What do you think?
Rate this book
McKenna’s Guy
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
28 books462 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
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...
Want to Read
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.
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/
July 28, 2026
I have enjoyed a number of Mike Lawson’s conspiracy driven thrillers featuring political fixer Joe DeMarco, and enjoy his glimpses into the darker side of American politics. With his latest stand-alone novel he ventures into Elmore Leonard territory with a gritty tale about crooks and killers, and a determined investigator who is trying to work out what is going on.
When an intruder with murderous intent breaks into Roger Smith’s modest home one night, he gets more than he bargained for and, unluckily, ends up dead. Washington, DC, Detective Grace Lillinthal is summoned to the crime scene and marvels at the outcome. Why would anyone want to kill grey-haired Roger Smith? He is the picture of respectability: a widower devoted to his family, an amateur painter, and a civil servant who works at the Government Printing Office. The shaken Smith claims to be baffled why he would be a target. But instinct tells Grace that there is more to Smith’s story, and when she learns that Smith, after killing his home invader and before calling the police, phoned the infamous John McKenna, she knows she is onto something. McKenna is a disreputable character of the first order. He is the gregarious, larger-than-life owner of a local bar that is a notorious den of thieves and is also a well known as a criminal fixer.
While Grace tries to work out what is going on, Smith and McKenna also desperately rack their brains to identify who would want them dead and whether another killer is on the way. Not surprisingly, Smith is not as innocent as he seems and the death of his would-be killer sets in chain a series of plots and counterplots that lead to more killing and mayhem.
McKENNA’S GUY is an enjoyable crime story that moves along at a good pace. Lawson skilfully juggles the various elements of his plot, bringing the different strands together in a tense and somewhat unexpected ending. The highlight of the book are the well sketched characters, mainly crooks, who drive the story along. Apart from Grace, none of the characters are on the side of the angels, although it is hard not to like the engaging Roger Smith who gets increasingly out of his depth. There is also an enigmatic female hired killer who steals the book when she makes an appearance towards the end. A solid, entertaining read.
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/n...
When an intruder with murderous intent breaks into Roger Smith’s modest home one night, he gets more than he bargained for and, unluckily, ends up dead. Washington, DC, Detective Grace Lillinthal is summoned to the crime scene and marvels at the outcome. Why would anyone want to kill grey-haired Roger Smith? He is the picture of respectability: a widower devoted to his family, an amateur painter, and a civil servant who works at the Government Printing Office. The shaken Smith claims to be baffled why he would be a target. But instinct tells Grace that there is more to Smith’s story, and when she learns that Smith, after killing his home invader and before calling the police, phoned the infamous John McKenna, she knows she is onto something. McKenna is a disreputable character of the first order. He is the gregarious, larger-than-life owner of a local bar that is a notorious den of thieves and is also a well known as a criminal fixer.
While Grace tries to work out what is going on, Smith and McKenna also desperately rack their brains to identify who would want them dead and whether another killer is on the way. Not surprisingly, Smith is not as innocent as he seems and the death of his would-be killer sets in chain a series of plots and counterplots that lead to more killing and mayhem.
McKENNA’S GUY is an enjoyable crime story that moves along at a good pace. Lawson skilfully juggles the various elements of his plot, bringing the different strands together in a tense and somewhat unexpected ending. The highlight of the book are the well sketched characters, mainly crooks, who drive the story along. Apart from Grace, none of the characters are on the side of the angels, although it is hard not to like the engaging Roger Smith who gets increasingly out of his depth. There is also an enigmatic female hired killer who steals the book when she makes an appearance towards the end. A solid, entertaining read.
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/n...
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...
July 24, 2026
That old Rod Stewart song says, “Some guys have all the luck / Some guys have all the pain.” Well, Roger Smith has both. The pain starts when his wife gets cancer and her treatments put him so far into a financial hole he can’t dig himself out. As a foreman at the Government Publishing Office, he has a niche skill, but he can’t see any moneymaking opportunities for that skill—printing passports.
The luck comes into play when Roger becomes McKenna’s Guy. McKenna is an unscrupulous fixer who’s as good at fencing stolen goods as he is at helping grifters, frauds, and felons disappear. He convinces Roger to print phony passports with bogus names good enough to get his clients out of the country before they can be sentenced to long prison terms. For that service, Roger will be paid handsomely, enough cash to pay off his debts and give his family everything they need. For a couple of decades, it works without a hitch…until a former client puts a hit out on both Roger and McKenna. Then, Roger has to depend on quick thinking and good old dumb luck to survive.
If Mike Lawson writes a book, I’m going to read it. Some have been better than others, but this one is at the top of the better list. I’m a dedicated fan of Lawson’s Joe DeMarco series, and though Joe does not appear in this one, there are echoes of those books in it: Washington, D.C. setting; hapless, legally challenged but good-hearted government employee; corrupt middle-aged drunk pulling strings in thoroughly unsavory ways. And of course, there’s murder and mayhem. I don’t see how Roger Smith could be lucky enough to sustain his own series, but if Lawson finds a way, I’m going to be first in line to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing a digital ARC for review.
