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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Getting close to the end of my year so I’m cranking through easy reads to up my book count. Decent plot and the pandemic portion is surprisingly similar to real life, to what we’ve experienced in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic. That isn’t to imply that the story is realistic, just that elements are reasonably accurate.
I really like the Gray Man series and this one is one of the better ones. I think that the characters development are getting better and more interesting for every book, I actually liked that more than the story. Court Gentry is having such a bad luck and I wonder what will happen in the future for him, that is one of the reasons I'm a sucker for series with good interesting characters. It started so many years ago with C.S. Forester and his hero Hornblower. I can only recommend that you try Mark Greanys books if you haven't yet. they are really good.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In the land of the action thriller there are a few series that are atop the heap. Jack Reacher for sure. Pike Logan definitely. Orphan X of course. But right up there with those three, forming the Mount Rushmore of Badassery, is The Gray Man. Eight Books in and I’m still shocked at how well-plotted, well-written, and amazed at the level of detail there are in every Court Gentry book, especially the set pieces. These are novels begging, pleading to be turned into films and Mission Critical is no different.
I still think #4 in the series, Dead Eye, is the best of the bunch but this slots right into the #2 spot. While his solo adventures in the odd books are awesome, I really do prefer the even books where great supporting CIA characters are there to back him up and flesh out his personal non-lone wolf life. It gets kind of stale having Court going all Rambo every book, so I still appreciate the whole “one assignment for me, one assignment for the CIA” approach. It’s like a movie superstar trading off between big blockbusters and darling indie films—it shows off both facets to the characters and the world they inhabit.
It’s nice to see Zoya and even nicer to have this book firmly centered around fleshing out her backstory. Susan Brewer also had a fascinating sub-plot that definitely has not been resolved by a long shot. I look forward to seeing that pop up again. But, hands down, Zack Hightower—Romantic himself—takes the cake as best supporting character in this installment. He always gets the best one-liners, mostly because he’s as close to the class clown/comic relief of the series—if you can call a cold-blooded mercenary with a firm sense of duty and patriotism with over 100 confirmed kills a class clown. And yet two or three times a book he just cracks me up without ever starting into John McClain territory where every scene is a comeback, quip, or smart Alec remark. Zack does it just enough to let you know he has more of a sense of humor than Court but not so much to make you forget he literally is one of the top 3 most dangerous operators in the series.
Take for instance one of my favorite scenes from the book:
—
“Who is there?” the man called. “Who is there?”
Zack Hightower knelt and spun in the doorway, fired a blast, pumped the fore-end of the weapon, and fired again.
“It’s America, motherfucker!” Zack blasted three more shells from the shotgun, covering the darkness with steel shot, then spun back to concealment to reload.
—
I was laughing for a solid five minutes at this because it’s so over-the-top but in a way that’s believable because he’s no 80’s action movie star. He’s just seen them all and realizes that now is the perfect time to break out his imitation of a catchphrase. Again.
Does he say it because he’s a blowhard red state asshole? Nope, he mostly says it in an attempt to elicit a laugh from Court and to keep the mood light in the midst of a supremely deadly firefight where they’re outnumbered almost three-to-one.
Night Train, indeed. Lol
Read the book. It’s an exquisite example of what happens when a great character hits his stride thanks to a supremely talented author having full confidence in the world he’s built, the way he writes, and in his ability to stage action scene after action scene without getting repetitive or cliche. This is one of the best novel series out there and should be atop any reading list you make this year.
I still think #4 in the series, Dead Eye, is the best of the bunch but this slots right into the #2 spot. While his solo adventures in the odd books are awesome, I really do prefer the even books where great supporting CIA characters are there to back him up and flesh out his personal non-lone wolf life. It gets kind of stale having Court going all Rambo every book, so I still appreciate the whole “one assignment for me, one assignment for the CIA” approach. It’s like a movie superstar trading off between big blockbusters and darling indie films—it shows off both facets to the characters and the world they inhabit.
It’s nice to see Zoya and even nicer to have this book firmly centered around fleshing out her backstory. Susan Brewer also had a fascinating sub-plot that definitely has not been resolved by a long shot. I look forward to seeing that pop up again. But, hands down, Zack Hightower—Romantic himself—takes the cake as best supporting character in this installment. He always gets the best one-liners, mostly because he’s as close to the class clown/comic relief of the series—if you can call a cold-blooded mercenary with a firm sense of duty and patriotism with over 100 confirmed kills a class clown. And yet two or three times a book he just cracks me up without ever starting into John McClain territory where every scene is a comeback, quip, or smart Alec remark. Zack does it just enough to let you know he has more of a sense of humor than Court but not so much to make you forget he literally is one of the top 3 most dangerous operators in the series.
Take for instance one of my favorite scenes from the book:
—
“Who is there?” the man called. “Who is there?”
Zack Hightower knelt and spun in the doorway, fired a blast, pumped the fore-end of the weapon, and fired again.
“It’s America, motherfucker!” Zack blasted three more shells from the shotgun, covering the darkness with steel shot, then spun back to concealment to reload.
—
I was laughing for a solid five minutes at this because it’s so over-the-top but in a way that’s believable because he’s no 80’s action movie star. He’s just seen them all and realizes that now is the perfect time to break out his imitation of a catchphrase. Again.
Does he say it because he’s a blowhard red state asshole? Nope, he mostly says it in an attempt to elicit a laugh from Court and to keep the mood light in the midst of a supremely deadly firefight where they’re outnumbered almost three-to-one.
Night Train, indeed. Lol
Read the book. It’s an exquisite example of what happens when a great character hits his stride thanks to a supremely talented author having full confidence in the world he’s built, the way he writes, and in his ability to stage action scene after action scene without getting repetitive or cliche. This is one of the best novel series out there and should be atop any reading list you make this year.
If this is where the series is heading, I am going to quit right here. This was like the collection of all the tropes I dislike in the genre collected in a single book. Bleh!
First of all, I want to read about Court, the singleton agent not everyone and their uncle. This book has had the most POVs to date and thus a LOT of things got really repetitive.
Second, I was willing to overlook Zoya being the love interest. Sure I am reading a thriller for the action and the shooting not the romantic smoozing, don't know why authors think I want romance in my shoot-em-ups, but I was willing to overlook it. But in this book Zoya is reduced to an emotional mess who takes her clothes off as the only option ever to get what she needs, and won't stop moping over her boyfriend. I thought she was a professional. I thought Court was a professional. Why cannot they just be like “She/he knows what they are doing.” and just leave it at that. Why the pining and the moping?
Third, since we are on the topic of Zoya, can there be a single man besides Court who doesn't act like all the women belong in the kitchen? And while we are at it, maybe add some female characters who are not complete bitches?
Fourth, since we are on the topic of jackasses Hightower is really getting on my nerves. Previously he was a very small part of the narrative and could be dismissed, but in this book he takes up so much space I started rooting for him to take a bullet. It is like his whole personality is being an insufferable asshole and no one ever calls him out on it.
In summary, things better get back on track. I am not worried about hopping the series and finding something else to read, but it really annoys me that I have recommended this series as one that avoids the problematic tropes and then this piece of work drops.
First of all, I want to read about Court, the singleton agent not everyone and their uncle. This book has had the most POVs to date and thus a LOT of things got really repetitive.
Second, I was willing to overlook Zoya being the love interest. Sure I am reading a thriller for the action and the shooting not the romantic smoozing, don't know why authors think I want romance in my shoot-em-ups, but I was willing to overlook it. But in this book Zoya is reduced to an emotional mess who takes her clothes off as the only option ever to get what she needs, and won't stop moping over her boyfriend. I thought she was a professional. I thought Court was a professional. Why cannot they just be like “She/he knows what they are doing.” and just leave it at that. Why the pining and the moping?
Third, since we are on the topic of Zoya, can there be a single man besides Court who doesn't act like all the women belong in the kitchen? And while we are at it, maybe add some female characters who are not complete bitches?
Fourth, since we are on the topic of jackasses Hightower is really getting on my nerves. Previously he was a very small part of the narrative and could be dismissed, but in this book he takes up so much space I started rooting for him to take a bullet. It is like his whole personality is being an insufferable asshole and no one ever calls him out on it.
In summary, things better get back on track. I am not worried about hopping the series and finding something else to read, but it really annoys me that I have recommended this series as one that avoids the problematic tropes and then this piece of work drops.