House Rules: A Joe DeMarco Thriller [Kindle Edition]

Mike Lawson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of Lawson's snappy third thriller starring congressional snoop Joe DeMarco (after The Second Perimeter), a series of three failed attempts by Muslim terrorists to attack Washington, D.C.—one by plane, one by car, one by lone suicide bomber—causes nationwide panic. DeMarco wades into the mess when his boss, House Speaker John Mahoney, asks him to check out the possibility that the terrorist onslaught may have been more homegrown than it appears. Quickly appearing on DeMarco's radar is a suspicious, high-profile piece of anti-Islamic legislation, pushed by the blowhard junior senator from Virginia, that's on the fast track for approval. While the efficient plot takes some predictable turns, Lawson's engaging characters, with DeMarco leading the pack, come across as seriously flawed individuals trying to navigate a political world of high demands and constant distractions. Full of insider information, this novel reinforces Lawson's place in the upper rank of Washington thriller specialists. (June)
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Review

I was absolutely delighted to discover Mike Lawson. This smart political thriller offers readers both a wild ride and thought-provoking issues. In many ways, House Rules reminded me of the novels of the late Ross Thomas; this, from me, is high praise, indeed. --Nancy Pearl, award-winning author of Book Lust

Lawson fleshes out his characters while developing a plausible and increasingly tense plot. Just enough uncertainty in the satisfying conclusion hints that another series entry is likely. Highly recommended. --Library Journal

House Rules has it all: a lightning-paced plot, a quirky cast of players, and best of all, one of the most engaging heroes I've ever encountered. In Joe DeMarco, Lawson has created a charmingly likeable character whom I'll happily follow for many books to come. --Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author

Full of insider information, this novel reinforces Lawson's place in the upper rank of Washington thriller specialists. --Publishers Weekly

A pleasantly relaxed thriller well suited to leftish political junkies. --Kirkus Reviews

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2946 KB
• Print Length: 368 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press (June 10, 2008)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001JEPKYM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,807 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars House Rules, May 1, 2008

By 

Mike "TracyReaderDad" (Tracy, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: House Rules: A Joe DeMarco Thriller (Hardcover)

The back cover PR says that "Mike Lawson is a talented thriller writer who is only getting better". That is an understatement.......Mike Lawson has catapulted himself into (in my mind) the ranks alongside such greats as Baldacci, Flynn, and Thor. "House Rules" is one terrific book.

As "House Rules" opens, several foiled terrorist acts have the nation on edge.

The first foiled attack prevented two American Muslim's from blowing up the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Unfortunately, the third member, and leader, was not in the building at the time of the FBI raid and was not captured. Upon questioning the two young men the FBI were able to identify the man, "Muhammad" , as an "honest-to-God al-Qaeda operative".

Two weeks after that aborted attack, Senator William Davis Broderick introduced a bill that would severely limit the freedom of all Muslims (citizens or not) in the U.S. Introducing the bill made Senator Broderick an instant media star, but, it was three more American Muslim terrorist attacks (all were foiled) that catapulted the bill to approval in the Senate and moved it to the House, where it sat in deliberation per instructions from Speaker of the House John Mahoney.

This is where Mahoney asks Joe DeMarco, special Congressional troubleshooter, to find out the true story behind the situation. The FBI had a theory, and it sounded great, but, where others fail to uncover the whole truth, DeMarco, Emma, and computer geek, Neil, succeed. With additional help from individuals in Homeland Security, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies, DeMarco's team uncovers a complex, multi-layered, plot to enlist these American Muslims to commit terrorist acts.....with the express purpose of encouraging the passage of Broderick's "Muslim Registry" bill.

DeMarco and friends slowly unravel the truth, and people, behind the plot. The mystery, intrigue, and violence ratchet up as time and time again well laid plans and schemes to uncover the next higher person in the plot are hindered by surprising and complicated twists and turns. Great reading!

TracyReaderDad

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining thriller, August 18, 2008

By 

N. Brett (Wiltshire, England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: House Rules: A Joe DeMarco Thriller (Hardcover)

This is the third in the Joe DeMarco series about a guy who works as an unofficial trouble shooter for The Speaker of the House in Washington. The Speaker, Mahoney, is an abrasive and slightly corrupt character although a very shrew operator with a heart of gold. De Marco is a tenacious guy with a group of friends that usually help him out when he is desperate.

Two really interesting and unusual characters - with Mahoney you see the corruption of US politics and with DeMarco you have someone who looks tough and hard but actually isn't - a bit of a twist of the usual invincible ex Special services type.

The plot is an interesting one too - again a slight twist on the usual Muslim extremist terror attacks. Here we have a US Senator proposing strict controls on all Muslims just as two terror attacks are thwarted which seem to support his view and thus he gains unexpected public support. The trouble is that the son of an old friend of Mahoney was involved so Mahoney asks DeMarco to have a quiet look into it. As readers of this kind of stuff will know, `a quiet look' usually becomes something else.....

Set with interesting characters and a scenario that captures the fear of terror attacks and a blame culture this is very good stuff indeed. I liked the characters and the interplay between them and the author also provides a subtle vein of humour. The characters make mistakes and have their own failings which make them more interesting and believable.

Mike Lawton is getting better and better with each novel and this suggests that the next one may be something very special indeed.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Predictable and Not so Much a Thriller at all, May 20, 2010

By 

Rachel L Nislick (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: House Rules: A Joe DeMarco Thriller (Mass Market Paperback)

I labored through this book. There were so many fringe characters and almost a new set of characters were introduced in every chapter that it just felt very diluted. There was nothing tense about this book and it was hardly a thriller because it was easy to know where the author was going with it. The fear instilled by 9/11 has become a topic for many, many terrorist fiction books, but this one fell flat and is worth skipping.