Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Excoms #1

The Excoms

Rate this book
From best-selling author Brett Battles comes the first book in a spinoff series from his award-winning Jonathan Quinn thrillers.

Ananke thought her week couldn't get worse, but as she hunts for the man who screwed up her previous job, things really go sideways.

Turns out, she's not the only one having problems.

Rosario can acquire anything for anyone, but can she obtain freedom for herself when her latest assignment goes awry?

Dylan's sure his new gig will be a walk in the park - or rather, a drive, given that he's a courier. Unfortunately, the road is a bit bumpier than he expected.

Liesel is having the worst week of her life, and blames only herself.

And Ricky? Well, Ricky doesn't believe in bad weeks. Though he can't claim being stuck in prison is all that great. Convenient for all of them, then, that a mysterious organization comes along asking for their help, and in return promises to reverse their excommunication from the secret world.

Of course, nothing good ever comes without strings attached.

Audible Audio

First published November 15, 2016

569 people are currently reading
230 people want to read

About the author

Brett Battles

91 books1,066 followers
Brett Battles is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling and Barry Award-winning author of forty novels, including the Jonathan Quinn series and its Excoms spinoff, the Project Eden series, and the time bending Rewinder series. He’s also the coauthor, with Robert Gregory Browne, of the Alexandra Poe series. He is one of the founding members of Killer Year, and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. He lives and writes in Ventura County, California.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
460 (43%)
4 stars
404 (38%)
3 stars
154 (14%)
2 stars
30 (2%)
1 star
9 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Tulay.
1,202 reviews2 followers
March 19, 2018
Definitely not for me.

Read about half of this book. Didn't understand what was the author's plot, what he was trying to say. This book overall got good rating, maybe I didn't get it.
Profile Image for Tracy T..
1,023 reviews24 followers
October 2, 2017
Very good book and narration. (audible review).

This was exciting and entertaining. I really like a good secret operative story and this was definitely a good one! Lots of action and some really great dialogue throughout.

I really liked how the Administrator put together this team. Very exciting and action packed.
This is my first Brett Battles book and will be checking out more from him for sure.

As for the narration it was very good. She did a good job on the men's voices as well as all the accents. She gave everyone their own distinct voice. She read with emotion and has a very nice reading voice.
Profile Image for Maria Fledgling Author  Park.
977 reviews52 followers
July 29, 2021
Cleverly written thriller, full of mysterious men in black suits lurking in the background of supposedly altruistic spy missions.

Five different people, working as blind couriers, assassins, hackers, bodyguards and hunters are mysteriously spirited away in the middle of their operations, just as they become disastrous.

As each of them awaken, realizing they have been sedated for varying lengths of time, they emerge from stripped down cells to find them drawn to a conference room.

From this point on, major changes begin for everyone. The Committee, an anonymous group of people with unknown histories, approaches each of them with the same offer.

Go back to your former life, where you have failed miserably, and face the consequences. Or, come to work for us, to help on select missions, and have your background cleared.

Much murder and Mayhem ensue, as our group tries to track down a group of kidnapped children and rescue them before they are killed.

I really enjoyed the speed and pacing of the plot, as well as the intriguing characters. Brett Battles does a great thriller!
Profile Image for Trish R..
1,772 reviews58 followers
April 7, 2018

Ananka, Rosario, Liesel, Dylan and Ricky are crooks and assassins, oh, and a courier, who agree to help the Administrator of a group of unknown persons find and bring back 6 children who had been kidnapped. This was both exciting and there was never a dull moment. I love it when I don’t skim even one page of a book I’m reading. The only person I didn’t like was Ricky. He was just too arrogant and mouthy and way too stupid. Other than him being a hunter he was totally useless.

There was no sex and no swearing to speak of. Assassins and killer/kidnappers and no swearing? That’s so unreal. I’m going to read the second book but that will be all from this author. If you’re going to try and make us believe in your stories then you should make your characters talk like real adults.

As to the narration: Allyson Johnson did a great job on Rosario’s Spanish accent and Liesel’s German accent, as well as the men’s voices. Her emotions are awesome too when she read. I’ve never listened to her before but I will definitely see what else she’s read.
Profile Image for Sassafrass.
3,204 reviews103 followers
September 29, 2017
I really enjoyed this. I liked the cast of characters and am interested in seeing where the story takes us. This is a spinoff of one of the author's other series but I didn't feel like I missed out on anything and I haven't read that first series. I'm now intrigued though so I may look into that one as well.

I saw that there weren't any other books in this series yet but I hope that the author continues with it because it had a lot of action, it was funny at times and I was really rooting for these guys to be successful on their mission.

The only issue that I had with this one was why one of the kids was so important. Was it only her connection to the committee or something else? I didn't think that was explained enough but maybe we were meant to draw our own conclusions.

I listened to this on audio and the narrator Allyson Johnson did a FANTASTIC job with the narration. She did voices, young, old, male, female, Irish accents, Mexican accent, German, you name it and it sounded believable. I really was able to escape into the story thanks to her. I definitely will be looking out for more of her narrations. I hated having to switch to reading when I had to because she made the book for me.
Profile Image for Betty.
5 reviews
November 15, 2016
If you like Brett Battles Quinn series, you'll love The Excoms. It's a spin off of the Quinn series. With some of the characters we read and loved. This book will keep your eyes glued to it. I really have to pace myself so I don't rush through and miss the important details. Each of the five excoms has his/her own unique personality well developed and reacts to situations differently. I laugh out loud many times at the dialog and interactions among the excoms. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Jim A.
1,267 reviews82 followers
October 27, 2018
A bit more mystery than the Battles Quinn series. Two of the characters, Anaka and Orbits, were in one Battles' Quinn novels.

This involves a secret organization of people of wealth who have organized to put together a group of operatives to further their goals of good deeds. And assassin, a bodyguard, a hacker, a driver, and a hunter.

Then ending is a lead in to the next Quinn novel.
317 reviews4 followers
November 9, 2020
The Excoms

Well written and very interesting story. Would like more character descriptions and background, but I will admit there was a lot just not enough for my liking. I will have to look for book2.
Profile Image for James Gazzard.
40 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2017
Love Quinn so I was keen to try this spin off. I really enjoyed it, good concept, easy read, my only criticism is that it was maybe a little short to introduce all the characters and carry out a mission.
1,294 reviews6 followers
August 18, 2021
A complex plot, a secret committee, an assortment of criminals selected for their skills, subterfuge, betrayal, and lots of action make this book hard to put down.
Profile Image for Zade.
491 reviews49 followers
January 15, 2017
Clearly the first in a series, this novel is a spin-off of Battles's popular Quinn series. Rather than focusing on a single character, Battles presents a team of five, although certain characters, such as Ananke (who appears in an earlier Quinn novel) play a larger role than others. The ending of the novel not only suggests a follow-up, but implies that the team may work with Quinn and Nate in the next installment--not a bad thing at all.

As to the story, it works fairly well. The actual plot isn't terribly complex, but the character development keeps things interesting, as does Battles's emphasis on tradecraft (or lack thereof, for some characters). Because he spends so much time letting us get to know the characters, the book really doesn't need a complex plot. Battles keeps the story moving, both in terms of action and geographically, so it's never boring. I do look forward to seeing what he does with the team in later works when he'll be able to come up with more intricate and detailed plots.

My only real complaint about this book is that it makes no sense for Ricky Orbits to become part of the team. I won't go into details, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be the only reader who finds the description of him as "the best hunter" completely at odds with the behavior described in the novel. Any real-life team leader would kick him to the curb in a second. But this is fiction and brain-candy fiction at that, so I'm willing to keep going with the series despite this inconsistency. Maybe Ananke will shoot him in the next book (fingers crossed!).
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
July 21, 2020
This one came highly recommended. I like spy books, so it was easy decision to give it a try. However after 2 hours I'm giving this one up. For some reason I didn't really connect to the story, found myself a bit bored despite all the action going on, people dying and people running for their lives. This one just wasn't for me.
213 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2017
Disappointed

I like Quinn novels a lot and I'm one if the biggest fans. Unfortunately this one is poorly written, plot is boring, characters are boring. It reads like a rough script of a C-rated pilot for C-rated tv series, kind of Blacklist except much worse. Too bad
Profile Image for Wenzel Roessler.
819 reviews6 followers
July 16, 2020
An offshoot of the Quinn universe. This is a lighter and more humorous version of the Quinn series. A little confusing for me in the beginning but once I figured it out everything fell into place. Fun dialog and the plot moves along without any slow spots. Looking forward to the next book.
1,280 reviews23 followers
January 18, 2021
The Excoms is a spin-off of the excellent Jonathan Quinn series (see The Cleaner for the beginning of that series). Here, a shadowy organization comes together to intervene in situations that cannot be otherwise corrected. They recruit a field team - an assassin, a courier, an obtainer, a hunter, and a protector - by rescuing them from jobs in which they were set up to fail and were going to be killed. They are now excommunicated/blacklisted. The assassin is Ananke, first introduced in The Buried. You do not have to read that or any in the Quinn series to understand and enjoy this book.

The shadowy organization of wealthy individuals and a field team to do their bidding is not a new concept in this genre. But what is different about this team is the diversity. The team leader, Ananke, is an African-American woman. The protector is also a woman and half-Asian/half-German. The obtainer (also a woman) is Mexican. The courier is an Irish male. The hunter, the hilarious Ricky Orbits - also from The Buried - is an American male with a Mediterranean background. However, none of that diversity is central to the story. No one squawks when a woman is put in charge. Ethnicity is never an issue in completing a task and doesn't come up in dialog. The author simply creates a diverse cast of characters and lets them show how terrific they are.

If you are already a fan of the Quinn series, you will enjoy this book. If you haven't read that series, jump right in here. The action is solid, the characters are interesting, and the dialog is good. This would not be a story for young readers due to child endangerment and the expected level of violence with this genre. The profanity is minimal and there are no sex scenes.
Profile Image for Leo.
415 reviews7 followers
August 8, 2018
Finally got around to reading the Excoms after getting introduced to the characters in the last Quinn book I read, and for the most part I liked what I read. It was nice to read a whole book on how the team was formed and who they worked together to complete the inaugural mission. Like most of Battles other books, this book was fast paced and full or excitement as the team race against a clock to save a bunch of kidnapped kids. Yeah, it's something of a bubble-gum thriller, but I think I like this approach Battle is taking with this series.

If you want normal spy stuff, you have the Quinn books; if you want the macabre, you have the Eden series; horror, Mine. Taking the altruistic approach to a spy thriller allows Battles to write something lighter in tone. Well, as light as you can get with a team led by a former assassin, a master thief, hacker, hunter, and a transporter. The bad guys still get what coming to them, but there's a considerable more restraint (when possible) the team takes in accomplishing their mission, basically less head shots.

I will say this, as spoilery free as possible, but there a few lines in the last chapter of the book, when the Administrator reveals to the team what their and The Comity's main purpose is, that immediately brought to mind the team song to the A-Team as I read it. Outside of that, I'm curious to see where this series goes.
Profile Image for Tony Parsons.
4,156 reviews101 followers
October 5, 2021
2/5, Croatia. The 7 Committee members arrived with their personal security details.
The Administrator informed them written on the placards in front of you is the name you will be known from now on.
4/3, Manila, Republic of the Philippines. Governor Fernando Alonzo is the candidate for the Philippine Presidency.
Noah Perkins (op leader) had been killed.
Tessa Herrera knew the kidnappers were interested in a ransom.
Grace’s, Hannah’s, & Nicholas’s families had plenty.
The 2 captors names were Peterson & Nyland.

Why did Quinn call Ananke?

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written thriller book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great thriller movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. It wasn’t very thrilling so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; BookFunnel; OddlyBooks; Amazon Digital Services LLC. Kindle Mobi; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Profile Image for Dan Smith.
1,805 reviews17 followers
October 20, 2020
Ananke thought her week couldn’t get worse, but as she hunts for the man who screwed up her previous job, things really go sideways. Turns out, she’s not the only one having problems.


Rosario can acquire anything for anyone, but can she obtain freedom for herself when her latest assignment goes awry?


Dylan’s sure his new gig will be a walk in the park--or rather, a drive, given that he's a courier. Unfortunately, the road is a bit bumpier than he expected.


Liesel is having the worst week of her life, and blames only herself.


And Ricky? Well, Ricky doesn’t believe in bad weeks. Though he can’t claim being stuck in prison is all that great.


Convenient for all of them, then, that a mysterious organization comes along asking for their help, and in return promises to reverse their excommunication from the secret world.
3 reviews1 follower
September 1, 2017
This is a really good book and I couldn't put it down. The action moves along at a very good pace so I didn't lose interest. I kept reading to see what would happen next and before I knew it most of the day had past. For those who haven't read any of Mr Battles Quinn books this is a continuation of sorts of his last book utilizing the new characters that appear in that book. This is a very satisfying new series and I can't wait for the next one due out soon in the fall of 2017!!! Well done Mr Battles!
166 reviews2 followers
November 30, 2017
Brett Battles gifts readers (ME!!!) with a new series....WOO HOO!!! The Excoms, book 1 of his latest series, The Excoms. A spin-off of his Jonathan Quinn series. Brett Battles series are Must Reads. They are Action Packed! Full of Suspence and Destruction! Entertaining! Dark sardonic humor with masterful twists and turns! From beginning to end. The storylines continue to grow and evolve. Characters to Remember and look forward to 'visiting' again and again. The only negative...that the book(s) must end. Ready for the next!!!
8 reviews
June 6, 2018
What a sensational spinoff from the Quinn novels! The beginning just draws you in and the adventure that unfolds does not disappoint. The characters of excoms feel like you have known them for a long time, due to the wonderful writings of Brett Battles, a master of suspense who transports you direct to the world of the excoms. Can't wait to read what their next adventure entails!! Highly recommend reading this book for all those who love to be lost in a book, which you can't put down until you finish it.
Profile Image for Aravind.
549 reviews13 followers
March 31, 2019
This is a fast-paced action thriller, the first in a series featuring a team of professionals of the secret world of espionage and assassinations. The characters are interesting and the action is non-stop. There are some intentional loose ends and vagueness which the author seems to have kept for exploiting in the future books of the series. That is okay, but what disappointed me was the absolute lack of information about the villains. That made it feel incomplete for me.
The Excoms is not great as a standalone read but seems it will be better if read as part of the whole series.
8 reviews
January 19, 2020
Being the best isn't always good enough when betrayed

Mystery, intrigue and action are all the ingredients you need. Brett Battles delivers them all. Along with characters that draw you in with their quirks and failings as well as their savvy and gumption. When several individual jobs go wrong lives are put on the line and they are suddenly wanted people. Brought together they are handed a job and the race is on to find kidnapped children and hopefully clear their names. Mystery lies in the organisation that stepped in to bring them together. But who are they really?
579 reviews
December 16, 2021
Enjoyed this one from Brett Battles. He is one of the best of the black ops/espionage genre and always gives you an action-based story with good characters. However, one guy on the crew of "Excoms"...short for excommunicated operators, named Ricky Orbits is a little over the top. The Excoms are a group of excommunicated operators who are blacked ball by clients. They got that way after after making mistakes on ops or being setup. A group of five are recruited by a mysterious group that hire them to run an operation. Its a good story, but not Battles best.
Profile Image for Elaine Mayes.
672 reviews10 followers
September 27, 2017
Brett Battles has introduced a new set of characters I think you'll love. The plot is a bit thin but the purpose of the story is to introduce a kick-ass group of women who carry out impossible missions with two guys tagging along. But the overall quality of Battles' writing redeems the story, and all of the characters save one are well drawn and believable in the context of the story.

I listened to this book and the narrator was excellent.
Profile Image for Teresa Collins.
1,121 reviews19 followers
November 20, 2018
Having started this series with book #3 instead of #1 the way most people do, it was interesting to go back and see how the team came together and where their partial skills came from. I must admit that Ricky is my favorite character, even though there are times I wish Mr Battle would let Ananke do a little physical harm to him in order to bring him down a notch or two. This is a great action, secret organization story and I can't wait to read #2.
359 reviews4 followers
April 21, 2019
A good starting point for a new series.

Pretty ordinary in the first few chapters. The main characters are introduced and partially fleshed out. After the intros are over the story gets into high gear. The team has to work out a few wrinkles and interpersonal things, but the story ends well. Enjoy the rest of the story.
Profile Image for Christine.
30 reviews28 followers
April 25, 2020
Great read for a pandemic

I started this book awhile ago, then life got in the way. Since I'm at home with more time to read, I started this book over. It turned out to be a quick and entertaining read. A little confusing at first until I got to know the characters, but then I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for John Brooks.
19 reviews
September 1, 2021
I received this book as a free copy from a giveaway promotion. It started out rather confusing - there were several parallel threads. These threads came together well into the book, but thereafter, I was hooked. It's a good story, though there are a few loose ends which will, no doubt, lead into the next books. Definitely worth a read.
Profile Image for InkyRayne.
15 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2022
Great first in series!

Loved this style of introduction to a new series. Graat way to get to know both the team members, and the "committee" they now work for. Great first mission to showcase their individual talents also, and and interesting background story arc too. Will definitely be reading the rest of the authors works!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.