Dead Eye

Gray Man #4

by Mark Greaney

This is an alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780399586675

Ex-CIA master assassin Court Gentry gets hit with a blast from the past in the fourth Gray Man novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney.

Ex-CIA master assassin Court Gentry has always prided himself on his ability to disappear at will, to fly below the radar and exist in the shadows—to survive as the near-mythical Gray Man. But when he takes revenge upon a former employer who betrayed him, he exposes himself to something he’s never had to face before: a killer who is just like him.

Code-named Dead Eye, Russell Whitlock is a graduate of the same ultra-secret Autonomous Asset Program that trained and once controlled Gentry. But now, Whitlock is a free agent who has been directed to terminate his fellow student of death. He knows how his target thinks, how he moves, and how he kills. And he knows the best way to do the job is to make Gentry run for his life—right up until the moment Dead Eye finally ends it…

“The various moves of each of the skilled and ruthless principals play out against a constantly shifting background of changing goals and allegiances. Fans of superhuman antiheroes will hope the Gray Man survives to fight another day.”—Publishers Weekly

“Political intrigue at its finest...Dead Eye twists and turns with each new revelation as Mark Greaney takes the reader on one heck of a wild ride!”—Fresh Fiction

“Writing as smooth as stainless steel and a hero as mean as razor wire.”—New York Times bestselling author David Stone

“The story is so propulsive, the murders so explosive, that flipping the pages feels like playing the ultimate video game.”—The New York Times

“A high-octane thriller that doesn’t pause for more than a second for all of its 464 pages.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“Take fictional spy Jason Bourne, pump him up with Red Bull and meth, shake vigorously—and you’ve got the recipe for Court Gentry.”—The Memphis Commercial Appeal

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Audiobook, Espionage, Suspense, Spy Thriller

597 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2013

About the author

Mark 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

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.

Meet Gray Man's "evil twin"!

Courtland Gentry (Gray Man/Sierra Six) was with CIA’s Special Activities Division until he killed all five of his teammates. We still don't fully know the whole story behind it yet. Since then he's been on the run from the CIA and is an assassin for hire (with a conscience).

The beginning and ending of Dead Eye were thrilling. Whether it's Gentry's solo arrival to take out a Russian dude at his mansion full of armed security or the ending when he seeks revenge for a certain character. Those parts have nail-biting action but somewhere in the middle, Gray Man moves from one location to the next, to a different country while many units try to kill him. I don't find there was progress just he continues to evade being killed. However, readers get a glimpse from the past which is sweet for fans who follow this series. I also like how Gentry flies different types of "planes" in this one and most of the time he doesn't need to land it! 😉I really enjoy the secondary characters, they added a lot of depth to this book.

Despite the okay'ish middle part, the book has a few surprises and good character development. The Gray Man continues to be one of my favorite series. Dead Eye is probably the weakest book in the series so far for me, still 4⭐! Don't get me wrong, this was a terrific read just that Mr. Greaney himself sets the bar high.

🎥Coming to Netflix on July 22 THE GRAY MAN Official Trailer
My review for book #1 The Gray Man

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good yarn with a little too much bad guy copycat run amuck. I hate when good innocents die. 6 of 10 stars

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ex-CIA master assassin Court Gentry has always prided himself on his ability to disappear at will, to fly below the radar and exist in the shadows—to survive as the near-mythical Gray Man. But when he takes revenge upon a former employer who betrayed him, he exposes himself to something he’s never had to face before.

A killer who is just like him.

Code-named Dead Eye, Russell Whitlock is a graduate of the same ultra-secret Autonomous Asset Program that trained and once controlled Gentry. But now, Whitlock is a free agent who has been directed to terminate his fellow student of death. He knows how his target thinks, how he moves, and how he kills. And he knows the best way to do the job is to make Gentry run for his life—right up until the moment Dead Eye finally ends it…

Mark Greaney... It is you fault I am so tired, wife kept on asking where I was going with my kindle, I just could not stop reading this book !!

I could not stop reading as I wanted so much to know what was going to happen, but then I did not want the book to end !!

I am guilty, started this series with this book, but picked up the story and full details with this book, and joined the rollercoaster ride and only got off when the booked finished.

