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)

A great Story and performance

I enjoyed this book very much. Good perspective of all the Sherlock Holmes characters. Great narrator

Joe DeMarco Series

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.

I wouldn’t mind having a beer with Joe DeMarco!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would. The story is plausible and well written.

What did you like best about this story?

Joe DeMarco of course!

Would you listen to another book narrated by Scott Brick?

Actually Scott’s narration was the only fault I found with this audio book--it didn’t work for me!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Emma ate Donnelly's lunch near the end. I loved they way she owned the guy, is was perfection!

Any additional comments?

I’ve been listening this series out of order...turns out that was an ok idea. Joe is Joe regardless of where you meet him!

Wow!

Great book - and just who knew that Scott Brick could do such an amazing job of a southern accent? A couple of twists and turns that caught me by surprise , and I was real worried about how Demarco was going to extricate himself. Can't wait to read book two!

Graphic violence

Over all the book was very good until a woman was repeatedly abused. It was a bit graphic for me. I also found it unrealistic, as I think a woman that was being forced to do what she was being forced to do would simply bite the man’s you know what off. Scott Brick is an excellent narrator.

Great start to an awesome series

I actually read this installment after having read 5 or 6 others and it is probably the one that reads the best as a stand-alone. Exciting, suspenseful, and a very intriguing story line.

AWESOMENESS!

loved this audible! Good pace great narration. Can't wait to read all of the series!

WOW!!

I have to say this was an awesome book I thought I had it all figured out, in the end the twist was even better. I know one thing…I would love to be like Emma when I grow up..LOL

Something is missing !

The storyline was great, but it was the narrator who got me. I have listened to other book’s narrated by Scott Brick with no issues. This one, all his characters sounded the same. Like the other Joe DeMarco books, I look forward to John Mahoney’s sarcasm and quick witticisms toward Joe because they help to keep the listener entertained. They should have kept Joe Barrett as the narrator as in previous books.

Exciting storyline

I just stumbled on Lawson’s book, what a great find! As always Scott Brick makes it come alive! Really worth a shot.