There was an episode of “The Bill” where for the entire episode, the hapless plods like PC Garfield and Reg the Hollis were involved in an adult version of Fun House where they chased a deranged Jesus like fella all over Sun Hill, including down a debris chute in a building site and a severed finger. It was legendary in my school. I guess in the 80s. What about the episode of “Eastenders” where the majority of folk were born and raised in the area and could afford to live there sustained by selling 2 apples a week on a market stall? I miss the 2001-2008 “Neighbours” era when the writers were clearly all on crack. What about the plane crash and Stingray and Dylan's subsequent frame up for armed robbery? Did it make sense? What about Connor posing as a catholic priest to placate Stuart's bible bashing aunt? What about Summer inexplicably following chalk arrows down dark alleyways (don't try that one at home kids)? What about the triple whammy of Paul dumping toxic waste in Lassiters lake, his brain tumour induced imaginary friend Fox, and the saga with his twin sons, one a homicidal psychopath? And last but not least, Carmella becoming a nun for no fucking reason at all!!! Or that time Julie Martin cured her husband's erectile dysfunction by wearing a school uniform with stockings & suspenders. Everyone I worked with at the time talked about nothing else for days afterwards...

In “Falcon Crest” one of the main characters had brain surgery and was next seen sitting up in bed in full make-up, hair immaculate with one bandage round her head. Naturally she briefly went from being one of the nicest characters to being evil in true soap style. And didn't Daphne in “Neighbours” go in to labour with tights on, or is that just a myth? (I hope not!)

My first book of 2022 and I chose a “Neighbours” look-alike. But I was able to to finish it just to see how ludicrous the plot could be…I miss the 2001-2008 “Neighbours” era when the writers were clearly all on crack…thank God we still have books like these to reminds us of 80s crap. ( )

And BOOM! Greaney brings it all home...literally.

I've enjoyed every book in this series immensely (honestly, I'm always excited when the next one comes up on my TBR list), but this one? Damn.

Without spoiling anything, Greaney just grabs this series by the throat and throttles it for all it's worth in this installment. We learn more about Court than we ever have, we get a big mystery cleared up, and it's the typical non-stop action all the way through.

I'm actually quite anxious to see where Court Gentry ends up in the next novel now.

Five very easily earned stars. ( )

Back Blast by Mark Greaney is a action-packed, pulse pounding adventure starring ex-CIA black ops operative Court Gentry. In this sixth installment of The Gray Man series, Court returns to the United States to find out why a "shoot on sight" order was issued for him five years earlier.

On the run for the past five years, Court just wants to come home. In order to make that happen, he has to find out why the director of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, Denny Carmichael, issued the order. Relying on his finely honed instincts and exceptional ability to blend in anywhere, Court reaches out to a few of his former team members in hopes of learning answers while at the same time evading Carmichael's official (and unofficial) team of highly skilled hit men.

Court has been living on the run and doing freelance work ever since he was "burned" by the CIA. With the help of a grateful Israeli agent, he managed to slip back into DC undetected where he then methodically sets up a safe zone and begins procuring the items necessary to begin his search for answers. Most of his former associates are either deceased or unwilling to assist him but CI Director of Special Activities Division, Matthew Hanley does help fill the missing puzzle pieces for Court. Although adversaries for much of the novel, a couple of his former team members eventually realize the accusations against him are out of character and they provide him with tactical assistance.

Court's biggest foe is the all powerful Denny Carmichael. Willing to go to any lengths to ensure that Court is not taken alive, Denny takes full advantage of his position as he manipulates his underlings into doing his dirty work. He also carefully spins the events to point to Court as the mastermind of heinous plot which effectively puts Court in the crosshairs of every agency possible. While not everyone blindly follows his directives, Denny effectively keeps the people working for him in dark by evoking "national security" whenever anyone dares to question him about inconsistencies in the unfolding events or his motives for hunting Court.

Court is clever and for a good part of the novel, he is one step ahead of Denny and the task force that is hunting for him. He is inventive and makes full use of his previous training to remain out of sight but his frustration grows as he continues running into dead ends. He is the first to admit he is not an investigator, but his experience as an operative and his analytical mind aid him as he tries to figure out what steps to take to get to the bottom of the shoot on sight order. Despite his profession, Court is a good guy who tries to minimize collateral damage to the best of his ability and it does not take long for questions to arise when he becomes the fall guy for several murders. With a handful of allies now on his side, Court learns the truth behind the order, but will this newfound knowledge destroy him?

With exciting, over the top feats and non-stop action, Back Blast by Mark Greaney is a riveting political thriller that is impossible to put down. The storyline is well-executed with plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing whether or not good will triumph over evil until the novel's dramatic conclusion. An entertaining, high-octane thrill ride that will appeal to fans of the genre, this fifth installment in The Gray Man series can easily be read as a standalone. ( )

Very entertaining ( )

Long be well worth the ride.... ( )