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 squad (Special Inquiries), Monk's job is to investigate the background of Judge Brenda Thompson, a presidential nominee to the Supreme Court and the first African-American woman to be nominated for this high office. The judge's history appears flawless, until a seemingly innocent statement turns out to be anything but. Suddenly Monk and agent Lisa Sands are propelled down a trail of corruption and murder that leads to the top of the government, to the very heart of the Constitution, and to a face-off with a brutal killer who will stop at nothing to carry out his deadly mission. With fascinating inside details only a former FBI agent could know, this is the ultimate cautionary tale, a rocketing thriller that twists and turns toward a stunning conclusion that will change the way you think about Washington--and the FBI--forever. *Starred Review* Reading this debut novel is like finding a gold nugget when all you were expecting was a few pretty stones. The author, a former FBI agent, writes like a pro, and this is one of those thrillers you genuinely wish wouldn't end. At its center is Puller Monk, FBI agent, compulsive gambler, and accomplished liar. Monk is in charge of the SPIN squad; that's short for Special Inquiries, and lately he's been making inquiring about Judge Brenda Thompson, a candidate for the Supreme Court. It's Monk's job to make sure she's scandal-free before the confirmation hearings begin; when a teensy discrepancy in Thompson's security questionnaire turns up a deep, dark secret, he's surprised to learn that his own boss, the assistant director in charge of the Washington bureau office, wants the investigation shut down. Never one to do what he's told, Monk pursues the case anyway and finds a lot more than he bargained for. Tightly plotted, with a couple of nice twists, the novel is jam-packed with atmosphere and behind-the-scenes detail. It is apparent throughout that Riehl is writing about what he knows. But it isn't just verisimilitude; Monk is a strong lead, a believable character full of contradictions and obsessions we've only begun to explore. Further Monk adventures aren't just welcome; they're absolutely necessary. David Pitt Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved “Gene Riehl's Quantico Rules is a must-read, a suspense-packed cautionary tale of corruption told by an ex-FBI agent who isn't afraid to show us the ugly stuff on the inside. With this stunning debut novel, Gene Riehl has brought a fresh new voice to the world of crime fiction.” ―Harlan Coben, author of Gone For Good “ Quantico Rules is my kind of story. It is full of high tension, intrigue and the details of life as an FBI agent that could have only come from a career agent himself. Gene Riehl has taken his experiences and turned them into a thriller that is good till the last page. But it is more than a page-turner. It is an incisive study of an agent battling the obstacles of bureaucracy to finally make his stand.” ―Michael Conolly “Stock up your refrigerator. Unplug the telephone. A master spy has arrived, and you're not going to want to leave home until you finish his smast debut thriller. In Quantico Rules , former FBI agen Gene Riehl swings wide the doors of Washington's secret back rooms in a search for power gone wrong. Full of authentic detail, bristling with fascinating characters, Quantico Rules proves Riehl is a new master of suspense.” ―Gayle Lynds, author of Mesmerized “Reading this debut novel is like finding a gold nugget when all you were expecting was a few pretty stones. The author, a former FBI agent, writes like a pro, and this is one of those thrillers you genuinely wish wouldn't end....Further Monk adventures aren't just welcome; they're absolutely necessary.” ― Booklist (starred review) “...this first thriller by a former agent is sharply written, expertly plotted, and full of the kind of fascinating nuggets that can only be mined from actual experience.” ― Chicago Tribune “Ex-FBI agent Gene Riehl has a light style and never lingers too long over background material or overdoes authentic details, surely a temptation when your insider knowledge is a selling point.” ― Charlotte Observer “Former FBI agent Gene Riehl has come up with a dandy effort in his first novel, Quantico Rules . It's a combination political novel, thriller and spy story, complete with engaging characters, a racing plot and the kind of inside knowledge about the FBI that only a veteran could display.” ― The Houston Chronicle “Gene Riehl gives us something new, and possibly unique, with the introduction of Puller Monk in Quantico Rules ...a promising debut.” ― The Washington Times Gene Riehl is a former FBI agent who specialized in foreign counterintelligence and espionage.