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The Cleaner (John Milton Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Mark Dawson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 20,052 ratings
John Milton is the man the government calls when they want a problem to go away... but what happens when he’s the one who needs to disappear?

After a botched job leaves a bloody trail, government assassin John Milton does the one thing he’s never done before: he hides.

Disappearing into London’s bustling East End and holing up in a vacant flat, Milton becomes involved with his neighbour Sharon and her troubled son Elijah, who are caught in an increasingly bloody turf war between two rival gangs.

Unable to ignore the threat, Milton sets about protecting mother and son, meeting violence with violence. But his involvement puts him in the sights of the government’s next best killer, and before long Milton is not just fighting to save a family and a home - he’s fighting to stay alive...

If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, and Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, you won't be able to put down the compulsively addictive John Milton series.
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  1. Book 1 of 25
    John Milton
  2. Print length
    368 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    3 Jan. 2014
  6. File size
    1.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 25 books in this series.

In this series (25 books)

Kindle Edition
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  1. Yehya al Moussa had been an atomic research scientist. Sameera Najeeb was an expert in microwave technology.
    Highlighted by 229 Kindle readers
  2. Christopher Callan came into the office. He was Number Twelve: the most recent recruit to the Group.
    Highlighted by 171 Kindle readers
  3. David Tanner, his private secretary, looked up from his computer. “Morning, sir,” he said. Tanner was ex-army, infantry, like Control and all of the other operatives who worked for him.
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From the Publisher

Cleaner Assassin Killer
Cleaner Assassin Killer
Cleaner Assassin Killer

Product description

Review

'Mark Dawson has all the skills. A great thriller writer on the top of his game' - Steve Cavanagh, Sunday Times bestselling author

'The Cleaner was the ultimate page-turner!' - Inky Tavern

'A literary sensation' - Daily Telegraph

'Nerve-shreddingly tense. Utterly addictive' - M.J. Arlidge, Sunday Times bestselling author

'I loved it . . . I found myself invested in the characters' - Thriller Novel Nerd

'A terrific, fast-paced read. Mark Dawson knows how to tell a great story' - Scott Mariani, Sunday Times bestselling author

'Once I picked up the series, I couldn't stop. I bought each book' - Mystery Sequel

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DUFCHVM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Unputdownable Thrillers
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 3 Jan. 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 25 ‏ : ‎ John Milton
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 20,052 ratings

About the author

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Mark Dawson

Mark Dawson

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Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. He has sold over six million copies of his propulsive, exciting thrillers and is best known for his John Milton, Beatrix and Isabella Rose and Atticus Priest series.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
20,052 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging with superbly descriptive writing and a beautifully created character with depth. Moreover, they appreciate its insight into gang culture and consider it an excellent start to a great series. However, the pacing receives mixed reviews - while some find it interesting, others say the story never really gets going. Additionally, customers disagree on the book's length, with some finding it hard to put down while others find it boring.

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ReadabilityWriting qualityCharacter developmentStartInsightPacingEnjoymentBook length
472 customers mention ‘Readability’466 positive6 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and engaging, with several mentioning it kept them reading to the end.

"...Great characters and good story. Very good start." Read more

"...In my opinion the book is ok, but not earth shattering, but for a free quick read, it was more than adequate...." Read more

"...This is not a bad read and Mark Dawson will point, with some justification, to seven-figure downloads of his books as proof of his and his character..." Read more

"...I have no hesitation in recommending this - it is the perfect summer read." Read more

173 customers mention ‘Writing quality’132 positive41 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its superbly descriptive style and authentic use of language, with one customer highlighting its good use of modern street language.

"...It gave good detail around the the kind of lives some people find themselves leading due to limited life choices...." Read more

"...Milton, on the other hand, is an open book to the reader. We hear his every thought, his every worry...." Read more

"...THE CLEANER is set in the gritty East End of London, fabulously realized here in such as way as to make me think that Dawson knows it well...." Read more

"...and central character but the book suffers from plodding, storytelling-by-numbers writing, not a patch on the genre's best..." Read more

139 customers mention ‘Character development’116 positive23 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the protagonist is beautifully created with depth and serves as a good introduction to a new character.

"Really enjoyed my first of Mark Dawson and the John Milton series. Great characters and good story. Very good start." Read more

"...John Milton is a great new character - comparisons will inevitably be made with Jack Reacher, but, for me, Milton is deeper and more complex than..." Read more

"...But I'd like to tell you more as this is one of the strongest original characters I've come across in a long time...." Read more

"...book is well paced and settings brought to life well - Milton is an interesting character and scenes in the East End are well put together and feel..." Read more

60 customers mention ‘Start’60 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book as an excellent start to a great series, serving as a fantastic first book that provides a great introduction to the series.

"...Great characters and good story. Very good start." Read more

"...On the positive side the opening premise is promising - a top UK government assassin, John Milton, who after 10 years on the job, wants out...." Read more

"...A good first book of a series and I will at some time continue with it." Read more

"This is a great first novel in a new series, with a very complex but very interesting hero...." Read more

53 customers mention ‘Insight’53 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insight into real-life situations, particularly its exploration of gang culture and topical themes.

"...The urban gang scene plot line seemed fairly well researched...." Read more

"...Top marks for getting the vernacular and local knowledge spot on. Definitely recommend" Read more

"...There is also a relatively high body count as well as lots of other violent crimes...." Read more

"...Clearly Mark Dawson is a talented author with a particular flair in this genre - while not spoiling the end for anybody, I do wonder what's going to..." Read more

247 customers mention ‘Pacing’171 positive76 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some praising its well-paced plot and exciting action, while others find that the story never really gets going.

"...I thought the standard of writing was pretty high (though obviously not the writers best work), but showed he can produce a novel length work that..." Read more

"...The story that unfolds is fast. The plot is a real rollercoaster, convoluted and credible, and manages to deliver a surprise with every turn of the..." Read more

"...that there's nothing inherently wrong with a fry-up, but it's fairly predictable and lacks the sophistication of haute cuisine...." Read more

"Enjoyed the book, relatively easy read, will probably get the second book in the series. Might be a bit predictable after a few though." Read more

110 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’40 positive70 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's entertainment value, with some finding it extremely engaging and exciting, while others describe it as depressing and boring.

"...However, I found the story pretty bleak on a number of levels; it is set in the poorer parts of London and portrays the residents as being trapped..." Read more

"...but showed he can produce a novel length work that is entertaining...." Read more

"...in a few areas the writing could have been better and also too many sad endings for me...." Read more

"...I also felt the ending was very sudden. A reasonable read but just a 4 out of 5 from me." Read more

29 customers mention ‘Book length’12 positive17 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's length, with some finding it hard to put down and ending brilliantly, while another customer mentions it ends with unresolved matters.

"...The book ends with matters unresolved, which is probably true to real life although but a follow up book could be interesting." Read more

"...of 2012 makes for a perfect backdrop for what turns out to be a cracking finale...." Read more

"...It is a very violent, hard read but very well written and John Milton is obviously going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future of these..." Read more

"...I liked the short chapters and the story kept moving along although for me never gripped me in an unputdownable way; maybe it was just all too..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • winnie
    5.0 out of 5 stars New author to me but great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Really enjoyed my first of Mark Dawson and the John Milton series. Great characters and good story. Very good start.
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  • Philli
    4.0 out of 5 stars the cleaner
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Enjoyed the book, relatively easy read, will probably get the second book in the series. Might be a bit predictable after a few though.
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  • Mark Norman
    3.0 out of 5 stars Mildly disappointing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This feels a bit like Mark Dawson bought all the ingredients to make a cordon bleu dinner and then decided to rustle up a fry-up instead. The point being that there's nothing inherently wrong with a fry-up, but it's fairly predictable and lacks the sophistication of haute cuisine.

    This is the first in a series of books featuring John Milton, a former black ops specialist working for British Intelligence. The plot is set primarily in London and the action revolves around the Black youth gang culture of Hackney. It gives nothing away to say Milton leaves his job with HM Government quite suddenly and not without some acrimony. Through circumstance, his life entwines with that of Sharon Warriner and her 15-year-old son Elijah.

    Elijah is on the periphery of the gang culture that infects his estate and neighbourhood and in the teenager and his mother, Milton sees an opportunity to atone for his actions in his previous life.

    Milton is fundamentally a British version of Jack Reacher, in spite of the fact that Mark Dawson may argue otherwise. Like Reacher, he has left a Government institution; like Reacher, he has no roots and nothing to tie him to any one location; like Reacher he is ex-military; like Reacher, he doesn't stay in one place very long; like Reacher, he's a force for good in an evil world.

    Unfortunately, that's where the comparisons end as he has none of Reacher's force of personality, confidence, smarts or cunning. Instead he's a shadow of Lee Child's hero and, consequently, not a particularly convincing one.

    Part of the problem is that Dawson has given Milton a conscience rather than a moral compass. With Reacher you know that his choices are the product of a single, simple objective: to ensure good triumphs over evil. And he is therefore prepared to use brutal and sometimes lethal force to achieve the outcome. Collateral damage is okay as long as it serves the greater purpose.We are not privy to his inner anxieties or worries. We know he cares about some of those he encounters, but he doesn't fret about them. In many ways, Gregg Hurwitz's Evan Smoak is much the same.

    Milton, on the other hand, is an open book to the reader. We hear his every thought, his every worry. We know when he's scared and we hear him plead with those at an advantage to him. And as a reader, that makes him slightly pitiful, which is not something we want to taint our heroes.

    It's not helped by the fact Mark Dawson has peopled the story with lazy stereotypes. Milton's ex-boss is an entirely predictable cut-out of George Smiley, the operative he sends to track Milton's movements a by-the-numbers well-trained goon of an adversary.

    And though there is a sense of ambition in locating the plot in London's yoof gangland, - and the evidence of the research he did is all over most of the pages - Dawson can't quite stop the plot disintegrating into entirely arguable social commentary on race and opportunity.

    Crucially, a key plot line at the start of the story is totally abandoned for a good 75% of the books 440-odd pages, so that when it makes its reappearance toward the end you're left with a slightly hollow feeling that Dawson suddenly remembered a thread he had woven at the start but which had got lost in the momentum of the topline narrative and needed to be tied up.

    This is not a bad read and Mark Dawson will point, with some justification, to seven-figure downloads of his books as proof of his and his character's continuing popularity. He and others might also argue that a first novel is inevitably going to have shortcomings. But when I compare this to The Killing Floor, the very first Reacher novel, it's clear that Lee Child was streets ahead of where Dawson started. Perhaps that's a legacy of Child's background as a journalist and scriptwriter. As a former lawyer, its entirely possible that Mark Dawson is inevitably learning his craft as he goes along and his writing, and Milton's adventures, may well improve as the series evolves over the 14 books in the canon so far.

    However, even allowing for that, I didn't come away from The Cleaner desperate to find out what happens to John Milton next, whereas Lee Child and Jack Reacher had me from page 1 all those years ago.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • gary davy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Enjoyed book,
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  • JQuinn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 December 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Read this in 2 days. Really wanted to jump ahead but forced myself to stick with it. Having spent many years in East & North London, being able to visualise some of the locations brought the characters even more to life. About to start the second book. John Milton? The UK Jack Reacher laced with a bit Jason Bourne. What’s not to love!
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  • Gardener's World
    5.0 out of 5 stars My New Favourite Author
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Disgruntled government assassin goes underground after trying to quit, and tries to help a desperate single mother and her son in this engaging, exciting, and beautifully written opening book in a new series. I discovered Mark Dawson's work when I was given a previous novel for a present. I finished it in less than a day - I really couldn't put it down. This is a dynamic thriller, cleverly plotted, which makes it impossible to stop turning the pages. John Milton is a great new character - comparisons will inevitably be made with Jack Reacher, but, for me, Milton is deeper and more complex than Reacher, and all the better for it. After reading this (and the novella that looks back at one of his early cases, 1000 YARDS), he is becoming one of my favourite fiction characters.

    THE CLEANER is set in the gritty East End of London, fabulously realized here in such as way as to make me think that Dawson knows it well. Here, Milton gets embroiled in the youth gangs that have been running riot - quite literally in this case, as Dawson makes the brilliant decision to set this novel in the period before and during the summer riots of 2011. Milton is a complicated man, a hard man with a heart of gold. The relationships he makes with Sharon and Elijah and Rutherford balance the horror against which they are fighting, the evil as personified by the venal rapper, Bizness.

    The story that unfolds is fast. The plot is a real rollercoaster, convoluted and credible, and manages to deliver a surprise with every turn of the page. Mark Dawson is a superb writer and it's only a matter of time before he is better known. I'm hope he is going to continue this series, and I'm confident that the books will continue in the same way that this one has. I have no hesitation in recommending this - it is the perfect summer read.
    16 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Rappa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast moving.
    Reviewed in India on 4 July 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Gripping novel.
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  • Lion
    5.0 out of 5 stars イギリス英語
    Reviewed in Japan on 14 May 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    イギリス英語で書かれています。
    先日読んだLee ChiledのJack Reacherシリーズより易しい英語だと聞いて読んだのですが、私が読んだkilling Floor（第一作目そして、奇数刊）は一人称で書かれていて、めちゃくちゃ読みやすかったせいか、三人称で書かれたこの作品の方がはじめは読みにくく感じていました。読み進めるうちに、リズムに慣れたのか、サクサク読めるようになってきて、気がつくと読み終えてました。易しいイギリス英語で書かれたスパイもの系（正確には元スパイ）として、とても良い本だと思います。ストーリーも面白いです。
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  • Graeme
    4.0 out of 5 stars A quick easy read
    Reviewed in Canada on 24 January 2017
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This is a decent story. The plot line, however, is the same as so many similar books such as, Jack Reacher, the Equalizer etc. The premise is that of a seasoned government assassin, disillusioned by what he does and who tries to leave the establishment and follow his conscience. Of course, inevitably he gets into social situations where he becomes involved and the only way out is to use his skills at murder. The book reads easily but the plot line is old. I actually enjoyed the book but cannot imagine reading others in the series that will essentially follow the same path. I really did enjoy the Jack reacher books but after four or five they were all the same. Anyway, for a quick easy read this was enjoyable.
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  • Elaine Emmerick
    5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RIDE!!
    Reviewed in the United States on 5 May 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    The Cleaner is a story about a man, John Milton, who is a government assassin. He's ranked "Number One" because of the targets he's eliminated. When he completes his last assignment, he decides to call it quits. He tells his boss, named Control that he wants out. Control tells him he can't resign or retire. Milton tells him again that he's done and Control puts him on suspension.

    When he leaves Control's office, he goes to the platform and sees a woman crying. He doesn't want to get involved so he moves away from her. Suddenly, he hears screaming - the woman jumped down to the rail tracks and a train can be heard coming down the track. Milton jumps down to save her but she doesn't want to be saved. He grabs her and puts her on the platform just in time. Her name is Sharon and he goes with her to the hospital.

    Sharon's son, Elijah, is 15 years old and is in a gang - London Fields Boys (LFB). She begins to tell Milton about him and how she worries about him. Milton tells her that he'll talk to her son.

    John meets Rutherford at an AA meeting and soon become friends. Rutherford runs a gym for at-risk kids. John thinks Elijah can benefit from the gym's boxing classes. The two men think there's a good chance they can save Elijah from the gang life.

    Things happen between Sharon, Elijah, Rutherford and Milton. He helps them out and when asked why, Milton says he's trying to right some wrongs...

    John Milton is a complicated and tortured soul. His past haunts him and he's tired of that life. Somehow, he's seeking redemption. He will protect Sharon, Elijah and Rutherford at any cost; they are important to him.

    Mark has written a fast-paced and page-turning story. The main characters he has created are people you care about. He shows the reader how gangs infiltrate a community and ruins the lives of the young and innocent. His attention to detail puts the reader right into the scene!

    This is Book 1 of the John Milton Series. I'm new to his books and I can tell you that I'm now a fan! It's a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read, so if you're looking for a story with heart-pounding, non-stop action, then this is the book for you!!
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  • grades
    4.0 out of 5 stars action
    Reviewed in Australia on 28 May 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    A Fast paced ,action packed rollercoaster ride , where trying to make a change can cost you your life .
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