been moved from New Guinea. Seems Angela Lacy helped get him out of there. Court gives intel he got from Tudor including someone’s name from the Ops Center in Singapore, Martina Sommer, who reached back out to her handler Tudor wanting out. Court wants Matt to get this intel into CIA without it appearing to come from Court. Meanwhile Martina is now missing after having contacted Tudor.
Jim pace visits hanley to get the info he has, learned it was from court. Apparently brewer was killed 4 months earlier and people assume it was Court
People figure out that Anton orchestrated all this, his assassination attempts were faked, and Cyrus is an AI in development. He’s planning to sell it to China and there is a big shootout when the Americans all come to Cuba. Zach ends up killing Anton to keep him out of americas hands, zoya is taken by Chinese agents to be returned to Russia where she will be in trouble. Court goes to Hanley to get help finding zoya
Zoya and court escape on a boat, the Russian left to go meet up wiry the guy in Mexico City that he told Zoya about. Lancer was hurt but recovers, he’s a US guy former military working for this mysterious outfit, all of whom work for this unknown guy Cyrus. Lancer identifies court and Cyrus tells lancer and the observation team in Singapore to go after court still, plus the two now in Mexico City, plus another 2 in the US.
Another attack on an AI billionaire guy fails because his security is good. After one of them calls up Zach Hightower, they used to operate together, SAS and US military. He gets Zach to come to London to replace the head of security who was killed in the attempted assassination.
Analyst Jim Pace briefs the CIA on the killings. 10 so far in 36 hours. They know Scott Kincaid is involved (Lancer) who was on trial for killing civilians when he was in the SEAL team, but let go without jail time. Angela Lacy is there, special assistant to the DDO. Pace wants to go talk to all the friends of the people who’ve been killed, to get the story together, and Chris travers and the rest of a ground branch team go with him.
Court calls Fitzroy and learns who employs Lancer, fitz offers to broker a meeting between jack Tudor and court in Mexico. Fitz knows Tudor would love to have court working for him, Tudor does similar stuff to Fitz a while back, hiring out people like Court. The meeting is ambushed by autonomous shooting robots, Fitzroy escapes to a hospital and court and zoya escape, Jack Tudor is killed.
Lancer kills another AI guy in Boston, pace goes to investigate. Lancer is now off to Toronto for another one, and Zach and Anton and group all go to one of his compounds in Cuba. He survives another assassination attempt while there, Hightower protecting him.
Court and Zoya go to Colombia where Matt Hanley has been moved from New Guinea. Seems Angela Lacy helped get him out of there. Court gives intel he got from Tudor including someone’s name from the Ops Center in Singapore, Martina Sommer, who reached back out to her handler Tudor wanting out. Court wants Matt to get this intel into CIA without it appearing to come from Court. Meanwhile Martina is now missing after having contacted Tudor.
Jim pace visits hanley to get the info he has, learned it was from court. Apparently brewer was killed 4 months earlier and people assume it was Court
People figure out that Anton orchestrated all this, his assassination attempts were faked, and Cyrus is an AI in development. He’s planning to sell it to China and there is a big shootout when the Americans all come to Cuba. Zach ends up killing Anton to keep him out of americas hands, zoya is taken by Chinese agents to be returned to Russia where she will be in trouble. Court goes to Hanley to get help finding zoya
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2024
Assassin-for-hire Court Gentry (the Gray Man) and his ex-rival now girlfriend, super Russia assassin Zoya Zakharova, have been hiding out in Central and South America, enjoying downtime together and eluding both the U.S. and Russian governments who want each captured or dead.
An older ex-Russian agent approaches Zoya in a small Guatemala lake town asking for help to protect an AI engineer whose life is at risk, and suddenly Court and Zoya find themselves targeted by facial recognition software and under death threats themselves. On their trail: Scott Kincaid a ruthless assassin known by code name Lancer and also known for leaving excessive collateral damage of civilians in his killings. But ultimately compared to other Gray Man novels, Court plays mostly a secondary support role to his longtime agency friends who are on the hunt for the perpetrator of the killings.
Meanwhile, around the world, close to a dozen top AI scientists and engineers are being killed in rapid succession. Jim Pace from the CIA is tasked with traveling to the assassination sites to try to figure out what’s going on. All have some connection to the use of AI to develop autonomous weapons powered by advanced AI. This is where this novel shines: in the truly scary prospect of both the attraction of using AI to power weapons faster than humans and the potential horror of something going wrong with the AI in control. The killings feature robots that look like Greyhounds with rifles affixed to the backs and endless variations of drones ranging from barely visible to those carrying powerful detonation payloads.
In charge: some combination of famous billionaire Anton Hinton who claims he has a vision of world peace and an AI that Hinton’s created named Cyrus who may be behaving erractically. But Hinton may also be angling to sell his new AI weaponry to the highest bidder, which appears to be China. But, the U.S. wants the technology for themselves. Thrown into the mix: an old favorite Zack Hightower who’s been drawn out of retirement to take control of Hinton’s security team.
All action leads to Cuba, where Hinton has converted a sprawling old Russian intelligence campus and bunker into his AI lab. The tension keeps ratcheting up, and ends in non-stop violence between CIA teams, Hinton’s private security, AI driven autonomous weapons, and the Cuban militia that went on for so long that that it ultimately seemed gratuitous and over the top. I found myself skimming dozens of fight pages.
But gotta love Greaney for a huge, cliff-hanger set up for the next outing in this series, where Court and Zoya will return to the forefront.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
An older ex-Russian agent approaches Zoya in a small Guatemala lake town asking for help to protect an AI engineer whose life is at risk, and suddenly Court and Zoya find themselves targeted by facial recognition software and under death threats themselves. On their trail: Scott Kincaid a ruthless assassin known by code name Lancer and also known for leaving excessive collateral damage of civilians in his killings. But ultimately compared to other Gray Man novels, Court plays mostly a secondary support role to his longtime agency friends who are on the hunt for the perpetrator of the killings.
Meanwhile, around the world, close to a dozen top AI scientists and engineers are being killed in rapid succession. Jim Pace from the CIA is tasked with traveling to the assassination sites to try to figure out what’s going on. All have some connection to the use of AI to develop autonomous weapons powered by advanced AI. This is where this novel shines: in the truly scary prospect of both the attraction of using AI to power weapons faster than humans and the potential horror of something going wrong with the AI in control. The killings feature robots that look like Greyhounds with rifles affixed to the backs and endless variations of drones ranging from barely visible to those carrying powerful detonation payloads.
In charge: some combination of famous billionaire Anton Hinton who claims he has a vision of world peace and an AI that Hinton’s created named Cyrus who may be behaving erractically. But Hinton may also be angling to sell his new AI weaponry to the highest bidder, which appears to be China. But, the U.S. wants the technology for themselves. Thrown into the mix: an old favorite Zack Hightower who’s been drawn out of retirement to take control of Hinton’s security team.
All action leads to Cuba, where Hinton has converted a sprawling old Russian intelligence campus and bunker into his AI lab. The tension keeps ratcheting up, and ends in non-stop violence between CIA teams, Hinton’s private security, AI driven autonomous weapons, and the Cuban militia that went on for so long that that it ultimately seemed gratuitous and over the top. I found myself skimming dozens of fight pages.
But gotta love Greaney for a huge, cliff-hanger set up for the next outing in this series, where Court and Zoya will return to the forefront.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
February 28, 2024
Now I have to wait yet another year 😭 life is unfair.
As per Gray Man usual this was fun as hell
As per Gray Man usual this was fun as hell
March 20, 2024
Disappointing
Not up to par. Sub plot kind of like Terminator Salvation. Characters not well developed and writing weak. Gave it 2 stars because it’s the Gray Man.
Not up to par. Sub plot kind of like Terminator Salvation. Characters not well developed and writing weak. Gave it 2 stars because it’s the Gray Man.
April 22, 2024
Awesome! Skynet is inevitable.
The Gray Man and Zoya are keeping their heads down, hiding out in Guatemala. Meanwhile the various scientists across the globe who are thought to be leading the way in developing AI are being assassinated.
Through no fault of their own, Gentry and Zoya get caught up in the mess. A thriller from start to finish. I saw the "reveal" coming from a mile away but it doesn't take away from the story
The Gray Man and Zoya are keeping their heads down, hiding out in Guatemala. Meanwhile the various scientists across the globe who are thought to be leading the way in developing AI are being assassinated.
Through no fault of their own, Gentry and Zoya get caught up in the mess. A thriller from start to finish. I saw the "reveal" coming from a mile away but it doesn't take away from the story
May 20, 2025
Such an incredibly consistent series that is smart and exciting but doesn't talk down to the reader either. I will absolutely be re-reading this series a million more times.
Also, AI is fucking scary.
Second reading: The end of this one makes me cheer (mostly Hightower's actions) and I'm stoked for the next one in February.
Third reading: AI IS SO SCARY.
Also, AI is fucking scary.
Second reading: The end of this one makes me cheer (mostly Hightower's actions) and I'm stoked for the next one in February.
Third reading: AI IS SO SCARY.
February 6, 2025
I believe the latest in the 'Gray Man' series. This one has a lot. Of course Court Gentry the Gray man, Zach Hightower, and Zoya are all here. Gentry is making sounds like a man who wants out of this international intrigue business, but as usual he has to take care of some of that business first. The story has a wide range of plots that tie together and they were hard for me to keep up with. I still liked the story. The villainy has its root in a billionaire who is portrayed as friendly, good guy like, and trying to make things better for mankind. Of course he is shown as being a bit misguided in his thinking. The people he surrounds himself all come across as fine. But the scariest thing is that there is an artificial intelligence wad of programming which when I was reading at first I kept thinking that this is under control but I was thinking that because it is so scary if it gets out of control and I wanted the story to be less scary. In these times with AI in its beginnings it is scary enough seeing companies use it in areas where they shouldn't. An example is a guy I know who works for a big construction/ development firm said they were trying AI to do some civil engineering for them and all seemed well and good until some of the engineers studied the product and found it all to be just made up BS. We're talking specs for public works and buildings here. Anyway, this book concerns itself with weaponry manufacturing and war behavior. So there are these different robots, both biped and quadruped, and of course drones. Gentry isn't alone in this but he plays a key part of course in the struggle with these bad guys. The action in the last 75 pages or so is exciting, with like 5 different scenes of action going on at once. Throughout the book there are killings which are all tied together and some plot twists and misleading clues and happenings and they are scary. It was a lot for a guy like me to keep track of but I still liked it and if you could wipe my memory clean I would read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2024
Mark Greaney's The Chaos Agent (Berkley 2024), Book 13 of Gray Man series, is another winner. This one is ripped from future headlines about the power of AI. Against his better instincts, Court Gentry, aka, the Gray Man, is pulled into an international battle to control AI warfare and those who know how to invent and run it. The major players in this industry on the West's side are being killed off, leaving the Chinese scientists to continue their work unchallenged. Except there’s a problem. One of the murdered players in this industry is personal to Gentry's girlfriend, Zoya Zakharova. Because she is close to this man, the killers think they must eliminate her, which Gentry won't allow. While the killers try to figure out how to deal with Gentry and Zoya, their mostly-unchallenged AI is learning how to dominate the world and wrest control from its human masters. As Gentry tries to save Zoya's life, and his own, he is also fighting for the survival of humanity in a Wild West of Man vs. Machine.
The only downside of this book is that Greaney includes an awful lot of background on the characters. It’s interesting and builds their credibility, but slows the plot. It took a long time for Court and Zoya to get from their Guatemala hideout to the story's climax locations as Greaney was building all of this backstory. Not good or bad. Just a comment, and having said that, I still couldn't stop reading and gave the book an enthusiastic 5/5.
The only downside of this book is that Greaney includes an awful lot of background on the characters. It’s interesting and builds their credibility, but slows the plot. It took a long time for Court and Zoya to get from their Guatemala hideout to the story's climax locations as Greaney was building all of this backstory. Not good or bad. Just a comment, and having said that, I still couldn't stop reading and gave the book an enthusiastic 5/5.
March 24, 2024
The thirteenth book in the Gray Man series. Court and his girlfriend/former assassin are hiding out in Central America trying to stay off the grid. Everything is goin well until a person from Zoya’s past comes back and asks for her help. This leads to an assassination attempt on Zoya and Court. Meanwhile leading experts around the world in AI are being murdered and no one knows why. Court and Zoya and drawn into the problem partially due to self preservation and as they try to get to the bottom of what is going on, they are forced to face off again maybe their toughest opponent ever.
This plot was so good and scary at the same time. AI led weaponry that doesn’t need human interaction to determine what to do. This was scary and made for. Great story line. It was definitely a foe that Court has never gone up against before and led to a tough test. As with all Mark Greaney novels, the action is off the charts and you barely have a moment to catch your breath before the next action scene starts. Zach Hightower is back and plays a different role as head of security for one of the AI experts.
Overall a great book, although I have come to expect nothing less from Mr. Greaney. The book has a little bit of a cliff hanger that sets up the next novel. I will be counting the days until I the next installment comes out next year.
This plot was so good and scary at the same time. AI led weaponry that doesn’t need human interaction to determine what to do. This was scary and made for. Great story line. It was definitely a foe that Court has never gone up against before and led to a tough test. As with all Mark Greaney novels, the action is off the charts and you barely have a moment to catch your breath before the next action scene starts. Zach Hightower is back and plays a different role as head of security for one of the AI experts.
Overall a great book, although I have come to expect nothing less from Mr. Greaney. The book has a little bit of a cliff hanger that sets up the next novel. I will be counting the days until I the next installment comes out next year.
July 24, 2024
Mark Greaney's Gray Man is back in his thirteenth novel of the series...The usual formula of both familiar characters, new characters, settings around the World, a contemporary Worldwide issue and loads and loads of page-turning action, give us another Gray Man winner...We begin small with Court Gentry and Zoya Zakharova, in hiding being brought into an investigation of a series of murders of experts in the field of Artificial Intelligence...This small beginning explodes into Court and Zoya teaming up with a number of CIA assets to combat an effort to control the World with AI...Just a great tale...Loved it!
February 23, 2024
Wow. This was an awesome book, even though it was a bit scary. What would happen if AI advanced to the point that it became self aware? Would humans even be able to maintain control over advanced systems? That is the main focus of this book. And as I type this review, the AI on my laptop is trying to anticipate the next words I will enter...kind of creepy as well. Overall, a very good book that poses questions we must answer going forward. Are we eventually going to be slaves to the devices we now control? Maybe James Cameron's Terminator wasn't just science fiction but in fact visionary.
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