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Joe DeMarco #15
House Standoff
A D.C. fixer heads to Wyoming on a personal mission in the new novel from an Edgar Award-finalist
When someone close to him is shot dead in a roadside motel in a small Wyoming town, Joe DeMarco shirks his responsibilities as the Speaker of the House's fixer to make sure the authorities are doing everything they can to catch the killer. He soon realizes that the rural area is dominated by Hiram Bunt, a wealthy rancher with an obstructionist streak who's willing to take on the federal government at gunpoint and seems to have a number of politicians under his thumb.
But Bunt isn't the only one in the way. DeMarco also learns that his friend―a woman he was once in love with―had unearthed explosive secrets during her time in the backwoods, and that the deputy in charge of the investigation may be ignoring leads to preserve a secret of his own. Surrounded by people willing to kill to maintain the status quo, DeMarco launches his own investigation into a growing list of intertwining suspects. And being DeMarco, he concludes that breaking the law to uncover the truth is the best way to ensure that justice is done . . .
When someone close to him is shot dead in a roadside motel in a small Wyoming town, Joe DeMarco shirks his responsibilities as the Speaker of the House's fixer to make sure the authorities are doing everything they can to catch the killer. He soon realizes that the rural area is dominated by Hiram Bunt, a wealthy rancher with an obstructionist streak who's willing to take on the federal government at gunpoint and seems to have a number of politicians under his thumb.
But Bunt isn't the only one in the way. DeMarco also learns that his friend―a woman he was once in love with―had unearthed explosive secrets during her time in the backwoods, and that the deputy in charge of the investigation may be ignoring leads to preserve a secret of his own. Surrounded by people willing to kill to maintain the status quo, DeMarco launches his own investigation into a growing list of intertwining suspects. And being DeMarco, he concludes that breaking the law to uncover the truth is the best way to ensure that justice is done . . .
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2021
90 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
About the author
Mike Lawson
51 books437 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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March 25, 2021First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Mike Lawson, and Grove Atlantic for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Returning with the fifteenth book in the Joe DeMarco series, Mike Lawson brings something new to the discussion to keep readers on their toes. While DeMarco has made a name for himself as the ‘fixer’ for Speaker of the House of Representatives, he disputes the title and the sentiment that he is under anyone’s thumb. After learning that a friend was murdered in rural Wyoming, DeMarco makes his way out there to do some investigating of his own. What he discovers is not as open and shut as some would believe. A great piece with just the right amount of grit to fit the DeMarco norm. Recommended to those who enjoy a looser crime thriller with a handful of potential suspects.
Joe DeMarco’s earned quite the reputation as a fixer for John Maloney, current Speaker of the House of Representatives. While the two men have worked together in the past, DeMarco does not want his reputation tainted, as many see the senior politician as troublesome. With the Speaker out of the country on official business, DeMarco hopes to be able to get some golf in and relax, enjoying the quiet.
However, he learns of the death of a long-ago friend, Shannon Doyle, in rural Wyoming. Doyle is a popular author who was said to be researching her latest novel when she was murdered in a robbery. The local authorities were convinced it was a trucker who might have been passing through and wanted to score something to pawn. DeMarco is not buying it and chooses to leave DC to begin an investigation of his own.
Upon his arrival in Wyoming, DeMarco realises that things are a lot different than in DC, with a slower pace and a greater deference for the law. DeMarco approaches the local FBI to explain his presence, as well as some of his sentiments, though he is stonewalled before he gets too far. It would seem the local authorities have their own ideas and do not want anyone from outside poking their heads around.
Once DeMarco gains access to Doyle’s cloud account, he discovers a journal that she’s been keeping about the locals, something that tells quite the story about all of them. It gives him a better idea as to who might have been ‘colouring outside the lines’ and what motives they may have to want her quieted. Working the angles as best he can, DeMarco hones in on a few possibles, only to uncover a larger crime. The murder of a Black Lives Matter protestor seems to have been neutralised, though Shannon Doyle had some proof that could upend things quite substantially.
DeMarco is not one to leave stones unturned and he goes blazing in, pointing fingers where he feels the need. The murderer is in town, of that DeMarco is sure, but trying to choose the correct person is important. It’s sure to cost him something or other, but one can only hope his life’s not in jeopardy.
I’ve been reading and enjoying Mike Lawson’s work for a number of years, always finding the mix of crime and politics to my liking. While Joe DeMarco does come across as a man who is happy to blur the lines, his dedication to justice cannot be disputed. DeMarco takes matters into his own hands with this piece, but is happy to fight for what he feels is right as he salvages the reputation of a woman for whom he cared a great deal.
Joe DeMarco is the perfect protagonist for this piece, mixing his gritty determination with strong sleuthing skills. His background with familial connections to the Italian community does not hurt his reputation, though he does not want to rely on it, as he tries to live the clean life. With a little backstory on his ties to Shannon Doyle, DeMarco’s character evolves slightly in the fight for justice. His investigative skills are on display throughout this piece, showing that a little attention to detail can go a long way, even if it causes some with the local police more than a few headaches.
Lawson creates some strong supporting characters for his protagonist as well. Moving the piece out to Wyoming, there are few recurring characters in the book, save for a few who receive passing mention, allowing DeMarco to rule the roost as it were. Those who help create the Wyoming flavouring to the story emerge throughout as key characters and ones that add depth to the story. The reader will likely enjoy this ‘small town’ feel, with locals who wish only to stick to what they have always known and frown on outsiders who try to poke their noses where they do not belong.
The story was well presented and left much of the politics out of the mix. This is more a crime thriller than anything political, allowing Lawson to expand his writing style. There is a little of everything in the piece, with some much needed humour to offset some of the darker revelations that come to the surface. Quick chapters balance nicely with a narrative that moves at a clipped pace. The reader is sure to get into the middle of the story with ease and find themselves devouring the book in short order. Who knows what’s next for Lawson and how he will approach the series. It’s done well for now, though I wonder if DeMarco is pining for more golf time than having to smash heads to get answers.
Kudos, Mr. Lawson, for another winner. I am glad to have found the series and an eager to see what’s to come!
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful book summaries by strong reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ho...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Returning with the fifteenth book in the Joe DeMarco series, Mike Lawson brings something new to the discussion to keep readers on their toes. While DeMarco has made a name for himself as the ‘fixer’ for Speaker of the House of Representatives, he disputes the title and the sentiment that he is under anyone’s thumb. After learning that a friend was murdered in rural Wyoming, DeMarco makes his way out there to do some investigating of his own. What he discovers is not as open and shut as some would believe. A great piece with just the right amount of grit to fit the DeMarco norm. Recommended to those who enjoy a looser crime thriller with a handful of potential suspects.
Joe DeMarco’s earned quite the reputation as a fixer for John Maloney, current Speaker of the House of Representatives. While the two men have worked together in the past, DeMarco does not want his reputation tainted, as many see the senior politician as troublesome. With the Speaker out of the country on official business, DeMarco hopes to be able to get some golf in and relax, enjoying the quiet.
However, he learns of the death of a long-ago friend, Shannon Doyle, in rural Wyoming. Doyle is a popular author who was said to be researching her latest novel when she was murdered in a robbery. The local authorities were convinced it was a trucker who might have been passing through and wanted to score something to pawn. DeMarco is not buying it and chooses to leave DC to begin an investigation of his own.
Upon his arrival in Wyoming, DeMarco realises that things are a lot different than in DC, with a slower pace and a greater deference for the law. DeMarco approaches the local FBI to explain his presence, as well as some of his sentiments, though he is stonewalled before he gets too far. It would seem the local authorities have their own ideas and do not want anyone from outside poking their heads around.
Once DeMarco gains access to Doyle’s cloud account, he discovers a journal that she’s been keeping about the locals, something that tells quite the story about all of them. It gives him a better idea as to who might have been ‘colouring outside the lines’ and what motives they may have to want her quieted. Working the angles as best he can, DeMarco hones in on a few possibles, only to uncover a larger crime. The murder of a Black Lives Matter protestor seems to have been neutralised, though Shannon Doyle had some proof that could upend things quite substantially.
DeMarco is not one to leave stones unturned and he goes blazing in, pointing fingers where he feels the need. The murderer is in town, of that DeMarco is sure, but trying to choose the correct person is important. It’s sure to cost him something or other, but one can only hope his life’s not in jeopardy.
I’ve been reading and enjoying Mike Lawson’s work for a number of years, always finding the mix of crime and politics to my liking. While Joe DeMarco does come across as a man who is happy to blur the lines, his dedication to justice cannot be disputed. DeMarco takes matters into his own hands with this piece, but is happy to fight for what he feels is right as he salvages the reputation of a woman for whom he cared a great deal.
Joe DeMarco is the perfect protagonist for this piece, mixing his gritty determination with strong sleuthing skills. His background with familial connections to the Italian community does not hurt his reputation, though he does not want to rely on it, as he tries to live the clean life. With a little backstory on his ties to Shannon Doyle, DeMarco’s character evolves slightly in the fight for justice. His investigative skills are on display throughout this piece, showing that a little attention to detail can go a long way, even if it causes some with the local police more than a few headaches.
Lawson creates some strong supporting characters for his protagonist as well. Moving the piece out to Wyoming, there are few recurring characters in the book, save for a few who receive passing mention, allowing DeMarco to rule the roost as it were. Those who help create the Wyoming flavouring to the story emerge throughout as key characters and ones that add depth to the story. The reader will likely enjoy this ‘small town’ feel, with locals who wish only to stick to what they have always known and frown on outsiders who try to poke their noses where they do not belong.
The story was well presented and left much of the politics out of the mix. This is more a crime thriller than anything political, allowing Lawson to expand his writing style. There is a little of everything in the piece, with some much needed humour to offset some of the darker revelations that come to the surface. Quick chapters balance nicely with a narrative that moves at a clipped pace. The reader is sure to get into the middle of the story with ease and find themselves devouring the book in short order. Who knows what’s next for Lawson and how he will approach the series. It’s done well for now, though I wonder if DeMarco is pining for more golf time than having to smash heads to get answers.
Kudos, Mr. Lawson, for another winner. I am glad to have found the series and an eager to see what’s to come!
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful book summaries by strong reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ho...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 16, 2022
Joe DeMarco some how reaches down into me in a way few of Lawson’s “competitors” can do. This series is a bit uneven but I keep on coming back because of several unique aspects to these mystery/thriller stories-----
DeMarco is an unusual combination of lazy government worker and hound dog on the hunt. Let me quote part of his backstory:
"DeMarco arrived in D.C. thinking he would become a member of Mahoney’s staff and be used to untangle knotty legal issues facing the legislature. This was not to be. Mahoney stuck him in a windowless box down in the bowels of the Capitol. In the beginning, DeMarco worked for another man to learn the tricks of his trade—the word “tricks” not a euphemism—and when his mentor retired by way of a heart attack, DeMarco sallied forth on his own. He became Mahoney’s bagman—the guy who collected the rent for Mahoney’s vote. He was also Mahoney’s off-the-books troubleshooter."
His boss is one of the broadest caricatures of what most of us despise in our members of Congress.
"John Mahoney was arguably the most corrupt politician to ever serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, but through a combination of luck and skill he’d never been indicted, much less incarcerated. Despite his flawed character—or maybe because of it—he was amazingly popular with his working-class constituents in Boston and had been a member of Congress for forty years."
DeMarco spots a column in the Washington Post that mentions the death of a woman (Shannon) that could have become the one and only in his life. He can’t accept the explanation that some random opportunist tried to rob her and accidentally killed her in the attempt.
"No hotshot investigative reporter was going to be assigned to make sure the Wyoming cops were doing their job. Nor did she come from a wealthy, connected family that could apply a political blowtorch to the cops if they were dragging their feet. And what all this meant was that her death could very likely become an unsolved homicide, which would then become a cold case, and Shannon’s killer might never be caught—unless someone was pushing."
So Joe, on his own time and expenses, goes out to Wyoming to push and plenty of time is spent showing us how much DeMarco is a fish out of water whenever he gets to America’s “wide-open spaces.” This is a small example: "Mr. DeMarco, you’re in Wyoming. Now I don’t know if it’s true, but I read somewhere that there are more guns per capita in Wyoming than in any other state in the country, and it’s the state with the fewest regulations when it comes to owning, buying, or carrying a firearm. There’s no central firearms registry. People in this state wouldn’t stand for that.”
And,
"DeMarco’s overall impression was: flat, dusty, dry, and unappealing. Shannon certainly would have found something complimentary and poetic to say about the landscape—capturing in words its vastness and the subtle splendor of the high desert foliage—but to DeMarco, flat and dry was good enough."
We (us readers of these books) cheer for Joe and for his success. We know that DeMarco will likely pay for his inquisitiveness with pain, embarrassment and ultimately with the wrath of his boss who never gave him permission for this escapade. This may not be the best of the series but it has its moments.
4*
• This is a recently written book and there are many references to contemporary USA events. The situation involving Hiram Bunt’s ongoing dispute with the Bureau of Land Management is a thinly fictionalized retelling of many of the aspects of the situation that put the FBI and BLM up against Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundy_s...
• The following quotation will give you some sense of what Lawson thinks about those who don’t read for pleasure: "“The last book I read was some stupid thing called Vanity Fair by a writer named Wackery, or something like that. This English teacher in high school wouldn’t give me a passing grade til I finished it and wrote a report on it. That damn book was more than seven hundred pages long and I couldn’t understand what the hell the guy was talking about. Fortunately, my buddy Harley—he’s dead now, killed himself on a snowmobile—told me a guy named Cliff had boiled the whole damn book down to about seventy pages, so I read Cliff’s book and wrote the report based on it. Now if you ask me, the man who can tell a story in seventy pages instead of seven hundred is the better writer.”"
DeMarco is an unusual combination of lazy government worker and hound dog on the hunt. Let me quote part of his backstory:
"DeMarco arrived in D.C. thinking he would become a member of Mahoney’s staff and be used to untangle knotty legal issues facing the legislature. This was not to be. Mahoney stuck him in a windowless box down in the bowels of the Capitol. In the beginning, DeMarco worked for another man to learn the tricks of his trade—the word “tricks” not a euphemism—and when his mentor retired by way of a heart attack, DeMarco sallied forth on his own. He became Mahoney’s bagman—the guy who collected the rent for Mahoney’s vote. He was also Mahoney’s off-the-books troubleshooter."
His boss is one of the broadest caricatures of what most of us despise in our members of Congress.
"John Mahoney was arguably the most corrupt politician to ever serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, but through a combination of luck and skill he’d never been indicted, much less incarcerated. Despite his flawed character—or maybe because of it—he was amazingly popular with his working-class constituents in Boston and had been a member of Congress for forty years."
DeMarco spots a column in the Washington Post that mentions the death of a woman (Shannon) that could have become the one and only in his life. He can’t accept the explanation that some random opportunist tried to rob her and accidentally killed her in the attempt.
"No hotshot investigative reporter was going to be assigned to make sure the Wyoming cops were doing their job. Nor did she come from a wealthy, connected family that could apply a political blowtorch to the cops if they were dragging their feet. And what all this meant was that her death could very likely become an unsolved homicide, which would then become a cold case, and Shannon’s killer might never be caught—unless someone was pushing."
So Joe, on his own time and expenses, goes out to Wyoming to push and plenty of time is spent showing us how much DeMarco is a fish out of water whenever he gets to America’s “wide-open spaces.” This is a small example: "Mr. DeMarco, you’re in Wyoming. Now I don’t know if it’s true, but I read somewhere that there are more guns per capita in Wyoming than in any other state in the country, and it’s the state with the fewest regulations when it comes to owning, buying, or carrying a firearm. There’s no central firearms registry. People in this state wouldn’t stand for that.”
And,
"DeMarco’s overall impression was: flat, dusty, dry, and unappealing. Shannon certainly would have found something complimentary and poetic to say about the landscape—capturing in words its vastness and the subtle splendor of the high desert foliage—but to DeMarco, flat and dry was good enough."
We (us readers of these books) cheer for Joe and for his success. We know that DeMarco will likely pay for his inquisitiveness with pain, embarrassment and ultimately with the wrath of his boss who never gave him permission for this escapade. This may not be the best of the series but it has its moments.
4*
• This is a recently written book and there are many references to contemporary USA events. The situation involving Hiram Bunt’s ongoing dispute with the Bureau of Land Management is a thinly fictionalized retelling of many of the aspects of the situation that put the FBI and BLM up against Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundy_s...
• The following quotation will give you some sense of what Lawson thinks about those who don’t read for pleasure: "“The last book I read was some stupid thing called Vanity Fair by a writer named Wackery, or something like that. This English teacher in high school wouldn’t give me a passing grade til I finished it and wrote a report on it. That damn book was more than seven hundred pages long and I couldn’t understand what the hell the guy was talking about. Fortunately, my buddy Harley—he’s dead now, killed himself on a snowmobile—told me a guy named Cliff had boiled the whole damn book down to about seventy pages, so I read Cliff’s book and wrote the report based on it. Now if you ask me, the man who can tell a story in seventy pages instead of seven hundred is the better writer.”"
April 28, 2021
I've read all the first 14 Joe DeMarco novels and because of them, Mike Lawson is one of my favorite writers. But this 15th entry is just so-so with our hero way out of his milieu in Wyoming as opposed to Washington, D.C. Nothing much happens outside of Joe crashing around uninvited in a murder investigation and the climax is not overly satisfying. Still, I'll be there for No. 16 hoping that 15 was just a bit of an outlier.
April 12, 2021
Thanks to Mr. Lawson and Grove Atlantic for permitting me to read this novel via NetGalley.
I’ve been a fan of Joe DeMarco over the years. I just listened to #14, House Privilege, to catch up before House Standoff. I am having some real issues with my buddy Joe. He was in full superhero mode in Privilege as he protected a young girl with some outrageous and illegal tactics. He has no problem bugging Speaker Mahoney about hanging onto his job so he can maintain his pension. And it sounds like a pretty cushy job, other than the moral ambiguity and lack of respect at being outed as the Speaker’s fixer. Maybe he shows up for 10 hours a week, except when he’s in the thick of things. He has plenty of time for golf. Must be unofficial government comp time.
In this book, he flies into Wyoming to find out why a friend was killed. He’s a literal bull in a china shop, which is his normal modus operandi. In this case, the ending is unexpected and shows Joe in a very dark light. He just leaves town and all the mess stays behind. He seems completely unaffected by his impact on other people, no matter their level of goodness, badness or culpability. In fact, he’s going to take some time off and play golf, making sure to avoid his boss so he doesn’t get any more work for a while.
Maybe I want to ask Joe: when the heck are you going to grow up? I sense a crisis is building. Can he go on doing this job year after year? At some point Mahoney is going to drop dead. Joe has been an appealing maverick. I hope he can learn some self-awareness. 3 stars.
I’ve been a fan of Joe DeMarco over the years. I just listened to #14, House Privilege, to catch up before House Standoff. I am having some real issues with my buddy Joe. He was in full superhero mode in Privilege as he protected a young girl with some outrageous and illegal tactics. He has no problem bugging Speaker Mahoney about hanging onto his job so he can maintain his pension. And it sounds like a pretty cushy job, other than the moral ambiguity and lack of respect at being outed as the Speaker’s fixer. Maybe he shows up for 10 hours a week, except when he’s in the thick of things. He has plenty of time for golf. Must be unofficial government comp time.
In this book, he flies into Wyoming to find out why a friend was killed. He’s a literal bull in a china shop, which is his normal modus operandi. In this case, the ending is unexpected and shows Joe in a very dark light. He just leaves town and all the mess stays behind. He seems completely unaffected by his impact on other people, no matter their level of goodness, badness or culpability. In fact, he’s going to take some time off and play golf, making sure to avoid his boss so he doesn’t get any more work for a while.
Maybe I want to ask Joe: when the heck are you going to grow up? I sense a crisis is building. Can he go on doing this job year after year? At some point Mahoney is going to drop dead. Joe has been an appealing maverick. I hope he can learn some self-awareness. 3 stars.
May 7, 2021
Lawson is getting better and better with this series. Joe DeMarco is a regular guy with an irregular family history and a singularly strange job working for the long sitting House Democratic Party Leader's (a great character himself) fixer. Lawson has DeMarco get into some very strange and even dangerous situations in Washington D. C. and increasingly in other areas of the USA and even in other countries on some very strange assignments. DeMarco doesn't mind bending the rules and proves to be very good at getting results...while still maintaining a good moral compass.
He's a really good character amid other good recurring characters and Lawson does a great job putting them in very interesting situations. This one happens to take place in a small town in Wyoming where an ex-lover of DeMarco's is murdered. He decides to go out to see if the investigation of who killed her is being done with a legitimate investigation. He bends some rules and gets results...just what a good fixer does.
He's a really good character amid other good recurring characters and Lawson does a great job putting them in very interesting situations. This one happens to take place in a small town in Wyoming where an ex-lover of DeMarco's is murdered. He decides to go out to see if the investigation of who killed her is being done with a legitimate investigation. He bends some rules and gets results...just what a good fixer does.
March 24, 2021
I have read House Standoff by Mike Lawson, it's the 15th Joe DeMarco adventure. Boy is this good writing. I first tried one of these with the previous book and I was not sure if I would continue reading them. Then, thanks to #AtlanticMonthlyPress #IngramPublisherService #GroveAtlantic #Netgalley and #Edelweiss I got this arc twice! and thought I would read one more and I am so glad that I did. Now the only problem is that I feel the need, the need to read. All the previous 13 books. I really recommend this series. In this book our hero finds that an old flame has been murdered in a small town in Wyoming and he feels that he needs to go there and figure out who did it. What a mess it will turn out to be....
May 1, 2023
Lawson, Mike
House Standoff – A Joe DeMarco Thriller – Published 2021 - *** - DeMarco is in Wyoming trying to figure out the murderer of his previous girlfriend. With ever increasing skimming, I finished the book. As with two of his other books I have read and reviewed, the book lacks the excitement expected in something labeled a ‘thriller’. This is a successful author, and I just don’t seem to get why he is so successful. This is the last Lawson novel for me.
House Standoff – A Joe DeMarco Thriller – Published 2021 - *** - DeMarco is in Wyoming trying to figure out the murderer of his previous girlfriend. With ever increasing skimming, I finished the book. As with two of his other books I have read and reviewed, the book lacks the excitement expected in something labeled a ‘thriller’. This is a successful author, and I just don’t seem to get why he is so successful. This is the last Lawson novel for me.
February 19, 2022
Ok read but not a favorite. Joe Demarco alone and out of his normal congressional element, away from Mahoney, Emma, and other regulars in DC and NY just misses the mark. Besides Joe, whose mission to discover who killed a close friend takes him to Wyoming (talk about a fish out of water), there were no other likable characters. This one was a miss for me.
April 14, 2021
A man comes to town. . .DeMarco goes to Wyoming to look into the death of a good friend and finds a small town with a lot of secrets. DeMarco stirs things up. The solution comes out of left field. A fairly flat addition to a usually reliable series. 2.5 stars.
April 9, 2021
Mike Lawson knows how to tell a good story, even when his main character, Joe DeMarco, is out of his milieu. Transporting the D.C. lawyer from the urban Eastern seaboard to the high desert of Wyoming adds some cross-cultural complications to this series.
Not to mention that politics in the Mountain West are a different game altogether, and his Congressional ID may be a drawback rather than a facilitator.
Don't expect pretty writing from Lawson. Unlike the fictional author in House Standoff, his writing isn't lyrical. He establishes a sense of place brutally, with a sentence or two using words like dead, dry and sagebrush.
But he's good with characters, knows how to pace his story and to layer the clues. I liked this book even more than the DeMarco stories set in the cities.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance readers copy.
Not to mention that politics in the Mountain West are a different game altogether, and his Congressional ID may be a drawback rather than a facilitator.
Don't expect pretty writing from Lawson. Unlike the fictional author in House Standoff, his writing isn't lyrical. He establishes a sense of place brutally, with a sentence or two using words like dead, dry and sagebrush.
But he's good with characters, knows how to pace his story and to layer the clues. I liked this book even more than the DeMarco stories set in the cities.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance readers copy.
October 28, 2023
This was the best surprise because for some reason I thought the series was over and the laugh was on me. This made me so, so very happy. It had the right vibe and my man was right on point. Mike Lawson creates such well rounded characters it makes my toes curl with pleasure. I didn’t see the conclusion coming and I’m okay with that.
Next!
Next!
Read
March 29, 2022Hoping this series isn't done.
February 4, 2025
Every time I read a Demarco book, I feel like I am catching up with an old friend. Not the greatest entry in the series, but enjoyable nonetheless.
August 13, 2021
Mike Lawson is becoming the gold standard for mysteries and thrillers, as far as I am concerned. Every book crackles with page-turning, engrossing dialogue, storyline progression and characters who are anything but stereotypes. Joe DeMarco is such a fascinating character, torn between holding his nose and being a fixer for a just-this-side of corrupt congressman, who is downright self-righteous and arrogant as well, and in doing what he knows in his heart is right to bring justice to a difficult situation that he finds himself in. This balancing act is handled so well by Mr. Lawson in every book. In this story, Joe heads to Wyoming to find out why and by whom a one-time girlfriend was killed. Mr. Lawson also does an excellent job of scene-setting. I like to feel that I am in the place (in my mind) that an author is describing. Each book never fails to be anything other than superb in every way. Mike Lawson deserves any accolades that come his way, and he also deserves to rank right up there with the best mystery/thriller authors writing today.
August 31, 2021
When someone close to him is shot dead in a roadside motel in a small-town in Wyoming, DeMarco shirks his responsibilities as the Speaker of the House's fixer to make sure the authorities are doing everything that can be done to catch the killer. He soon realizes that the rural area is dominated by Hiram Bunt, a wealthy rancher with an obstructionist streak who is willing to take on the federal government at gunpoint and seems to have a number of politicians under his thumb. But Bunt is not the only one in the way. DeMarco also learns that his friend--a woman he was once in love with--had unearthed a number of explosive secrets during her time in the backwoods, and that the deputy in charge of the investigation may be ignoring several leads to preserve a secret of his own. Surrounded by people willing to kill to maintain the status quo, DeMarco launches his own investigation into a growing list of intertwining suspects. And being DeMarco, he concludes that breaking the law to uncover the truth is the best way to ensure that justice is done.
September 6, 2021
I really like Mike Lawsons writing and his character Joe Demarco, however this book was a let down as it did not have the usual punch other books in the series.
Demarco goes to Wyoming to figure out who killed Shannon With who he had a brief fling and upends the lives of the town folk.
The writing is still good but the story drags on and lags far longer then necessary and the setting of the rural Wyoming makes Demarco feel out of place.
Demarco goes to Wyoming to figure out who killed Shannon With who he had a brief fling and upends the lives of the town folk.
The writing is still good but the story drags on and lags far longer then necessary and the setting of the rural Wyoming makes Demarco feel out of place.
May 26, 2022
Ended lazily
I love Joe Demarco. Thos book was most disappointing. I'm not sure if the author phoned it in. Well. The series is great.. I guess they can't all be winners.
I love Joe Demarco. Thos book was most disappointing. I'm not sure if the author phoned it in. Well. The series is great.. I guess they can't all be winners.
April 20, 2021
Mike Lawson is one of those writers that seems to fly under the radar. HOUSE STANDOFF is the fifteenth title in his Joe DeMarco series and it just as solid as the other titles I have read from him. What makes this novel even more appealing is that it can be read as a stand-alone, allowing for new readers to find out for themselves what a Joe DeMarco story is all about and possibly seek out other titles in Lawson’s series afterwards.
An author by the name of Shannon Doyle is shot to death in a Wyoming motel, the apparent victim of a robbery gone bad. This news really takes the wind out of Joe DeMarco’s sails because Shannon was once the love of his life. In fact, had she not hit the big-time with her prior novel and moved out to the West Coast they might have ended up together. Instead, Joe is still a lawyer and fixer for the Speaker of the House in D.C. who is now ready to put aside his current duties and catch a flight out to Wyoming to find out what happened to Shannon Doyle.
One of the many things I like about Joe DeMarco is that he is unabashedly conservative --- a rare and somewhat unpopular tag these days in either fiction or non-fiction. Even though he is traveling to an area of the country where the political ideology is similar to his own, he will quickly learn that this is the only thing he has in common with the very suspicious small Wyoming town of Waverly. After attending Shannon’s memorial service in her original hometown of Newport, Rhode Island, DeMarco is on the next flight to Wyoming. He checks into the same motel where Shannon was killed and is instantly on the radar of the motel owner, Sam Clarke, who reports DeMarco’s arrival to town Sheriff Jim Turner.
When Joe had researched Waverly, he found that the biggest recent news was the questionable death of a Bureau of Land Management Agent who was most likely murdered. The suspects that the FBI are currently investigating are wealthy rancher and land-owner Hiram Bunt and his boy Sonny. There was a big standoff between the Bunt’s and the BLM that everyone in the area is aware of. Joe will make it a point to catch up with the Casper, Wyoming FBI Agent heading up that case --- an aggressive young woman named C.J. McCord.
Joe’s presence in Waverly is very obviously not welcome and there is literally no one he can trust. Whatever research Shannon Doyle had been doing during the two months she was in Waverly had to have unearthed some secrets that she should not have become privy to, making her a target for elimination. The problem is that Joe is busy amassing a list of suspects that makes HOUSE STANDOFF become more of an Agatha Christie murder mystery than your typical story in this series --- and I love it! To begin with, you have the Bunt’s who are trying to avoid being brought down for the death of BLM Agent Jeff Hunter and carry a lot of regional influence to make that happen. One person Joe speaks with hints that it may not have been a man who murdered Shannon.
Unfortunately, this does not make it much easier as the list of female suspects includes: the trophy wife of Hiram Bunt who hates her step-son Sonny and is having an affair with Sheriff Turner; the wife of Sheriff Turner who actually thinks Shannon was seeing her husband; the daughter/maid of motel owner Sam Clarke who is angered that Shannon insinuated she may have stolen jewelry from her room to fund her obvious drug habit; and, the café owner Harriet who had befriended Shannon initially but then freaked out when Shannon was over her place and began innocently asking questions about some old photos she had.
HOUSE STANDOFF will keep you guessing right up to the end while simultaneously holding your breath as Joe DeMarco puts himself into one dangerous situation after another. An above-average murder mystery with some well-written characters and a plot that provides you everything you could ask for in a whodunnit!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Criminal Element
An author by the name of Shannon Doyle is shot to death in a Wyoming motel, the apparent victim of a robbery gone bad. This news really takes the wind out of Joe DeMarco’s sails because Shannon was once the love of his life. In fact, had she not hit the big-time with her prior novel and moved out to the West Coast they might have ended up together. Instead, Joe is still a lawyer and fixer for the Speaker of the House in D.C. who is now ready to put aside his current duties and catch a flight out to Wyoming to find out what happened to Shannon Doyle.
One of the many things I like about Joe DeMarco is that he is unabashedly conservative --- a rare and somewhat unpopular tag these days in either fiction or non-fiction. Even though he is traveling to an area of the country where the political ideology is similar to his own, he will quickly learn that this is the only thing he has in common with the very suspicious small Wyoming town of Waverly. After attending Shannon’s memorial service in her original hometown of Newport, Rhode Island, DeMarco is on the next flight to Wyoming. He checks into the same motel where Shannon was killed and is instantly on the radar of the motel owner, Sam Clarke, who reports DeMarco’s arrival to town Sheriff Jim Turner.
When Joe had researched Waverly, he found that the biggest recent news was the questionable death of a Bureau of Land Management Agent who was most likely murdered. The suspects that the FBI are currently investigating are wealthy rancher and land-owner Hiram Bunt and his boy Sonny. There was a big standoff between the Bunt’s and the BLM that everyone in the area is aware of. Joe will make it a point to catch up with the Casper, Wyoming FBI Agent heading up that case --- an aggressive young woman named C.J. McCord.
Joe’s presence in Waverly is very obviously not welcome and there is literally no one he can trust. Whatever research Shannon Doyle had been doing during the two months she was in Waverly had to have unearthed some secrets that she should not have become privy to, making her a target for elimination. The problem is that Joe is busy amassing a list of suspects that makes HOUSE STANDOFF become more of an Agatha Christie murder mystery than your typical story in this series --- and I love it! To begin with, you have the Bunt’s who are trying to avoid being brought down for the death of BLM Agent Jeff Hunter and carry a lot of regional influence to make that happen. One person Joe speaks with hints that it may not have been a man who murdered Shannon.
Unfortunately, this does not make it much easier as the list of female suspects includes: the trophy wife of Hiram Bunt who hates her step-son Sonny and is having an affair with Sheriff Turner; the wife of Sheriff Turner who actually thinks Shannon was seeing her husband; the daughter/maid of motel owner Sam Clarke who is angered that Shannon insinuated she may have stolen jewelry from her room to fund her obvious drug habit; and, the café owner Harriet who had befriended Shannon initially but then freaked out when Shannon was over her place and began innocently asking questions about some old photos she had.
HOUSE STANDOFF will keep you guessing right up to the end while simultaneously holding your breath as Joe DeMarco puts himself into one dangerous situation after another. An above-average murder mystery with some well-written characters and a plot that provides you everything you could ask for in a whodunnit!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Criminal Element
February 22, 2023
Plot. Joe DeMarco, a guy in his late 30s, has a law degree but cannot find a job because he is the son of a deceased mafia hitman. Joe has never been involved with the mob in any way; he's never even owned a gun. Joe gets a job working in the Capitol. Seems the Speaker of the House had an affair with Joe's aunt and she calls in a favor. Joe is a decent guy, divorced, a bit of a horn dog, lazy, and would rather be playing golf. Speaker of the House John Mahone is a demanding alcoholic, a womanizer, as crooked as all politicians, feared by everyone who knows him - except his wife - a gal everyone adores. Mahone has a few redeeming traits, like a love of the veteran. There is another character of interest. Emma is a woman of high moral standards, a retired deep black ops gal that knows everyone and everything. She hates Mahone because she knows he's a typically devious politician but treats Joe as an annoying younger brother.
The series consists of several full-length novels - each with a beginning - middle - end, meaning you don't have to start with book one, The Inside Ring - but it will help with continuity. Bribing for votes, blackmail, dirty politicians and cops from the FBI to local police, heroic war veterans, and many good guys. From the basement of the capitol to alligator swamps, the series contains a wide range of plots. Narration is fine - Scott Brick does the first two books, Joe Barrett the remainder - no issues with either.
The Joe DeMarco Series is written by Michael Lawson, each book in the area of 10 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released starting in 2005 through today by Random House and Blackstone Publishing.
Entertaining.
The series consists of several full-length novels - each with a beginning - middle - end, meaning you don't have to start with book one, The Inside Ring - but it will help with continuity. Bribing for votes, blackmail, dirty politicians and cops from the FBI to local police, heroic war veterans, and many good guys. From the basement of the capitol to alligator swamps, the series contains a wide range of plots. Narration is fine - Scott Brick does the first two books, Joe Barrett the remainder - no issues with either.
The Joe DeMarco Series is written by Michael Lawson, each book in the area of 10 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released starting in 2005 through today by Random House and Blackstone Publishing.
Entertaining.
April 15, 2021
Joe DeMarco had a budding relationship Shannon Doyle, an author who hit the big-time with her first novel. She decided to move from Boston to California which ended the relationship, much to Joe’s dismay. Reading his morning newspaper, he sees a sees a headline: Author Shannon Doyle Killed. His boss, Speaker of the House John Mahoney, is out of the country and his current assignment for him is a no-brainer so he decides to head to Wyoming (where Shannon was researching her next book) to make sure that every effort is being made to find her killer. What he finds is that the town of Waverly is dominated by a rancher who besides being very rich has a lot of people under his thumb - police and politicians. There are many others who might have a reason to either kill Shannon or at least bury the case. When Joe is able to find Shannon’s journal, he becomes even more involved in sorting out this case. Lots of complicated relationships cause him to use his unusual tactics to get to the bottom of the case. The solution is presented in a very interesting way that will probably surprise you. This is the 15th book in this series and Mike Lawson has become one of my go-to authors. His books move quickly, have good character development, and do not get bogged down in superfluous dialog. Joe DeMarco has his flawed methodology to solve problems but is not a superhero like Mitch Rapp or Jack Reacher. I look forward to the next edition in this series. My thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this book.
October 28, 2025
Book 17 if the DeMarco Series
As with any series there is a consistent pattern. We also have the stars, Joe DeMarco, (picture Chris Noth from Law & Order, The Good Wife, Sex and the City) and his boss, John Mahoney, Democratic Speaker of The House of Representatives (picture Thomas "Tip" P. O’Neil Jr., former Democratic Speaker of the House) both representing Boston.
There are usually two storylines: 1. DeMarco fixing some scheme of Mahoney’s; 2. DeMarco have some independent personal problem that he has to handle.
This time more focus is on DeMarco’s problem.
A former lover, Shannon Doyle, was murdered in Waverly, Wyoming. Doyle was an author famous and rich for her bestselling first novel, The Lighthouse. To do research for her next book she went to Waverly.
DeMarco, still smitten for the love who got away, wants to find her killer because he doesn’t believe the official version. Which blames some unknown tractor trailer driver.
So DeMarco, flies to the small town of Waverly, and begins his search by taking a room at the same truck stop motel where Shannon lived and died.
For a small town where there’s hardly any crime there is lot of scandalous activity on.
Who killed Shannon and why?
A pretty good story.
As with any series there is a consistent pattern. We also have the stars, Joe DeMarco, (picture Chris Noth from Law & Order, The Good Wife, Sex and the City) and his boss, John Mahoney, Democratic Speaker of The House of Representatives (picture Thomas "Tip" P. O’Neil Jr., former Democratic Speaker of the House) both representing Boston.
There are usually two storylines: 1. DeMarco fixing some scheme of Mahoney’s; 2. DeMarco have some independent personal problem that he has to handle.
This time more focus is on DeMarco’s problem.
A former lover, Shannon Doyle, was murdered in Waverly, Wyoming. Doyle was an author famous and rich for her bestselling first novel, The Lighthouse. To do research for her next book she went to Waverly.
DeMarco, still smitten for the love who got away, wants to find her killer because he doesn’t believe the official version. Which blames some unknown tractor trailer driver.
So DeMarco, flies to the small town of Waverly, and begins his search by taking a room at the same truck stop motel where Shannon lived and died.
For a small town where there’s hardly any crime there is lot of scandalous activity on.
Who killed Shannon and why?
A pretty good story.
June 22, 2021
When Joe DeMarco's former lover is shot and killed in a remote section of Wyoming, DeMarco makes it his personal mission to make sure the police find her killer. As you might expect, the town's residents are hesitant to speak to him and have their own dark secrets to protect. DeMarco finds things that the police did not which leads to identifying the murderer of a Bureau of Land Management officer, and shatters the lives of nearly everyone he encounters. The resolution of his ex-lover's death is somewhat of a letdown. On the plus side, DeMarco is an intelligent, clever character who gets things done without guns or any special spy or paramilitary or computer skills (though he has a friend who found a private thing on the cloud). The dialogue is sharp. On the down side, there's not much character development and the reader does not really get a sense of Wyoming. And one thing that always bothers me is that characters believe that if they can just get rid of DeMarco, they can protect their secrets, as if his murder would not draw even more attention by the authorities.
July 8, 2021
Joe DeMarco heads off to Wyoming to right a wrong. A woman he was halfway in love with was murdered. He is convinced the detective investigating the murder is not really interested in solving the crime so Joe does what he does best...interfere in the investigation. As he goes around, stirring up trouble, he discovers that small towns are dangerous places. Hiram Bint rules the town; his wife, Lisa, is having an affair with the detective; the mysterious woman who runs the truckstop could be trouble, and the wife of the detective is the town drunk and having blackouts. There are too many suspects for Joe to narrow down the suspect list. He calls a friend from Boston to come and help. Who shot the BLM agent in the back? And why is no one really interested in who killed Joe's friend? This is a well-plotted book, but the big reveal is a little formulaic. I like Joe a lot, so I will keep reading. This series does not get the love it deserves.
April 11, 2021
FIVE STARS; I got a late start with the DeMarco series but went back to reread the first five as they were all great. Mike Lawson is a terrific writer and DeMarci is one of the best lead characters in fiction today. Another great effort . If you haven't read any of these books you are missing out on one of the top series going today.
When someone close to him is shot dead in a roadside motel in a small Wyoming town, Joe DeMarco shirks his responsibilities as the Speaker of the House’s fixer to make sure the authorities are doing everything they can to catch the killer. He soon realizes that the rural area is dominated by Hiram Bunt, a wealthy rancher with an obstructionist streak who’s willing to take on the federal government at gunpoint and seems to have a number of politicians under his thumb.
When someone close to him is shot dead in a roadside motel in a small Wyoming town, Joe DeMarco shirks his responsibilities as the Speaker of the House’s fixer to make sure the authorities are doing everything they can to catch the killer. He soon realizes that the rural area is dominated by Hiram Bunt, a wealthy rancher with an obstructionist streak who’s willing to take on the federal government at gunpoint and seems to have a number of politicians under his thumb.
April 24, 2021
I love Mike Lawson’s writing, so I was overjoyed when I saw the arrival of his latest release in the Joe Demarco series – House Standoff. Given modern politics, it’s not hard to imagine the scene in Wyoming where Joe has gone to investigate the death of a friend. He soon runs into the reality of a wealthy rancher who has a number of politicians in his pocket. Others, too, are hell-bent on hiding secrets which means that Demarco may have to go a little beyond the law in order to gain justice for his friend. Mike is a master storyteller. If you like a mystery with well-defined and somehow-recognizable characters, writing that is solid and not pretentious, as well as a storyline with a narrative that is both intriguing and down-to-earth, you’ll love this 15th issue of one of the best mystery series around.
I met this book at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA
I met this book at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA
April 1, 2021
Joe DeMarco is out of his element in rural Wyoming, where he's gone to investigate the death of Shannon Doyle, an old friend. As a fixer for the John Mahoney, the Speaker of the House, he's always had entree but not here, not even with the FBI, which is not more interested in his help than local law enforcement. Then he discovers Shannon's diary which documents her interactions with pretty much everyone in town and holds some info about the death of a BLM protester. Who killed Shannon and why remains a mystery for quite a while. There's some entertaining atmospherics involving Joe but readers of the series should know that his usual cohorts aren't really a presence here. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Fine as a standalone and I'm looking forward to the next one.
May 2, 2021
Mike Lawson's brilliant series with Washington DC insider and political fixer Joe DeMarco are a brilliant and often hilarious series of thrillers. Well-crafted, well-written and very intelligent, they are among the best thriller series going. House Standoff is a bit of a departure for both DeMarco and Lawson. The usual political hijinks doesn't take so much as a backseat but is in the passenger seat for what is basically a straight up murder mystery. Many of the political thrillers in the series are mysteries, often involving murder, but there are no politics here. This is more of a conventional murder mystery. And it is just as good as every other DeMarco adventure. If you haven't read DeMarco you're in for a treat.
December 26, 2022
Number 15 in the brilliant DeMarco series goes solidly into 5 Star territory. Herein, Joe leaves Washington, D.C. for the plains of Wyoming with its wild horses, gun-toting citizens in their 4-wheel drive pick-ups, and its one Congressperson.
Larson has killed off one of his best characters. DeMarco is suitably ticked and rambunctious. His efforts are in the best Western tradition: unorthodoxly aggressive. By novel's end, we have unraveled a mystery and exploded social bombs all over the place. As usual, Joe DeMarco drives the action without being the only person to contribute to a happy (sort of) ending. And once again Mike Lawson demonstrates he belongs in the first tier of crime writers.
Recommended.
Larson has killed off one of his best characters. DeMarco is suitably ticked and rambunctious. His efforts are in the best Western tradition: unorthodoxly aggressive. By novel's end, we have unraveled a mystery and exploded social bombs all over the place. As usual, Joe DeMarco drives the action without being the only person to contribute to a happy (sort of) ending. And once again Mike Lawson demonstrates he belongs in the first tier of crime writers.
Recommended.
April 21, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Lawson's novel is a murder mystery that kept me reading, especially after it picked up in the second half of the novel. Joe DeMarco is a rough and tumble 'fixer,' who lives by his own rules as he investigates the murder of a friend. His characters are interesting and flawed, his plot is compelling, and the setting immerses the reader into the life in a small town in Wyoming. Ultimately, the conclusion, for me, was abrupt and a let down, after all of the build up. A worthwhile read, however.
Lawson's novel is a murder mystery that kept me reading, especially after it picked up in the second half of the novel. Joe DeMarco is a rough and tumble 'fixer,' who lives by his own rules as he investigates the murder of a friend. His characters are interesting and flawed, his plot is compelling, and the setting immerses the reader into the life in a small town in Wyoming. Ultimately, the conclusion, for me, was abrupt and a let down, after all of the build up. A worthwhile read, however.
August 3, 2022
loan from neighbor Eila, this is a new author for me and story line/character. Trying to decide if I dare go back to book 1 in the series and read my way through....I liked the character, but not as much as say, the CJ Box characters.
A Washington DC "Fixer" Joe DeMarco finds himself out of sync in Wyoming seeking information and the truth of a woman he was in love with that was murdered there while researching for a book.
Lots of twists and turns and possible "who did its", the end is not what you think it will be, but is resolved with lots of lives destroyed in the process in this small town world.
Fun read.
A Washington DC "Fixer" Joe DeMarco finds himself out of sync in Wyoming seeking information and the truth of a woman he was in love with that was murdered there while researching for a book.
Lots of twists and turns and possible "who did its", the end is not what you think it will be, but is resolved with lots of lives destroyed in the process in this small town world.
Fun read.
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