Although nearly 500 pages, rushed through this book at a fast pace, as my life stopped till I read this book.

Now I can add this author among my favourites, Tom Wood, David Baldacci, Mark Dawson, Simon Kernick, Victor Methos.

This is an action packed, fast paced adventures with impressive locations all over Europe, with loads of great characters good and bad all chasing each other around many great cities.

With great detail by the author on locations, weaponry and the characters.

Hard to know why this is not a film series.

A great book and a five star plus from me.

Good news, starting tonight Back Blast, the next in the series, thank you net galley, and I have bought book 1, 2 and 3.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay first let me say the only thing wrong with this book is that it ends. The only disappointment I have is that there isn't another Court Gentry book in the foreseeable future.

I've read quite a few books and I've always been sure that the largest single genre was fantasy...but maybe that's changed and action/adventure/thriller is approaching the top of the pile.

Court Gentry is not at base a totally unique character. He's considered THE most deadly assassin in the world. He's known as the Gray Man and his story is absorbing. Put on his former employer's (the CIA) shoot on sight list. He has no idea why.

That said he's one of the best written examples of that "character type". We KNOW Court, we can even care about Court. Everyone he meets and becomes close to seems to either be ripped from his life...or betray him. These books are just "plain well written".

This time we meet up with another world-class hitter...code named Dead Eye. Dead Eye is a product of the same program that produced Court himself.

So, is he a friend or an enemy? Can Court really trust this person? And of course then there's the fact that Mossad now seems to have him in their sights...

This one is the proverbial page turning thrill ride and I give it my highest recommendation. Enjoy.

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook - 13:42 hours - Narrator: Jay Snyder
4.5 of 5.0 stars
I was starting to worry that maybe "The Gray Man" series might wane a little after three really good/great novels. What a worry-wort! Mark Greaney's "Gray Man #4, Dead Eye" is a great tribute to his masterful writing skills. Featuring a dramatic and suspenseful face-off between two former CIA master assassins, each of whom believes and knows the other is as good as he is, this novel is full of action as each tries to outwit, out think and out fight the other.

Normally I would have not been able to put this book down, listening to it in probably three of four sittings/layings, but regrettably my reading/listening has been somewhat restricted this past two weeks or so. Fortunately, hearing etc has improved and "#5, Back Blast" is locked and loaded *smirk* on the iPhone and ready to go!

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two assassins who must outwit, outthink eachother in order to survive. A cat and mouse game with a hitch, one is cheating and playing with a stacked deck. Survival of the fittest, smartest in a fast paced plot.

[Max Rudenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that we really do need a more precise, fractional GR rating system, e. g. based on a 10-point scale. Maybe we should tell this to GR big shots. For example, when I can't give this novel full 5 stars I think it deserves much more than 4. I think 4.5 or 4.75 would be right.

This is by far IMHO the best book in Gray Man series. I was happily disappointed or did I mean pleased? with this novel since after reading the first three books in the series I practically gave up on Gray Man. The first three books were rather mediocre and formulaic. They were readable but IMHO very straightforward and not very interesting. Not much suspense there. However, this fourth book is quite different. Here we've got all the components of a very good spy thriller: interesting plot, interesting characters, just awesome action scenes, suspense/mystery and much more. This book reminded me a lot of Jason Bourne movies. I'm starting to think that Mark Greaney is developing into a major talent and eventually could become a new Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum. Now I'm looking forward to his new book, hopefully this year. And I strongly recommend this book to all my GR friends who like myself enjoy a good espionage thriller.

[Scott A. Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average. Just average. Definitely my least favorite of The Gray Man books.

