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McKenna’s Guy
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 18:25:08
10 copies available
U.S. only
From Edgar, Barry, and Shamus Award finalist Mike Lawson comes McKenna’s Guy, a fast-paced thriller full of secrets, lies, and betrayal.
When an intruder with murderous intent breaks into Roger Smith’s modest home one night, the big brute gets more than he bargained for, ending up a bloody corpse staining Roger’s carpet.
Washington, DC, Detective Grace Lillinthal is summoned to the crime scene and marvels at the outcome. Why would anyone want to kill gray-haired Roger Smith? He’s the picture of respectability—a widower devoted to his family, an amateur painter, and a civil servant who works at the Government Printing Office. When asked why he’d be a target, a clearly shaken Roger claims to be baffled.
But instinct tells Grace there’s more to Roger’s story, and when she learns that Roger—after killing his home invader and before calling the police—phoned John McKenna, she knows she’s onto something. John McKenna is a disreputable character of the first order. He’s the gregarious, larger-than-life owner of a local bar that’s a notorious den of thieves.
After one hired assassin fails, another’s bound to show up. The clock is ticking for Roger and McKenna to find out who wants Roger dead and why—and suspects abound. Stubborn Grace is as determined to dig up Roger’s secrets as he is to keep them hidden, and soon the investigation becomes a relentless game of cat and mouse. Even if Roger doesn’t consider himself a criminal, as chaos takes hold of his world, survival requires that he think like one.
When an intruder with murderous intent breaks into Roger Smith’s modest home one night, the big brute gets more than he bargained for, ending up a bloody corpse staining Roger’s carpet.
Washington, DC, Detective Grace Lillinthal is summoned to the crime scene and marvels at the outcome. Why would anyone want to kill gray-haired Roger Smith? He’s the picture of respectability—a widower devoted to his family, an amateur painter, and a civil servant who works at the Government Printing Office. When asked why he’d be a target, a clearly shaken Roger claims to be baffled.
But instinct tells Grace there’s more to Roger’s story, and when she learns that Roger—after killing his home invader and before calling the police—phoned John McKenna, she knows she’s onto something. John McKenna is a disreputable character of the first order. He’s the gregarious, larger-than-life owner of a local bar that’s a notorious den of thieves.
After one hired assassin fails, another’s bound to show up. The clock is ticking for Roger and McKenna to find out who wants Roger dead and why—and suspects abound. Stubborn Grace is as determined to dig up Roger’s secrets as he is to keep them hidden, and soon the investigation becomes a relentless game of cat and mouse. Even if Roger doesn’t consider himself a criminal, as chaos takes hold of his world, survival requires that he think like one.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Mike Lawson
27 books454 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Pen name: M.A Lawson
Michael Lawson was raised in Pueblo, Colorado and attended college at Seattle University, receiving a degree in engineering. On leaving college he went to work for the US Navy as a nuclear engineer, spending approximately thirty years working for the Navy's nuclear power program. Some of this time was spent in Washington D.C. but most was spent at a large naval shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
At the shipyard he managed a number of different organizations related to overhauling nuclear powered submarines, cruisers, and aircraft carriers, ending up as a member of the government’s Senior Executive Service
To date he has published 12 books starring Joe DeMarco, a fixer for a corrupt politician and three books in his Kay Hamilton series under the name of M. A. Lawson: He has won the Friend of Mystery Award twice and is a five time nominee for the Barry Award.
He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Pen name: M.A Lawson
Michael Lawson was raised in Pueblo, Colorado and attended college at Seattle University, receiving a degree in engineering. On leaving college he went to work for the US Navy as a nuclear engineer, spending approximately thirty years working for the Navy's nuclear power program. Some of this time was spent in Washington D.C. but most was spent at a large naval shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
At the shipyard he managed a number of different organizations related to overhauling nuclear powered submarines, cruisers, and aircraft carriers, ending up as a member of the government’s Senior Executive Service
To date he has published 12 books starring Joe DeMarco, a fixer for a corrupt politician and three books in his Kay Hamilton series under the name of M. A. Lawson: He has won the Friend of Mystery Award twice and is a five time nominee for the Barry Award.
He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
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April 16, 2026McKenna’s Guy by Mike Lawson is a sharp, fast paced thriller that blends mystery, tension, and layered intrigue. With a compelling premise and a steady build of suspense, the story keeps readers engaged through twists, secrets, and morally complex characters. A gripping read for fans of crime and investigative thrillers.
