July 19, 2024
Greaney is best known for his "Gray Man" thrillers, 13 in all. Some are excellent. All are exciting. Sentinel is the second book (following Armored) in a parallel series featuring U.S. State Department bodyguard Josh Duffy. Josh and his wife Nicole are in Ghana supporting an American diplomatic team working to help build a much-needed dam. Ghana has a stable democracy, so Josh and Nicole feel safe bringing their two young children with them. It's almost a vacation. Then China decides the dam must go, and everything heads south. A Chinese insurrection expert arrives in the country, and China arms and trains a native rebel army. Foreign mercenaries and jihadists--separate forces--also arrive. The plot is complicated, but the objective is simple: overthrow the current government and place Ghana firmly under the thumb of China. Soon, Josh and his family are on the run, chased by a Chinese hit squad and the rebels. Greaney is always strong with action scenes and the technology of warfare, less so in creating characters who are more than cardboard cutouts. VERDICT Readers who enjoy thrillers by Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, or Vince Flynn will eat this up. Others may find it a bit formulaic.--David Keymer
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.