Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for an advance copy to review.

Into the Gray Zone is the 19th Pike Logan novel written by Brad Taylor. However, it stands on its own and familiarity with the other novels is not necessary (I personally have only read two others). The writing style switches between the first person (Pike Logan scenes) and third person (all others).

The plot reflects a very contemporary issue - obtaining and processing rare earth minerals. China enjoys a near monopoly at the time. However, a large deposit of the minerals - a vital component in many of today's electronics - is discovered in India. The country then finds itself in the gray zone of the title. One the one hand, China is using agents marked as separatists to sabotage any mining, with blame based on terrorism. On the other, the separatists are using the opportunity to further their own goals. Pike and his team are found in the middle.

The novel does have a bit of a slow start but the pacing improves throughout. The author deftly intertwines action/fight scenes with the use of modern technology (commercially available smart watches and drones) and a descriptive tour of the country.

While character development isn't really present, it is still an enjoyable read. Overall, a solid 3.75 starts, rounded to 4.

I found this book to be highly enjoyable. Although I am new to the series and initially I was hesitant about starting mid-storyline, but the book is great as a standalone. Pike Logan and his team are all business (kicking *** and taking names). With two global powers teetering on the precipice of disaster, only Pike and his elite taskforce can avert catastrophe, pursuing the bad guys through Delhi, Goa, and even the Taj Mahal. Their mission is a high-stakes race against time.

Pike, Jennifer and the gang are off on another mission! There are Wonders of the world and exorbitantly wealthy people. One of my favorite aspects in this one is that Knuckles plays a larger role than we’ve seen lately and he is just a tish vulnerable. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Into the Gray Zone by Brad Taylor is a gripping addition to the Pike Logan series, delivering a high-octane blend of espionage, action, and geopolitical intrigue. In this installment, Pike Logan and his Taskforce team navigate a murky world of covert operations to thwart a terrorist plot with global ramifications, all while grappling with personal loyalties and moral dilemmas. Taylor’s knack for crafting authentic, pulse-pounding combat scenes and his deep understanding of special operations shine through, though the dense web of conspiracies can occasionally overwhelm. Fans of the series will appreciate the relentless pace and Logan’s complex character, making it a solid, adrenaline-fueled read for thriller enthusiasts.

Pike Logan is back in the 19th book in this series. The Taskforce as his paramilitary group is called is sent to India on what seems a job that does not require their special talents. But as one event after another happens, Pike realizes that there is more at stake than he expected. The initial assignment is to provide security for a meeting between an Indian billionaire, Riva Thakkar, the head of the CIA, and senior people from the RAW, India’s intelligence service. The discovery of a major source of rare earth minerals has the US and India negotiating, thereby reducing the US dependence on China. But China has other ideas, hiring a group of Sikh separatists to interfere (capture or kill Thakkar). Pike and company’s first hint that their skills are needed appear when they stumble upon an attack and stop the separatists. The Chinese press their minions to finish what they started, but the Sikhs have their own idea of what needs to be done to reach their goals. Pike and team seem to be a half-step behind but the out of the box thinking from Pike that fans of this series know keep the team close enough to disrupt and eventually overcome the odds. The title of the book - the Gray Zone - is where the world finds itself today -not all-out war but not peace either. And the Taskforce must work to keep it there.

An interesting diversion in location for most thriller books, Taylor does a good job of describing the environment of India - from the poorest neighborhoods to the Taj Mahal to the ultra rich citizens of the world’s most populous country. This edition doesn’t wait to get into the action, which is pretty much non-stop. Drawing from the current events regarding rare earth minerals, while still a book of fiction, the reader is exposed to the political situation and the desire of China to continue their stronghold on this very important economic and technological area - as well as the political divide of the various sects within India. Most of the books in the series can be read as standalone but having read many of them, reading in order allows you to see the development of Pike Logan and his Taskforce team. My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.

Brad Thor's latest in the Pike Logan series, Into the Gray Zone (2025)  starts with a rather confusing mix of events--Sikhs working for their cause, the Chinese plotting a kidnapping in pursuit of a rare earth mineral mining deal, and Pike Logan going into this lions den blind, thinking his and his team's job is to bodyguard a CIA official. As with all Pike Logan stories, it doesn’t take long for Pike to see that his protection duties are a lot more complicated than they at first seemed, in fact, than anyone on his side imagined. He could sit back because they probably won't affect his charge, but that's not Pike's nature. In his thinking, they impact his responsibilities and if he does nothing, the result will be catastrophic. It soon becomes obvious he must widen his original mandate (maybe the meaning of the title--enter the Gray Zone) which requires Pike's own unique ability to see around corners and do the impossible.

I enjoyed this book though even by the end, didn't quite accept why an American team was involved in international schemes. The CIA connection is there, but the affect on us tenuous, especially early in the book. Aside from that, this is a fast moving and clever story that kept me thinking and never slowed down.  Recommended for those who enjoy geopolitical thrillers with lots of complications and threads to be pulled.

Logan Pike and the task force are headed to India. What starts as a simple task monitoring a meeting in India. The teams inadvertently uncovers something more sinister. Will they be able to avert a US / China conflict? Explosive nonstop action ensues. Tge ending will leace you breathless.


Thank youto William Morrow / Head of Zeus for the ARC.

Feeding the insanity of online history revisionism, the Pizza has many alleged forebears and its origin probably could be traced to a stone oven in Mesopotamia, dissing early 20th century Chicago. Today, the pizza game (by revenue) in the US is dominated by Domino's, Pizza Hut, Papa John's and Little Caesars. A quarter of a century ago, before they embraced Pizza The Hut, Pizza Hut and Domino's made up 25% of US chain pizza sales, fighting it out between each other. Known for innovating the pie game and trying to avoid the Noid, Pizza Hut launched another new product in '02 that landed somewhere between a pizza and a calzone. The P'Zone gave aficionados toasted parmesan crust joy until it was discontinued in 2011 and resurrected usually around March Madness and other sports related events. The sport is hunting America's enemies and Brad Taylor is back in full force, delivering an intrepid dive into the P'zone between war and peace. A world in chaos needs a hero like Pike Logan, fiction and IRL, to preserve America's military and technological superiority, and INTO THE GRAY ZONE works its way around some of the most pressing geopolitical issues and US adversaries--a thoroughly enthralling actioner that comes boiling out with shock and awe.

Facilitating archaeological work around the globe, wink wink, husband and wife team Pike Logan and Jennifer dub in for the author and his wife scouting the world for hotspots and cool locations to give this series its edge and foundation of realism. Still toiling under cover of Grolier Recovery Services (GRS), Pike (Neanderthal stuff) and Jennifer (egghead stuff) are in overt work to keep people alive and in reality taking national security threats off the board for Uncle Sam and giving him plausible deniability. The entire crew working GRS is Tier One, ofc, and INTO THE GRAY ZONE throws them a fossilized bone deep in the reaches of Hindustan, a cakewalk assignment with nary a chance for trouble. The fly in the ointment here is that Pike, the type of guy who'd rather have a new rifle than a Porsche, is seemingly and somewhat admittedly suffering from PTSD and looking for a reason to tear at the scab, to unleash the beast. What seems like a garden variety terror attack on civilians is just as good a trigger as any, turning the leader of this extra-legal force that operates under no US law into a race car in the red, a mushroom cloud laying m--well, the gist is pretty clear.

Ostensibly about the limbo between war and peace, INTO THE GRAY ZONE is more than Tolstoy's conjunction and fusion. For Brad Taylor and the intel world at large, it's somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, and much like Brad Thor's RISING TIGER (2022) appropriately set in India, a country of noticeable extremes. Taking center stage in this Pike Logan adventure is the Chinese MSS as the extreme bad guy trying to preserve China's monopoly on rare earth metal procurement and the Middle Kingdom competing with the United States, a topic that is grounded in solid realism and probably most accurate in detailing why current affairs recently heaped tariffs on China. In light of this authenticity, the narrative nonetheless at times reads like a video game directed experience that incrementally sends the reader deeper INTO THE GRAY ZONE. The bad thing about these kind of books and series is that the good guys always win 1000%, no errors, no slip-ups, no SNAFUs, no happenstance. Basically, the reader knows before they go in that there's gonna be a happy ending and someone might get a "flesh-wound" as Hollywood so aptly puts it. Only throwaway characters are sacrificed pawns. Be that as it may, thank the Gods of War that 'Bharat' Taylor is back, bringing a unique blend of humor, action, and a deft shoutout to ROCKY II among others. Featuring crafty lean-in action similar to THE MATRIX, CLIFFHANGER and DIE HARD, INTO THE GRAY ZONE is kind of like any of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movies, just without the visually crazy Tom Cruise stunt work, though it gets pretty damn close. Head INTO THE GRAY ZONE, see Pike Logan uncork the rage and experience an ultra realistic thriller with a mission that at any time could go from Alpha to Omega and everything in between.

As a relatively new reader of Brad Taylor's works, I am eager to immerse myself in my first full experience with his writing—specifically, Into the Gray Zone, the 19th installment in the Pike Logan thriller series.

From the outset, the story unfolds in a familiar realm—akin to the adventurous escapades penned by Clive Cussler—where a private counter-terrorism unit known as the "Taskforce" is summoned to confront global crises. At first glance, the premise felt somewhat predictable, and I admit to rolling my eyes at a few of the tropes presented in the early chapters. However, as the plot swiftly gained momentum, my initial skepticism melted away, drawing me deeper into the gripping drama that Taylor expertly weaves.

Pike Logan is a compelling, multifaceted character with an intricate backstory that brings depth to his motivations and actions. My pre-reading research provided valuable insights into his past traumas, which undeniably enrich his character arc and illuminate his struggles as he navigates the chaotic world around him. Moreover, the supporting cast of the "Taskforce" is well-developed, showcasing a blend of camaraderie and diverse skill sets that contribute to the team's dynamic. While the villains are somewhat archetypical of military thrillers—dangerous yet familiar—they provide the necessary foil to our heroes.

What I found most captivating in Into the Gray Zone is its masterful blend of entertainment and thought-provoking complexity. The story is action-packed but also carries an underlying agenda that will prompt readers to reflect, all while delivering a plot rich with unexpected twists and layers of intrigue. Although the initial premise may not push the boundaries of originality, Taylor's background in Special Forces is woven into his storytelling, lending the narrative an authenticity that heightens the stakes. The pacing was exhilarating, ensuring that I remained engaged from start to finish.

While the book may not be without its flaws—what in life truly is?—it undeniably offers a thrilling ride for seasoned fans and newcomers alike. I wholeheartedly recommend grabbing a copy and embarking on this suspenseful journey; it's an adventure worth taking!

In the thriller genre, every year we see brand new books appear hot off the presses, each with a familiar author name embossed with bold letters across the dust cover. Brad Taylor continues to be one of those names and rightfully so. After eighteen books and off of last year’s thriller Dead Man’s Hand, Taylor continues his success with yet another stellar Pike Logan adventure!

INTO THE GRAY ZONE excels by displaying Taylor’s prowess for grit mixed with adventure. Pike, Jennifer, and the rest of the gang are back and ready to thwart a threat vying to throw the world out of balance and create a new status quo.

Grolier Recovery Services, an archeological company that is a front for the clandestine activity headed by Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill, is called in to provide security protection. Cover to review an excavation site, instead Pike and the team manage the security for an ultra clandestine meeting between the U.S. and wealthy Indian business magnate to orchestrate a deal for rare earth minerals. This deal would allow a pipeline of the needed materials and bypass China, the majority controller of these vital materials used in everything from mobile phones, lightbulbs, and most modern tech.

But Pike, always on his toes, spots assailants approaching to rain down lead. Pike and his team do what they do best and thwart a terrorist attack on the resort. Initially the attack is dismissed as merely a low-level attack, but as the terror in India continues Pike leads the charge into the deeper conspiracy!

Brad Taylor’s crafty style weaves a story that is both engaging and enjoyable to read. Blending a shifting point-of-view to provide readers with an inside look to Pike and the antagonistic forces only enhances the connection to Pike and enriches the story to drive tension to the next level. His writing crafts an intimate and daring thrilling ride for our hero!

In actuality, I read INTO THE GRAY ZONE twice prior to writing this review.Tthat’s just how dang enjoyable this book is and is an easy suggestion for the next book club or to a friend in need of a fresh read. India as a main setting brings a dash of culture and excitement that feels fresh, another element Taylor conveys well by helping the reader feel like he is plunked in on the grungy streets or decadent resorts. And of course Pike and Jennifer with the rest of the gang remain an entertaining group you love to root for to end the threat to enjoy a drink as a reward.

My favorite thing Brad Taylor showcases is his uncanny ability to raise the stakes, but keep this adventurous sensation moving forward. While the story revolves around real world geopolitics or aspects from the real world, Taylor hits the pedal to inject a level of joy and bravado that keeps a perfect balance between grit and frolic.

While I enjoy the Pike Logan series, INTO THE GRAY ZONE nails it and may be one of Taylor’s best and elevates from last year’s novel in such a smooth, yet smashing way! Brad Taylor delivers another excellent Pike Logan thriller that is another must-read book of 2025!

INTO THE GRAY ZONE - 4.5/5

Pike and the gang are back, this time lending a hand to the CIA when trouble strikes near a high level meeting to start a rare earth minerals mine in India. The mine is needed so the US is not solely dependent on China for the materials needed to make all our technology work. The author obviously has his finger firmly on the pulse of current events. China has hired Sikh separatists to disrupt the proceedings, but the group has its own agenda, knowing they can get international sympathy after watching the butchery done by Hamas in Israel.

The story rockets along, filled with action, humor, and mayhem. It is set almost entirely in India, showing its beauty and abject poverty while highlighting a little known (to this reader) struggle of a religious minority group.

I am a huge fan of the series, and this book is an excellent addition. Recommended to readers of military action thrillers.

Not family friendly due to violence and profanity.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In between peaceful cooperation and armed conflict lies the gray zone.

Most archaeological sites are found in areas that can be less than hospitable to those seeking to excavate them...sometimes they are right in the middle of regional conflicts, sometimes there are government officials looking for their palms to be greased, but whatever the reason the archaeologists often need facilitators to let them get to work. Enter a business called Grolier Recover Services headed by Logan Pike, a group which is more than capable enough to do whatever needs doing...although in reality that kind of work is just a cover for what they really do around the world. Every member of Pike's team comes from elite military and/or intelligence units, and when the US government needs something done that can't be accomplished through normal channels a unit known as Prometheus Project (or more simply the Taskforce) pays Pike and crew to do it. When the Grolier team gets tasked with heading to India to execute a basic site survey as a favor to the director of the CIA Pike doesn't like the idea...it sounds like a job the CIA should be able to handle themselves. But the wide scope of ongoing conflicts around the world and the immediate need for the work to be done make it a priority, so off the team heads to Goa to scout out the location for a proposed sub rosa meeting between Indian intelligence, the CIA and an Indian billionaire which it is hoped will lead to the excavation of rare earth minerals that the US desperately needs from sources other than the Chinese. It should be a walk in the park, they're told. But the meeting is not as secret as some would believe, and there are players already on the ground who are looking to interfere...a small group of Indian Sikh separatists, a criminal organization run by a Muslim kingpin and a man known as Mr. Chin. They are working together but may not share the same ultimate goals, and Pike and his team soon find themselves in the midst of a major attack during a party held for the billionaire's daughter. With dead bodies left behind, hostages taken, and a stand-off that is likely to end up with an increases body count Pike and crew must figure out who is behind the assault and rescue the hostages before the situation blows sky high.
This is the 19th book in the Pike Logan series...it can be read as a standalone, but those who have read earlier installments will have a deeper understanding of the different team members and their backstories. Here Pike and crew find themselves in the wrong place at the right time, and throw a wrench in the plans of those who seek to disrupt the top secret meeting. Pike is also struggling to control what he calls the beast, a reservoir of rage that when triggered results in Pike's lethality being unleashed in proportions far above what the situation requires. His teammate and lover Jennifer can sometimes act as a control for the beast getting out of hand, but it is becoming increasingly problematic. The plot is timely...US vs China with actions happening in "the gray zone", the search for alternate sources of rare earth minerals, and an explosive geopolitical arena. The story progresses at a quick and steady pace with lots of action and intrigue, and is populated by a group of characters with strong bonds who get the job done while indulging in a fair amount of good-natured trash talking. Its a great political/military thriller sure to please not only fans of the series but also readers of authors like Mark Greaney, Brad Thor and Vince Flynn. My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me access to this gripping read in exchange for my honest review.

Pike Logan is back in another action-packed military/political adventure. Focusing on the hybrid battles being fought in the "Gray Zone" between today's superpowers, it feels reminiscent of Cold War intrigue. With great characters, tense action, and lots of twists, it has all the high adventure one expects from a Pike Logan thriller.

Pike and the team are sent to India to provide security for a clandestine meeting between the CIA and an Indian billionaire. The CIA is hoping to nudge India into mining rare earth elements to break China’s monopoly. Like the prior book, it’s a plot-line so timely it’s almost prescient. It’s just one way that Brad Taylor’s experience and understanding of global politics and special operations elevates the series.

The mission sounds like a cakewalk, but as Brett points out, “If they wanted a walk in the park, they wouldn’t have asked for you.” So true! Before they know it, the team is embroiled in a kidnapping scheme where everything is not what it seems.

All in all, it was another great installment in an awesome series.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily with my honest opinion.