The luck comes into play when Roger becomes McKenna’s Guy. McKenna is an unscrupulous fixer who’s as good at fencing stolen goods as he is at helping grifters, frauds, and felons disappear. He convinces Roger to print phony passports with bogus names good enough to get his clients out of the country before they can be sentenced to long prison terms. For that service, Roger will be paid handsomely, enough cash to pay off his debts and give his family everything they need. For a couple of decades, it works without a hitch…until a former client puts a hit out on both Roger and McKenna. Then, Roger has to depend on quick thinking and good old dumb luck to survive.
If Mike Lawson writes a book, I’m going to read it. Some have been better than others, but this one is at the top of the better list. I’m a dedicated fan of Lawson’s Joe DeMarco series, and though Joe does not appear in this one, there are echoes of those books in it: Washington, D.C. setting; hapless, legally challenged but good-hearted government employee; corrupt middle-aged drunk pulling strings in thoroughly unsavory ways. And of course, there’s murder and mayhem. I don’t see how Roger Smith could be lucky enough to sustain his own series, but if Lawson finds a way, I’m going to be first in line to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing a digital ARC for review.
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.
August 21, 2026
McKenna’s Guy hooked me right away with that opening scene—Roger Smith calmly dealing with a home intruder who clearly picked the wrong house, then making a phone call to the last person you’d expect. The mystery around Roger is what kept me turning the pages. He seems like the definition of respectable: a widower, amateur painter, devoted family man, and civil servant at the Government Printing Office, yet Detective Grace Lillinthal immediately senses that he’s hiding something. I really enjoyed watching her pick apart his carefully constructed story while the threats against him kept escalating.
John McKenna was another highlight. His larger-than-life personality and reputation as the owner of a bar frequented by criminals added a great contrast to Roger’s buttoned-up image, and their connection raises even more questions about Roger’s past. The pacing stays tight as Grace closes in, another assassin enters the picture, and Roger is forced to confront the fact that surviving may require him to start thinking like the criminal everyone assumes he is. Fast, twisty, and full of secrets without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.
John McKenna was another highlight. His larger-than-life personality and reputation as the owner of a bar frequented by criminals added a great contrast to Roger’s buttoned-up image, and their connection raises even more questions about Roger’s past. The pacing stays tight as Grace closes in, another assassin enters the picture, and Roger is forced to confront the fact that surviving may require him to start thinking like the criminal everyone assumes he is. Fast, twisty, and full of secrets without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.
July 25, 2026
McKenna’s Guy is a smart, fast-paced thriller that kept me flipping pages late into the night. Lawson writes in a clear, unpretentious voice, weaving a suspenseful plot with deadpan humor that made me laugh out loud (“The bartender sighed, acting as if Roger had asked him to dig a ditch with his bare hands…” and “She looked like a bowling ball with feet”).
The story opens with a bang, literally. Roger, 65, has lived alone since his wife’s death years ago, working a quiet job at the Government Printing Office and living for his daughter and grandchildren. Then an armed night-time intruder fires five shots into his empty bed, and Roger, who’s been hiding behind his bedroom door, kills the man with his late wife’s baseball bat. That’s just the opening move in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game that pits him against a hired killer, a suspicious D.C. homicide detective, and a cast of colorful, well-drawn characters. The final twist is a knockout. Highly entertaining, I couldn't put it down.
The story opens with a bang, literally. Roger, 65, has lived alone since his wife’s death years ago, working a quiet job at the Government Printing Office and living for his daughter and grandchildren. Then an armed night-time intruder fires five shots into his empty bed, and Roger, who’s been hiding behind his bedroom door, kills the man with his late wife’s baseball bat. That’s just the opening move in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game that pits him against a hired killer, a suspicious D.C. homicide detective, and a cast of colorful, well-drawn characters. The final twist is a knockout. Highly entertaining, I couldn't put it down.
July 12, 2026
Not a Joe DeMarco by any means (which I prefer). Just average 2.5 to 3 for me for this standalone book.
Someone breaks into Roger Smith's home one night and sheer luck saved him. Roger's an average, boring worker at the Govt Printing Office so why would someone try to kill him? His first call is to a friend McKenna who is a bit shady and this puts him in investigating Det. Grace Lillinthal's crosshairs. Although the death of the intruder is justified, Grace thinks there's something Roger is hiding -especially when she finds that he called McKenna.
Seems Roger has had a side hustle with McKenna for the last 20 years due to crushing debt and someone had sent the assassin to take care of them! This attempt isn't the last and Grace needs to convince Roger to tell his secret before the next assassin succeeds since Roger's survival is more luck than skill.
Someone breaks into Roger Smith's home one night and sheer luck saved him. Roger's an average, boring worker at the Govt Printing Office so why would someone try to kill him? His first call is to a friend McKenna who is a bit shady and this puts him in investigating Det. Grace Lillinthal's crosshairs. Although the death of the intruder is justified, Grace thinks there's something Roger is hiding -especially when she finds that he called McKenna.
