(dramatic music) (bell dings) - [Mark] Hi, I am Mark Greaney, and this is "Burner", a "Gray Man" novel.

(dramatic music continues) His name is Court Gentry.

He's a former CIA paramilitary officer.

In this book, some files from a bank in Switzerland have been stolen and they basically lay out how Russian intelligence is influencing the West about the war in Ukraine.

And so the Gray Man is actually contracted by the CIA to go pick it up, but the woman that he loves is actually trying to protect the person that has it.

(dramatic music continues) - And this is the 12th book in the series.

It's not, you know, I feel like you're hitting your stride.

- [Mark] Yeah.

Although, you know, you think, did I hit my stride five years ago 'cause it was easier then?

- [J.T.]

It's always easier.

- [Mark] Yeah, and I always thought it would get easier the more you go- - [J.T.]

No.

- And it's exactly the opposite.

You just spend a lot of time doing research and, you know, laboring over it, telling all your family that it's terrible.

And then when you're finally done with the last draft, you're like, "Hey, I think I've got something here."

- Oh, hey, it's not so bad after all.

What's the difference between a sociopath and a Byronic hero?

Where is that line?

- That's a a good question.

I sort of dabbled in an earlier Gray Man book talking about that there's some sociopath in what he does, because there would have to be in this ability.

But I've backed away from that as he's grown as a character.

But, you know, is he a sociopath?

That's a good question.

(dramatic music continues) - How do you bring in so many different readers?

- I don't know, but I love getting reader mail from people who, who'll be like, you know, I'm 84-year-old retired woman.

I'm probably your only one.

And I'm like, I wanna start a fan club, like a club for all you people because there's a lot of people of different demographics.

And I honestly, the vulnerability of the character, I mean, he's obviously a tough guy, but he's not this square-jawed, superhero perfect.

He has a lot of vulnerabilities as we all do.

And so I like to kind of balance his strengths and his weaknesses, and I think that brings people into the story.

And also, I wanna make the entire story something that pulls the reader along.

- [J.T.]

It is always such a delight to chat with you.

- [Mark] It's great to see you again, J.T.

- Thank you.

And thank you for watching "A Word on Words."

I'm J.T.

Ellison.

Keep reading.

(bell dings) - [Mark] I've met several S.A.D.

guys and they're all like, we've all had four VA surgeries, none of us are ninjas like your hero.