Becoming Quinn - A Jonathan Quinn Novella (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
Jake Oliver is a rookie cop who discovers he has a knack for solving crimes but his superiors won't hear of it. Nor will they look at any of the evidence he has found that was overlooked by the crime scene people.The "Cleaner" at the scene has done a thorough job of disposing of all evidence but others have made mistakes. This is what Jake has discovered and now his life is on the line because he knows to much.When Jake is fired from the police department for doing other peoples jobs he is left to figure out where he now wants to go. However, the "Cleaner" has some ideas for him. After all, the "Cleaner" knows how sharp Jake is. He doesn't miss a thing and that is what you need in the "cleaning" business.A good story. Will definitely continue on with this series as I like Jake who is renamed Jonathan Quinn as his character becomes moves up in the "cleaning" business. Providing a more complete back story for series characters is apparently the vogue for authors. Battles does it with this novella. Lee Child did it with The Affair and his short story Second Son and Vince Flynn's American Assassin goes back to Mitch Rapp's beginnings.For my part, I really like it. Too much back story in the course of a novel detracts from the plot. Not enough and the reader, at least this reader, tends to be lost. It is also a way for the author to continue with a character series after the lead character has reached an age where he can no longer be a credible action hero. All in all, this novella does exactly what it was designed to do by filling in the blanks in Quinn's past. Hopefully Battles will write at least one more 'fill in' novel or novella covering Quinn's apprentice period with Durrie.
What do You think about Becoming Quinn - A Jonathan Quinn Novella (2000)?
Loved this short novella on how Jake Oliver became Jonathon Quinn.
—aba
A solid opening to what looks to be an interesting series.
—Austin99
