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The Grey Man
A STUNNING ACTION THRILLER FROM A REAL-LIFE HERO
Kevin Dodds leads a dull, uneventful life. He has a steady job at the bank, a nice house and car. His wife goes to Bingo on a Saturday night, but he usually stays in to save money.
But Kevin has spent enough quiet nights in watching TV and decides he'd like a night out himself. And he's not talking about a pint and a packet of peanuts down at the local. He's going to attempt to pull off a daring bank robbery single handed.
Kevin is about to take a heart-thumping step into the unknown.
For once, he's going to stop being the grey man...
Kevin Dodds leads a dull, uneventful life. He has a steady job at the bank, a nice house and car. His wife goes to Bingo on a Saturday night, but he usually stays in to save money.
But Kevin has spent enough quiet nights in watching TV and decides he'd like a night out himself. And he's not talking about a pint and a packet of peanuts down at the local. He's going to attempt to pull off a daring bank robbery single handed.
Kevin is about to take a heart-thumping step into the unknown.
For once, he's going to stop being the grey man...
99 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2006
22 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Andy McNab
204 books1,180 followersAndy McNab joined the infantry in 1976 as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was badged as a member of 22 SAS Regiment. He served in B Squadron 22 SAS for ten years and worked on both covert and overt special operations worldwide, including anti-terrorist and anti-drug operations in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America and Northern Ireland.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 4, 2014
Already on Chapter 8 and I have a hard time to put it down. Good book and good detail so far...Could not put it down. It was a fun book and an adventure for sure. I would recommend it to anyone who likes adventure and operatives.
August 17, 2021
This is a short story which I read in one evening after wanting a change in authoring style. I went to Andy McNab as we all know Bravo 22 is a classic and possibly one of the best books ever written. Alan Partridge isn’t wrong on this fact.
I enjoyed this book because it was light, easy to read and there was just enough detail about the characters to make them interesting and for the reader to relate to them. The protagonist in this even went to B&Q; who doesn’t like to do that?
It’s a story about doing things differently and changing direction after steering a straight course for a long time. It wasn’t a particularly difficult read or intense but I’d recommend it, just for the experience.
I enjoyed this book because it was light, easy to read and there was just enough detail about the characters to make them interesting and for the reader to relate to them. The protagonist in this even went to B&Q; who doesn’t like to do that?
It’s a story about doing things differently and changing direction after steering a straight course for a long time. It wasn’t a particularly difficult read or intense but I’d recommend it, just for the experience.
May 5, 2018
I ENJOY MOST OF THE GOOD READS QUICK READS YER GROAN BECAUSE THEY ARE QUICK BUT THEY DO WHAT THEY SAY GET TO THE GRIPPY BIT STRAIGHT AWAY WITHOUT TO MUCH WAFFLE YEY AND HANDY TO TAKE ON BUSES OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORT ARE AVAILABLE
YER U CAN GUESS WERE THIS IS GOING WITH THE GREY MAN NOT GIVING TO MUCH WAY HE WANTS MORE OF AN EXCITING LIFE BUT ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHAT U WISH FOR YEY IT HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION WITHOUT GETTING TO HEAVY AND NOT SURE BUT THINK A MORAL IN THEIR SOMEWHERE !!
YER U CAN GUESS WERE THIS IS GOING WITH THE GREY MAN NOT GIVING TO MUCH WAY HE WANTS MORE OF AN EXCITING LIFE BUT ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHAT U WISH FOR YEY IT HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION WITHOUT GETTING TO HEAVY AND NOT SURE BUT THINK A MORAL IN THEIR SOMEWHERE !!
January 13, 2010
I got this from the library today from the quick read section along with 4 others. It was my first McNab novel I have read and I thought it was so good and very funny!
December 21, 2021
I read this as part of my ‘favourite people’s favourite book’ challenge as Andy McNab is my dad’s favourite author.
I really enjoyed this little story, it’s a quick read so it was easy to get sucked in to the plot. I found it tense, especially the bank robbery scenes, but this book is also very touching as well. Linda and Kevin’s relationship is so sweet.
I really enjoyed this little story, it’s a quick read so it was easy to get sucked in to the plot. I found it tense, especially the bank robbery scenes, but this book is also very touching as well. Linda and Kevin’s relationship is so sweet.
June 11, 2014
It was a refreshing change to read a story about a happily married couple in the Grey Man by Andy McNab. Kevin and Linda Dodds live a content but routine life in England. Kevin is the deputy manager of a bank branch while his wife works in a Specsavers store.
Kevin is "the grey man" – unremarkable, unnoticed, uninspired but one day he decides he has had enough of being put down by his boss and others. He initiates a plan to rob the bank where he works.
McNab manages to create a surprising amount of suspense in this short book which is part of the Quick Reads series. He quickly establishes the characters and creates a believable scenario which leads you to wonder how the situation is going to be resolved.
It is a satisfying, enjoyable tale, even though it does glorify robbery.
Kevin is "the grey man" – unremarkable, unnoticed, uninspired but one day he decides he has had enough of being put down by his boss and others. He initiates a plan to rob the bank where he works.
McNab manages to create a surprising amount of suspense in this short book which is part of the Quick Reads series. He quickly establishes the characters and creates a believable scenario which leads you to wonder how the situation is going to be resolved.
It is a satisfying, enjoyable tale, even though it does glorify robbery.
July 23, 2014
This is the first Andy McNab book that I have read and is sure not going to be the last.
A lovely simple story about a normal bank clerk, the grey man of the title. It would have been so easy to pad this out to fill 300 pages but at about 100 it is a crisp to the point read. Ideal reading for traveling or if your not in the mood for something long winded.
Recommended.
A lovely simple story about a normal bank clerk, the grey man of the title. It would have been so easy to pad this out to fill 300 pages but at about 100 it is a crisp to the point read. Ideal reading for traveling or if your not in the mood for something long winded.
Recommended.
July 7, 2015
I know it's very hard to establish characters and build the foundation of a great story over such a short book but I felt I could have written this myself during an afternoon watching the tv. No impressed but will reserve a proper rating of the author until I read one of his full titles.
September 7, 2018
Just by the authors name, I was expecting soldiers, explosions and some serious action. I didn’t get that, but I can’t really complain as I got an engaging story. It started off gently then got quite tense and a little exciting, with an uplifting ending. Really enjoyed it.
July 1, 2024
Everything was a little simple and lacking any kind of detail, which is the opposite of what I expect from Andy McNab!
The story was... okay, with a small twist at the end, but maybe I'm expecting too much from a short story.
The story was... okay, with a small twist at the end, but maybe I'm expecting too much from a short story.
June 22, 2017
Not really his metier, slightly amusing but lukewarm overall
January 20, 2018
Brilliant reading
Great author as always loved the story it kept you wanting too not put the book down till it was finished really enjoyable
Great author as always loved the story it kept you wanting too not put the book down till it was finished really enjoyable
August 28, 2019
It was alright, not very gripping and a bit weak by McNab's usual standards.... think he should stick to the Nick Stone stuff
October 31, 2019
I was given this book as a gift and told it was a good read. The good thing is that it's short. The writing is very amateurish, even for a short story. I'll give Andy McNab a miss in future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2020
quick read
Want to Read
July 19, 2020elibrary
March 20, 2021
What an enjoyable short story. Nice too see the underdog wins
July 18, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.
I've never read a book by this author before.
This story was a good quick read as it instantly drew me in and was quite witty in places.
I've never read a book by this author before.
This story was a good quick read as it instantly drew me in and was quite witty in places.
October 19, 2021
Short. Nothing stand out
February 25, 2022
I loved this book. But it is a constant fight between the ghod guys and the bad guys. Lots of violence. It is just a crazy chase book. Over and over and over. And the good guy always win.
May 15, 2022
just ok not a great book, but not bad either
November 29, 2022
Happily much better than the movie and not closely related.
June 12, 2024
Quick read, wasn't bad, saw the twist coming, but it was enjoyable enough.
July 8, 2024
OK read
November 8, 2024
Is it bad that I think me and my boyfriend will one day become Kevin and Linda Dodd? Fun read, surprisingly relatable.
December 27, 2025
a short sweet heartwarming story with a happy ending. 4/5 ⭐️
March 16, 2026
A Simple Quick read, with all the sparkling details needed to make it a cute revolution to all the men dreaming about robbing a bank.
May 11, 2019
I think we have all felt like the Grey Man
Andy McNab comes with a big billing, and therefore you expect slightly more out of something written by him. For a short story, this isn’t bad, but there are some absolutely dreadful cliche writers tropes which suck you out of the action and make you realise you’re reading a story rather than being immersed in something that could be true - for example, a Chance meeting on a bus with someone who used to be “the cool kid in school”, and yet is still a teasing bully even though they’re in their 30’s - doesn’t wash with me! Didn’t come across naturally at all!
However, as a story and a concept, this was quite fun! I think we can all relate to getting stuck in the mundane rut of life and how exciting it would be to do something daring! The climax of the book is definitely quite enjoyable, but again, it feels a bit watery and weak as this book is a “Quickread”. With the rush to get the story within the page count, the first thing that goes out the door is suspense, which is a shame after so much build up!
Not bad, not great!
Andy McNab comes with a big billing, and therefore you expect slightly more out of something written by him. For a short story, this isn’t bad, but there are some absolutely dreadful cliche writers tropes which suck you out of the action and make you realise you’re reading a story rather than being immersed in something that could be true - for example, a Chance meeting on a bus with someone who used to be “the cool kid in school”, and yet is still a teasing bully even though they’re in their 30’s - doesn’t wash with me! Didn’t come across naturally at all!
However, as a story and a concept, this was quite fun! I think we can all relate to getting stuck in the mundane rut of life and how exciting it would be to do something daring! The climax of the book is definitely quite enjoyable, but again, it feels a bit watery and weak as this book is a “Quickread”. With the rush to get the story within the page count, the first thing that goes out the door is suspense, which is a shame after so much build up!
Not bad, not great!
December 4, 2022
Another Quick Read and by an author I always really enjoy. The synopsis reads
Kevin Dodds leads a dull, uneventful life. He has a steady job at the bank, a nice house and car. His wife goes to Bingo on a Saturday night, but he usually stays in to save money. Kevin is about to take a heart-thumping step into the unknown. For once, he's going to stop being the grey man...
This was a little different from what McNab normally writes. Kevin is not a soldier, not even in any of the forces and is not a battle-hardened guy. He's just a "normal bloke" he's a guy that people don't see, he's the grey man.
I enjoyed reading this and felt sorry for Dodds at times. The plot is good if a little farfetched. It was not all that gripping; the pace was a little slow which is not the norm for McNab books. For this reason, it was only a 3/5 star for me.
Kevin Dodds leads a dull, uneventful life. He has a steady job at the bank, a nice house and car. His wife goes to Bingo on a Saturday night, but he usually stays in to save money. Kevin is about to take a heart-thumping step into the unknown. For once, he's going to stop being the grey man...
This was a little different from what McNab normally writes. Kevin is not a soldier, not even in any of the forces and is not a battle-hardened guy. He's just a "normal bloke" he's a guy that people don't see, he's the grey man.
I enjoyed reading this and felt sorry for Dodds at times. The plot is good if a little farfetched. It was not all that gripping; the pace was a little slow which is not the norm for McNab books. For this reason, it was only a 3/5 star for me.
December 20, 2008
This is far from a typical Andy McNab story. Instead it’s a short – very short – read at 100 pages in total, and even that’s in a large typeface. The reason is that this book is part of the ‘Quick Reads’ series, novellas written by popular authors in a bid to get the non-reading public reading.
The problem is that McNab’s style is suited to lengthy ruminations on infiltrating an enemy base or killing somebody in the jungle. In addition, the text itself has been altered to fit in with the ‘Quick Reads’ standard; there are no lengthy or difficult words, no technical jargon here. Everything is kept short and simple, at the average level of a kid’s book.
Unsurprisingly, this damages McNab’s effectiveness and the resulting story is almost unreadable. The lead is a real geek, a softie who’d be dead in ten seconds in one of McNab’s “real” novels. The love he has for his wife is overwhelmingly sentimental. The bank robbery plot is kept low key and thus lacking in interest from the outset. Things pick up a little once the protagonist gets inside the bank and there are a couple of (contrived) twists, but soon enough the book becomes plodding and inane once more.
Occasional touches of humour here and there and little references (somebody getting “the good news”) remind us of the author in his prime, but The Grey Man is a waste of paper that should be avoided by fans and newcomers alike. Thank God it is a quick read!
The problem is that McNab’s style is suited to lengthy ruminations on infiltrating an enemy base or killing somebody in the jungle. In addition, the text itself has been altered to fit in with the ‘Quick Reads’ standard; there are no lengthy or difficult words, no technical jargon here. Everything is kept short and simple, at the average level of a kid’s book.
Unsurprisingly, this damages McNab’s effectiveness and the resulting story is almost unreadable. The lead is a real geek, a softie who’d be dead in ten seconds in one of McNab’s “real” novels. The love he has for his wife is overwhelmingly sentimental. The bank robbery plot is kept low key and thus lacking in interest from the outset. Things pick up a little once the protagonist gets inside the bank and there are a couple of (contrived) twists, but soon enough the book becomes plodding and inane once more.
Occasional touches of humour here and there and little references (somebody getting “the good news”) remind us of the author in his prime, but The Grey Man is a waste of paper that should be avoided by fans and newcomers alike. Thank God it is a quick read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews