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Gray Man #15
The Hard Line
The Gray Man, the world’s deadliest assassin and apex predator, discovers he’s really the prey in the most shocking entry of this #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Family means different things to different people, but in the Gray Man’s world, family is defined by blood—the blood you share with some and the blood you shed with others.
Court Gentry’s current family operates out of an office park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Ghost Town is an off-the-books direct action team run by Matt Hanley, former CIA Deputy Director. They take on the jobs the Agency needs handled “discretely,” and those jobs are rolling in.
Somewhere at the top of the US Intelligence apparatus, security experts and intelligence operations worldwide are threatened.
It starts with a blown safe house in Tunis. Then Court himself barely escapes from an ambush in the jungles of Nicaragua. Now key members of the U.S. counterintelligence community are being assassinated in their own neighborhoods. With the feds compromised, it’s up to Court and his team to stop the hit squads.
But eliminating professional kill teams may be the least of the Gray Man’s worries when he finds himself targeted by the legendary assassin codenamed Whetstone—a man driven out of retirement by a very personal quest to rain down hellfire on Court and everyone he’s ever loved, starting with the father he hasn’t seen in twenty years.
Family means different things to different people, but in the Gray Man’s world, family is defined by blood—the blood you share with some and the blood you shed with others.
Court Gentry’s current family operates out of an office park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Ghost Town is an off-the-books direct action team run by Matt Hanley, former CIA Deputy Director. They take on the jobs the Agency needs handled “discretely,” and those jobs are rolling in.
Somewhere at the top of the US Intelligence apparatus, security experts and intelligence operations worldwide are threatened.
It starts with a blown safe house in Tunis. Then Court himself barely escapes from an ambush in the jungles of Nicaragua. Now key members of the U.S. counterintelligence community are being assassinated in their own neighborhoods. With the feds compromised, it’s up to Court and his team to stop the hit squads.
But eliminating professional kill teams may be the least of the Gray Man’s worries when he finds himself targeted by the legendary assassin codenamed Whetstone—a man driven out of retirement by a very personal quest to rain down hellfire on Court and everyone he’s ever loved, starting with the father he hasn’t seen in twenty years.
489 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2026
1713 people are currently reading
1705 people want to read
About the author
Mark Greaney
67 books6,294 followersMark 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
Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM
Email Mark at MarkGreaneyBooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
February 17, 2026
Can’t Recommend The Hard Line To Newcomers Of The Gray Man Series (which I Am)!
I went into The Hard Line expecting a sharp, character-driven thriller based on the reputation of the series (none of which I have read). What I got instead was a technically competent but largely uninvolving read.
The book isn’t badly written. The pacing is steady, the action scenes are clear and virtually non-stop, and the author clearly understands tactical realism. I never felt confused about what was happening, and the plot moves along without dragging. On a basic craftsmanship level, it works pretty well
Unfortunately, that’s about where my praise ends.
As a new reader, I found the main character, Court Gentry, difficult to care about. He’s extremely capable but emotionally distant to the point of flatness. The story offers very little insight into his inner life, motivations, or personal stakes, and it seems to assume the reader already knows and likes him. Without that background, he felt to me more like a functional action figure than a fully realized character.
The plot itself was serviceable but predictable, relying on familiar thriller tropes and interchangeable antagonists. Nothing felt particularly surprising or memorable, and once I finished the book, very little stuck with me beyond a blur of chases and firefights.
Overall, The Hard Line feels like a book written for existing fans, not newcomers. While it’s competently executed, it lacks the character depth and emotional engagement needed to make a first-time reader want to continue the series.
Not terrible, but not compelling—an efficient thriller that left me mostly indifferent.
#The Hard Line #NetGalley
I went into The Hard Line expecting a sharp, character-driven thriller based on the reputation of the series (none of which I have read). What I got instead was a technically competent but largely uninvolving read.
The book isn’t badly written. The pacing is steady, the action scenes are clear and virtually non-stop, and the author clearly understands tactical realism. I never felt confused about what was happening, and the plot moves along without dragging. On a basic craftsmanship level, it works pretty well
Unfortunately, that’s about where my praise ends.
As a new reader, I found the main character, Court Gentry, difficult to care about. He’s extremely capable but emotionally distant to the point of flatness. The story offers very little insight into his inner life, motivations, or personal stakes, and it seems to assume the reader already knows and likes him. Without that background, he felt to me more like a functional action figure than a fully realized character.
The plot itself was serviceable but predictable, relying on familiar thriller tropes and interchangeable antagonists. Nothing felt particularly surprising or memorable, and once I finished the book, very little stuck with me beyond a blur of chases and firefights.
Overall, The Hard Line feels like a book written for existing fans, not newcomers. While it’s competently executed, it lacks the character depth and emotional engagement needed to make a first-time reader want to continue the series.
Not terrible, but not compelling—an efficient thriller that left me mostly indifferent.
#The Hard Line #NetGalley
November 24, 2025
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Intense, bloody and emotionally charged, The Hard Line is a masterful continuation of the celebrated Gray Man series. Filled with enough action, danger and death to choke a horse, it will pump adrenaline through your body, elevate your heart rate and make you sweat as you become fully invested in the outcome. It’s another smash hit by the great Mark Greaney!
Greaney dials up the violence and tension to eleven right off the jump and keeps it there throughout this insanely engaging novel. And while thriller junkies will flip head over heals for the action sequences, what makes The Hard Line so fantastic is how it highlights the relatability, vulnerability and moral compass of the great Gray Man and his colleagues.
This novel has all the hallmarks of a best-selling thriller, and you won’t be able to put it down. And when you finish it your mind will be blown, and you will be jonesing hard for the next Gray Man adventure.
Intense, bloody and emotionally charged, The Hard Line is a masterful continuation of the celebrated Gray Man series. Filled with enough action, danger and death to choke a horse, it will pump adrenaline through your body, elevate your heart rate and make you sweat as you become fully invested in the outcome. It’s another smash hit by the great Mark Greaney!
Greaney dials up the violence and tension to eleven right off the jump and keeps it there throughout this insanely engaging novel. And while thriller junkies will flip head over heals for the action sequences, what makes The Hard Line so fantastic is how it highlights the relatability, vulnerability and moral compass of the great Gray Man and his colleagues.
This novel has all the hallmarks of a best-selling thriller, and you won’t be able to put it down. And when you finish it your mind will be blown, and you will be jonesing hard for the next Gray Man adventure.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Poor Court Gentry, also known as The Grey Man/Violator/Sierra Six, has hardly had time to recover from fighting off the whole of Russia, and now he's got not one but two assassins on his tail. He was responsible for putting one in jail, and he took out the other one's son on a job. Well? Just another ordinary day.
In this installment, we have fewer bodies than in the previous book, but it is still deliciously action-packed! It is also a story that gets very personal, not only for Court but also for his old friend Zack Hightower. Not only do they have to fight off these assassins, but they also have to stop the assassination of U.S. intelligence personnel.
Will everyone survive this story?
In this installment, we have fewer bodies than in the previous book, but it is still deliciously action-packed! It is also a story that gets very personal, not only for Court but also for his old friend Zack Hightower. Not only do they have to fight off these assassins, but they also have to stop the assassination of U.S. intelligence personnel.
Will everyone survive this story?
January 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC.
Wow, this is OG Gray Man right here. This kicks off like an action movie and doesn’t let up the entire time. Although I enjoy the Zoya character, I actually enjoy her more in the background. It was so fun to have Court Gentry, Matt Hanley and Zach Hightower together again for an entire book without Zoya.
