After spotting The Cleaner featured on BBC Two’s Between the Covers, I was intrigued. The premise promised an intense dive into the shadowy world of a government-sanctioned assassin—John Milton—a man trying to escape the mess his life has become. I expected gritty action, psychological depth, and a closer look at Milton’s internal struggles. What I got was something quite different.

The story opens strong, introducing Milton as a guilt-ridden hitman for a covert government agency. He’s trying to atone for his past by helping those in need. That setup had so much potential—but surprisingly, Milton fades into the background for much of the novel. Instead, the plot shifts focus to a teenage boy named Elijah and his single mother, battling the pull of gang culture in East London.

While this wasn’t what I expected, I have to say the shift worked in its own way. Dawson paints a vivid picture of inner-city life, complete with its threats, temptations, and moral grey areas. The depiction of gang life felt grounded and real, and the bond between Elijah and his mother was touching and authentic. Milton’s role becomes more of a guardian angel—operating from the shadows, intervening when things get desperate.

That said, the detour from what felt like Milton’s story left me a little cold. I’d been ready for a character study of a hitman on the edge, and instead got a more social-issue-driven crime drama. It’s not that it wasn’t good—it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.

All in all, The Cleaner is a solid, well-written read that sheds light on urban struggles with surprising empathy. If you’re looking for an action-packed assassin thriller, though, this may not fully scratch that itch. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I don’t feel particularly compelled to continue with the series.

I enjoyed listening to The Cleaner. John Milton is a government assassin who wants out, but escaping that life isn’t easy. When he hides out in East London, he ends up helping a mother and her son who are caught up in gang violence. The action is fast-paced and exciting, and I liked how Milton tried to protect the family while also dealing with his own past. The characters felt real, and the story had a good mix of emotion and suspense. The narrator, David Thorpe, did a great job bringing the story and characters to life—I was hooked from the start. I especially liked the short chapters and how the story jumped between different points of view. The ending left a lot of things open, but it made me want to listen to the next book .
Overall, this was a gripping and entertaining audiobook.

John Milton a goverment assassin has had enough and wants to quit, he's told to take leave to think it over. While on leave he meets a woman who's son is on the verge of getting mixed up in gangs. John tries to saved him. Plenty of action in this book and the plot keeps you hooked. David Thorpe is an excellent voice artist with the accents a very enjoyable listen. Thanks to W. F. Howes and Netgalley for this review ARC.

I was so excited to listen to this audiobook and it started out brilliantly, it sadly it then fell flat for me. A professional assassin quits after 10 years in the job after being hauled over the coals for allowing a young child, a witness, to live. Everyone knows that assassins never leave, they disappear. John Milton didn't seem overly concerned about being found, but he was concerned about how his former employer would react if they discovered he was attending AA meetings - I would have thought that would be the least of his worries, if his location were discovered!

I liked that Milton had a heart, you don't read of many deadly assassins with a conscience, but with his experience, how was he so naive? A one man cure for London's gangland culture? Never going to happen! Through Milton trying to atone his past, I felt like too many other people lost their lives.

This book did have an excellent narrator in David Thorpe, who portrayed so many characters brilliantly!

2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This, unfortunately, really wasn't for me. It's not my usual genre. However, I am attempting challenges here and trying to expand my reading library to open my awareness to different types of writing styles, etc. Given this detail in my review, it is important as it may simply be that I have less to work with in regard to this genre. I appreciate the work that goes into researching & writing a book hence the 3 stars still felt well deserved this was more a personal preference of genre.

With all that being said I felt this just didn't hold my interest I did of course complete the audiobook and the beginning started off well I seemed to get lost around maybe a quarter of the way in and found myself being easily distracted. It just became almost like listening to a conversation between Milton and Elijah.

The narration has to be said is, rather soothing, which although I enjoyed very much the narrators audio, possibly for this audiobook, it doesn't quite all gel for me. Sorry this isn't more positive. However, it is completely honest and all my own opinions.

I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this ELC in return for a review. With thanks to Netgalley & W F Howes Ltd. Best wishes for publication on 14th April. I'm sure this will do well for all the spy enthusiasts out there 📚🎧

*The Cleaner* by Mark Dawson is the first book in the John Milton series, introducing readers to a former government assassin seeking redemption. John Milton, a highly skilled operative, decides to leave his life of state-sanctioned killings behind and atone for his past. However, walking away from his profession isn't easy, as his former employers won't let him go without a fight.

The story takes Milton to London's East End, where he becomes entangled in the lives of a single mother and her son, who are caught in a violent gang conflict. As Milton tries to help them, he faces challenges from both the gang and his own past, which comes back to haunt him.

Dawson masterfully combines action, suspense, and character depth, creating a gripping narrative that explores themes of guilt, redemption, and survival. It's a must-read for fans of fast-paced thrillers with morally complex protagonists.

3.5 🌟

From other reviews here I can only assume this title has been relaunched with the publisher.

Initially I wondered would this title hold my interest. It wouldn’t really be my usual genres but I’m trying to widen the scope a little bit here and there. I expected high action, spy movie vibes, but I was wrong, so maybe if that’s what you’re looking for you might struggle with it, but it is the first in a series, so perhaps it’ll head in that direction.

Milton is disheartened, after many years of cleaning up situations his final hit has gone wrong, and hie wants out,instead he’s told he doesn’t make those decisions and is suspended. Milton finds that he’s struggling with his conscience, and when he meets Sharon who is struggling to keep her son away from gang culture he sees it as an opportunity to mentor Elijah and seek some sort of atonement for his past. This takes the story on a sharp turn into inner city gangs, drugs and violence, this probably made the novel more appealing to me. I’d be keen to read more in the series, but I’d also like to be back with the characters from this title, I’m not sure that would work.

I enjoyed David Thorpe’s narration on the title.

Huge thanks to Quest from W.F. Howes Ltd and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ELC 🎧