The Asset - (Joe DeMarco Thriller) by Mike Lawson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Backchannel intel points Joe DeMarco in the direction of a possible double agent in the latest pulse-pounding thriller from Edgar and Barry Award finalist Mike Lawson starring his beloved Washington DC troubleshooter.

In the middle of the night, on a winding road in a suburb outside of Washington D.C., a homeless veteran is killed in a hit-and-run--a tragedy that barely catches the attention of the media and police.

Days later, John Mahoney, the former Speaker of the House, is confronted by Diane Lake, an ex-CIA agent turned political researcher with a knack for digging up unsavory intelligence on some of D.C.'s biggest players. Diane is there with a gift for Mahoney: the news that Lydia Chang, the wife of one of his biggest rivals, might be working undercover as a Chinese agent.

Knowing it's too early to get the FBI involved, Mahoney does the only thing left to do. He calls in Joe DeMarco.

DeMarco might not have the title of political researcher, but he's no stranger to digging up dirt either. As DeMarco starts his investigation, he soon learns there's a lot more going on than Mahoney suspected, and instead of answers, all he finds are more questions. Who's the mysterious man Lydia Chang has been meeting in the park? Does Diane Lake have an ulterior motive? And why does everything point back to a random hit-and-run?

Review Quotes

Praise for the Joe DeMarco Series:

"Darkly satisfying . . . This long-running series still has plenty of gas in the tank." --Publishers Weekly(starred review)

"No one makes high-level political corruption as blissfully enjoyable as Lawson."--Kirkus Reviews

"This time around, Lawson gives his coldly professional D.C. criminal intrigue a surprising heart. Don't get used to it."--Kirkus Reviews

"Lawson continues to capture the qualities that have made DeMarco so easy to root for across the past two decades: his abhorrence of injustice and his willingness to get his hands dirty in service of the greater good. Well-drawn side characters and plausible renderings of crooked political dealings provide a boost. Lawson's winning formula continues to pay dividends."--Publishers Weekly

"Lawson immerses readers in a world of rough operators and political maneuvering, all of it highly satisfying and suspenseful."--Dwyer Murphy, CrimeReads

"Alligator Alley is fast-paced, humorous, chilling, and vividly accurate."--Criminal Element

"Lawson's toolkit includes great pacing, wry humor, a thorough understanding of criminal thinking and engaging characters."--Discover Our Coast

"Assured prose matches the two capable protagonists: the crafty DeMarco and the relentless, brilliant Emma. This is perhaps Lawson's best in the series to date."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[A]s the plot moves forward, readers may wonder why their palms are sweaty . . . This one sneaks up on you, but it's a really stunning thriller.--Booklist (starred review)

"The twists and turns keep the pages flying by, with a few moments of levity sprinkled in to break the tension. The conclusion will leave readers both shocked and satisfied . . . This is an easy entry to the Joe DeMarco series and will win Lawson some new fans."--Library Journal

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