Books like The cleaner by Brett Battles

Jonathan Quinn is a sharp‑witted freelance operative whose specialty is professional clean‑up—disposing of bodies and erasing evidence without unnecessary bloodshed. In Brett Battles’s debut novel, Quinn’s latest assignment appears straightforward: investigate a suspicious act of arson. The job takes a deadly turn when a corpse is found where it should not have been and the agency that employs him, known only as "the Office," falls unexpectedly quiet. Quinn is forced to break away from his usual isolated routine and search for clues that explain why his handlers are silent and why someone aims to kill him. With only a handful of leads, he turns to an old contact, Orlando, a woman from his past who may hold the key to the mystery but is reluctant to get involved. Together they peel back layers of past crimes, travel across continents, and strive to stay alive long enough to expose a shadowy conspiracy that threatens to wipe out the Office itself. As the danger escalates, Quinn confronts a chilling revelation and a grand scheme with an almost unimaginable goal. Battles delivers a fast‑paced thriller filled with vividly drawn characters and dialogue that keeps readers on edge.

First publish date: 2007