The Cleaner by Mark Dawson - Revision history

Sue at 11:40, 18 March 2025

2025-03-18T11:40:44Z

Sue at 16:21, 11 August 2020

2020-08-11T16:21:55Z

Sue at 08:41, 8 August 2020

2020-08-08T08:41:25Z

Alex at 10:43, 3 July 2020

2020-07-03T10:43:36Z

Alex at 09:46, 3 July 2020

2020-07-03T09:46:14Z

Alex: Created page with "{{infobox |title=The Cleaner |sort=Cleaner |author=Mark Dawson |reviewer=Stephen Leach |genre=Thrillers |summary=A tight, pacey thriller set in the streets of London's East En..."

2020-07-03T09:43:58Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=The Cleaner |sort=Cleaner |author=Mark Dawson |reviewer=Stephen Leach |genre=Thrillers |summary=A tight, pacey thriller set in the streets of London's East En..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=The Cleaner
|sort=Cleaner
|author=Mark Dawson
|reviewer=Stephen Leach
|genre=Thrillers
|summary=A tight, pacey thriller set in the streets of London's East End.
|rating=4
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|pages=320
|publisher=Welbeck Publishing Group
|date=June 2020
|isbn= 978-1787395190
|website= https://markjdawson.com/books/john-milton-series/
|cover=178739462X
|aznuk=178739462X
|aznus=178739462X
}}

Ruthless and coldly competent, John Milton is one of the British government's best assets – a contract killer with lethal instincts. Now, after ten years, he wants out. But his job isn't one you can just walk away from…

Let's get the obvious point out of the way. Comparisons to James Bond are inevitable when discussing a thriller featuring a reclusive government agent (so much so that the man himself is even name-dropped at one point). There's actually very little that links them – John Milton might be a government-employed contract killer, but he's not one who spends much of his time abusing a bottomless expense account or charming glamorous women into bed. I did wonder at one point or another whether this book would stray into Bond territory, but it never did.

In fact, The Cleaner spends very little time in the corridors of power or in gleaming Whitehall offices – instead, the story takes place on the streets of London's poor estates, as Milton finds himself becoming inexplicably involved in the life of a young gang member and his struggling mother. Dawson doesn't pull any punches here – the story that unfolds is a grim but well-portrayed view of gang culture, with a lot of tense moments.

Fittingly, the book is pacey and incredibly tight; barely a word is wasted. Some of the writing is a little awkward, but it's sharp and to the point – much like our protagonist, in fact. I appreciated the book's sharp pace; it could have been longer and I wouldn't have minded, but I felt it didn't need any more than it had. There's very little stringing-out; much of the action happens quickly and starkly.

It's a great story with a strong buildup – and that ending! It's got me curious about the next couple of books, and where the story will go...

If thrillers are your thing, The Dead Room by Chris Mooney is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, Her Darkest Nightmare is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved.

{{amazontextAud|amazon= B00V02F89K}}
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Check prices, read reviews or buy from [http://tidd.ly/553f4f11 '''Waterstones''']

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 If thrillers are your thing, [[The Dead Room by Chris Mooney]] is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, [[Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak]] is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved.  You might also enjoy [[A Clean Death by Adriaan Verheul]].
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← Older revision		Revision as of 08:41, 8 August 2020
Line 29:		Line 29:
	It's a great story with a strong buildup – and that ending! It's got me curious about the next couple of books, and where the story will go...		It's a great story with a strong buildup – and that ending! It's got me curious about the next couple of books, and where the story will go...

−	If thrillers are your thing, [[The Dead Room by Chris Mooney]] is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, [[Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak]] is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved.	+	If thrillers are your thing, [[The Dead Room by Chris Mooney]] is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, [[Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak]] is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved. You might also enjoy [[A Clean Death by Adriaan Verheul]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 3 July 2020
Line 29:		Line 29:
	It's a great story with a strong buildup – and that ending! It's got me curious about the next couple of books, and where the story will go...		It's a great story with a strong buildup – and that ending! It's got me curious about the next couple of books, and where the story will go...

−	If thrillers are your thing, The Dead Room by Chris Mooney is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, [[Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak]] is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved.	+	If thrillers are your thing, [[The Dead Room by Chris Mooney]] is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, [[Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak]] is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:46, 3 July 2020
Line 29:		Line 29:
	It's a great story with a strong buildup – and that ending! It's got me curious about the next couple of books, and where the story will go...		It's a great story with a strong buildup – and that ending! It's got me curious about the next couple of books, and where the story will go...

−	If thrillers are your thing, The Dead Room by Chris Mooney is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, Her Darkest Nightmare is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved.	+	If thrillers are your thing, The Dead Room by Chris Mooney is a great read with some very gruesome scenes. For something a bit darker, [[Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak]] is a thriller with a distinctly chilling tone which I absolutely loved.

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