Seems Roger has had a side hustle with McKenna for the last 20 years due to crushing debt and someone had sent the assassin to take care of them! This attempt isn't the last and Grace needs to convince Roger to tell his secret before the next assassin succeeds since Roger's survival is more luck than skill.
July 29, 2026
When an intruder breaks into Roger Smith's home in the middle of the night, Roger kills him with a baseball bat. The detective assigned to the case, Grace Lillinthal, is suspicious of Roger's claims that he's just a normal guy who works for the Government Publishing Office in Washington D.C. and has a greeting card business that he runs out of his basement. Grace feels that Roger is not being entirely truthful to her. In fact, Grace is correct. For the last twenty years, Roger has secretly been working with local bar owner John McKenna in creating passports for people who want to disappear. Could Roger's side job be the reason someone wants him dead? McKenna's Guy details Roger's and McKenna's search for who is after them, Grace's investigation and her need to get Roger to come clean. A great read-alike for Thomas Perry and readers who enjoy cat and mouse crime stories with "average guy" main characters.
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.
July 18, 2026
Excellent story of a single Father trying to makes ends meet while keeping his moral code, sort of.
Roger Smith is trying to raise his daughter while the debt from his wife's unsuccessful treatment buries him. Roger works for U.S.government in DC publishing various loads of documents as well as having access to blank passports which passes through his purview. Uh oh. A neighborhood friend with some sketchy connections approaches Roger with a proposal to make a fake passport. Can this save Roger from financial ruin? Maybe.
well written with a multitude of interesting characters as well as some luck and crazy shit. Enjoy.
Roger Smith is trying to raise his daughter while the debt from his wife's unsuccessful treatment buries him. Roger works for U.S.government in DC publishing various loads of documents as well as having access to blank passports which passes through his purview. Uh oh. A neighborhood friend with some sketchy connections approaches Roger with a proposal to make a fake passport. Can this save Roger from financial ruin? Maybe.
well written with a multitude of interesting characters as well as some luck and crazy shit. Enjoy.
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
August 23, 2026
Roger Smith is a quiet widower and Government Printing Office worker, nearing retirement.
One night someone breaks into his house with the intention of killing him. But the would be assassin ends up dead instead.
Washington, D.C. Detective Grace Lillinthal shows up and is immediately suspicious of Roger, when she finds out he first called John McKenna, a local bar owner with a suspicious past.
Soon the cat and mouse game is on. Who wants Roger (and maybe also McKenna) dead?
And what is it that Roger and McKenna are hiding?
This was a lot of fun, and was very quickly paced.
One night someone breaks into his house with the intention of killing him. But the would be assassin ends up dead instead.
Washington, D.C. Detective Grace Lillinthal shows up and is immediately suspicious of Roger, when she finds out he first called John McKenna, a local bar owner with a suspicious past.
Soon the cat and mouse game is on. Who wants Roger (and maybe also McKenna) dead?
And what is it that Roger and McKenna are hiding?
This was a lot of fun, and was very quickly paced.
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.
July 22, 2026
When criminals fall out… A hitherto successful scheme to create false identities for criminal fugitives unravels due to greed; a series of deadly misunderstandings ensues. The plot is a bit creaky - and unnecessary since Roger could have gone right to Plan B as soon as he was questioned by police - but Lawson is a good writer of thrillers. . As always, the lesson to criminals and people with secrets is not to start killing people when you feel threatened. Sit tight!
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.
July 10, 2026
There's a violent home invasion at Roger Smith's house, but who would want to harm or rob Roger? He doesn't own anything valuable, he's a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record, a widower living alone. It must be a case of mistaken identity...or is it? Of course not! What has quiet, mild-mannered Roger been up to? Fun, fast-paced story with lots of twists. Good "beach" book.
July 16, 2026
An awesome read…Hope this becomes a series. Fast paced with two elderly guys-one works at the Government printing office and the other owns his own bar-two unlikely “friends”/business associates? The Detective, Littenthal, just won’t give up with all the lies, murderers, Canada and those twists and turns. Enjoy
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!
July 17, 2026
Fantastic. Although not a Joe DeMarco, this is a wonderful read. It has all of Mike Lawson’s brilliant humorous page-turning tension and a knock out ending. Lawson is among the top rank of thriller writers like Thomas Perry and Ross Thomas.
July 24, 2026
This was an enjoyable fast-paced thriller with an interesting premise that kept my interest till the end. I liked the theme of an ordinary man caught in extraordinary circumstances, relying on his own wits to survive.
July 29, 2026
This was a good story! I have read all of Mike Lawson’s books and this one was really good.
This a stand alone about an ordinary guy who has money troubles. He starts making illegal passports. After 20 years. Things start to unravel. I recommend this book
This a stand alone about an ordinary guy who has money troubles. He starts making illegal passports. After 20 years. Things start to unravel. I recommend this book
August 22, 2026
Cleverly plotted, with some excellent twists and a solid cast of characters. I didn’t think this was as funny as Lawson’s Joe DeMarco books, but the pace made up for any lapse in humor. Quite enjoyable.
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 - 30 of 35 reviews