April 22, 2026
Enjoyed this. Maybe the start of a new series?
Full review here: https://civilianreader.com/2026/04/22...
Full review here: https://civilianreader.com/2026/04/22...
July 8, 2026
Roger Smith works at the Government Printing Office, paints watercolors on weekends, is devoted to his family, and has been quietly forging passports on the side for twenty years because apparently that's just who Roger is and he made his peace with it a long time ago. Not glamorous crime. Not a cartel. Just a very tidy little federal document fraud situation he's been maintaining with the calm energy of a man who has genuinely decided this doesn't count as long as he keeps it tasteful. He was planning to wind it down anyway. Retire. Go full watercolors. And then someone sent a hitman to his house and the hitman ended up dead on Roger's carpet instead, which was not the retirement plan but here we are.
What I was completely unprepared for was how fast I decided Roger deserved to be fine. He's technically a criminal who has been committing federal crimes for the entire adult portion of his life and the book never pretends otherwise, but there's something about the watercolors and the family devotion and the sheer tidiness of the whole operation that makes you look the other way about it, and the fact that Roger killed the hitman himself and then called John McKenna before he called the police tells you everything you need to know about who Roger actually is underneath the civil servant performance he's been doing for two decades. That man has layers. Concerning, federally actionable layers.
McKenna is the kind of person who owns a bar that the entire city apparently understands is operating as a front for various unspecified chaos, and he carries himself with the energy of someone who has never once been caught off guard and would very much like you to know that. Not warm exactly, but magnetic in that specific way where you don't fully trust him and genuinely cannot stop watching him, and the dynamic between him and Roger works precisely because it shouldn't. A gray-haired watercolor enthusiast and a bar owner with a citywide reputation for mayhem, figuring out how to function together while someone keeps sending assassins after Roger, is genuinely most of the fun here.
And then Detective Grace Lillinthal arrives at the crime scene, takes one look at Roger being very cooperative and very shaken and very carefully not saying anything useful, and decides with her whole entire chest that this man is lying to her face and she is going to find out about everything if it takes the rest of her professional life. Grace is not the villain. Grace is just extraordinarily good at her job and constitutionally incapable of letting evasion slide, and she spends the whole book being professionally pleasant while absolutely dismantling every careful thing Roger tries to build around himself. I loved her unreasonably. She deserved so much better than the runaround she kept getting and she knew it and kept going anyway, which honestly makes her the most relatable person in this entire book.
The pacing is what really sells it because Lawson moves fast enough that you don't have time to stop and decide whether you should be rooting for Roger, which feels completely intentional and I respect the manipulation. The writing is clean and occasionally very dry in that way where the joke just lives inside a sentence without announcing itself, and watching Roger improvise his way through escalating disaster while technically insisting he is not a criminal is a delight for the entire runtime. Some of the side characters are thinner than the leads but the book is sprinting and you're sprinting with it and honestly the Roger and Grace cat and mouse situation is interesting enough to carry everything else comfortably.
Three and a half stars, had a genuinely great time, still thinking about a man who forges government documents and paints watercolors on weekends like those two facts have never once met each other in his brain and never will.
Whodunity Award: For Making Federal Document Fraud Feel Like A Completely Reasonable Life Choice That I Support Fully And Without Reservation
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, read it at an irresponsible hour, zero regrets, would absolutely do it again.
What I was completely unprepared for was how fast I decided Roger deserved to be fine. He's technically a criminal who has been committing federal crimes for the entire adult portion of his life and the book never pretends otherwise, but there's something about the watercolors and the family devotion and the sheer tidiness of the whole operation that makes you look the other way about it, and the fact that Roger killed the hitman himself and then called John McKenna before he called the police tells you everything you need to know about who Roger actually is underneath the civil servant performance he's been doing for two decades. That man has layers. Concerning, federally actionable layers.
McKenna is the kind of person who owns a bar that the entire city apparently understands is operating as a front for various unspecified chaos, and he carries himself with the energy of someone who has never once been caught off guard and would very much like you to know that. Not warm exactly, but magnetic in that specific way where you don't fully trust him and genuinely cannot stop watching him, and the dynamic between him and Roger works precisely because it shouldn't. A gray-haired watercolor enthusiast and a bar owner with a citywide reputation for mayhem, figuring out how to function together while someone keeps sending assassins after Roger, is genuinely most of the fun here.
And then Detective Grace Lillinthal arrives at the crime scene, takes one look at Roger being very cooperative and very shaken and very carefully not saying anything useful, and decides with her whole entire chest that this man is lying to her face and she is going to find out about everything if it takes the rest of her professional life. Grace is not the villain. Grace is just extraordinarily good at her job and constitutionally incapable of letting evasion slide, and she spends the whole book being professionally pleasant while absolutely dismantling every careful thing Roger tries to build around himself. I loved her unreasonably. She deserved so much better than the runaround she kept getting and she knew it and kept going anyway, which honestly makes her the most relatable person in this entire book.
The pacing is what really sells it because Lawson moves fast enough that you don't have time to stop and decide whether you should be rooting for Roger, which feels completely intentional and I respect the manipulation. The writing is clean and occasionally very dry in that way where the joke just lives inside a sentence without announcing itself, and watching Roger improvise his way through escalating disaster while technically insisting he is not a criminal is a delight for the entire runtime. Some of the side characters are thinner than the leads but the book is sprinting and you're sprinting with it and honestly the Roger and Grace cat and mouse situation is interesting enough to carry everything else comfortably.
Three and a half stars, had a genuinely great time, still thinking about a man who forges government documents and paints watercolors on weekends like those two facts have never once met each other in his brain and never will.
Whodunity Award: For Making Federal Document Fraud Feel Like A Completely Reasonable Life Choice That I Support Fully And Without Reservation
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, read it at an irresponsible hour, zero regrets, would absolutely do it again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Mike Lawson, and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Mike Lawson has long proven himself a formidable voice in the crime thriller genre. Whether through his acclaimed Joe DeMarco series or his standalone works, Lawson consistently delivers compelling mysteries wrapped in sharp storytelling and relentless suspense. With this latest novel, he ventures into darker and more intricate territory, crafting a story that is equal parts investigation, psychological puzzle, and slow-burning cat-and-mouse game. The result is a clever, addictive thriller where every answer only uncovers a deeper mystery.
When Roger Smith survives a violent attack in his own home, killing the intruder in apparent self-defense, it should be an open-and-shut case. Yet Washington, DC Detective Grace Lillinthal quickly senses that something does not add up. Smith appears to be an ordinary widower and civil servant with no obvious enemies, but his decision to contact a notorious lawyer before calling the police raises immediate questions. As Lillinthal digs deeper into Smith’s past, she becomes convinced that he is hiding something significant. Meanwhile, Smith himself is desperate to uncover who wants him dead before another attempt is made on his life. What follows is an engrossing battle of wits as investigator and suspect circle one another while an increasingly dangerous truth threatens to emerge.
Lawson strikes an impressive balance between investigative determination and pure mystery. The novel thrives on its ability to keep readers guessing while steadily advancing the plot through sharp detective work and carefully planted clues. Every lead opens a new avenue of intrigue, and every revelation raises fresh questions. The pacing is excellent throughout, moving seamlessly from an intriguing opening to a powerful and satisfying conclusion where nothing is quite as it first appears.
Roger Smith and Grace Lillinthal make for exceptional central characters. Smith is a fascinating protagonist whose vulnerability and intelligence keep readers invested even as suspicions mount around him. Lillinthal, meanwhile, is tenacious, insightful, and refreshingly persistent, refusing to accept easy answers. Their parallel pursuits of the truth create a compelling dynamic that drives much of the novel’s tension. Around them, Lawson assembles a strong supporting cast that enriches the story and adds further layers to an already complex narrative.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its unpredictability. Lawson carefully controls the flow of information, revealing secrets at precisely the right moments and never allowing the story to become comfortable or predictable. Just when the reader thinks they understand the larger picture, another twist emerges to complicate matters. The tension steadily escalates, the stakes continue to rise, and the mystery deepens with every chapter.
As with so many of Lawson’s previous works, this is a novel that becomes nearly impossible to put down once it gains momentum. Intelligent, suspenseful, and expertly constructed, it showcases a veteran storyteller operating at the top of his game. Fans of crime fiction, investigative thrillers, and character-driven mysteries will find much to enjoy in this gripping and highly entertaining read.
