One Minute Out

Gray Man, Book 9

By: Mark Greaney

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

From Mark Greaney, the New York Times best-selling author of Mission Critical and a coauthor of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels, comes another high-stakes thriller featuring the world's most dangerous assassin: the Gray Man.

While on a mission to Croatia, Court Gentry uncovers a human trafficking operation. The trail leads from the Balkans all the way back to Hollywood.

Court is determined to shut it down, but his CIA handlers have other plans. The criminal ringleader has actionable intelligence about a potentially devastating terrorist attack on the US. The CIA won't move until they have that intel. It's a moral balancing act with Court at the pivot point.

©2020 Mark Greaney Books LLC (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

Hubris got him into this mess; honor got him out

First off, I have never heard anyone comment on the Gray Man's name (Court Gentry). He is twice a gentleman, both courtly and of the noble gentry. This is not by author accident, He is rash and quick to righteous anger, and feels no compunctions about removing human scum from the earth, but through it all, the Gray Man retains his honor and scruples. This is shown here in the great contrast between Court and his nemesis Jocko, who is totally amoral, conscienceless, cruel, gloating, and hateful. Jocko continually repeats that he loves his job, while Gentry uses his job and skills for the good of all. Gentry never gloats when he wins. He remains a gentleman.

The entire story occurs when Gentry's sense of right leads him to forsake the distance sniper kill, and rather, go for a more personal, justice kill up close. That one death has put hundreds, if not thousands, of innocents in more danger. Gentry would have been blissfully oblivious to all that if he had gone with the distance kill. So, again, because of his sense of honor, Gentry sets out to right this wrong even though his job was done.

Yes, the plot of sex trafficking has been dealt with in other books as well as in movies. That's okay since it is still going on around us, and there is plenty of action for all the Liam Neesons of the world. We are here to see the Gray Man in action, and action there is! There's even some old lion veteran action to cheer, and to mourn.

I am quick to criticize many things in audiobooks. I did not have any complaints with the new first person narration mode. There is sometimes an event overlap as a third person chapter switches to Gentry's first person point of view, and the last few moments are repeated through his eyes and voice. It's been so long since a Gray Man book that I didn't find the style change objectionable.

Jay Snyder is great for the narrations, even the women and the Central European accents. I'm just not sure Jocko's South African accent wasn't Irish. But I won't quibble here.

I enjoyed the entire listen despite the lead in to the next book/mission since it's not a true cliff hanger.

I love the Gray man in first or third person.

Worth the wait

Love the new 1st person writing. Action packed as always and chilling to think the plot is actually happening in today’s society.

Another slam dunk for Mark Greaney!!

Just finished listening to One Minute Out, by the ever talented Mark Greaney. Loved the new format of first person. Shows Greaney’s versatility and ability to think outside the box. Excellent plot, touching on the important subject of human trafficking Greaney manages to tread through a difficult subject with respect and sophistication, yet he doesn’t leave out any of the intense action and plot twists that Greaney always brings to the table! Highly recommend this latest novel!!

Loved the addition of 1st person perspective

Loved it. I now have listened to all nine books. Unlike some other reviewers, I think the addition of some 1st person dialog adds to the book. This is an action book, not a book whose prose will be studied in a graduate level English lit seminar. Just enjoy the flow of the story. Looking forward to book 10.

Gripping

I think this is what is called an issue novel. It is about sex-slavery rings. The Gray Man, Courtland Gentry, is out to assassinate Serbian war criminal, Ratko Babic, when he discovers a human trafficking pipeline.

The book is well written and the pace is fast and full of non-stop action. The characters are interesting. The story is also a travelogue from Europe to America. Mark Greaney is an excellent storyteller. I have followed this series from the beginning and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book is fifteen hours and fifty-nine minutes. Jay Snyder does an excellent job narrating the series. Snyder is an actor, voice artist and has narrated this series from the beginning. I think it is important for a series to stay with one narrator through-out the series.

A review of the reviewers

Although it is very obvious, people often forget how wide the gap is when addressing the likes and dislikes concerning music, books, food, ECT..

So we need to keep this in mind when reading reviews. Before I decide on a audiobook I always read the reviews. For better or for worse. And I'll admit the reviews do have an influence. Take this book for example, some of the reviews were scorching while other reviews got five stars.

And here comes the clincher, this has got to be one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. I finished the 16 hour book in two days, it was entertaining from the beginning to the end and when I had to quit listening I was always thinking about getting back into it. When a audiobook can do this, you know it's a good book.

I almost did not buy this book because of the reviews. I had very low expectations and made my mind up, that if it was as bad as some of the reviews said, I would turn it back in for a refund.

WOW! Was I surprised when I started listening to the book and couldn't put it down. So then I ask myself, how could a book this good get so many bad reviews? I guess there is a huge gap concerning the taste of readers, which makes one have to take reviews with a grain of salt. In the end, I suppose one has to listen to a book themselves and be careful of reviews in determining the quality of what the author has written.

I love the Grey is Man

I always like the underdog winning!
I like that Mark addressed a very real horrid industry in the world today
I like the experienced older man helping with this operation.

Bad guys- worse. Gray Man- better, 1st person- Meh

1st person takes a bit of getting used to, especially since it switches back and forth to 3rd person constantly. Took a few chapters to get used to it but after that I enjoyed the book.

It's unusual to find the story lines getting better in sequels but the Gray Man series seems to be progressing as the character does. Lots of action, well written, and a good performance.

Fiction Wrapped in Reality

This is a great book about how a guy with “twisted” morals in the sense that killing is not a problem for him, but he carries guilt for how his actions impacts those who are not able to help themselves due to circumstances mostly beyond there control. The guilt drives him to act to correct a wrong that he did not create, but he can impact. Too bad the book is fiction and human trafficking is a huge problem in this world.

Assassin's conscience

Another awesome book by MARK GREANY and excellent narration by Jay Snyder. Jay's voice is Court Gentry in my mind. Court is the protagonist assassin with a conscience. He sets out to do his paid assassin duties and inadvertently stumbles on innocent folks in danger. In this case quite a few innocents in danger, so he gets involved saving the day for them. This adventure is one you have trouble putting down from start to finish. The characters in this story are smart and courageous helping Court help them. obviously I loved this story and I am a fan. Looking forward to the next Gray Man story, or any story that Mark Greany writes, he' s just that good an author.

Janice