This novel in Mike Lawson’s critically acclaimed series takes political fixer Joe DeMarco to New York for behind-the-scenes work on a high-stakes murder case as the witnesses start to decamp one by one.
In House Witness, the expertly plotted twelfth novel in this critically acclaimed series, Mike Lawson puts his likable protagonist on the trail of a different kind of fixer—one whose job is to inject reasonable doubt into seemingly air-tight criminal cases.
Minority Leader of the House and Joe DeMarco’s longtime employer John Mahoney has kept more than one secret from his wife over the years but none so explosive as this: He has a son, and that son has just been shot dead in a bar in Manhattan. Mahoney immediately dispatches DeMarco to his native New York to provide prosecutor Justine Porter with any assistance necessary, but with five bystanders willing to testify against rich boy Toby Rosenthal, the case seems like a slam dunk—that is, until Porter begins to suspect that someone is interfering with those witnesses and that this may be connected to a pattern of cases across the country. Could someone be helping to get witnesses out of the way when the fate of a wealthy defendant is on the line?
With the help of Porter’s intern, as outrageously smart as she is young, DeMarco becomes determined to follow that question through to its violent resolution in what turns out to be Joe DeMarco’s most unexpected adventure yet.
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“DeMarco, who’s never met a problem he couldn’t solve by hook or by crook, goes up against a criminal as canny and resourceful as he is…The resulting game of cat and cat…is irresistible. Eminently predictable in its larger contours—but the devil is in the details, and Lawson’s details are unfailingly devilish, right down to the very last twist.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Each of Lawson’s DeMarco novels have been first-rate, but House Witness may be the best yet…Readers will once again find themselves comparing Lawson to the late, great Ross Thomas.”
— Booklist (starred review)“One of the best in a superior series…I’ve read all twelve and consider this series to be among the top ten mystery series being published today.”
— Deadly Pleasures, Rating: A“Barrett’s husky baritone matches DeMarco’s easygoing attitude, which is lined with a hard-edged threat. Barrett’s facility with accents adds color as the investigation starts crossing the country…[and] Barrett lightens his intonation to create a believable, predatory woman. Barrett compels listeners to race through this fast-paced conspiracy.”
— Booklist (audio review)“Readers will enjoy watching the case unravel and how DeMarco goes about making things right. The action builds to a satisfying resolution, but an open ending promises more troubles for DeMarco down the line.”
— Publishers WeeklyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Mike Lawson, a former senior civilian executive for the US Navy, is the author of numerous novels starring Joe DeMarco. His first book, The Inside Ring, was rated by the Seattle Times as one of the top ten thrillers of 2005 and was a finalist for the Barry Award for Best Thriller. House Secrets was selected as one of the best thrillers of 2009 by Library Journal, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine.
Joe Barrett, an actor and Audie Award and Earphones Award–winning narrator, has appeared both on and off Broadway as well as in hundreds of radio and television commercials.