Kudos, Mr. Lawson, for another stellar read.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Mike Lawson has long proven himself a formidable voice in the crime thriller genre. Whether through his acclaimed Joe DeMarco series or his standalone works, Lawson consistently delivers compelling mysteries wrapped in sharp storytelling and relentless suspense. With this latest novel, he ventures into darker and more intricate territory, crafting a story that is equal parts investigation, psychological puzzle, and slow-burning cat-and-mouse game. The result is a clever, addictive thriller where every answer only uncovers a deeper mystery.
When Roger Smith survives a violent attack in his own home, killing the intruder in apparent self-defense, it should be an open-and-shut case. Yet Washington, DC Detective Grace Lillinthal quickly senses that something does not add up. Smith appears to be an ordinary widower and civil servant with no obvious enemies, but his decision to contact a notorious lawyer before calling the police raises immediate questions. As Lillinthal digs deeper into Smith’s past, she becomes convinced that he is hiding something significant. Meanwhile, Smith himself is desperate to uncover who wants him dead before another attempt is made on his life. What follows is an engrossing battle of wits as investigator and suspect circle one another while an increasingly dangerous truth threatens to emerge.
Lawson strikes an impressive balance between investigative determination and pure mystery. The novel thrives on its ability to keep readers guessing while steadily advancing the plot through sharp detective work and carefully planted clues. Every lead opens a new avenue of intrigue, and every revelation raises fresh questions. The pacing is excellent throughout, moving seamlessly from an intriguing opening to a powerful and satisfying conclusion where nothing is quite as it first appears.
Roger Smith and Grace Lillinthal make for exceptional central characters. Smith is a fascinating protagonist whose vulnerability and intelligence keep readers invested even as suspicions mount around him. Lillinthal, meanwhile, is tenacious, insightful, and refreshingly persistent, refusing to accept easy answers. Their parallel pursuits of the truth create a compelling dynamic that drives much of the novel’s tension. Around them, Lawson assembles a strong supporting cast that enriches the story and adds further layers to an already complex narrative.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its unpredictability. Lawson carefully controls the flow of information, revealing secrets at precisely the right moments and never allowing the story to become comfortable or predictable. Just when the reader thinks they understand the larger picture, another twist emerges to complicate matters. The tension steadily escalates, the stakes continue to rise, and the mystery deepens with every chapter.
As with so many of Lawson’s previous works, this is a novel that becomes nearly impossible to put down once it gains momentum. Intelligent, suspenseful, and expertly constructed, it showcases a veteran storyteller operating at the top of his game. Fans of crime fiction, investigative thrillers, and character-driven mysteries will find much to enjoy in this gripping and highly entertaining read.
Kudos, Mr. Lawson, for another stellar read.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
McKENNA’S GUY by Mike Lawson
Published: July 2026 by Blackstone Publishing
Absolutely Loved this Novel: Graded A
Action starts out with a burst of surprise and action, as Roger Smith awakens to a home invasion in progress, while lying in bed, about to fall asleep. Is this a random occurrence? He stealthy arises from bed, grabs a baseball bat from under the bed, and awaits behind the door. The intruder stealthily opens the bedroom door and pumps multiple bullets into the bed. Roger in reflex mode he swings the bat at the assailants head with remarkable success and kills the “thief” or “assassin.” The narrative soon reveals Roger to be a rather unassuming government employee and elderly grandfather. With concise prose and straightforward narrative suspense is relentlessly ratcheted up to explore the ramifications of Roger’s partnership with the charismatic crime fixer John McKenna. Explored will be the driving force how a fundamentally decent man will find himself involved in the world of McKenna.
Lawson avoids unnecessary subplots and useless romantic tangles as he develops escalating tension and suspense as he slowly reveals hidden secrets to account for character motivation. Especially important will be loyalty and family.
….Not since I’ve devoured the crime novels of the master, Donald E. Westlake have I enjoyed the crisp, clear, and concise narrative of an author with such straightforward unique characters and unusual ability to build a relentless suspense. The forged partnership between our everyman character of Roger Smith and the crime fixer of John McKenna is amazing means of exploring the possibility of crime being useful and understandable in the face of overwhelming pressures.
Forget about unnecessary subplots and conspiracies, delve into the intricacies of loyalty and family. Dialogue and humor is the driving force to grab the reader’s attention is this page-turner. I hope Lawson continues writing such outstanding standalone’s. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
to be published at DeadlyPleasuresMysteryMagazine...
Published: July 2026 by Blackstone Publishing
Absolutely Loved this Novel: Graded A
Action starts out with a burst of surprise and action, as Roger Smith awakens to a home invasion in progress, while lying in bed, about to fall asleep. Is this a random occurrence? He stealthy arises from bed, grabs a baseball bat from under the bed, and awaits behind the door. The intruder stealthily opens the bedroom door and pumps multiple bullets into the bed. Roger in reflex mode he swings the bat at the assailants head with remarkable success and kills the “thief” or “assassin.” The narrative soon reveals Roger to be a rather unassuming government employee and elderly grandfather. With concise prose and straightforward narrative suspense is relentlessly ratcheted up to explore the ramifications of Roger’s partnership with the charismatic crime fixer John McKenna. Explored will be the driving force how a fundamentally decent man will find himself involved in the world of McKenna.
Lawson avoids unnecessary subplots and useless romantic tangles as he develops escalating tension and suspense as he slowly reveals hidden secrets to account for character motivation. Especially important will be loyalty and family.
….Not since I’ve devoured the crime novels of the master, Donald E. Westlake have I enjoyed the crisp, clear, and concise narrative of an author with such straightforward unique characters and unusual ability to build a relentless suspense. The forged partnership between our everyman character of Roger Smith and the crime fixer of John McKenna is amazing means of exploring the possibility of crime being useful and understandable in the face of overwhelming pressures.
Forget about unnecessary subplots and conspiracies, delve into the intricacies of loyalty and family. Dialogue and humor is the driving force to grab the reader’s attention is this page-turner. I hope Lawson continues writing such outstanding standalone’s. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
to be published at DeadlyPleasuresMysteryMagazine...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m a long-time fan of Mike Lawson’s Joe DeMarco series. But, McKenna’s Guy is departure. It’s a well-written, action-packed book filled with new characters and an interesting plot.
It involves an unassuming employee of the Government Printing Office who, years before, agreed to make fake passports (only one or two a year) for a hefty sum of money. Finally, just as the scheme is winding down and Roger has decided to retire from the business, everything goes sideways.
I enjoyed McKenna’s Guy but I couldn’t help but compare it to the series that I’ve always enjoyed. This most recent book seemed rougher and a little more edgy. This isn’t a bad thing. It was just different than Joe and his (mostly) more easy-going manner and his I-have-a-plan strategies. McKenna’s Guy didn’t seem to have a plan at first, but as the book developed it became apparent that there was a plan, even though it had to be fairly flexible. As a result, there were some unexpected detours that added to the enjoyment of the story.
All it all, it was a good read and a nice change of pace. For me, it was 3.5 stars bumped up to 4. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.
It involves an unassuming employee of the Government Printing Office who, years before, agreed to make fake passports (only one or two a year) for a hefty sum of money. Finally, just as the scheme is winding down and Roger has decided to retire from the business, everything goes sideways.
I enjoyed McKenna’s Guy but I couldn’t help but compare it to the series that I’ve always enjoyed. This most recent book seemed rougher and a little more edgy. This isn’t a bad thing. It was just different than Joe and his (mostly) more easy-going manner and his I-have-a-plan strategies. McKenna’s Guy didn’t seem to have a plan at first, but as the book developed it became apparent that there was a plan, even though it had to be fairly flexible. As a result, there were some unexpected detours that added to the enjoyment of the story.
All it all, it was a good read and a nice change of pace. For me, it was 3.5 stars bumped up to 4. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A professional assassin breaks into 65-year-old Robert Smith’s house in the D.C. suburbs, only to be killed by Robert with a baseball bat his deceased wife encouraged him to keep under the bed. A clear case of self-defense, but seasoned D.C. police detective Grace Lillinthal wants to figure out what Robert is up do that lead him to be a target of assassin. Smith seems innocuous, working for the Government Publishing Office and designig artistic greeting cards in his basement. Turns out that Smith has had a side-business going for twenty years with his neighbor, criminal fixer and ex-con, John McKenna, to forge one passport a year for $50,000.
Smith and McKenna have no idea what prior client could be targeting them and why, and fear that another assassin may be sent their way. They launch their own investigation running in tandem with Lillinthal.
A non-stop thriller ensues with connections to a celebrity chef, a Canadian crime syndicate, and another killer arriving in D.C. Smith proves a compelling anti-hero and Lillinthal proves an intuitive, dogged detective.
Highly enjoyable!
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.
Smith and McKenna have no idea what prior client could be targeting them and why, and fear that another assassin may be sent their way. They launch their own investigation running in tandem with Lillinthal.
A non-stop thriller ensues with connections to a celebrity chef, a Canadian crime syndicate, and another killer arriving in D.C. Smith proves a compelling anti-hero and Lillinthal proves an intuitive, dogged detective.
Highly enjoyable!
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely terrific.
Lawson's Roger Smith is an interesting, character is just about as charismatic as they can come,
while still being a criminal at heart.
Smith works for the GPO and manages a lucrative, albeit, criminal side business.
When a hitman breaks into his home and tries to murder him in the dead of night, he knows he needs to take
action to protect himself and to prevent his business from coming to light.
A really intriguing tale that has you rooting for Roger from page one, as he evades another killer sent after him and tries to avoid the criminal entrapment of a persistent detective.
Hated for it to end.
Lawson's Roger Smith is an interesting, character is just about as charismatic as they can come,
while still being a criminal at heart.
Smith works for the GPO and manages a lucrative, albeit, criminal side business.
When a hitman breaks into his home and tries to murder him in the dead of night, he knows he needs to take
action to protect himself and to prevent his business from coming to light.
A really intriguing tale that has you rooting for Roger from page one, as he evades another killer sent after him and tries to avoid the criminal entrapment of a persistent detective.
Hated for it to end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Roger Smith is an unusual character to be rooting for; however, from the tremendous opening chapter, we are swept along on his adventure with a dedicated police detective on his trail. The novel is hard to put down and this reader definitely lost sleep while immersed in this story. The book is written in a style that warrants your attention and introduces us to shady characters and situations with many surprises culminating in a totally unexpected conclusion.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys this genre and thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this exciting book prior to its publication.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys this genre and thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this exciting book prior to its publication.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kindled. Thank you to Blackstone and NetGalley for the download.
Super simplistic writing. A one-note plot. Two well-drawn main characters, but the rest of the humans racing around this fast-paced book verged on stereotypical, and not always in a nice way.
Regardless of these criticisms, I flew through this book, enjoying each and every scene, even while rolling my eyes at various points. Never read a Lawson book before but I can see the appeal. Easy on the brain. Action galore. Nothing too gruesome. People to root for. Popcorn read at its finest.
Super simplistic writing. A one-note plot. Two well-drawn main characters, but the rest of the humans racing around this fast-paced book verged on stereotypical, and not always in a nice way.
Regardless of these criticisms, I flew through this book, enjoying each and every scene, even while rolling my eyes at various points. Never read a Lawson book before but I can see the appeal. Easy on the brain. Action galore. Nothing too gruesome. People to root for. Popcorn read at its finest.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun non-DeMarco story from Mr. Lawson. Roger Smith was an interesting character who seemed to surprise me quite a bit. I liked his approach to events as they unfolded - reminded me a little of Joe DeMarco actually. And McKenna was a little like John Mahoney - not really that likable yet you're kind of rooting for him. I liked how this one wrapped up. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a nice quick read.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Thanks to Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC. #McKennasGuy #NetGalley
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Thanks to Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC. #McKennasGuy #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Loved the Roger Smith character. Joe DeMarcoe, the author’s famous protagonist from a fantastic series is a legend, but we have another entertaining personality. Smith kills a home invader, but that’s only the beginning, Who, why, and when will it happen again makes go an excellent story. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fast paced, quick read, and I hope the beginning of a new series. I love Mike Lawson's Joe DiMarco series and Detective Grace Lillinthal would be a great protagonist for a new series. The characters came to life off the page and the pacing was perfect. Highly recommended
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, Inc. for an advanced reader copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, Inc. for an advanced reader copy.
June 11, 2026
This is my first time diving into one of his standalone novels! The characters are incredibly interesting, and I’m already thinking about whether Lawson might write follow up to this one.
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an advance copy!
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Just what I needed it to be - a straightforward crime novel with enough twists to keep me entertained.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews