The Inside Ring

A Novel

By: Michael Lawson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

From a bluff overlooking Georgia's untamed Chattooga River, an assassin fires three shots. The President of the United States is wounded; his best friend and a Secret Service agent are killed. Two days later, a man in Landover, Maryland, commits suicide, and in the man's home is overwhelming evidence that he was responsible for the assassination attempt.

General Andy Banks, the Secretary of Homeland Security, is nursing a guilty conscience. Only days before the assassination attempt on the President, Banks had received a note with a dire warning: "Eagle One is in danger. Cancel Chattooga River. The inside ring has been compromised. This is not a joke." The message, on Secret Service stationery, was signed "An agent in the wrong place". Banks immediately passed the note on to Secret Service Director Patrick Donnelly, who proceeded to ignore it.

Even after the assassin is found dead, Banks is determined to dig a little deeper. He turns to Speaker of the House John Fitzgerald Mahoney. The Speaker has a guy, an under-the-radar, go-to guy he uses for things like this, things he can't afford to have connected to his office. The guy is Joe DeMarco, an honest lawyer with a sordid family history.

After one meeting with Banks, DeMarco realizes he's in way over his head. But Mahoney finds the prospect of taking down Donnelly irresistible and sets DeMarco on a trail that twists through the Secret Service, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security and snakes all the way back to one of the more enduring mysteries of the 20th century.

Brimming with suspense, authenticity, and wit, The Inside Ring marks the debut of a major new talent and introduces a cast of intriguing characters with many more cases ahead.

©2005 Michael Lawson (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is high-level entertainment from a writer who could soon rise to the top of the thriller heap." (Publishers Weekly)

could have been great

This story line is interesting and the twist in the conclusion was generally foreseeable, although not specifically predictable because not all the information was provided to you. The main character is interesting enough to where you want to know what happens to him. The first part of the book is excellent, but the second half spends way too much time with violence and brutality that goes on and on after awhile, does not add any more to the story. The book gets better again at the end but you have endure a lot of gratuitous violence to get there.
Overall, this book was above average for the genre but there are plenty of better choices.

Good, not great

Lawson has some great characters in both this book and teh sequel, but the storiues are just so so.
I think , as he keeps writing these, they will get better.
The stories are decent, just not really new ideas.
Scott Brick makes it as good as it can be.

M

I'm a fan

Mr. Lawson writes a good book with an interesting story. Scott made it even better. Thanks to you both for an enjoyable book.

Audible recommended this book and they were right

This book is very engaging. A new author for me and a new series to listen to. I was never bored and the story was very exciting. The narration is from one of the best in the business. When I finished this book I immediately bought the next in the series and started listening. Excited to see where this series goes.

Good thing the narrator was switched.

I've loved the previous Joe DeMarco books I listed to with Joe Barrettt as narrator. I also like Scott Brick as narrator in many other series like "The Grey Man". Scott wasn't able to carry the day as Joe DeMarco. The story held but the humor was absent without the incredible accents and timing that Joe Barrett delivered. If you're looking for 5 start listing skip to the next in series.

So Intriguing I Listened Past My BedTime

Scott Brick is a favourite narrator of mine and this sounds like he is the reader even though it says Peter Bradbury is.
The main character is a brave man. He does not carry a gun and uses his wits. He asks for Help from a woman who does carry a gun and has an extensive list of people who can be hired for various tasks and paid for information.
Why was Billy acting different than the other Secret Service agents when an attempt was made to assassinate the President? Was Billy part of the plan to assassinate the President? Who had the money to pay for the assasination attempt?He is hired to find answers. He works for Congress. He is unimportant to many people.
His office is in a basement indicating he is unimportant and he know someone who arranged for him to have his job.
His mission is simple and complicated by rural culture and how no one wants to talk to him because of fear.
I was not able to figure out who the guilty party was until the very end. That only happens when I read a well written plot.
I am eager to listen/or read another novel by Lawson. Whether I listen or read will depend on the narrator.

Great "A Joe DeMarco" Series Start

Having listened to all sixteen (16) A Joe DeMarco Thriller series, decided to do another listen - what a great series by Mike Lawson. Really appreciate Mike losing narrater Scot Brick in favor of the best Joe Barrett.

Edge of Your Seat Moments!

DeMarco is likable, but sometimes nitwitted and frustratingly oblivious. Yet, his character carried the plot well. The mix of nefarious characters and dark secrets made this multilayered story captivating and worrisome. Of course, Scott Brick is always good. He’s my narrator crush…or at least his narrating is😄
I’m looking forward to Book 2 in the DeMarco series. (Unfortunately, I don’t think Brick narrated it.)

The Foul Language Ring

I purchased this book and decided to listen to it while driving to a destination that took 8 hours to reach. I thought it would be a good book for my 15 yr old son, myself, and my two 75 yr old grandparents to listen to. Boy was I shocked, disappointed, and embarrassed at the constant use of hard core foul language and the over-use of the "F" bomb (I didn't realize that there was explicit language that could be used that is worst then the "F" bomb but the author proved me wrong) that is used continously as well as unnecessary use of graphic language that the author uses to push the story line through. I stopped the book (of course) but I can tell you playing the "name that car" game with a 15 yr old and two grumpy 75 year old grandparents who are "lost in time" for 7 hours was painful beyond explanation! This book would have been great if the author would have written it with PG-13 language.

Maybe Audible can establish a rating system for the books that are sold on their site.

"Not a sermon - just a thought..."

Good characters and solid action throughout

Narration is great. Story is strong and the characters develop well. Really enjoyed every part of it.