Review: Ballistic

Ballistic by Mark Greaney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable, but this installment of the Gray Man series felt to me as a "filler." Like when an addictive TV series has a rogue episode that strays away from the main plot.

First off, although the scenario and action can serve as a stand alone story I would not advise reading #3 without 1 and 2. In #3 we find our boy Court inadvertently thrust into the cartel world, by means of a connection to an old friend who's recent passing drew him to Mexico to pay respects. Gray Man's old buddy had become part of an anti-cartel federal police task force who's recent botched assassination of king pin "DLR" fuels a vicious retaliation, despite killing nearly the entire task force during the attempt.

I demoted down to 3 stars from 4 as given to Gray Man 1 and 2 for a couple reasons. I didn't feel any new connection to Court in this book, usually in a series as each book passes I become more familiar with the character, their personality, actions, emotions etc. I had a lack of that in Gray #3. Also, #2 ended in dramatic fashion and there is very little in the form of continuation from where we left off.

But on the plus side, the action sequences are great and I am by no means turned away from the series because of my 1 star demotion. I also liked how Greaney put Gray through outrageous pain and punishment yet again, showing what a crazy bad ass he is to not only survive but continue to push forward. I will definitely read #4.

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