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Tom Gray #5

Gray Vengeance

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An African militia has a new leader—and Tom Gray has a deadly new problem. Da Sunan Annabi has a ruthless new leader whose aim is to train British nationals to bring England to its knees. As their plans unfold with deadly precision and Britain is crippled by a series of attacks, the government is forced to deploy its new secret a surveillance network that can spy on nearly every human being on earth. It is nearly foolproof—but is it ethical? And does that even matter now? Soon, Tom Gray and his daughter are in the militia’s sights, and their lives depend on Gray finding the man behind the recent atrocities. His desperate search leads him to Africa and Cuba, for a final showdown with an enemy he could never have imagined. Gray Vengeance , the fifth book in the action-packed Tom Gray series, leaves you breathless until the very last page.

358 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2015

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About the author

Alan McDermott

31 books772 followers
Alan McDermott is a full time author from the south of England, married with beautiful twin daughters. He used to write critical applications for the NHS, but now he spends his days writing action thrillers.

His debut novel, Gray Justice, has been very well received and earned him membership of http://independentauthorsinternationa.... He was subsequently picked up by Thomas & Mercer, who published his first 10 books.

Alan's 7th novel Trojan was shortlisted for an ITW thriller award.

In March 2020 he release a new standalone called Motive, and the 7th Tom Gray will be released on June 4th 2020.

The reading order of Alan's books can be found at www.alanmcdermottbooks.co.uk

You can follow Alan on Twitter through his @Jambalian account and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GrayJustice

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5 stars
1,676 (51%)
4 stars
1,150 (35%)
3 stars
337 (10%)
2 stars
62 (1%)
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20 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Kath Middleton.
Author 23 books158 followers
May 26, 2015
This latest book in the Tom Gray series is a fantastic action thriller. It poses a number of questions to the reader. Would you welcome a system of surveillance which could access everything you typed on your computer or sent on your phone? Not even if it were capable of putting an end to potential terrorist threats? How much do you value personal privacy? The story begins with preparations for a massive attack on roads, airports and hospitals in Britain. The attack is more ferocious and long- lasting than the people who set it up envisaged. Somebody is going to gain from this and the corruption goes very high up. Tom Gray’s and his team are on the track of the old enemy though they are thwarted at every turn. As always, this story is fast and furious. Tom Gray is desperate not to let harm befall his baby daughter who has already been a victim of those determined to kill him.

The book is written in a direct and uncompromising manner and I was drawn deeply into it. It’s a revelation about how potentially easy it would be to get information from our use of technology and I’m getting nervous about using my elderly mobile phone! If I had one criticism, though it’s probably my memory at fault, I found that similar sounding names, like Harvey, Hamad and Harper tripped me up as I tried to remember who was involved. This wasn’t enough to spoil my enjoyment of what is possibly the best of the series so far. It’s one of those stories you don’t want to put down and I read it in two days. Excellent!

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Profile Image for Colin Guest.
Author 18 books13 followers
July 16, 2019
A great book, it gives one an idea of just how far online surveilance can evolve. As usual with Tom Gray, the book is packed with action. It takes one from the carnage in England to far away Cuba. I look forward to reading more of his books.
14 reviews
April 28, 2020
Good actioner in the mode of maybe Bourne but with a team, and none of the normal stereotypes and cliches of other main line authors, worth a read.
Profile Image for Scott Bury.
Author 34 books124 followers
May 26, 2015
Alan McDermott, the master of the firefight, has done it again. Just when you think he could not top the tension, pace and world-shattering implications of his plots, he has raised the bar again with his fifth Tom Gray story, Gray Vengeance.

Sometimes I wonder if Tom Gray isn’t getting tired of saving the United Kingdom and, indeed, the whole world. This is the fifth time in as many years, or even less.

In this installment, an African extremist group, dismissed by the top brass in the UK’s intelligence service, has a new leader with a plan to cripple Britain. The plan is so audacious and so well-thought-out, I really hope no terrorists read this book. Or that anti-terrorist planners do read it. (Note to the author: gift a copy to your MP, all cabinet ministers and anti-terror people.)

The attack is coordinated to strike on multiple targets using different types of weapons and tactics, simultaneously. It uses people that no one would suspect of being terrorists. And as always in a McDermott book, every detail is painstakingly planned and completely believable.

And what’s even more blood-chilling is the response of the UK and US government. It’s not giving away too much of the plot to say it involves surveillance of the entire population to a level that gives me nightmares and government snoops nocturnal emissions.

The style
McDermott knows how not to let the details of the plot or the characterization get in the way of keeping the plot moving. The pace doesn’t let up as McDermott takes us from Britain to Africa and back.

With every successive book, McDermott also continues to develop his characters. I am especially pleased to see more about one of my favourite secondary characters of the series, the MI-5 agent Andrew Harvey.

The author also is adept at surprising us with characters who turn out to be the opposite of my initial reaction. And it doesn’t seem forced or false, at all. The characters develop completely believably.

In fact, this book is so believable, I’m starting to get worried about my travel plans to the UK.

5*
Profile Image for CR Hiatt.
Author 16 books153 followers
May 26, 2015
As an avid fan of the Tom Gray thrillers, the publisher graciously gave me an advanced copy for an unbiased review.

Gray Vengeance not only equaled the first four books in the series, but went above and beyond, reminding me of fiction heroes of the same ilk fighting terrorists in the US, such as Scott Horvath and Mitch Rapp—admittedly two of my favorites. This is an intelligent thriller that rings eerily true in today’s world, and makes you immediately wonder how far from reality are the events depicted, and could truth really be stranger than fiction if they were actually played out.

Without giving away too many spoilers, the story starts off by introducing the reader to disenchanted men who want to wreak havoc to their homeland and somebody with the financial means to do so, is behind the scene pulling the strings. As training commences to pull off coordinated terrorist attacks all across the United Kingdom, Tom Gray has his daughter glued to his side in an attempt to keep her safe from the threats he knows are still out there by a nemesis that continues to evade the law. Holding true to the author’s past books, the reader also continues to see the loyalty between Tom Gray and his team, his friendship with Harvey, and how far he is willing to go to keep his country safe.

Gray Vengeance is a fast-paced thriller readers won’t want to miss, and will keep them thinking throughout the story.

Excellent thriller and highly recommended by this reader.
Profile Image for David Cassidy.
Author 9 books151 followers
May 26, 2015
9/11.

We all remember where we were and what we were doing when terrorists struck America. And with Gray Vengeance, the fifth action thriller in the immensely popular Tom Gray novels by Alan McDermott, the world will remember where they were and what they were doing on “Twelve-Fifteen.”

With blitzkreig shock, well-funded and well-organized terrorists bring Britain to its knees on the fifteenth of December, 2014. A series of well-planned attacks knock out infrastructure and communications, causing mayhem, chaos, and death. Thousands are killed, leaving a government paralyzed. In this age where the world is a slave dependent to its technology, the threat in Gray Vengeance is all too real … and all too terrifying.

McDermott pulls no punches. Gray Vengeance is a hard-hitting novel, exposing the root of the West’s greatest challenge fighting terrorism: information. While the story is big on action and thrills, it holds a far greater depth, boldly asking the most important questions of our time.

What is the privacy of an individual worth? Do the ends of defeating terror justify a government’s means to monitor everything we say or do?

A hot-seat thrill-ride for the most hard-core action fan, Gray Vengeance is an astonishing, intelligent read that is as terrifying as it is satisfying—you won’t put it down.
Profile Image for Wanda Hartzenberg.
Author 5 books73 followers
October 8, 2015
I received a copy of this book for review from Netgalley

I love conspiracy stories. But when I started on this I figured that this author better know his story. This is bigger than life.
I was not wrong. This is bigger than life and the author does know his story.

I am not going to bore you by telling you what the story is about. Read the blurb. However if you love a good spy novel. Bigger than life characters. Logic and multi continental action then this is probably the book for you.

I made a recent decision that I will not give a great book a 5* rating if it is not the book that at the time I was reading turned out to be the one I cannot put down. Unfortunately I stick to my rules but I think if the list I was working on reading (I read a minimum of 5 books at a time) were arranged a bit differently then my rating would have been a five.

The scope, the logic. The follow through, the pacing, the characters all in this book is something that I must recommend. Here is some serious research scraped down to make it an entertaining read.

Bravo

WaAr
Profile Image for Sarah Black.
155 reviews3 followers
September 1, 2016
From Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

To be completely honest, I tried my hardest to read this book and to get into it. I stopped at about 68% in, I couldn't read anymore. It was boring me to death, I guess I was wrong when I thought I would love it.

The cover drew me in, then the blurb made me have that urge to read it. But it wasn't as good as the blurb led me to believe. I even tried watching an action movie to get me in the mood to read it, but I just couldn't.

Don't get me wrong, it had some really good segments that I loved reading. I enjoyed the main character, but it still wasn't enough. I'm sorry.
281 reviews8 followers
April 17, 2016
The continued saga in the life of Tom Gray and his daughter Melissa. Well written as usual and containing some very scary incidents, which get you thinking. Altogether too plausible. Loved getting to reacquaint myself with Tom and his sidekicks Sonny and Len. Looking forward to number 6; next on my list
Profile Image for A Reader's Heaven.
1,592 reviews28 followers
March 14, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

An African militia has a new leader—and Tom Gray has a deadly new problem.
Da Sunan Annabi has a ruthless new leader whose aim is to train British nationals to bring England to its knees.
As their plans unfold with deadly precision and Britain is crippled by a series of attacks, the government is forced to deploy its new secret weapon: a surveillance network that can spy on nearly every human being on earth. It is nearly foolproof—but is it ethical? And does that even matter now?
Soon, Tom Gray and his daughter are in the militia’s sights, and their lives depend on Gray finding the man behind the recent atrocities. His desperate search leads him to Africa and Cuba, for a final showdown with an enemy he could never have imagined.


*3.5 stars*

This is the 5th book in the Tom Gray series, but the first that I have read. I don't really think you need to have read the previous ones to understand what is going on here.

First off, let me say what a very cool concept this novel was. From the digital warfare, to the African militia and beyond, this book had enough different aspects to make an action/thriller fan very happy. The idea of Britain having the ability to spy on every single person in the world is scary as anything, and the militia were just downright frightening. The atrocities carried out in their name were chilling.

As for the characters, Tom is a decent guy - a little over-the-top protective of his daughter (and the reader does get that a lot) but very well-meaning. He also happens to be a tough-as-nails fighter and will do anything he can to bring this militia (and those within it) to its knees. However, at times, I just find he is just a little TOO perfect for the situation and the believability drops just a notch.

Overall, the action was patchy for me - the good was REALLY good, but there were times when I felt that the flow of the story just wasn't quite right. About 2/3 of the way through the book, I started to get - I won't say bored - but, distracted by external things because the plot had slowed down so much. I realise why it did that, and the build back up for the finale was great, but it just sorted fizzed for a little while. That's why it got 3.5 stars...

Overall, though, a great story and I will definitely be going to find the first few books in this series...


Paul
ARH
Profile Image for DarcLibrarian .
325 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2020
Ultimate Betrayal!

Tom Gray faces the biggest challenge yet when he must protect not just his country but his young daughter. An audacious terrorist plot which unleashes terror on the streets of Great Britain activates a surveillance system that threatens the civil rights of the entire world. Tom who also appears to be a target, along with his friends face the battle of their lives. A battle that climaxes with a showdown with an old enemy and the ultimate betrayal from within the echelons of power. Another intriguing political thriller that I recommend listening to for free with Kindle Unlimited.
354 reviews4 followers
June 4, 2021
Another 5 Stars

This is such a great series. They are all action packed from start to finish. The detail included in this and all the other books is second to none. So much food for thought. I have read all five books (in order of course) and none of them have left me disappointed. Lots of old faces make very worthy guest star appearances. A big thank you to Alan McDermott for such high quality work and I am really looking forward to book number 6, Gray Salvation. A well deserved 5 stars.
Profile Image for Trish R..
1,772 reviews58 followers
April 8, 2020

Okay, maybe this is the best one so far. This was about Great Britain being brought to its knees, and thousands and thousands of people dying. And it was up to Gray and his team and members of MI5 to catch the killers. It was a very intense story and the characters were awesome. Well, except all the bad guys.

There was no sex to speak and the F-bomb was used 13 times. I can’t wait to read the final book in the series.

As to the narration: James Langton was absolutely perfect!
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
March 22, 2017
"Shocking Terrorist Attacks In Britain"

In this continuing saga, Tom Gray takes on a new mission of taking down an organization brought to life by Da Sunan Annabi in Nigeria, Africa, The terrorist group, known as Takasa, wreaks major havoc in Britain. Tom's search takes him to Africa and Cuba. Tom is a fighter who never gives up. However, Tom has a lot to lose since he is a widower and has sworn to himself to always safeguard his young daughter, Melissa. This series is awesome, it's non-stop action from beginning to end. Very well written which helps the reader move right along. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Balthazar Lawson.
773 reviews9 followers
September 28, 2017
Tom Gray gets caught up in a massive terrorist attack but things change when he becomes the target. With the help of Andrew Harvey from MI5 he gets the chance to find who is after him and his daughter. But the truth behind the attacks is even more shocking than he could have imagined.

This is an action thriller from the start and it just gets bigger. A very good read.
923 reviews
April 12, 2020
Great series and just makes you wonder if this intelligence excise !!Shows great teamwork and quick thinking for Grey and his team as tough as they are they still show a lot of compassion for others who are on their side of course feel really drawn into their lives .This is the second time of reading this series and enjoyed it just as much looking forward to next !
687 reviews8 followers
January 4, 2024
A good storyline about bringing down Britain from various terrorist cells, but the writing was not up to the usual standards. Confusion over who were the lead charcters in this book, with Gray a sideline for half the book. So not one of Mr McD's better Gray efforts, but I will carry on withthe remainder.
Profile Image for Keven Brooks.
22 reviews
July 10, 2017
Tom Gray returns as the UK comes under several terrorist attacks which could bring the nation to its knees. Once again Alan McDermott has written a fast paced and easy to read novel which keeps teh reader engrossed from start to finish
Profile Image for Mr Stuart McKenzie.
1 review
January 7, 2018
Fantastic read. Id recommended anyone to start the tom gray novels.

Tom Gray - just what Britain needs!
Roller coaster ride. Looking forward to book 6. Farrar still alive....could be more trouble ahead for tom

Profile Image for Tom Casey.
676 reviews2 followers
May 26, 2018
Another gripping read from the first page to the last page, I feel this book has for me brought back something that was missing in book 4. The characters and story line are all believable and not far fetched.
Thank you Alan for all your good work.
Profile Image for Terence Boissel.
22 reviews
February 8, 2019
Another great yarn

Truly a great chapter in the series this book. Lots of twists and turn some obvious from the start but that didn’t detract from the story. As usual this is a well written novel and I highly recommend it to anyone.
11 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2019
Excellent book

Excellent book keeps you wanting more makes you think what goes on in this world and makes you feel good that our Services are as good as what's in the book (if not better
Profile Image for Michael.
53 reviews
June 16, 2019
Best book in the series so far

This was a great read, twisting plot, with enough to make you feel as though you had figured out what was happening but still surprises to keep you hooked. Plenty of action, this is the best Tom Gray novel yet.
9 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2019
The best in the series so far and by far the longest too. The story could have come to a conclusion at a couple of different points, but continued to a new phase each time with great immagination from the author. Very good audio version and good voice continuity from the very first in the series.
Profile Image for Josh Russell.
12 reviews
January 27, 2020
Amazing book, definitely worth a read. I love the connection between the character and his adventure through this series. I felt this is one of the best books in its series. Tom Gray is truly a great character that you can warm to and support.
Profile Image for Mike Eccles.
231 reviews3 followers
February 1, 2020
Destructive!

A clever storyline which kept giving up new secrets from start to finish. Because of that I commend this volume, and the others in the Tom Gray series - once again I couldn’t put the book down.
Profile Image for Sandra Hooke.
553 reviews3 followers
April 1, 2020
OMG first thing your told is Gray’s wife is dead. She didn’t last long guess the previous girlfriend should think herself lucky to have been unceremoniously dumped. A good book spoiled by the writers handling of the main character which get worse as the series progresses.
Profile Image for Trevor.
1,447 reviews2 followers
May 24, 2020
Tom Grey wants a quiet life with his daughter, but again finds himself pulled into a political dispute, as his old foe James Farrar resurfaces. Good story as terror grips the UK and Grey is personally targeted.
2 reviews
August 14, 2017
Good night

A fast paced book hard to put down, I think I will start the next book in this series right away.
1,181 reviews6 followers
September 22, 2017
It only gets better

Each story progresses at a fast rate and the twists and turns get better. This sriry line is one of the most s citing but alarming that I have read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews

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