I enjoyed the sub plot with the elder Irishman, he was a fun character and I wouldn’t be disappointed if he returns in a later storyline.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Wow, this is OG Gray Man right here. This kicks off like an action movie and doesn’t let up the entire time. Although I enjoy the Zoya character, I actually enjoy her more in the background. It was so fun to have Court Gentry, Matt Hanley and Zach Hightower together again for an entire book without Zoya.
I enjoyed the sub plot with the elder Irishman, he was a fun character and I wouldn’t be disappointed if he returns in a later storyline.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
February 18, 2026
I can barely find the words…I laughed…I cried…I gasped at the insane plot twists…it was simply a roller coaster of emotions…it was just absolutely fabulous…I will always love The Gray Man…the characters and the story are so well written…and the ending has left me eagerly waiting for the next book…I expected nothing less…and I enjoyed this book SO MUCH…despite the fact that it did make me cry like a baby more than once…but it was so so beautiful…✨✨✨✨✨✨🥹❤️🩹
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January 8, 2026Apparently my uncorrected proof is blocked from a rating, so I'll have to add a rating (5 stars despite and because of the ending) when <>The Hard Line officially comes out in February.
Mark Greaney builds on the Gray Man legend in this outing, and there are familiar faces, fresh action, and callbacks to earlier books, because this series only improves with each entry. It's a series that is worth reading again precisely because of that layering and Greaney's devotion to building characters and still offering original ideas. It's definitely reminiscent of Tom Clancy's work as he built his "Ryanverse," and Greaney offers some of that complexity with this novel about spies, traitors, and assassins.
At its heart The Hard Line seems to examine the idea that actions have consequences, opening with a scene only briefly mentioned in the prior book, Midnight Black, and how Court's quest from had an unexpected impact on his life. I stopped last night before midnight with only 50-60 pages left to read, as I wanted to savor the conclusion, and I was right as it would have been impossible to not spend another hour or two finishing the book. That delay didn't help, as I had dreams in anticipation and cracked the book here a few hours back at 4 a.m. to finish now.One thing I know for certain after finishing this book as my first for 2026 is that it's going to be damn long year waiting for the sixteenth entry next year.
I had the mass market of The Gray Man for a while before reading it back in 2021, and while that delay let me binge most of the books, these last few years were agony waiting for the next one. I may just have to start over at the beginning with that first book again.
Mark Greaney builds on the Gray Man legend in this outing, and there are familiar faces, fresh action, and callbacks to earlier books, because this series only improves with each entry. It's a series that is worth reading again precisely because of that layering and Greaney's devotion to building characters and still offering original ideas. It's definitely reminiscent of Tom Clancy's work as he built his "Ryanverse," and Greaney offers some of that complexity with this novel about spies, traitors, and assassins.
At its heart The Hard Line seems to examine the idea that actions have consequences, opening with a scene only briefly mentioned in the prior book, Midnight Black, and how Court's quest from had an unexpected impact on his life. I stopped last night before midnight with only 50-60 pages left to read, as I wanted to savor the conclusion, and I was right as it would have been impossible to not spend another hour or two finishing the book. That delay didn't help, as I had dreams in anticipation and cracked the book here a few hours back at 4 a.m. to finish now.One thing I know for certain after finishing this book as my first for 2026 is that it's going to be damn long year waiting for the sixteenth entry next year.
I had the mass market of The Gray Man for a while before reading it back in 2021, and while that delay let me binge most of the books, these last few years were agony waiting for the next one. I may just have to start over at the beginning with that first book again.
February 21, 2026
This is book #15 in the Gray Man series and I look forward to each new installment every year.
Court is a stong MC who always gets the job done...no matter what. He keeps his circle small, but the friends he does have are worth their weight in gold.
The author excels at writing action scenes. It's one of my favorite things about his writing. I'm always on the edge of the seat, even when I can see the outcome coming.
But what elevates this series and keeps me coming back year after year, is the strength of the relationships. They balance Court's loner tendencies and add evolution to Court's character, as well as the other characters. I think too it is easier to identify with these larger than life personalities. This alone keeps the story from ever feeling stagnant.
Most books in this series are a solid 4 stars, unless something unexpected takes it (and me) to the next level. This one did exactly that, several times over. And that last scene cinched my 5 star rating.
Court is a stong MC who always gets the job done...no matter what. He keeps his circle small, but the friends he does have are worth their weight in gold.
The author excels at writing action scenes. It's one of my favorite things about his writing. I'm always on the edge of the seat, even when I can see the outcome coming.
But what elevates this series and keeps me coming back year after year, is the strength of the relationships. They balance Court's loner tendencies and add evolution to Court's character, as well as the other characters. I think too it is easier to identify with these larger than life personalities. This alone keeps the story from ever feeling stagnant.
Most books in this series are a solid 4 stars, unless something unexpected takes it (and me) to the next level. This one did exactly that, several times over. And that last scene cinched my 5 star rating.
February 24, 2026
I really liked this story because of the banter and humour that found its way into what could have been and grim story of unrelenting death and destruction. There were some resolutions for the characters but not for the main story line. I took away one star because the main villains have yet to be disclosed and the senior henchmen are still free and clear. I understand there is only so much you can cram into one book, and this story has not been short changed in any way, but there is so much left hanging.
Still, I would recommend this book and this author to anyone who enjoys a well written, thoroughly researched thriller. He gets better and better with each new adventure.
Still, I would recommend this book and this author to anyone who enjoys a well written, thoroughly researched thriller. He gets better and better with each new adventure.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gray Man’s back and you can barely keep straight all the people with vendettas out to kill him in revenge. The multiple plots crisscross and the non-stop action explodes out of the book.
The intense action picks up where the last book ended, with Court Gentry (aka The Gray Man as an elite, elusive contract assassin and aka The Violator from his CIA day as a paramilitary operations officer) back from rescuing fellow assassin Lola from a Russian work camp. Gentry owes a huge debt to the Director of Intelligence Operations (DIO) who assisted him during his dangerous mission. As an ask in return, Gentry’s former boss Matt Hanley has been commissioned by the DIO to set up a secret intelligence group to figure out who high up in the U.S. government has been leaking secrets to either the Russians or Chinese. In his first mission for Hanley, Gentry is sent down to Nicaragua to rescue an endangered intelligence asset. The pick-up mission goes horribly wrong due to leaked info, and the Gray Man encounters two Chinese National soldiers and barely makes it out alive with the asset.
Meanwhile, James Westwood wants to be elected Senator from New Hampshire en route to his ambitions to be President and has cut an intelligence leak deal with the Chinese in exchange for their help getting him there. The Chinese insist that he find a group of overseas assassins to execute multiple intelligence officers in the Washington, D.C. and offer in exchange to speed up his appointment to be Senator. He and his security head Mike hire elite international assassins and give them each five targets to kill.
Courtney moves onboard a sailboat in Norfolk Virginia to be near the home base of Hanley’s crew. Matt Hanley, former CIA Deputy Director, has named his off the books team Ghost Town.
Northern Irish Campbell Coyle sheds his retired locksmith and sheep herder persona to come to America to work for Westwood with his persoonal singular aim of killing Gentry for having killed his criminal son Charlie in a gun fight in Bulgaria. Described as a “bad man with a dark history,” Campbell digs up weapons hidden on his farm and goes on the war path.
Another assassin hired by Weswood is Lancer, a former Navy SEAL turned assassin, who’s also out to kill Gentry as he blames him for landing him in a Cuban prison.
Meanwhile, ex-CIA operative Zack Hightower who’s on the goes to Boulder to check in on his daughter a decade after she and his ex-wife entered Witness Protection to stop his enemies from threatening them. And those enemies are now on their trail.
