Customer Reviews

The Inside Ring: A Joe DeMarco Thriller

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

One might reasonably assume that the action in any book that begins with the attempted assassination of a U.S. President might taper off a bit thereafter. In the case of The Inside Ring, however, you'd be dead wrong--the ride just keeps getting hairier as the story progresses.

Investigating the assassination attempt at the behest of Speaker of the House is attorney Joe DeMarco, a gifted troubleshooter whose byword is discretion. Although a viable suspect has already been identified, Speaker Mahoney is privy to inside information which suggests that there was more to the shooting than is readily apparent. Poking into the matter, DeMarco uncovers some troubling facts concerning Secret Service Director Patrick Donnelly and Agent Billy Mattis, a member of the unit assigned to protect the President on the day of the shooting. Backed up by a unique support system, Demarco doggedly pursues the truth, placing himself in jeopardy.


Although marred by some of Lawson's lazy habits (he's fond of describing characters as looking like one movie star or another), The Inside Ring is a great read, a book that combines action and humor to great effect. With a plot reminiscent of one John Grisham might cobble together, and a villain seemingly imported from one of John D. MacDonald's Travis MacGee books, Lawson's first effort provides a great jump off point for a series, which, judging from the publicity materials, was the author's intent. Readers will certainly clamor for future installments from Lawson, a welcome new presence on the thriller scene.

From the adrenalin-charged Prologue, where a sniper takes three shots at the President of the United States, wounding him, and killing his best friend and a secret service agent, Michael Lawson's "The Inside Circle" provides a roller-coaster ride of a riveting read. This suspense thriller has a tautly written storyline involving political corruption, blatant abuse of government power, cover-ups at the highest levels, murder, incest, and a lurid gothic tale of a megalomaniac who rules his turf with an iron fist.

The sign on lawyer Joe DeMarco's office door, reads "Counsel Pro Tem For Liaison Affairs, J. DeMarco." The title was the invention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for whom Joe works. His job description reads "get it done guy." He is Speaker John Fitzgerald Mahoney's heavy, the man to go to when problems need to "be resolved" in a manner which cannot be associated with the Congressional offices. When Mahoney orders DeMarco to meet with Homeland Security Secretary Andy Banks, our appealing protagonist learns that Banks received a warning note concerning the assassination attempt days before the event occurred. The note was immediately passed on to Secret Service Director Patrick Donnelly, who obviously did not act on it. Banks asks DeMarco to investigate a secret service agent for possible complicity in the crime. The deeper Joe digs the more suspicious, unsubstantiated "non admissible evidence" he discovers. And none of the information points to the suspect who supposedly fired the shots - the man who conveniently committed suicide before further investigation could be conducted.

DeMarco is a terrific character, and his wit, (the author's really), honesty, resilience, along with the quirky crew he brings into the case to assist him, make the novel more unique than it would be ordinarily. After all, there is usually a glut of well-written political thrillers on the market. Joe's fact finding takes him from Washington, DC, to Georgia's Chattooga River, and finally, to a southern Georgia county which encompasses a big part of the Okefenokee Swamps. We travel with him through as many twists and turns a plot can take and still be navigable. I really enjoyed this chilling debut novel, loved the humor, and highly recommend it!
JANA

Michael Lawson has invented Joe DeMarco. Son of long-dead Mafia hit-man, DeMarco is a lawyer who can't land a job with a big-name law firm because of his father's reputation. This is an unfortunate plot device since we all know the children of major crooks of all kinds are highly employable in our society. But Lawson needs this hook to hang DeMarco from as becomes apparent in the telling of the story.

Rejected by polite society, DeMarco is employed by the Speaker of the House. See? I told you the children of crooks are highly employable. DeMarco operates as a fixer for the Speaker.

So when an assination of the President is attempted, the Secretary of Homeland Security turns to the Speaker for assistance in ferreting out the truth of the dastardly deed. See, the Secretary can't go to the FBI or Secret Service because they may be involved in the plot to kill the President. The "inside ring" refers to the circle of Secret Service agents closest to the President. Since the Secretary of Homeland Security was tipped in advance of the plot --- and ignored the warning --- he fears that the Secret Service is up to no good. The Director of the Secret Service is a close buddy of the FBI boss, so they're suspected as well.

Thus does lawyer Joe DeMarco single handedly set out to get to the bottom of the evil cabal.

Yes, the story is thin. But it's fun. Lawson is quite inventive and conjurs up a Southern baron who makes Faulkner's folks look normal. The characters don't have much depth, but Lawson does an excellent job with dialog. Lots of quick thinking, lots of derring-do and an assortment of weird living things not seen in most zoos.

All in all, a fun, enjoyable read and not a bad mystery as well.

Jerry

Someone recently told me that it seems as if half the people in the world have written mystery and suspense novels and the other half wants to. My response: bring it on! The more the merrier. It's always a pleasure to encounter a new player, particularly one who comes right out of the gate with a confident work containing intriguing characters working their way through a complex but navigable plot. THE INSIDE RING by Michael Lawson fits that description, and quite nicely.

The novel begins with a hunting trip. Actually, it's a special hunting trip, an annual event that involves the President of the United States and his best friend, bestselling author Philip Montgomery. This particular hunting trip, however, ends a bit differently. Shots ring out, the hunters become the hunted, and when the smoke clears the President is wounded, and Montgomery and a Secret Service agent are dead. A few days later a suicide victim leaves a note seemingly confessing to the shootings. But not everyone is convinced. General Andy Banks, the Secretary of Homeland Security, received a cryptic note shortly before the incident warning that the President's Secret Service escort --- the inside ring --- had been compromised. Banks passed the note on to Secret Service Director Patrick Donnelly, who ignored it. Banks now feels guilty and decides to further investigate the matter, which is now officially closed, on a clandestine level.

Joe DeMarco is a fixer. He takes care of problems for a client of one: John Fitzgerald Mahoney, Speaker of the House. Mahoney calls on DeMarco when a situation comes up that needs to be quietly resolved without any footprints leading back to the Speaker's office. Mahoney lends DeMarco out to Banks to quietly investigate the shooting. DeMarco is used to relying on his brains more than his muscle, quietly applying leverage rather than fisticuffs to resolve problems. Fortunately he has some unofficial backup in the person of the enigmatic Emma, a mysterious, powerful and dangerous woman who may, or may not, be a retired government operative.

DeMarco quickly learns that his questions are making some very powerful people extremely unhappy, and when he finds himself in the middle of a deadly gunfight, he is convinced that he is on the right track. DeMarco's investigation takes him on a dark and dangerous journey into the deep South and back across the decades where he uncovers the real reason, and the people, behind the Presidential shooting --- and inadvertently discovers an unknown piece of one of the 20th century's most enduring mysteries.

DeMarco is an interesting character who is wise enough to know his limitations and isn't afraid to ask for help when he needs it. Lawson, given the nature of DeMarco's work and his position, will have a broad canvas to work from in future novels. And the presence of the ubiquitous Emma won't hurt, either. Recommended.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Washington 'Insider' thrillers with a sense of humor are in short supply. Luckily, Mike Lawson's debut novel fills the hole perfectly.

The Inside Ring is a fast-paced book that pits the Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, FBI, and Congress against one another in an effort to uncover the truth behind an attempted assassination of the President. The narrator, Joe DeMarco, is cut from the same vein as Sean Drummond from Brian Haig's novels. He has an acerbic wit and the ability to piss off anyone that's in a position of authority. One of the featured supporting players, Emma, is worthy of her own series if Lawson finds the time.

This book was one of the best thrillers in a long time.

With The Inside Ring, Michael Lawson has quickly established himself as an author to be reckoned with. This book is heavily plot-driven and involves a bold assassination attempt on the President of the U.S. and the private investigation into the incident. This book is filled with action and suspense and will keep you glued to your seat, especially during the last 100 pages or so. The main character, Joe DeMarco, is a lawyer on the staff of the Speaker of the House who is put in charge of the investigation. DeMarco is a likable and interesting character despite a sordid family past and will, undoubtedly, be featured in future books by Lawson. The other characters are not particularly well-developed but are still interesting. The fast pace of this book, however, will likely allow you to (mostly) overlook this shortcoming. While not everything that happens 'rings true', Lawson writing style is very entertaining and easy to follow. The Inside Ring is highly recommended for your next beach-read or plane trip.

The other Lawson book I read, Second Perimiter, was pretty good, so I got this earlier book - That was a mistake. Maybe he was just learning his trade on this one, but the hero, DeMarco was doing things like refusing to arm himself or take simple precautions when he knows his life is threatened. Later, we have the scene where he is talking to a woman at her remote house when Surprise! the bad guy and his elderly boss suddenly join the conversation. They were not heard driving up or walking on the porch ? That was too much for me and I tossed the book.

I have read Lawton's three Joe De Marco books in reverse order so came to this one last although it is the first one.

De Marco is basically a trouble shooter for the off the record and dirty little jobs needed by the US Speaker of The House (quite a character in the books by the way).

Here De Marco (aided by the ruthlessly enigmatic Emma) is asked to look into a Presidential assassination attempt and soon finds himself out on a limb with little support as he finds out enough to make him a target himself....

This is a great little series of books, it rises above similar thrillers because of the characterisation and an undercurrent of humour that balances the action. Another interesting point is that the lead character is no gung-ho action man and he often blunders into things.

Well worth seeking out.

I don't read a lot of thrillers and even more rarely anything with a political bent--but Lawson actually avoids politics and focuses on storyline and the mystery. His tough guy isn't typical either--he doesn't smoke cigars and fall into bed drunk every night.

Unlike a few other commenters, I found the sidekick characters fully developed and enjoyable--no cookie cutters here. Emma, especially, has her own interesting story, and Lawson does a good job of telling it without letting Emma take over the story. I also found the main character intriguing with hints of past, unwanted ties to the mafia, and family troubles making the guy very human.

The story starts out with a bang, slows for the introduction of the characters, then begins the tangle of mystery. It all comes together nicely in the end. Any violence is handled without gore and showmanship.

This is a good weekend read, quick and interesting.

Although I think the secondary characters could use a little more attention, the primary ones are well drawn and believable. It's a well-turned plot, though I wish everyoine involved: author, editor, and whoever wrote the jacket blurb, would have been a little more circumspect with clues. One reviewer complained of southern stereotyping; I say: barely. I lived in the area for a couple of years, and the description sounds eerily familiar to me. I had an owner of an extensive marina complex tell me once, "I AM the law on Magnolia Point!" (geographical name changed.) just like Taylor in the book. Out in the country the way "things work" is accurately described. And sorry, but people DO use "Y'all" in the singular. Perhaps they shouldn't, but they do. In any case, since there is now a sequel, we know DeMarco survived. I'm looking forward to the next one.