Michael Black-a CIA deep cover operative-will stop at nothing to keep the United States out of war. This motive lands him in Al Mukalla, Yemen; infiltrating the ranks of the most dangerous Al Qaeda officer in the Middle East. His task: gain access to commanding officer Khalid Batarfi, find the weapon source, assassinate Khalid Batarfi. When a hailstorm missile desolates a cruiser boat that he had intended to be on, he realizes that he's been sold out by the CIA. He is presumed dead by every intelligence agency in the world and must survive on his own with no support from the United States government. After five years of living life as a dead man, Michael's old foe learns of his secret and finds him. He is tipped off by an ally, and learns of a new enemy that is also looking for him: The Company. With his Pit-bull, Bane-the only living organism he fully trusts-by his side, Michael officially-unofficially-comes out of retirement to save the United States' democratic system from The Company, all the while being hunted by the middle east's most feared terrorist leader. From the no-name hills of Southwest Virginia, to the concrete jungle of New York City, Michael must remain in the shadows. He does not reside on the black or white side of things, no indeed. He is in the middle. He is The Gray Man.