Brad Taylor is one of my go to authors when I want a book that is filled with action and hard to put down. Into the Gray Zone takes place in India and deals with China’s attempt to control the supply of rare earth elements. Pike Logan and the Taskforce are assigned to provide security during a meeting in Goa between the head of the CIA, Riva Thakkar, an Indian billionaire, and RAW, India’s intelligence service. A source has been discovered in India and a mining arrangement with the U.S. is being negotiated. Mr. Chin, a Chinese agent, has hired several Sikh separatists to either capture or kill Thakkar to stop the deal. Pike and his wife Jennifer, a member of his team, stumble upon the men, preventing the attack. Plan B is a drone attack on Thakkar at the Taj Mahal as he and his guests celebrate his daughter’s wedding. The separatists have their own plan to use Chin’s resources to call attention to discrimination against the Sikhs. An attack on the Taj Mahal is a planned diversion while they attempt to kidnap Thakkar at a pre-wedding celebration. After Pike’s initial interference in Goa, Mr. Chin uses a Chinese team to attack the Taskforce. The attack fails, but calls Pike’s attention to China’s involvement, unaware of the death and destruction planned by the separatists.

While initially assigned to provide security at the meeting, Pike takes their actions far beyond their assignment. From Goa to Jaipur and finally Mumbai he is determined to stop the Chinese, while RAW and his own superiors doubt their involvement. Pike has a quick temper, which brings out the Beast when he is involved in an attack. It takes the calming influence of Jennifer to talk him down. His team works well together in action. There are also moments of humor that shows how well they relate to each other. Drone attacks, murder and chase scenes that take you from the poorest to the richest areas of India will keep you glued to the pages. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for providing this book.

Another great Pike novel. Full of action in a different setting. The team finds in a puzzle of events. Wonderful character development and insights.

Once again, the author delivers another page turner. In an unusual turn of events, the team is being utilized as support for what is to be a routine, but secret, meeting. It’s no surprise when the circumstances change – and quickly! The team is drawn into a conspiracy that includes an ally and bad actors. With the various, and conflicting agendas, the team must take off their support hats and put on their ops hats. The action starts near the beginning and never stops.

Pike and his team are in India to provide security for a meeting. Of course, what is supposed to be a simple job soon takes a twist when they foil a terrorist attack. And the more they look into matters, the more complex the situation becomes. The team has to balance following up on leads (without help from RAW) and keeping their boss informed.

I loved how the story progressed, the myriad of characters, and the descriptions of the cities and buildings. (You will want to read the Acknowledgements for more information.) This is definitely a story that could be taking place in current time.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers Inc and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Into the Gray Zone
Grade: B-

Brad Taylor’s Into the Gray Zone is a novel that knows exactly what it is and delivers accordingly. This is the 19th installment in the Pike Logan series, and by this point, you’re either on board with Taylor’s formula—fast-paced action, geopolitical intrigue, and a protagonist who operates outside the rules—or you’re not.

The novel throws Logan and his Taskforce team into a volatile situation in India, where terrorist attacks are not what they seem and economic warfare lurks beneath the surface. The setup is compelling enough, with Taylor’s experience as a former Special Forces officer lending credibility to the action sequences. His attention to detail, particularly in his depiction of India’s bustling markets and high-stakes intelligence maneuvers, is a strength.

But if Into the Gray Zone is effective, it is also familiar. Many readers note that the series has begun to repeat itself—same stakes, different setting. Pike Logan’s inner struggle with his more violent instincts is teased but never deeply explored. The tension between characters, particularly Pike and Jennifer, has moments of intrigue but doesn’t evolve significantly. The plot unfolds predictably, though Taylor keeps the pages turning with his well-honed pacing.

For longtime fans, this will be another enjoyable ride. For newcomers, it’s a competent but unremarkable entry into the genre. It’s gripping, but not surprising; thrilling, but not fresh. Taylor is a pro, but Into the Gray Zone feels like a franchise in cruise control.

Been a while since I've read a book by Brad Taylor...always enjoyed the Pike Logan series, but like another reviewer stated "I am beginning to feel like this series has hit is peak and is on its way back down...same story different location".
It was a good read....great cast of good and bad characters, ever twisting plot line, and there was plenty of action to keep you engaged.
Into the Gray Zone is a worthwhile read and can be read as a stand alone thriller.
Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC and I do recommend reading the book come April 22.

It’s hard to believe that INTO THE GRAY ZONE is the 19th story in this wildly popular military-political thriller series. Action and authenticity are the hallmarks of each of these novels. The latter is due to author retired Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel Brad Taylor’s long military career and his involvement with the elite Delta Force. He knows of what he writes.
As does his creation, special forces and task force operative Pike Logan, a multifaceted, highly-skilled, and engaging character. This story takes the reader to India where Pike thwarts an attack on a seemingly routine meeting between the CIA and India's intelligence service. As Pike digs deeper into this event, he uncovers a broad and deep conspiracy designed to employ various terrorist groups to destabilize the economy of India, and possibly the world. A truly faced-paced and engaging novel and an excellent addition to the series.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series