Ballistic

Greaney once again pumps new life into familiar thriller conventions in his third Gray Man novel starring ex-CIA agent Courtland Gentry (after On Target). Courtland travels to Mexico for the funeral of a friend who once saved his life in Laos, Eduardo “Eddie” Gamboa. A major in the federal police, Eddie was killed while attempting to assassinate Daniel Alonzo de la Rocha (aka DLR), “the leader of los Trajes Negros, the Black Suits, one of the nation’s leading criminal drug and kidnapping organizations.” Eddie’s survivors include his pregnant wife, Elena, and his attractive sister, Laura. Courtland is immediately smitten with Laura, and when DLR sends a band of killers to murder Elena, Courtland organizes the defense. The good guys are soon on the run, closely pursued by DLR and his henchmen. An extremely capable warrior with multiple tricks and tradecraft, Courtland has a complicated past and a long list of mortal enemies, so readers can look forward to plenty of dangerous adventures. (Oct.)