Intense exhilarating actions scenes, danger lurking everywhere, treason afoot, leaks within the CIA – your heart races and your adrenaline pumps throughout the novel’s 500 pages.
The book ends mid-action on a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER! Now the wait begins for Greaney to bring Gray Man back on his sixteenth outing- as soon as possible, please!
Thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.
The intense action picks up where the last book ended, with Court Gentry (aka The Gray Man as an elite, elusive contract assassin and aka The Violator from his CIA day as a paramilitary operations officer) back from rescuing fellow assassin Lola from a Russian work camp. Gentry owes a huge debt to the Director of Intelligence Operations (DIO) who assisted him during his dangerous mission. As an ask in return, Gentry’s former boss Matt Hanley has been commissioned by the DIO to set up a secret intelligence group to figure out who high up in the U.S. government has been leaking secrets to either the Russians or Chinese. In his first mission for Hanley, Gentry is sent down to Nicaragua to rescue an endangered intelligence asset. The pick-up mission goes horribly wrong due to leaked info, and the Gray Man encounters two Chinese National soldiers and barely makes it out alive with the asset.
Meanwhile, James Westwood wants to be elected Senator from New Hampshire en route to his ambitions to be President and has cut an intelligence leak deal with the Chinese in exchange for their help getting him there. The Chinese insist that he find a group of overseas assassins to execute multiple intelligence officers in the Washington, D.C. and offer in exchange to speed up his appointment to be Senator. He and his security head Mike hire elite international assassins and give them each five targets to kill.
Courtney moves onboard a sailboat in Norfolk Virginia to be near the home base of Hanley’s crew. Matt Hanley, former CIA Deputy Director, has named his off the books team Ghost Town.
Northern Irish Campbell Coyle sheds his retired locksmith and sheep herder persona to come to America to work for Westwood with his persoonal singular aim of killing Gentry for having killed his criminal son Charlie in a gun fight in Bulgaria. Described as a “bad man with a dark history,” Campbell digs up weapons hidden on his farm and goes on the war path.
Another assassin hired by Weswood is Lancer, a former Navy SEAL turned assassin, who’s also out to kill Gentry as he blames him for landing him in a Cuban prison.
Meanwhile, ex-CIA operative Zack Hightower who’s on the goes to Boulder to check in on his daughter a decade after she and his ex-wife entered Witness Protection to stop his enemies from threatening them. And those enemies are now on their trail.
Intense exhilarating actions scenes, danger lurking everywhere, treason afoot, leaks within the CIA – your heart races and your adrenaline pumps throughout the novel’s 500 pages.
The book ends mid-action on a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER! Now the wait begins for Greaney to bring Gray Man back on his sixteenth outing- as soon as possible, please!
Thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As usual, Mark Greaney brings his usual excellent political action-adventure storyline to the fifteenth book in the Gray Man series,
The Hard Line.
A central theme in this novel is family. Court Gentry’s definition is those who share your blood as well as the blood you shed for others.
Besides his father in Florida, Court’s family operates out of an office park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Ghost Town is an off-the-books direct action team lead by former CIA Deputy Director, Matt Hanley. They take on jobs the Agency needs handled discreetly. There’s a leak in multiple intelligence agencies threatening operations worldwide. This is followed by hit squads killing multiple members of the counterintelligence community. On top of this, there are men who specifically want to kill Court (if they can identify who he is).
Court is a former CIA paramilitary operations officer, and former CIA contract agent. He is perceptive, determined, and able to quickly assess situations. Readers gain knowledge of Court’s disposition and frame of mind as the story progresses. There are a host of additional characters, but readers of the series will be familiar with some of them. There’s also a character list at the beginning of the book.
Greaney is an excellent storyteller who is skilled in bringing together diverse characters and plenty of pulse-pounding exhilarating action. The novel starts with an action scene in Bulgaria that sets the stage for part of the later action. From beginning to end, the atmosphere is electric. The dynamic plot came alive with the constant sense of danger, urgency, and uneasiness keeping me fully engrossed in the story. The world-building is excellent and transported me to the various locales including Bulgaria, Nicaragua, and Washington D. C.
The book is insightful and moving, highlighting how corruption can exist beneath the surface and have a major impact on politics and the lives of many others. Readers become invested in the story right from the start with the thought-provoking plot, danger, and action. There’s a strong sense of unease throughout the novel. My biggest quibble is the ending. Too many situations are left up-in-the-air and not fully resolved.
Overall, this is an intriguing, engrossing, and suspenseful thriller that’s full of action, trust, secrets, family, murder, power, and much more. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I recommend this series to those who like political, action, and espionage thrillers.
Berkley Publishing Group – Berkley and Mark Greaney provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 17, 2026.
---------------------------
My 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Besides his father in Florida, Court’s family operates out of an office park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Ghost Town is an off-the-books direct action team lead by former CIA Deputy Director, Matt Hanley. They take on jobs the Agency needs handled discreetly. There’s a leak in multiple intelligence agencies threatening operations worldwide. This is followed by hit squads killing multiple members of the counterintelligence community. On top of this, there are men who specifically want to kill Court (if they can identify who he is).
Court is a former CIA paramilitary operations officer, and former CIA contract agent. He is perceptive, determined, and able to quickly assess situations. Readers gain knowledge of Court’s disposition and frame of mind as the story progresses. There are a host of additional characters, but readers of the series will be familiar with some of them. There’s also a character list at the beginning of the book.
Greaney is an excellent storyteller who is skilled in bringing together diverse characters and plenty of pulse-pounding exhilarating action. The novel starts with an action scene in Bulgaria that sets the stage for part of the later action. From beginning to end, the atmosphere is electric. The dynamic plot came alive with the constant sense of danger, urgency, and uneasiness keeping me fully engrossed in the story. The world-building is excellent and transported me to the various locales including Bulgaria, Nicaragua, and Washington D. C.
The book is insightful and moving, highlighting how corruption can exist beneath the surface and have a major impact on politics and the lives of many others. Readers become invested in the story right from the start with the thought-provoking plot, danger, and action. There’s a strong sense of unease throughout the novel. My biggest quibble is the ending. Too many situations are left up-in-the-air and not fully resolved.
Overall, this is an intriguing, engrossing, and suspenseful thriller that’s full of action, trust, secrets, family, murder, power, and much more. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I recommend this series to those who like political, action, and espionage thrillers.
Berkley Publishing Group – Berkley and Mark Greaney provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 17, 2026.
---------------------------
My 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Can he find them before they kill him?
Courtland Gentry gives new meaning to not judging a book by its cover. To the casual observer he seems like an average guy, nothing exceptional about him, which is why one of the names by which he is known is the Gray Man. But he is far from ordinary; he is in fact an apex predator, an assassin whose reputation strikes fear in even the most jaded opponent. Gentry, also known as Violator and Sierra Six, finds himself currently working as part of a start-up off-the-books team being led by his former boss (and former CIA Deputy Director) Matt Hanley; both men working off favors granted them on a prior quest by someone high up in the US intelligence arena. They and the rest of their small team get the call when for unknown reasons various intelligence ops across the spectrum of agencies are getting blown. That soon escalates to various people working for or connected to the intelligence apparatus being killed almost simultaneously. Someone is orchestrating a major strike against US intelligence, and it soon becomes apparent that a small group of elite killers for hire have been brought into the country to eliminate a specific list of targets. Two of those killers also have Gentry in their crosshairs for their own reasons. Gentry's team is brand new, but they need to hit the ground running....time to identify and eliminate the threat is quickly running out.
In this 15th installment in the high octane Gray Man series Gentry finds himself yet again being hunted by people as lethal as he is, in particular an Irishman known as Whetstone who has come out of retirement to hunt down his son's killer....Gentry. Within a government that is farming out more and more of its intelligence work to a contracting company as it lays off its own people, unforeseen vulnerabilities are being exploited by person or persons unknown. It appears that it is the Russians (doesn't it always?), but all is not as it seems. There are clearly those within the US government who are aiding and abetting this outside entity, but its not clear who the relevant actors are nor whom can be trusted. With plenty of action and intrigue, and with themes of family, vengeance and betrayal, this mission may all boil down to Gentry and Whetstone, two sides of the same coin. Fans of the series will no doubt enjoy this explosive tale, and those who haven't read the series can enjoy it as a standalone (although they may miss out on some of the characters' relevant backstories and interconnectedness). Readers of Jack Carr, Brad Thor and Vince Flynn should check it out as well. Overall I found it a fantastic read, with non-stop action spilling out over the DC area and a measure of introspection baked into the plot line. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me access to this top notch thriller in exchange for my honest review.
Courtland Gentry gives new meaning to not judging a book by its cover. To the casual observer he seems like an average guy, nothing exceptional about him, which is why one of the names by which he is known is the Gray Man. But he is far from ordinary; he is in fact an apex predator, an assassin whose reputation strikes fear in even the most jaded opponent. Gentry, also known as Violator and Sierra Six, finds himself currently working as part of a start-up off-the-books team being led by his former boss (and former CIA Deputy Director) Matt Hanley; both men working off favors granted them on a prior quest by someone high up in the US intelligence arena. They and the rest of their small team get the call when for unknown reasons various intelligence ops across the spectrum of agencies are getting blown. That soon escalates to various people working for or connected to the intelligence apparatus being killed almost simultaneously. Someone is orchestrating a major strike against US intelligence, and it soon becomes apparent that a small group of elite killers for hire have been brought into the country to eliminate a specific list of targets. Two of those killers also have Gentry in their crosshairs for their own reasons. Gentry's team is brand new, but they need to hit the ground running....time to identify and eliminate the threat is quickly running out.
In this 15th installment in the high octane Gray Man series Gentry finds himself yet again being hunted by people as lethal as he is, in particular an Irishman known as Whetstone who has come out of retirement to hunt down his son's killer....Gentry. Within a government that is farming out more and more of its intelligence work to a contracting company as it lays off its own people, unforeseen vulnerabilities are being exploited by person or persons unknown. It appears that it is the Russians (doesn't it always?), but all is not as it seems. There are clearly those within the US government who are aiding and abetting this outside entity, but its not clear who the relevant actors are nor whom can be trusted. With plenty of action and intrigue, and with themes of family, vengeance and betrayal, this mission may all boil down to Gentry and Whetstone, two sides of the same coin. Fans of the series will no doubt enjoy this explosive tale, and those who haven't read the series can enjoy it as a standalone (although they may miss out on some of the characters' relevant backstories and interconnectedness). Readers of Jack Carr, Brad Thor and Vince Flynn should check it out as well. Overall I found it a fantastic read, with non-stop action spilling out over the DC area and a measure of introspection baked into the plot line. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me access to this top notch thriller in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2026
Mark Greaney’s The Hard Line—the 15th entry in the Gray Man series—is a study in technical mastery, but undermined by a lack of originality. Between not disappointing readers and surprising them, Greaney has chosen the former, and in doing so, committed a narrative misstep.
(The title refers to the hereditary trait of the killer, set against the “soft line” of civilian life.)
Greaney has perfected the mechanics: the phrasing is tighter, the dialogue snappier. It is easily one of the best-engineered books in the series. At its peak, the prose evokes early Jack Reacher—lean and brutal.
The first chapter is a masterclass; the tradecraft is choreographed with precision, from staircase distractions to silent knife work. Greaney clearly wants to deliver for his readers, and on a sentence-by-sentence level, he does.
The pieces match perfectly, but they fail to construct anything new. The story is a mash-up of action tropes from the last decade: the fit-but-aging ex-IRA operative, his shadowy puppet masters, and a “biblical justice” theme that feels anachronistic alongside 2020s spycraft. If you’ve seen the movies, you’ve already read this book.
(Spoilers ahead)
The plot’s logic is often thin. When Gentry is subdued by Bulgarian gangsters, he responds with a bloodbath—eliminating every adversary including fatally wounding a bodyguard, just to retrieve a cell phone photo. It feels more like an early forced crescendo than a professional’s surgical precision strike.
Blisteringly, when Whetstone, the father of the bodyguard, later confronts him, Gentry snaps: “Why don’t you kill the doctors ? ” It’s a dark, sharp moment where Greaney nails the character.
Unfortunately, those moments are rare. The “eye for an eye” structure feels manufactured. Gentry kills Whetstone’s son; Whetstone kills Gentry’s father; Gentry vows to kill Whetstone in return. (To sustain the “Hard Line” theme, Whetstone has determined he must kill Gentry to prevent his baby grandson from seeking future revenge.) The theme drives the story rather than the story driving the theme.
The finale is the biggest disappointment. After a “High Noon” setup, the killers confront each other in an Antrim cemetery and... they talk. It’s stylishly written, but narratively, it’s a dud. Then there is the kidnapped daughter subplot—a cliché-ridden sequence involving a ceramic toilet-tank lid that exists solely to hammer home the “like father, like daughter” hard line motif.
Finally, the stakes never feel equal. Gentry and Hightower consistently face superior numbers of technically inferior opponents. Whetstone—the only true match—never actually enters the arena.
An alternative story line, changing the political conspiracy to an attack by a conglomerate for purely financial gains aided by AI, can be read on my substack
https://open.substack.com/pub/rodheth...
(The title refers to the hereditary trait of the killer, set against the “soft line” of civilian life.)
Greaney has perfected the mechanics: the phrasing is tighter, the dialogue snappier. It is easily one of the best-engineered books in the series. At its peak, the prose evokes early Jack Reacher—lean and brutal.
The first chapter is a masterclass; the tradecraft is choreographed with precision, from staircase distractions to silent knife work. Greaney clearly wants to deliver for his readers, and on a sentence-by-sentence level, he does.
The pieces match perfectly, but they fail to construct anything new. The story is a mash-up of action tropes from the last decade: the fit-but-aging ex-IRA operative, his shadowy puppet masters, and a “biblical justice” theme that feels anachronistic alongside 2020s spycraft. If you’ve seen the movies, you’ve already read this book.
(Spoilers ahead)
The plot’s logic is often thin. When Gentry is subdued by Bulgarian gangsters, he responds with a bloodbath—eliminating every adversary including fatally wounding a bodyguard, just to retrieve a cell phone photo. It feels more like an early forced crescendo than a professional’s surgical precision strike.
Blisteringly, when Whetstone, the father of the bodyguard, later confronts him, Gentry snaps: “Why don’t you kill the doctors ? ” It’s a dark, sharp moment where Greaney nails the character.
Unfortunately, those moments are rare. The “eye for an eye” structure feels manufactured. Gentry kills Whetstone’s son; Whetstone kills Gentry’s father; Gentry vows to kill Whetstone in return. (To sustain the “Hard Line” theme, Whetstone has determined he must kill Gentry to prevent his baby grandson from seeking future revenge.) The theme drives the story rather than the story driving the theme.
The finale is the biggest disappointment. After a “High Noon” setup, the killers confront each other in an Antrim cemetery and... they talk. It’s stylishly written, but narratively, it’s a dud. Then there is the kidnapped daughter subplot—a cliché-ridden sequence involving a ceramic toilet-tank lid that exists solely to hammer home the “like father, like daughter” hard line motif.
Finally, the stakes never feel equal. Gentry and Hightower consistently face superior numbers of technically inferior opponents. Whetstone—the only true match—never actually enters the arena.
An alternative story line, changing the political conspiracy to an attack by a conglomerate for purely financial gains aided by AI, can be read on my substack
https://open.substack.com/pub/rodheth...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and the fine folks at NetGalley for the opportunity to read this Advance Review Copy of the latest novel in the Courtland Gentry/Gray Man series. This book is scheduled to be released on 17 February 2026.
Of the fifteen books that have been released thus far in the series, I have sadly only had the opportunity to read two or three of the series thus far.
The narrative in this story opens with a flashback as our protagonist, Court Gentry, meeting his handler, Matt Hanley, following a long, intense, and physically taxing, but successful, mission to rescue Zoya (Anthem) from a Russian penal colony. The opening shows Court catching up with Hanley, and reflecting on his recent, lucky survival through Eastern Europe.
Court is recruited to be part of a "off the books" direct action team based in Norfolk, VA by former CIA Deputy Director Matt Hanley. This "black" intelligence team acts as a deniable, specialized unit tasked with high-stakes, discreet operations that the CIA cannot officially handle.
Ghost Town is tasked with investigating a mole within the U.S. government who is leaking information and causing members of the U.S. intelligence community to be assassinated. This information is being gathered for the Chinese MSS with the assistance of a private company contracted by the United States to handle black ops and deniable missions that is involved in the intelligence leaks is called Gauntlet.
Gauntlet is run by James Arthur Westwood, a politician who is conspiring to become a Senator and eventually President, is selling secrets to the Chinese and utilizing Gauntlet to harvest intelligence from U.S. agencies and his head of Security, Mike Scardino.
In addition to being part of a "black" team of operatives that is attempting to hunt down the mole who is selling intelligence secrets, Gentry is also faced with trying to stop multiple groups of international assassins that are targeting members of the intelligence community, and familial vengeance from the father of Charlie Coyle who was killed in a gunfight in Bulgaria.
Overall while this book is a high-octane read where the action does not stop, there are those critics find the protagonist's "superhero" levels of survival unrealistic, and the detailed technical research is without par. As such on my self-determined five-star scale, I think that Greaney's latest is definitely worthy of five stars. Readers of high-octane spy thrillers by authors including Brad Thor, Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn, Gregg Hurwitz, and Tom Clancy would enjoy this book.
As with all my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents' worth.
Of the fifteen books that have been released thus far in the series, I have sadly only had the opportunity to read two or three of the series thus far.
The narrative in this story opens with a flashback as our protagonist, Court Gentry, meeting his handler, Matt Hanley, following a long, intense, and physically taxing, but successful, mission to rescue Zoya (Anthem) from a Russian penal colony. The opening shows Court catching up with Hanley, and reflecting on his recent, lucky survival through Eastern Europe.
Court is recruited to be part of a "off the books" direct action team based in Norfolk, VA by former CIA Deputy Director Matt Hanley. This "black" intelligence team acts as a deniable, specialized unit tasked with high-stakes, discreet operations that the CIA cannot officially handle.
Ghost Town is tasked with investigating a mole within the U.S. government who is leaking information and causing members of the U.S. intelligence community to be assassinated. This information is being gathered for the Chinese MSS with the assistance of a private company contracted by the United States to handle black ops and deniable missions that is involved in the intelligence leaks is called Gauntlet.
Gauntlet is run by James Arthur Westwood, a politician who is conspiring to become a Senator and eventually President, is selling secrets to the Chinese and utilizing Gauntlet to harvest intelligence from U.S. agencies and his head of Security, Mike Scardino.
In addition to being part of a "black" team of operatives that is attempting to hunt down the mole who is selling intelligence secrets, Gentry is also faced with trying to stop multiple groups of international assassins that are targeting members of the intelligence community, and familial vengeance from the father of Charlie Coyle who was killed in a gunfight in Bulgaria.
Overall while this book is a high-octane read where the action does not stop, there are those critics find the protagonist's "superhero" levels of survival unrealistic, and the detailed technical research is without par. As such on my self-determined five-star scale, I think that Greaney's latest is definitely worthy of five stars. Readers of high-octane spy thrillers by authors including Brad Thor, Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn, Gregg Hurwitz, and Tom Clancy would enjoy this book.
As with all my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents' worth.
December 1, 2025
The Hard Line is Mark Greaney’s 15th novel in the Gray Man series. I have been a fan from the beginning of these action thrillers, and Greaney’s latest is another winner. Usually, this series takes you around the globe with international intrigue, espionage and conspiracies. And while The Hard Line starts in Tunis, most of this thriller is set in the US for the first time – at least that I can recall – which makes for a fun read for Gray Man fans.
Key members of the US counterintelligence community are being assassinated in their own neighborhoods. The Gray Man (Court Gentry) now works off book for a dark intelligence group so it falls to them to stop the destruction since the feds have been compromised. And to make matters more dangerous, Gentry finds himself the target of one of the several foreign assassins working in the US. Why is this happening and who is the federal mole? The Gray Man is joined by the usual team of agents, aging now, but still capable of taking on the most dangerous missions.
If you have read this series before, you know that Gentry is perhaps unbelievably successful in all his missions; some say the series is comic-book unrealistic. But I enjoy his ability to beat back the enemy with his brains and brawn. I do suggest those who are new to the series start with the first – The Gray Man (2009) – because there is a great deal of character development in Gentry and his teammates.
I find that enjoyable series, like the Gray Man, are especially fun to read due to the long-term relationships I can have with characters who grow and change. I have formed a strong connection to Gentry over the years. Plus, this Greaney outing again leaves me with a cliffhanger which excites me for the next installment, hopefully next year.
My rating: 5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. The Hard Line will be published on February 17, 2026.
Key members of the US counterintelligence community are being assassinated in their own neighborhoods. The Gray Man (Court Gentry) now works off book for a dark intelligence group so it falls to them to stop the destruction since the feds have been compromised. And to make matters more dangerous, Gentry finds himself the target of one of the several foreign assassins working in the US. Why is this happening and who is the federal mole? The Gray Man is joined by the usual team of agents, aging now, but still capable of taking on the most dangerous missions.
If you have read this series before, you know that Gentry is perhaps unbelievably successful in all his missions; some say the series is comic-book unrealistic. But I enjoy his ability to beat back the enemy with his brains and brawn. I do suggest those who are new to the series start with the first – The Gray Man (2009) – because there is a great deal of character development in Gentry and his teammates.
I find that enjoyable series, like the Gray Man, are especially fun to read due to the long-term relationships I can have with characters who grow and change. I have formed a strong connection to Gentry over the years. Plus, this Greaney outing again leaves me with a cliffhanger which excites me for the next installment, hopefully next year.
My rating: 5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. The Hard Line will be published on February 17, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the first time I have been able to get an early copy of a Gray Man novel from NetGalley. Definitely made my day.
At the end of the last novel, we saw Six formally team up with Handley as a result of the help he was given in Russia. Zach and Zoya were both injured in Russia and seem to be on the shelf for this novel.
In the Hard Line, we see foreign operations getting leaked with disastrous results. Somewhere in Washington, there is a leak. Handley's group, the Ghost Town, are tasked with finding out who. And quickly.
Then people in counterintelligence around the Eastern US are getting killed and it seems too coordinated to be coincidental.
Six, Handley and others find themselves at the center of it all. And in classic Gray Man fashion, there is one or two people from his past that are searching for him.
This is definitely my favorite series of novels. Gray Man release dates are marked on the calendar as soon as they are announced. And this is a worthy and excellent addition to the series. I have loved the progression of this character and the characters around him. Zach might be one of the best side characters ever and you see him in a new light in this novel. Injured, vulnerable, but still wanting to be in the fight.
There is no shying away from the action and there are plenty of heart-stopping scenes, with one or two "They are never getting out of this one" scenes sprinkled in.
We see classic themes of revenge, vengeance, fear, and hope all throughout. Greaney is able to tell you a story that grabs you and you can't stop reading.
I was torn with wanting this book to last longer than it did but at the same time, wanting to read the next chapter cause I couldn't stop. A very hard balance to maintain.
This is going to be one of the best books of 2026.
At the end of the last novel, we saw Six formally team up with Handley as a result of the help he was given in Russia. Zach and Zoya were both injured in Russia and seem to be on the shelf for this novel.
In the Hard Line, we see foreign operations getting leaked with disastrous results. Somewhere in Washington, there is a leak. Handley's group, the Ghost Town, are tasked with finding out who. And quickly.
Then people in counterintelligence around the Eastern US are getting killed and it seems too coordinated to be coincidental.
Six, Handley and others find themselves at the center of it all. And in classic Gray Man fashion, there is one or two people from his past that are searching for him.
This is definitely my favorite series of novels. Gray Man release dates are marked on the calendar as soon as they are announced. And this is a worthy and excellent addition to the series. I have loved the progression of this character and the characters around him. Zach might be one of the best side characters ever and you see him in a new light in this novel. Injured, vulnerable, but still wanting to be in the fight.
There is no shying away from the action and there are plenty of heart-stopping scenes, with one or two "They are never getting out of this one" scenes sprinkled in.
We see classic themes of revenge, vengeance, fear, and hope all throughout. Greaney is able to tell you a story that grabs you and you can't stop reading.
I was torn with wanting this book to last longer than it did but at the same time, wanting to read the next chapter cause I couldn't stop. A very hard balance to maintain.
This is going to be one of the best books of 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wish I could give it 6 stars ⭐️
Man, I love this series so much. It is one of the very few series that I look forward to and anticipate the one book a year that will be coming out. And the fact that we are on book 15 and the series is only getting better is just icing on the cake.
Even though this is a genre with many fantastic authors, Mr. Greaney is somehow able to make this action thriller even better with such a depth of the characters - especially our MC Courtland Gentry -and the dynamic and changing relationships that he has with the secondary characters. This book, in particular, brings back several people that we have come to know and love, and some others that have teetered back and forth on the edge between good guy and not so good guy.
One thing that was interesting was that the start of this book goes back and takes an event that happened in the last book (Midnight Black) and takes us deeper into that scene to get a perspective that we were not able to see in the last book. That one scene sets up the entire rest of this book. Crazy, right?
As usual, this book is fast paced and filled with non-stop action. The action starts from the beginning, and it does not stop until the very end. I kept wondering how in the world everything was going to be resolved in the time left in the book and when I got to the end, I realized that it wasn't. We finish this book with some unresolved dilemmas and the set-up is made for book 16.
To be honest, my stomach was in knots through most of this book and I have realized that I am so invested in this flawed but utterly adorable man. Court, Six, Violator, The Gray Man.....whatever you want to call him.....he is one of a kind.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on February 17, 2026.
Man, I love this series so much. It is one of the very few series that I look forward to and anticipate the one book a year that will be coming out. And the fact that we are on book 15 and the series is only getting better is just icing on the cake.
Even though this is a genre with many fantastic authors, Mr. Greaney is somehow able to make this action thriller even better with such a depth of the characters - especially our MC Courtland Gentry -and the dynamic and changing relationships that he has with the secondary characters. This book, in particular, brings back several people that we have come to know and love, and some others that have teetered back and forth on the edge between good guy and not so good guy.
One thing that was interesting was that the start of this book goes back and takes an event that happened in the last book (Midnight Black) and takes us deeper into that scene to get a perspective that we were not able to see in the last book. That one scene sets up the entire rest of this book. Crazy, right?
As usual, this book is fast paced and filled with non-stop action. The action starts from the beginning, and it does not stop until the very end. I kept wondering how in the world everything was going to be resolved in the time left in the book and when I got to the end, I realized that it wasn't. We finish this book with some unresolved dilemmas and the set-up is made for book 16.
To be honest, my stomach was in knots through most of this book and I have realized that I am so invested in this flawed but utterly adorable man. Court, Six, Violator, The Gray Man.....whatever you want to call him.....he is one of a kind.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on February 17, 2026.
November 1, 2025
𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
🚨 nonstop action
🚨 revenge plot
🚨 books in a series
🚨 side stories
Hardline by Mark Greaney is the 15th installment into the Gray Man Series. This next chapter follows our protagonist, Court Gentry as he must face something he has never before encountered, the family member of a random bodyguard that gets in between him and his mark. But what happens when the seeming no body turns out to have a father that is a somebody. Not only does Court need to contest with an assassin that has it out only for him, but he must unravel a plot that has the lives of many people in the balance. We see Court try to balance his personal life and his professional life in a story that pushes him to his limits.
This book was hands down one of the best in the series. Mark Greaney made sure to keep all the characters that his readers have grown to love into one story. Not only is it one conducive story, but he has lines of side stories weaved in as well. In every book Greaney tries to peel back more of Court’s past and this book did the same. The story is action packed with suspense. I can’t rave enough of about this book. If you are already a fan you will love it and if you have never read a Gray Man book you will be in for a treat which will have you wanting to read the rest of the series.
Thank you Netgalley, Mark Greaney, and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read an advance copy.
Read if you like:
🚨 nonstop action
🚨 revenge plot
🚨 books in a series
🚨 side stories
Hardline by Mark Greaney is the 15th installment into the Gray Man Series. This next chapter follows our protagonist, Court Gentry as he must face something he has never before encountered, the family member of a random bodyguard that gets in between him and his mark. But what happens when the seeming no body turns out to have a father that is a somebody. Not only does Court need to contest with an assassin that has it out only for him, but he must unravel a plot that has the lives of many people in the balance. We see Court try to balance his personal life and his professional life in a story that pushes him to his limits.
This book was hands down one of the best in the series. Mark Greaney made sure to keep all the characters that his readers have grown to love into one story. Not only is it one conducive story, but he has lines of side stories weaved in as well. In every book Greaney tries to peel back more of Court’s past and this book did the same. The story is action packed with suspense. I can’t rave enough of about this book. If you are already a fan you will love it and if you have never read a Gray Man book you will be in for a treat which will have you wanting to read the rest of the series.
Thank you Netgalley, Mark Greaney, and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read an advance copy.
November 18, 2025
This eARC was provided by Netgalley.com and I am giving an unbiased review.
This is book number 15 in 'The Gray Man' series by this author. Again, Greaney has surprised me with a story line that he has been able to further on a great character. After the last book, where Court rescued his love, he is now pulled back into Ghost Town with Hanley, his old Sierra Six leader, and some other office operatives. This time there is a threat to US agents/teams around the world as somehow information of their whereabouts are being released and they are being murdered. As Court and his team investigate outside of any US agency protocol to find the leak, they discover more intrigue.
This has got to be the least action-oriented novel in this series, and concentrates more on intelligence info, deductive reasoning, and how the other World Powers work against each other. I found myself drawn more into the story as the alleged fictional happenings just sound believable in today's current times of crisis. At times it felt like the smokescreens were more than three deep, as they work to unravel the plot.
Kudos to Greaney! Another great read, and I am so hoping for at least a few more stories of Court and his retinue, even if we step out of the government-type intrigue and maybe just something like protecting their lives (and lives of the children). I'm throwing out 4.5 stars, though most sites only let me go to whole numbers.
This is book number 15 in 'The Gray Man' series by this author. Again, Greaney has surprised me with a story line that he has been able to further on a great character. After the last book, where Court rescued his love, he is now pulled back into Ghost Town with Hanley, his old Sierra Six leader, and some other office operatives. This time there is a threat to US agents/teams around the world as somehow information of their whereabouts are being released and they are being murdered. As Court and his team investigate outside of any US agency protocol to find the leak, they discover more intrigue.
This has got to be the least action-oriented novel in this series, and concentrates more on intelligence info, deductive reasoning, and how the other World Powers work against each other. I found myself drawn more into the story as the alleged fictional happenings just sound believable in today's current times of crisis. At times it felt like the smokescreens were more than three deep, as they work to unravel the plot.
Kudos to Greaney! Another great read, and I am so hoping for at least a few more stories of Court and his retinue, even if we step out of the government-type intrigue and maybe just something like protecting their lives (and lives of the children). I'm throwing out 4.5 stars, though most sites only let me go to whole numbers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Court Gentry, better known as the Gray Man, dives into chaos from page one. When he targets an Eastern European gangster, he’s forced to eliminate several hired guns protecting the target. What he doesn’t realize is that one of those men is the son of Whetstone, a legendary Northern Irish assassin. Whetstone resurfaces with a single mission: to end the Gray Man.
Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Gentry and his off-the-books team, codenamed Ghost Town, come under attack from an unknown advisary with a mole buried deep inside the government. As the hunt for the traitor intensifies, low-level government employees start turning up dead. Gentry must unravel the conspiracy while staying alive, because Whetstone is closing in.
The Hard Line cranks up the violence and tension from the start and doesn’t let up until the final page. It’s a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller packed with relentless action. It feels like every other chapter another showdown or gunfight is happening. The dual storylines mesh perfectly, and the phone exchanges between Gentry and Whetstone are outstanding.
While it is just the beginning of the year, I have a feeling The Hard Line will remain one of the best books I read in 2026. Mark Greaney is a master of pacing and suspense. If you’re a fan of spy thrillers, this is an absolute must-read. Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Greaney, and Berkeley Publishing Group for a free advanced readers copy for an honest review.
Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Gentry and his off-the-books team, codenamed Ghost Town, come under attack from an unknown advisary with a mole buried deep inside the government. As the hunt for the traitor intensifies, low-level government employees start turning up dead. Gentry must unravel the conspiracy while staying alive, because Whetstone is closing in.
The Hard Line cranks up the violence and tension from the start and doesn’t let up until the final page. It’s a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller packed with relentless action. It feels like every other chapter another showdown or gunfight is happening. The dual storylines mesh perfectly, and the phone exchanges between Gentry and Whetstone are outstanding.
While it is just the beginning of the year, I have a feeling The Hard Line will remain one of the best books I read in 2026. Mark Greaney is a master of pacing and suspense. If you’re a fan of spy thrillers, this is an absolute must-read. Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Greaney, and Berkeley Publishing Group for a free advanced readers copy for an honest review.
February 24, 2026
I'll make this review short because there are so many other reviewers here explaining plot points. Mark Greaney writes action sequences like no other. My heart was in my throat, and I nearly stopped breathing several times throughout this book. And I laughed out loud at times as well. I have loved the Gray Man series right from the beginning. Court Gentry has more lives than the luckiest cat in the world.
Greaney scared the bejeezus outta me with "The Chaos Agent" a couple books back by letting us know about the dangerous world of A.I. weaponry. Well, he's done it again with this book. As timely as last night's news, Gentry and his cohorts have to deal with inside, evil shenanigans within the U.S. government. Outside influences, governmental corruption, and strange assassinations are all too real right now. I read between the lines here and there and shuddered. No, no...too real...too timely.
I'll wrap this up by saying that Gentry had to deal with a gazillion assassins in this outing and, one in particular, was actually likable (sort of)...except for one disastrous action.
Court Gentry surprised me here with an introspection I never would have expected. The ending was explosive. Literally. And now, damn it, we all have to wait for a freakin' year to see the outcome. No spoilers here but, yes, there is a cliffhanger!
Greaney scared the bejeezus outta me with "The Chaos Agent" a couple books back by letting us know about the dangerous world of A.I. weaponry. Well, he's done it again with this book. As timely as last night's news, Gentry and his cohorts have to deal with inside, evil shenanigans within the U.S. government. Outside influences, governmental corruption, and strange assassinations are all too real right now. I read between the lines here and there and shuddered. No, no...too real...too timely.
I'll wrap this up by saying that Gentry had to deal with a gazillion assassins in this outing and, one in particular, was actually likable (sort of)...except for one disastrous action.
Court Gentry surprised me here with an introspection I never would have expected. The ending was explosive. Literally. And now, damn it, we all have to wait for a freakin' year to see the outcome. No spoilers here but, yes, there is a cliffhanger!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Mark Greaney's The Hard Line (Berkley 2026), #15 in the Gray Man series, is one of the best of the series. If you’re not familiar with this extensive, far-reaching geopolitical series and missed Netflix's 2022 so-so movie by the same name, let me give you a quick background. Court Gentry, aka the Gray Man, is a formerly disavowed CIA dark asset who spent years being chased by his former bosses and is now folded back into their embrace as an off the books jobber for work the government can’t be involved in. This is a nice change from seeing Gentry running for his life from everyone good and bad with few to no friends. Now, he has a tight albeit limited group he can rely on for critical jobs. In this particular job, all of the US's alphabet agencies seem to be compromised meaning jobs are failing that normally would have succeeded. Court's group is called in to take care of that problem but told up front they will have no backup, no support. That suits Court fine. It's how he is accustomed to working, but he soon finds out that the worst threats he faces are old enemies.
Gray Man fans know this means they will be up most of the night, unable to quit until the last page is turned.
Gray Man fans know this means they will be up most of the night, unable to quit until the last page is turned.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
From the opening pages the action is intense and relentless! Court Gentry, aka The Gray Man, Sierra Six, Violator, is once again working for his former CIA handler, Mike Hanley, and an off the books team, code name Ghost Town. It soon becomes apparent that a high-ranking mole is systematically eliminating members of US intelligence agencies. As if stopping these hits weren’t dangerous enough, Gentry also finds himself personally targeted by a legendary assassin bent on revenge.
Blending familiar characters with new ones, Greaney delivers yet another fast paced, edge of your seat thriller. This series never feels like the same character dropped into different scenarios; instead, the Gray Man continues to evolve, age and reveal more of his personality and vulnerability with each installment. The sharp banter adds both humor and depth, making the characters feel even more real.
This is a series worth starting from the beginning, as the character and relationship development pays off and several threads are now coming full circle.
This novel ends with a tantalizing reveal that has me already eagerly awaiting the next release!
Blending familiar characters with new ones, Greaney delivers yet another fast paced, edge of your seat thriller. This series never feels like the same character dropped into different scenarios; instead, the Gray Man continues to evolve, age and reveal more of his personality and vulnerability with each installment. The sharp banter adds both humor and depth, making the characters feel even more real.
This is a series worth starting from the beginning, as the character and relationship development pays off and several threads are now coming full circle.
This novel ends with a tantalizing reveal that has me already eagerly awaiting the next release!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mark Greaney is the cleanup batter on my reading roster. In this, his 15 iteration of the Gray Man series, he does another excellent job not only on the plot but bringing back characters both goo and bad from many previous books. In this edition, there is lots of international intrigue to cause domestic problems in the US intelligence community. Court Gentry and the gang must sort this all out and solve the mystery, however, somewhere along the line secret identities are revealed and families are now targeted. Can the team protect the country, themselves and their families? While this is possibly the beat Gray Man installment, I must make a couple of comments. First, if you're not careful you may develop an Irish brogue upon completion, second the Gray Man seems to get more beige in this story, not having the super powers that earned him that moniker and requiring more help tan usual. Lastly,
upon finishing this book you will find yourself in need of another Gray Man fix, so I hope Mark Greaney does not make the wait too long and painful. I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and Mark Greaney for providing a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley
upon finishing this book you will find yourself in need of another Gray Man fix, so I hope Mark Greaney does not make the wait too long and painful. I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and Mark Greaney for providing a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley
February 18, 2026
Superb thriller writer Mark Greaney has done it again with his newest entry into the nerve-wracking, volatile Gray Man series. The book starts with a bang and never lets up as multiple characters are up to no good. And it is the Gray Man who blends into the background, coincidentally one of his most outstanding assets, making him so dangerous in the world of espionage and counterterrorism. Like all of the author's Gray Man adventures, The Hard Line can be read as a standalone. However, context and detail will be much easier to grasp if the reader starts at the very beginning of the Gray Man series.
The Gray Man's cliffhanger will encourage you to start at the beginning of this fabulous series while you wait on pins and needles for the next. Greaney is one of the top thriller writers in the genre, and mystery and thriller readers will do themselves a huge favor by picking up The Hard Line and the books on Greaney's extensive back list. The Hard Line is a winner that everyone should read immediately.
January 26, 2026
Fabulous next edition of Cream eyes Gray Man series.
Sooooooooo worth the wait.
Court Gentry, aka the Gray Man in the international spy world, is now part of an off the books CIA operative team
based in "Ghost Town, an office in a small strip mall with his small team of co operatives run by Mike Hanley, Court's longtime handled and leader.
Their mission is to find out why and how Gauntlet, a security organization whose employees are now now taking over many government positions and displacing longtime govt security personnel, is involved in the sudden series of mysterious deaths occurring.across. the country and how they may be connected.
Great action with the usual terrific and well defined Gray Man characters and plot that just keeps getting bigger and better.
The Gray Man series is absolutely amazing.
It just keeps getting better and better and better.
Hard to believe, but there it is👌
Sooooooooo worth the wait.
Court Gentry, aka the Gray Man in the international spy world, is now part of an off the books CIA operative team
based in "Ghost Town, an office in a small strip mall with his small team of co operatives run by Mike Hanley, Court's longtime handled and leader.
Their mission is to find out why and how Gauntlet, a security organization whose employees are now now taking over many government positions and displacing longtime govt security personnel, is involved in the sudden series of mysterious deaths occurring.across. the country and how they may be connected.
Great action with the usual terrific and well defined Gray Man characters and plot that just keeps getting bigger and better.
The Gray Man series is absolutely amazing.
It just keeps getting better and better and better.
Hard to believe, but there it is👌
February 19, 2026
In the top 3 of Gray Man books. Mark Greaney has delivered an incredible book here.
This book captures the best elements of the Gray Man series, like the emotional punch of Back Blast, the fun team mission dynamics of Mission Critical and the cold geopolitical reality of Gunmetal Gray. It's also great to have a Gray Man book that mostly takes place in the USA.
The characters are well-fleshed out, with the dialogue and actions of all the characters being sincere and realistic.
There's a lot going on in this book (I won't spoil it) and a lot of different players, but somehow Mark Greaney still manages to make the story feel tight and focused in the same direction, with a lot of plot momentum.
The themes of this book are family and also the repercussions of actions being felt years later. There's a lot of emotional weight here.
Mark Greaney is now at the peak of his powers as a writer. I can't wait for book 16.
This book captures the best elements of the Gray Man series, like the emotional punch of Back Blast, the fun team mission dynamics of Mission Critical and the cold geopolitical reality of Gunmetal Gray. It's also great to have a Gray Man book that mostly takes place in the USA.
The characters are well-fleshed out, with the dialogue and actions of all the characters being sincere and realistic.
There's a lot going on in this book (I won't spoil it) and a lot of different players, but somehow Mark Greaney still manages to make the story feel tight and focused in the same direction, with a lot of plot momentum.
The themes of this book are family and also the repercussions of actions being felt years later. There's a lot of emotional weight here.
Mark Greaney is now at the peak of his powers as a writer. I can't wait for book 16.
February 22, 2026
After the events of Midnight Black, Court, now working for Hanley in an off-the-books group run by Watkins at the CIA, is sent to Nicaragua to exfil an asset. But this op is the latest in a series of intelligence agency betrayals, and Court uncovers something the villains did not want revealed. Meanwhile the relative of a man Court killed while searching for Zoya comes looking for vengeance.
This is a fast paced, multiple plot line thrill ride that ends with at least three cliffhangers. If spy/assassin action thrillers are your thing, you will love this one. I loved it and can’t wait for the next.
Not family friendly due to profanity and violence.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a fast paced, multiple plot line thrill ride that ends with at least three cliffhangers. If spy/assassin action thrillers are your thing, you will love this one. I loved it and can’t wait for the next.
Not family friendly due to profanity and violence.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 23, 2026
Book #15 in the Gray Man series. Mark Greaney does considerable research to insure Gray Man's fans feel the action and thrills on every page. Court Gentry.....Gray Man.....has devoted his life to protecting the US and her citizens. He and his team step in when the "normal" channels hit roadblocks that would prevent them from taking the more drastic actions the Gray Man uses. Greaney has developed this unusual cast of characters into a realistic team of heroes. The political intelligence community that they move through could be ripped from the nightly news or the social media they claim to hate. There are several over-arching stories that move alongside one or two major plotlines in each book. This keeps readers coming back for more. I believe this series to be one of the best in today's more popular series and recommend it as such. Once you read one Gray Man book, you're hooked.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THE HARD LINE is author Mark Greaney’s 15th Gray Man novel. At this point, the main characters are well-defined and a joy to revisit in each new adventure. Greaney writes fast-paced, exciting and taut tales that are impossible to stop once begun. Readers need to start the book with plenty of time to read all the way through; nothing else provides nearly enough comparable excitement. My one caveat with this book is that I don’t think it is really a stand alone; whereas the others have been. I felt there were hanging plot lines and clues left unexplored, perhaps due to the complexity of the plot. In every book, I’ve wanted more; but here there really were some unexplained tangents that, I assume, will continue into the next book. Greaney produces these Gray Man books annually, so it’s something to definitely anticipate. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Alright another Gray Man novel and another wild ride, but I wouldn’t expect anything else. This series is one of my favorite political thrillers. The author, Mark Greaney, is such a fantastic story teller. He always writes in such a believable way, in this case, the corruption that sits right below the surface. I think that thrillers can get a bad rep for not being anything more than surface level, but in this case, there is also relatable and kind of vulnerable in a sense. Now I often get overwhelmed with a list of characters in the beginning, but in this case it was really helpful to be reminded of everyone. Of course, this is part of a series, there will be more, so the ending left quite a few holes to be answered in the next installment, or one can hope.
Thank you to @berkley @markgreaneybooks and @netgalley for access to this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
Thank you to @berkley @markgreaneybooks and @netgalley for access to this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
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