Burner (Gray Man): Greaney, Mark: 9780593548103: Amazon.com: Books

Burner is Mark Greaney's latest Gray Man installment. This time out, the focus is dirty Russian money. A disaffected Russian money handlers passes on information (on a phone) documenting Russian money transfer to the West with the objective of stifling overseas operations. He engages a Swiss banker with a Ukrainian connection. The Gray Man is brought in to recover the info under the assumption that the intel documents US funds flow into Russia. At the same time, Zoya ends up handling the banker and ferrying him to New York where a forensic accountant will work magic on the info suitable for the press. Court and Zoya link up and go up against Russians as well as CIA as the info will reveal corrupt US officials on the take.Court does his thing, including underwater battles. Zoya struggles with a drinking and drug problem throughout, but is still in top form. The railroad action is intense. Greaney also creates (at least for this story) a Russian version of the Gray Man, replete with own moniker. While the CIA is due for a serious reorg (is Haney coming back?), there is also a new CIA player that is likely to be friendly towards Court in the future. The only ding to the tale is having Court take the rap for the CIA hit. With all the dead GRU goons around, Court has to take the blame. Really?

Burner is a fast-paced and action-packed thriller that follows the Gray Man, a former CIA agent turned freelance assassin, as he tries to protect a rogue banker who has exposed the dirty secrets of the Russian mafia and their allies. The book is the 12th installment in the Gray Man series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. The author, Mark Greaney, is a master of the genre, delivering realistic and gripping scenes of espionage, combat, and survival. The characters are well-developed and complex, especially the Gray Man and his former lover, Zoya, who have a complicated and tense relationship. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the end. Burner is a highly recommended read for fans of spy thrillers, political intrigue, and international suspense.