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The Grey Man #1
The Grey Man: Vignettes
The Bad Guys Don't Stand a Chance Texas rancher and lawman John Cronin knows what it means to be tough. A decorated Vietnam vet with connections to law enforcement agencies all around the world, he's thwarted smugglers and drug plots across the globe with more than a few narrow escapes. Whether it's a sniper competition or teaching the feds a thing or two about police work, Cronin doesn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Of course, this slow-talking lawman's biggest challenge yet might be when his granddaughter Jesse falls in love with a Marine. When drug smugglers stir up trouble in Cronin's backyard and try to kill Jesse and her new beau, all hell breaks loose, and Cronin and his granddaughter are just the people to set things right.
365 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 26, 2019
I picked this book up after it was recommended in a thread on Monster Hunter International, and I'm glad I did. J.L. Curtis is a good author, filling his story with interesting charachters you want to know more about.
It's the first book in a series, about a Vietnam vet, John Cronin, who now works for a small local Texan police dept. His granddaughter Jesse also works for the same sheriff's dept, even though the family is rich thanks to oil and cattle. John's become an expert on smugglers and sex tradeing, lecturing around the world.
They take part in a sniper competition, and meet a couple of Marines, one of whom starts dating jesse. While on a visit, Jesse takes Aaron with her on a patrol, where they both get shot by drug smugglers. John and Matt, the other Marine, show up and kill two of the smugglers, and Jesse manages to kill the other two.
An out of town Assistant DA tries to get them all arrested for murder, and fails completely, and John gets asked to help out on a smuggling investigation in Thailand. He goes on a raid, with Aaron who happens to be part of a joint task force, and gets shot in the butt. The book ends with Jesse planning her wedding to Aaron.
It's the first book in a series, about a Vietnam vet, John Cronin, who now works for a small local Texan police dept. His granddaughter Jesse also works for the same sheriff's dept, even though the family is rich thanks to oil and cattle. John's become an expert on smugglers and sex tradeing, lecturing around the world.
They take part in a sniper competition, and meet a couple of Marines, one of whom starts dating jesse. While on a visit, Jesse takes Aaron with her on a patrol, where they both get shot by drug smugglers. John and Matt, the other Marine, show up and kill two of the smugglers, and Jesse manages to kill the other two.
An out of town Assistant DA tries to get them all arrested for murder, and fails completely, and John gets asked to help out on a smuggling investigation in Thailand. He goes on a raid, with Aaron who happens to be part of a joint task force, and gets shot in the butt. The book ends with Jesse planning her wedding to Aaron.
April 28, 2021
Note: I listened to an audio version that is not currently listed on Goodreads.com so I am placing my review here.
So I am really torn about how to rate this book. Let me start by saying that this book came to my attention via an article that proclaimed it "competence porn". I've encountered two uses of that term but in this case it refers to books about highly competent people like Sherlock Holmes. 4/5ths of this book is about the MC, who has been there and done that and so is highly competent. Not only is the MC highly competent but his competency extends to having surrounded himself with highly competent people. However, the author feels compelled to spend 1/5th of the book demonstrating his belief that all liberals are complete idiots and he doesn't even do it well.
The MC & co. are involved in a shootout with Hispanic drug runners. The author has a liberal United States Attorney hear about the shootout and immediately manipulate the system to get arrest warrants for the MC. Immediately the author goes to something that would never happen. Federal judicial appointments are essentially for life and pissing off a brand new federal judge is something no attorney would do. Here, however, such practical considerations would keep the author from proclaiming all liberals evil and stupid and so he just ignores them.
While it’s been 25 years, I did an internship in a US Attorney's office for a summer and this entire story line is so far from reality it boggles my mind and demonstrates to me the author's commitment to turn an otherwise enjoyable story into a political statement. To make this story line work the author has the US Attorney commit large amounts of resources on a matter NOT IN HIS JURISDICTION. Further these actionss are taken on extremely flimsy information- I believe it was a news report but I don't care enough to go back and check. For starters, US Attorneys have budget considerations, but this story wouldn't even have gotten that far. I have met some pretty petty and in many respects stupid attorneys but absolutely every attorney I've ever met knows to verify facts. The most likely outcome of the bizarre scenario the author comes up with is the US Attorney goes on with his day and does nothing. Second most likely is the US Attorney makes a single phone call and goes on with his day. At most the US Attorney would have sent someone he trusted look into the situation, although even that would have been a stretch since, again, IT WASN'T HIS JURISDICTION, OTHER TIME DEMANDS and BUDGET.
I could go on, but why? My point is this: regardless of political perspective these "villains" are terribly written with selfishness and stupidity being their only motivations. The only people I see overlooking such terrible writing are people ravenous for tales of innate liberal stupidity. Of course, if the author wrote these "villains" realistically, none of this would have happened so the author had a choice: plausible villains (i.e. good writing) v. political statement. The author chose political statement.
