The Destroyed: A Jonathan Quinn Novel

Brett Battles' Jonathan Quinn novels have quickly earned a spot high on my "must read" list. They are always literate, well plotted, action filled, and often provoke questions on morality and right/wrong. "The Destroyed" is Battles' latest adventure which finds Quinn, the cleaner extraordinaire, forced to deal with a case out of his past that seems to indicate his "cleaning" of Mila Voss after her killing by assassins 6 years ago was apparently a total failure when those who originally scheduled her for death stumble upon proof that she is still alive and a growing threat to their secret. Quinn's former boss, Peter of the Office, is called in to explain how someone Quinn certifed dead six years earlier is now walking around and nosing into dangeropus ground. Peter, in turn, sends Nate, Quinn's former apprentice, to find Quinn who has traveled deep into Thailand to restore himself after the threat to his family and the death of his best friend in his last adventure.

Soon Quinn is forced to return to his past along with Nate, Orlando (Quinn's girlfriend), and Daeng, a new and enjoyable character, in order to repair the consequences of decisions made spontaneously years before--seemingly, no good deed goes undiscovered. Employing flashbacks between the present and the recent past, Battles' slowly reveals what occurred six years earlier, why it occurred, and what the deadly ramifications might be. How can a master cleaner restore his reputation that seems irreparably destroyed by her reappearance years later? How can Quinn and his stalwart support group avoid a new hit team sent by Peter, and a group of very powerful political figures who want the past buried at all costs? Significantly, how much can Quinn still trust Peter? All is answered in this satisfying mystery/thriller that is a major step in the further growth and development of Jonathan Quinn and those around him.

Indeed, this novel marks a point of departure for many of the characters we have become comfortable with. Peter is morally challenged and the Office has been closed, Nate is now a full-fledged cleaner and no longer comfortable being Quinn's gofer, Orlando senses a deeper connection and needs more, and, most intriguing, are the changes in Quinn himself. There is a deeper characterization at work in this adventure as Quinn becomes mopey and introspective after the devastating effects of almost losing his family and the loss of Julien, his best friend--all of which is followed by his own near-death experience. He reexamines his life and values as the plot unwinds, indeed, questioning his own morality leads him to question the trust he places in those he works with and for (Peter). Suddenly, in a very clever and suspenseful plot, Jonathan Quinn is never totally sure of whom he can trust.

"The Destroyed", along with all the Jonathan Quinn novels, are highly recommended reading for those who truly enjoy well crafted thrillers that seem to exhibit a freshness of spirit along with well designed moral dilemmas.

Love Brett Battles work and characters, Quinn, Nate, Orlando, et al. Action: Yes. Page Turner: Yes.
Desire to read more: Absolutely.

Book looked brand new instead of used.

Great service and product. Thank you.

Great Characters. Stories are always interesting and hold you through the whole book.

Good book but it was in kind of rough shape

This is a great, action packed series with excellent stories

great I would buy again

The problem with this type of story is it is almost too clever and the reader can quite easily get lost even though the action is fast and non stop. Mila Voss was assasinated in 2006 or was she?...only Quinn holds the answer to this dilemma and so far he is not telling...until the unthinkable happens and Voss is identified in the present. So did the cleaner "Quinn" not carry out his mission? The story moves at a swift pace across the world's continents heading towards a conclusion which will include double dealing and duplicity at the highest levels in the American government. I kept losing interest in the storyline at various stages thoughout, often having to backtrack to remind myself of the core plot/players at the centre of this political drama, and that to me is not the mark of a good read......

Although I didn't find this book to be one of Brett Battles best, it was still enjoyable. I found that there was too much "filler" (like repeating certain factoids from earlier in the book) and not enough "substance."