Midnight Black

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which character in the book had the greatest emotional impact on you, and why?

2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the novel’s plot. What added to your reading experience? Did any moments in the plot pull you out of the narrative?

3. Have you read other books in the espionage-thriller genre, such as Greaney’s The Gray Man or The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy? How does Midnight Black compare to these books?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, Court is determined to reach Zoya above all else. Have you ever pursued a goal with single-minded determination like Court?

2. Midnight Black contains many sections in which characters feel that their personal freedoms, including freedom of speech, have been curtailed. Have you ever found yourself in a position when you felt similarly constrained or confined?

3. Court kills many people in his quest to reach Zoya. Do you think his actions are justified? How would you behave in a similar situation?

4. Characters in the novel often use humor to deal with their highly stressful environment. Can you relate to that impulse? Have you ever used humor to cope with tough situations?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel presents contemporary Russia as a highly surveilled state in which people are not free to criticize the government. How does this depiction enter into contemporary conversation about global politics and systems of government?

2. Though Zoya is the object of Court’s quest, she is far from the passive “damsel” awaiting rescue. Discuss how the text subverts gendered depictions, especially when it comes to Zoya. How does this subversion distinguish this novel from others in the espionage-thriller genre and reflect contemporary gender norms?

3. One of the book’s key concerns is the tremendous cost of warfare. How does this theme relate to recent developments in global diplomacy and warfare?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The book is narrated largely from the third-person limited point of view of different characters. How did this narrative structure enhance your reading experience?

2. Analyze the book’s Mordovia setting, with a focus on the penal colony and the winter landscape. How do these elements add to the novel’s themes?

3. Explore the use of cinematic set pieces in the novel, such as the subway chase in Moscow or the operations in Mordovia.

4. Examine the symbolism behind Court’s underwater journey to the Russian shore. How does it act as a metaphor for his larger journey throughout the novel?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Although a movie has been made based on the Gray Man series, the long-running series would also be suited to a television show. Who would you cast as Court, Zoya, Zack, and the rest of the crew? What changes would you make in the adaptation?

2. Since the Gray Man saga unfolds across many countries, which country would you like to take the characters to in the sequel to Midnight Black? Why did you choose this setting for the next installment of the series?