Bottom line: This is a pretty good story severely damaged by the author's insistence on making a political statement.
So I am really torn about how to rate this book. Let me start by saying that this book came to my attention via an article that proclaimed it "competence porn". I've encountered two uses of that term but in this case it refers to books about highly competent people like Sherlock Holmes. 4/5ths of this book is about the MC, who has been there and done that and so is highly competent. Not only is the MC highly competent but his competency extends to having surrounded himself with highly competent people. However, the author feels compelled to spend 1/5th of the book demonstrating his belief that all liberals are complete idiots and he doesn't even do it well.
The MC & co. are involved in a shootout with Hispanic drug runners. The author has a liberal United States Attorney hear about the shootout and immediately manipulate the system to get arrest warrants for the MC. Immediately the author goes to something that would never happen. Federal judicial appointments are essentially for life and pissing off a brand new federal judge is something no attorney would do. Here, however, such practical considerations would keep the author from proclaiming all liberals evil and stupid and so he just ignores them.
While it’s been 25 years, I did an internship in a US Attorney's office for a summer and this entire story line is so far from reality it boggles my mind and demonstrates to me the author's commitment to turn an otherwise enjoyable story into a political statement. To make this story line work the author has the US Attorney commit large amounts of resources on a matter NOT IN HIS JURISDICTION. Further these actionss are taken on extremely flimsy information- I believe it was a news report but I don't care enough to go back and check. For starters, US Attorneys have budget considerations, but this story wouldn't even have gotten that far. I have met some pretty petty and in many respects stupid attorneys but absolutely every attorney I've ever met knows to verify facts. The most likely outcome of the bizarre scenario the author comes up with is the US Attorney goes on with his day and does nothing. Second most likely is the US Attorney makes a single phone call and goes on with his day. At most the US Attorney would have sent someone he trusted look into the situation, although even that would have been a stretch since, again, IT WASN'T HIS JURISDICTION, OTHER TIME DEMANDS and BUDGET.
I could go on, but why? My point is this: regardless of political perspective these "villains" are terribly written with selfishness and stupidity being their only motivations. The only people I see overlooking such terrible writing are people ravenous for tales of innate liberal stupidity. Of course, if the author wrote these "villains" realistically, none of this would have happened so the author had a choice: plausible villains (i.e. good writing) v. political statement. The author chose political statement.
Bottom line: This is a pretty good story severely damaged by the author's insistence on making a political statement.
March 21, 2014
Wonderfully written and very detailed thriller! Cronin is a likeable,genuine, strong character and not a perfect good guy. The book is written by someone that knows guns and good stories. Excellent read and is definitely a page turner!
June 2, 2018
I thought this was a fairly good book, particularly for a first effort. It could have been a very good book, if only it had received the care of a good editor. The plot is interesting and the main characters are engaging, although many of the minor characters are pretty two dimensional, to the point that it is difficult to recall who they are when they reappear a few chapters later.
However.
The sentence structure made me grit my teeth. Please don't tack together two sentences that express entirely different thoughts with a comma. Just don't. And please try to avoid the ever present trap of telling, not showing, action. Some passages of the book read like an after action report, not a novel. And proof read. For the love of God, please proof read!
I admit I have not yet read any of the sequels in this series. I probably will. There is promise here. It's not Stephen Hunter/Bob Lee Swagger promise, but promise nonetheless.
However.
The sentence structure made me grit my teeth. Please don't tack together two sentences that express entirely different thoughts with a comma. Just don't. And please try to avoid the ever present trap of telling, not showing, action. Some passages of the book read like an after action report, not a novel. And proof read. For the love of God, please proof read!
I admit I have not yet read any of the sequels in this series. I probably will. There is promise here. It's not Stephen Hunter/Bob Lee Swagger promise, but promise nonetheless.
May 18, 2018
Not a short story collection, just a good intro to the Grey Man series
I read these books out of order because I thought they were a series of reminiscences from the old man's dangerous salad days. But it's just book one of the Grey Man series. Stories about a Texas Lawman, his daughter and their friends and families. The plots on these books are a slow boil, but the story teller's voice and his immersion of the reader in his characters' world is so complete I don't care. Highly recommended.
I read these books out of order because I thought they were a series of reminiscences from the old man's dangerous salad days. But it's just book one of the Grey Man series. Stories about a Texas Lawman, his daughter and their friends and families. The plots on these books are a slow boil, but the story teller's voice and his immersion of the reader in his characters' world is so complete I don't care. Highly recommended.
