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Puller Monk #1
Quantico Rules
Puller Monk is a gambler. High stakes get his adrenaline flowing. But his dark side is about to catch up with him at a time when his life and the future of this nation hang in the balance.
As an FBI agent in charge of a SPIN (Special Inquiries) Squad, Monk's job is to investigate the background of Judge Brenda Thompson, a presidential nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court and the first African-American woman to be nominated for this high office. When the judge is caught in a lie, Monk and agent Lisa Sands are set on a trail of corruption and murder that leads to the very top of the bureau - and a faceoff with a brutal killer who will stop at nothing to carry out his deadly mission.
As an FBI agent in charge of a SPIN (Special Inquiries) Squad, Monk's job is to investigate the background of Judge Brenda Thompson, a presidential nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court and the first African-American woman to be nominated for this high office. When the judge is caught in a lie, Monk and agent Lisa Sands are set on a trail of corruption and murder that leads to the very top of the bureau - and a faceoff with a brutal killer who will stop at nothing to carry out his deadly mission.
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First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 3, 2019
A book that starts out slow but increase with energy. I'm not sure how the character, Puller Monk, felt about his name but he did keep you entertained and thinking about the plot of the story.
Politics isn't for the weak at heart. Everyone has a past and something they are not pleased they did. When others find out and use it against them, it turns I to a sink or swim situation. People use power for their own discretion and bully, blackmail, & tbreaten others to conform to their plans. The book will unravel some good secrets that will make you think about your own skeletons.
Politics isn't for the weak at heart. Everyone has a past and something they are not pleased they did. When others find out and use it against them, it turns I to a sink or swim situation. People use power for their own discretion and bully, blackmail, & tbreaten others to conform to their plans. The book will unravel some good secrets that will make you think about your own skeletons.
May 17, 2016
I don’t usually like to read political thrillers but the book description pulled me in and I was not disappointed. Spc Agt Puller Monk who has some issues of his own, gambling and his lies, and has been assigned to do the background check of an African American Supreme Court nominee who has some unaccounted for time in her past. While trying to solve the mystery of the unaccounted for time there is a murder and Spc Agt Puller Monk is attacked which leads him to pull out all the stops and engage in “Quantico Rules” which is just a nice way of saying doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Hope to read more stories with Spc Agt Monk as the topic. Great read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
May 25, 2016
FBI thriller.
This book was written long before President Obama's election and appointment of two female judges to Supreme court. Hoover followers still in the FBI. Supreme court nominee of African-American federal judge is being investigated. Some parts of this book is so detailed, you can skip reading couple pages.
This book was written long before President Obama's election and appointment of two female judges to Supreme court. Hoover followers still in the FBI. Supreme court nominee of African-American federal judge is being investigated. Some parts of this book is so detailed, you can skip reading couple pages.
October 19, 2019
This seemed like a book I should enjoy. But I didn’t. The plot held my interest, convincing me to continue through to the end. I think it mostly came down to not liking Puller Monk. As the book went on, a lot of Monk’s rough edges and worst traits seemed to be explained, but the explanations didn’t seem to humanize him in my eyes: I could appreciate the job he was doing, but it was trying to follow him around to see it.
The ending felt abrupt. It seemed like it was going to show where one of the few human relationships Monk had would be headed, and then I turned the page and the book was over. Only one more book in this series, from what Goodreads tells me, but (unusually, for me) I have no desire to read it.
A disappointment.
The ending felt abrupt. It seemed like it was going to show where one of the few human relationships Monk had would be headed, and then I turned the page and the book was over. Only one more book in this series, from what Goodreads tells me, but (unusually, for me) I have no desire to read it.
A disappointment.
June 18, 2017
DNF: 90%
I got sucked in to the plot about a supreme court justice nominee's background investigation, despite the cardboard characters. A little too much mayhem portrayed a bit too casually, and then when it came to the climactic action scene it turned way too hollywood and I lost interest.
I got sucked in to the plot about a supreme court justice nominee's background investigation, despite the cardboard characters. A little too much mayhem portrayed a bit too casually, and then when it came to the climactic action scene it turned way too hollywood and I lost interest.
May 3, 2020
I enjoyed the trill and suspense of this book. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did, not really being into politics myself. Things were explained in detail and it all sounded very plausible. Good plot line, great mystery and suspense.
June 28, 2017
Excellent
February 27, 2019
A wild Ride...
The situation is almost plausible, and the action is nonstop. This is escapist literature at its best. I’ll read more in this series for sure.
The situation is almost plausible, and the action is nonstop. This is escapist literature at its best. I’ll read more in this series for sure.
December 27, 2019
Really good.
Enjoyed this novel. Good characters, interesting plot, very exciting, couldn’t put it down. Excellent read and nice new author for me to read.
Enjoyed this novel. Good characters, interesting plot, very exciting, couldn’t put it down. Excellent read and nice new author for me to read.
July 26, 2021
Great Intrigue
Loved the characters and the drama. Agent Monk is a renegade but that's what the story called for. Was hard to put the book down!
Loved the characters and the drama. Agent Monk is a renegade but that's what the story called for. Was hard to put the book down!
July 17, 2016
I received an e-ARC copy of this novel through NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media.
What an excellent reading experience this book was. I have to say I enjoyed it from cover to cover and sincerely hope there will be more Puller Monk novels in the future. Author Gene Riehl was an FBI agent himself and this experience means that he brings a level of realism to the story which shines through. I also like that he dotted every "I" and crossed every "t" as the story moved along instead of waiting until awkward moments to bring me up to speed with how his characters got themselves into and out of trouble. I have to say I never saw the plot twist coming so must congratulate the author on keeping his intentions cleverly hidden regarding the overall plot line. The character of Puller Monk was developed in such a way that I found him completely believable as an FBI agent.
Monk is working as a supervisor in charge of special investigations for the White House. The brief for his team at the moment is to investigate a Federal Judge being considered as a new candidate for the Supreme Court. In fact, if confirmed she would be the first black female member of the Court. All seems to be going well until a probationary agent spots some time unaccounted for in the personal disclosure documents for the judge. Monk sees his job with this department as a means to moving on to what he really wants - working in counterterrorism. He's ready to get out of the office for a while, even if it is only to check up on these weeks when the judge went missing off the radar.
This book was first published in 2003. That doesn't make any difference to me because there is a feeling of feasibility here that made me think this was something which might have actually happened. Yes, it is exaggerated somewhat for fictionalization purposes, but it still was a most entertaining reading experience.
What an excellent reading experience this book was. I have to say I enjoyed it from cover to cover and sincerely hope there will be more Puller Monk novels in the future. Author Gene Riehl was an FBI agent himself and this experience means that he brings a level of realism to the story which shines through. I also like that he dotted every "I" and crossed every "t" as the story moved along instead of waiting until awkward moments to bring me up to speed with how his characters got themselves into and out of trouble. I have to say I never saw the plot twist coming so must congratulate the author on keeping his intentions cleverly hidden regarding the overall plot line. The character of Puller Monk was developed in such a way that I found him completely believable as an FBI agent.
Monk is working as a supervisor in charge of special investigations for the White House. The brief for his team at the moment is to investigate a Federal Judge being considered as a new candidate for the Supreme Court. In fact, if confirmed she would be the first black female member of the Court. All seems to be going well until a probationary agent spots some time unaccounted for in the personal disclosure documents for the judge. Monk sees his job with this department as a means to moving on to what he really wants - working in counterterrorism. He's ready to get out of the office for a while, even if it is only to check up on these weeks when the judge went missing off the radar.
This book was first published in 2003. That doesn't make any difference to me because there is a feeling of feasibility here that made me think this was something which might have actually happened. Yes, it is exaggerated somewhat for fictionalization purposes, but it still was a most entertaining reading experience.
October 13, 2009
Quantico Rules is a suspenseful thriller set in Washington, DC at FBI Headquarters. Special Agent Puller Monk is a wonderfully flawed lead character - he is a chronic gambler and professional liar who actually studies to defeat the lie detector tests to hide his illness from his superiors.
When the novel opens, Puller is leading the SPIN (Special Inquiries) squad that is conducting a routine background check for an African American Supreme Court nominee who has lied about a three-week unaccountable absence nearly thirty years ago. Puller's instinct propels him and a trusted rookie agent to dig further despite direct orders from the Assistant Director to wrap up the investigation within seven days.
When the college roommate of the nominee admits to keeping a diary which could provide incriminating evidence is murdered and Puller is attacked at the scene of the crime; he chooses to engage Quantico Rules - moreso the breaking of conventional rules and application of unorthodox techniques - to get to the bottom of the conspiracy. What happens next leads to more murder, mayhem, blackmail, and clues that point to a very unlikely and equally powerful culprit.
Puller is a troubled lead character who makes bad decisions but he is a likeable, wounded hero whose actions are well intentioned. The conspiracy theory within the novel is plausible and the plot is intricately laced with clues and filled with tense moments. The author delivers solid character development which allows the reader to clearly understand their actions and motives. This was an enjoyable read - hopefully this will not be the last time we read about the adventures of Puller Monk.
When the novel opens, Puller is leading the SPIN (Special Inquiries) squad that is conducting a routine background check for an African American Supreme Court nominee who has lied about a three-week unaccountable absence nearly thirty years ago. Puller's instinct propels him and a trusted rookie agent to dig further despite direct orders from the Assistant Director to wrap up the investigation within seven days.
When the college roommate of the nominee admits to keeping a diary which could provide incriminating evidence is murdered and Puller is attacked at the scene of the crime; he chooses to engage Quantico Rules - moreso the breaking of conventional rules and application of unorthodox techniques - to get to the bottom of the conspiracy. What happens next leads to more murder, mayhem, blackmail, and clues that point to a very unlikely and equally powerful culprit.
Puller is a troubled lead character who makes bad decisions but he is a likeable, wounded hero whose actions are well intentioned. The conspiracy theory within the novel is plausible and the plot is intricately laced with clues and filled with tense moments. The author delivers solid character development which allows the reader to clearly understand their actions and motives. This was an enjoyable read - hopefully this will not be the last time we read about the adventures of Puller Monk.
April 7, 2008
Le retour du roman d’espionnage à la mode post 11 septembre. Gene Riehl est un ancien agent du FBI, analyste et consultant en matière de terrorisme pour les réseaux de télévision américains. C’est son premier roman et un bon départ.
Puller Monk, directeur en charge des enquêtes spéciales au bureau de Washington du FBI, doit découvrir tous les secrets d’une juge qui est pressentie pour un poste à la Cour Suprême. Rien n’est laisser sans réponse, surtout pas un écart de trois semaines où l’on perd la trace de la candidate. Mensonges, complots, paranoïa nous sont servis avec doigté et maîtrise. Une intrigue qui nous accroche et nous fait réfléchir.
Puller Monk, directeur en charge des enquêtes spéciales au bureau de Washington du FBI, doit découvrir tous les secrets d’une juge qui est pressentie pour un poste à la Cour Suprême. Rien n’est laisser sans réponse, surtout pas un écart de trois semaines où l’on perd la trace de la candidate. Mensonges, complots, paranoïa nous sont servis avec doigté et maîtrise. Une intrigue qui nous accroche et nous fait réfléchir.
May 14, 2008
Puller Monk is in the FBI Special Inquiries team, which is assigned a background check of the first African-American woman nominated for the Supreme Court. It seems like an easy assignment, but suddenly Monk and Agent Lisa Sands are uncovering murder and cover-ups, and instructions from on high to ignore the results.
Barely readable—characters are fairly one-sided (or stiltingly made three-dimensional), the plot is unoriginal, and the “insiders” view of the FBI doesn’t really make up for the shortfalls.
Barely readable—characters are fairly one-sided (or stiltingly made three-dimensional), the plot is unoriginal, and the “insiders” view of the FBI doesn’t really make up for the shortfalls.
September 3, 2010
I really liked the main character, almost from the first sentence. Since I listen to audiobooks, the narrator (David Colacci) got me from the start. Puller Monk is a flawed FBI agent with a gambling problem, but he pulls no punches and is very likeable. This seems to have started as a series, though I only see one other book after this one ("Sleeper"), which I'll definitely check out in the future.
September 23, 2012
If you like thrillers, Gene Riehl's QUANTICO RULES is a MUST read. The pace is fast, the characters are memorable, and the inside peak at the special FBI unit intriguing. I've not read anything else by Riehl, but I will now. In the end there is no better recommendation than saying, "I can't wait to read the next book."
May 27, 2016
Slow Beginning but Faster Towards the End
Established a slow start and then from chapter to chapter the pace improved. I would follow Monk to the end of the world as long as I knew Gene Riehl would pump more and more air into the star of the book.
Established a slow start and then from chapter to chapter the pace improved. I would follow Monk to the end of the world as long as I knew Gene Riehl would pump more and more air into the star of the book.
December 29, 2008
A fun read with a charismatic narrator... I liked Puller Monk. The book was fast-paced and had some twists thrown in. The ending was a little hurried, it seemed, but I liked the book anyway.
January 22, 2011
Easy, light read. Did keep me going until the end.
July 28, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and David Collachi's narration. It was interesting with humorous and lighthearted asides throughout. Recommend to anyone. Can't wait to start another of his.
March 13, 2015
I really liked this book. Couldn't put it down. Full of action, conspiracy, imagination (maybe) and a bit of romance thrown in. I want to read more of Riehl's books!
July 20, 2016
A different story
Not a spine tingling, but a almost believable conspiracy. The characterisation could have been better, and the suspense was only average
Not a spine tingling, but a almost believable conspiracy. The characterisation could have been better, and the suspense was only average
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December 9, 2012ex FBI agent, first novel, good
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews