The Deceived (Jonathan Quinn Series #2) » (Bargain)

Brett Battles lives and writes in Los Angeles. The Cleaner is his debut novel, and he is currently at work on the next book featuring Jonathan Quinn.

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...

Publishers Weekly

In Battles's strong sequel to The Cleaner-which introduced Jonathan Quinn, an ex-CIA agent who cleans up crime scenes for a shadowy U.S. government intelligence agency-Quinn determines to find the murderer of his CIA friend Steven Markoff. Quinn and his team must also locate Steven's missing girlfriend, Jenny Fuentes, to notify her of Steven's death. The search for Jenny hopscotches from Los Angeles to Houston to the Washington, D.C., offices of Jenny's boss, an ambitious politician. Along the way, Quinn and his compatriots contend with villains who appear to be linked to an international conspiracy. The chase ends in Singapore, where Quinn enlists a former underworld contact to help identify the plot's nefarious mastermind. Breakneck pacing, colorful locales and dizzying plot twists make the Quinn series a welcome addition to the political thriller genre. (July)

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