September 4, 2019
A JLC. County Sheriff/Texas Rangers/DEA/FBI/Marine Special Ops Action Adventure (TGM) (V)
JLC. has penned a Special Operations Mission with just about every Texas State Departments and Federal Legal Department involved in stopping the smuggling coming into the United States via many different routes. The Texas State Departments have an ex Viet Man Green Beret working quietly in the background assisting the different departments when requested. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
JLC. has penned a Special Operations Mission with just about every Texas State Departments and Federal Legal Department involved in stopping the smuggling coming into the United States via many different routes. The Texas State Departments have an ex Viet Man Green Beret working quietly in the background assisting the different departments when requested. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
February 4, 2020
Must read! Great start for the four that follow.
Authentic stories mostly set in West Texas a out an old former green beret turned rancher and deputy sheriff raising a spirited grand daughter who's a crack shot. Enjoy!
West Texas
Authentic stories mostly set in West Texas a out an old former green beret turned rancher and deputy sheriff raising a spirited grand daughter who's a crack shot. Enjoy!
West Texas
February 6, 2020
Marvelous story!!
Good action,good characters. I like the way it all came out. During a certain President 's term, it was very anti military and anti LEO. It really was one big ask mistake America.
Good action,good characters. I like the way it all came out. During a certain President 's term, it was very anti military and anti LEO. It really was one big ask mistake America.
July 7, 2025
not a lot of self analysis
People just getting things done. I like it because it is straight forward. Little self doubt. No, or little, self analysis. People doing what they have to do.
People just getting things done. I like it because it is straight forward. Little self doubt. No, or little, self analysis. People doing what they have to do.
October 13, 2021
Well written action novel with a verry attractive hero and friends.
March 27, 2014
Disclaimer: I've met Mr. Curtis on a couple of occasions. We're both gun-nuts who share a fairly large circle of acquaintances.
I purchased his book in the Kindle edition and read it recently during a business trip. The subtitle - Vignettes - is appropriate, as the book is a series of short stories in chronological order, not a novel with a long story arc.
I liked the book. The author's style is, much like the main character, comfortable and straightforward, and the pace is pretty brisk. The characters are likeable, and the dialog is unforced. For a first book, this is pretty good!
Next time I see him, I'm going to ask him about the chapter concerning the attempted railroading of sheriff's deputies and Marines after the hostage incident. That had the ring of a real-life incident to me, and I'd like to know more about its inspiration.
I purchased his book in the Kindle edition and read it recently during a business trip. The subtitle - Vignettes - is appropriate, as the book is a series of short stories in chronological order, not a novel with a long story arc.
I liked the book. The author's style is, much like the main character, comfortable and straightforward, and the pace is pretty brisk. The characters are likeable, and the dialog is unforced. For a first book, this is pretty good!
Next time I see him, I'm going to ask him about the chapter concerning the attempted railroading of sheriff's deputies and Marines after the hostage incident. That had the ring of a real-life incident to me, and I'd like to know more about its inspiration.
May 6, 2015
I tried really hard to like this book, but it's filled with every stereotype I can imagine in the world of Law Enforcement/Military/Gun aficionado. And on top of that, the author uses odd schticks for...well, I don't know why.
For instance, from the beginning of the book, the main character is called "the old man." Not just every once in a while, but ALL. THE. TIME. On top of that, it was hard to determine what the author was talking about for quite a while before everything clicked into its (stereotypical) place.
I abandoned the book just shy of halfway through, and I should have quit much sooner. I hate to be so negative about the book, especially one from an author with whom I undoubtedly share many experiences, principles and beliefs, but the book is just flat-out unreadable.
For instance, from the beginning of the book, the main character is called "the old man." Not just every once in a while, but ALL. THE. TIME. On top of that, it was hard to determine what the author was talking about for quite a while before everything clicked into its (stereotypical) place.
I abandoned the book just shy of halfway through, and I should have quit much sooner. I hate to be so negative about the book, especially one from an author with whom I undoubtedly share many experiences, principles and beliefs, but the book is just flat-out unreadable.
March 21, 2014
Wonderfully written and very detailed thriller! Cronin is a likeable,genuine, strong character and not a perfect good guy. The book is written by someone that knows guns and good stories. Excellent read and is definitely a page turner!
October 9, 2014
Just as it says, vignettes. I enjoyed reading this, and find it comparable to Tom Clancy (earlier works, and mostly the John Clark character).
December 16, 2014
Excellent
An extremely entertaining and exciting book. Looking forward to reading the next book. I hope that the author has plans for additional books in the future.
An extremely entertaining and exciting book. Looking forward to reading the next book. I hope that the author has plans for additional books in the future.
January 9, 2015
A great story with some slow spots and a lot of editing errors, balanced out by very authentic characters and settings.
January 29, 2015
It's the little details that really make this book. Other thrillers are faster paced, but this one didn't once make me go "Eh, the writer didn't know what they were talking about, there."
November 16, 2015
Plenty of action in south Texas and beyond battling drug smugglers and human traffickers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews