One Minute Out is a fresh and an exciting new look into the gritty world of The Gray Man. Going strong with now 9 books in the series, Mark Greaney shows no signs of slowing down in creating excellent action thrillers. One Minute Out is a testament to the fact.
One Minute Out takes a slightly different approach in highlighting Court Gentry as a lethal operative, this time in the first-person point of view, putting readers directly in Gentry’s mind. I was excited to see how it would pan out, and I was delighted with the result. The first person POV allowed for some memorable moments stemming from Gentry’s badass attitude and thought processes. The first person POV also added another layer to Gentry’s characterization, showing his inner thoughts and demons under a more focused spotlight, investing the readers even more into the narrative. I felt the first person POV was highly beneficial for a dark story as One Minute Out’s, emphasizing the evil of sex trafficking and the brutality suffered by the victims. Reading Court Gentry’s mind in the face of this evil brought Gentry even further to life as a real-life character.
The action doesn’t skip a beat as expected from The Gray Man, as Court Gentry operates with lethal parameters via his Glock 19 just as well as with his bare hands. With some highly cinematic yet grounded action sequences written in a fast-paced tone, I was highly entertained. The tactical and weaponry details were accurately described, adding to the tone of realistic action thriller. Ample number of heart-pounding shootouts, well-written airborne sequences, and a brutal knife fight, continue the trademark of an exhilarating Mark Greaney action packed thriller.
I was just as pleased with the storyline and narrative. With a plot that could have easily spiraled down into a rabbit hole, it would have been a shame to have that happen. However, Mark Greaney knows how to write. The narrative bounces to different places without losing sight of the plan, keeping the readers engaged with the plot and anticipating what will come next. Coupled with brilliant twists and turns to keep the plot on high heat, involving dark, shadowy, and unexpected alliances, One Minute Out is an absolute treat for Gray Man fans as well as fans of the action thriller genre. Gray Man's adversaries do not hold back any punches to put an end to the lethal operative, and are described with a malevolence that makes the reader want to root for Gentry to end them all.
This book is a dark one, with some brutal and upsetting moments, causing Court Gentry to lash out against his adversaries in a feral manner outside of his normal cool demeanor. The ending reflects Court Gentry’s inner dilemma for trying to save the whole world, but having to settle for a few at a time, his moral compass unwavering in the face of incredible odds against him, cementing Court as a broken hero with a strong desire to punish the sinners of the world.
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