What do you think?
Rate this book
The Night Man Chronicles #1
Night Man
NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Brett Battles delivers one of the year's most riveting high-stakes crime thrillers.
Looking the other way in the face of injustice is not an option for Nate. Sure, he’d love to relax between missions from his day job as a seasoned espionage operative, but Nate is not your typical agent, and some things just can’t be ignored.
A news story about the hit and run accident of a woman in Jenson California catches his attention. And as much as he’d like to stay home and relax, he’s compelled to investigate.
His instincts are right. Soon he discovers a hidden world of crime and violence, of exploitation and murder.
Putting an end to this evil will require all the skills he's learned working in the espionage world—and his unique brand of vigilante justice.
If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with high-stakes suspense, surprising plot-twists, and a cast full of unforgettable characters, then join millions of fans who love Battles’ novels and start devouring your next great read NIGHT MAN now!
THE NIGHT MAN SERIES AWARDS
#1 Amazon Hot New Release —Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Series
Amazon Bestseller —Private Investigator Mysteries
Amazon Bestseller —Vigilante Justice Thrillers
Amazon Bestseller —Conspiracy Thrillers
Amazon Bestseller —Amateur Sleuth Mysteries
Amazon Bestseller —Action & Adventure Fiction
Amazon Bestseller —Mystery Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction
Recommended for fans of Lee Child, James Patterson, David Baldacci, John Grisham, John Sandford, Brad Thor, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Tom Clancy, Daniel Silva, Dean Koontz, Vince Flynn, and Stuart Woods.
PRAISE FOR BATTLES' WRITING
“Battles' writing is addictive." —NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, James Rollins
“Brilliant and heart pounding.” —NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, Jeffery Deaver
“Battles is a master storyteller.” —NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, Sheldon Siegel
OVER 2,500 POSITIVE REVIEWS ON GOODREADS AND AMAZON
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Don't let the price fool you. This is a top shelf thriller!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Plenty of action, suspense, bad guys you love to hate, gadgetry, and all the cool spy stuff."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I encourage any crime, mystery, thriller reader to pick up this book!"
Looking the other way in the face of injustice is not an option for Nate. Sure, he’d love to relax between missions from his day job as a seasoned espionage operative, but Nate is not your typical agent, and some things just can’t be ignored.
A news story about the hit and run accident of a woman in Jenson California catches his attention. And as much as he’d like to stay home and relax, he’s compelled to investigate.
His instincts are right. Soon he discovers a hidden world of crime and violence, of exploitation and murder.
Putting an end to this evil will require all the skills he's learned working in the espionage world—and his unique brand of vigilante justice.
If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with high-stakes suspense, surprising plot-twists, and a cast full of unforgettable characters, then join millions of fans who love Battles’ novels and start devouring your next great read NIGHT MAN now!
THE NIGHT MAN SERIES AWARDS
#1 Amazon Hot New Release —Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Series
Amazon Bestseller —Private Investigator Mysteries
Amazon Bestseller —Vigilante Justice Thrillers
Amazon Bestseller —Conspiracy Thrillers
Amazon Bestseller —Amateur Sleuth Mysteries
Amazon Bestseller —Action & Adventure Fiction
Amazon Bestseller —Mystery Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction
Recommended for fans of Lee Child, James Patterson, David Baldacci, John Grisham, John Sandford, Brad Thor, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Tom Clancy, Daniel Silva, Dean Koontz, Vince Flynn, and Stuart Woods.
PRAISE FOR BATTLES' WRITING
“Battles' writing is addictive." —NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, James Rollins
“Brilliant and heart pounding.” —NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, Jeffery Deaver
“Battles is a master storyteller.” —NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, Sheldon Siegel
OVER 2,500 POSITIVE REVIEWS ON GOODREADS AND AMAZON
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Don't let the price fool you. This is a top shelf thriller!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Plenty of action, suspense, bad guys you love to hate, gadgetry, and all the cool spy stuff."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I encourage any crime, mystery, thriller reader to pick up this book!"
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2019
1124 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Brett Battles
90 books1,058 followersBrett 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
September 22, 2021
Is this a comic book super hero or just an average/above average Joe? I still don't know. 4 of 10 stars
March 23, 2023
I have enjoyed most of Brett Battles' Jonathan Quinn series. In that series, Quinn is a ¨cleaner;¨ Someone who cleans up murder scenes by removing (and disposing of) the body and all evidence that a murder took place. Quinn had an apprentice named Nat who, in The Night Man Chronicles has reappeared but without Quinn.
Nat, who often refers to, but never names his 'day job' spends many of his evenings righting wrongs, including stopping crimes from taking place, executing murderers who appear to have gotten away with their crime and solving murders that the police have not, intentionally or otherwise, been able to solve. He is, in my view, a ¨righter of wrongs.¨
He drives from his LA home to a small town near Sacramento where a young woman has been run down by a car while she was walking on the sidewalk. The car then left the scene of the accident and no trace of it has been found so the local police have ceased to investigate deeming the death to be an accident and seemingly, unconcerned that the driver fled the scene.
Nat's suspicions are aroused and he decides (or is compelled by his strong internal code) to travel to this small town and do his own investigation. Once there, he gets a job as a busboy in a very popular restaurant, rents an inexpensive and somewhat shabby motel room and begins to investigate. He finds little at first but then something happens that piques his interest and sends his investigation in a somewhat new direction. There may be much more to this staged accident than meets the eye. Wow! what a stunner!! Chaos ensues.
Night Man is written in an unconvincing, conversational style making it sound a bit simplistic. Some of Nat's conclusions are mind-boggling in their accuracy, considering the array of other, possible conclusions. But, perhaps the single thing that put me off most about the story was the inadequacy of the ¨big reveal.¨ The reason behind the crimes just wasn't, to my fragment of an aged mind, enough to justify the precautions taken, Nat's investigation and the steps subsequently taken.
So, I won't recommend this book to you but I just might read the next in the series to see if Battles redeems himself, in my cataract-covered eyes (surgery in October). Stay tuned.
Finito
Nat, who often refers to, but never names his 'day job' spends many of his evenings righting wrongs, including stopping crimes from taking place, executing murderers who appear to have gotten away with their crime and solving murders that the police have not, intentionally or otherwise, been able to solve. He is, in my view, a ¨righter of wrongs.¨
He drives from his LA home to a small town near Sacramento where a young woman has been run down by a car while she was walking on the sidewalk. The car then left the scene of the accident and no trace of it has been found so the local police have ceased to investigate deeming the death to be an accident and seemingly, unconcerned that the driver fled the scene.
Nat's suspicions are aroused and he decides (or is compelled by his strong internal code) to travel to this small town and do his own investigation. Once there, he gets a job as a busboy in a very popular restaurant, rents an inexpensive and somewhat shabby motel room and begins to investigate. He finds little at first but then something happens that piques his interest and sends his investigation in a somewhat new direction. There may be much more to this staged accident than meets the eye. Wow! what a stunner!! Chaos ensues.
Night Man is written in an unconvincing, conversational style making it sound a bit simplistic. Some of Nat's conclusions are mind-boggling in their accuracy, considering the array of other, possible conclusions. But, perhaps the single thing that put me off most about the story was the inadequacy of the ¨big reveal.¨ The reason behind the crimes just wasn't, to my fragment of an aged mind, enough to justify the precautions taken, Nat's investigation and the steps subsequently taken.
So, I won't recommend this book to you but I just might read the next in the series to see if Battles redeems himself, in my cataract-covered eyes (surgery in October). Stay tuned.
Finito
July 29, 2019
Vigilantes are unfailingly popular characters in crime series. A (almost always) man rides (on his charger or his Charger) into a desperately corrupt town, cleans out the scalawags using extra-legal means, romances the pretty cop/victim/librarian/schoolmarm, then rides off into the metaphorical sunset. Lee Child has done pretty well with his vigilante series, and there are others.
Author Brett Battles starts his own entry in this subgenre with Night Man, a spinoff from his Jonathan Quinn "Cleaner" series. It scrambles a number of genre tropes to come up with a light, personable-but-low-impact story that suggests what Taken's Bryan Mills would do if he swore off deadly force but not his essential need to right wrongs.
Nate, the narrator and lead character, has a very particular set of skills honed by his day job (never specified, but strongly hinted to be with an agency funded entirely by some governmental black budget). He also had a girlfriend whose untimely and unnatural death knocked him into a tailspin. Now she's back in his head, directing him to take care of injustices the police aren't cleaning up. When she aims him at the hit-and-run death of a young woman in the rural Northern California town of Jenson, Nate discovers (surprise!) that the rot goes far beyond killing random bothersome teens.
I know what you're thinking: Reacher lite? Luckily for us, Nate's not-entirely-departed squeeze, being a victim of violence herself, won't let him take care of the problem kinetically. Instead, he has to use his particular set of skills and a lot of tech to take down the baddies without turning Jenson into a mass-murder site.
Nate's okay company. He's bright, self-aware but not self-important, mildly snarky when it's called for, competent, and conscientious. He describes people and places with a fine-tipped pen rather than a brush. He tells us what he's up to as clearly as possible, no mean feat given how complicated some of his skulduggery is. He's a supporting character in the Quinn series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything important because I hadn't read any of those books.
The biggest thing this story has going for it is speed. Like the other Brett Battles novel I've read, this one goes like a drag race between air-to-air missiles. It took me three days to read only because I didn't apply myself to it; I could've finished it in a single day if I was, say, flying transcontinental without many distractions. The prose is clean and slick, there's nothing very complicated to think about, and chapter ends lead you efficiently into the following chapter openings.
This is the good stuff. Why only three stars, then? (Actually, 3.49 stars rounded down.)
Nate's busy but not necessarily challenged throughout. He rarely paints himself into a corner or is truly in danger. His skills are so well-developed that he sometimes verges into superheroics. He's able to borrow freely from the toys he uses in his day job (he apparently doesn't have to sign for them or account for them) to carry out his "hobby," as he calls it, meaning he isn't even financially crimped. These toys are so capable that they skirt the edge of magic; unlike most advanced tech, they never seem to fail or underperform. Nate's support crew is a collection of types, including the super-supportive sibling and the mandatory tech-whiz-with-a-disability (autism here). The bad guys are also types we've seen before and who aren't all that formidable. Night Man reminded me of nothing so much as an episode of the old Mission: Impossible TV series, except Nate didn't get thrown into jail and was never menaced by the Vulgarian Secret Police.
Night Man is a fast-paced, mild-mannered vigilante thriller whose easy-to-get-along-with protagonist relies on brains rather than brawn or firepower. As a consequence, it involves a lot of skulking and not a lot of thrills. You'll need to decide if this is a bug or a feature. If you go for it, its 306 pages will zip by as quickly as you'll forget the specifics once you're done. That's perfect for the beach or the LA-NY nonstop. Take it for what it is and you'll have a good time.
Author Brett Battles starts his own entry in this subgenre with Night Man, a spinoff from his Jonathan Quinn "Cleaner" series. It scrambles a number of genre tropes to come up with a light, personable-but-low-impact story that suggests what Taken's Bryan Mills would do if he swore off deadly force but not his essential need to right wrongs.
Nate, the narrator and lead character, has a very particular set of skills honed by his day job (never specified, but strongly hinted to be with an agency funded entirely by some governmental black budget). He also had a girlfriend whose untimely and unnatural death knocked him into a tailspin. Now she's back in his head, directing him to take care of injustices the police aren't cleaning up. When she aims him at the hit-and-run death of a young woman in the rural Northern California town of Jenson, Nate discovers (surprise!) that the rot goes far beyond killing random bothersome teens.
I know what you're thinking: Reacher lite? Luckily for us, Nate's not-entirely-departed squeeze, being a victim of violence herself, won't let him take care of the problem kinetically. Instead, he has to use his particular set of skills and a lot of tech to take down the baddies without turning Jenson into a mass-murder site.
Nate's okay company. He's bright, self-aware but not self-important, mildly snarky when it's called for, competent, and conscientious. He describes people and places with a fine-tipped pen rather than a brush. He tells us what he's up to as clearly as possible, no mean feat given how complicated some of his skulduggery is. He's a supporting character in the Quinn series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything important because I hadn't read any of those books.
The biggest thing this story has going for it is speed. Like the other Brett Battles novel I've read, this one goes like a drag race between air-to-air missiles. It took me three days to read only because I didn't apply myself to it; I could've finished it in a single day if I was, say, flying transcontinental without many distractions. The prose is clean and slick, there's nothing very complicated to think about, and chapter ends lead you efficiently into the following chapter openings.
This is the good stuff. Why only three stars, then? (Actually, 3.49 stars rounded down.)
Nate's busy but not necessarily challenged throughout. He rarely paints himself into a corner or is truly in danger. His skills are so well-developed that he sometimes verges into superheroics. He's able to borrow freely from the toys he uses in his day job (he apparently doesn't have to sign for them or account for them) to carry out his "hobby," as he calls it, meaning he isn't even financially crimped. These toys are so capable that they skirt the edge of magic; unlike most advanced tech, they never seem to fail or underperform. Nate's support crew is a collection of types, including the super-supportive sibling and the mandatory tech-whiz-with-a-disability (autism here). The bad guys are also types we've seen before and who aren't all that formidable. Night Man reminded me of nothing so much as an episode of the old Mission: Impossible TV series, except Nate didn't get thrown into jail and was never menaced by the Vulgarian Secret Police.
Night Man is a fast-paced, mild-mannered vigilante thriller whose easy-to-get-along-with protagonist relies on brains rather than brawn or firepower. As a consequence, it involves a lot of skulking and not a lot of thrills. You'll need to decide if this is a bug or a feature. If you go for it, its 306 pages will zip by as quickly as you'll forget the specifics once you're done. That's perfect for the beach or the LA-NY nonstop. Take it for what it is and you'll have a good time.
April 17, 2022
A different slant with a little humour and action. I enjoyed it and will wait and see what book-#2 brings.
January 29, 2019
Brett Battles gives us a new, exciting story taking Nate, a partner with Jonathan Quinn in that addicting series, and letting him follow leads on his own! The result is a non-stop action thriller that has it all. From amazing characters to deep insight into Nate's emotions, with several light-hearted moments that evolve into quick action as a light is shown on things happening in a small town. Liz, Nate's late girlfriend, is still with him in his mind and insists he help a young lady in serious trouble.
And so begins an investigation that turns to murder and drug dealing! Nate uses a few folks he knows from work with Quinn to assist in his new project. This is a spectacular story for All readers, new to Quinn's stories or not, as you watch the investigation and note the imagination /intelligence a person needs to outsmart evil!
An exciting,5 STAR thriller that I could Not put down!! I encourage any crime or mystery readers to pick up this book and I bet you will not put it down unread!!
And so begins an investigation that turns to murder and drug dealing! Nate uses a few folks he knows from work with Quinn to assist in his new project. This is a spectacular story for All readers, new to Quinn's stories or not, as you watch the investigation and note the imagination /intelligence a person needs to outsmart evil!
An exciting,5 STAR thriller that I could Not put down!! I encourage any crime or mystery readers to pick up this book and I bet you will not put it down unread!!
September 11, 2021
Being a long time Quinn fan (finished them all) I am loving this spin off series centered around Quinn's old"Cleaner"apprentice, Nate.
Highly recommend reading/listening to the Quinn series first to fully appreciate and understand all the character dynamics and long histories that began in the Quinn series.
Thrilled to have Nate as the central character and no longer pigeonholed as the Robin to Quinn's Batman. Now he is running the show, and a force to be reckoned with all on his own.
Jar is a fan favorite of mine, and it is wonderful that she is playing a much bigger role in this series. Her no filter mentality and Einstein genius add lots of pizazz, laughs and depth to every episode she appears.
On book #2, 'Insidious'. 👊🏽
Highly recommend reading/listening to the Quinn series first to fully appreciate and understand all the character dynamics and long histories that began in the Quinn series.
Thrilled to have Nate as the central character and no longer pigeonholed as the Robin to Quinn's Batman. Now he is running the show, and a force to be reckoned with all on his own.
Jar is a fan favorite of mine, and it is wonderful that she is playing a much bigger role in this series. Her no filter mentality and Einstein genius add lots of pizazz, laughs and depth to every episode she appears.
On book #2, 'Insidious'. 👊🏽
January 13, 2021
A fun, face-paced, and engaging side trip in the Jonathan Quinn universe. A mystery with a character whose solo story was long overdue.
February 23, 2019
I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: Tense and exciting, humorous and emotionally satisfying, Night Man is a thriller that has something for everyone.
It’s been several years since I’ve read a book set in Brett Battles’ popular Jonathan Quinn world, but when I heard Brett had written a book centered around Quinn’s partner Nate, I couldn’t wait to check it out. And what fun this was! Night Man wasn’t nearly as violent and bloody as some of Quinn’s adventures, but it had plenty of tension and humor and a style all its own. Nate is quite different from Quinn and a much more relatable character, in my opinion, and I loved getting to know him better. With all the dark SFF I’ve been reading lately, it was a nice change of pace to read a story about a character who just wants to do good. Now don’t get me wrong, Night Man deals with some serious themes, but Nate’s narration keeps the story on the lighter side
Nate is a professional “cleaner,” with the ability to get rid of all evidence at a crime scene when the crime needs to be covered up. He trained under Jonathan Quinn, but after the recent, tragic loss of his girlfriend Liz, the two have drifted apart. Now Nate works alone for the most part, but lately he’s compelled to act as a vigilante, solving crimes on his own outside the system, bringing justice to innocents who might otherwise be overlooked. The kicker is, Nate hears the voice of Liz whispering in his ear, nudging him to help certain individuals. The pain of losing Liz is still fresh, and so he does what any grief-stricken person would do: he listens to the voice.
Liz’s latest “suggestion” involves a hit-and-run accident in Northern California, where a teen girl named Marissa Garza is in a coma after being struck by a car while walking home one night. Nate packs up his bag of tricks and sets out to investigate, integrating himself into the small town of Jenson by getting a job as a busboy at a local restaurant. But when he starts looking into the incident, he uncovers an even bigger mystery that could have far-reaching political implications. Who was driving the car that hit Marissa? What’s really going on at the remote mansion on the edge of town? And how are these two things connected? Nate is going to find out, even if it kills him. And when Marissa dies in the hospital, Nate realizes he’s now trying to solve a murder.
The story is told by Nate himself, and the reader gets a blow-by-blow description of everything he’s doing, which was an interesting narrative choice and one that worked well. It kind of felt like sitting in a coffee shop with a good friend and listening to him tell a riveting story. Nate spends a great deal of time sneaking around and spying on various people connected to the crime, and I loved the way one connection leads to the next. This “down the rabbit hole” style of storytelling is hard to control, but Battles seems to have a firm grasp of all the pieces of his story. The only downside to Nate’s method of relaying his story is that it does lean toward the tedious side at times, since Nate literally tells us step by step everything he’s doing to find Marissa’s killer. Luckily, Nate’s approach to solving crimes involves lots of cool tools of the trade, like tiny bugs and trackers, a drone that can give him an aerial view of the situation, and of course, the inevitable weapons like guns, tasers and even a slingshot.
And for those who don’t know, Nate lost a leg in a previous Jonathan Quinn story and he now has a prosthetic. I’ll admit it was hard at times to believe all the physical stunts he was able to do with a prosthetic leg, but it certainly makes him a more interesting and sympathetic character.
Nate’s pretty savvy when it comes to technology, and in his work with Quinn he’s learned all sorts of handy skills, like picking locks and hacking into social media accounts. But he knows his limits, and so he employs a brilliant woman named Jar to help him with the tougher technological aspects of the job. I absolutely loved Jar, who lives in Thailand and is able to remotely aid in the investigation. It was pretty cool to watch the two of them talk on the phone while Jar, thousands of miles away, breaks into a security camera system in order to help Nate. There’s an underlying tension between the two of them, which makes me wonder what their relationship really is.
By far my favorite element of Night Man was the humor. Nate has a wry, sarcastic way of looking at the world that contrasts well with the serious nature of the crimes he’s uncovered. One of the things I love best about Nate is that he’s a “nice” spy. Despite the heavy armament he carries around, he really doesn’t want to kill anyone. Even when he finds the bad guys, he’s more likely to leave them unconscious than dead, which was a nice change of pace from other thrillers I’ve read. Also, there is a laugh out loud moment at the end where Nate uses a bunch of big red cardboard arrows to lead the police to a certain room in the mansion. It was a brilliant way to solve a particular crime and it summed up Nate’s personality to a tee!
And I can’t end this review without talking about Liz. Nate is questioning his sanity because of Liz’s “presence,” yet he listens to her and follows her lead. Is her ghost actually haunting him, or is he going crazy? Is the voice he’s hearing simply wishful thinking? Battles leaves it up to the reader to decide, as it’s never really resolved. Which is a good thing, because not all mysteries need to be solved. In any case, Liz gives the story an emotional punch that made this story even better.
The ending wraps everything up nicely, and there’s plenty of exciting action in the final scenes to satisfy even the most critical reader. I’m thrilled to have had the chance to read Brett’s latest, and for those who love to support self-published authors, Brett is the real deal. Check him out!
Big thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
It’s been several years since I’ve read a book set in Brett Battles’ popular Jonathan Quinn world, but when I heard Brett had written a book centered around Quinn’s partner Nate, I couldn’t wait to check it out. And what fun this was! Night Man wasn’t nearly as violent and bloody as some of Quinn’s adventures, but it had plenty of tension and humor and a style all its own. Nate is quite different from Quinn and a much more relatable character, in my opinion, and I loved getting to know him better. With all the dark SFF I’ve been reading lately, it was a nice change of pace to read a story about a character who just wants to do good. Now don’t get me wrong, Night Man deals with some serious themes, but Nate’s narration keeps the story on the lighter side
Nate is a professional “cleaner,” with the ability to get rid of all evidence at a crime scene when the crime needs to be covered up. He trained under Jonathan Quinn, but after the recent, tragic loss of his girlfriend Liz, the two have drifted apart. Now Nate works alone for the most part, but lately he’s compelled to act as a vigilante, solving crimes on his own outside the system, bringing justice to innocents who might otherwise be overlooked. The kicker is, Nate hears the voice of Liz whispering in his ear, nudging him to help certain individuals. The pain of losing Liz is still fresh, and so he does what any grief-stricken person would do: he listens to the voice.
Liz’s latest “suggestion” involves a hit-and-run accident in Northern California, where a teen girl named Marissa Garza is in a coma after being struck by a car while walking home one night. Nate packs up his bag of tricks and sets out to investigate, integrating himself into the small town of Jenson by getting a job as a busboy at a local restaurant. But when he starts looking into the incident, he uncovers an even bigger mystery that could have far-reaching political implications. Who was driving the car that hit Marissa? What’s really going on at the remote mansion on the edge of town? And how are these two things connected? Nate is going to find out, even if it kills him. And when Marissa dies in the hospital, Nate realizes he’s now trying to solve a murder.
The story is told by Nate himself, and the reader gets a blow-by-blow description of everything he’s doing, which was an interesting narrative choice and one that worked well. It kind of felt like sitting in a coffee shop with a good friend and listening to him tell a riveting story. Nate spends a great deal of time sneaking around and spying on various people connected to the crime, and I loved the way one connection leads to the next. This “down the rabbit hole” style of storytelling is hard to control, but Battles seems to have a firm grasp of all the pieces of his story. The only downside to Nate’s method of relaying his story is that it does lean toward the tedious side at times, since Nate literally tells us step by step everything he’s doing to find Marissa’s killer. Luckily, Nate’s approach to solving crimes involves lots of cool tools of the trade, like tiny bugs and trackers, a drone that can give him an aerial view of the situation, and of course, the inevitable weapons like guns, tasers and even a slingshot.
And for those who don’t know, Nate lost a leg in a previous Jonathan Quinn story and he now has a prosthetic. I’ll admit it was hard at times to believe all the physical stunts he was able to do with a prosthetic leg, but it certainly makes him a more interesting and sympathetic character.
Nate’s pretty savvy when it comes to technology, and in his work with Quinn he’s learned all sorts of handy skills, like picking locks and hacking into social media accounts. But he knows his limits, and so he employs a brilliant woman named Jar to help him with the tougher technological aspects of the job. I absolutely loved Jar, who lives in Thailand and is able to remotely aid in the investigation. It was pretty cool to watch the two of them talk on the phone while Jar, thousands of miles away, breaks into a security camera system in order to help Nate. There’s an underlying tension between the two of them, which makes me wonder what their relationship really is.
By far my favorite element of Night Man was the humor. Nate has a wry, sarcastic way of looking at the world that contrasts well with the serious nature of the crimes he’s uncovered. One of the things I love best about Nate is that he’s a “nice” spy. Despite the heavy armament he carries around, he really doesn’t want to kill anyone. Even when he finds the bad guys, he’s more likely to leave them unconscious than dead, which was a nice change of pace from other thrillers I’ve read. Also, there is a laugh out loud moment at the end where Nate uses a bunch of big red cardboard arrows to lead the police to a certain room in the mansion. It was a brilliant way to solve a particular crime and it summed up Nate’s personality to a tee!
And I can’t end this review without talking about Liz. Nate is questioning his sanity because of Liz’s “presence,” yet he listens to her and follows her lead. Is her ghost actually haunting him, or is he going crazy? Is the voice he’s hearing simply wishful thinking? Battles leaves it up to the reader to decide, as it’s never really resolved. Which is a good thing, because not all mysteries need to be solved. In any case, Liz gives the story an emotional punch that made this story even better.
The ending wraps everything up nicely, and there’s plenty of exciting action in the final scenes to satisfy even the most critical reader. I’m thrilled to have had the chance to read Brett’s latest, and for those who love to support self-published authors, Brett is the real deal. Check him out!
Big thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
February 22, 2019
Banal and simplistic, and that's the good things I have to say about it! Nate's sainted dead girlfriend talks to him and advises him on helping people who need it. When we first happen on Nate, he's literally tying up loose ends = a gang of masked men who are robbing convenience stores - for the local police. Next up on sainted dead girlfriend's list is a hit and run in Northern California, so Nate flies out there to solve that crime for the (obviously incompetent) local cops. He gets a job as a bus boy at the local diner then using his super ninja skills, he spends the first 3/4 of the book jumping fences, climbing roofs, disabling cameras, picking locks, planting devices - well, you get the picture. Planting devices is important to the plot, because this story is told in first person narrative, so we need the spy stuff to know what the bad guys are up to. Turns out the bad guy is a 60ish rich lawyer, who is SO bad, he really should have a twirly mustache in this book. He is dealing drugs for a Mexican cartel, and running a sex club for influential senators so that cartel interests are looked after. He also appears to have the corner on the teenage workforce in the town, hiring young 20 somethings to be his muscle, and 18 year old girls to entertain the aforementioned senators. Obviously sainted dead girlfriend will want him to solve this whole mess, which he does, using total ninja skills, plus tons of ninja toys.
This book might be ok if told for the YA audience, and shortened to a novella length, but even then, this story is thin, has been told ad infinitum, and has such one dimensional characters in it (including our hero Nate and his sainted dead girlfriend Liz) that it's just not worth reading.
Price should be reduce to $1.99 with a warning.
This book might be ok if told for the YA audience, and shortened to a novella length, but even then, this story is thin, has been told ad infinitum, and has such one dimensional characters in it (including our hero Nate and his sainted dead girlfriend Liz) that it's just not worth reading.
Price should be reduce to $1.99 with a warning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2019
This is a book for both new readers as well as for all of the existing fans of the Jonathan Quinn series.
Brett Battles has never disappointed me with his writing and his newest book, “Night Man”, is yet again another gem. “Night Man” delves into the interesting character of Jonathan Quinn’s partner, Nate, who has been a constant in the Jonathan Quinn series of books almost from the very beginning, first as a protégé and then as a partner.
So, for existing Quinn fans, this is an opportunity to learn more about Nate and how he is handling the death of his girlfriend, Liz (Quinn’s sister).
For new readers, you are given a chance to observe in action an extremely intelligent, resourceful and compassionate vigilante. I found this book exciting and hard to put down.
I have enjoyed all of Brett’s books, starting with the Jonathan Quinn series, continuing thru the Project Eden series, The Excoms series and many, many others. I highly recommend every one of his more than 30 great books.
As a fan of sci-fi in my teen years, I was very happy to see Brett create an intriguing series about time travel with his 3-book “Rewinder” series. Great stuff!
You cannot go wrong with any Brett Battles book. Trust me on this…
Brett Battles has never disappointed me with his writing and his newest book, “Night Man”, is yet again another gem. “Night Man” delves into the interesting character of Jonathan Quinn’s partner, Nate, who has been a constant in the Jonathan Quinn series of books almost from the very beginning, first as a protégé and then as a partner.
So, for existing Quinn fans, this is an opportunity to learn more about Nate and how he is handling the death of his girlfriend, Liz (Quinn’s sister).
For new readers, you are given a chance to observe in action an extremely intelligent, resourceful and compassionate vigilante. I found this book exciting and hard to put down.
I have enjoyed all of Brett’s books, starting with the Jonathan Quinn series, continuing thru the Project Eden series, The Excoms series and many, many others. I highly recommend every one of his more than 30 great books.
As a fan of sci-fi in my teen years, I was very happy to see Brett create an intriguing series about time travel with his 3-book “Rewinder” series. Great stuff!
You cannot go wrong with any Brett Battles book. Trust me on this…
February 17, 2019
This book surrounds the character of Nate from the Quinn Series, don't worry if you have not read any, it wont matter.
The story is the perfect good over evil.
Brilliantly written.
The story is the perfect good over evil.
Brilliantly written.
February 18, 2019
I loved, loved this book! When Brett Battles first introduced Nate to us, I liked him instantly. Now I love him almost more than Jonathan Quinn. Brett Battls never disappoints which is why he’s my favorite author. Night Man is intriguing, fast-paced, and pulls you in from the first page. I have always loved the way Battles weaves humor into his characters and I’ve never read anyone who can write with such depth for every character he creates. He is masterful, true to his characters and stories, and every novel feels fresh and full of passion. You can tell Battles has as much fun writing his novels as we do reading them. Hats off to you, Mr. Battles! Another fantastically written book! Can’t wait for the next in the “Nate” series!
Read it now! You will not be disappointed. You can read this as a stand alone book and still love it without knowing Nate’s earlier stories. But I recommend reading all of Battles’ books and series! Love them all!!
Read it now! You will not be disappointed. You can read this as a stand alone book and still love it without knowing Nate’s earlier stories. But I recommend reading all of Battles’ books and series! Love them all!!
July 9, 2019
Pretty much the usual Brett Battles action novel. This one features Nat, narrating in the first person. Nate is trying to solve the hit and run death of a high school student. The search takes him on an interesting journey.
Readers who haven’t read earlier Battles novels will not understand the conversations Nate has with Liz. She was killed in an earlier book..
Readers who haven’t read earlier Battles novels will not understand the conversations Nate has with Liz. She was killed in an earlier book..
October 16, 2020
Yes, this was ripped straight from the headlines, but is a lot more satisfying. It's the first in a new (now two-book) series, and is a standalone novel.
Very good writing, crisp editing, solid story and good action.
Recommend
Very good writing, crisp editing, solid story and good action.
Recommend
February 9, 2021
I have read Night Man, it's the first book in the spin off from Brett Battles Jonathan Quinn series. This time it's all about Nate and his struggles after losing his girlfriend Liz. Nate has a new hobby, it's maybe a little more helping others than his "normal" occupation as a cleaner. At first I was a little hesitant to read this but it is really good, we even get some of the characters from the main series.
February 15, 2019
I have read all of the Quinn novels so far, and when the author announced he was writing a spin-off series involving Quinn's partner, Nate, I knew I had to read it. The novel does not disappoint. Nate is a deep, engaging character who is compelled to help others. If you've read the Quinn novels, you know that he was in love with Quinn's sister, Liz, who died on one of the team's missions. Now, he senses her with him, speaking to him and encouraging him to do the right things. When he's not working with Quinn, he works on his new hobby, which is saving or helping others in a way that only someone with his unique talents and skill-set could manage. He thinks of himself as a loner, but along the way, Nate realizes he needs help to reach his goals. He turns to Jar, a computer genius, and another old friend, Anny, who both knew Liz.
This novel moves at a quick pace, sets up a scenario in which Nate quickly seems to be in over his depth, and ratchets up the suspense towards the conclusion. The characters are believable, the situation is compelling, and the twists along the way will keep you turning pages. This novel sets up the series, but also works as a stand-alone novel, which Brett Battles has mastered with his other series novels.
I'm already looking forward to reading the next novel in the series.
This novel moves at a quick pace, sets up a scenario in which Nate quickly seems to be in over his depth, and ratchets up the suspense towards the conclusion. The characters are believable, the situation is compelling, and the twists along the way will keep you turning pages. This novel sets up the series, but also works as a stand-alone novel, which Brett Battles has mastered with his other series novels.
I'm already looking forward to reading the next novel in the series.
January 29, 2019
This is the first solo story for Quinn's protege Nate, and it's a solid thriller. There are elements of detective fiction - first person narrator, a murder mystery to solve - tied into a sort of caper novel (the interest is in watching the hero put together and execute a plan to roll up the ring of bad guys). The action moves quickly, and Nate's interactions with his team (including a voice in his head) are amusing, as he is somewhat oblivious to the undercurrents of conversation.
The "Quinn-verse" keeps getting bigger, and that's fine with me. I'm along for the full ride.
The "Quinn-verse" keeps getting bigger, and that's fine with me. I'm along for the full ride.
February 22, 2020
It’s really more of a 3,5 than a 3, but rounding up would overstate things. I enjoyed it.
February 25, 2019
A stand-alone book that’s fast paced, a page turner and interesting from start to finish! I have read many books by Brett Battles and they are all great reads! 👍🏼
April 24, 2019
Page turner
This was a real page turner. I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I really enjoyed the good guy characters. He took out the bad guys with very little gun play. He used his head and caused them big headaches.
This was a real page turner. I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I really enjoyed the good guy characters. He took out the bad guys with very little gun play. He used his head and caused them big headaches.
August 23, 2020
Great read
Been away from this author for awhile, and it’s great to see he has not lost a step. Great read finished in one night, could not put it down.
Been away from this author for awhile, and it’s great to see he has not lost a step. Great read finished in one night, could not put it down.
February 15, 2019
Night Man is another winner for Brett Battles. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of the Jonathan Quinn novels. Night Man is the first book featuring Quinn's former apprentice
and current partner, Nate.
After Nate's girlfriend, Liz, died, he started hearing her voice and following her directives to right wrongs that no one else can or will. Far from being crazy, Nate realizes his subconscious is really projecting what he thinks Liz would encourage him to do. This coping mechanism helps him deal with his loss.
I am glad for the opportunity to see inside Nate's mind and get to know more about his personality, motivations, and feelings from his perspective, rather than having the information filtered through other characters. I especially appreciate his sense of humor and asides spoken directly to the reader.
Night Man is entertaining and fun. I love character development within an interesting storyline and Brett Battles definitely delivers with his latest novel. Now if only we can get similar books featuring Jar and Deng as main characters!
and current partner, Nate.
After Nate's girlfriend, Liz, died, he started hearing her voice and following her directives to right wrongs that no one else can or will. Far from being crazy, Nate realizes his subconscious is really projecting what he thinks Liz would encourage him to do. This coping mechanism helps him deal with his loss.
I am glad for the opportunity to see inside Nate's mind and get to know more about his personality, motivations, and feelings from his perspective, rather than having the information filtered through other characters. I especially appreciate his sense of humor and asides spoken directly to the reader.
Night Man is entertaining and fun. I love character development within an interesting storyline and Brett Battles definitely delivers with his latest novel. Now if only we can get similar books featuring Jar and Deng as main characters!
March 10, 2019
A quirky, wild ride!
Brett Battles has really outdone himself in his newest novel. Night Man is the perfect mix of action, intrigue wrapped around a great plot. Nate’s relationship with the reader is unique and relaxed, like an old friend telling you a story of something amazing that happened to him. I like the amount of detail Battles uses when describing tech, tradecraft and techniques.... enough to explain, but not bury the reader with minutiae. I’m already looking forward to the next story!
Brett Battles has really outdone himself in his newest novel. Night Man is the perfect mix of action, intrigue wrapped around a great plot. Nate’s relationship with the reader is unique and relaxed, like an old friend telling you a story of something amazing that happened to him. I like the amount of detail Battles uses when describing tech, tradecraft and techniques.... enough to explain, but not bury the reader with minutiae. I’m already looking forward to the next story!
July 28, 2019
Not up to Battles' usual high standard
Up to this point I've enjoyed everything I have read by Brett Battles. This installment is not up to par. As usual, the plot is great, the action is good, but the writing style is not. It is almost as though someone else wrote this. The first person, present tense style is awkward, and the narrative seems meant for juvenile readers. Still a decent read, but really disappointing for such a good author as Battles. If this series continues, we can only hope that the writing style reverts to the excellent prose of the Quinn series.
Up to this point I've enjoyed everything I have read by Brett Battles. This installment is not up to par. As usual, the plot is great, the action is good, but the writing style is not. It is almost as though someone else wrote this. The first person, present tense style is awkward, and the narrative seems meant for juvenile readers. Still a decent read, but really disappointing for such a good author as Battles. If this series continues, we can only hope that the writing style reverts to the excellent prose of the Quinn series.
August 18, 2020
This book takes place months after Nate collected the remaining piece of his life, plus a few extra bonus pieces, following the what was left of him at the end of The Aggrieved. I wasn't sure what kind of book this was going to be, but I quickly dropped all worries I might have had picking up a Nate centrist book, and enjoyed it for what it was. Overall, I found the book to be a pleasant surprise.
One, I did not expect the book to be in first person narration, and for the most part, it actually worked in it's favor. Telling the story of a spy with a head case can be tricking, telling it from the Nate's fractured point of view made the story a different different compare the Quinn series. Overall, first person narration worked for this type of story. The chapter in which he was methodically planting bugs at the lodge was a bit much, but that was the only instance in which I felt like the pace slowed down considerably.
Two, I wasn't a fan of Nate towards the end of his run in the Quinn series. I found him a bit too whinny at times and borderline superhuman at others. After losing his leg, there was one, maybe two books in which Nate was in recover mode, by the third book post amputation, he was performing feats that didn't make sense for his condition. I'm saying people with prosthesis are helpless, but Nate was jumping across building, vaulting up stairs, and sprinting across a muddy field. After that book, he pretty much vanished from the series, with occasional appearances, but has not re-emerged with a more realistic approach to his 1.5 legged situation.
Three, Jar was it in.
Four, Nate grew up. I wasn't a fan of Nate in the Quinn series towards the end, and was glad to see him leave. What I grew to dislike about him in the series, seems to have all but vanished in this one. It's almost as if the months apart from Quinn and being on his own, has forced Nate to, for the late of a better words, grow up. He's no longer whinny and quick tempered, this could be because he's adjusted to his new normal lifestyle, or it could be because his quite vocal subconscious is keeping him focused and grounded. Personally, I hoping for a Patrick Swayze Ghost twist to this series, if only because I known Battles can bring in his unique twist to the supernatural (Mine).
All that being said, I really do not have any negative to say about this first book into Nate's universe. Outside of a few callbacks to Quinn's stories, and Jar, Nate could have been easily replaced with another character and the story would have worked out pretty much the same. There might have been a few extra paragraphs to explain his connection to Jar, but that's can easily be done. The techno wizardry is still far fetched. Video bugs the size of a ant trap cannot possibly have the battery life, let alone the ability to flawlessly stream live video to a remote server. Sure these are special spy gadgets the common folks can only dream of, but I know a bit about the limitation of certain technologies and I'm calling shenanigans. But seeing that this is a fictional story, I can ignore the laws of physics for Nate's (and Quinn's) spycraft.
I'm curious to see where Nate's story take him.
One, I did not expect the book to be in first person narration, and for the most part, it actually worked in it's favor. Telling the story of a spy with a head case can be tricking, telling it from the Nate's fractured point of view made the story a different different compare the Quinn series. Overall, first person narration worked for this type of story. The chapter in which he was methodically planting bugs at the lodge was a bit much, but that was the only instance in which I felt like the pace slowed down considerably.
Two, I wasn't a fan of Nate towards the end of his run in the Quinn series. I found him a bit too whinny at times and borderline superhuman at others. After losing his leg, there was one, maybe two books in which Nate was in recover mode, by the third book post amputation, he was performing feats that didn't make sense for his condition. I'm saying people with prosthesis are helpless, but Nate was jumping across building, vaulting up stairs, and sprinting across a muddy field. After that book, he pretty much vanished from the series, with occasional appearances, but has not re-emerged with a more realistic approach to his 1.5 legged situation.
Three, Jar was it in.
Four, Nate grew up. I wasn't a fan of Nate in the Quinn series towards the end, and was glad to see him leave. What I grew to dislike about him in the series, seems to have all but vanished in this one. It's almost as if the months apart from Quinn and being on his own, has forced Nate to, for the late of a better words, grow up. He's no longer whinny and quick tempered, this could be because he's adjusted to his new normal lifestyle, or it could be because his quite vocal subconscious is keeping him focused and grounded. Personally, I hoping for a Patrick Swayze Ghost twist to this series, if only because I known Battles can bring in his unique twist to the supernatural (Mine).
All that being said, I really do not have any negative to say about this first book into Nate's universe. Outside of a few callbacks to Quinn's stories, and Jar, Nate could have been easily replaced with another character and the story would have worked out pretty much the same. There might have been a few extra paragraphs to explain his connection to Jar, but that's can easily be done. The techno wizardry is still far fetched. Video bugs the size of a ant trap cannot possibly have the battery life, let alone the ability to flawlessly stream live video to a remote server. Sure these are special spy gadgets the common folks can only dream of, but I know a bit about the limitation of certain technologies and I'm calling shenanigans. But seeing that this is a fictional story, I can ignore the laws of physics for Nate's (and Quinn's) spycraft.
I'm curious to see where Nate's story take him.
January 26, 2021
Night Man is the beginning of a series featuring Nate from the excellent Jonathan Quinn series (see The Cleaner). However, while reading that series will help you understand Nate's "day job," it isn't necessary for you to enjoy Night Man. As is explained here, events have led Nate to a new hobby - helping people who need help. Think The Equalizer or A-Team TV shows or the terrific Orphan X series by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz. Nate's skills from his day job make him perfect for this particular kind of hobby.
Through events from the Quinn series, but explained well here, Nate hears his late girlfriend's voice in his head directing him on who needs his help. (He's not crazy - he knows it's his subconscious.) In Night Man, a girl has been critically injured in a hit-and-run that seems to have more to it.
This is written in first person present tense which is a switch from the Quinn and Excom series in this universe. It works very well here, letting Nate's voice be distinct and setting this series apart from the others. We get a real sense of who Nate is separate from Quinn and the others. His grief over Liz's death comes through, as does his wit. Jar, another character from the Quinn series, helps from her computer screen.
There is a smattering of profanity and violence as is typical of this genre. Fans of the Quinn series will love this. But if you haven't read that series, don't let it stop you. This is a fun read.
Through events from the Quinn series, but explained well here, Nate hears his late girlfriend's voice in his head directing him on who needs his help. (He's not crazy - he knows it's his subconscious.) In Night Man, a girl has been critically injured in a hit-and-run that seems to have more to it.
This is written in first person present tense which is a switch from the Quinn and Excom series in this universe. It works very well here, letting Nate's voice be distinct and setting this series apart from the others. We get a real sense of who Nate is separate from Quinn and the others. His grief over Liz's death comes through, as does his wit. Jar, another character from the Quinn series, helps from her computer screen.
There is a smattering of profanity and violence as is typical of this genre. Fans of the Quinn series will love this. But if you haven't read that series, don't let it stop you. This is a fun read.
February 15, 2019
Night man is definitely a winner, Nate works for himself at nights putting the world to rights and has just apprehended or the police did a gang that keeps robbing Mr. Parks store so to Nate enough is enough and the next day after a bike ride he reads the paper and Liz his girlfriend that was killed by a hit and run driver which she was pregnant at the time ( so Nate has lost all ) speaks to him and only he can hear and guides him to another hit and run and the 17yrs old lies in a coma, in California which is quite a distance from him but Liz insist he sorts it out so off he goes. He works alone but he does have a computer nerd called Jar who doesn't live anywhere near him and he does not let on that he hears Liz talking to him, what would people say and think yes he is stricken by his loss but he has not lost his mind far from it. He packs a bag off he goes and the best way for him to investigate is to take a job as a busboy to get an idea of the community, and what goes on but not all is at it seems, Not just an ordinary hit and run, it was murder now to prove it. Great story lots of things happening all at the same time, Jar helps him out from a distance, of course, even though is difficult when he's talking to Liz as well, both giving him different warnings. Brett Battles has seemingly got this right slight difference from the usual who dun it but entertaining as well as thrills.
March 6, 2019
Enjoyable Read
Partially courtesy of and partially in honor of his late girlfriend Liz, Nate has a new "hobby". This is not your normal hobby. It gets him into danger, intrigue and adventure. Like all of Brett Battles' stories, NIGHT MAN is a fast-paced adventure-mystery that had me losing sleep to finish reading it. The plot is interesting with credible twists to add to the intrigue. The characters are believable, and for a follower of the Quinn series, by this time feel like old friends. Even if the methods dance at the edge of legal in the shady world of international intrigue, at their core, all of this author's main characters are good and caring people. I like that. Nate is no exception, and in his new hobby, he helps people by picking up where police have run into dead ends. Is this a tragic hit-and-run he is investigating, or something much more sinister? It is good to see the character growth as Nate branches out on his own without most of the usual Quinn crew. However, this time, has Nate taken on more than he can handle? I highly recommend this book to followers of the Quinn and ExComms series and as a stand-alone for those just finding Battles' books. As I said, this is an enjoyable page turner, and I do not regret the sleep I missed while finishing the book. I will be eagerly awaiting the next one.
Partially courtesy of and partially in honor of his late girlfriend Liz, Nate has a new "hobby". This is not your normal hobby. It gets him into danger, intrigue and adventure. Like all of Brett Battles' stories, NIGHT MAN is a fast-paced adventure-mystery that had me losing sleep to finish reading it. The plot is interesting with credible twists to add to the intrigue. The characters are believable, and for a follower of the Quinn series, by this time feel like old friends. Even if the methods dance at the edge of legal in the shady world of international intrigue, at their core, all of this author's main characters are good and caring people. I like that. Nate is no exception, and in his new hobby, he helps people by picking up where police have run into dead ends. Is this a tragic hit-and-run he is investigating, or something much more sinister? It is good to see the character growth as Nate branches out on his own without most of the usual Quinn crew. However, this time, has Nate taken on more than he can handle? I highly recommend this book to followers of the Quinn and ExComms series and as a stand-alone for those just finding Battles' books. As I said, this is an enjoyable page turner, and I do not regret the sleep I missed while finishing the book. I will be eagerly awaiting the next one.
October 25, 2022
This book is a spinoff from the Quinn series so some characters (most notably Jar) from the original series are mentioned in this story. If you haven't read any of the Quinn books, I would recommend reading books 10-12 before this one. It is not absolutely necessary since some of the backstory is explained in this book, but I think it will provide an explanation for some of Nate's actions and dialogue. There is less action in this book, and it does move at a slower pace than the Quinn Series. The story is straightforward without any twists or surprises and is set around Nate trying to find out who killed a young girl.
The style of writing was a different than Battles' other books with Nate occasionally talking to the readers. It was meant to be humorous, but I found it a little distracting. This also made it seem like the book was intended for young adult readers. I do think the "Liz talking in his head" situation is going to get old if it continues in future books.
Overall, the book is closer to 3.5 stars, but I rounded up to 4 stars because I like Nate from the Quinn series. I do hope there will be less Liz talking and less Nate talking to the readers in the future Night Man Chronicles books. If you're looking for action and suspense, this may not be the book for you. However, if you like Nate and want a quick, fun read then give this one a try.
The style of writing was a different than Battles' other books with Nate occasionally talking to the readers. It was meant to be humorous, but I found it a little distracting. This also made it seem like the book was intended for young adult readers. I do think the "Liz talking in his head" situation is going to get old if it continues in future books.
Overall, the book is closer to 3.5 stars, but I rounded up to 4 stars because I like Nate from the Quinn series. I do hope there will be less Liz talking and less Nate talking to the readers in the future Night Man Chronicles books. If you're looking for action and suspense, this may not be the book for you. However, if you like Nate and want a quick, fun read then give this one a try.
April 13, 2019
Except for it being written in the first person, which I hated, I loved this entire book. BUT I think that was because of the narrator.
It was all about Nate, who has a day job, but his nighttime job is working at his hobby; taking care of bad guys. First a gang of robbers then out of town to take care of solving the case of a 17-year-old girl who was run down in the streets. And what a problem it turned out to be, involving congressmen and senators and drugs and under-aged girls.
The best part was his DEAD girlfriend always whispering to him, and Jar his computer genius that lives eight-thousand miles away. Together they did amazing things.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 1 time, which was a bummer as far as I'm concerned. All those bad guys, and a bunch of college boys and that F-bomb was only used once. In real life THAT would never happen. I like to keep it real when I read this kind of book.
As to the narration: Zach Villa was absolutely phenomenal. Not only his male and female voices but his way of reading. He actually snorted when it was called for and, OMG, he had some of the best sarcastic lines I’ve ever heard. I had to laugh more than once. I will definitely check to see what else he’s narrated.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews