The Silenced by Brett Battles

The Silenced: A Novel by Brett Battles

The blurb:
Professional "cleaner" Jonathan Quinn has a new client and an odd job: find and remove the remains of a bod hidden twenty years ago inside the walls of a London building, before the building is demolished.

But Quinn and his team are being watched.  Suddenly caught in the cross fire between two dangerous rivals, Quinn must unravel the identity of the body and why it still poses so great a threat even in death.  Because a plot stretching from teh former Soviet Union to Hong Kong, from Paris to London, from Los Angeles to Maine, is rapidly falling apart.  And Quinn hasn't been hired just to tie up loose ends -- he is one.

Review:
I've always loved thrillers so when offered the chance to read Brett Battles' latest book, I grabbed it.

Jonathan Quinn is a flawed hero that draws you in.  He left the military with a stellar record and instead he owns and runs a "troubleshooting security firm." As a mercenary, he tends towards jobs that are beyond the jurisdiction and legal powers of government agencies.  He also takes on particularly difficult and urgent jobs.  Quinn is selective with his clients - but things being what they are, he's been forced to undertake unpleasant jobs.  This time, a preferred client has called with a seemingly simple job - and offers him a ridiculously high fee.  There's clearly a catch, and by the time it becomes apparent, Quinn's closest secrets are about to be revealed.

The Silenced is a story of loyalty and friendship demonstrated under deadly conditions.  In this latest novel, Battles discloses personal details of Jonathan Quinn's life, fleshing out his early family life.  We see him at his competent best, as a loving brother, and as a fiercely protective family man.  It's a joy to read about him strike back when men attack his family.

ISBN-10: 0440245672 - Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell (April 5, 2011), 416 pages.
Review copy provided by  Kaye Publicity and the publisher.

About the Author:
Brett Battles lives in Los Angeles and is the author of 4 novels in the acclaimed Jonathan Quinn series: The Cleaner, which was nominated for a Barry Award for Best Thriller and a Shamus Award for Best First Novel; The Deceived, which won the 2009 Barry Award for Best Thriller; Shadow of Betrayal; and The Silenced.  He is currently at work on his first novel.  Visit his website at www.brettbattles.com