The Gray Man by Tim Murr

The Gray Man Reviews

• 
  Diamond

  A young family that frequently moves around for work discovers they aren't the only residents of their latest home.
  
  I've said it before, but I'll say it again--I will always be completely down for a haunted house story, and what haunted house story doesn't benefit from a dysfunctional family moving in? The family dynamic here was a real highlight for me, unique, specific, and very real. We often see a nice suburban family fallen on hard times moving into the spooky house because it's their only option, but here it's a working class family that moves frequently for the father's sales job. Making it so it's something out of the characters hands, yet the norm for them lent it something special. It might seem like a small thing, but it really stood out and had me fully invested in the family.
  
  The mythology of a haunted house is one of the most important factors, and I really liked the mythology for this one. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't have to--especially with the final act going bonkers. On that note...the climax felt really out of left field for me, BUT I was read this while in a slump, and I have a feeling I had to have missed some important clues. Despite that, I actually love the whole idea and found it unique,interesting, and even rather profound...I'm just not quite sure how it actually fit together, so I will definitely be rereading this when my brain is more cooperative.
  
  Overall, I wish The Gray Man was longer, to examine the family dynamics more in depth, and explore the haunting's mythology a bit more, but I don't consider these negatives at all. The worst thing a book can do is make me want to give up, so when a book just makes me want more that's a pretty great thing. Between this and his story in Kids of the Black Hole, I think it's safe to say that I'm a big fan of the worlds Murr is creating, and I need him to put out a chunky, full length novel--and the sooner the better!
  
• 
  Paul

  Ok, I legitimately usually read books by friends with an ounce of trepidation. There is a strong "what if I hate it?" worry.
  Shouldn't have worried in this case.
  The Gray Man is a quick, tight ghost story. The imagery is suitably nightmarish to keep tension the whole way, the explanation isn't rushed and hokey. It doesn't have a lot of time to work with, so it doesn't waste a lot of time. It doesn't have a lot of gore for gore's sake, it doesn't bother with jump scares, it just maintains a steady never ending burn throughout.
  This one really is a step above the rest and I fully recommend it.
• 
  Angela

  Leaves you wanting more...
  
  This novella was engaging from the beginning as we follow a dysfunctional family that moves frequently and lands themselves in a haunted house for their latest home. Immediately upon their arrival, their eldest son, David, gets in the line of sight of a rattlesnake, sees a gray man with yellow eyes and makes new friends that are not there. David's mom, Vera, also feels the uneasiness throughout the home while his dad, Randall, is not as affected other than the feeling of not being alone sporadically. Murr brings the perspective from both parents and David as they struggle to live in the house and cope with each other. As a parent, I understood the exhaustion Randall and Vera go through and see the innocence of David with his outlook on what is happening around him.
  
  The climax was lacking as it felt rushed. There were aspects about "the circle" that weren't mentioned until toward the ending. The mythology was interesting but presented as "stories" passed down so the reader doesn't get much about the Gray Man's existence or powers; therefore, a chapter about the Gray Man's history would have been a nice addition. Murr brings a different version of ‪a ghost story‬ and it leaves you wanting more about the Gray Man.
  
  3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads and Amazon.