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The Hit: A Terrorism Thriller
“Rich in characters lovingly drawn and mercilessly executed.”
– The London Times
When times were good, Jonah Maxwell was a New York ladies' man. He liked to look sharp and drive fancy cars. But times are bad – very bad. The economy has collapsed and the society is collapsing with it. Now Jonah makes his living tracking down fugitives with big Gordon Lamb – ‘El Gordo,’ Spanish for 'The Fat One.'
Their latest quarry is Davis Foerster, a science prodigy with a nasty habit of raping and strangling old ladies. Fresh out of prison, Foerster is heading south to link up with rogue ex-cop Tyler Gant. In a select and secret underworld, Gant has made a name for himself as a man who can make bad things happen. He's just been hired to carry out his biggest job yet – a bio-terror attack that may kill thousands.
Who will live and who will die is anyone’s guess as the bounty hunters crash Gant’s party, the maniac Foerster slips off the rails, and the countdown to atrocity begins.
“Admirers of James Ellroy or the films of Quentin Tarantino should find much to enjoy in Patrick Quinlan's debut, which is as fast-paced, and as bloody as either....” – The London Times
“Quinlan is as good an heir to Elmore Leonard as you’re going to get.” – The Observer
“A great crime novel. Brilliant is the word.” - Independent on Sunday
– The London Times
When times were good, Jonah Maxwell was a New York ladies' man. He liked to look sharp and drive fancy cars. But times are bad – very bad. The economy has collapsed and the society is collapsing with it. Now Jonah makes his living tracking down fugitives with big Gordon Lamb – ‘El Gordo,’ Spanish for 'The Fat One.'
Their latest quarry is Davis Foerster, a science prodigy with a nasty habit of raping and strangling old ladies. Fresh out of prison, Foerster is heading south to link up with rogue ex-cop Tyler Gant. In a select and secret underworld, Gant has made a name for himself as a man who can make bad things happen. He's just been hired to carry out his biggest job yet – a bio-terror attack that may kill thousands.
Who will live and who will die is anyone’s guess as the bounty hunters crash Gant’s party, the maniac Foerster slips off the rails, and the countdown to atrocity begins.
“Admirers of James Ellroy or the films of Quentin Tarantino should find much to enjoy in Patrick Quinlan's debut, which is as fast-paced, and as bloody as either....” – The London Times
“Quinlan is as good an heir to Elmore Leonard as you’re going to get.” – The Observer
“A great crime novel. Brilliant is the word.” - Independent on Sunday
484 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
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41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2011
One of the best openings I’ve read in a long time; it throws you in the deep end, literally. Jonah and Gordo are bounty hunters, not by trade, rather circumstance – both having to take up the profession due to the economic downturn in the US. Their quarry, Forester, a mad scientist likened more to a hobo than evil genius whose been enlisted to manufacture a bio-terrorist attack on a small island. The bounty hunters soon discover this is more than a simple find and grab. Brimming with fast violence, women and action ‘The Hit’ oozes Elmore Leonard in more ways than one. Perfectly well round characters, multiple POV storytelling, and an entertaining plot culminate in an explosive ending. Patrick Quinlan is one of my favourite writers; this book lives up to its predecessors – you could say, um the hits just keep on coming (corny I know) – 4 stars.
December 12, 2020
I thought in the beginning I would give it 4 stars, but loved it by the end.
February 22, 2024
A well written thriller.
December 14, 2014
A hybrid chase/dystopia thriller...credit to Patrick Quinlan for trying, and pulling off, this combo.
Everything is handled quite capably here. The way the plot structure comes full circle is interesting. The characters are good, especially the central pair and one of the bad guys, Foerster. The vision of a decaying America may be the best thing of all. I'd call it 3 1/2 stars overall, because something -- I can't put my finger on it -- holds me back from saying I enjoyed it as much as other things I've read this year.
Everything is handled quite capably here. The way the plot structure comes full circle is interesting. The characters are good, especially the central pair and one of the bad guys, Foerster. The vision of a decaying America may be the best thing of all. I'd call it 3 1/2 stars overall, because something -- I can't put my finger on it -- holds me back from saying I enjoyed it as much as other things I've read this year.
November 11, 2012
There are a lot of good things you could say about this book.
The plot has a great caper feel to it.
The characters surprise you which is cool.
The flawed heroes are likable.
However it just felt a bit long to me, with a bit too much back story.
The plot has a great caper feel to it.
The characters surprise you which is cool.
The flawed heroes are likable.
However it just felt a bit long to me, with a bit too much back story.
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June 20, 2013A slightly different take on the classic crime novel, as Mr Quinlan seems to enjoy doing. Memorable.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews