House Arrest, Mike Lawson
House Arrest, Mike Lawson
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
Club: $9.97

House Arrest
A Joe DeMarco Thriller

Author: Mike Lawson

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 8 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/05/2019


Synopsis

In the thirteenth book in Mike Lawson’s celebrated series, Joe DeMarco finds himself on the wrong side of an investigation―in the wake of a political assassination, he’s been framed as the killer.As the fixer for Congressman John Mahoney in Washington, DC, Joe DeMarco has had to bend and break the law more than a few times. But when Representative Lyle Canton, House Majority Whip, is found shot dead in his office in the US Capitol and DeMarco is arrested for the murder, DeMarco knows he’s been framed. Locked up in the Alexandria Jail awaiting trial, he calls on his enigmatic friend Emma, an ex–DIA agent, to search for the true killer. Emma’s investigation leads her to Sebastian Spear, the ruthless and competitive CEO of the multi-billion-dollar Spear Industries. Spear had a motive for killing Lyle Canton: Canton’s wife, Jean, had once been Spear’s high school sweetheart and the one true love of his life―until Canton won her over. Now Jean was dead, killed in a car crash while driving drunk, and Spear blamed Canton for the accident. But the case the FBI has built against DeMarco is airtight, and not a single piece of evidence points to the grieving CEO. Using her cunning and her DC connections, Emma sets out to prove that Spear has been using fixers of his own. Featuring crimes of passion, corporate corruption, and partisan feuds, House Arrest is a gripping, timely political thriller, and one of Lawson’s best books yet.

About Mike Lawson

Mike Lawson is a former senior civilian executive for the US Navy. He is the Edgar Award–nominated author of more than fifteen novels starring Joe DeMarco and three novels with his protagonist Kay Hamilton.

About Joe Barrett

Joe Barrett began his acting career at the age of five in the basement of his family's home in upstate New York. He has gone on to play many stage roles, both on and off-Broadway, and in regional theaters from Los Angeles, Houston, and St. Louis to Washington DC, San Francisco, and Portland, Maine. He has appeared in films and television, both prime time and late night, and in hundreds of television and radio commercials. Joe has narrated over two hundred audiobooks. He has been an Audie Award finalist eight times, and his narration of Gun Church by Reed Farrel Coleman won the 2013 Audie Award for Original Work. AudioFile magazine has granted Joe fourteen Earphones Awards, including for James Salter's All That Is and Donald Katz's Home Fires. Regarding Joe's narration of John Irving's A Prayer For Owen Meany, AudioFile said, "This moving book comes across like a concerto . . . with a soloist-Owen's voice-rising from the background of an orchestral narration." Joe is married to actor Andrea Wright, and together they have four very grown children.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Lisa on February 02, 2019

House Arrest A gripping and timely political thriller that is skillfully crafted to keep you on the edge of your seat. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ SUMMARY This is the thirteenth book in Mike Lawson’s delightful Joe Demarco series, where Joe is a fixer for the long-term and powerful Congressman John Mahoney. In HOUSE AR......more

"Who is Joe DeMarco? What exactly does he do at the Capitol? Why is it that he’s a lawyer but has never practiced law and isn’t employed by a specific politician or organization in the legislative branch? Why has he been seen so often meeting with John Mahoney when he’s not a member of Mahoney’s sta......more

Goodreads review by Elizabeth on March 18, 2021

I don't like the star method and I always encourage people to read the review. If you're looking for an fast-paced read to use as a distraction from whatever else is going on in your life, this book is quite good for that. It's well-written, tightly plotted, and it has characters who actually seem l......more

Goodreads review by Glen on July 02, 2022

Joe DeMarco is framed for murder, and only his oh-so-mysterious friend can keep him out of prison. Pretty much every character in the book belongs in prison, so I wasn't to worried about ol' Joe.......more

Goodreads review by Samyann on February 21, 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 wit......more


Quotes

“Lawson has a true insider’s insight about real-world spinelessness, venality, and corruption that have taken the place of moral courage and true leadership on Capitol Hill…a fine ear for dialogue…[and] a good eye for irony.”

Washington Times

“Lawson’s terrific eleventh Joe DeMarco thriller…Knowing he’s been framed, Joe turns to his former DIA agent friend, Emma, to prove his innocence…While there’s no doubt that Emma will prevail, she faces enough difficulties to make the outcome suspenseful.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Narrator Joe Barrett’s exceptional performance makes this a book and a series not to be missed…Barrett is right at home with the familiar characters and sly tone, as he expertly conveys every nuance and snide comment. His quick reading pace, mastery of the snappy dialog, and clever asides propel this comic political thriller. Barrett is known for his skill with authentic accents, and that is evident in his portrayal of the Russian characters…One needn’t be familiar with the series to step right in here.”

Booklist (starred audio review)

“First-rate…with a clever cliff-hanger ending. This book proves beyond a doubt the Strand magazine’s recent assertion that Lawson’s series is the closest thing on the market today to the witty political thrillers of the late, great Ross Thomas.”

Booklist (starred review)

“DeMarco, who has a law degree but has never practiced law, gets to see a whole new side of the legal system when he’s expertly framed for murder…Lawson’s matter-of-fact tone, walking a fine line between satire and reportage, propels his tale forward…[and] provides the perfect conclusion.”

Kirkus Reviews


Awards

  • Booklist Pick
  • Booklist Editors’ Choice