“Unputdownable.”* “Brilliant and heart-pounding.”** “A tightly written page-turner.”*** Brett Battles won rave reviews for his debut novel, The Cleaner, which introduced hero Jonathan Quinn. A freelance operative and professional “cleaner,” Quinn knows better than to get emotionally involved in any of his jobs. But in this superb powerhouse of suspense, Quinn’s latest job is different. A friend and old colleague has been murdered. A woman has gone missing. And for Jonathan Quinn, this time it’s personal. Anonymity. Trust. Professionalism. In his world, Jonathan Quinn has a few rules. He’ll get rid of bodies that have to disappear; nothing ever gets traced back to him. But when Quinn is called to a busy Los Angeles port where a shipping container has just come in from the sea, it’s clear his rules have been violated. Inside the crate is a dead man—a man who once saved Quinn’s life. And while no one knows how CIA agent Steven Markoff died, Quinn has to do more than clean. He has to find Markoff’ s girlfriend, Jenny. To tell her that Markoff is dead. To find out why—and why someone sent Markoff’s body to him. Until a week ago, Jenny Fuentes was an assistant to an ambitious congressman. Now Jenny is missing, too, and a lot of man power is making sure she isn’t found. But Quinn has his own man power. He has tools that can pry into secrets held anywhere in the world. He has the skill to trade blows with killers and spies. And he has covert weapons: his eager and smart apprentice, Nate, and brilliant Orlando, his closest friend, who’s saved his life more than once. Racing from the corridors of power in Washington to the bustling streets of Singapore, Quinn won’ t stop until he uncovers the truth behind his friend’s violent death, the astounding reason Jenny has vanished—and what she knows about the most explosive deception of all. *Tess Gerritsen **Jeffery Deaver ***Booklist
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"I definitely snapped this to my NOOK for spring Break...I've wanted to follow up after reading "the Cleaner"...in this one Quinn and his apprentice seek the murderers of his former friend and savior and become entwined in a murder plot of a up and coming Congressman by a cabal of industrialists...decent beach read"
— Mark (4 out of 5 stars)
" I won't be surprised when Battles's work is optioned for film, because the plotting and characters certainly lend themselves to that medium. Nothing high-minded here, but enjoyable and a quick read. "
— Jessica, 2/18/2014" I liked this book a little better than book one, the cleaner. I think the author should retire the apprentice, Nate. He seems disinterested most of the time and likes to sleep. Nate serves no purpose to the story development. It's a character that takes up space....like a desk. Much better suspense in this book. Interesting twists at the end of the book. "
— James, 2/17/2014" A lot different then the first, but still very good. "
— Karen, 2/2/2014" Looking forward to this follow up to The Cleaner, which I enjoyed. "
— Jim, 12/25/2013" Excellent second book in this series. I thought I had the twist figured out, and the Brett Battles, the author, led me down the primrose path to that conclusion. He then revealed the real twist and made this made the book even better. Looking forward to the 3rd and 4th installments. "
— Kevin, 12/8/2013" Very enjoyable read, of the stay-up-too-late variety. An unusual plot, with some surprising dog-legs. "
— Flanagan.seanbgmail.com, 12/3/2013" Sequel to The Cleaner. Quinn finds his friend dead and us ing his tools and smarts, follows the clues to the killer. Disrupts an assassination attempt in Singapore. Surrounding by his friend Orlando and his apprentice, Nate. "
— Barbara, 11/23/2013" This a good series. Lots of action; very little down time. "
— Cheryl, 11/21/2013" Fun, quick, two-day read. No complaints "
— Nick, 10/2/2013" Just the kind of mindless nonsense I needed! I started it yesterday and finished it this morning, so I guess it could be called a page turner. Not at all my usual genre but sometimes it's good to look outside the box. Not something I'll ever read again but by no means the worst book I've ever read. "
— Sally, 7/1/2013" Battles delivers once again! I really like this series. A little slow in the beginning, but only for set up. Then it really picks up and twists you around! Can't wait to read the next Quinn book. "
— Maya, 11/25/2012" really good. Brett Battles is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. "
— Dave, 8/4/2012" Look, I said these were ludicrous, I didn't say I'd stop reading them. "
— Jack, 7/5/2012" Another excellent book from Brett Battles -- he almost had me fooled, right up until the end. I love that! "
— Julie, 1/10/2012" I love this series and I love Jonathan Quinn. I'm hooked and don't want to stop reading. I've discovered my new favorite genre. And one of my new favorite authors. "
— Estrella, 11/22/2011" This is about Quinn, a "cleaner" who solves the mystery of a friend who is betrayed and murdered. Quinn ends up with Orlando in this book. The ending is a total surprise, but everything fits. "
— Peggy, 5/1/2011" I thought this book was an enjoyable, non-complicated action adventure book; I am not saying this book is Shakespeare but it's fun. Probably would make a decent screenplay. "
— Ed, 2/25/2011" A good beginning and a good ending. Kinda a dragged in the middle. "
— Mark, 2/22/2011" The second in the Jonathan Quinn series promises more adventure to come. Even better than the the first book "The Cleaner" this twisted tale keeps the action pounding and the twists keep on coming. I certainly look forward to more from Battles. "
— Bob, 11/12/2010" Look, I said these were ludicrous, I didn't say I'd stop reading them. "
— Jack, 8/6/2010" Looking forward to this follow up to The Cleaner, which I enjoyed. "
— Jim, 12/19/2009" Another excellent book from Brett Battles -- he almost had me fooled, right up until the end. I love that! "
— Julie, 11/16/2009" Writes a good story, not TOO predictable.... I'll try # 3 and see if he keeps up the good work. "
— Kathleen, 9/15/2009" Very enjoyable read, of the stay-up-too-late variety. An unusual plot, with some surprising dog-legs. "
— Flanagan.seanbgmail.com, 9/10/2009" This a good series. Lots of action; very little down time. "
— Cheryl, 8/19/2009" I thought this book was an enjoyable, non-complicated action adventure book; I am not saying this book is Shakespeare but it's fun. Probably would make a decent screenplay. <br/> "
— Ed, 8/11/2009Brett Battles lives in Los Angeles and is the author of two acclaimed novels in the Jonathan Quinn series: The Cleaner, which was nominated for a Barry Award for Best Thriller and a Shamus Award for Best First Novel, and The Deceived. He is at work on the fourth book in the series.
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.