Court lacked punch in this one. Ruth was the most compelling character. She was the smartest character. The mystery wasn’t as good as the first three books either. As I’ve said, this is a brutally tough genre and I tend to compare all of the books within it that I have read. It was a perfectly enjoyable read, but I’ve read many that were better, as I’m sure the next Gray Man book will be.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

This is the fourth book in a series about a former CIA assassin targeted by every possible elite force with orders to shoot him on sight; yet he doesn't know why. Filled with more action than plot, this is a rollicking good read and impossible to pause for any reason.
Prepare to cover your book or reading device with food splatter as you read through meals to finish it in one sitting. -Suzanne R.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greaney’s fourth offering in his popular Gray Man series features two men with the Gray Man’s super-warrior talents. Court Gentry has been on the run from the CIA for a few years. The reasons may be unclear, but the CIA clearly wants him dead and has hired Townsend Government Services, a covert private operation, to find and kill him. Russ Whitlock, known as Dead Eye, is their top operative, but he is a smarmy character and is willing to double-cross just about anyone for financial gain. The plot involves Iranians and Mossad agents and lots of action. Enjoy this entertaining thriller. [Of note, Netflix is producing a Gray Man feature film starring Ryan Gosling as Court Gentry.]

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of his best...really enjoyed it and it finished too soon for me...reading his next one right now!!

[Damo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Eye by Mark Greaney is the 4th book in the Gray Man action thriller series and it hits the ground at an all out gallop with a great action-packed start. Court Gentry is in the middle of a mission that pits him against dozens of stone killers in the middle of Russia and he has to infiltrate an impregnable dacha, take out the target and then, somehow, escape into the surrounding forest. It’s not a question of if he’ll make it but how…and the fun’s only just beginning.

This is just as hectic as the earlier books to date with Court regularly entering impossible situations with the odds stacked against him and still managing to squeak out in the most mind-boggling ways.

But there’s a new opponent for him to face off against. The man’s name is Russell “Dead Eye” Whitlock and he’s a singleton just like him. Dead Eye’s mission is to terminate the Gray Man and he has the same training and capabilities as Court, he thinks like him, he acts like him but he plays by a different rulebook.

Added to the mix is a Mossad team headed by Ruth Ettinger. They have intel telling them that Court was contracted by the Iranians to target the Israeli Prime Minister and their mission is to kill him first.

After the action-packed start the story settles back down into what has become customary for the Gray Man books. Court is a wanted man. Everyone is out to kill him thanks to the massive bounty on his head. The pool of operatives ready to step up and do the deed is almost endless. His ability to remain undetected and elusive is becoming more difficult as tracking and identification technology improves so we’re treated to a string of near misses, savage confrontations and methods of disappearing.

One thing’s for sure, there are no end of close calls to keep the pulse racing, particularly when there are effectively 2 operatives at play here. One works for good (as good as a hired assassin can be considered) and the other for bad. Piled on top of that, Dead Eye is playing a deadly game of misdirection designed to put Court in the most vulnerable of positions. The big question is how and when will he pick up on the misdirection to come after his new nemesis.

The bottom line here is that you know where this is headed the moment we meet Russ Whitlock. It’s totally set up so that there will be an almighty confrontation between the two ultimate assassins. The question simply remains, how epic is the meeting going to be and how much damage is Court going to sustain from it.

Dead Eye works extraordinarily well as a full-on action thriller that moves across Europe from east to west in a flurry of skirmishes going full throttle all the way. This is a book, hell, this is a series that is very much about the ride and not the destination and in this case, the ride requires you to hold on for dear life and simply enjoy the mayhem as it unfolds.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this book better than #3. But still...good people in books shouldn't die. On to the next one.

[ChopinFC · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars (Fantastic)

Another Fantastic entry into the 'Gray Man' series! This time 'Court Gentry' goes head to head with a an assassin, who much like him, had in -depth training in spy/tactical maneuvers and wants to do everything to get a 'leg up' and kill the Gray man. In a maniacal cat and mouse thriller, where 'Court' is mostly oblivious as to the real intentions of the 'assassin', we see impossible high-flying escapes, heart pounding action scenes, and Gray man as his finest! The character is bad ass, engaging, a fractured soul, which adds so much to the narrative! I'm eating this entire series alive...is that good!

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ride, review to follow...."Ex-CIA master assassin Court Gentry has always prided himself on his ability to disappear at will, to fly below the radar and exist in the shadows—to survive as the near-mythical Gray Man. But when he takes revenge upon a former employer who betrayed him, he exposes himself to something he’s never had to face before.

A killer who is just like him.

Code-named Dead Eye, Russell Whitlock is a graduate of the same ultra-secret Autonomous Asset Program that trained and once controlled Gentry. But now, Whitlock is a free agent who has been directed to terminate his fellow student of death. He knows how his target thinks, how he moves, and how he kills. And he knows the best way to do the job is to make Gentry run for his life—right up until the moment Dead Eye finally ends it…" A killer you hate to love, yet you still do!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Thriller & Action

I have enjoyed this series. This is the 4th book in the Gray Man series and so far, they have all hit so many of the boxes on my checklist for this genre. What I like the most is that the MC isn't molded after so many other MCs in books of this same genre. I like a little bit of the unexpected in characters and their development as well as in plot twists. This series does that. I also like that the other characters are all purposeful and well thought out. The ending was also satisfying.

So 4 stars and I recommend this to anyone who enjoys this genre.

[Nick Ciubotariu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up "The Gray Man" 3 years ago on a whim. I read the whole thing in one day without being able to put it down. I consider Court Gentry the perfect character of this genre, a more realistic and much faster-paced version of Jason Bourne, and a younger, somewhat more menacing, and in some ways, more cerebral version of Gabriel Allon. Gentry is everything you would expect from the world's foremost assassin - highly trained, with a heart of a lion and the ability to survive in just about any environment and under any conditions. Court Gentry is no James Bond, but the reader is left with the unmistakable impression that Gentry could waste Bond and ten others like him before they'd even have the chance to unbutton their fancy suits and order a cocktail.

In Dead Eye (the 4th installment of "The Gray Man" series), Court Gentry is on the run, and the CIA, the Russian mob, and just about every law enforcement agency on the planet wants him dead. The CIA engages a private corporation, Townsend Government Services, to send hunter-killer teams to take out the Gray Man once and for all. Russell Whitlock, code-name Dead Eye is part of one of the teams sent out to terminate Gentry. But suddenly, Dead Eye saves gentry from almost certain death, in a show of trust. Is he a friend or foe? Is there a bigger game at play, with higher stakes and geopolitical implications? This is only the beginning of a great story, with head-snapping twists and surprises right up to the very end.

After reading the first 3 books, and coming off the adrenaline high provided by "Ballistic", I knew the next book would have to be spectacular. It absolutely is. Mark Greaney delivers in a big way with "Dead Eye". The intensity of the action and the pace hits hard and fast from the beginning, and continues throughout the book. The first seven chapters by themselves are enough to replace a pot of coffee and several Red Bullls :). Do not plan to read this book at night. I know a lot of reviews start this way - this particular one should be heeded wisely. The action does not stop, it just accelerates at full throttle and hits you right in the chest like a smoldering bullet with a potent mix of fury and adrenaline until the final page.

One of my favorite things about "Dead Eye" was the continued introduction of new characters. Most authors recycle heavily, but this is not the case with "The Gray Man" series. Indeed, friends and relatives have commented on how easy it is to read the books out of order, due to the fact that the author has managed to create a phenomenal and very consistent main character, with an ever expanding supporting cast of friends and enemies. In Dead Eye, for instance, we are introduced to a new hunter-killer squad contracted by the CIA to terminate Court, as well as the Mossad, led by a determined agent who won't be deterred by the CIA's agenda. This is really the magic of the Gray Man series - there is very little recycled material, and every book stands on it's own.

With Dead Eye, the character, the author hit an absolute bulls-eye. A mirror image of Gentry, in many ways, Russell Whitlock takes the action right to Court Gentry, along with some old foes (or maybe friends?), as well as some new ones. You want to hate him very quickly, and you do, but he doesn't keep you from truly enjoying the book, rather, he adds to the flavor as one of the main antagonists. Strangely enough, as I finished the book, my feelings regarding Russell Whitlock (Dead Eye) change a bit, and I was left in a strange state of melancholic suspense about the character.

I have read enough books to be able to gauge when authors really put "research muscle" behind their books, and when they just kind of dial it in. Something I truly enjoy about Mark Greaney's books is their level of authenticity. Whether it is weapons, tactics, locale, lingo, the author goes to painstaking lengths to ensure the readers get as close to the "real" action as possible. Indeed, what really attracted me to "The Gray Man" series was the lean, direct and razor-sharp writing style of the author - there is no unnecessary "fluff" in his prose: every word has a purpose, nothing is ever wasted. High speed, low drag - just like Court Gentry himself.

The only bad part about this book is the fact that it ended. If I could give it a rating higher than 5 stars, I would. Flat-out my favorite book of the year, and now one of my top 5 all-time.

[ElaineY · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; JANUARY 4, 2017
Narrator: Jay Snyder

I doubt if I will have a book that will be half as good as this Gray Man installment. It may be only 4 days into 2017 (where I am) but I am confident Dead Eye will be my best book of the year as far as the action-thriller genre goes.

Not going into the details of the plot as that would make it near pointless for those intending to read it. Suffice to say the suspense and tension ratcheted up by the events had my guts in knots again (even more than the previous book!) and even my fingers were trembling as I got swept up in the plot and the tight spots Gentry found himself.

...and I hate fighting underwater scenes because I end up holding my breath so long I almost pass out myself.

This 4th book finds Gentry facing several opposing groups, including Mossad. I always love it when the Israeli Intelligence Agency joins in the fray and I couldn't help, at the Epilogue, wishing The Gray Man had earned himself a lifelong ally.

I can't rec this book highly enough. This is easily one of the best series of its kind even if each book leaves me in dire need of a massage to relax my tense muscles.

[J.T. Patten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greaney and his passport do it again. I know few authors who go through as much research and on site exploratory and viability visits globally as Greaney does. Not only does he share this with his readers through fantastic writing skills, but also as a talented observer of life and the possible. The main character, Gentry---the grey man, is a wounded warrior of body and soul that readers will connect with and root on even when we plead with him not to run back into "burning houses". It is escapism reading at its best. I've loved the whole series.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-stop action, lots of weapons, scary cyber capabilities, stealthy drones, cool tech. One really great character who Gentry begins to trust a little. Netflix put out the first Gray Man book as a movie but I think it would work better as a limited series. This much action in one movie would make you hyper. 4 Stars

[Judy Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again a Mark Greaney novel kept me glued to the pages. It has been a long time since the last Courtland Gentry book, but this made up for all that time I spent waiting. I would really like to know if the surveillance techniques used in this novel are real or inventions by the author because they were disquieting and yet fascinating at the same time. Real time, eye-in-the-sky, low-level spying with the result of having Court's life on the line because of the target on his back. Now a private agency used by the CIA has committed their resources to finding Court and eliminating him. How better to do that than to keep a watch on a target they know Court will take out? Somewhere there is someone who has the same set of skills as Court and he is guiding the agents from Townsend Government Services with unerring accuracy. It's almost as if he's inside Gentry's mind. But the real target takes a while to be revealed and the intelligence communities of many nations become involved in trying to prevent the assassination of a political leader. Dead Eye says he and Gentry are completely alike and they need to work together. And then the twists in the plot begin.

Court Gentry is one of my favorite fictional characters and I was very glad to see him take on even more humanizing characteristics in this novel. I almost felt that I needed to pat him on the back and tell him everything would be okay, except it wasn't really going to be okay. When all is said and done, Court is alone as well as being a loner. This novel is action packed from start to finish and I continued to find myself off balance when trying to decide about the character of Dead Eye. Greaney did a really good job of revealing that character's traits over time to keep the suspense going. So there is suspense and action and impressive gadgetry and surveillance techniques and the mindset of people who live their lives on an edge of danger most of us only want to read about. Do these kinds of things happen in real life? Well, probably not in this exact way, but it certainly makes for an exciting reading experience. Now I'm left to hope that there won't be such a long gap between this and the next novel in this fascinating series. I'm pretty stingy with my 5 star ratings, but this one earned that designation from me. Wow, what a ride!

I received an advance copy of this novel for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Marilyn Rondeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, awesome, awesome - the GRAY MAN series gives the BOURNE series a run for its money and if the producers in Hollywood haven’t picked up on what would be a fantastic series set to the big screen than they are simply not paying attention!

In Book 4 of The Gray Man series, ex-CIA master assassin Court Gentry is still trying to stay out of light and into the shadows. With so many entities out to kill him including the US Government, Court is having more and more difficulty remaining in the shadows. On his last assignment of taking revenge on a former employer who betrayed him, a killer very much like Court has now set his sights on him.

Russell Whitlock, code-named Dead Eye, is a graduate of the same secret Autonomous Asset Program that trained and controlled Court. However, Dead Eye is going rogue in order to frame and terminate his ultimate target - Court Gentry and earn the distinction of being the one man who could take Court down.

In another of Greaney’s fabulous additions to his Gray Man series, I can say one might need oxygen handy as the suspense is so tense I find myself holding my breath through this authors amazing detailed descriptions of the blow-by-blow action. Greaney’s writing is astounding bringing you right along with the Gray Man’s adventures and heart-stopping suspense which he masterfully generates.

Bottom line: Mark Greaney’s Gray Man books are top notch and DEAD EYE is just one more example of the best you may find in CIA black OPs thrillers! AWESOME!

Marilyn Rondeau

[Nick Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

After three previous Grey Man thrillers and two under Tom Clancy’s name, Mark Greaney now lands this book full of experience and confidence.

This really is very good indeed and did remind me of the Bourne books (as written by Ludlum), Mark Greaney has added complexity to the pace of his previous books and the result is an intelligent and action packed thriller.

Our ‘hero’ Court Gentry manages to clear one of the enemies off his back, but is still on the run and being hunted by the US in the form of an external agency Treadwell. His is offered assistance by a fellow assassin who has his own agenda for The Grey Man and once again he is caught in the middle without knowing who to trust. New identification technology means he has fewer places to hide and those on his tail are getting closer and closer.

Blistering action, tradecraft, conspiracies and double-crosses merge into a real page turner. The author has a habit (also displayed in his Clancy novels) of re-introducing his characters at the start of chapters: “Thirty three year old Mossad targeting officer Laureen Tattersal stepped through…” kind of thing. It becomes very irritating very quickly and I hope he loses the habit quickly but that is the only minor irritation in an otherwise excellent and highly recommended book.

[Fern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Eye left me breathless. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Hey, Reader World, watch this guy because he's destined to be a Number One New York Times Best Seller. It's just a matter of time.

-Fern Michaels

[Pamela Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political espionage at its best! A great,suspenseful thriller!

[Greg Strom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, just when you thought it was safe to go outside drones are reading your orbital bone and walking pattern from 300 feet above your head! It was interesting to see Courtland extricate himself from himself and once again prove he has a soul (compared to his lunatic CIA damaged twin Russell) and you can add inner struggle to this books theme. I was thinking he may have met another love interest but two books in a row may be too much romance for the guy, sad that Ruth had to go, didn't seem necessary and actually thought she would pop back up at some point with kevlar vest in hand...no such luck. Still being teased with the unknown of what the hell he did to get outed by US, no doubt some big wig is behind it all and needs to be taught a lesson. Of course you go into these books knowing he makes it and still has scores to settle cause next volume is in the queue. It will be interesting to have him operating in USA for once, let's see what next adventure and bullet wound brings.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Greany and the Gray Man strike again. Greany is quickly becoming maybe my favorite action/political/espionage thriller author and Court Gentry my favorite protagonist. I can't believe I slept on this series for so long. Yes Rapp and Harvath are the kings of the genre, but Court Gentry brings something different. It's not the same old stories about stopping a terrorist. The Gray Man books have different vibes from book to book and I like that. Dead Eye is in my opinion the best out of the first four books I have read so far. The antagonist is the perfect match for Gentry, and the stakes are significantly higher than in previous books. I'm excited to keep reading this series.

[Tracy T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing story and narration by Jay Snyder (audible review)

This was just as action packed and amazing as the previous 4 books! Loved it. Love Court Gentry.

There is always something constantly happening to keep you on your toes in this series. This book was no different. Ole Dead Eye thought he was just a good or better than Court Gentry. HMMMM.. Think again Dead Eye.

Story line and plot was great, the story flowed very well and was easy to follow. There is a lot of great dialogue throughout the story. I really like Mark Greaney writing style, the descriptions are great. One of my favorite series. If you like action packed stories you should read this series! 100% you will enjoy it!

As for the narration, amazing! Jay Snyder does a fantastic job with all the voices and everyone gets their own distinct voice. He reads with emotion as called for, and does the female voices really good. I love his reading voice, very sexy.

Must Listen Series!!!!!

[Kronos Ananthsimha · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PERFECT ASSASSIN MEETS HIS MATCH.
THE GRAY MAN VS DEAD EYE.

Courtland Gentry aka the infamous Gray Man has been hunted by his many accidental enemies for a long time. The time to settle scores arrives. Gentry infiltrates the dacha of the Russian Bratva leader, Sid, to face off against a legion of drunk mobsters. The cinematic extravaganza in his arrival is that he comes flying over the dark skies on a motorized hi-tech glider that even Batman doesn't use. After the brutal opening action sequence which could teach Hollywood some useful lessons, Gentry heads off to northern Europe to recover.

Across the Atlantic, a literal private headhunting group - Townsend Government Services - has had their eyes on Gentry's Russian charade from a UAV that has followed his moves. Townsend is the tip of the spear of the US Intelligence's hunt for the Gray Man. This mythical organization is described to have over 150 years of experience in the privatized business of taking out targets for their clients.

Townsend conveniently happens to run an asset called Dead Eye who is trained by the same program that made Court Gentry the deadly weapon he has become. The Autonomous Asset Program was designed to create singleton operators who are smarter and deadlier than the best assassins. Dead Eye is set loose on Gentry along with a few hit-teams.

Though these equally opposing adversaries have the same training, their moral compasses are polar opposites. While Gentry targets only those who deserve it, the Dead Eye is broken at his core. He creates a conspiracy to frame and lure the Gray Man into a corner.

This further complicates the plot and involves the Mossad who target Gentry assuming that he is a threat to Israel. By the second half of this brilliantly complex book, numerous players with conflicting intel and an abundance of misinformation lead the Gray Man on a merry chase across Europe. The most vividly described locations span through Estonia and Poland.

Like a classic tale of spycraft, everyone keeps changing sides during the chaos. The Dead Eye is more developed as a character than the Gray Man himself. For the record, this is not a book where the morality is in black and white. This is almost as gray and brutal in operational and strategic honesty as it can get to reality. So, don't get attached to anyone no matter how deep the characters are developed as anyone can meet their end anytime in this series.

It has been four books into the series and yet the reason for the Shoot-on-sight order on Gentry by the CIA is still unclear. But the answers found in the next installment - Back Blast - make the wait worth your time. An explosive flashback scene explains a legendary exploit of the Gray Man that has been mythicized from the first book. This is one of the better books written by Mark Greaney with deep research, cinematic sequences and unpredictable twists.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review slipped through the cracks at the time, so here it is.

If possible this book had almost too much action (hard to believe, I know). I don't know how the Gray Man kept going, forever on the move with little or no sleep.

Gentry is in Russia to kill Victor Sidorenko who is also after the Gray Man's hide. It was time to remove at least one of the threats against him. The CIA is still tracking Gentry in order to kill him. They now have drones and facial recognition software to help in the search and Gentry has to scramble to avoid being caught. He escapes the CIA net in Russia but they catch up to him in Estonia.

Gentry is as good as dead as a team surrounds his hostel. But help comes from a surprising quarter. Dead Eye (Russell Whitlock) a former operative from the same program as Gentry helps him to escape. Gentry is naturally suspicious but appreciates the help. He doesn't yet realise that Dead Eye has a plan to use Gentry's reputation to further his own goals. He plans to kill the Israeli PM for $25 million and pin it on Gentry.

The Mossad gets wind of the plot and gets into the action. The leader of the Mossad targeting team doesn't believe Gentry would do the hit and she and Gentry join forces to prevent it. Soon the chase is on, they are zipping around everywhere and there are gun battles every step of the way. It is also clear that the 'shoot on sight' order against Gentry is a crock of shit and Denny Carmichael at the CIA is pursuing for his own personal reasons.

I'm hoping this is all cleared up in future books. Anyhow, if its action you're after, this sure fits the bill. Totally over the top but very good fun.